The Children of Thieves

Last Surprise

Apologies in advance because I wasn't good at writing fights, which is why you barely saw them at the start. I get better as the story progresses, don't worry. A warning, after this chapter the story will be a bit repetitive with the original game, but I'll try to avoid that as much as possible. But with that said, enjoy.

Their plan was a simple but risky one. Blackbird would make her way up to the top of the Palace and drop the lights onto the stage where the music was playing. While everyone panicked and ran around, the rest of the Thieves would be waiting in the room behind the stage. When the commotion began, they'd hop into Mona and he'd break through the wall and steal the treasure. Blackbird would then join them and they'd leg it out of there. It was a good plan all things considered. And it was executed very well indeed. Up until their escape.

As the rest of the Thieves grabbed the treasure, which they weren't sure what it was since it was wrapped in a cloth, Blackbird used her grapple to safely land next to them. She summoned Aoife to aid in keeping the Shadows at bay. Once Silver finally managed to take the treasure, they ran as fast as they could through the hole Mona made and out through the giant door. Blackbird was a little behind everyone else, dealing with the Shadows with Aoife. Lupa was helping her, but she turned and ran when the others made it through. Blackbird followed after. But, just as Lupa made it through the door and Blackbird was about to do the same, the door slammed shut, separating her from her friends. She hit the door with every move she and Aoife had, but all that did was tire her out. She used one of the coffees she brought as well as one of Kurusi's medicines. Then she heard someone clear their throat behind her. She turned and was face to face with Kyoei's shadow.

Without warning, she heard Aoife scream with frustration in her head, and Blackbird charged at Kyoei, swinging her talon dagger like crazy. But before she could so much as touch him, Kyoei pulled out a flute, which sent big music notes flying at her and binding her in place. He nodded to a Shadow who walked up to her and kicked behind her knees, causing her to fall over. Then, she was picked up and carried over to the Palace ruler. "You've done well to actually manage to take my treasure," he told her smugly. "But before you run off with it, there's something I want to show you." He nodded to the guard who was holding Blackbird, then turned around and walked away. The guard followed, carrying a struggling Blackbird in its arms.

Kyoei walked into a lift that Blackbird didn't know was there and swiped a key card before pressing a button. "I wouldn't worry about getting annoyed over not knowing this was here," Kyoei reassured her. "I'm the only one with the card that activates it." He held up a card gloatingly, before the lift ascended to the top floor. When they arrived, Kyoei led her to a door she had seen two days before. They had tried to go through it, but it was locked up tight. Now, Kyoei pushed it open with ease and led her in. Once Blackbird laid eyes on what was inside the room, she felt like she was going to throw up. Inside was a large throne with an easel in front of it. Sitting on the easel were a bunch of music notes for Blackbird to sing. There was a large picture of Cho behind it, as well as a bunch of awards that had not been won yet on several shelves along the wall.

"What do you think?" Kyoei asked. "Just imagine this all being yours. And all you need to do is abandon that redundant, jealous friend of yours, return my treasure to me and surrender your singing voice to me." He grinned greedily at this. "What do I think?" Blackbird repeated. "I think you're deluded and that I'm about to kick your ass!" She summoned Aoife again and blasted the guards away. Then she dived on Kyoei, causing them to fall through the floor. They fell through roughly four floors before coming to a stop. Blackbird was severely winded and dazed. Kyoei also looked like he couldn't get up for a bit. Blackbird managed to stand up first, but it was on shaky legs. Kyoei got up on shakier legs, but was still able to stand. He picked up a metal pipe that had fallen with them and charged at her. Blackbird weakly raised her dagger to defend herself. But before the pipe made contact, Hero leapt in and blocked it for her. Silver followed after and put her arm around his shoulder. Hero knocked the pipe away and knocked Kyoei to the ground. Then the three of them turned and ran.