Two figures crept towards their target, gripping bags intended to for capture. The cook turned away then, and siezing this opportunity, they moved closer, waiting for any indication that the cook would turn back. Sensing none, the pair grabbed as much as they could and stuffed it into their bags, their senses alert for detection. Grinning, they retreated, before running into their worst enemy: The heroes.
"Stop!" The knight yelled, the wizard right behind him. Hissing in anger, they attacked their enemy, starting a fierce and explosive battle. The heroes were ultimately defeated, and smirking, the figures left, their bags full and eyes bright.
That was the third Candy Heist.***
"You need to get better, Cody, I keep saving you." Zach said, laughing as he tentatively helped him up, trying to make as little physical contact as possible. In all honesty, he couldn't help but share Cody's love for adventure games, and he simply couldn’t refuse his role in this family roleplay, even if he prefers to keep to himself. Parisa always found a way to incorporate everyone in her stories, even someone as introverted as him.
“We’ll get them!” Cody said confidently, patting himself off. “The villains’ arrogance and love for sugar will be their downfall.” He declared dramatically. “And anyway, they have no idea that the cook is on our side.”
“I’ve made more jelly beans, this time rainbow-colored and flavour-changing.” Rufus said, emerging from the kitchen of the café and grinning. “I couldn’t make my miracle sweets though, I ran out of thyme.” Cody and Zach groaned at this, which encouraged him. “Come on, my heroes! Lettuce catch them together! The steaks are too high for us to lose. My celery will be cut if they keep stealing from me.”
“Add another four to the counter.” Cody said gloomily, shaking his head. “Dad’s jokes get worse every day.” Zach, who was giggling quietly, nodded, before resuming his silent fit.
“I ‘eard you need my ‘elp!” Sir Avery ‘Hawkeye’ said, arriving early and looking eager, before remembering who they were supposed to be. Coughing, they crossed their arms, trying to be intimidating and really just failing.
“That weird accent doesn’t suit your role, Hawkeye, you should probably drop it.” Rufus laughed, before turning to the kits. “We’re prepared for your orders, heroes!”
Cody puffed up, happy at the title, and Zach smiled, letting his brother take the lead. “We need to—“
***
“—fight back, give them all we got.” Elliot finished, and Parisa nodded. They both looked to their candy hoard, prideful at their achievements.
“We’ve been planning heists so far, and as we’ve defeated the heroes every time we fought I’m certain Rufus’ candy café would be ours in no time.” Parisa said confidently.
“But you know, I think the cook is on their side. Dad—I mean, Rufus—would never leave his sweets along for so long. Remember the third heist?” Elliot said, frowning. “So we’ll assume that the heroes have the cook on their side, possibly backup as well. We’ll try taking the cook hostage then, since the heroes have to protect civilians.”
“We need to make room for their backup though.” Parisa added, going over their stash and picking up her favourite sweet. “Everything changes if they have backup. As strong as the two of us are, four enemies are too much.” She unwrapped the candy, and popped it into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “Let’s go through what we know of them. We can’t sneak up on them if Zach is around, magic or not. He’s a wizard himself, and combined with his two tails, his magic is stronger than mine. If he directly attacks instead of backing Cody, I’d lose, simple as that.”
“Cody’s a strong fighter though,” Elliot continued, “Bratty, yeah, but he’s good with a sword. And though the cook is good only for making sweets, he knows our weakness. The backup might take charge as well, and change, well, everything.”
“Don’t be rude.” Parisa said automatically. The heroes may be their enemies, but there’s no need to be mean about it. “Anyway, we should think of fall-back plans, in case things go wrong. Today, the final Candy Heist shall be successful!”
***
“And with this, we would win.” Cody finished, looking around for any uncertain faces. With none seen, he grinned, and held out a paw to Zach, waiting for a high-five. He reluctantly complied, smiling.
“Off we go then.” Zach said softly, and the group set off towards the villain’s lair. Hawkeye walked a distance behind them, while Cody and Zach were in front, with Rufus watching their backs. The heroes glanced at each other, nodded, and entered the villain’s base. A glowing ball illuminated the cave, revealing Parisa and Elliot, talking near the candy pile. They turned, surprised, and Zach quickly shot off a flare of light from his staff. The villains blinded, Cody dived to the left and Zach to the right, planning to surround and conquer.
“Plan 3!” Elliot yelled, and he lunged towards Rufus, drawing his sword. Cody gasped, having reached partway around the cave and knowing he won’t make it in time. Zach raised his staff, about to whisk the cook away when a blast of magic hit him, throwing him against the cave wall. He forgot about Parisa!
As Zach and Parisa fought, Elliot reached Rufus, jumping up and using his sword for an extra boost. He grabbed one of the thick roots dangling down from the entrance, swung towards Rufus’ shoulders, and landed neatly with his sword around the cook’s neck. “Come closer, Cody, and Rufus gets it! Same to you Zach!” He yelled, triumphant. Who said kits couldn’t take down adults?
Then villain’s worst scenario happened: backup arrived at this crucial moment. Hawkeye pointed their sword at Elliot’s back, a huge smile plastered on their face. “Ha-ha! The great knight as arrived! Attack Rufus and I’ll attack you, my son!” Cody, seeing this, ran to back up Zach, who continued attacking Parisa. The battle was brief, ending with the defeat of the villains.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen!” Elliot yelled, his sword still hovering near Rufus’ neck. “Restart! I demand we restart!” His voice had taken on a whiney tone, and everyone knew he was going to throw a fit.
“It doesn’t matter who wins.” Rufus said, trying to soothe the kit. “Because you all get candy!” He glanced to Avery, who went over to the candy pile and grabbed a pawful, waving it enticingly.
“This is good stuff.” They said cheerfully while unwrapping one. “Heroes, you have done well in this fight, and villains, you have done better! What you did was no easy feat, so I say you get more candy than the heroes.” Cody and Zach shrugged at this, and Parisa laughed, happy at the mention of sweets.
“Come on Lio, we can attack the pile together.” She prompted, and Elliot reluctantly got off, with help from Rufus. Everyone gathered around Rufus as he strode to the candy pile, picked out everyone’s favourites and handed them out, grinning proudly. Parisa grinned back, happy her family enjoyed the story.
With this family, everyday is and will always be fun!
[1200 words - scene changes/timeskips (ie. ***) are not counted]