Thanks go to Bajor10 for suggesting for this story :)

The first part of the story takes place years after Rouge and after the ACIII DLC

He thought he was done in the Colonies. The brotherhood was blasted out of the major cities and its presence was little more than a bad memory to him. Apparently someone didn't get the memo. Shay reclined in the covered wagon as he read the letter again.

1775

M. Dorian,

The Brotherhood has been restored in the Colonies. My student and his few associates are dismantling the leadership of the Colonial Rite of Templars. You and I had all given up hope for this place and while the road is dark and the path appears scratched, there is a newfound brightness in the future of this would-be country. I hope that you spread the word to the rest of the Brotherhood. I, Achilles Davenport, hereby make Ratonhnhake:ton, otherwise known as Connor, master assassin of the colonies for his tireless work to defend others and standing alone when none could aid him.

I have no doubt that Connor has started an another era, one where your own son might be inspired to fight with us, and he has also avoided the pitfalls of his mentor. He is ambitious to say the least, I speak from first hand experience when I say his tenacity will overpower anyone when he has his eyes set on something. He could have even worn Shay's opinions down if he had the chance.

Your Brother,

Achilles Davenport.

He refolded the worn letter and tucked it away in his jacket. He sighed as he thought about how long it took him to get here. After taking care of Charles Dorian he was called to serve the order all over Europe but never once did he get the time to pursuit Achilles's newest student. As sad as it was he didn't know if there was enough motivation to actually try to kill the man anyways. During those nine years he had seen that the Templars were not much different from his old order. They too were just as willing to toss the lives of innocents to the side. Some even went out of their way to scare people by making "examples" of the others. Only Haytham, Monroe, and a select few were better than that, they were the only reason he was still on their side. And now even the strongest of them was gone.

Although he followed through with what the Templars needed done it was a painful process. Liam and Hope would always haunt him and soon they would be joined by their old teacher.

"Pity…" He was hearing her voice again.

His mind wandered as he thought of the mission before him. He was to eliminate the mentor and the master assassin before they had too many followers. Alone and separated from the Brotherhood they had destroyed the colonial order; they would be a potential threat if they had the support they once did.

"You had so much potential…" Shay shook his head as he heard her voice again.

As the wagon reached a fork in the road he jumped out to take the eastern path. The sun was setting behind him as he walked towards their sanctuary. The shadow of the hunter grew longer with the fading light and there was a feeling of change in the air. He was about to cut the last tread connecting him to the man he used to be.

It was night when he reached the gap in the hills that marked the entrance and he was more than surprised to see so many little homes and businesses here. For a minute he wondered if he had gotten lost in the frontier but it couldn't have been true. He saw that the inn was still lively with people milling about but none of them looked like they were affiliated with the Brotherhood. Regardless, this was the home of his targets, they might have information on them and that made it worth checking out.

Inside was a collection of people milled about but it was easy to tell some were residents of the area. There was a farmer talking with some loggers, a smith chatting with the man at the bar, and women feeding their children. A few traders and some others passing by let him play off the fact he was a complete stranger. He sat beside a large man with the apron of a smith and got the attention of the man over the counter.

"Well you're a new face around here!" The old man was friendly and had a charming demeanor, "Welcome to our little village, what can I do for you?"

Shay smiled, it was so hard to imagine this place existing when he still lived here. "I'm passing by through the night but some drink wouldn't hurt." If he played his cards right than he might get all the information he needed, "Do you mind telling me when this village sprung up? I was a much younger man when I last saw this place and I don't remember any of these buildings."

The innkeeper smiled back at him, "Oh we just got here within a few years really, the whole place is fairly young. I mean only one person was actually born here and he's over there in the corner." Shay turned his head hoping he meant the assassin but saw instead there was a woman with her hair wrapped up breastfeeding a newborn.

He usually didn't pay mind to families but seeing the woman smiling and playing made something in his chest feel hollow. He once saw Hope playing with a baby that way when he was still a novice. At that time he imagined how maybe fate would replay that scene with he and Hope together, but that was never the case. Now he was nothing like how he imagined himself, a man over the hill, without a family, and more alone than ever.

Looking at the child and remembering that this is the home of the assassin he asked, "Is that Connor's boy?" The man's jaw dropped as he looked at him and his comment got the attention of the smith. They burst out laughing. 'Apparently not' Shay thought.

"Oh, sorry sir, that was just too funny," said the innkeeper who was nearly doubled over.

The smith put his hand on Shay's shoulder and turned him around, he was still chuckling when he said, "You obviously don't know our boy at all. He's a loving lad but too wrapped up in work for a lover." It was strange to know this assassin had a whole community that knew so much about him. He laughed along with them as he wondered if he could have had that too. "How do you know him anyways?"

"I knew his," perhaps now was not a good time to mention his Templar father, "mentor, Achilles." The two seemed satisfied with that answer and some open discussion started up.

"Really? When did you know him?" They looked eager to know more about this old friend of Achilles.

"When I was a young man and Achilles's son was still alive. Hopefully one day he finds peace and his family as well."

The comment seemed to quiet the atmosphere. "He already has I'm afraid."

"What?" The remark took Shay aback. He looked at them and they saw the confusion in him.

"Oh, you don't know," the innkeeper said, "you see, Achilles died a while ago. Dave and I were at the funeral with everyone. We all felt sad he was gone but…" the innkeeper continued but Shay couldn't hear any of it.

The world seemed to fade out as the idea tried to sink into his mind. Without incident or drama he was the only one left of that old order. It felt like he failed in some way, that he never got the last words of his mentor burned into his mind like he did with Liam or Hope or any of the others. He stood up slowly and left more coin than necessary to cover the drink. Without a word he left the inn and was walking up the hill where the manor stood. When he got to the summit, he stopped. Just as he guessed there were now three graves next to the building. In the moonlight the letters spelling Achilles Davenport were clear as could be. It seemed unfair but fitting that he never ended things easily with the people he once worked with.

"You left without even a goodbye. I suppose we were both disrespectful to the end, mentor."

He turned his attention to the house. No lights came from within but he might find his mark yet. Quietly he scaled the house and made it onto the balcony. He picked the lock carefully and the door opened soundlessly. Using his eagle vision he saw that there were two objects of interest down the hall. One was a sleeping man, the other was an orb.

Creeping along the wall he did everything in his power to not alert the sleeping assassin. He was about to strike when there was a glow in the room. Shay turned his head and saw it. The Apple of Eden. Unknowingly he walked closer to it as it whispered things from the past. As the light grew brighter he could hear Hope calling his name from inside of it.

"Shay! It's not too late!"

He reached for it and then the light consumed him. It filled the room until it was darkened and glowing symbols filled the air. "I can't let you undo what has been put into motion," Shay whipped around to see a figure behind him. She must have been one of those who came before. "You have served your purpose, I had hoped to let you go on but you can not interfere here."

He looked up at her, "There's nothing that can make me stop and you know this."

The woman didn't look pleased at all, "Perhaps not by speech but by action I can change your opinion." Shay stiffened when she seemed to focus on him. Suddenly she disappeared and he heard someone talk from inside his skull, "You did well, now go forth. This second chance is your last." With the Apple in one hand his other slid the pieces on the surface around. Inside he saw himself running towards Liam, and time going backwards. It went faster until he could barely see himself putting on a hood.

Then everything went dark.