Hello, my dear readers. So, sorry to say, I've hit a bump in the road with 'Moment of Truth in a Time of Darkness', but I need something to keep my creative juices flowing. This is actually based on an RP that I played out with my sister, MadameMisfit. The character Celestia technically belongs to her, I'm using the character with her permission. This was actually inspired by quite a few things: (1) The Mask of Zorro- it started playing on TV and it had been so long since I had seen it, so I was kinda entranced by the idea of a masked 'vigilante', (2) it is kinda based on the legend of Robin Hood, loosely. (3) I finally watched the anime Romeo x Juliet earlier this year- again, enthralled by the idea of the masked warrior going up against a tyrant for the people. (4)- and finally, there was a picture that inspired me featuring the personification of Italy from Hetalia: Axis Powers, where he's bowing while wearing a mask. It just kind of clicked for me after that.
I dedicate this to my wonderful friend and sister, MadameMisfit. I 3 you sissy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any Bleach characters appearing in this FanFiction. They belong to Tite Kubo. Celestia D'Argento belongs to MadameMisfit.
Prologue
It started with a tyrant who rose to the position as magistrate of the city of Venice fifteen years ago. Since then he had taken away away the voice of the people- the voice of reason- by abolishing the City Council by entering the room of wise elders and thus sentencing them to mass execution, stating that only one had the God-ordained right to rule. Anyone who contested to his will or his right to rule was killed on the spot. Pleas for help and mercy fell upon deaf ears and cries of outrage cost the speaker their tongue.
This cruel self-appointed Lord and Master, a sinister man by the name of Sosuke Aizen, placed a heavy tax on the already unfortunate people of the lower class. Food and other needs were nigh unobtainable. Many became sick after resorting to eat rancid food. The price of medicine, however, made it nearly impossible to obtain as well. Even churches couldn't perform the Lord's work due to the heavy tax placed on them. Lower class citizens resorted to crime to merely get by.
On those dark streets, however, there came a small glimmer of hope. Stories developed of a masked marauder who roamed the streets of Venice in the moonlight, with the palace guards hot on his heels. They said he used no weapons, only his wits to fend himself off from his enemies. Some said he could run at speeds unheard of; others murmured that he could leap great distances. One doctor said that he was a miracle worker, explaining that with an ill wife, three hungry children and no money to care for either, his prayers were answered in the form of a bundle found on his doorstep early one morning. Within that bundle were just the medicinal herbs he needed and a full loaf of bread.
News soon reached even the ears of Lord Aizen as a noblewoman recounted the terrifying moment that she had been robbed by someone wearing a mask resembling that of a fox. Aizen determined this scoundrel to be nothing more than a petty thief at first. As time went on, however, and the people's hopes had risen, so had the number of uprisings. He then sent his guards to seek out this criminal and forbade the name from ever being mentioned. Still, the people spoke of him, of a man who went against a titan and spat in the face of fear.
They simply called him 'Il Lunare Volpe'.
I really don't know why, but MadameMisfit and I just love making Aizen the villain and/or creepy/insane ex-boyfriend in her stories. Maybe because we both love to bash him. I hope we don't offend any Aizen fans out there. In any case, I am almost finished with the next chapter and will have it for you soon, my dear readers. I will also try hard to work on 'Moment of Truth in Time of Darkness' for those of you who are still waiting for Chapter Three. In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you next time.
