Prologue: The Eagle's Blade

Acre, that was his destination. Thomas Chaunceller, that was the target. Altair Ibn La'Ahad, that was the Assassin.

I followed Altair, just barely, to Acre. He was a watchful man, knowing, but arrogant. I wondered why he was this way. I had followed many different Assassins in the past, learning their secrets as I grew from child to young adult. I could never become one, they said. I wanted to, but they wouldn't let me. Nor would my father, who was one. All because I was a girl. I was clever, though, and I got around that. I was a born Assassin and I wanted to protect my family and my home from the ever-threatening Templars.

Away from my home, after I'd watch the novices train, I would practice what I saw with long sticks. I climbed buildings like they did, masqueraded as them in my own makeshift robes. I would use stones to create places where I'd land from the rooftops. I admired them so. I ran errands for my parents to enhance my endurance. The only task I could never perform was the Assassin's trademark Leap of Faith. The only place to do it was in Masyaf's Fortress, where Al Mualim and the other Assassins resided. I tried to get in there once, but my father caught me and brought me home. He made me promise that I'd never try again. I promised and kept it all these years.

However, there was one Templar I wanted dead. And, this was the day I'd see him dead. The Assassins would never let one of their own die in vain. They'd have vengeance. As would I. I regretted the fact that I couldn't be the one to make the kill myself. I desired blood.

Thomas Chaunceller was the target. Altair Ibn La'Ahad was the Assassin.

Thomas was a major up and coming in the Templar ranks. There are many ways for Templars to rise in power, from taking cities to becoming leaders of the people. But, there's only one way to move faster than that up those ranks. And, that's to kill an Assassin.

Well, if it isn't obvious already, Thomas Chaunceller killed my Assassin father, Adrian Valandrus.

I hid behind a merchant's stand as Altair snuck into Acre. Guards stood by as he went over their heads. I quickly followed so I wouldn't lose his trail. I climbed the wall on the east side and circled around. I jumped from one scaffold to the next. Altair disappeared and reappeared in that ghostly way. Moving like a blade in the crowd. Some ways into the city, I noticed people were flocking to a particular place. I decided to keep with them, growing speed and getting closer to Altair. I didn't want to alert him, so I strayed off to the side. I couldn't let him notice me.

If I could follow a Master Assassin from Masyaf to here and back without him noticing, I'd know my stealth skills were at their highest. I would need them at their highest now.

I followed the crowd to the gate blocking the way to the port and looked past them. My eyes widened at the sight. An execution. On a large platform that looked almost like a stage, was Thomas Chaunceller. He was pacing and calling out to the crowd. It took all my willpower not to leap on that stage and kill him with my father's dagger. My mother had locked up his sword, but the Mentor kept his robes and hidden blade. My father had given me his dagger the day before he died.

"Do you want to end up like them!" Thomas demanded. The people around me He pointed out to us. "Do not think we will not punish you for your sins!"

I glared at him with all my might. He was heavily guarded. Two men were positioned on the sides of the stage with swords. He had two below them, next to it, and they were pacing around the crowd, watching. More were around, but I couldn't see them. I glanced around, looking for Altair, but he was nowhere to be seen. Startled, my eyes darted everywhere.

I finally noticed an eagle flying through the sky. It landed on the bar with people hanging by their necks, dead. Hearing its call, a powerful sound, I felt something resonate within me. A reason, an answer. I couldn't ignore it. I knew I was meant to be here, to witness this, but not for the reason I thought originally. For something else. I wondered what?

The majestic bird stretched its wings and flew once more. I watched it in awe and saw him. There, standing on the bell tower, was Altair. He was overlooking Acre while watching his target. I couldn't see his face from here, but I hoped he was disgusted by the Templar in front of him. The bell rang, loud and clear, to signal a new hour. I blinked in that second and the Assassin was gone. My eyes dropped down and Altair was there, like he had never moved. The bell rang again and I knew that I had to get ready.

My heart raced as he sauntered forward. When he did it, I had to be quick or I'd lose him. Just as he passed me, he glanced over and our eyes met. I was scared for a second, but he didn't stop moving. Good, he didn't recognize me. Thomas wouldn't shut up, but he only had moments. He seemed to figure that out, but kept the crowd going. He was saying something I couldn't make out, I was too excited. I anticipated the fact that this villain would be dead as any Templar that had been felled by the blade of an Assassin. Altair gained speed when Thomas pointed him out to one of his guards.

The Assassin shoved the people aside and the guards held their swords. As he went up the stairs, a guard pulled out his sword to counter Altair, but he was too slow. Altair reached back with lightning speed and grabbed the crossbow upon his back. He shot the guard, landing his heart. The other lurched forward, fear-stricken, and attacked. His sword came down. Altair-faster than when he pulled out his crossbow-dodged it while simultaneously using the bow to pull the guard back. As he fell, the first-still alive, but just barely-tried to get up. Thomas was frozen throughout. Of course, when his time ticked down to the last half a second, he got his sword out. Altair stepped on the first guard's back, dropping his crossbow, and jumped into the air. There was a collective intake of breaths-including mine-, and time slowed. The hidden blade shot out and all I saw was Altair landing on Thomas. I knew his blade was in his throat and the bastard was dead.

The other guards gathered themselves from the shock and I shook myself as they went at Altair, who glanced back. He bolted and I had seconds. Luckily, everyone was either chasing Altair or too stunned to notice me as I hurried towards the nearest building. Running up, letting momentum guide me, I grabbed the first windowsill. I pulled myself up onto the roof. Altair would want to get out of the city until things died down. Or, he'd go to the Assassin's Bureau. I knew where both were and decided his best bet would be the bureau. I headed in that direction. All of Acre was in an uproar, like always.

I smiled as I went. Thomas was dead. My father's murderer was dead. Though, I didn't really feel at peace like I thought. Instead, I felt…different. Both my father and Thomas were dead. I may not have killed the Templar, but I didn't feel right. I frowned. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. My pain was supposed to disperse in some way, but it was still there. Why didn't the pain go away?

I noticed white with a streak of red not too far off. Altair. I turned towards him and ran closer. I tried to move in such a way that he wouldn't notice me still. I heard the guards yelling below; no, they wouldn't follow him. Of course not. Why would they? They didn't have the training and Altair was moving too fast for them. They'd lose him. Eventually, he jumped off the roof. I made it just in time to see him stop at a set of large wooden doors. I looked at the whole building and saw it for what it truly was. I smiled. It was a church.

Yes, I thought, Priests. They dressed like the Assassins; all in white and they all wore hoods.

Guards surrounded his escape, unsure of what to do or what he would do. But, nevermind them. I had to keep my eyes trained on Altair's form, otherwise I'd lose him in the group. The priests started meandering out, moving past him. And, just like that, he was gone. Or, at least, to the guards lost sight of him. I knew where he was. He walked like the priests did and hugged the wall on the left side. He disappeared into the crowd and went down an alley. I smiled wider and turned towards the Bureau.

Yes, that was how it was done. That was the way of the Assassin.

Author's Note:

I bet you all were expecting to see something other than this. No. I know this is the main opening when you put the disc in, just with my OC in it. I did that on purpose. This marks the start of something my friends. A huge project I love already. I decided to write this to find out who wants to ride out this train with me. I will warn you that I, like any writer out there, get writer's block, but I will update as much as possible. I just have to be in the AC zone, lol.

If you guys like it, wonderful, I'm happy. If not, sorry. Please review; that does help. Now, I know didn't state the name of my OC yet. Her name is Amelia Valandrus and she will be replacing Maria Thorpe. I didn't like Maria, she was a freaking Templar! Oh, I hate Templars…Sorry, back to the point. There will be two OCs, probably more as long as the series progresses. Blame Ubisoft for that one.

This is just part one of the series and I'm going along with the main games (AC-ACR). Desmond will have his own OC, ditto with Ezio, but I have to get Assassin's Creed done first. This is no AU, it's the game's basic timeline, only written with some fun stuff thrown in.

Sorry for the HUGE A/N. This will be the only hardcore long one, I hope, no promises. Thanks for reading. Again, review please. Until next time…