Assassin's Creed II characters and references (c) Ubisoft
Kiara and all other OCs (c) me

It's amazing how one's perspective on life can change so fast. One moment the whole world hated me, the next I was on Cloud 9. It was still mind-boggling to me that I was going to be a part of the Auditore family. It didn't matter now that Claudia and Ezio were upset; they were stuck with me whether they liked it or not.

Giovanni took me to Maria with the biggest smile I had ever seen on his face. The woman in question was in Petruccio's room. We were just about there when I stopped, suddenly realizing that I hadn't talked to Petruccio yet.

"Giovanni,"

"What is it?"

"I want to talk to Petruccio, alone. I haven't told him my side of the story yet,"

Giovanni nodded, "Very well,"

He knocked on the door once and then opened it. Petruccio looked so frail lying on that bed. During my time with the Auditores, he had a few minor relapses, but nothing like this. I was so taken aback by his condition that for a moment I forgot why we had come here in the first place. I felt bad, even though the escape from Florence wasn't my fault; I knew that's why the kid was so sick again.

Petruccio looked up and even as pale as he was, his face lit up when he saw me.

"Kiara, you're awake."

Federico was also in the room and he looked surprised that I had shown up. Giovanni motioned to him and Maria to step out of the room so I could talk to Petruccio, who looked curious as everyone left.

"Kiara, is everything alright?"

I sat down on the edge of the bed and changed the subject for a moment. "It's nice to see you're doing okay, Petruccio,"

He shrugged a little, "I've been better,"

I smiled a little and then swallowed hard. "Um, Petruccio, I have to tell you something,"

"Is this about where you really came from?"

My mouth fell open, "You know?"

"Yes, Federico told me,"

I cringed inwardly; I hadn't wanted Petruccio finding out from someone else. It was bad enough that Ezio had overheard me earlier and then gone and told Claudia. I really didn't know what to say and couldn't look him in the eye.

"Petruccio, I…I'm sorry."

"Don't be,"

I looked up in surprise as he continued.

"It is hard to believe, but it also explains why you talk and act so differently."

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Yeah, I guess am a little weird,"

We both got a quick laugh out of that and Petruccio reached for my hands with his cool, pale ones.

"It doesn't matter to me how you got here, Kiara," he said with a smile, "I'm just glad you're here at all."

I smiled back, completely relieved that he wasn't mad at me. "I wish your brother and sister were as mature as you,"

Petruccio shrugged, "They'll grow up sometime."

"They better, we're stuck here anyway."

"I'm excited to be here," Petruccio said, his eyes lighting up, "I've never been out in the country before. Maybe when I get better, I can go visit some of the farms Uncle Mario was telling me about."

I hoped he would. I really didn't want to imagine life without Petruccio in it.

"Well, I'm sure Mario would love to take you on a tour," I replied, "but there's something else that'll cheer you up."

"What is it?"

"Your father asked me to be a part of your family,"

Petruccio's eyes were the size of dinner plates, "You said yes, didn't you?"

I couldn't help but laugh a little at his expression, "Of course I did,"

He suddenly sat up and threw his arms around my neck, nearly pulling me down on top of him.

"I'm so glad,"

Petruccio's voice was soft, but the nearly suffocating grip around my neck gave away his excitement. I thought he was supposed to be sick! I braced myself with one arm so I didn't fall on him and returned the hug with the other.

"Yeah, me too,"

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. I took a bath, found some clean – albeit slightly large — clothes to change into, and ate a real meal for the first time in two days. Whatever herbal mixture Maroné had put on the arrow wound was working because the swelling was starting to go down and it hurt less. The cut on my cheek was going to scar a little, even though it was shallow. The whole incident in Florence seemed like such a long time ago.

I didn't see Ezio or Claudia for the rest of the day, but I kind of figured that they'd be easier to talk to after they had cooled off. Federico and Maria were just as thrilled as Petruccio about me becoming part of the family, which involved another round of hugs and I was feeling fairly squeezed out by the time I went to bed, but in a good way.

I didn't realize how tired I was until I collapsed into bed, not to budge until well after daybreak the next morning. It took a lot of motivation on my part to crawl out of bed and get ready for the day. Just as I finished dressing, there was a knock at the door. I opened it and found myself face to face with Ezio. He looked tired and even a little sad.

"Kiara, I…I'm sorry for what I said to you yesterday. I should not have doubted you."

To be perfectly honest, I hadn't expected such a direct apology. "It's alright, Ezio. You were angry, I understand that."

He shook his head, "But I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you. Federico was right; I have been acting like a spoiled raggazo."

I cocked my head to one side, "And now?"

Ezio looked back up at me, his old smirk slowly reappearing. "Well, someone said that it was time to grow up."

I gave him a light shove. "Do you have to listen in on every conversation I have with people?"

"Only if they concern me,"

I rolled my eyes. "You're hopeless."

Ezio chuckled and pulled me into a brief hug, "I am sorry, Kiara,"

I patted him on the back, "Apology accepted."

He grinned at me when he let go. "I understand you are Kiara Auditore now, do you like it?"

"Yes, I do."

Ezio pulled my loose hair over my eyes teasingly. "Good, because you'll have to put up with me."

I lightly slapped his hands away. "Don't forget, I have my own secret weapon, remember?"

Ezio scowled and pressed his arms in at his sides. "That's still cheating,"

"Ehi, you two,"

We stopped our banter as Federico walked up, "Mario wants to talk to all of us. He's in his study."

I ducked back into my room to find a ribbon to pull my hair back. "What does Mario want to talk to us about?"

Federico leaned against the doorframe as he waited. "Probably about training us to be Assassins,"

I glanced at the two brothers filling up the doorway in my mirror, "You've decided to take that on?"

"We had a long talk last night." Ezio said, "These men, these…Templars, won't stop hunting for us just because we've escaped. We have to fight back."

I tied the ribbon in a knot and turned back to them. "So what does that have to do with me?"

Federico motioned with his hand. "Only one way to find out,"

I followed the boys to Mario's study and Giovanni was already there. He and Mario were looking at a few pieces of parchment that were pinned up on a wall and talking in low voices. They cut their conversation short as we walked in and I got my first good look at Mario Auditore.

He wasn't quite as tall as Giovanni, but he was built like a bull and held himself with an air of authority. His dark, shoulder-length hair was slicked back and the thing that really caught my attention was a nasty scar over his left eye.

"So this is Kiara, eh?" Mario said as he strode over. "Let me have a look at you,"

He blinked and his right eye turned gold, just as Giovanni's had. I swallowed as he peered at me for a long moment before his eye returned to its natural color.

"You were right brother," Mario said and Giovanni smiled, looking just a little triumphant.

"It appears I owe you an apology, my dear," Mario continued with a slight bow, "all these years of fighting have made me more suspicious in my old age."

"No harm done," I replied with a shrug.

Mario smiled, "Molto bene. I am told that you've learned much from my nipoti over the last couple months,"

Federico clapped me on the shoulder. "Kiara is turning out to be a fine free-runner, uncle, and she passes as a very convincing boy."

Mario walked around me, rubbing his chin in thought, "Yes, yes…with the right clothes it could be done. It would help if you cut your hair just a bit shorter and, oh, if you were a little taller as well."

Behind me, Federico and Ezio snickered and even Giovanni coughed suspiciously behind his hand. I just scowled at them.

"Oh come on, it's not my fault."

Mario chuckled himself, but quickly became somber. "Kiara, there are a few things I want to ask you while we're here. You held the Apple of Eden, did you not?"

I nodded, "Briefly, yes,"

"How did you learn about the Pieces of Eden?"

I took a deep breath, I knew this question had been coming and had spent some time thinking out my answer. I knew I couldn't explain the concept of video games to them, so I resorted to the next best thing.

"There are stories some people tell, about the Pieces of Eden. I never paid much attention, so I don't know much. All I know is that they have strange powers."

Mario and Giovanni exchanged glances before looking back at me.

"Which Pieces have you heard about?" Giovanni asked.

I shook my head, "Only the Apple. Like I said, I never paid much attention. I thought they were just stories, and that the fight between Assassins and Templars were just games children played."

Mario looked thoughtful for a moment before he spoke again.

"When you held the Apple, did you hear or see anything?"

I thought hard, trying to remember what happened when I was transported to Italy.

"No, I didn't. Why?"

The man looked troubled, "I've dealt with a Piece before, not the Apple though. In '54 the Florentine attacked Monteriggioni, not long after you left Giovanni. We repealed their attack, and at first I thought it was just another attempt to claim this city for the Republic of Florence. However, I was wrong. We managed to capture a spy within our walls and he eventually confessed that the Florentine were really after a Piece of Eden buried under the city."

"The Apple?" Ezio asked.

Mario shook his head, "No, another Piece many have referred to as the Shroud. Some claim it was the very shroud that the body of Jesus Christ was wrapped in before he rose from the dead. I and a group of my men discovered that the well had been modified in the past. When we managed to get underground, we discovered ancient tunnels and a hidden chamber. This chamber was protected by traps that killed some of my men and wounded others," Here he motioned to the scar on his face, "including me. We finally managed to get beyond the traps and found the box that contained the Shroud. When we approached, we…we all heard a voice speaking to us."

Mario paused and the rest of exchanged worried glances before he continued.

"My men believed what was in the box could heal our wounds, but I didn't trust it. When I refused to open the box, they attacked me and I was forced to defend myself. In the end, all of the men who had come with me died. I was so disgusted by what this artifact had caused that I wanted the thing out of my city. As I carried back to the entrance, it continued to speak to me, beseeching me to allow it to heal my wounds, but I refused."

Mario stopped speaking again, and Giovanni picked up the story.

"When Mario brought the artifact above ground, he contacted me. I rode back here, picked up the Shroud, and took it to our Brothers in Agnadello. But I must confess, I heard a voice speaking to me as well."

The silence that fell over us was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Mario shook his head as if to get rid of bad memories.

"Enough about the Pieces of Eden, we don't have any of them in our possession. What we need to figure out now, is who tried to kill you all and why."

"Borgia," Giovanni spoke, his voice dark, "he's behind all this."

"Who is this Borgia?" Federico asked.

"Rodrigo Borgia," Mario answered, "one of the most powerful men in all of Europe, and leader of the Templar Order. We've been hunting him for years."

"I nearly had the bastardo in Rome." Giovanni growled, "If he hadn't thrown a knife into my chest he would be dead. But it was Uberto who sent the soldiers after us in Firenze; he needs to be dealt with first."

"How long do you think he has been in league with the Templars?" Mario asked.

"I don't know, but at any rate he knows a great deal about me and what I've done over the last few years. I'm just thankful I didn't tell him I had family in Monteriggioni."

"Then we need to find him," It was Federico who spoke up this time, and Ezio nodded in agreement. Giovanni looked proud, but serious.

"The life of an Assassin is not easy, my sons."

"It is better than sitting here and waiting for them to come to us," Ezio said.

Mario clapped his hands together eagerly. "Excellent. From what my brother has told me, both of you have already started some of your Assassin training, even though you didn't know it, and we will continue that training here. But, before we do that, I understand that there is an escaped horse that needs to be caught."

Giovanni motioned to me. "If anyone can catch that animal, it's Kiara. The horse favors her for some reason."

Ezio snorted, "Only because she fed him treats every time she visited the stables."

"And I can ride him because of it, remember?" I asked.

Mario interrupted, "Let's put it to the test then, eh? Come along, Kiara, let's see what you can do."

"Alright, but I have to get something first. I'll meet you outside."

I ran to the kitchen and after a little searching I had the luck of finding one apple. It was a little old and wrinkled, but I doubted Storm would care. I cut it into pieces and then hurried back out to where everyone else was waiting. Mario eyed the fruit in my hand rather skeptically.

"You must know something we do not, my stable hand has already tried food,"

He led the way down the stair and into town. Now that I was here I could see just how rough times had been. The shops looked a little run down, but the people didn't seem to mind. Everyone greeted Mario as he walked past and Giovanni kept up just fine despite having to deal with a crutch. It didn't take us long to reach the gates and I couldn't help but admire the huge stone battlements as we walked underneath them.

The stables were located just outside the gate and were fairly small. The stable hand greeted Mario as we walked up.

"Salute, Mario,"

"Salute, my friend. We've come to deal with the escaped horse,"

The man shook his head, "I hope you have better luck than I, then. I've tried everything I could think of, but he refuses to let me near him. I saw him down by the pond a few moments ago, he might still be there."

"Grazie,"

"Take this." the man pulled out a soft, rope halter, "He still has the bridle on,"

Mario ducked his head in thanks and started in the direction where the pond was with the rest of us tagging along behind.

"Are you faring well, fratello?" He called over his shoulder, and I didn't miss the teasing in his voice.

Giovanni grunted a little, "In my younger years, I would have not needed this blasted crutch,"

"Ah yes, age does have a way of creeping up on you."

There was a rather wicked gleam in Giovanni's eye as he replied. "Indeed it does, like your grey hairs."

Mario's shoulders slumped in aggravation, and he grumbled under his breath.

"I was hoping you would not notice, malandrina."

Giovanni chuckled and leaned over to me, speaking in a low voice, "He's very sensitive about his hair turning gray."

"I am not!"

Luckily, the pond wasn't too much further and sure enough, Storm stood on the opposite side of the water looking right at us. Mario crossed his arms and peered at the horse.

"That's a beautiful animal, Giovanni, where did you find him?"

"The local horse merchant in Firenze."

"What breed is he? I can't tell from this distance,"

Giovanni shrugged, "The man couldn't tell me, a mix of some kind I suppose. I would not have bought him if he wasn't so well built."

Mario turned to me. "Well my young friend, I believe this is where you use your extraordinary horsemanship to tame the beast."

I snorted, "No pressure,"

My hand was getting sticky from holding the cut up apple as I started to walk around the pond. The stable hand had been right; Storm was still wearing the bridle and the saddle, and had been for the past two days. Poor guy, that could not be comfortable.

Storm watched me as I came closer, and I stopped when I saw him shift nervously. I whistled softly and his head came up in sudden interest, his ears pricked forward. I had never learned to whistle properly, even though Ezio had spent a fair amount of time trying to teach me. I had learned, however, how to whistle through my teeth and the sound was a higher pitch, almost like a bird call.

I whistled again and Storm started forward slowly, the reigns dragging on the ground. When he was close enough I held out the apple slices for him to see. He whickered and walked right up to me, quickly lipping a slice out of my hand. I only let him have one because he might need some "persuasion" later. While he was munching on his favorite food, I took hold of the reins and led him back to the others.

Giovanni was shaking his head as we approached. "What did I tell you?"

Mario chuckled. "Ah, women and their charms. Toss me a piece of that apple, Kiara."

Once he had a slice, Mario held it out to Storm, who sniffed his hand cautiously before taking the offered fruit. Mario patted Storm's neck before moving down to the slightly askew saddle and expertly removing it. The horse was so relieved to get the thing off that he shook himself, sending dirt and hair everywhere. Federico helped me replace the dirty bridle with the much softer halter and we started back up to the stables.

After Storm was properly settled in at the stables we went back to the villa. Despite his claims to the contrary, Giovanni was a little winded from our trip and had to take a break halfway up the stairs to rest the arm that was working the crutch. He waved everyone else on, but asked me to stay. As soon as Mario and the boys were out of earshot, Giovanni carefully sat down on one of the steps and motioned for me to sit next to him.

"Kiara, I haven't properly said thank you for what you did in Florence. There was no obligation for you to take the measures you did, and I can't fully repay you for saving my family."

I hunched my shoulders awkwardly and brushed my hair behind my ear. "You took me in, Giovanni; there was no obligation there either. It was the least I could do."

Giovanni smiled briefly at me. "Then we seem to be on the same page. I have a proposition for you, Kiara, and I want you to think about it seriously before you give me an answer."

I swallowed and nodded for him to continue.

"You know both Federico and Ezio have agreed to start training to be Assassins, and Mario and I have decided to extend the same opportunity to you as well. I did not say anything earlier because I wanted to ask you personally."

My mouth nearly fell open; they were considering me for Assassin training? Giovanni held up his hand to stop whatever I had to say.

"Please, Kiara, I would not ask you to do this if I did not think you were capable. You have the courage and ability to also become an Assassin."

Giovanni patted my shoulder and stood, propping the crutch under his shoulder.

"Think about it, Kiara, please." With that, Giovanni left me to my decision.

I sat on that step for a long time, agonizing back and forth. First off, I was still confused on why Giovanni and Mario would ask me to be an Assassin. I was just a kid, and a girl on top of that! Sure I could climb and run, but I wasn't nearly as fast or as strong as Ezio and Federico. I didn't even know the first thing about fighting.

I would not ask you to do this if I did not think you were capable.

Capable how, Giovanni? What if I was just a liability? What if I couldn't make the kill?

A cold shiver ran down my spine when I remembered that I had already killed. The thought still made me a bit queasy, but not enough for me to cough up my lunch anymore.

Despite my worries, there was a part of me that wholeheartedly wanted to accept Giovanni's offer. It was the adventurous, fearless side that I had discovered since arriving in Italy. I touched my necklace, rolling the beads between my finger and thumb. What would dad want me to do?

I closed my eyes and thought back on all the kindness the Auditores had shown me over the last couple months. They were my family now, and if there was some small way I could help keep them safe, I wanted to do it. I knew being an Assassin was more than that, but when I thought of what Uberto had tried to do, it made me sick all over again. Dad had told me once that things happen for a reason, even if we don't understand at the time. I had to believe that now.

I kissed my necklace and got to my feet. I would go to Giovanni and give him my answer.

I would be an Assassin.

Back in Florence, under the cover of night, a man waited nervously in a darkened alley. Uberto knew that Borgia was not pleased with the Auditore's escape, which usually meant that someone was going to pay. The Gonfaloniere cursed for the umpteenth time since arriving. This whole situation could have been avoided if that fool Maffie had just done as he had been told and gone to the Auditore household alone after Giovanni had returned from Rome. The Assassin was no fool; of course he would have disappeared at the first sign of trouble, only to reemerge causally, publicly, and temporarily out of their reach. Giovanni had put that short amount of time to good use too, by enlisting the help of that strange young woman that had suddenly appeared in their home.

Now Maffie was gone and the soldiers not doubt dead. Uberto warily eyed a passed-out drunk at the other end of the alley. He still didn't fully understand why Borgia had summoned him to this unseemly place. It was disgusting and reeked of garbage and filth. The sound of footsteps tore Uberto from his troubled thoughts and he breathed a silent sigh of relief as Borgia and his ever-present henchmen appeared.

"What is the meaning of this, Borgia?"

The man disregarded the question. "What have you heard of the Auditores?"

"Nothing, the soldiers I sent after them were all found slain not far from Florence. They could be anywhere by now."

Rodrigo's eyes narrowed under the shadow of his hood. "None of your contacts has any information?"

"N-no," Uberto didn't mean to sound so nervous, but he didn't like the way this conversation was going.

"Then you are of no more use to me, and I cannot tolerate any loose ends."

The blood drained from Uberto's face. "No! Maestro I beg you, I have a wife and son! I still employed by the Medici, I can still serve you!"

"I have other men watching the Medici, those who have a more…personal stake against them."

"The Pazzi? B-but they are unpredictable, barbaric!"

Rodrigo pointed an accusing finger at the terrified man, "And yet they have shown better results. You knew what would happen if you failed us, Uberto, now it's time to pay the price. Father Maffie, dispose of him."

Uberto's eyes nearly bugged out of his head as one of the men pushed his hood back to reveal the narrow features of the monk.

"Y-you?"

The man pulled out a stiletto, a tight smile pulling at the corner of his mouth as he spoke for the first time in years.

"You were right, mio amico, secrets do indeed die here."

Raggazo - Boy
Ehi - Hey
Molto bene - Very good
Nipoti - Nephews
Salute - Hello
Fratello - Brother
Malandrina - Smartass
Maestro - Master
Mio amico - My friend

A/N – HAPPY NEW YEARS!

Hey, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, I know I did, and a good New Year's celebration. I really wanted to have this chapter up before the first of the year, but I couldn't get it out fast enough.

I have a favor to ask of all of you. As I was working on the next chapter, a little, interesting tangent manifested. I was debating whether or not to put it in, and I thought I'd leave the decision up to you readers. I've put an excerpt on my profile page so I don't bore you with an insanely long author's note, and I tried to get a poll up but couldn't get it to work. *fail* Sooo, you'll have to take an extra thirty seconds and tell me what you want through the reviews.

*Edit - The decision has been made. This excerpt is no longer available.*

Thanks again to all those who have reviewed, faved, or placed this story on their alerts. You guys rock!

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MJE - Have I told you how much I love getting your reviews? Your rant on Ezio still cracks me up.

~TKD Dragon