A/N: Another chapter of Team RWBY! Just letting you know that I have seen the first episode of season 7, and I am hyped to see what happens next. I hope that this season will inspire me in future chapters. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 8: Sequence 2 – Laying Low
January, 1477
After Ezio fulfilled is revenge, he ran back to the brothel, still running on the rooftops as he carefully avoids the guards patrolling on them. A notification appears.
'ARCHERS'
'On ROOFTOPS, failure to head the ARCHERS' WARNINGS will cause them to ATTACK.'
"Of course, there would be guards keeping watch on the roofs," Weiss said, stating the obvious.
"Why didn't we see them in the beginning?" Blake asked.
"Probably because it was the beginning of the game."
"Ooooh. I take it this is one of your experience in playing games." Yang smirked, attempting to tease the heiress.
"Why yes, in fact, it is the normal setting when starting any game." The heiress answered not affected by Yang's attempt, which made her pout in annoyance.
As soon as the coast was clear, Ezio got down from the rooftop and carefully made his way back to the La Rosa Colta, first meeting Paola upon arrival.
Paola gave Ezio a warm hug being glad that he returned safe and sound.
"I think it's best if I leave Firenze." Ezio declared as he broke the hug with Paola.
"Good idea." The Faunus said, remembering how she cut her connections with the White Fang. "Best to leave if you want to have a new start."
The others knew what she meant, and they didn't say anything on the topic.
"Where will you go?"
"My uncle Mario owns a villa near Monteriggioni."
Ruby gasped in excitement at the revelation of Ezio having an uncle. "He has an uncle?!" The scythe user squeaked, remembering about her and Yang's uncle Qrow.
"Huh, who would have thought?" Yang blinked but smirked, thinking the same as her sister while being happy to know that Ezio still has other family members.
Weiss and Blake smiled, being glad that there are more Auditores to be with his family.
"You're still a wanted man, Ezio." The brothel owner reminds the wanted fugitives.
"What would you have me do, then?"
"I've seen posters all across the district." She cups her chin as she thinks for a way to help Ezio. "Tearing them down will help the city forget your face."
"Not a bad idea." The raven head hummed.
"No doubt the heralds also incite the public. Bribe them, and they'll speak of other things."
"Crude… but can't deny its effectiveness." The white head admitted.
"Or you can hunt those who bear false witness against you. They traded dignity for coin. Their loss would not be mourned."
Ruby sighed at the last part. "More killing? Really?"
"Well, this game is about assassination Rubes, so yeah, that is the idea." The blondie answered while Ruby just pouted.
"Do any of these, and you should be free to leave."
Ezio, understanding what to do, leaves the brothel and roams the streets doing precisely what he needs to do, reduced his notoriety by following Paola's suggestions, and was free to leave the city after that.
A notification appears.
'Checkpoint reached.'
'Reduce your notoriety.'
'Remove posters, bribe heralds, or kill officials.'
At that moment, Rebecca contacts Desmond inside the Animus.
"I've added a program for tracking notoriety. This little meter will help you know how far you are between notorious and incognito."
Just as Rebecca explains, a notification appears.
'WARNING: You are no NOTORIOUS. Guards are on high alert.'
'Reduce your notoriety.'
"Now, that's going to help us a lot in the future," Ruby noted.
"This will help you know if you should watch your actions. It'll also tell you if the Notoriety level is a part of Ezio's memory or not."
As Ezio walks the streets being careful not to be spotted by the guards, he founds a wanted poster of himself nailed on the wall of a building.
"Oh! Found a wanted poster." The brawler stated as she controls Ezio to the said poster.
He walks up to and tears it down. A notification appears after he did it.
'NOTORIETY: -25%.'
"I see… judging by the reduced percentage after ripping out that wanted poster, Ezio's Notoriety should be now 75%." Weiss deduced as she calculates Ezio's Notoriety levels.
After tearing down the wanted poster, he continues to walk the streets later he finds a herald speaking out to the audience what has transpired.
Ezio walked up to the herald, whispered something to his ears while handing him a small pouch filled with Florins. The herald quietly chuckled then began to inform the people with a lie that the young Auditore gave him. Another notification appears.
'NOTORIETY: -50%.'
"Hmm, that's a lot before the last one," Blake noted after bribing the herald then scoffed. "Guess money can turn people around," she says, almost hearing the irony on those words. Weiss scoffed as well having an annoying reminder what money can do to you used in the wrong way.
After bribing the herald, Ezio sets out to the streets once more, making sure that he is purely incognito. After a moment, he finds an official strolling around the streets, unaware that Ezio has spotted him.
Ruby wanted to say something, but her sister beat her to the punch.
"I know what you're thinking sis, but c'mon let's just see how this plays out." Ruby opened her mouth but then closed then gave a small nod with a smile signaling the okay for her sister.
Ezio tales the official while making sure not to be noticed, as he gets closer he readies his Hidden Blade as he got closer he uses his free hand to cover the official's mouth to prevent him from screaming while he uses his other to stab his target on the back performing a silent assassination.
The girls slightly cringed at the site.
"Is it strange that I'm slowly getting used to this?" Ruby innocently asked her fellow teammates and sister.
"You're not the only one asking that question, Ruby." Her partner answered, also getting the feeling of growing used to the sight of assassination despite it being a game. Both Blake and Yang can't help but agree.
Ezio walks away as the official slowly gags in pain then drops to the ground dead. Another notification appears after the deed was done.
'NOTORIETY: -75%.'
"What a surprise." The heiress scoff as she rolled her eyes unamused by the amount of percentage dropped by the now-dead official. Understanding her position, she knows when people tend to use their status for their selfish gain.
After losing his notoriety, Ezio Auditore returned to the brothel to meet up with Paola.
"Bentornato Ezio. (Welcome back.) Were you successful?"
"Yes."
After hearing his answer, she turns around and claps her hand twice.
Ezio looks at the direction she gestures at, his eyes opening wide at the site. "Madre? (Mother?)"
The girls perked up at what Ezio said.
('Sad Music' Plays)
The girls slowly get emotional by the music being played in the background, clearly knowing that Ezio's mother and sister will hear the fate of Giovanni and the two sons.
Ezio looks up to see his mother being assisted by Anneta and sister, Claudia, quickly walking down the stairs. Paola moved away to give the family a moment together.
"Ezio! Where have you been?! They wouldn't let us leave." Claudia said as she was excited and relieved to see her brother and embraced him. "And mother... Uch! She hasn't spoken a single word since we left the house." His sister says as she breaks free from their hug and gives another to his mother.
The girls could only give a sad smile and relief at Ezio's reunion with his remaining family.
"Father will need to sort things out..." Claudia continued, not noticing the sad look in her brother's eyes as he held their mother.
After hearing that question, the girls' sad smiles turn into a sad frown braising themselves at what comes next.
"Where is father? And Federico? And Petruccio?" The only daughter of the Auditore asked her brother but then notices that he was looking away as soon as he broke free from their mother. "Hmmm?"
"Something's happened." The brother could only say in a low voice loud enough for her sister to hear.
"What do you mean?" Claudia asked confused then had a quick realization in what her brother's word means. "No. It's impossible!" She shook her head as she took a step back, hoping that her brother is wrong.
"Claudia..."
"No, no, no, no." The sister turned away, not wanting to hear anymore.
"I did everything I could, piccina (little one)..." Ezio walked up to her sister as she starts to cry; he held her as he cried into his shoulder.
All the girls couldn't help but be truly sad at the lost of Giovanni, Federico, and Petruccio.
Weiss and Blake could only give their respects again for their deaths. While Ruby slightly cried a tear as she can't help herself at remembering the loss of her mother, Summer Rose, on the day they heard her passing. Yang notices this and understands what's she's thinking, she hugs her to calm her down, after that they returned to the game.
"Listen, right now, what matters is getting us all someplace safe. But to do that, I need you to stay focused. Do you understand?" She calmed herself and nodded at Ezio as she broke her embrace with him.
"Good. Will you watch over mother for me?" She nodded again, confirming in her brother's request. She walked to her mother, who sadly didn't say a word, too much in shock after everything that has happened.
Ezio walked up to Paola. "Then, we are ready. Thank you again for everything."
Paola kissed Ezio by the chick "Stay safe, Ezio. Stay vigilant. I suspect the road ahead is yet long."
With that note, Ezio and his mother and sister left the brothel and began their journey to leave Firenze. Notifications soon appear afterward, including a Database of Maria Auditore.
"Oh! We finally get to see the profile on Ezio's mom!" The cookie lover shouted eager to learn more about the said women while the others are also interested in knowing.
'"Tomorrow I will make Torta Bolognese. I leave to pick up the eggs and meat from the market and will be back in time to open the bakery as the sun strikes the top of the courtyard. How privileged a life we lead. It is hard to remember on such a day that what is given may also be taken away."
These are the final lines of Maria's diaries.
Born into the powerful banking family, the Mozzi, Maria is one of the most famous historical sources of the time period due to her multi-volume diary, which has been translated by several notable scholars and is on display in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
Now, thanks to the Animus, we know why her diaries ceased. After her husband Giovanni's arrest, during which Maria was mistreated by Florence's guards, she entered a semi-catatonic state. Cared for by Ezio's sister Claudia at the Villa Auditore, she remained silent for years until Ezio brought her a bundle of feathers he had collected during his travels, an activity that her youngest son Petruccio once engaged in. Brought back to life by Ezio's gift, her temperament has been improving steadily since.'
The girls where sadden and hurt at how a wonderful mother and wife such as Maria had gone through in her life, but soon they where touched in happiness when they read in the last part where Ezio did everything he can to help his mother recover through his youngest brother's memory.
'Checkpoint reached.'
'Escort your family out of Florence.'
Ezio guides his family through the city, not drawing any attention to him or his family as he safely guides them thankfully due to being incognito.
A notification appears.
'THROW MONEY.'
'PRESS button to access the WEAPON WHEEL. Select THROW MONEY.'
'THROW money to ATTRACT civilians and DISTRACT guards.'
Weiss scoffed again with slight amusement in the notification seeing the irony on what money can do depending on how you use it.
On reaching the city gates, he sees that there are a lot of guards preventing anyone from leaving the city.
A profile database on Caravan Travel.
"Caravan travel?" Ruby asked. "Like a trailer?"
"I'm assuming it would be one of the older forms of transportation." Blake deduced. "Remember, Ezio is in the middle ages."
Ruby nodded having her questions answered, Yang then opened the profile.
'REBECCAC84: You should be able to buy a caravan ride to another city.
Travel in the Renaissance was not the disgusting ordeal it is today. Instead, it was merely terrifying. The countryside was filled with bandits, causing most travellers to move in armed groups called caravans. Anxious voyagers usually sewed valuables and gold into the soles of their shoes or the lining of their jackets.
Guides called Vetturini were sometimes hired to help plot the route of the caravans and book rooms at local inns, but those carriers were often working with the bandits, just like travel agents today.'
"Hmm, it's not that different from our history before the CCT was established," Weiss noted, remembering in Remnant's history that mankind had to take a risk in traveling in long distances not only from bandits but constant Grimm attacks.
"Your right about that." The Faunus agrees with the heiress. "But enough of that, how are we going to get the Auditores out of the city now?"
"We could hire the courtesans nearby." The brawler gestured, pointing at the said group near the gate.
"Or we could throw money at them." The team leader suggested. "Or maybe both!" She finished with a small cheer.
"Okay, let's do that," Yang said with a smirk.
Fortunately, there is a group of courtesans in the area. Ezio paid a few courtesans to distract the guards while throwing a few Florins that a few got distracted on. The guards seem to enjoy themselves.
The girls could only stare with dull eyes at the scene as the guards are having the time of their lives.
"Let's try not to do that again…" Yang smirked dropped as she dryly said, gaining a full agreement with the other girls.
Using that chance, the three Auditore snuck through gates and followed the road leading to Monteriggioni on foot.
"Why are they traveling to Monteriggioni on foot? Wouldn't take long for them?" Ruby asked.
"Either they don't have the funds to hire a caravan or the travel isn't that long." Her partner deduced.
"How could this have happened to us…?" Claudia asked with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"I don't know." Ezio could answer.
"Will we ever be back?"
"I don't know."
A moment of silence as they traveled through the road.
"What will happen to our house?" Claudia broke the silence by asking another question.
"I don't know!" Ezio responded in an irritated manner.
"Yeash… take it easy, we know you have it rough, but you didn't have to snap like that to your sister." Yang said with a huff.
Meanwhile, on Earth…
Tython could only scoff at the irony in what Yang said since he knows what will happen to her at the end of Season 3.
Back to Team RWBY…
"Were they..." His sister hesitated in asking but still pushed through. "Were they given a proper burial?"
The girls blinked at the unexpected question.
"Wait… where they proper are given a burial?" Ruby asked with hoping that the deceased Auditores were given a funeral. A note from Tython appears to her.
'Don't worry, Ruby, they were given a proper burial. But that's only shown in the next installment.'
"That's good," Ruby answered, relieved to hear that. "But why the next game?"
'Now that would be telling.'
Ruby just a cute pout in annoyance.
Understanding what his sister meant, Ezio nods. "Yes. They were..."
They continued their journey from Florence travel to Monteriggioni, where his Uncle's villa was located, hoping that they could find a safe place to stay for the time being.
'Memory Synched: Sequence 2 Complete'
"And that ends the second sequence," Yang said as she stretches her arms. "Wanna continue?"
"As much as I wish to continue the game, I believe its best that we do something else for the rest of the afternoon." The white-haired girls offered as she stood up to stretch a bit.
"Your right can't sit around all day just play games." The cat Faunus replied as she stood and checked the time on her scroll. "Oh, we've been playing for like almost two hours."
"Really? Two hours, Huh? Time flies when you're having fun." The blondie stated as she notices that the game console has saved the game and shut itself off. Knowing this, she decides to put down the controller. "We can play again later at night."
"That's a good idea, Yang!" The red theme girl cheered as she stood up along with her fellow teammates. "To be honest I want to try and recreate my own Hidden Blade. After seeing it in action I so want to build one!" She chirped as she got excited about the idea of probably being the first person to make the first Hidden Blade in Remnant like the Assassins.
"Careful Ruby, now you wouldn't want to make Crescent Rose jealous, now would you?" Yang glanced at her sister giving her teasing smirk.
Ruby flushed and glared at her. "YANG! It's not like that! I would never keep my eyes away from my baby!"
The Yang, Blake, and Weiss laughed at the joke then slowly Ruby joined in the laughter.
As the laughter broke slowly broke down, Blake was the first to speak. "So, how are you going to make it?" The raven head asked. "I take it you have a few ideas how it works."
"Honestly, there are a few…" Ruby answered, slightly embarrassed. "I was hoping Tython might give tell me how it's designed. Right Tython?" Ruby asked looking up waiting for their outer world friend to reply.
They waited for a moment, but nothing happened, not letters popping out of fin air where coming.
"…Tython?" Ruby asked again but still no answer.
Getting a bit worried, she was about to call Tython again only to be interrupted by her Scroll, making a message ringtone.
Wondering who it is, she checks her Scroll and her to her surprise; the message was from Tython himself.
"Tython?!" Ruby squeaked in surprised while the others, too, were not expecting they would receive his letters via Scroll.
'Sorry for the delay. Just testing out my new way of communication to guys through your Scrolls.'
"Wait, you can contact us with our Scrolls?" Weiss said a bit perplexed by his new way of communication. "Why haven't you done this before?"
'First, it was the first time I have ever contacted anyone aside from my world, so imagine how difficult that would be.'
The girls nodded in understanding; they know that communication to other worlds was an incredible achievement in that, but they could imagine how difficult it would be to achieve it.
'Second, we don't want piles of paper filling up your trash bin all the time, now would we?'
The girls blinked at the second part, and they glanced at their bin and notice that it is nearly full of all letters that Tython has send them the moment they received the game and console.
"True, this method is better than wasting paper," Blake noted while the others agreed.
*Ding* Another message came from Ruby's Scroll.
'Now about that, Hidden Blade.'
Ruby gasped in excitement while her silver eyes began to sparkle. "Tell me, tell me, tell me, Pleeeaaaasssseee teeeeeelllll meeeeeee!" She cries as she jumps up and down in excitement.
Yang and the other just chuckled at their leader's antics. "Ruby! Calm down." Her sister is the voice of reason that made Ruby stop and just chuckled embarrassingly with a sheepish smile.
'The Hidden Blade is a concealable weapon that is composed of a narrow blade set into a channel on the underside of a bracer or gauntlet. Controlled by a spring-loaded mechanism, the blade can spontaneously extend and retract from its position.
Like what Leonardo said, during Altaïr's time, the blade initially required the amputation of a ring finger as a means of allowing the blade to be extended should the user clench their fist. But thankfully, during that time, Altaïr redesigned the Hidden Blade so future Assassins would not need to lose their finger.
As for how you activate the trigger mechanism, the blade would be launched by a pressure switch inside the bracer itself.'
Ruby took careful notes after reading the design and functions of the hidden blade while the others were fascinated by the simple yet unique design of the blade's history.
After finishing her notes, there was big smile on her face. "Thanks, Tython! With this I can totally make the Hidden Blade." She chirped but then turned to a thoughtful look. "But what about the gun?"
'You'll have to progress the game if you won't find out more.'
Ruby pouted but understood then smiled again. "Okay, time I go and buy some supplies for my little project."
"Mind if I join you, Ruby?" The heiress offered. "I wouldn't mind paying everything you need, so you don't worry about the price."
"Woah-ho, now where did that come from?" Yang said with a teasing smirk.
"I see no reason why I shouldn't help my partner," Weiss said with a small smile then turned to a smirk. "And besides, I doubt my father would complain if all that money goes to charity for all the stores we'll be shopping soon."
"Smart," Blake said with a cheeky smirk from herself.
"Then what are we waiting for!" Ruby said as she grabbed hold of her partner. "Bye, Yang, bye Blake we'll see you at lunch."
Figuring out what Ruby was about to do, she looked up to her partner. "Ruby wait, we can just wa-." Before Weiss could finish her sentence, Ruby used her Semblance and turning them into red and white blur as they burst out of their dorm room, leaving behind a trail of red and white rose petals flying behind Yang and Blake.
"Well, that was a thing…" Yang said as she turned to her partner. "So, any plans for the afternoon?"
"I think we should take this time to train," Blake answered.
"Cool, want to do some sparing?"
"Actually… I want to try something else."
"Oh? What's on your mind?"
Blake slightly blushed a bit, fidgeting what she wants to tell Yang. "Do you… want to play hide-and-seek?"
"Hide-and-seek?" Yang blinked at the question. "Why do you- oooohhh… I get what you're saying." Yang then turned into a teasing smirk again.
"Do you want to or not?" Blake gave a narrow glare at her partner but still held the slight blush on her face.
"Sure, sure, I'll play along kitty cat, besides there's also something I want to do while we train."
"And what that be?"
"You'll see." The brawler said as she and Blake walked out of their dorm room.
To be continued…
A/N: That's the end of Sequence 2. This chapter felt a bit short, so I decided to give Team RWBY some time for themselves. As you may realize, Tython and Triscythe purposely gave the two teams this game so they could grow into better Hunters to avoid the tragedies in their future, multiverse, and whatnot. I hope you look forward to the next chapters.