Unmei Force Solitary Legends: The Creed of Fate
Sequence EX-03: The Redemption
Part 1: Dark Waters
The Aquila continued sailing towards New York, as there were multiple ships guarding New York, which wasn't a good thing, especially due to the fact that they had already begun making moves towards the Aquila.
"Ships off the port bow, captain!" Called one of the crew-mates.
"We're not flying the king's colours, they're sure to fire on us… Mizo, guide us through, captain!" Faulkner ordered.
"As you wish. Hatoumaunka, Erazakt'in, take the swivel guns… You can do some work with them." Koyomi stated, as she called for full sails. "Load fire shots! We'll burn their armada down into the deep seas!"
The group immediately engaged the Patriot fleet, as the Aquila fought strongly against the ships of the enemy fleet, as the cannon barrages and swivel guns made short work of the smaller ships, and crippled the bigger ones to be destroyed in flaming wrecks by the next cannon barrage, as Koyomi even rammed one of the damaged ships head-on, avoiding the flaming areas to avoid passing flames to the Aquila, as the impact broke the ship in two.
It wasn't long before the ships were all taken down, as Haytham and Connor got an idea, and both looked at one another with recognition.
"Mizo, pull us closer to the wrecked ship." Connor said.
"What? What's the use of a wrecked ship? Nothing valuable there." Koyomi reasoned.
"Nothing except a disguise. We can use its flag to fly it on our ship, disguising our vessel as one of theirs." Haytham said.
"Fairly good for an idea. It'll keep them confused about who's enemy and ally long enough for us to make our attack." Koyomi nodded. "All hands, ready yourself to gather the enemy flag. We will make them tremble as the Ghost of the North Sea pops right behind them, with cannons and swivels blazing!"
The Aquila was quickly fitted with the Patriot flag, as they continued on.
"How long has it been since I saw such a memorable sea battle, and the feeling of blood rushing from the adrenaline…" Faulkner stated. "Sailing around, sinking those in our path to victory… that's the life…"
"I very much agree." Koyomi stated. "No wonder I took to sailing a ship as its captain well, it must be in the deeper reaches of my heritage, heh heh."
Koyomi then noticed a minefield ahead, as she quickly called for half-sails, as she carefully guided the Aquila through it, without any of the mines even coming close to brushing the Aquila's hull. Eventually, they reached the waters near New York, the dock in sight.
"Right! Ladies, if you will, shoot those mines! We're going to give them one hell of a wake-up call when their vanguard is obliterated in a chain of mine explosions!" Faulkner exclaimed.
Hitomi grinned wildly, as she aimed for one of the mines, before she then ignited it, as it caused a chain reacction along the line of mines, as any Patriot ships in the vicinity was blown into smithereens without any idea of what is going on at all, as the other ships were alerted to the Aquila, but not before it fired its cannons and swivels everywhere to damage the dock-borne fleet.
"Fire! FIRE! Today, the Ghost of the North will be famed as the ship that cleaned out New York's waters on her lonesome!" Faulkner ordered, rousing the men to battle.
As barrage after barrage was fired from the drifting Aquila, sinking more and more of the Patriot fleet, the swivels did their work, taking out critical parts of larger ships, and even causing them great damage with properly aimed shots at their powder reserves. However, just when there were all but a few gunboats and a man-of-war left…
"Sir, we're out of gunpowder! The cannons and swivels are good as useless now!" One of the crew-members stated.
"W-What!? But we are… Damn it to hell! I should have taken precautions to stock just even a little more gunpowder! Even a purse of it will suffice to deal the final blows…!" Faulkner cursed. "And there is no time to walk away from all of this… after everything we have done…!"
"There is one way we can finish this." Koyomi stated with a serious expression. "Faulkner, fold those sails as straight as they can be, we will push the Aquila to her limits, until she is a unstoppable force… We will ram those ships right down into the ocean."
"...I should have known it would come to this…" Faulkner remarked, with a solemn expression. "Crew, you heard the captain's orders. Make the Aquila dance along the waters with her full speed and fury! I shall stay and stand by our captain's-"
"No, you cannot go down with this ship yet, Mister Faulkner." Koyomi stated. "That role should go with me, as her bonded captain. I will make sure that even if she sinks today… She will drag as many of the enemies that have mortally wounded her, with her down to the deepest depths of the waters… One final act of vengeance upon this earthly realm… for this ghost who has long-awaited her time to let go."
"My god… Your words.. They are beautiful…" Faulkner remarked, as he held back tears with how moved he was, before he then turned away to abandon ship. "I suppose that there is no better way for old Aquila to go out, in a blaze of glory. Farewell, old lady, you have been a ship that I could never say I truly deserved. And I hope you find your peaceful rest."
He then went overboard, as the rest of the crew did the same, followed by Benjamin, Haytham and Lucina. Connor, Eruza and Hitomi stayed, much to Koyomi's irritation.
"I told you to go-" Koyomi stated.
"If the Aquila goes down, we're staying to see it through." Connor responded back. "Besides, I can't risk you being ambushed and killed after all, like last time. We face whatever is ahead together."
"Damn right! We're not jumping this ship until you're out as well!" Hitomi shouted.
"Ratonhnhake:ton… Hatomaun:ka… Erazakt'in… Thank you." Koyomi responded back with gratitude.
Koyomi then focused her attention to the approaching Patriot ships, as she rammed them one by one, crushing the hulls of the gunboats under the Aquila's own, regardless of what wounds its hull suffered from the attacks of the other ships. When she took down the other ships, excluding the man-of-war, the Aquila was already taking in water, and yet it sailed at full speed nonetheless, as if the wind was helping it to its final destination.
"EAT THIS!" Koyomi declared, pointing the Aquila straight towards the centre of the man-of-war, as she turned to the others. They all jumped off the Aquila, just before it collided with the centre mass of the man-of-war, igniting a massive reserve of gun-powder inside it, as the resulting explosion sank both ships.
Koyomi watched sadly as the Aquila slowly listed and then sunk below the water surface. "Rest in peace, great Aquila, even if you are not alive… may the spirits take your own spirit, if there is one, to a peaceful afterlife." She chanted.
The four then made their way to the coast, as there was already a scene happening there…
Part 2: The Third Sky World Journey
Benjamin Franklin soon made it to shore, as he quickly checked, finding his spectacles still on his face.
"My spectacles, thank god!" Benjamin said with relief as he soon got to his feet, and ran to an alley to hide from Bluecoats. After they passed, Benjamin tried peeking out when…
"Quite a sight, isn't it?" Washington said, having been behind Benjamin on Horseback, as Benjamin was scrambling to get away.
"Stay away from me!" Benjamin pleaded. "I will not come under your power again!"
"No need to worry." Washington said, about to kill Benjamin…
When a gun shot rang out, striking Washington's horse as he dropped to the ground, as Haytham was the source of it, as he began walking towards Washington, with Lucina and Kanen'to:kon by his side.
"Your treachery ends today, Washington!" Haytham said, approaching Washington as Bluecoats rushed to his aide, only to be stopped and killed by Haytham and Lucina as Kanen'to:kon rushed to Washington, about to chop off his head… when a line of Bluecoat reinforcements came in, and fired at Kanen'to:kon, as he fell on Washington, as Haytham and Lucina both cursed under their breath.
"You live to see another day, Mad King. But know this, you are a fool, if you believe you can stand up to the Assassins!" Haytham said, before he and Lucina dashed off to meet up with the others.
"Get...this… off… me!" Washington ordered, as Bluecoats walked over to get Kanento'kon's body off him, as Washington got up, before he then snatched the scepter from one of the nearby Bluecoats, who picked it up. "Never touch that! Find that traitor and his partner, and find those damn natives who have ruined my plans! Disperse!"
Washington then rode away, as the Bluecoats split off as well, while Benjamin walked over to Kanen'to:kon, trying to get a response from him, before Koyomi and the others arrived, as Koyomi's face paled several shades, and Connor look horrified.
"Kanen'to:kon!" Koyomi exclaimed, as she darted over, as she shook him firmly. "Oh spirits, wake up! We're just in the grasp of ending all of this, and saving our tribe! Don't die! We haven't seen victory yet! You wouldn't give up so easily… right? Please… please…"
"Damn… That was a bad way to go out…" Eruza remarked with a sympathetic expression on her face. "Seems like he got shot through many times over… wonder if it was to save Benjamin…"
"I'm sorry that your friend has been killed, for my life… I cannot say that my life is close to as valued as his life was to you all." Benjamin stated with a regretful expression. "He very nearly killed Washington while Haytham and Lucine held off the Bluecoats…"
Connor walked over, as he took Kanen'to:kon's tomahawk, as a memoir from his fallen friend. "It will take more than a tomahawk to kill Washington… even though your words are true." He stated, before he then pulled out the flask with the Great Willow's tea. "It will take great power. There is only enough for one more Sky World Journey for all of us. Hopefully, it will be the last gift of power we need to strike down Washington."
"We do have this." Benjamin stated, showing the key he forged from the enigmatic metal from Boston.
"It won't be enough. Washington will not go easy, even if we sneaked upon him with your key to guide us in." Koyomi answered back. "The Animal Spirits know things we do not know. And we will learn of them when we make our journey to them. All I ask is that you watch over us, Benjamin… we have a tendency to wander in the catatonic state that we will soon find ourselves in."
"Catatonic, what are you talking about-" Benjamin tried to ask, as the four already took the last of the willow tea into them, before the world shifted around them again, as they found themselves on a platform again, as Kanehti:to's ethereal visage faced them again.
"Why have you returned to this place?" She asked the group. "I weep for you both, my son and Mizo… Can you not see that you are lost!? You have defied me! You ignored my last wish! I cannot-"
"The spirits would not halt us like this!" Connor spoke suddenly, halting the words. "This is mind games, we are stronger and know better than this!"
"So do us a favour, and piss off!" Hitomi shouted back. "We don't need you to tell us how we live our lives! We're damn fine, and we stay that way! So shove those false words up your ass where they belong!"
At this proclamation, the ethereal Ziio disappeared, as the real spirit of Ziio appeared before them, looking relieved.
"I was hoping you all would see past that folly." Ziio said with a smile. "I understand that perhaps I was a fool… the Great Willow was required to stand a chance against the Mad King… I wish you all well, and let the spirits of the animals guide you."
All of a sudden, the area around them got the normal colour, as they soon were separated, each going on a different spirit animal journey. Connor's journey was a simple one, saving a giant bear by pulling out spears from it, flying platform to platform to get close to the golden spears of light and remove them.
Hitomi would soon find herself in an ethereal forested area, as she saw a badger running around her, seeming to want to play with her, but hiding in fear, as hunters were heard coming after the badger.
"Heh, so this is my trial… Fighting off these hunters to save what would be my kin? Couldn't ask for better. Let's go, you damn mooks!"
Hitomi fought against the hunters, as they started out to be nothing but fodder to her, with how few their numbers were. However, with each new wave of hunters, they were starting to get more equipment to fight back, and their numbers also rose with each wave, as Hitomi was starting to slip up, as her actions ended up getting her hurt, although she managed to get most of the waves done, before she was surrounded by a entire camp's worth of hunters, with top-line gear.
"Well… I suppose that's as far as I can go… Would be a real good time to get a part of what would be my original powers back right now…" Hitomi stated, as the badger spirit noticed Hitomi's efforts, as it immediately jumped right into Hitomi from behind, as she glowed. "What the…? Is this…?"
Hitomi then felt familiar strength return to her body, as she began to chuckle, before it turned into excited laughter, as she threw her tomahawk, into a nearby tree, before she then brandished her arms out with a swipe, as ethereal claws appeared on it, and on her feet as well.
"Oh, you morons don't know what you're about to be in for!" Hitomi remarked crazily, with blood-lust in her eyes. "Time for you to be the hunted for a change! YAHOO!"
As Hitomi initiated her carnage against the hunter apparitions, Eruza was in a different area, as she was in a savanna, as she saw cheetahs running about the area.
"Huh, I suppose this is the Animus giving us a part of our original powers back." Eruza stated. "Ah well, better than nothing."
She then pursued after the cheetahs, as she tried to gain ground on them, although to no avail, as the cheetahs were too speedy, as she was left panting.
"Jeez… this is a real drag, not having any of the speed here… Brother would face-palm seeing me like this…" Eruza grumbled, before she then noticed a mewling cheetah cub nearby. "Huh?"
She then walked over, as she picked it up, as it looked fairly famished, as it instilled a sense of motherly pity from her.
"Poor thing, must have not gotten its fill." Eruza stated, before she then noticed a gazelle in the distance. "Unless…"
Eruza then cloaked herself, as she carefully approached the gazelle and tore its throat out with a hunting dagger, before she then skinned the carcass of its meat and fur, as she quickly fed the raw meat to the cub, as it let out a few happy growls, which made Eruza smile, before it then latched onto her breast, entering her, as she felt speedy power run through her.
"At last…" Eruza stated, as she moved down to a running position, arching her legs and arms, as they glowed slightly. "Alright, time to play catch-up with the pack and become the leader in their little 'race'!"
Eruza then chased after the distant cheetahs, quickly catching ground with them. On another part of the realm, Koyomi found herself in wildlands, as she plopped right into the centre of a lion pack, which unnerved Koyomi slightly.
"...These lions remind me of Yuugo Tani too much…" She said to herself, before noticing the pack was looking at her with only some interest and no hostility. "...Wait, does this mean that I'm to acquire power from them…? This is… intriguing."
She then saw the lion pack move out, as she followed after them, as they were circling a large elephant, keeping it from escaping, although not attacking at all, as if expecting Koyomi to prove herself.
"Right… Let's see…" Koyomi remarked, as she tried to attack the elephant in various ways, although she couldn't even scratch its thick hide. She did notice a weak-point on the elephant, although the elephant did nothing to expose it. "Urgh… This is not good… I might end up being stuck here, unless…!"
She then turned around, as she was surprised by a lioness pouncing into her, as it knocked her back slightly, as she made herself accustomed to the new powers. She then gathered her voice in her throat, before letting out a fierce bellow, as it frightened the elephant, causing it to lower its guard on its weak-point, as Koyomi attacked it fiercely, before she then raised both of her hands, as they had ethereal lion-paws over them, before she then dug them right into the elephant's body, as it let out a final trumpeting roar, before collapsing dead.
As the four's tasks was done, they suddenly found themselves in an open space, as Washington's ethereal visage appeared before them.
"You cannot match my power! I am freedom itself! This time, I'll make certain of your deaths!" Washington roared, as armies of golden Bluecoat apparitions surrounded them.
"...Well, I gotta hand it to you, Washy, you really want us out." Hitomi remarked. "But thing is…"
"We like to make a objection your statement about us being no match for you…" Eruza added, as she manifested her bodily glow. "I think we're more than a match for you right now."
Koyomi's only response was to let out a cry of fury, as it staggered the nearby Bluecoats, and surprising both Hitomi and Eruza, who recognised the type of roar.
"Was that…?" Hitomi remarked, before she then laughed. "Oh, this is a hoot! I never thought that this kind of match-up would have existed!"
"There is no time to talk about that now. We need to break through and take out Washington's influence!" Connor shouted, as he used his new powers, manifesting a bear's body around himself, as he slammed the ground with such force, that it blasted all nearby Bluecoats away into the air, as they broke apart.
"Yeah, yeah. Hey, Washy, time to pay your rent, or get evicted from our heads!" Hitomi mocked, before she then tore through line after line of Bluecoat apparitions with her furious unarmed swings.
"Now you can see me, and now you can't... because I just took your heads before you even noticed." Eruza spoke in a sing-song voice, as she darted about, cutting apart Bluecoats with her tomahawk in swings that can barely be tracked by human eyes with how fast they are.
Koyomi kept on roaring and slashing with her lion claws, as she made it close to Washington's illusion, as the others gathered up around her.
"BEGONE FROM OUR MINDS, WASHINGTON!" Connor roared, before they unleashed their powers at once on the illusion, as it was immediately turned to ethereal dust from the combined force, as the realm faded out in a bright burst of light.
The four of them jolted away, as Benjamin was trying to feed Hitomi water, as she brushed the pan away.
"You were all feverish, and your eyes were so glossed and red…" Benjamin remarked. "Did you get what you needed?"
"We have, and it pleases us greatly." Connor answered back. "We must separate to search out Jefferson and the rebellion."
They soon heard the sounds of battle in the distance, as it was enough to get the group moving towards the source of the sounds.
Part 4: The Parting of the Blue Sea
They would arrive at the scene of the battle to see Thomas Jefferson fighting off a swarm of Bluecoats alongside multiple men dressed in red. And they weren't faring too well either.
"Looks like the fighting had drawn much of the Bluecoats here, if the rebels are taking their chance to attack the pyramid where Washington proclaims his rule." Benjamin noted.
"We can't let this fight go on, the rebels will be decimated and they can't escape with the enemy surrounding them. We have to get down there!" Koyomi exclaimed.
"Let me help Jefferson." Connor stated, as he traversed the rooftops, before he took position above Jefferson, as he was being encircled by Bluecoats, before he leapt from the air, using his bear powers to create a massive slam that sent the Bluecoats flying away, as he pinned Jefferson to keep him from flying away.
"Who are you? Are you… No, that attack blasted the Bluecoats away… Are you the allies that the Assassin group have told me about?" Jefferson asked, as Koyomi, Hitomi and Eruza joined the fray, as they slew Bluecoats left and right, relieving a great deal of stress from the attacking rebels, before Jefferson noticed a Bluecoat trying to take aim at Connor, as he reached up with his hand, aiming the flint-lock and killing the Bluecoat before he could even press the trigger even slightly. "You! Can you perform such a feat again? Washington's men have us completely surrounded."
"I can. The four of us can handle the Bluecoats all by ourselves. Just save your men." Connor stated. "Fight your way to the main gate, their troops are the thinnest there."
"W-What? Are you daft-" Jefferson tried to argue, before he then saw that Hitomi was cackling madly, as she was breaking Bluecoat heads and bones at a rapid pace, while Eruza was zipping about, being a blur that left blood spilling everywhere she passed by, and Koyomi's roars were taking a great toll on the Bluecoats' morale, enough to make them turn their backs from the group, and earning them a swift death by their hands. "...My god… You cannot possibly be truly human like this. I wonder if there was a god that created this miracle. No, I cannot waste this. You have my utter gratitude, brave warriors of the frontier. FALL BACK, MEN! FALL BACK!"
Jefferson then retreated from the area with his rebels, as more Bluecoat reinforcements surged from around the pyramid and nearby suburbs, as it provided the four more enemies to slaughter, as the fighting managed to damage the scaffolding around the temple, to theri advantage, as the falling debris incapacitated many a Bluecoat.
Eventually, their numbers were thinned out enough, that Connor knew that there was no more point in delaying the Bluecoats anymore, or lowering their numbers even more, as the four of them beat a hasty retreat, using their eagle flight to dis-engage quickly, and find Jefferson quickly.
"Ever since you have arrived, not a single man is lost. I grieve for our losses in the early stages of the attack… But once again, I am truly grateful that we suffer no more losses than we need to." Jefferson told them. "We must scatter and disappear into the city. Your allies are waiting for you in a location that they have entrusted me to inform you about. But first, at least let me know who were our saviours."
"Ratonhnhake:ton." Connor introduced himself, before pointing at the rest of his group. "Kanemik:zo, Hatomaun:ka, and Erazakt'in."
Jefferson then shook hands with the four of them, although he was shaken from the fierce effort put in by Hitomi.
"Alright… just follow me, and try not to draw attention, I'm sure that the Bluecoats would be looking for all of us." Jefferson stated.
"Don't worry about that, I think we cleaned much of the 'house', so to speak." Hitomi smirked back.
"My god, surely you jest?" Jefferson exclaimed with surprise again, before he then saw the serious looks on their faces. "...It seems that I owe you far more than I do, for making our jobs easier, I suppose. Come with me."
Part 5: Feeding the Masses
The group followed Jefferson into a small back-yard, as Haytham, Lucina, and the Assassins were there, as Haytham greeted them.
"You've made it… And I suppose that you have noticed what happened at the docks." Haytham remarked, before he then placed a comforting hand on Koyomi's and Connor's shoulders. "Son, Mizo… I'm sorry that I couldn't do enough to save your dear friend from dying. If only I had turned my attention to him, and assisted, Washington would be dead already, and he would not have met his demise. I shall bear the blame for all of this, as would Lucine."
Lucina nodded, as there was a solemn silence, before Jefferson waited for the grieving silence to pass by, before he then started.
"As I have heard from your father… You're all resourceful people, and the task I have need of would be a simple chore compared to what your usual duties are. And we both share belief in the common folk." Jefferson stated.
"What would you have us do?" Connor would ask, before seeing Raditz and his platoon, with Big Dave, Terry, and Godfrey with him.
"It's simple. The people aren't getting fed. Some lobcock by the name of John Fitzwilliams is behind all this." Raditz said. "It's up to you four to put an end to this, and see to it the people get fed."
"You do that, and we'll surely get the people of New York on our side." Big Dave said with a nod.
"It shall be done." Koyomi nodded back.
"Meanwhile, we'll keep to pulling the wool over the Bluecoats' eyes. They have little reason to suspect us, just as we intended, and we already pulled enough sabotage to make the next few steps easier." Velouria added. "You'll see what we mean soon enough."
Connor and Koyomi decided to scout out Fitzgerald, as Hitomi and Eruza hanged back, ensuring that no Bluecoats would try to ruin their operation, by eradicating them when attention was not on them, as they found Fitzgerald quickly, before they then slowly tailed him around New York, as they witnessed him in several scenes.
"I've no money, sir, but my family's desperate for food." One of the beggars asked, before he was shoved aside rudely.
"Shove off! If you were a real man, you'd go rob somebody to pay me!" Fitzgerald growled, before he continued along, as Koyomi had a sour taste in her mouth.
She then slowly walked to the beggar, before she then dropped a small bag of pounds. "I heard your plight, and I decided to relieve you of your suffering." Koyomi answered back, as the beggar lit up, seeing the wealth in the pouch. "Now, if anyone asks, tell them that you found this pouch in the open at the Frontier. Now go."
"Thank you, thank you, kind lady!" The beggar exclaimed, as he bolted off.
"What was the reason for this action, Kanemik:zo?" Connor asked Koyomi with some curiosity.
"Let's just say that I sympathise with the starved and famished, Ratonhnhake:ton, it leaves a empty feeling to see one suffer from starvation undeserved." Koyomi answered back, as Connor nodded in agreement.
Eventually, they found Fitzgerald conversing with a lady, with a fairly lustful tone to his voice.
"Hey, pretty missy, I'll give you some food, if you're real nice to me, if you know what I'm sayin'?" Fitzgerald suggested.
"All of your carrots are rotten. Especially your little one." The lady responded back with a scathing tone.
Koyomi had to stifle a giggle, while Connor was confused about what the insulting joke was. As for Eruza and Hitomi, they cloaked themselves, just to keep themselves from exposing themselves with the immense laughter they were exerting.
"Oh, America really knows how to pick ladies who got a sharp tongue and wit!" Eruza laughed. "I bet the big bad governor is compensating for his shrivelled-up tiny cock of his! Hahaha!"
Connor then turned to Koyomi, who calmed herself down. "What did the lady mean by 'little carrot'?" He asked her.
"Best you don't know, it's an insult directed towards a certain trait of the man. And it is a very strong insult." Koyomi answered back, as Fitzgerald stomped away, fuming at the insult.
Eventually, they tracked Fitzgerald to the food cart, which was loaded with enough food to feed an entire suburb well for several days. Knowing that Fitzgerald's value was now gone, and that he was a unrepentant man, Eruza personally dispatched him, snapping his neck in a swift motion, before she then grabbed the cart, and jetted away before the Bluecoats even realised the food cart was missing at all, making extra precautions by cutting down any Bluecoats who saw her. Eventually, she reached the middle of the suburb, as she let out a shrill whistle that got the attention of the starved citizens, while Hitomi, Connor and Koyomi caught up, and watched the action from the shadows.
"Hear ye! Hear ye! This food is free on the sponsorship of Thomas Jefferson!" Eruza shouted, as she tossed food pieces at the citizens, who caught them. "Thomas Jefferson, who strives for a nation where no man, woman or child will go hungry again, and give people the equality they deserve!"
"Thomas Jefferson!" One of the citizens shouted, holding a potato up, as it caused a chain reaction of citizens pledging loyalty to Jefferson, as it impressed the other three natives.
"Well, that was quite a display. I never thought that they are so starved that a few vegetables was all it took to earn their loyalty. Truly, Washington has starved his people, on top of many other discriminations…" Connor remarked.
Part 6: One Step at a Time
The group returned to the small backyard, as the other allies were waiting for them there, although Velouria and Selkie looked fairly angered about something, as they were sharpening their swords with a dark expression on their faces.
"What ails them?" Connor asked Haytham about the two of them.
"We received news that Jefferson's friend, Paul Revere, disappeared three days ago, and the news just came to us." Haytham answered back with a stoic tone. "And not just him too, his wife and son have went 'missing' too. Surely you can understand what logic has drawn them too… Paul Revere was an ally they knew personally, who helped them back in Concord…"
"I… I am sorry to hear that." Connor stated.
"Don't be… Just make sure you give Washington our share of grievances…" Selkie responded back. "Victoria and I will soon have enough people to vent our inner rage towards. Besides, he did do some work in New York, by winning the citizens over…"
"So it's up to us to finish the job then?" Hitomi asked back, her reply being nods.
"Don't worry, we won't let you go alone. We didn't come all this way, just to let this go by, sitting on our hands." Stephane assured back. "We are citizens as well, so they will listen well to our words."
"And just so you can work efficiently…" Haytham answered back, as he produced a paper list of tasks. "Refer to this, for it shows every type of task that would loosen the Bluecoats, and turn the populace against Washington."
"Thank you." Connor responded back. "I won't disappoint. Let's go!"
The group immediately went to work, supported by their allies, as they worked their way through the suburbs, using various means of persuasion and intimidation to weaken the Bluecoats' dominance over the populace, and the populace's opinion of the tyranny.
In an instant, a small patrol of Bluecoats suddenly felt their necks being wrapped by a barrage of rope darts, as it sent them over the clothing-lines of the buildings, as the rope-dart acted as a reliable noose for all of them, as they slowly hung to death, with their corpses in open display, with the culprit, Eruza watching, as the citizens were horrified at the scene, although it did instill seeds of unrest in them.
Meanwhile, at the same time, Hitomi decided to take up work to destroy and desecrate every single statue of Washington she came across, as she used various different methods. One was busting the head of the statue in, another was turning it into stone powder with excessive force, and yet another was severing the statue's fingers, so that it looked like it was doing middle-fingers at the populace. She topped her actions with even pissing on the powderised remains of a statue, providing an ultimate insult to the King.
Koyomi and Connor went back to their roots, using their stealth to assassinate Bluecoat officers and officials in every part of the city, as the Bluecoats were left paranoid against an enemy they couldn't even trace or sense at all.
As for the citizen Assassins themselves, they took to a more liberal method, as Stephane walked to one of the citizen orators, who was singing Washington's praises.
"King Washington will bring us glory! King Washington will bring us riches! Dedicate yourself to the king, and all will be well! He is our beacon!" The orator shouted, and before he could start another verse, Stephane clocked him with a fierce hook to the head.
"Batard! You dare speak of such falsehoods before the exploited people! Tu es une honte!" Stephane snarled, before he then spat at the downed orator, before turning to the gathered people. "Listen here and listen well! George Washington is a man undeserving of his title and his prestige! You hear him say that he brings glory, eh? That's glory that he will seize for himself, and throw naught but the scraps to you 'miserable wenches'! Have you seen how you are all without wealth, while the Bluecoats lavish in it? Dedication to the king, mon cul! Stop lying to yourselves, and start deciding whether you wish to be his stepping stones, or the brave men and women who toppled him for true freedom and equality!"
After a while, the group gathered up, at the town square before Washington's pyramid, as they noticed that there was a mass assembly, with Washington coming out of the pyramid to address the citizens.
"Citizens of the United States! I come before you as a humbled man. As I look out upon this vast land, I see each of you suffering, yes, suffering! And striving for a better life, a better future, a better America. Each one of you sacrificing, slaving for this great country, for freedom. And I humbly say to you, your sacrifices inspire me. They shall not be in vain!" Washington declared his speech. "I know this life is difficult, the ravages of war, food shortages, crime, the burdens caused by Jefferson's seditious murderers! But we, we have a greater purpose that will unite us and lift us above these trifling troubles. For us, the obliteration of these 'rebels' will be but a foretaste to the feast to come! Citizens, as I stand here, I feel the four million hearts of our nation beating within my breatst. Today I announce the great project of the nation. We are mustering vast armies. We are fashioning powerful armadas. We shall soon march upon our great, dark enemy, England! We shall invade her shores and irrigate her fields with blood. English bones shall provide grist for our mills, and her people shall become our slaves. Each of you shall profit from the sweat of their labours! Our nation shall rise to its proper place, as the greatest of all: The Most Sovereign Kingdom - The United States of America!"
"Never have I felt so disgusted about how much Washington has been twisted from his path of democracy, that he would be the very thing he swore to destroy…" Koyomi remarked, as the citizens dispersed, and they continued their work of spreading dissent among the citizens and weakening the Bluecoats' hold over the populace.
After a while, they saw the fruits of their labour, as the citizens were openly rebelling, attacking the Bluecoats patrols with released anger they have been repressing for a long time.
"Down with the King!" One of the male citizens shouted, as he beat a Bluecoat officer with a wooden stick.
"Fight for Jefferson!" A woman shouted, as she hurled stones at a Bluecoat, accompanied by her friends, who joined in the stoning.
"Fight for liberty!" A captain of a recently-formed militia shouted, wielding out-dated muskets and slightly rusted blades, attacking Bluecoats.
"We should be done here… Let us head back." Connor stated, as the group headed back to Jefferson's hideout.
Part 7: The Signal
The group returned, as they noticed that Jefferson and the rest of the group were readied up for battle.
"It seems that all of the city are ready to rise up, and just after Washington's little speech… At last, we will bring down Washington. I trusted him absolutely before when we fought the British. Strange that these few years later, I would risk everything to bring him down." Jefferson remarked. "What irony."
"Have you prepared what would be our signal?" Eruza asked him.
"Done. I have a man at the military district now. He'll know where the weaknesses are to be found." Jefferson answered back.
"We will signal the revolution's beginning and destroy their gunpowder at the same time." Connor stated.
"Two birds, one stone, ain't that right?" Hitomi quipped with crossed arms.
"Godspeed to you all, Riccard is already making preparations for his betrayal." Jefferson answered back. "Hopefully this will be more than enough to finish the job."
The group quickly made their way to the military district, as they assassinated the Bluecoat officers, who had their spy tied up, before releasing him from his bindings.
"You really came quickly… Just a few moments more, and they would have started lining their shots. Might be better than having a close-call, they were about to shoot this poor bugger beside me." The spy answered back, gesturing towards the prisoner tied next to him.
"Well, now that you're saved… Let's get moving and the revolution started!" Hitomi shouted.
"Right, well, there's no easy way to get to the gunpowder. By my way of thinking, the best plan is to set that tower over there on fire, then topple it onto the depot." The spy explained the plan.
"I'll go there. You just get the stuff needed to topple the tower. I work quite quickly, you know." Eruza stated.
Eruza then quickly made for the top of the tower, as Hitomi, Koyomi and Connor protected the spy, cutting down any Bluecoats in their way. When they got near the tower, they noticed that it was already burning brightly, while Eruza was sitting on the stone wall, legs crossed.
"Alright, job's done. Hatoma, take the pleasure of being the trigger for this smoking gun, will you?" Eruza asked Hitomi.
"Gladly!" Hitomi grinned back, as she took position, aiming for the tower's weak-point, as she summoned her badger powers. "Time for you all to go out with a mighty BANG!"
She then impacted the burning tower with such force, that its base foundation was completely shattered, as it fell forward, and hit the gun depot for the Bluecoats, creating a massive explosion that rang loud, and kicked up a huge shock-wave, as Hitomi whooped and cheered."
"The revolution should be starting… Let us make for the pyramid… Today, Washington pays for the deaths and suffering he has caused!" Connor exclaimed.
Part 8: Halls of Injustice and Inevitable Confrontation
The group rushed to where Benjamin and Jefferson was, as the scene of the battle was all around them with citizens and rebels fighting fiercely against the Redcoats.
"Our plan is working, my friends. Washington's troops are scattered. The palace is unguarded from the outside! What's more, Washington made the fatal mistake of placing Riccard's men to guard inside the palace itself! I take it that those poor Bluecoats inside are in for a fatal surprise." Jefferson told the group.
"Take this, you need it." Benjamin stated, handing the key to them. "The mechanism is rather tricky, but I'm sure that men and women of your intellect can solve it with no problems."
"We'll see each other again, when we have succeeded." Connor told both of them.
The group quickly rushed ahead, as they were being targeted by Bluecoats, before Haytham and Lucina came with the Assassins, as they fought off the Bluecoats.
"Go, son! End this nightmare for all of us!" Haytham shouted. "We will ensure that no more of our allies die today!"
"Father… I promise that we'll succeed!" Connor shouted back, before they barged through the entrance doors to the pyramid, as they found themselves in a large entrance hall.
"We should find a way out of here…" Koyomi stated, before Eruza and Hitomi felt a light pain in their heads. "Hatomaun:ka? Erazakt'in? Are you alright?"
"I don't know why… but this place seems to resonate with our heads somehow…" Hitomi answered back. "Don't worry about us, no voices in our heads yet, just a minor ache in the head."
Koyomi looked fairly concerned for the both of them, although she did not press the issue. They managed to find a small passage, which took them to a small zoo room, where there was a group of Bluecoats, with Selkie and Velouria among them.
Connor tapped the iron bars to the room, as it caught the attention of the two beast-kin, who nodded in affirmation back, before Hitomi then kicked the bars out, as it alerted the Bluecoats.
"There is someone in the palace! Shoot anything that comes out of-" A Bluecoat officer ordered, before he was cut silent by a sword through his throat, as it was Selkie's.
Before the Bluecoats could even comprehend the betrayal, Velouria and Selkie sliced them up, and sent their pieces down below, as the cougar and bears below fed on them.
"Good timing too, we were just about to make fillets out of them." Velouria responded back, before she then pointed below. "There's a secret passage down there. Should take you far into the pyramid, even towards the rooftop, Washington decided to go there for the time being, as if he wanted to personally see over this little war. We'll just make sure no-one follows your steps."
"Thank you, Victoria, Selda." Koyomi answered back, as they made use of the water gate in the cougar exhibit, as it took them across the inner halls, as they had to trudge and dive through deep water, and use their Eagle powers to ascend higher up on ledges, before they stood above a wooden grate, standing over the door to the throne room, with many Bluecoats guards, but also the rest of Radtiz's group, as they were just ready to start turning.
Connor used his bear powers, to slam the wooden grate open, as Koyomi, Hitomi and Eruza used their bows to snipe the nearest Bluecoats, as Aerith, Raditz and Mai made short work of the other Bluecoats, all in perfect sync.
"That was perfect." Raditz remarked. "Now then, I assume that you have the key to the little gate behind us?"
Connor's only response was to show the key.
"Excellent, we'll just stay here and keep watch for you." Raditz stated.
"I know I might be vainly hoping… but if you can do it… bring Washington to his senses. I sense great manipulation from him, especially from the sphere of power his scepter bears." Aerith told the group.
Their only response was silence, as they stepped up to the keyhole, as they slid the pieces in to create the key-hold itself, before Connor slotted the key in, as the intricate gate opened itself for them, as on the other side of the throne room, as Hitomi's and Eruza's headaches returned.
"Argh… I… I remember… Long before we had that run-in… We tried to take his sceptre!" Hitomi answered back. "It was right in this place. We managed to escape unscathed, but then Washington decided to hunt us down… it was then that this happened to us…"
"So the truth comes to light... " Connor stated, before he then saw a path to the rooftop. "Let us all go, the moment of truth is just before us."
They traversed their way towards the rooftop, although the path was treacherous for them, with various obstacles that needed clearing and structures falling due to Connor's Bear Might. They soon reached a ladder to head up to the roof, as they all climbed up the ladder. It was time for this to end.
They soon were at the top, as Washington was looking out at New York below, before he turned to see the group of four approaching him.
"Ah, you're here. At long last." Washington said.
"I finally understand Putnam's last words… Give up that sceptre, and the sphere on it, Washington, and we'll let you live." Connor said.
"Now why would I do that?" Washington would ask. "Would you have me give it up to… save my soul? Or would the four of you take it, only for you to control the nation?"
"That's paranoia, and you would have known it, if you weren't turned against yourself, Washington!" Koyomi shouted with outrage. "We have no desire in controlling the nation at all, we're just natives who want this all to end. You were a man of honour and equality, George Washington! I know that you're far better than this! I may be angry before about what you done to my friend and my tribe, but I can learn to forgive all of it… as long as you have it in you to forsake what twisted. As your friend, Washington.. Let go, please."
"Ha, let's not deceive ourselves." Washington snorted. "Fine then, let's suppose that I were beholden to this sceptre… how would you behave differently to me?"
"We would destroy it." Hitomi responded back, as Washington blanked out hearing those words. "What, you think that we're stupid enough to use what made you a utter bastard? Fuck that, that thing goes right into the deepest depths of the earth, or whatever ocean is deep enough to drop into, to never see the light of day again!"
"You… the scepter is both a burden and a blessing, and what a blessing it gives… Tell me, when you shake the earth, do you feel that you're a slave to the people? Or do you wish to be their master?"
"If being their master means becoming like you, forget it." Eruza snarled back. "I don't care about my pride for being a slave to the people. Their happiness, freedom and equality stand above all personal needs."
"Ahahaha, so that's what you all choose then." Washington remarked. "Except for one thing… I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO MAKE THAT CHOICE!"
He then blasted the four of them back, as they moved their fight onto the massive glass pane, as Washington summoned the golden orbs of light. In response to this, the group used their cloaking abilities to ambush Washington several times, as he tried to add more and more light orbs to detect them, although their experience triumphed, as Washington was injured by their attacks.
Washington then growled, as he erected the ground barrier, as he narrowed the opening greatly, and even added a large pattern of orbs to try and prevent the group from dropping above it, and onto Washington. However, the group swiftly navigated through the pattern of orbs, as they simultaneously took down Washington, as they laid punches and claw-strikes on him, before he then blasted them back with a powerful burst of energy.
This continued for a while, before Hitomi and Eruza slammed down on Washington, punching him over and over again.
"This is the end for you!" Eruza shouted.
"Your reign of tyranny over this land comes to an end! We extended to you our olive branch, and you smacked it away! SO NOW YOU DIE!" Yelled Hitomi as she switched to badger powers, which actually began to bloody Washington, before he blasted them both away, and erected a larger barrier that was covered entirely, so that eagle flight wouldn't get through, so Connor and Koyomi soon began to hit the corners of the stained glass that they were on, while dodging the countless Bluecoats apparitions that Washington was rapidly summoning, as Connor soon rushed towards the last corner standing, and smashed it, as it caused Washington to go off balance, as he dropped the scepter and the Apple of Eden into his throne room, as the Apple popped out of its place in the scepter.
Meanwhile, Washington tried to regain his footing, only to be tackled by the group of four, as all four of them tumbled to the throne room below, and landed harshly.
"Damn… ngh…! That… hurt…" Hitomi growled as she held her abdomen. "Forgot that I'm not all invincible…"
"We might need a while to get back up…" Eruza wheezed, winded by the fall impacting her body.
Washington slowly got up, as he was already dying from how the impact shattered his entire body, as he barely had enough strength to take the Apple of Eden into his hands, before collapsing on his throne, as his last sight was of the four natives, as he passed away without any more words.
Koyomi and Connor managed to slowly get up, being the ones who were the least affected by the fall, while Hitomi and Eruza were left recovering from their injuries.
As Connor and Koyomi staggered closer to Washington, the throne then moved back, as the realm around them turned blank blue, as Kanen'to:kon now sat on the throne, with Apple of Eden in hand.
"Ratonhnhake:ton! Kanemik:zo! I died trying to bring down Washington, but I plead with you, do not pursue the Apple!" He declared.
Disregarding the warning, they continued, as Kanenhti'to took her place on the throne.
"My son, I am so worried about you-" Kanenhti'to tried to say.
"Shut up, you won't fool us twice." Koyomi growled back.
As the apparition of Kanenhti'to passed, with Connor and Koyomi disregarding it, they would soon see something else, as Hitomi and Eruza had mustered the strength to join them, as a figure rose from the throne this time, as it appeared to be a man with sickly pale skin, as he had green eyes, black hair that reached his mid back, and was wearing a primarily black, with hints of green sorcerer's robes, as he chuckled.
"Color me impressed. Here I was, thinking that I could ruin this timeline, by using the Apple of Eden to change things to what they could be." The man chuckled, circling around the group of four. "But, I suppose I underestimated you… the three of you." He added, as Connor faded from the picture for the moment, as only the trio could now hear what the man was saying. "However, I suppose that is to be expected. After all… Ezio's words rang true, when he said that he never knew where they were… but he knew that somewhere in the cosmos, and yes, he's referencing universes apart from his own, that there would be three Assassins, touched with the power of bestial instincts, but had the same mind of what the Assassins wanted… it's clear to me who he meant. He meant the three of you. Ezio was referring to the three of you. To reignite the Assassins, to find the Templar Order in this new age… Hmhmhmhm… If I wanted to, I could kill the three of you right now, here and in your machines… but I'm impressed with your performance. So I'll spare you, and you get the Apple of Eden as your prize… but know this: Your leaders. Siege, and Richard… their souls will be mine, one way or another."
Koyomi, Hitomi and Eruza remained silent, as they knew that the entity's threat was no joke, as they could feel the chill of death down their spines, even Hitomi, who was meant to feel very little fear, if any at all, before most situations.
"...Fine." Koyomi finally answered back, mustering the courage to answer back. "We'll keep that in mind."
"Remember my name, and fear it. I. Am. Sorthax." The entity, now known as Sorthax, said as he outstretched his hand to Koyomi, the Apple of Eden waiting right there for her to snatch.
She then slowly reached for the Apple, as the mere touch of it created a massive glow of light that enveloped the entire area, as Sorthax disappeared quickly, with a sinister smile upon his lips, that Koyomi barely saw before the light engulfed all of them.
Epilogue: Fate's Original Path and Omen
When the light faded, they found themselves in the Davenport Homestead again, with Connor as well.
"We're… at the homestead?" Koyomi remarked. "Is it… really over?"
"This doesn't feel the same as it was like last time… Let me have a look at the calendar…" Connor stated, before he then found out the date for today. "...Oh, it seems that we're right back to the start of it all… But the thing is… We remember what happened. The Apple of Eden, the apparitions called it… Mizo touched it, and we ended up here…"
"This is weird...then what should be happening right now?" Hitomi asked, as Haytham walked to them.
"George Washington came to us in a hurry." Haytham told the group. "He seems to be extremely stressed and worried about something, and needs you and Mizo right now."
Connor and Koyomi turned back to Hitomi and Eruza, who nodded back, as the two of them followed Haytham, as they found Washington, who looked fairly nervous, and was back in his Patriot officer outfit once again, which relieved Koyomi and Connor.
"Connor! Mizo! Thank god I found you." Washington stated in a hurry. "I'm attacked by a new enemy… I fear I will succumb."
"Washington, calm down. We will help you, but first, take your time to tell us clearly about your distress." Connor tried to assure Washington.
"My god… I don't know what's happened. I've become… It's the dreams…" Washington stated. "They're driving me mad."
"Were those dreams about the Redcoats, and about you becoming a king for your people?" Koyomi asked back.
"H-How did you know!?" Washington exclaimed with shock in his voice.
"Just a hunch. Is there more?" Koyomi questioned again.
"The dreams beguile me with fantastical visions. In a dream, I'm at Mount Vernon during the war. In fact, in the dream, there was no war." Washington answered back. "I stay with Martha, tending to our fields, peaceful and content. And then the unspeakable dreams come, and you are both in them, as monsters, as allies, any kind of person I could hope to meet… I believe that the visions come from this."
Washington then showed the Apple of Eden to them, as Koyomi and Connor suddenly stiffened up, realising what the artifact was.
"Where did you find that?" Connor asked back, trying to keep calm.
"It was taken from a captured officer at Yorktown. There was something compelling-" Washington started.
"You need to throw that away, that thing will affect your mind in ways you cannot comprehend! It must be disposed of." Connor answered back firmly.
"I… I…" Washington stuttered, before Koyomi pressed her hands on it, as it startled Washington, with a glow of light, as memories of the ruined future came to his head, as he felt silent and shocked. "What… What is this…? This slaughter… This… mockery… This… corruption… Is this…?"
"Your future, if you let your curiosity of this overwhelm you. It is a curse in material form." Connor solemnly stated.
"You're right… this thing is something from my nightmares…" Washington stated, before handing the Apple to Connor, as it lost its glow. "Take it. Take it from me, and sink it into the sea, weight it until it is as heavy as it can be, and toss it into the deepest reaches of the ocean, where none can find it… This thing… it is nothing but death and misery for all who have the displeasure of being the targets of its slave…"
"We'll see it disposed of, Commander." Connor said with a nod.
The duo boarded the Aquila, as they went to the deepest point of the sea in their memories, before they tossed the weighted bag, holding the Apple of Eden, as it sunk rapidly into the sea.
"It is finally done. No more shall the world suffer the terror of a tyrant made from the Apple of Eden…" Koyomi stated. "Let us return home, Ratonhnhake:ton… Hope that this will be the last time we will be needed by this world… We can finally settle in peace…"
"Indeed… Indeed,.. Kanemik:zo…" Connor smiled back.
They took the Aquila back, as the sun setted behind them, as they embraced and kissed each other passionately, as the proud ship sailed into the docks of the homestead…
THE TYRANNY OF KING WASHINGTON
COMPLETE
In the GFS Ryujin…
Koyomi quickly leapt out of her Animus pod, as everyone did the same shortly after, as Koyomi sat on the side of the pod, rubbing her fore-head with her fingers.
"Jeez, at least that was done and dusted…" Yu remarked, as he slowly turned the Animus Pods to standby. "It took a fair bit while, but we're finally done patching this timeline for real. One down, a few more to go… But we can tackle those ones later. You all look like that you need some time getting back to modern times, after spending a fair lot of time in the American Civil War."
"...Yu, we have something to tell you." Hitomi told Yu, with a serious expression. "Tell Richard and Siege that they got another problem coming for them. Some bastard named 'Sorthax' was the reason the entire future happened anyway, planting that Apple of Eden on Washington. And he sounds like that he's got more trouble to give, and it ends with taking the souls of Richard and Siege."
"...Shit, that might be the reason the Animus suffered a glitch for a moment. Damn powerful bastard, if he managed to do that. Whatever you did, you must have stopped him from zapping you out. You might be Brutes, but you're as vulnerable as everyone else in the mental uplink process. Shouldn't doubt that he threatened to use it against you…" Yu cringed. "We'll notify them of the problem. Like I said, take a rest, you need everything for our next mission into another past timeline. Doubly so, now that we know who's responsible for the time-fuckery. Hopefully, we don't let this problem bleed into the hands of David and the others… they must be dealing with some shit about reincarnation cycles, if I have to guess."
"If something comes up, we'll take care of it." Lucina said, soon looking over at Koyomi. "...Hey… you alright Koyomi?"
"Yeah… it's just kind of hard to let that timeline go. I impacted so many lives there for the better… it's… not easy just saying to let it play out with our characters in there." Koyomi answered.
"Hey, you can go back and visit whenever you want. Or you can watch them via these monitors." Ryinma said. "So you'll never truly leave that world for good. There's always time to go back."
"I guess so." Koyomi said, reassured by that. "I suppose our next move is to make preparations for Sorthax's next move."
"And for the next timeline jump, yes." Yu said. "Go and rest up, you guys."
The group did so, as the scene faded away.
CREED OF FATE
COMPLETE