Edward: Willoffire123 doesn't own Assassin's Creed.
Leonardo: On with the chapter!
Ezio couldn't believe what he saw inside the city walls. His own beloved home of Florence was full of beautiful buildings and beautiful women. Here the buildings seemed to be built for practicality, save for the beautiful mosque sticking up above the skyline. As for the women, they wore robes that left, in Ezio's humble opinion, much too much to the imagination.
A man then roughly shoved him forward, rudely interrupted his thoughts. Ezio staggered forward, causing Connor's head to jam into Altair's legs.
"Ai! What was that for?" demanded Ezio.
"They do that, they're crazy, just keep moving," said Altair, refusing to look up from the ground. "Connor is our top priority right now, my friend," he added when Ezio refused to budge.
"We're almost there," said Altair, relieved that Ezio let the crazy man be. Altair rejoiced silently at the sight of the white Assassin's Bureau in the near distance. His head felt like a pincushion. The loud noises of the market place, the heat, the beggars and crazy people were each pins digging themselves deeper into his skull with each passing moment.
"Hang in there, Connor," Ezio reassured his friend. Ezio was terrified for Connor's life, and felt enormous relief when Altair stopped.
"Well? Where's the door?" he asked impatiently.
"On the roof," Altair said in a small voice.
"Merda," Ezio cursed. "What now? We can't exactly carry him up there. The climb would kill him."
Altair looked down at his little brother. Connor's skin was the color of wax. His breath, though faint, was still there.
"He's still fighting," said Altair. "So we have to fight as well to keep him alive."
"Of course," said Ezio. "I have an idea. If we found enough boxes, could we make a staircase to the roof?"
Altair used his Eagle Vision to see Edward Kenway sitting in the rest area with Leonardo da Vinci.
"I have a better idea," said Altair. "Edward! Come out here!"
"Leonardo! You too!" called Ezio, catching on to Altair's plan.
"You're Assassins, aren't you?" called Edward. "The entrance is on the roof. Get in yourself."
"We need you," said Altair. "Please, Leonardo."
"Why so serious, my friends?" called Leonardo. "You heard Edward, you can get in yourself."
"Please, Edward," said Ezio. "Connor's hurt."
That got their attention. Edward was up on the roof in no time at all, Leonardo scrambling onto the roof after him.
Altair and Ezio held Connor so that he was in plain view of the sandy blonde mop that was Edward Kenway's head peeking over the roof.
"Jaysus, Connor," said Edward, suddenly concerned. "What have you gotten yourself into this time?"
"He needs Malik," said Altair.
"We're going to lift him up to you from the top of this crate," said Ezio, kicking the giant crate in question. "When you have him, wait for us to join you, then we'll lower him down together."
"Va bene," said Leonardo. "We should hurry, he doesn't look good."
What worried Altair the most was the fact that when Connor was passed to the two on the roof, he didn't even flinch. His head lolled against his chest. Altair could hear him faintly muttering in his native language what sounded like a chant.
Altair ran up the wall and pulled himself onto the roof. Suddenly, the whole world slanted, and he staggered into Ezio, who caught him before he could fall off the roof.
"This one needs to see Malik as well," Ezio said sternly.
"I'm fine," Altair snapped. "Connor's the one who needs help right now. Let's just get him inside so Malik can take that thing out of his chest."
"Agreed," said Edward, cradling his dying grandson in his arms. "Leonardo and Ezio go inside. Altair and I will lower Connor down to you. Shout for Malik and he'll help you."
Ezio jumped down, turning to catch Leonardo before he hit the ground.
"Malik, come quick! Connor's been gravely injured!" called Leonardo.
"Hang in there, little brother," Altair told an unresponsive Connor. "One more push, and it'll all be over."
With great care, he and Edward then lowered Connor down to Leonardo, Ezio and Malik's outstretched arms.
"Thank you," said Malik. "Bring him into my office, Ezio."
Altair hopped down into the resting area, very conscious of how fast the world was spinning. He witnessed Connor being rushed into Malik's office, and forced himself to follow. He saw Edward, Leonardo and Ezio holding Connor down while Malik broke, and pulled out the log. Connor screamed, blood exploding from the gaping wound. He saw Ezio holding a cloth over the wound, Malik going in with a needle and thread, and then, at last, Altair's world went blissfully black.
"Malik, Altair's fainted," Leonardo informed him.
"Like he said, he can wait," said Malik, absorbed in his stitching. "Connor's the real problem here."
"What does his outcome look like, doctor?" asked Edward. Because Malik had only one arm, Edward was told to hold together Connor's flesh while Malik sewed.
"With lots of rest, his chest should be fine," said Malik. "Tie off the stitch right there. But his leg is, I'm afraid, beyond saving."
Ezio went very pale. "What are you saying, Malik? There's nothing you can do for him?"
"No," said Malik. "I'm saying we have an option. Either I take his leg and he gives up being a field work assassin, or he dies."
"Not necessarily," said Leonardo. "With the apple's help, we couldn't completely mend the leg. But we could, in a sense, 'un-crush' the bone."
Ezio waited, but no one offered any "No! That's too dangerous!" Instead, they all looked at him.
"What?" he demanded.
"You know how to use it better than any of us except Altair," said Edward. "And he's kind of useless right now. Don't worry, I trust you with my grandson's life."
Ezio held his breath, and took the Apple of Eden from Leonardo.
Tendrils of golden light shot out of the apple, instantly filling the room with the brilliant light.
"You will give me what I want," said Ezio. "You will fix Connor's leg."
Ezio could feel the apple resisting. It wanted to destroy the building. It wanted to bring the entire city of Jerusalem to ruins. But Ezio's will was stronger. He forced the apple to shoot its tendril of golden light at Connor, and only Connor.
Connor's body lit up like the sky of Venezia during carnevale. His eyes and mouth were filled with the harsh, golden light.
"Careful Ezio!" warned Malik. "Focus the apple's energy onto Connor's leg. If it tries to heal his whole body, he will be consumed."
Ezio concentrated hard. His will was strong. He could overpower the apple.
The apple obeyed, the light dying down to just Connor's left leg, then fading all together. Ezio touched the apple once more, and it went dim.
Malik felt Connor's leg. "It's still broken, but he should still be able to use it in a few weeks time."
Edward collapsed against the back wall. "Well, that's a relief."
"I'll stay with him," said Malik. "Make sure his condition doesn't deteriorate."
Ezio clapped a hand on his one-armed friend's back. "Why don't we let Edward have a moment with Connor alone? You know, alone time for the famiglia. Besides," he said, gesturing to Altair's slumped body. "You still have another patient."
Ezio: Salute amici! Willoffire123 is too tired to be here right now. She did send my translations though!
Merda- shit
Va bene- very well, okay
Venezia- Venice
Carnevale- Carnival
Famiglia- Family
Edward- Until next time!