Author's Note: I hope you all enjoy this chapter and I sincerely apologize for the delay!


Six Months Later...

Connor and Achilles—after much negotiating and pleading—had managed to get Violette to learn how to swim and therefore, she was able to help with the restoration of the Aquila, though she often avoided looking into the water while aboard the ship. She herself wasn't sure as to why the deep waters frightened her so much even though she knew how to keep herself alive, but she would get over such trivial matters in time.

Whatever time the two hadn't spent on rebuilding the ship was spent studying, training and working. Achilles was glad to keep them occupied rather than lounging around the manor or constantly bickering in his ears.

Violette tended to indulge herself in artwork and learning about the Assassin of the Renaissance Era and her ancestor, Ezio Auditore da Firenze. She read anything that she could get her hands on pertaining to the Italian Assassin and it was through these readings that she learnt of Minerva, a woman who called herself one of 'The Ones Who Came Before'. Violette gathered that she was one of the Spirits that even Connor was speaking of and the very Spirit Achilles was referring to.

Connor spent his free time learning more about the Templars: about Charles Lee and his father, Haytham. Patience and self-restraint seemed to be the hardest skills to accomplish, Violette often having to talk him out of wanting to confront his father and the others as soon as possible.

At the end of the day, they spoke of what they'd learnt in their studies with Achilles over dinner, updating their Mentor in their skills and what they felt that they'd become closer to mastering, as the old man's rules pertained of.

Violette was very curious about the 'phantom' known as 'Desmond' that Minverva spoke of to Ezio, Connor often telling her to be quiet about the topic, only to be told to be silent about wanting to go against their Mentor's wishes and attack the Templars.

Finally, all of the hard work that Violette, Connor, Mr. Faulkner and the rest of the hired crew had put into the project of restoring the Aquila back to her former glory had come to an end. The Aquila was once again ready to sail the seas.

"Come aboard and feast your eyes, kids!" Faulkner told the two.

Violette ran ahead of Connor and explored the ships deck, fascinated by the job well done by everyone. She had the honour of designing the Aquila's new colours and was very pleased with the results in the end, "Mio Dio! (My God!) She is magnifico!" she blurted out.

Connor began to make his way to board the ship after taking the time to mumble something about Violette being so childish, being stopped by Faulkner.

"No, no, no, no, not the left foot!" the drunken man exclaimed, "Never the left foot. Horrible luck. Step with your right foot first." he explained to the young Native.

Connor did as told and boarded the ship, inspecting her, "She is...solid." he said.

"Aye. Weatherly and sleek. She'll fetch twelve knots in a stiff gale, ne'er a ship from here to Singapore that can outrun her on her best day!" Faulkner said in a rather thrilled tone. He turned to Connor, "Wha'dya say we take her out and show you what she can do first hand?" he offered.

"Connor will empty his stomach." Violette said, giggling.

"Be quiet, I will not." he protested.

"You have never been on a ship before, Connor. You don't know what it's like when she's rocking back and forth, or the weightlessness she truly carries while sailing over the ocean." she taunted him, moving around as if the ship was rocking around already.

"Stop it!"

"I didn't do anything!"

"Both of you, stop it!" Faulkner cut in, silencing the two young teenagers, Violette walking off.

"Where would we go?" Connor asked the man.

"As it happens, she still needs guns and the officers to command them. We'll launch straight away." Faulkner said, "Don't worry, lad. I'll make sure you sprout good sea legs." he spoke, seeing that the boy was probably considering what Violette had said about feeling sick while sailing.

"Where are we going?" Violette asked her counterpart.

"Faulkner and I are going to get guns for the ship. You're going home." he told her, earning a frown from the girl.

She furrowed her eyebrows, unhappy with what she was hearing, "Why must I return home?"

"You will not come with us." Connor informed her.

"Why not?" she asked through her pouting.

"It is too dangerous." he stated simply.

"Please, Connor, let me come! We've worked so hard on this! I deserve a chance to see and feel the Aquila sail just as much as you do!" she begged him.

He looked into her eyes. She really did want to join them, despite still being afraid of the water after learning how to swim.

"Just this once." he granted her permission.

Her pout turned into a wide grin before it died down into a smirk, "You do not control what I do, anyway." she spoke softly before making her way to the wheel of the ship.

Connor looked in her direction, unsure as to how he should respond to her remark as he made his way over. Of course he did, he was older than her. Not but very much, but he was still responsible for her safety.

"Haul in the mainsail! Get up the rigging! Hand over fist! Come on, men! Let's get her out where she needs to be!" Faulkner ordered the crew, the men getting to work immediately.

Violette grabbed Connor's hand, leading him toward the bow of the ship to watch their departure from the harbour.

"If you feel sick, lean over the rails and empty your stomach." she informed her friend.

"I won't get sick." the teen said through gritted teeth, already feeling so but not wanting to admit it.


Connor emerged from the lower deck of the ship, walking up to Faulkner and Violette, who was at the helm. She stepped aside for Connor to take hold.

"Come on, boy! No time like the present." Faulkner urged the teen to take hold of wheel, to which he did hesitantly, "Come on, come on! She won't bite." the man reassured him, giving him a pat on the back. He looked over and watched Violette as she stood by the railing, looking out into the water.

"If you fall in, I won't stop for you." Connor told her, to which she turned around and stuck her tongue out at him before returning her sights to the coast.

"That ain't the way to treat a lady, boy. You 'ought to be a gentleman, put the lass before ya' own needs."

"She's just a silly girl." Connor told Faulkner, confident in his reply.

"Perhaps you see her as such now, but she'll be a fine woman one day and you'll think otherwise."

"I doubt it." he smirked, not being able to see her as anything but the 'silly girl' he knew her to be.

"Give it time, my boy." he told the teen. Faulkner stayed silent for a few more seconds before patting the railing behind the wheel, "You're connected to her now. Listen and feel. She's idle. If you call for half sail, the men'll hop to it and she'll pick up." Faulkner advised Connor.

"Half sail!" Connor yelled out. The crew did as told and the sail was lowered as commanded, the wind catching in and the ship began to move across the water.

Faulkner cheered, "The Aquila flies again! D'ya feel it, lad?!" he asked with great enthusiasm in his voice.

Connor nodded with a smile. He was enjoying this more than he expected to, wondering why that was. Perhaps it was because this was all new to him.

"Are you enjoying sailing the Aquila, Connor?" Violette asked once standing by his side. He looked to her to see a soft smile on her face, unable to stop himself from smiling in return.

"I am." he answered, the smile growing more.

"So Achilles was right, then." she spoke, looking out into the water.

Connor looked at her for a moment, "What do you mean?"

"Perhaps you should ask him when we return." Violette told him, not wanting to take the story away from their Mentor.

Connor's eyes widened as he looked at Violette, no words being needed as she too realized that they didn't tell Achilles that they were sailing out.

"Do you think we will get scolded upon our return?" she asked her counterpart.

"We'll have to wait and find out, I suppose." he replied, not wanting to think of it at this moment. He wanted to enjoy what he was doing and so he didn't continue that conversation.

"Set a course for Martha's Vineyard. We'll find our guns and officers there." Faulkner told Connor. He went on about the ship, explaining certain perks and problems that would be encountered while captaining a ship such as rogue winds and the like; also giving some advice on steering.

Upon Faulkner's offer, Connor called for full sail and the Aquila picked up in speed almost immediately, thanks to the crew's ability to do as told with ease.

They came upon a narrow path of huge rocks and Connor carefully maneuvered through them, calling for half sail to control the ship better.

The crew began to sing their shanties and Violette joined in a couple times, her singing voice soft and sweet. Connor listened, surprised that she was actually singing in front of him for once. Usually when he caught her singing, she'd stop immediately and deny it. Perhaps she thought she couldn't be heard, but he knew her singing well enough to single it out amongst the rest of the crew.

Connor eased the ship into the harbour for Martha's Vineyard and the anchor was dropped upon Faulkner's command.


Once docked, Faulkner, Connor and Violette made their way into the Vineyard tavern, the two teens following behind the man.

"Oh, hullo, Miss Mandy. You're looking every bit as ravishing as I remember." Faulkner said to a woman upon entering.

Connor and Violette looked at each other and then back at the two.

The woman grunted and turned toward Faulkner, "After all these years, you sail all the way to the Vineyard to pay me compliments?" she asked with doubt in her voice.

"We're looking for David and Richard Clutterbuck." Faulkner explained, receiving a 'hmph' in return.

"Nice to see you, too." Miss Mandy replied.

"She's feisty," Violette whispered to Connor, "I like her."

"Of course you do, silly girl." her friend replied.

Faulkner made his way to a table and the two followed him.

"Robert Faulkner." a bald headed man spoke out, "Where the hell you been?"

The man had many scars on his face and he seemed rather dangerous. Violette wasn't sure if she wanted to be stuck on a ship with a man like that. In her thought process, she subconsciously grabbed on to Connor's sleeve and he shook her off, bringing her back to reality.

"Sorry for leavin' like I did lads, but where I was going...no one could know." Faulkner replied, taking a seat, "You two working much?"

"Nah...between contracts at the moment." the other man answered.

"Well, we're lookin' for gunnery officers. What would you two say to workin' with me again?" Faulkner offered.

The bearded man gave an entertained smile, "We'd be for gettin' into a few more scraps." he took Faulkner up on his offer, no argument coming from the bald man.

"Good show!" Faulkner said with a smile, "The Aquila is a fine vessel. We're fitting all the guns as we speak..."

Connor shook Violette off again as she grabbed on to him once more, "Stop that!" he hissed quietly, "You're such a girl, don't let it show." he advised her, but upon turning to look at the teenager, he'd recognized a couple of people. The gleam of hatred in his eyes didn't escape Violette and she also turned around to see people that she could identify as well.

"Connor, no." she tried to stop her partner, but he made his way over to the table. She turned to look at Faulkner before looking back at Connor, walking toward the teen.

"Looks like your friend's about to catch a beatin'." the bald man informed Faulkner.

"Where is Charles Lee?" Connor demanded from the men.

Violette was taken back by how bluntly Connor had just said it. This was not the way that they were being taught to handle the Templars.

"I don't much care for your tone, boy." one of the Templars, Benjamin Church, warned Connor.

Another of the men, Nicholas Biddle, stood up, towering over Violette as she had been standing right in front of him without realizing it. She took a step back as she looked up, causing him to smirk at her, his eyes wandering up and down her figure. Connor stood in place, stubborn as ever.

"Hey...you don't want to be doin' that, Biddle." Faulkner intervened.

"Bobby Faulkner turned to wet-nursing? Good you finally realized you're shite sailor."

"Bastardo." Violette spoke out.

Biddle quirked his eyebrow, quite interested in her attitude and Connor stiffened, not liking the way he was watching the young girl.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Miss Mandy cut in between the two men, "Not in here, gentlemen. Better still, not at all. Bobby, take your friends and get out!" she told Faulkner.

"Let's go. Our guns ought to be ready. Come on." he told them.

Violette apologized to Miss Mandy for the trouble her friend caused, receiving a soft smile and nod from the woman. As she was walking out, she glanced at Biddle, who winked at her before getting a cold, hard stare from the barmaid and backed off, returning to his seat. That gesture sent a chill down her spine and she felt as if she couldn't get out of there fast enough.


"What is the matter with you?!" Connor yelled at Violette.

"Don't." she warned the teen.

"Don't? I could have handled it myself, but you had to mess it all up like the silly girl you are!" he said, grabbing her arm as she began walking away, not wanting to hear it.

She turned around, slapping him in the face in one, swift movement. He moved to hit her back, but she dodged his attempt, grabbing hold of his arm sternly and she continued to stare at him, her rage unable to be held back now, "Are you touched in the head?!" she started, "You should not have approached Church and Biddle, Connor! It was irresponsible and uncalled for! You don't just walk up to our targets and demand answers!" she scolded him.

"I want Charles Lee!" he explained, walking out of the Captain's Cabin behind her.

"And I want my father's head on a steak, but you don't see me going up to the Templars and asking them to tell me where the figlio di un puttana (son of a bitch) is, do you?!" she continued, "You call me a silly little girl? You're a fool, Connor. An idiot who is blinded by your own personal pursuits! You've already broken a moral we have been taught to stand by!"

He crossed his arms, "Oh? And what moral is that?"

"Hide in plain sight, you incompetent child!" she reminded him.

He realized that she was right. He had broken one of the three rules that all Assassins must stand by under any circumstances.

"Now, now..." Faulkner tried to settle the teenagers down.

"Stay out of this!" they both snapped at the man and he backed off, shaking his head and letting them settle their feud.

"Go into the cabin, now!" Connor ordered her.

"I will not! I'm staying where I choose to. You want to be the Captain of the ship? Get your ass at the helm, do what you have to and get us home!" she denied his request.

"We will settle this when we return to the manor." he said, stepping up to her and looking her in the face.

"Yes, we will." she sneered, watching him as he turned to take his place at the wheel.


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