Chapter 3

(February 7th, 1459. Warners' House. Living Room. Morning)

(Zack: Age 5. Sam: Age 3. Gabby: Age 1)

*Zack enters the house through the front door dressed in his Assassin robe*

Zack: I brought the bread.

Sam: Faboo! Breakfast!

Zack: Shhh, not so loud. We can't have Madre finding out. Just eat it quickly. *Breaks off a piece of bread and gives it to Sam* Here.

Sam: Grazie, Fratello! (Thanks, Bro!)

Zack: If Mom asks about the bread breath, tell her you were eating grass.

Sam: Sounds fun!

Zack: Is Gabby still asleep?

Sam: Yup. That girl sleeps like a baby.

Zack: *Stares blankly at Sam* I was thinking that we could try and sing with her today.

Sam: But she can barely talk.

Zack: That doesn't necessarily mean she can't just hum.

Sam: Good idea!

Zack: *Smiles smugly* I know.

Sam: I can't wait! *Eats his piece of bread in one bite* So what do you want to do? *Smiles at Zack with his eyes shining then frowns and his eyes dim* Or do you have to train today?

Zack: *Smiles* I'm free today.

Sam: *Smiles* Yay! *Hugs Zack* What are you going to do after you're trained?

Zack: I'm going to use these skills to teach those stupid jerks not to make fun of us anymore. They'll get it, trust me.

Sam: The other kids? You think I can fight them too when you do?

Zack: Of course.

Sam: Faboo!

Zack: But right now, we should play. *Takes off his Assassin Robe and leaves it on the couch. Zack then tags Sam and runs* You're it!

*Time passes to sunset*

*Zack and Sam are in their bedroom sitting on the floor and looking out the window*

Zack: You're the best little brother ever, you know that?

Sam: Well you're the best big brother.

*Zack and Sam smile at each other. Nicolas enters the bedroom*

Nicolas: Wassup!

Zack and Sam: Hi, Dad.

Nicolas: What's wrong? You both seem depressed.

Zack: I don't know about him, but…

Nicolas: What's bothering you, Zack? Talk to your old man.

Zack: Is this how it's going to be?

Nicolas: What do you mean?

Zack: Our life. Why do we have to keep living like this? Being poor stinks!

Nicolas: Zacharias, I promise that it won't be like this for long.

Zack: You keep telling me that, but nothing ever changes!

Nicolas: Stuff like this takes patience.

Zack: *Sighs* Can I ask you something else?

Nicolas: Sure.

Zack: Why do you hate Assassins? It seems stupid since you are one too.

Nicolas: I don't hate Assassins. You were mislead, boy… Where did this question come from anyway?

Zack: The day when I became an Assassin, you and Spazzo argued. You said that you didn't want me being an Assassin. I've been thinking about that fight everyday ever since.

Nicolas: *Sighs* I thought differently at the time. It's true; I used to be an Assassin. After you were born, I decided that you should have the opportunity to lead a normal life, so I quit and never introduced you to the Assassin order. I was furious at Spazzo because I thought he was forcing you into it; I learned more since then.

*Zack looks down with a sad face and stares at his feet*

Nicolas: Zacharias, my son, if it's your choice to be an Assassin, then I strongly support you.

Zack: *Looks up at Nicolas* So you don't hate me for being an Assassin?

Nicolas: Of course not. I could never hate you for ANY reason. A family is NEVER allowed to hate each other.

*Zack and Sam look up at Nicolas and smile. Nicolas smiles back*

Nicolas: I want to tell you boys something later tonight. Let's go downstairs and have dinner.

*Zack and Sam run up to Nicolas and hug him*

Nicolas: I love you boys.

*Nicolas sets Zack and Sam on the floor and walks out of the bedroom with a sign on his back that says "kick me". He reaches for it and takes it off as he walks out*

*Time passes to bed time in the siblings' bedroom. Gabrielle just finished getting her children into their beds*

Gabrielle: Goodnight.

Nicolas: I'll see you in a bit, mia cara.

Gabrielle: Alright.

*Gabrielle leaves the bedroom and closes the door behind her*

Nicolas: Alright, boys.

Sam: Padre! Can I sleep on the top bunk?

Nicolas: Sorry Sam, I want that bunk to remain fresh and unused. It's specially reserved for your sister. Once she ditches that crib, that bunk is all hers. Until then, NO-ONE touches it! Got it!

Sam: Got it!

Zack: Nope!

Nicolas: *Stares at Zack and smirks* Zack.

Zack: I'm kidding. *Smiles*

Nicolas: Okay boys, I'm going to tell you a story.

Zack: Neato!

Sam: Faboo!

Nicolas: Once upon a time, a beautiful princess was forced to do hard labor under the watchful eyes of society's greatest discriminators. Even as beautiful as she was, they thought this princess looked weird and they thought that she didn't deserve to be treated fair like everyone else. She worked day and night, and was extremely miserable.

Sam: This is good!

Nicolas: But one night, a brave Assassin broke into the beautiful princess's bedroom and set her free. The princess was grateful to her rescuer. The Assassin and the princess bonded for a while until the Assassin offered his hand in marriage. The princess gladly accepted and they became the king and queen of Venezia!

*Nicolas pauses. Zack and Sam smile attentively at Nicolas and Nicolas smiles back then continues the story*

Nicolas: So, the king and his bride lived in a large castle and they had two sons and a daughter. They were the princes and princess to the throne. The heirs one day met someone who asked them "Who are you?" And the heirs said-

Zack: Zacharias Warner!

Sam: And Samuel Warner!

Zack: And.

Zack and Sam: We're the Warner Brothers!

Nicolas: *Smiles* You boys caught on quick.

Zack: You did give a LOT of hints.

Nicolas: Okay, so I made it too obvious. So what?

Zack: Well, go on!

Nicolas: As I was saying. The Warner Brothers AND the Warner Sister soon showed the whole world that our kind or anyone who looks different should not be treated unfair. The end.

Zack and Sam: …Good story!

Nicolas: …Yes… Well, I'll see you in the morning.

*Nicolas exits the bedroom and closes the door*

Sam: Goodnight, Bro.

Zack: Sam, we might not have a life of luxury but at least we still have each other.

Sam: I'm happy to have you.

Zack: We have a sister too. *Looks at Gabby sleeping pleasantly and smiles* And we have Mom and Dad. Spazzo is fun to have around too. And that's really all I need.

Sam: Faboo.

Zack: Goodnight, Brother.