Just so you guys know, I also plan to keep the concept of Admiral Transformations and Luffy's Fifth Gear the same in this story. Both will be included. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, go read from chapter 36 to the end of A New Era. Also, chapter 6 of The Dark World would be another good reference.
Songs
Choosing Assassin wardrobe: Venice Rooftops (AC2 Soundtrack)
Sages Dialogue: Arno's Return (AC Unity Soundtrack)
Reading about Ace's Execution: I Will Beat You (One Piece OST)
Blackbeard Dialogue: Karakuri Defense System, Activate (One Piece OST)
Entering the Animus: Yasha's Theme (Asura's Wrath Soundtrack)
Exiting the Animus: In Your Belief Ethnic Version (Asura's Wrath Soundtrack)
I winced, and slowly opened my eyes to a blinding light. My eyes adjusted to the room, and found myself lying on a bed in what looked like an infirmary.
"What? Where am I?" I looked down at myself and saw that my chest was covered in bandages.
"Ah, I see that you're finally awake. Welcome back."
"Huh?" I looked over to see someone leaning against the doorway. My eyes narrowed slightly.
"Sabo?"
"It's been a while, Aaron."
"Yes, we haven't met face to face since I left with Shanks." I stood up.
"I see your wounds are finally healed."
"Finally? How long have I been out?"
"About 5 days. Dragon sensed your battle with Kuma through Observation Haki, and told us that the Straw Hat Pirates were separated, including you."
"So that was five days ago? Kuma's ability takes 3 days for someone to finally land on an island. I was asleep here for two, then?"
"I wouldn't exactly say asleep, more like unconscious. Kizaru's wound did a number on you.
"Yeah, unfortunately. I underestimated him. I figured that even though he was an Admiral, he wasn't as strong as Akainu, and I would be able to take him on. I was wrong…"
"Right. Kizaru is older than you, and was one of the New World Order's founding members, so he still has the advantage of experience over you."
"Advantage is a bit of an understatement. I was completely outclassed. I haven't mastered haki yet, and I still didn't unlock chaos through my devil fruit. In addition, my sword was obliterated by him."
"...Get dressed and come with me. Dragon wanted to speak with you as soon as you woke up."
"He's here? Where are we?"
"The Brotherhood's infirmary."
"Really? Then we're…"
"At the headquarters in Zou, yes."
"Heh. That's the luckiest thing to ever happen to me, being sent to here, of all places." After putting my usual shirt, pants, and black overcoat on, I walked out into the open with Sabo, and saw the Revolutionary army and Assassin Brotherhood hard at work, as usual. Training, doing administrative work. Those who were on break were swimming, watching TV, and listening to a jam session concert at the stage. It was nice to know that nothing had changed. The New World Brotherhood has always had the idea that sometimes we don't need to be discreet. If the situation calls for it, we should tell the people of the dangers and atrocities that the Templars are planning. Dragon was at his usual place, standing atop the highest cliff, looking down over the waterfall where recruits would practice their leap of faith and dive right into the pool. I walked up to him.
"Dragon, Aaron is up."
"Thanks, Sabo. Could you leave us alone for a little while?" He nodded and left. I walked up and stood next to him.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For carelessly attacking Kizaru."
"That's not your fault, it's Luffy's for attacking that Celestial Dragon in the first place."
"No, it's the Dragon's fault for being a Dragon." We silently agreed.
"Now then, I think that it's about time that we upgraded your armor a little bit, and perhaps your wardrobe while we're at it."
"What do you mean?"
"I think it's time that you officially join the brotherhood." He started walking, and I followed him.
"What?! But I'm not ready yet, especially after what just happened on Sabaody."
"It's precisely because of Sabaody that I want you to join us now. And I'm afraid that there's also a bigger reason that I'll get to shortly." He led me into the outfitter of the island. The entrance and first room was a large space that had many casual and modern outfits hung around on the walls. We walked past the counter to the back corner of the room where the wall was blank.
"You know what to do." he motioned at me. I sighed and walked up to the wall and said my name.
"Aaron Hawthorne." Suddenly, part of the wall disappeared, and a retinal scanner along with a handprint scanner lit up a light blue. I scanned my eye, and placed my hand on the scanner. Dragon did the same.
"Monkey D. Dragon." He scanned his eye and hand as well.
"Welcome back Aaron, Dragon." greeted the automated voice. The wall slid open, leading into another, bigger part of the store. Arms and weapons of every kind laid out along the walls and shelves. In addition, mirrors, fitting rooms, and all of the essential clothing pieces of an assassin were hung up and displayed everywhere.
"It's time. What color do you want?"
"You know my color. Black." Dragon grabbed a black hooded piece that looked similar to Altair's fabled armor that Ezio had worn nearly 500 years ago.
"Try this on." He handed it to me, and I went into the fitting room. A few minutes later, I stepped out clad in a black assassin's uniform with a black cloak style, making the end trail a little bit. A red sash was tied around my waist, and the outfit had gold lacing around the wrists and other areas of the fabric. A red and gold cape decorated the back of it.
"You look good in that. It's a nice change from your standard outfit that you've been wearing for God knows how long. Alright, next, your hidden blades. He handed me a pair from one of the shelves.
"These are our most advanced model. Every weapon is hidden inside of it: hidden pistol, phantom blades, rope launcher, poison darts, and of course the blades themselves."
"They're so light...how did you manage to fit everything in there like this?"
"We have our ways. Did you forget that the Revolutionary Army has some of the best mechanics in the world under their control?"
"Did you forget that I was the Chief of Staff for 5 years? Of course I know that." I fitted the blades on, and then tested them out by extending them.
"Excellent. Sword and Dagger time." Dragon led me to the sword rack where I picked one out.
"How about this one? The Milanese sword. I like it. It's light like a rapier, but still sharp and deadly. And for daggers...I'll take this one, the Notched Cinquedea. The blade is nice and big, and sharp too."
"Good. Now take these. Gold Plated Pistols. They're top of the line." I took them and stored them in holsters attached to my waist.
"I think it's time. Come with me." I once again followed him, this time to the library and archives. He brought me to one of the back rooms where several complex machines were set up.
"Do you know what these are?"
"It's an animus."
"Right. They let us relive the lives of our ancestors. There's a reason why I've always been so eager for you to join the Brotherhood. You know about Templar Sages, right?"
"Yes. Every now and then, a Templar Sage will be born and will have the ability to hear and understand the thoughts of Aita, Juno's husband and member of the first civilization, making them special. Jacques de Molay, Bartholomew Roberts, and Francǫis Thomas-Germain, just to name a few."
"Did you know that the Assassins also have sages?"
"What?! No, I didn't."
"Once in a blue moon, a very special assassin is born into this world, and they will be able to not only hear the thoughts of, but communicate telepathically with the legendary assassins in the history of the world thus far. The phenomenon is even rarer than a Templar Sage, though. The most recent Sage of the Assassins was Ezio Auditore."
"I remember that. During his time in Constantinople while studying Altair's library, Ezio could potentially see Altair's image through Eagle Sense as if he were standing right there next to him. So that meant that he was a Sage?"
"Exactly. Now, the interesting thing about Assassin Sages, and I think that you'll like this part. You see, Assassin Sages are supposed to be Legendary Master Assassins and mentors. Whoever is a Sage is said to be destined to become a Legendary Master, just like the previous ones. Through years of research, we have discovered that a Sage must also be related to the previous one in some way or another, no matter how distant. Even if it's just the slightest drop of the ancestor's blood, they still have the ability and capacity to be a Sage. I believe that you are destined to become the next one."
"Me?"
"You clearly have the strength and ability required for it."
"Well sure, but I thought that a Sage must also be related to the previous one?"
"You are. I had a feeling, so while you were in the Infirmary, we tested your blood, and it checked out. You are related to each of the previous Legendary Assassins through various different paternal and maternal lines. You are a descendant of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Connor Kenway, Edward Kenway, Arno Dorian, and Evie Frye."
"Not through Jacob's line?"
"No. Jacob and Evie were twin assassins, but of course they both got married to different people, and you are directly descended through Evie's line. However, because she was Jacob's sister, you are still related to him, and can still access his memories."
"Hey wait...if I'm descended from the Kenway line as well, then I'm also related to Haytham?"
"I'm afraid so. And Shay Cormac as well."
"Really? Sorry, but all of this is a little overwhelming. It seems a little unrealistic to be related to every single one of these people."
"Well, if you think about how big a family tree can become, each direct ancestor could have potential siblings, each parent has another paternal and maternal line on their own. It keeps branching out until you can't keep track of it anymore. To be a Sage, I said that you have to be distantly related to them at the least, not strongly or directly."
"Right. Why are we here again? You still haven't explained that part to me yet."
"We're here...because of this." He handed today's newspaper to me. I took it and read the front page.
"Wha-?" I whispered.
"Pretty bad, isn't it?"
"It's way worse than that! Ace has been captured and is going to be executed in a few days?!"
"Keep reading." I read aloud.
"The one responsible for finally capturing the powerful pirate was a man named Marshall D. Teach, a pirate with no previous bounty. Instead of collecting the 550 million beri bounty on his head, Teach and his associates offered Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku a proposition. Due to Crocodile's recent demotion from one of the Seven Warlords, the Marines had been searching for someone worthy to take his place." I looked at Dragon.
"...Don't tell me that Blackbeard is a Warlord now?"
"Pretty interesting stuff, isn't it? Of course one of our most elite assassins was watching the meeting. Ace is an associate of ours, after all. He's the son of Gold Roger, and Luffy's adopted brother."
"And he's my responsibility."
"What?"
"I made a promise to both you and Garp that I'd always watch over Luffy, Ace, and Sabo, and never let them die, remember?"
"Of course. After the meeting there, our spy tracked him for a little longer. Do you know where he went?"
"You can't be serious!"
"I'm dead serious. Akainu and the rest of the Templars held a meeting and invited Teach to join the Order."
"And did he accept?!"
"No, surprisingly enough."
"Really? Why?"
"It seems that Blackbeard has his own agenda to carry out, and isn't much for following orders. It seems that even though he now knows that the Order and Brotherhood exist, he doesn't really care about them, and wants to take over the world with his own power and crew."
"He's still a threat, no less. And although I'd be able to defeat him, I'm still no match for the Admirals. If I'm going to participate in Marineford, then I should at least be armed with the skills to survive."
"I was thinking the same thing. Unfortunately, we only have a day or so. So, you only have time to experience and gain the repertoire of one of your ancestors."
"...Load Ezio up."
"That's what I was thinking. Since Ezio was one of the most skilled Assassins in history, you'd benefit the most from his experience through the bleeding effect." Dragon pressed a button, and I laid down on the machine.
"You're going in now to the year 1476, the year where Ezio's life as an assassin began."
"Wish me luck." I closed my eyes, and suddenly, after a few moments, I was in Ezio's point of view.
X
Dragon turned the animus off, and after readjusting my eyes, I stepped out.
"How do you feel?"
"...Powerful. Much stronger than before. Like I can take on anyone."
"Go look in the mirror." I did as he said.
"My eyes changed color?"
"Only temporarily. Your eyes changed from being hazel like normal to one green and one yellow. This is a power known only to Sages, known as the Sage's Madness. It is a type of superficial transformation, where your abilities are increased much further than your base form's power. There is also a second stage of it where both eyes turn red in color. Try it."
"...It didn't work."
"So I guess that you've only unlocked the first stage so far. That's okay, though. It will prove to make you more than a match for those Admirals at Marineford."
"One other thing." I smiled. I deactivated my eyes. I showed Dragon my hand. All of a sudden, I manifested a black and purple vortex with small dark purple lightning bolts creating static around it."
"You've unlocked Chaos?"
"And got more adept with my haki as well."
"Then you're ready. Come. It's time for your induction ceremony into the Brotherhood." I followed him to the main corridor of the hideout, where I saw some of the other recruits standing on the sides, watching. Dragon walked up the stairs to the top of the room, and motioned for me to walk down the middle. I did, and stood up there with him.
"In this world, there are those who wish to control it for themselves, the Templars. However, there are also those who wish to stop them, the Brotherhood. Do you swear to uphold the tenets of our creed, and to fight for the freedom of humankind?"
"I do."
"Stay your blade from the flesh of the innocent, hide in plain sight, and never compromise the Brotherhood. Do you swear to uphold these principles at whatever cost?"
"I do." Dragon took out a silver chained necklace with the Brotherhood's symbol hanging from the bottom of it.
"Nothing is true, Everything is permitted. 'To say that nothing is true, is to realize that the foundations of society are fragile, and that we must be the shepherds of our own civilization. To say that everything is permitted, is to understand that we are the architects of our actions, and that we must live with their consequences, whether glorious or tragic.' These are the words recited by Ezio Auditore himself. Do you swear to follow this principle until death?"
"I do."
"Aaron Hawthorne. Welcome to the Assassin Brotherhood." He handed the necklace to me, and I put it around my neck.
"This necklace is a symbol of Master Assassin status. I am starting you at that rank because of your skills and prior experience."
"Thank you."
"All other Master Assassins wear this on their necks as well." Dragon pulled out his own.
"You do know who all of the others are in case you ever need to contact them, don't you?"
"Of course. Hancock, Jinbe, Rayleigh, Shanks, and yourself."
"Good. Now, where are you going to go?"
"I'm going to head to Amazon Lily to get Luffy and visit Hancock. Then we're off to Marineford."
"Alright. Do your best. And Aaron…"
"Mm?"
"Don't die." I closed my eyes, and teleported away.
End.
Yes, those are the other members of the Brotherhood that I chose. They are against the World Government and Marines in their own way, and I thought that they were a good choice.