UA Multiverse Peek
Chapter 37
Time to finish this story. At least the first one. We all know Izio's journey is much longer than one game. And I will get to them later and eventually Kung Fu Panda 3 among others. On with the show.
(No POV)
"I wonder how Izio will get back that Apple thing." Kaminari said while settling back into his seat. Sen though had a different thought. "Even if he gets it back, he's still got major problems. Like the fact the Pope is his main foe." Nezu and the other teachers agreed. Noting that it seemed as if the Assassins were fighting an uphill battle.
Ibarra looked down while thinking about the two men involved. 'If I remember right, the Borgia Pope at the time was eventually led to ruin. Perhaps in this world it was done by Izio. But that other…. Could he be the one who lead to the mad reforms?'
Her's and the other's musings were cut off as the screen lit up again. And Izuku felt a pit of dread open in his stomach. "Where is this coming from? Wait…. No." Izuku whispered to himself while hoping he was wrong about what would come.
The image pans over a veranda atop a house in Forli. There, Izio is laying with the sun peeking down on him. As he stirs, Rumi almost cries at seeing him awaken. "Izio! Thank god you're back with us. Are you alright? What happened to you?"
"Well we could start with finishing the fight you failed to finish. And then getting stabbed by the guys you used to backstab your husband." Bakugo said with some annoyance. And while some didn't approve of his phrasing, most couldn't disagree. "Have to wonder what he's going to do next." Shoji said while eating some popcorn with his tentacle.
Izio groaned and said he didn't know, with Rumi noting that a guard found him next to the Orsi brother. "Si…. That I remember…. Wait… There was a third man…. He took the Apple!" Izio said while sitting up. When Rumi questioned who it was, Izio only knew that he wore monk's clothing and was missing a finger.
"Rumi I have to go, right away!" Izio says with a little groan. Rumi agrees before presenting him with the map her husband made. Noting that it would help him to find the Vault the Assassins were looking for.
Kirishima questioned how long he had been out cold. "Also, that is a good-looking beard he's growing now." But that was passed over for the worry for the future. "At least he has the map that Templar husband of hers made. Now he can finish that codex thingy." Ochaco said while trying to ignore the knot in her stomach.
"You know, there is an abbey in the wetlands near here, where I've seen monks wearing black robes. I'd start there. Now go. Find this us a stramaledetto monk." Rumi says and Izio smiles at that. Saying he'd miss her. Rumi's only response is to give him a coy look and say, "oh I know you will."
Mineta ground his teeth at the way Sforza looked at Izio. Kaminari and Kosei were no better, the latter commenting that he was probably gonna sleep with her. "Well I wouldn't blame her." Yui said with a slight lick of her lips while looking at Izio with a beard. Izuku meanwhile gulped and wondered if he could or should grow a beard himself.
Izio made his way to the abbey to question the monks. But was distracted by saving an Irish monk from a few guards. Said monk unfortunately didn't know exactly who Izio was looking for. Only confirming that he had been at the abbey. So, Izio continued his search.
Coming upon the building, Izio made his way in. Only for one to recognize Izio due to him killing Stefano, a monk involved in the Pazzi conspiracy. The monk runs, but Izio tackles him quickly.
Ibarra nodded and thanked Izio for protecting the monk who'd been attacked by the guards. But then winced at the apparent reminder of Izio's past kills. "He did it for a better reason. I think." Mina said when Ibarra voiced those concerns. Izuku meanwhile was worried about how much of this would follow his counterpart through his life.
"Please no! I don't want to die!" the monk exclaims. Izio just replies with, "I only kill those who kill others, and your brother Stefano was a killer. I'm sure you are no such thing. Now listen to me. I'm looking for a black robed monk who is missing a finger." The monk thinks for a moment before remembering a name: Savonarola.
Ibarra's blood runs cold and she realizes she was right. "Oh no. Poor Izio," she says while remembering what the named man was involved in. Her friends ask what she meant, and all she was say is, "we will unfortunately see soon enough."
After Izio asks who Savonarola was, the monk responds that he was once a monk of the abbey. "We suggested he retire to a hermitage for a good long time." Izio shakes his head and notes, "his retreat has come to an end. Where would he have gone?" This worries the monk and he notes, "Santo Spirito, in Firenze. It's where he studied. Perhaps it's where he would return."
This time it's Izuku's blood that runs cold. Thinking back on what was his counterpart's hometown. And he isn't alone. Kaminari, Mineta, and Ochaco also feel a touch of fear at what could befall their counterparts. "No. This is bad." Nezu says with a shiver. All Might agrees and thinks about what could happen next.
Izio thanks the monk and prepares to head for Firenze. But not before one quick stop. "It has taken some time. But now I will be ready for what is to come." Izio says upon returning to Monteriggioni. He had spent some time between missions, finding a few of the tombs of the assassins.
He placed the seals before their respective members and the mechanisms unlocked, one by one. Until Altair's armor was revealed and lowered. "Thank you, Altair, for this great gift. May it shield me from my enemies." Izio says while bowing in respect to the legendary member. He quickly changed into the black robes and armor, noting how light it felt and yet even a blow from a strong warrior would barely dent it. Or him.
Tokoyami and Shihai shiver at seeing the black armor that Izio put on. While the hardheads were impressed by the durability of the gear. "It's not like mine quirk or yours. But it would still do a lot of good for the trouble he's bound to run into." Kirishima says with a nod.
Izio makes his way into the city and finds that were dangerous new changes. Least of which being that the Medici had been disposed by those following Savonarola. And now there were people throwing books on fires, and rioting int the street. Preaching the word of the man.
"The Bonfires of the Vanities." Ibarra said with a sad look to the ground. Her classmates and teachers looked at her and asked what she was talking about. "It was a movement and dangerous matter during the Renaissance of Italy. Where a priest tried to convinced many to reject the advances that had begun. Seeing it as a decadent period that everyone had been corrupted by. While also persecuting those with money." Nezu said with a sad nod.
Izio made his way towards his old home. And found it vandalized along with other damages. Not to mention, bodies all around. One of whom he recognized was Leonardo's old assistant. "He protected us. For all the good it did." A woman said upon seeing Izio looking at the man. Izio sighed and closed the short man's eyes while cursing.
Mineta shivered upon seeing his counterpart dead. While also respecting the man for trying to protect others. Especially some very attractive women. Ibarra decided to be a bit nicer and gave him a small hug with her vines. "It appears your other self was a good man. I hope you eventually prove to be similar." Ibarra said with a light shining behind her. Mineta sniffled a bit and thanked her.
Izio makes his way towards Ocha's home, and she spots Manfredo. The man bleeding out while up against a wall. Izio asked what happened. "Men…. Savonarola's men… they came through, destroying everything," he rasped out. Izio panicked and asked, "where is Ocha!? Manfredo! WHERE IS SHE!?"
The trio of students involved shivered in worry at seeing Kaminari's counterpart. "Why would they do this?" Ochaco asked with fear for her other self. "Because your counterpart's family is really rich. And they were told/encouraged to attack those who were of wealthy status." Momo said while thinking about the fear she felt as a child at times. From those who hated her father because of his position and money, and thus her by extension.
Manfredo could only tell him that she ran while he tried to stop the men. Passing as Izio looked towards the street. Izio gripped his fist tightly and closed Manfredo's eyes. Rushing off to find his former love.
Kaminari felt sick to his stomach at seeing what happened to his counterpart. "I…. I failed at the end," he said while looking down. "You didn't fail. You bought time for the woman you loved to get away. That shows how much you cared." Izuku said while hoping Izio would get to Ocha quickly.
Izio rushed across rooftops to try and find her or those chasing her. Finally finding her being accosted by the thugs. Calling her a whore and mocking the fact her family's money couldn't protect her from their "righteous" cleansing of Firenze.
Izuku and Kaminari both felt rage at hearing the insults thrown Ocha's way. Both sparking with electricity. Ochaco meanwhile felt the stings of the insults and curled up to cry a little. With her friends hugging her to block out the noise.
"Ocha! Run!" Izio cried out as he engaged the men. Cutting two down quickly while the woman tried to run. But she was stopped and struck more than once by the maces and swords the thugs held. Izio roared before dealing with one man and then the other.
Initially there were cheers at Izio reaching Ocha so quickly. But those were quickly dampened upon seeing the woman struck more than once by a mace and blade. And the faces of the audience quickly turned murderous. Izuku's face matching the worst look Bakugo could give. Mineta and the other restraining types wishing they could use their quirks to hold the thugs down while the offensive types would let loose on them.
Even the teachers were furious as All Might bulked up and looked ready to kill. While Midnight and Nezu seemed to be scheming ways to make those men suffer for what they did. Mic even wished he could jump in to scream in their ears at the full power of his quirk.
Izio picked her up and took her away from the carnage. "Ocha…. hold on! I'll get you to a doctor…. You're going to be alright." Izio said while carrying her away. But Ocha disagreed as she coughed. Izio asked her to stay with him, and Ocha could only respond by saying, "Izio… Don't you know? I've always been with you." She then presents the pendant Izio gave her so many years ago.
Izuku's eyes teared up upon seeing Ocha fading. As were many of the other teens and teachers in the same boat. Only Nezu was composed, but just barely. And that composure collapsed upon seeing that the woman had kept Izio's keepsake for over a decade. His and everyone's eyes flooding with tears.
"I wish…. We could have had…. A second chance." Ocha says with a few tears as Izio caresses her face and hair. Dying in his arms as he begins to tear up as well. Biting his lip before saying, "requiescat in pace…. My love."
The tears continued as the scene played. But Izuku's changed to ones of frustration. 'Frustration that I'm sure my counterpart feels. And I know he'll make this right. And stop this madness,' he thinks as the scene continues.
After moving her and Manfredo's bodies away for last rights, Izio found new resolve to stop this. As well as a trusted contact in Machiavelli. "No doubt he is aided by that treacherous artifact," the writer and philosopher says before they make their way through the city.
Nicolo notes that it was not the entire city that Savonarola had control of. Just the leaders. "They in turn oppress the citizens and see that his will is done." Izio commented that most of the people looked as if they had little say in the matter, and Machiavelli pointed out that they had to be the ones to set things right.
Shoji nods and notes that it isn't that odd of thing. "When confronted by strange things or when someone with power is willing to inspire, people tend to go with the crowd or duck their heads. I've seen it before," he says while touching his mask. And also remembering the attacks on a few who were quirkless when he arrived in the city.
After passing some dead Borgia guards, Izio noted that they had to move quickly before the Templars had a chance to get the Apple. After dealing with a few guards, Izio has a plan. "The peoples' minds are their own. Then I propose that we use that to our advantage. If we can silence his lieutenants and stir up discontent, he will be distracted, and I will have my chance to strike." Izio says with some fire in his voice and eyes.
"There is a wish for vengeance, but it is at least somewhat tempered. Hopefully it stays that way." Ida says with unease. Izuku agreed and said, "it's a good plan though. That Savonarola person will have to take action upon realizing his allies are gone."
"Clever. I'll speak with La Volpe and Nemuri. They can help organize the uprisings as you free the districts." Machiavelli says before giving Izio the targets in question. A painter, a former guard captain, a nobleman (the most cowardly of the group), a priest (who felt regret at what he preached), a merchant, a doctor, a farmer (who wanted some respect as none was often given), a condottiero, and a preacher (who already believe similar to Savonarola).
"I guess some of them weren't brainwashed. A few seemed to realize what was going on as they died. Probably because as their lives faded, the influence did too. Too bad it couldn't be fixed by knocking them out. Perhaps it's an idea that sometimes people need to die."
With all of the targets dealt with, the people were capable of rising up and forcing Savonarola into the open. Machiavelli got Izio's attention and nodded to the monk for Izio to deal with. The man tried to convince the crowd with words. Until he decided it was enough and brought out the Apple. Seeing his chance, Izio threw a knife and knocked the artifact from Savonarola's hand.
Ibarra narrowed her eyes at the cruel words that the so-called leader said to the people he was trying to "save". "His thoughts and those who followed them would lead to even greater cruelty in time. Teaching destruction rather than something constructive," she said with a mixture of anger and sadness. While she was voicing that, the others complimented Izio on his accuracy.
Upon seeing this, the crowd acted. Attacking Savonarola and dragging him away. A Borgia guard tried to make off with the Apple, but Izio quickly caught him and recovered the artifact. After the matter was done, he spied upon a place that was unsettling to him. The Piazza della Signoria, where his family were killed long ago.
At the center, Savonarola was being dragged to a stake with hay all around it. Screaming that all of them were heretics to be burned. But instead, it would be him who would burn this day. The man begins to pray as the fire begins beneath his feet.
The audience celebrated upon seeing the Assassin recover the dangerous artifact. "But…. what about that monk guy? What are they gonna do to him?" Koda asked while looking at the screen. And his question was answered by the sight of the piazza. And the eventual pyre to burn. "No one deserves that." Izuku thinks aloud while tightening his grip.
Izio's fist tightens before he releases it. "No one deserves to die in such pain," he says before quickly making his way through the crowd. He then leaps at the man and stabs him with his hidden blade.
"It's you…. I knew this day would come, Please…. Show mercy." Savonarola begs as his life ebbs away. Izio responds with, "I have. Va 'ora. Che sia il tuo Dio a giudicarti. Requiescat in pace."
All Might nodded and respected how Izio chose to finish the villain. Sato let out a humorless chuckle at Izuku mirroring his counterpart. While the boy himself respected the man for ending things the way he did. "He may have wanted to take some revenge, but not like this." Ida said while remembering his own foolish crusade.
The man turns to the crowd to address them, much as he did to his friends and followers long ago. "Silencio! Twenty-two years ago, I stood where I stand now - and watched my loved ones die, betrayed by those I had called friends. Vengeance clouded my mind. It would have consumed me, were it not for the wisdom of a few strangers, who taught me to look past my instincts. They never preached answers but guided me to learn from myself."
He nodded to La Volpe, Nemuri, Mirai, and Machiavelli. "We don't need anyone to tell us what to do. Not Savonarola, not the Medici. We are free to follow our own path. There are those who will take that freedom from us, and too many of you gladly give it. But it is our ability to choose – whatever you think is true – that makes us human. There is no book or teacher to give you answers, to show you the path. Choose your own way. Do not follow me. Or anyone else."
Upon hearing the speech, many of the students questioned matters themselves. Wondering why they would or should follow some of the laws, teachings, and regulations of their world. "Because giving into everything is just as dangerous. And can lead to equal cruelty." Aizawa suddenly said.
He looked to the teens and noted a few of them voiced their thoughts. "You missed some of what he said there. Namely the fact of choosing what you think is true. If you don't think what we do as heroes is right, then leave and forge your own. But if you do believe in it, then continue to learn and understand that way." All Might said with a slight smile.
His speech given, Izio leave Firenze again. And regroups with the others at Monteriggioni. There, they can finish the details that would give them the location of the Vault. Only to realize that it is under Rome itself.
"Now I understand! It's not just the Vault he's gained access to. But the staff!" Mirai says in worry. Teodora asked what staff he meant, and Mirai continued with details from the Codex. "It pointed to two keys. Two pieces of Eden needed to open the Vault. One is the Apple." Izio finished by saying it was the Papal Staff.
A rainbow forms in the room after Ibarra spit takes so hard from all that was revealed about the center of her religion. "Okay. Did not need that. *cough* But I suppose it make sense. Though not why he'd take up the position," the vine girl said while catching her breath.
Izio resolves to go to Rome, while his allies intend to make trouble in the city. Giving Izio the freedom to move within. The man feels ready for the confrontation and makes his way to the Vatican itself. Sneaking through to watch over a mass that Rodrigo was conducting.
Izio takes a breath before leaping from the section of repair scaffolding in the building. Right atop the Pope himself. As some started to scream, Izio confronted his nemesis. "I thought…. I thought I was beyond this. But I'm not. I've waited too long. Lost too much. Requiescat in pace you bastard!"
The stealth focused heroes were excited to see how Izio moved through the heavily guarded halls of the Vatican. "And he's not spilling a lot of blood. I though for sure he'd be killing them all." Toru with in relief. Kamakiri shook his head and noted that would be pointless to kill them all. "It would announce his presence and make it hard to get to the target."
Upon reaching said target though, Ida couldn't help but think of himself and how he acted upon seeing Stain. 'Don't give in. Not fully. It'll leave you vulnerable!' he thought while watching the scene play.
"I don't think so!" Borgia says after coming back to consciousness. He grips his staff and knocks Izio off of him. He then uses the Staff to blast Izio away and with a tap upon the ground it affected the minds of those around him.
Izio though was safe thanks to what he carried with him. The Apple glowed in his pouch. Something Toruichi was pleased with. "So kind of you to bring me the Apple. Now bring it here!" The Assassin narrows his eyes before taking it from his pouch. "Vai a farti forttere," is all Izio has to say in response.
Ida's premonition proved true as the villain awakened and attacked the Assassin. Then he and the rest were surprised by what the Staff could do. Bakugo and Kamakiri meanwhile laughed at Izio's way of dealing with the Pope.
Rodrigo laughs and notes that Izio is a fighter just like his father. "Well rejoice my child. For you will see him again soon!" the Templar Pope says before brandishing the staff. "You want it? Come and get it." Izio says and uses the artifact to make copies of himself.
The audience was then impressed by the powers granted by the Apple. "Now I see some of why they want these things. Overwhelming minds to make them insane or give them knowledge is just the beginning." Nezu analyzes while wondering what other powers could come from the Apple. Or any other Piece of Eden.
Borgia finds the trick interesting but is still not overly impressed. The two square off, Izio using his copies to hide, attack, and distract his foe. And said foe using the range and heft of the staff to give himself some leverage. Eventually collapsing after a number of strikes.
Quiet cheers were had again as Izio attacked and battered the man who ruined his life. "Don't let up. Just keep hammering!" Bakugo said while crackling explosions in his hand. Izuku though is worried that it wouldn't be enough. "That staff is dangerous. And we've only seen a bit of what it can do."
As Izio stalks over to the man, he still refuses to give in. "No! You will not take this from me!" he shouts before using the staff's powers to knock Izio down. He tries to use the Apple, but Borgia appear next to him quickly and gets the Apple away from Izio. "At last!" he said before taking both pieces and making Izio float. Stabbing him in the side before making his way to the alter in the room.
"No!" was what many said upon seeing Izio falling and then losing the Apple. "I was afraid of that. This is bad." Izuku says as the scene plays. And it gets worse when his counterpart is stabbed in the side. "This the end right?!" Itsuka asked in fear.
The alter opens and Borgia makes his way down the passageway within. Izio grunts before patching up his wound. "You won't get away that easy," he mutters to himself. He uses his gift to see the way to unlock the path and chases after the villain. While also being shocked by the strange technology beneath the Holy City.
Some let out uneasy breaths at hearing Izio getting back up. But most fear turns quickly into awe at the appearance of the vault. "What the… some sort of advanced civilization from the past?" Sero asks as his head tilts to the side.
Once deeper, he sees Rodrigo pounding on what was likely the central section of the vault. Demanding that it open for him. "It's over, Rodrigo Toruichi. No more tricks. No more ancient artifacts. No more weapons. Let us see what you are made of old man." Izio says while steadily disarming himself.
"Alright then. If that's how you want to play it!" Borgia says before taking a stance of his own. Izio opens with a jab to the man's face, and then a body blow. The older man takes it well and gets Izio back with a punch to the stomach. But Izio dodges his follow up and pushes Borgia away.
Kirishima and Tetsutetsu smile at that and are looking forward to the beatdown to come. Ida meanwhile sees Izio actions as a mix of the mission and some revenge. But once the fight begins plenty are excited to see the villain get the beatdown he deserved. Even Izuku was smiling at the blows his counterpart was landing.
While trading blows, Izio confronts Rodrigo on his reason for wanting the Vault. The man saying that God himself (or herself) lied beyond the Vault. Expecting to be able to control said being and his disbelief in the faith itself. Only wanting the position because of the power alone.
The holy girl of 1-B started to rage about the man deserving to burn for eternity for his blasphemy. While her vines roiled around her in an almost unholy image of judgement and indignation. Something that made even Kamakiri and Bakugo nervous.
The two-trade blow after blow until Izio notices that his foe's age is catching up with him slightly. Chaining more and more blows and grappling the man for a moment. Headbutting his opponent's face, punching it, and bringing it down for a strong knee blow to Rodrigo's nose. And while he was down, Izio stomped on and kicked Borgia's family jewels.
"Yeah! Not like he was using those anyway!" Mineta said as Borgia was kicked in the nuts. Monoma though could just remember what happened to his counterpart. And while still wincing at it, he would say both instances were very justified.
Izio starts strangling the man after so many blows and bloodying of his face. As the man began to crumple, Izio began to feel some of his rage fading. "No! You can't! You can't! It's my destiny! MINE! I am the Prophet!" Borgia proclaimed.
"You never were." Izio says with disdain. "Get it over with then." Rodrigo says in defeat. Accepting that he'd failed and lost. "No. Killing you won't bring my family back… I'm done. Nulle e relle, tutto e lecito. Requiescat in pace." Izio says before knocking the man out with a punch.
Ida nodded before saying, "he sees what the man truly is. A pathetic fool, who lost basically everything in pursuit of his goals. He's not worth killing." Kamakiri initially thinks that was a stupid perspective. But Aizawa brings up a different point. "He wanted to be dead. After he was shown to be wrong and a failure. And he doesn't deserve such a quick end. Not with everything he's done. Sometimes, leaving them alive is the greater justice."
The Staff and Apple light up as Izio touches them and opens the path that was barred to Borgia. The Assassin makes his way into the strange room as lights flash and cover all. Eventually shining white before the screen. And then suddenly it was cut to black.
"Aw! I wanted to know what was in there!" Mina shouted before pouting. A few other members of the audience agree and wonder why it cut off there. "Think that's the end of Izio's story?" Shoto asks with some trepidation. "I don't think so. I think it's only begun." Izuku says as the screen lights up again.
In the distance were the Pyramids of Giza and before them were a set of rooftops that a trio of shadowed strangers were running across. Each going to different areas of a the National Museum of Cairo. The screen cuts to black as a golden hook is shown shimmering. "Who is that?" Mirio asked at first. While Izuku, Sato, and Ida smiled and had an idea on what would come next.
There we go. So I was never planning to have the audience learn about Minerva or Juno or any of the others. This is just Ezio or Izio's story. Not the one that Desmond and the rest are following. So sorry to get your hopes up, but you won't get modern counterparts for any of this. Besides, I wasn't planning on doing AC3. And I think most of you can guess what the next one will be.
And for those who will ask, yes I'll get to KFP3. It's just….. well I'm not a big fan of that movie and I've got bigger things to worry about. Both in FF writing and IRL. Please review!
