Firenze, Italia, 1459

"Spingere! Spingere!" The maid yelled at the younger Maria Audtiore, who screamed in brutal pain as she attempted to bring a newborn into the world. The maid looked up at a panting Maria, slightly bothered. "Di nuovo!"

Maria let another scream out as she pushed harder, fighting to keep it all up. "Si! Si! Buona!" From there, she pulled out a baby boy, covered in the usual. He didn't seem to be moving…

"It is a boy!" The maid called as she rocked it rather desperately. Suddenly, the door opened, and a man walked in hurriedly.

"Oh my love! Mi dispiace! I was at the bank when they told me," The man, Giovanni Auditore, walked over to his wife, taking her hand. "Did I miss it? Am I too late?" The maid gestured to their new son in her arms, still unmoving. "Give him here."

"Giovanni…?" Maria was worried not only for her own son's sake, but she also knew her good friend Uma had given birth just hours before Maria. She was worried sick for her friend, and maybe Giovanni knew something.

"Shh, my love. It will be alright." He looked down at the tiny child in his hands. "Tu sei un Auditore. Tu sei un combattente. Cosi combattente!" Suddenly, the baby began moving his limbs, began fighting. The boy let out a cry. "Listen to him! A fine set of lungs!" Giovanni looked pleased.

Maria grinned. "And what shall we call him, my love?"

"Ezio! Ezio Auditore da Firenze!" Giovanni shouted, holding the beautiful baby up.

"My love. Have you heard anything of dear Uma and Niccolo? What of their child?" Maria asked, settling down into the bed. Giovanni gave her Ezio to hold and cherish.

"Uma gave birth to a lovely little girl, named Audra (Ow-Drah)." Giovanni chuckled at his wife's concern. "Do not worry. You will be able to visit Uma and little Audra soon."

Maria smiled at the baby in her arms. "Who knows…maybe little Audra and little Ezio will fall in love when they are older…" Both Maria and Giovanni smiled at the thought.

17 years later, 1476

Audra Paravicini watched as many young men ran down the streets to a specific spot, and only one thought crossed her mind. Ezio's doing it again. She had heard rumors that the de Pazzi, a rival family of Ezio's and her own, was going to be at their meeting, and ambush. She shook her head and laughed as more boys ran, almost late. She already knew de Pazzi would lose.

She bought an apple from a kind vendor in the market, and decided to go find Federico, just in case Ezio would need help. She already knew Federico would be with Bella, or at the Brothel, but it was just safer to assume the latter. She walked up to a group of scandalous Courtesans, and bowed her head politely.

"I was wondering if you've seen Federico Auditore recently?" Audra asked the Courtesans. One of them lifted their eyebrow in suspicion.

"Federico did not mention a fiancée…"

Audra burst out laughing, shaking her hands in front of the group of wild girls. "No, no, no fiancée. Just a worried friend is all." Audra left an amused smirk on her face, but that was all. The Courtesans told her they had last seen him inside the brothel, and to check there.

"Grazie, friends." Audra smiled, and left them to go to the brothel. It used to bother Audra and her older sister, Bella greatly that Ezio and Federico, their long time friends, would go to the brothels. Now, it seemed more of a joke. Audra walked up the steps, and entered the brothel as if it was normal.

Some Courtesans eyed her with judgment, but already knew why she was there. It was not uncommon to see the girl wander in looking for him…

"Audra!" Federico called, walking over to her, arms outstretched.

"Ciao, Federico. We must go, Ezio and his boys are to be ambushed by Vieri today." Audra informed the rather intoxicated man. He chuckled, and slung his arm around her lazily.

"Let us be on our way!"

Audra and Federico walked up slowly to the back of the crowd, deciding to wait it out and see if they need to jump in. Besides, it would be funnier that way.

"Noi siamo insieme!" Ezio shouted, pumping a fist into the air. The crowd of men cheered, but he began to settle them down in order to speak. "Silencio, my friends, silencio! Grazie." Audra smiled at his authority, but couldn't help to think of the little Ezio she had grown up with. He wasn't too different, but there was a new pride to him. "Do you know what brings us here tonight? Honor." He said, crossing his arm against his chest. "Vieri de Pazzi slanders my family's name, and the name of the Paravicini's, the Auditore's closest friends!" Vieri was now saying things about her family, too? She hated the de Pazzi. Hated Vieri.

"He forces his own miseries upon us. If we,"

"Enough of your nonsense!" A new voice sounded, as a rock landed at Ezio's foot. Federico and Audra shared a knowing smile. Here was the good part…

"Buona sera, Vieri!" Ezio flashed a dazzling grin. "We were just talking about you. I'm surprised to see you here." Oh please, Ezio, do not get cocky, Audra thought to herself, wincing. "I thought the Pazzi hired others to do their dirty work?"

Vieri growled and pointed at Ezio. Federico smirked at the scene unfolding. This wouldn't turn out well. "It's your family that cries for guards when there's trouble. Codardo! Afraid to handle things yourself?"

Ezio smirked lightly as he launched back at Vieri. Vieri made Audra's blood boil. Not only was he vile, he was trying to court her. Her parents, of course, protest the idea, and she is completely fine by it. "Your sister seemed quite satisfied with the handling I gave her last night!" Ezio shouted back, proud of his comeback.

"Your friend Audra was pleased with hers!" Vieri called back. "Uccidetelo!" Vieri threw a rock in Ezio's direction, and it subsequently hit his face, adorning it with a lovely cut from his upper lip to lover lip. Suddenly, a massive brawl began. Ezio countered many attacks, and bloodied many men.

After a few moments of fighting, Federico instructed Audra to stay where she was, and to not be spotted by Vieri. Federico casually walked over to Ezio, smiling. "Hey! Behind you." Ezio looked up, a bit annoyed.

"Federico! What are you doing here!" A man came to attack Federico, but he easily countered it, pushing the man out of the way.

"I wanted to see if baby brother had finally learned how to fight." Federico help out his arm defensively. Ezio took care of another man, as he waited for his brother to go on.

"And?"

Federico chuckled. "You have style. But endurance is what counts. Let's see how many of them you can ruin before they get the best of you." Federico challenged, and they soon began fighting all over again. Audra chuckled. Boy will be boys.

As soon as it seemed to have begun, Vieri de Pazzi was shouting at his men to fall back. They all ran away, almost as if they had their tails in between their legs.

"Hold on!" Federico stopped Ezio from following Vieri. Audra came out of her hiding spot and snuck up behind Ezio.

"What? We've almost won this!" Ezio shouted.

"Your lip…" Audra whispered behind him. Ezio whirled around, grinning at her voice. He hugged her, and lifted her up, spinning her. Audra laughed, then asked him by shouting in his ear to put her down.

Ezio touched his lip with his hand. "Just a scratch. See?" He showed Audra, who backed away from it.

"Let the doctor decide." Federico replied to him testily. Ezio grumbled.

"Its not necessary. Besides, I have no money for this doctor of yours."

"Wasted it on women and wine, heh?" Federico asked, smirking. Audra rolled her eyes.

"I have enough florins, let's go get Ezio a doctor before he gets attacked again." She said to them, dragging the boys around the bodies of unconscious men.