Chapter 7: Trials and Tribulations

Dante woke up face down on a wooden floor he opened his eyes slowly giving them time for his vision to adjust the first thing he saw was Ember sleeping next to him. Rolling on to his back he looked around seeing other bar patrons passed out bodies sprawled along the floors, some were faced down lying on tables or on the counter. "Damn what time is it?" Dante wiped his face, trying to shake the drowsiness off.

"Ah your awake I see" A voice said causing Dante to roll to his feet grabbing his twin pistols mid roll and aimed them at a man sitting on a bar stool. The man was wearing an ordinary black tuxedo He had short white hair, which was slicked back. Dante noticed that the man had green eyes that seemed to have an unnatural look to them he couldn't quite place it but he knew it was strange. Looking at the man Dante could only comment on the fact that his attire contrasted with the sleazy bar that they had passed out in after starting a brawl. In front of the man were a small glass and a tall bottle he took a sip of the last bit of drink that was in the glass before turning to Dante. "And to answer your question it's 4:30 in the afternoon."

"By the way can you please put those away?" The well dressed man said slowly getting up from his stool, grabbing his glass cup emptying the tall bottle in his right hand into the small glass cup in his left hand "Hear have a drink on me" the man offered holding the drink to him.

Dante looked at the glass putting away one of his guns and took the glass. "Good now I'd like to talk to you…" The man was cut off by the loud bang of Dante's gun before dropping to the floor blood escaping the new hole in his forehead. Dante rose to his feet chugging the glass in his hand before carelessly throwing the glass away "Sorry I don't chat with demons" Dante walked over to Ember nudging her awake. Ember woke up and slowly got pushing a sleeping man off his bar stool and taking his place on it.

"So do you always start bar fights or only on the first date?" Dante joined her at the counter taking a seat next to her grabbing a bottle from the shelf and poured himself a drink. He looked at her with a casual smirk on his face "Last time I checked you took out half of them with me, with a smile on your face" Ember couldn't hold back a laugh as she went over to a nearby wall and got her guitar that was embedded in the wall.

"Well, well look at the two love birds" The man in the tuxedo slowly got up from the floor as he pushed his finger into the hole in his head and removed the bullet Dante had put there. "You remind me a lot of Sparda except you don't hold a candle to him when it comes to power, but your well on your way" The man pushed up a man of his chair as he sat by a near by table "If you two could please join me for a drink"

Dante pulled out his gun and shot the man again this time three times in the chest. The man did not budge from his seat nor show signs of pain only minor annoyance. "Can you stop that, we don't greet people by putting holes in their clothes, and your just wasting bullets." Dante put his gun away looking at the man "See now if we can talk civilly" The man said to Dante. "Sure lets talk" Dante responded summoning his sword and resting it on the table as he sat down Ember joining him slowly after causing the mans eye brows to perk and a smile to form on his face.

"Lets start with who are you and how do you know my father?" Dante asked the man his grip tightening around the handle of his blade.

"Settle down kid, first off you can call me Arkham, and as for how I know your father everyone knew Sparda, Sparda was the best of us just as strong as Mundus the only one who could have beaten him on his own." The man rose from his seat walking over to the bar counter grabbing a bottle and three small glass cups and returned to the table. Setting down a glass in front of Dante and Ember he poured each of them a drink along with himself.

"As you know there was a war between the Angels and Demons, but before that there was a constant war between demons" Arkham paused taking a sip of his drink before continuing "By nature demons are power hungry creatures and in hell the rule was kill or be killed, the strongest were Mundus, Samael, and Sedalia, they rose up and drew the battle lines that divided their armies eventually they were even hailed as kings and queen of hell." Arkham stopped to refill his glass, taking note of the expressions on each of their faces, looking at Dante he couldn't help but see Sparda as if he was looking at his ghost.

Dante listened to the story taking in the vital information that he was hearing he occasionally glanced at Ember who just drank and listened to the story. Dante heard the man clearing his throat catching his attention once more as he continued his story "Due to their strength there was a sort of stalemate for the control of hell no one could best the others, you see this stalemate lasted until the war with the angels which all demons had to unite to fight them" Arkham emptied the bottle with the finishing of his story.

"So what does this have to do with you, and what do you want from me" Dante said pointing his sword at Arkham who only chuckled. "Well that is another story for another day, and as for you I need your help on retrieving something very important to me."

"And how the hell do you know I can help" Dante said wondering what this man could possibly need him for.

"What I want is something of the same nature of that guitar you got, help me find it"

"How do you know that?" Dante was suspicious of the man even more he seemed very strange.

"Interesting thing about demons we sense how strong other demons are just like you knew I was a demon upon sight, I can see it in your energy, its intense, and electrified I can sense Nevan in your energy" Arkham chuckled again he had remembered the red headed lightning witch.

Dante looked at Arkham for a second and lowered his sword and looked at Ember. "You think we should help him?" Ember looked surprised that Dante would even ask her, she thought about it for a second "What's in it for us?" Ember looked at Arkham who could only laughed at her question. "Ah yes you will be payment once you finish helping me, now can we go?" Arkham opened the door, the two walked out the door with Arkham following closely behind closing the door on his way out.

Danny flew through the hall as he chased after the box ghost; he wasn't in a particular rush seeing as the box ghost was barely worth the effort. As he flew around a corner fazing through the debris the box ghost threw at him by using his powers to forcibly open lockers. Danny shot of a ghost ray, which managed to hit the box ghost causing him to crash into a wall. Readying his Fenton thermos he quickly sucked up the ghost transformed back to his human form and made his way to his next class smiling at his job well done. "Well guess I better head off to class now that that's taken care of"

From behind a monitor screen Dan looked at his younger self almost in pity. "He's cocky, weak, barely uses his own power yet he still managed to beat me" Dan said as he looked at the video rewinding the recording of his younger self the spy cameras that Vlad had to observe the boy. He looked over the most recent footage and saw how powerful the boy had become. As he continued to watch he only got angrier and angrier how could he possibly lose he was the stronger yet he lost, he had completely abandoned his humanity and nearly destroyed his entire world, yet in the end his younger self had stopped him. Dan moved away from the monitor having a devious smile on his face as he exited the room.

Vlad Master's was overwhelmed with pride in himself so much so that he couldn't help but whistle in delight as he walked through the halls of his manor. He should be proud, not only had he managed to secure a powerful ally he was also in the works of enacting the second phase of his plan every thing was going according to plan. As he entered the stairway leading down to his lab a hologram appeared next to him and followed him down the stairway. The hologram looked exactly like Danny's mother right down to the blue jump suit and voice.

"And where are you going?" Vlad addressed his partner as he walked passed him in the hallway.

Dan stopped with his back facing Vlad "I'm going to fight the boy don't try and stop me" Vlad immediately turned around and stepped in front of the ghost.

"Well I can't possibly stop you" Vlad stated the obvious fact.

"Then don't" Dan retorted

"But maybe I can offer an alternative" Dan raised an eyebrow looking at Vlad wondering what he could possibly do to persuade him.

"I'm listening." While Dan wanted to go kill his younger self maybe Vlad had a plan that could offer more enjoyment to him

"If you fight the boy now everything every thing we've worked for would be for naught, I propose if you must fight him you should do it in a different matter" Dan looked at Vlad before thinking slightly at what Vlad could possibly mean he wanted to fight the boy show him his own powerlessness, but maybe Vlad had a point he would have to hold of his own revenge for another day. "Go on"

Danny was asleep in his room he laid in his bed with a smile on his face as he only dreamt of good things instead of the nightmare that plagued him before. Dan watched him as he slept he looked on as he also saw the green glow of the ghost shield separated the two. Turning intangible he took a nosedive into the ground and came up from under the building and quietly made his way into Danny's room. He looked over his younger self, sleeping soundly in his bed if he wanted to he could kill him right now if he wanted to.

"Your lucky we need you alive boy" Dan said as took out a syringe and stuck it into Danny arm, which caused him to fidget in discomfort before settling back down. Dan finished with the syringe and put it away. He turned around towards the door and got ready to fly out of the house but stopped on his way out. He turned back to Danny looking over him once more.

"Before I go a parting gift" Dan made his hand intangible and phased it through Danny's chest his hands glowed green and energy flowed from Dan to Danny. As more time passed the energy grew brighter and brighter being now visible under Danny's skin. Dan's hands stopped glowing completely as he finished his work, pulling his hand out of Danny's chest and then left the same way he came in.

Dante and Ember got off the motorcycle and parked it behind a silver car, getting out of his silver Cadillac was Arkham closing the door, wearing a new shirt to replace the one Dante had put holes in. He walked up to a building and opened the door a gestured for the two following him to enter. When they walked inside they were in a library with many people scattered about the large room either looking for books or reading them. Unlike a normal library where there was a check out area, there was none as noted when every other minute a person would just walk out with their desired book in hand. The large room they were standing in was the only room to speak of, no side exits or backrooms to be seen.

"So you want to tell us what we've been driving four fucking hours for" Dante questioned Arkham didn't turn around to answer he only examined the shelves. Dante only followed as he watched Arkham examine the shelf he was staring at. As he walked around he bumped a passerby on the shoulder looking back he only got a glare from the person as their eyes turned black.

"Shit" Dante remarked grabbing his pistol and pointing at the demon, everything went silent as everyone in the library stopped what they were doing and looked at him with the same black eyed glare that the first man gave Dante.

Looking back at to see what the commotion was about Arkham walked up to Dante lowering his gun "I told you to put that away it's cool everyone he's with me" Arkham said aloud which was followed by everyone going back to what they were doing. "What the hell is this place?" Dante barked at Arkham who let out a breath of annoyance.

"Don't worry about that just wait for me I'm looking for something" Arkham said as he returned to skimming the bookshelf getting lower and lower with each row he looked at. As soon as he got to the lower most shelves he had found the book he was looking for. Taking it out he had reached into the space where the book was and flipped a switch.

Arkham stepped back as the bookcase pushed back into the wall and revealed a staircase going downward "After you" Dante went down the stairs Ember following soon after with Arkham going in last pushing the book back in the spot before he completely descended the stairs

Dan had finally made it back to Vlad's manor he phased in and meeting Vlad who was in the lab with a welding torch. Stopping what he was doing Vlad walked over to Dan with a smile "Is it done?" Dan gave no response only handing the syringe to Vlad who took it and placed it in a cabinet. "And our little present?" Dan smiled a tooth grin which made his fangs visible he made his hands glow the same green it did in Danny's room, seeing that was all Vlad needed as a reply causing him to return to his welding.

"So what exactly are you doing" Dan asked as he watch Vlad continue to weld noticing that their were now strange symbols on the borders of his ghost portal. He couldn't recognize the symbols they looked like chicken scratch to him.

"Well my dear partner I'm busy getting ready for the next step in the plan" Vlad went over to his computer monitor looking at the book that was leaning against the screen and occasionally glancing at the border of the ghost portal, after looking at the book he would move back to the portal do a bit more welding then back to the book over and over.

"Want to explain what the hell 'the next step' is" Dan said as he looked at the book trying to see what Vlad was looking at.

"The next step is we need another ally before our plan can go into full swing." Vlad said.

Arkham had the group walking down a dark corridor until they spotted the light of an exit; they were now in a large cave with torches lined along the wall, an old man with priest robes and the clerical collar was standing in the center of the cave. Behind the man was a large door with a large lock on it, on the lock was a symbol engraved on it.

"I've seen that symbol before, it's used to block out demons" Dante said staring at the lock thinking of his old friend back in Limbo city.

"You're right son of Eva" the weary voice of the old man said as it echoed through the cave he moved closer stopping in front of Arkham sneering at him, he looked towards Ember throwing her a disgusted look. "Why have you come here Arkham with the son of Eva and…vermin" he looked at Ember emphasizing "vermin" when he spoke.

"Hey who you calling vermin!" Ember yelled ready to charge at the old man being held back by Arkham's arm and Dante.

"I'm here for the armor old man, open the gate!" Arkham had a serious look on his face he wasn't playing any games.

"You dare ask me it almost killed you last time, what makes you think you can do it again. Many demons have tried to get it long before you and they've suffered a fate worse then death, with each new life that the retched armor claims the more treacherous the trials become." The old man ranted at Arkham who only rolled his eyes at the eccentric old man.

"That's why I have them to help me, just open the gate old man, now!" Arkham said as the old sighed and moved towards the door placing his hand on it. The cave began to shack as the door started to open; the seal where the lock was placed glowed with a white light before fading the lock began to spin like a gear as various loud snaps could be heard. When the lock stopped spinning the door slowly swung open.

"Even if the son of Eva is helping you, you still risk to much, you would risk your very life knowing the danger" The old man yelled his warning clearly falling on deaf ears as Arkham just walked towards the entrance.

"Lets go" Arkham said swiftly walking through the door way Dante followed along with Ember who glanced at the old man who threw her a dirty look while she passed through the door way.

"Old man's got guts calling me vermin" Arkham sighed at hearing Ember's anger silently agreeing with her.

"That's angels for you, they're a bit self righteous" Dante grabbed Arkham's shoulder stopping him completely from moving.

"An angel priest isn't that a bit too obvious and what do you mean about angels" Arkham looked Dante in the eyes and then looked at Ember.

"See ghost aren't so different from angels or demons, demons could care less about ghost they don't consider them a threat at all, but angels know that ghost are just as dangerous as any demon" Ember went wide eyed surprised at the sudden revelation she didn't know any of this, she was surprised at the fact that she and the rest of her kind could be so dangerous.

"Why are we so dangerous to Angels" Arkham's face went serious again as he looked at Ember. His face showed no anger, but he was all too serious.

"Ghost can become angels or demons because of that many angels view ghost as vermin taking up space ready to be corrupted and become demons, that particular angel priest it's his job to guard this place along with the demons from the library" Finishing his story he continued walking leaving no time for Dante or Ember to respond.

After walking a bit from the entrance they had reached a coliseum. Looking around they could see the bodies of demons lying on the floor and in the crowd seats; on the other side of the large coliseum they saw the exit which was being blocked by two gargoyle statues one the left and right of it; the statue on the left had its right wing extend to block the exit while the statue on the right did the same only with its left wing. It was amazing that a large coliseum existed in a cave like this.

The demon bodies on the floor were dead, but they were still there even though demons faded upon dying. "Everyone be very careful I'll go first you guys follow me slowly, if you rush in all these bodies will spring up and try to kill us" Arkham walked forward slowly making sure not to brush against the bodies, Dante followed slowly after Ember float ed over all the bodies.

Reaching the center Arkham stopped them "get ready" Dante summoned his sword and got ready for a fight, Ember got her guitar ready turning the dial from normal music to the symbol depicting a flame. Arkham placed his hand on the ground pushing down a hidden switch. Stepping he concentrated turning his eyes red and his fingers morphed into claws. The group got back to back as they watched as the once lifeless demon bodies spring to life and make there way to them in the center.

Arkham made the first move charging into the crowd of Stygians's grabbing one in each hand and crushing there skulls with his bare hands, he grabbed two more tossing them into crowd knocking some of the demons down. Dante changing his rebellion to Osiris using its large reach to control the incoming crowd with a flurry of spinning slashes, changing Osiris to Aquila he spun around like a cutting up the demons as he spun. Doing some crowd control Dante used Ebony and Ivory charging demon energy into it to and fire watching as the shot ricocheted of one demon into the next and continuing on. Ember flew into the air strumming as fast as she could sending a wave of flames at the incoming demons, she moved her way to the crowd seats sending fist shaped energy beams at the demons moving down the seats and into the center ring of the coliseum.

Dante cleared through a number of the demons but there was still a lot to go, he concentrated as electricity traveled up his arm and gathered into his palm upon summoning Nevan. Taking the demonic guitar he strummed the electrified strings summoning a swarm of bats, he summoned more and more bats and watched as the swarm attacked the army of demons.

As all the demons fell to the swarm of bats the ground began to shake breaking through the ground a large muscular demon appeared, its four massive muscular arms shook the ground and the cave as the beast rampaged ocastionally opening its "face" to let out a roar from its huge fanged mouth. "What is that thing?" Dante yelled as he got his guitar ready.

"That's new, damn it's an Imprisoner!" Arkham yelled as he ran towards the creature at full speed. He ducked under the monsters vicious swing and grabbing his face trying to pry it open, before he could the Imprisoner grabbed Arkham and slammed him into the ground repeatedly before tossing him away. Dante ran at the creature jumping into the air and came down powerfully using rebellion, but he was also tossed away by the creatures strength.

"Are you two down getting tossed around?" the two men nodded as they got back to their feet they looked at one another before they both charged in.

"I guess not?" Ember said arms crossed as she watched as the two men charged in once more. Letting out a roar The Imprisoner used its massive arms to grab the chunks of rocks and tossing it at the two incoming foes. Dante swung his sword slicing the incoming pieces out of his, he dodge rolled disappearing in a puff of white smoke before reappearing in of the demon, Arkham taking advantage of the opening Arkham ran towards the demon using his claws he had managed to jam a hole in the demons face.

Swatting away the two once more the demon howled in pain at the hole in its head. "Damn its too strong" Dante said as he got back to his feet using his sword to keep his balance, Arkham dusted off his suit that surprisingly wasn't damaged in any way during the whole fight, but his well-kept hair was now in a mess. "We need a plan, its not going to stay confused forever."

"Arkham you were strong enough to punch a hole in it, we'll all rush in together Dante and I will take care of its arms so that you can get a clear shot for is face" Dante and Arkham nodded. The group stood side by side the creature let out a roar as if egging them on the three charged at the demon Dante and Arkham were running in front while Ember flew behind them. The demon responded by throwing more rocks Ember grabbed the two guys in front of her making them intangible phasing through the incoming projectiles. Dante and Ember split off keeping the beast arms occupied; Dante summoned his sword standing his ground along with Ember as they stopped the arms from being used. Arkham ran straight for the demons face he summoned his own sword; holding it tightly in his hand he stabbed the beast right in the hole dropping the large demon. Letting out a powerful war cry he took rebellion and cut the demons head clean off.

"This armor your looking for better be worth almost getting killed for" Dante said as he panted for air. "Trust me it will be" Arkham got up on his feet and walked over to the gargoyle statue, the statues wings receded allowing the group to pass. "Here both of you take these" Arkham reached into his suit pocket and took out two orbs one purple red tinted orb and the other was orange with a similar red tint, he gave the purple colored orb to Dante and the orange to Ember. They both took their respective orbs and they disappeared into their hands.

"What was that?" Ember said looking at her hand wondering where the orb had vanished.

"Call it early payment for helping me" Arkham said as he faced the long corridor lined with torches along the wall that was going to lead them to the next room.

"Hey are you done with the chicken scratch Vlad" Dan looked on as Vlad had finally finished welding the symbols on the borders of his ghost portal.

"Mr. Dan I would like to remind you that that "chicken scratch are important symbols needed in the plan you are a part of, and Jack Fenton is an idiot" The hologram of Maddie that Vlad had programmed lectured to him if it wasn't for the fact that it was transparent he would destroy it.

"That is seriously annoying and creepy" Dan commented.

"What you don't appreciate my beautiful assistant" Dan raised an eyebrow at Vlad's remark since he renounced his humanity and went on a rampage of destruction in the future he had forgotten how crazy Vlad was before he killed him.

"Oh honey your so sweet" the program said as Vlad just laughed at the boost to his own ego the program provided. "Oh and honey your guest have arrived"

"Guest, what guest? On cue three figures entered the lab.

"Dan please reacquaint yourself with Freak show, Walker, and Lydia" Dan looked on as he saw the three-guest smile as they were respectively introduced.

"I've hired them to keep the young phantom and his friends busty and out of our hair, and for him to discover the present we gave him" Vlad handed Freak show and enclosed envelope and a talisman that he placed around his neck, he gave Walker a pair of handcuffs, and Lydia was given a belt with a symbol carved on the buckle.

"Everything you'll need is in the enclosed envelope and the money is there too" Vlad watched as all three phased out through the roof off to complete the task they were hired for.

"You wasted money on those rejects," Dan said flipping through the book that Vlad had placed on the computer monitor trying to get a grasp at what it was.

"Oh no my dear partner, I've bought us valuable time when I take my trip to Amity Park my presence will make him suspicious those 'rejects' as you so call them will keep him from meddling in those affairs until I can gather all I need" Taking the book from Dan, Vlad flipped to a specific page looking reading the page very careful rereading every line making sure he didn't make any mistakes.

The group came out of the corridor into another place this time with tall buildings hanging upside down from the cave ceiling. None of them were surprised by the architecture Ember living in the ghost zone was used to things being out of the ordinary and just yawned at the sight, Dante also so disinterest seeing as fighting in Limbo for a long time made him accustomed to these sort of sights as well. Though they did have to admit their amazement that a large cave that could host a coliseum and now a whole under ground city. Arkham looked at the buildings his eyes darted around as if he was looking for something but he wasn't sure where it was.

"What is that disgusting smell, it smells like Sparda" A booming voice called as it jumped from building to building before crashed through one of the buildings landing in front of the group. The creature was a large blackish gray beast with a horn on its head it extended its four wings as it stood up on its hind legs. The creatures face had only one eye as the other one had a visible wound over it. "I smell you Sparda, I Beowulf will have my revenge" The creature now identified as Beowulf flailed about its voice echoing in the large cave causing the buildings to shake sending debris falling down to the floor.

Beowulf finally stopped failing about and looked at the trio carefully "You are not Sparda, who are you rat, why are you here Arkham?" The trio armed themselves Arkham summoned a sword of his own it was a large black blade right down to its handle. Appearance wise it was similar to Dante's own only its handle had a skull at the end of it and being slightly shorter then Dante's sword.

Ember was angry not only was she called vermin, but also she was now being called a rat and she wasn't going to take it anymore. She gripped her guitar tightly and readied herself she moved a step forward but she suddenly felt weakness it wasn't fatigue she wasn't tired by any means, she just felt like all strength had left her body suddenly and it was getting harder to stay standing "Hey tall, dark, and ugly who are you calling a rat" Ember started moving forward only to fall to her knees in weakness. Dante and Arkham rushed over to her side, Dante was checking if she was ok while Arkham stood in front of them guarding just in case Beowulf decided to attack.

"Hey you ok?" Dante asked as Ember slowly nodded reassuring him.

Dante rose to his feet he stepped in front of Arkham and faced Beowulf "Take care of her I'll handle him, if he's got a beef with my dad then I'll be the one to settle it" Arkham dismissed his sword nodding at Dante's requesting going to Ember side ready to defend her if any debris or incoming attacks came. Dante ran toward the beast at full speed changing his sword to Arbiter with a mighty swing he launched the blade at the large beast knocking it off balance and landing it on it's back.

"Aim for the face" Arkham yelled as Dante jumped in the air using his angel lift to propel him forward, changing his sword from the Arbiter to Eryx he crashed down on the monster face. Dante looked at his arms they felt different as he examined them he noticed that cracks were forming all over his enlarged fist. A loud roar echoed through the chamber snapping Dante out of his distraction and put his mind back in the fight. Beowulf flailed about once more this time in pain he grabbed his face running around blind smacking against the walls causing debris to fall. Dante managed to dodge or slice the incoming ones he looked back at where Ember and Arkham were and saw that they were fine.

"Don't get distracted" Arkham's words were too late as Dante was hit by Beowulf and was sent skidding along the ground then rolling before coming to a stop.

"Arrogant like your father Son of Sparda" Beowulf roared, as he had been happy about landing a hit on Dante who slowly rose to his feet.

Dante summoned Nevan he gathered demonic energy within his body and then released, when the energy released around him was an electrifying purple aura. He slowly rose into the air as he released more and more energy he had used his devil trigger, his coat slowly morphed into wings, his eyes were the usual red this time having a purple and his hands became charged with electricity. He flew straight towards the demon shooting lightning out of his hands at the creatures face, he flew circled the creature attacking it from all sides before unleashing one more powerful blast of electricity.

He put some distance between the creature and himself. He started flying as fast as he could, when got in close enough he grabbed rebellion and slashed at the creatures only good eye blinding it permanently. Landing in front on Ember and Arkham he released his devil trigger Dante watched as the creature held its face as blood leaked from the newly damaged eye socket. Unlike before the beast didn't roar or flail he only stood his ground and looked like an angry bull ready to charge. The beast ran at the trio at full speed, Dante changed rebellion to Eryx once more seeing that there were more cracks then the last time, as the beast drew closer and closer Dante gathered demonic energy into his enlarged fists. When the beast had come within range Dante delivered a powerful left uppercut followed by a right one sending the beast flying back into the buildings it descended from.

"I'll find you son of Sparda, I will have my vengeance" Beowulf howled as his roars became less audible showing that he was running away.

"Well that went well," Dante said as he stretched out the aches in his body. He looked at his arms Eryx was completely shattered but he saw something underneath the cracks that was releasing light through the cracks, he slammed both his hand on the floor breaking of more and more of Eryx he could see the light was getting brighter and brighter until his whole body released light. When the light finally died down he had a new slimmer pair of gauntlets, unlike his old ones these new gauntlets weren't enlarged at all only slightly bigger then his hands and arms, he could now extend and retract his finger, which had claws on them. Looking at his feet Dante now had grieves with spinning saw blades at the ends of them, his face had mask he opened and closed the mask.

Dante took a few quick jabs and kicks he could feel the power in punch and kick they felt stronger then the old gauntlets. "If you can stop showing off we can go now." Dante laughed as he joined the two at the exit Ember nodded to him showing that she was ok as the door opened in front of them and the trio walks through it to another long hallway lined with torches against the walls just like the others.

"If you made it this far how come you didn't just go all the way and take the armor for yourself" Dante questioned as he wondered why a strong person like Arkham even needed his help.

"You'll see in the final room, a long time ago I wasn't strong enough and Beowulf managed to injure me pretty good in my arrogance I ignored my injuries and powered through making my way to the final room I almost died in that room." Arkham started walking faster he looked very anxious as they drew closer and closer to the final room.

The trio walked through the doorway this room was the smallest out of the three while fairly large all that was in the room was the entrance and the mirrors on the walls on and cave ceiling. Dante looked at the mirror walking closer and closer to it he looked at his reflection, he blinked it blink, he put up his hand and so did it he turned around a went to walk back to the group but was grabbed and pulled into the mirror.

"Hey where did Dante go?" Ember looked around searching for Dante.

Arkham looke0d around two he knew what was coming but he couldn't figure out why it wasn't coming, Dante missing made things even worse. Stopping his search Arkham noticed something he was all alone in the room, Ember was gone and so was Dante.

In a room covered with glassed Dante clashed swords with his reflection, they each went at it trying to land a blow on each other ducking under sword swings or flipping over them they were evenly matched. The doppelgangers faced each other both drew their guns quickly and fired but once again were evenly matched even bullet for bullet.

"Aw poor wittle Dante got his mommy killed, lost his brother and then left his friend behind" the mirror Dante cackled as a dark aura surged around him getting stronger and stronger. Dante charged at his mirror self but was kicked back into the wall.

"Look at the bum living in the same old trailer outside in the woods, going to school and breaking the rules like a good rebel" Dante was visibly angry he swung his sword only for it to be caught bare handed by his doppelganger.

"Your pathetic big shot son of Sparda walking around like we own the world, how long before you end up like your brother power hungry and ruthless ready to enslave humanity" Dante looked on as his mirror self cackle with glee now he wasn't just angry he was far passed angry now. He rose to his feet his eyes ready as his demonic energy waited to be released in his fury.

"Oh are you going to try and kill me like Vergil, here let me give a hand" The doppelganger egged Dante on pointing at his heart. The copy cut his finger and used his blood to paint a target on his shirt and cackled even more.

Dante swung his sword it was blocked by the copy, the copy narrowly dodged in time to evade the bullets that Dante had fired. As he dodged more bullets with ease he cackled at Dante's failure to hit, but was abruptly stopped by the kick that hit his abdomen. He received another punch sending the copy reeling back to the wall. Dante looked at the floored copy eyes red with rage and demonic energy he pointed his sword at the copies throat.

Ember looked at her mirrored self they had been strumming their guitars sending their entire arsenal at each other with no avail.

"Ember, Ember, Ember, Ember" The female doppelganger mocked as she sarcastically cheered Embers name.

"Shut up!" Ember yelled

"What's wrong I though you wanted everyone to remember your name, I wonder if Dante will remember your name after your dead…again" Ember rushed at her copy but was sent falling to the floor with a hard hit to the head with the guitar.

"How like a freak to like another freak, better hope he doesn't get you trapped in a fire like the last one" Ember looked up she wasn't angry she was crying for some reason. In her mind she couldn't fathom why she was crying now of all times but her copies words managed to would her more then any blade would.

Arkham stood face to face with his copy it had stepped out of the mirror and stood there staring at Arkham.

"Look who's back, but this time no one's going to save your sorry as this time" Arkham glared at the duplicate, but remained calm trying not to let its words get to him. He took a deep breath and summoned his blade, he charged and locked blades with his copy they were evenly matched as expected. Arkham swung his sword in wide arc's his copy did the same locking blades once again.

"You've gotten better since last time, maybe you won't need to be saved not like there's anyone who can" The copy coated his sword in demonic energy, the then threw the sword like a make shift spear. Arkham dodged the attack, the blade stopped in mid air before returning trying once again to impale Arkham, but he dodged again. Arkham continued to dodge the blade he moved as quickly as he could as the blade also matched tried to match his speed only to narrowly miss but started to cut up his suit. Arkham threw his blade at the duplicate who caught it bare handed and dropped it to the ground.

Arkham stopped dodging and the blade hit him stabbing him right in the shoulder dropping him to one knee. The duplicate approached Arkham looking down at the bleeding man laughing in satisfaction.

"This is the part where you die like you should have all those years ago" Pulling out the sword he lifted it over his head ready to bring it down only to stop. He looked down at his chest Arkham's blade was embedded in it, grabbing the blade Arkham pushed the blade up slicing the copy in half from the chest up. The copy dropped his blade its body dropped lifeless in defeat as he slowly began faded away.

Dante had bested his copy wounding it in a number of places he watched as his copy struggled on the floor he kicked it flipping it over to its back. Dante lifted his blade pointing it downward.

"That's right embrace it, Vergil did, Mundus did, now it's your turn" Dante put his sword behind his back and dismissed it.

"I'm not Vergil, I'm not the next demon king, all I am and all I will be is Dante" turning around Dante took out his gun and pointed it at his copy "Thanks for the lesson, but next time you want to teach someone get a proper classroom."

"You arrogant fuck" The copy yelled it ran toward Dante who merely sidestepped and tripped it.

"Jackpot!" Dante said as he pulled the trigger killing the duplicate with one charged bullet to the head.

Ember fought long and hard but it was in vain against her doppelganger, she was smacked and punched repeatedly by the copy causing green blood to slowly spill from her mouth.

"So much for the badass rocker chick" Embers eyes began to glow with a ghostly blue light and her hair grew longer reaching down to her back like it did when peoples chanting powered her. The blue color in her washed out to white as she slowly rose to her feet, Flames appeared circling her with every breath the flames grew larger and larger until they completely consumed her. The duplicate slowly backed away she was feeling something different from Ember, before the ghost energy was insignificant now it was rising in leaps and bounds like a towering inferno, it didn't help that the temperature was rising in the room the air became stifled and dry.

To the doppelganger Ember even though consumed by the flames she had somehow summoned it could still see the glow of her blues eyes staring at her. Letting out a powerful cry Ember unleashed a torrent of flames at the duplicate, grabbing the copy she channeled more flames slowly roasting her mirror self. She watch as the copy cried out in pain as she felt the temperature rise to every seconds. Her roasting was slow and painful the duplicate felt its skin burning as it saw its hands turned black from being burned along with the rest of its body.

When Ember finally stopped her hair returned to its natural length and color, her eyes ceased its ghostly glow and returned to its normal green. She looked at the charred remains of the copy, tears slowly left her eyes again she didn't know why she was cry the tears refused to stop. Wiping her tears she walked through the mirror reappearing where the copy had grabbed her from, she saw Dante and ran up hugging him she didn't know why she did it but it just felt right.

Arkham stood in front of a mirror a mirror and watched as it descended into the ground revealing the exit. Opening the door instead of a long corridor like before there was another room; the room was aligned with spears and swords like an old armory. In the far back of the narrow room was the armor; it was all black, with segmented shoulder plates that also made up its chest piece along with a breastplate. It had no headpiece; the legs and arms were also in the similar segmented pattern that the rest of the body was. The armor was stored in a cage like it was imprisoned.

Approaching the armor all three of them could feel a sort of evil coming from it as if it was alive and breathing. "Be careful" Dante said seeing Arkham slowly approaching the armor. Arkham put his hand on the armor when he did a black smoke came from the armor and wrapped around his body. The black haze vanished as soon as it appeared and the armor was gone. The armors cage was empty all that was left was a symbol, the same one from the lock when they first entered the cave. The seal let out a blinding light, when the light died down they were standing in front of the old man.

"What, how?" Ember asked confused on what exactly happened and how they were in front of the old man again.

"There's no time to explain you all must go now!" The old man stuck out his hand out another blinding light flashed in front of it. When the light died down once more the trio were a good distance away from the Library they had entered from, looking at it in flames as fires leaked out of the windows. As the gang watched the building exploded in a towering inferno, all they could do was watch frozen in place.

"We got to go" Arkham said as he took out a talisman from his coat pocket. He started to run in the opposite direction of the library with Ember following after him.

"Dante come on!" Ember called back as he started running too.

Arkham reached his car while Dante and Ember mounted the motorcycle. "You two take this think of a place to go and get out of here" Arkham tossed the talisman running in the direction of the burning library. "Go I'll meet you again don't worry, get out of here" Arkham yelled, they watched as he jumped back in to the library as the flames sealed the entrance behind him leaving his fate unknown.

"Wait!" Dante yelled

Ember revved the motorcycle speeding off on the open road leaving skid marks as she road. Dante held the talisman in his hand and focused on it suddenly appeared in front of them path was leading into a portal. Riding through the portal they came out in front of Dante trailer, the bike came to an immediate halt throwing both passengers off the bike.

Dante looked around they were back in Amity Park, it was the middle of the night.

"Damn it" Dante punched the ground he was angry this was the second time he was saved by someone and the second time he had to leave that person behind.

Ember put her hand on his shoulder reassuring; she helped him off the ground and into his trailer. She sat on the bed with him he hung his face. "Hey its ok, he'll be fine you saw how strong her was he'll be fine"

Dante looked at her he couldn't help but smile at her attempts to cheer him up after the events of today he was glad that at least someone wasn't left behind. The words his duplicate had said played through his head over and over again, he couldn't help but think it was right, he almost killed his brother, he left Kat behind, and now he was just a wandering bum with no aim. Thinking of all the things he'd done up till now he though a lot of Danny and his friends they helped people, they stopped evil ghost from hurting good people. Dante wanted to be like that help people protect them from demons, starting tomorrow he would make start.

"I'm going to sleep" Dante said as he took of his shirt and his pants getting ready to call it a night.

"Hey can I stay here tonight I'm to tired to fly back home" Ember wasn't just tired she was sad her doppelganger left her confused for the first time since she can remember being a ghost she didn't know what to do next.

"Yeah sure no problem" Dante lied down on the bed Ember laid right next to him, he clicked off the lights as the both drifted off to sleep.

Arkham's car pulled up to an abandoned church, the same one Dante and Danny were in when they escaped Limbo. Walking inside he summoned the armor around him, he summoned his demonic energy in him and slowly let it build up until he released all of it. The armor began to crack with energy as all the energy left his body and focused in a single point until it opened a portal. A red-eyed red robed man stepped through the portal and stopped in front of Arkham.

"Merek" Arkham said

They both pulled each other in hearty hug like old friends reconnecting.

"I found him," Arkham said looking Merek in the eyes due to that being the only thing visible.

"Is he ready, she's coming and he needs to be ready" Arkham gave Merek a disappointed look. Merek sighed in disappointment Arkham's expression told him everything he needed to know. Merek and Arkham walked out of the church and into Arkham's car and driving off.

Dante woke up the next day; he opened the door and felt his foot tap something. Dante looked down he saw an unmarked box; he opened it seeing a note on top.

"Thanks for the help Dante here's your payment" Dante read aloud as he looked around the only person who could have done this was Arkham. He smiled as he rummaged through the box seeing two cell phones, three stacks of money, and another talisman different from that Arkham gave him to head home faster. Dante picked up the box and took it inside his trailer.

Vlad stepped out of his Limmozene it was a fine morning in Amity Park. He made his way up the stairs of the town hall building and walked through the doors a devious smile on his face closing the doors behind him.