Ebony and Ivory Queens CHAPTER 55
Theme: Dreamer
Kendecia: Sorry I didn't have the next chapter done 20 minutes or the day after the last one! XD It took me until today to complete it, so I hope you like it! Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
SirenaLoreley: I love to build up the suspense! I'm not sure what Kai will want-she doesn't really know either XD Nero is definitely in a bad place, but-well, you'll see! Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
HikariNoTenshi-San: Nero was certainly having a bad nightmare, but yours sounds terrifying! I don't think I've ever had one that bad! Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
Lotus Butterfly: I am definitely ambitious-sometimes too much! XD 'it's only a dream' might actually help in this situation, the dream eater only has power because the dreamer doesn't know it's a dream :3 I hope everything is going all right dear : ( Thanks for taking the time to review! *gives cookies*
Seeker Heart: Nero needs to hold on or the others will be too late to save him! Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
L. K. Heinrich: I think once you've been sleeping with someone for a few months and they steal pillows you come up with a backup plan! XD Dante is corny, it's just in his blood!-along with pizza grease! XD The way everyone died in the dream (Credo, Kyrie, Trish, Lady and Dante) was by how important to him they are in his current life :3 Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
surrendertome: Dark and intense is just the way I'm feeling sometimes and that's how it works out, I really like it sometimes and other times I love fluff :3 It's not a random demon-but it wasn't after Nero-or it wasn't originally. Using the fear to break down his will to live is the way the demon operates. Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
Asile3762: Glad you liked the concept, I though it was good :3 You image Nero screams like a girl? XD There's plenty of his screaming in the game to insert for an internal audio track XD But I know what you mean, it's funny that way sometimes! Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
BattleGoddess126: Yeah, poor Nero : ( The woman (Kai) is one of my OCs, she and Roman have their own story on my DA account and they worked well here, so I threw them in :3 Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
Blood of Dusk: The dream was definitely sad. The two guys are basically experiencing the same thing-watching the other die helplessly. At least Dante has a way to help now! After this chapter I'm planning to return to Bitter Silence and turn it into it's own story, so you'll get a new full length :3 Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
Anonymous: Yeah, poor Nero! : ( He's always getting into trouble! Thanks for reviewing! *gives cookies*
Thanks for all the reviews! I really appreciate the support you guys!
Background: Ch. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 25, 16, 26, 30, 38, 43, 46, 54
Dante stared at the cup in his hand filled with a chunky red liquid with distaste. "Are you sure this is going to work and not just kill me?"
"Dante it's the only shot we have." Trish said, folding her arms.
"Do I get a last meal?"
"Dante-drink it or I will!" Lady vowed, while they stood around talking Nero was slipping deeper into his nightmare he was already pale and his pulse was running low-it was no time for the red slayer's shenanigans.
"Alright!" he said defensively before gulping nervously.
"Remember Dante-you have to defeat the dream eater inside the dream."
"Gotcha." he said before throwing the drink back in one thick gulp. It tasted coppery and there were random chunks in it. He had no idea what the stuff was made of other than the feather and he was pretty sure that he never wanted to know what toxin he'd just put in his guts.
The glass fell from his fingers, shattering on the floor before the demon slayer slumped backwards.
He opened his eyes and peered around. He was laying on the ground and all he could hear was the sound of glass breaking and Nero's screams.
"Nero?" his voice was rough and he pushed himself off the ground. There were demons all around, but none of them seemed to be paying him any mind. He could still hear the younger man howling in terror. A snarl twisted his face, rage snaking all through his body. He drew out Rebellion and sliced through the demons in front of him so he had a clear view of the kid.
He was in a room that had been surrounded by glass but had since been shattered allowing the demons in. Nero looked clueless and horrified, his face ashen as he held his hands up as if to protect himself.
The older hunter sheathed his blade in favor of his twin pistols which he used to clear away some of the scarecrows closing in around the young man. He ran over once it was relatively clear and put away his weapons in favor of grabbing his lover's shoulders and hauling him to his feet to shake him. Tears had trailed down his cheeks.
"Get a hold of yourself kid!"
"Dan-Dante?" he asked almost in disbelief.
"The one and only." he smirked.
"But-but you were dead."
"Not anymore-listen kid, this is a dream-your dream. You're in control here."
"A dream?"
"Yes Nero, you're in control of what happens here," he caught sight of Nero's human hands. "You can get your devil arm back, you can get Red Queen and Blue Rose-hell you can make these demons back off."
"I-I don't know." his voice cracked in fear.
"Try!" he snapped.
"O-okay!" he growled in return, closing his eyes. After a moment his right arm grew scales and glowing flesh, Blue Rose and Red Queen appeared.
Dante whirled around in order to take out some of the demons who were still coming before giving a smirk.
"The one doing this to you is hidden here somewhere kid, what do you say we find him and give him a proper Devil May Cry reception?"
Nero rubbed the tears off his face and nodded, determined.
"That's the fireball I know!" he grinned, all teeth as they leapt into battle.
Most of the demons were ones Nero had fought that left impressions, ones that he'd fought many times, like various flavors of scarecrow and Arache, and big demons that he'd been up against like Echidna and Berial. They fought hard but never seemed to get tired even as they downed demon after demon.
Dante rested Rebellion against his shoulder. "Come on already! Let's see what a dream eater looks like!" he called out in challenge.
The earth seemed to rattle and the older man immediately put his hand out to grab his partner and steady him. Footsteps pounded over the ground and their eyes widened at the gigantic thing coming towards them. It looked like an elephant sized tiger, only it's fur was longer than that of a normal big cat, and it's snout was longer, more like a canine than feline, though it allowed for longer range snaps with it's huge jagged teeth.
"You are Dante." it bellowed. "I made a grave mistake entering the young man's mind instead of yours, but luck has smiled on me, now I can kill you both here."
"Fat chance." Nero barked, revving Red Queen's handle. "This is my dream and I don't want you in it!"
"But what about the girl? You still care for her don't you?" it asked as Kyrie appeared, tears in her eyes.
"Kyrie…"
"It's an illusion kid, don't let it distract you, if you forget it's a dream we're both dead."
Nero closed his eyes and shook his head forcefully and Kyrie disappeared. "I won't, too much at stake."
The creature hissed in anger, and ran forward with a yowl of a battle cry. The two hunters split up one to each side. Dante drew his handguns and started shooting at the thing's feet, only a few shots later the guns jammed making him frown and look them over until he remembered that this was a dream, the dream eater had more power here than he did as a dream walker. This could make things a little more difficult.
Nero however had his revolver which worked just fine, which caused the monster to twist to face him snapping it's massive maw towards the young man. Nero simply raised his arm and formed the ghostly version of his devil bringer grabbing the eater's face and launching it off to the side.
Dante reached for his sword while the creature was distracted and drew out the hefty blade, while the dream eater struggled to right itself snarling before catching sight of Dante. The older hunter gasped as Rebellion turned into a large snake that lashed out towards him making him drop it and backpedal.
"Dante?" Nero glanced over his shoulder to see why he wasn't providing backup and the older man held his hands up helplessly.
"Sorry kid, my stuff isn't working right unless you make it work for me. You need to focus, so I'm just a spectator-here for moral support!"
Nero blinked then nodded once and a long line appeared in the sand. "Stay behind that, he won't be able to cross." he said before rolling across the ground to avoid the razor claws. He brought up his blade to block, grinning as he made his sword cleave straight through the claws and causing the dream eater howl in anger.
Nero was almost like a boxer when he fought, dodge, parry, attack, dodge, attack. He hardly took any damage from the huge beast. Dante fidgeted restlessly behind the barrier, he hated being sidelined-this time quite literally. It really was terrible not being part of the blood pumping fight, at least when one was part of it there was a way to expel the energy.
The fight slowed and Nero gasped at the creature lying in a bloody heap. "Dante!"
The older man frowned. "Nero, what's wrong?"
The kid fell to his knees and Dante ran forward over the line and finally was able to see what he was so upset about-instead of the dream eater laying there in a bloody mess-it looked like him!
"Ner-" he was cut off as a gag was shoved into his mouth and he was grabbed and thrown down onto the ground. Dante realized then that the dream eater had no power behind the line the kid had literally drawn in the sand. He'd walked right into a trap. He twisted so that he could get a look at who had him. It was a figure with no face or color, almost like an ink blot taking a vaguely human form.
"How foolish of you to think that I would appear so obviously. Not everything comes charging at you, I certainly have more finesse, and certainly more power in this domain," it seemed to smirk, it's voice was like the hiss of a radio. "The boy's greatest fear-your death-sweetening the deal by making him think he did it will give me all the more satisfaction. What's your worst fear Dante?"
The hunter struggled, trying to pitch the demon off him as he called out through the gag, trying to get the younger man's attention.
"Is it losing him?" it asked, reaching for his face, the devil hunter continued to thrash. "Is it your own body failing you when you need it most? Oh, the suspense is killing me-let's find out!" it squealed in delight, shoving its hand into Dante's forehead.
The hunter's eyes went wide and his pupils dilated taking up his entire iris as the demon plunged into his own psyche.
"Nero's fading-his heart rate is slowing!" Lady said urgently.
"Oh no…" Trish whispered, seeing that the red clad hunter had turned very pale. "It's getting both of them."
"So what do we do! ?"
"I'm going in after them."
"Oh great! Give it something else to snack on-don't be stupid!" the human snapped.
"What other option is there exactly?"
"I don't KNOW!" she shouted before taking a breath. "We can't go in. We have to wait for them to come back."
"Or for them to die?"
"Don't say that. They'll come-" she stopped suddenly. "Nero's pulse is getting stronger."
Nero whirled around, a scowl on his face and Blue Rose in his fingers. Two bullets pierced into the dream eater's head-the real one as Nero took to his feet, running towards the demon as well as his true mate who was laying on the ground. The dream eater recoiled from the shot falling back away from the older slayer, his hand coming free and his body slamming into the invisible wall. Dante blinked his eyes and looked around in complete confusion, unsure of his surroundings, however, he rolled out of the way as the demon lunged at him hissing with rage. Dante pulled the gag off his mouth, and off his head, ready to do something if required.
Nero was there in an instant, his boots kicking up dust as he skid to a stop and reached out with his bringer, catching the monster in his ghostly grasp and slamming him down into the dirt over and over, he was consumed at once by both rage and terror and only seeing this thing spattered into the dirt would relax him.
Dante stood back and could only watch in absolute fascination as his lover throttled the thing into the ground until it's body shattered, turning into globs of black goo that seemed to simply disappear into the air once it broke off. Soon there was nothing left and the kid just continued the motion slamming his fist down onto the dirt as if he could pound out whatever was bothering him. That's when the older hunter decided to step in, taking hold of his demonic appendage, holding it so he couldn't hit the ground again.
Nero released a grunt at the motion until Dante's arms went around him holding him close. The kid's hands gripped at his jacket with desperation.
"I saved you-I got to you, the real you-I got there in time." the younger man whispered.
"You always do kid. You've never let me down." he whispered in his ear and he felt the younger man relax in his grasp. "I think we've both had enough of this dreamer's hell. The dream eater is dead. It's time to wake up now Nero. Wake up so we can go home."
With that his blue orbs opened, looking up at the ceiling of their bedroom and Lady's mismatched gaze. "Nero?"
He managed an intelligible grumble in response as he rubbed his face with his human hand.
"He's awake-he's alive!" she said with obvious relief. "Dante?"
"I'm up! I'm up-what?" he slurred sleepily, and the other slayers laughed, completely happy that the nightmare was over.
I know it took me awhile, but I'm happy with it! School's just started up again and I have SO many reading assignments (plus I've been shoving in some of my own books to take up whatever down time I have) so I am sorry it took so long, but I hope you enjoyed it! :3 Also, I am going to start work on the next full length from me based on 'My Inspiration' and 'Bitter Silence' so keep an eye out for it, so this will be going on hiatus until then! Until next time!
Ja ne!
~Bitbyboth January 17, 201
