Author's Note: Two more chapters to go. Unless something goes horribly wrong in the next few days, this will be done before Christmas, becuase I have a Christmas story to post too. And Christmas spoils a small bit of this sooooo... yeah.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Seven
Weight of Tomorrow

Vergil felt his brother enter the Underworld from miles away. He comes for us. His demon growled. To kill us. And Vergil might have called that thought absurd if he were capable of thinking through the exhaustion. It was V who dragged him out of the palace and to the empty courtyard outside, and V that held him upright when all he wanted to do was sleep.

His brother crashed down in full demon form and roared. Vergil winced. It was so loud so… not his brother. Was he panicking? Was something wrong? Was Ashira…

"Vergil," Dante hissed, but Vergil could hear the agony in his voice. "I have to… I need to…" His brother roared as he tore himself backward and reached for his head. His human and demon forms morphed between each other, but Vergil recognized that crazed look in his eyes. "Frenzy," V muttered. "But why?"

Finally, Dante snapped back to his human-self, forcing himself down to one knee. Two swords were strapped to his back; weapons Vergil had never seen before. "I hate to say it," Dante forced out through ragged breathing. His eyes flickered between glowing red and his usual blue ones. "But I had hoped to be coming to your rescue, not…" He winced. "This."

Vergil felt a surge in demonic power. Dante howled in agony as a portal opened behind him and a woman - no, a demoness with curled horns and sharp nails like claws entered the clearing. She wore a tight, dark purple dress that revealed far too much of her pale skin. "This should be fun," She said as she put a hand on her hip and gave him a feral grin. "I wonder who will crumble first," she put a finger on her chin, drawing a small amount of blood. Vergil whipped toward it involuntarily. The smell was atrocious, nothing like Ashira's, but his demon was desperate to overtake him. A demon woman just might be enough to push him over the edge.

"Just a little longer," V said. "She's coming for you."

Vergil shuddered. "I can't wait that long," he muttered.

"You must," V said. "She only needs a moment longer."

Vergil's breathing was shallow, but he pushed himself upright and reached for Yamato. He didn't know how long he could remain like this, balanced on a knife's edge between himself and his demon. But V was right. He had to fight the madness. Combat always served that purpose for them both. "Come then, brother," Vergil said, snapping Yamato out with as much strength as he could muster. Dante eyed him wearily, but Vergil felt both of their demons snap to attention. The exhaustion that had plagued him for days retreated. It would not last long, but it was all he could do. "If you want this," He motioned towards his chest. "You'll have to take it."

But you knew that already.

Something akin to understanding crossed Dante's face. He shoved himself to his feet and flipped both swords into his hands. There was no smile on his face, and Vergil was certain he understood. Either Ashira figured out how to save them, or this fight would end in death. At least for now, this was all they could do.

If it's a show she wants, it's a show she'll get.

And as Vergil snapped toward his brother, he hoped it would be enough.

The first thing Ashira did was drag everyone left in their group to Pythagoras, grateful when Nico handed her a new pair of glasses and didn't bother to wonder how she knew. Alice was understandably terrified, and Ashira was grateful that Nico had both the strength to carry her and the understanding to try and soothe her as they ran. Lir, however, was silent, and moving him was like dragging a useless, heavy ragdoll.

But they made it eventually, albeit much too slow for Ashira's liking. She wasn't surprised when the entrance in the cave snapped open without her even touching it. One of Pythagoras' puppets led Nico and Alice to the fireplace as Pythagoras himself beckoned to her from the top of the stairs. "Come on," She said to Lir. He didn't speak, nor did he move. Something in her cracked for a brief moment, long enough to channel some fire into her muscles and throw him to the top of the stairs. He winced when he landed; the first signs of life.

Pythagoras looked at him, before glancing at her. "I see your connection to Vergil is starting to pay off."

She teleported to Lir's side and grabbed his shirt again. "Not the time." For once, Pythagoras made no comment as he led them back to his office where one of his puppets slammed the door closed. Ashira dumped Lir on the couch and whirled on the elder demon. "Please tell me you have a plan."

"His brother's involvement was unexpected," Pythagoras said.

Ashira's breath caught in her throat. "He's here."

"The two are fighting as we speak."

Ashira swore under her breath as she whirled on Lir. "What happened?" She said. When he said nothing, her anger only grew. "I'm not playing games, Lir. If you don't want to tell me, I'll force it out of you."

His eyes flickered to hers, but there was no malice; only pain. "I did what I was told." He murmured. "I planted a bud in the woman's heart, and activated the poison when I knew he would save her."

"Is that supposed to mean something to me?" She growled seconds from grabbing him again. She needed to be calm, but even that was fleeting.

"Azalea," He murmured. "My mother's name. I used it when meeting with the Shade. I had the same powers as her, and the Shade only cared for results."

"Why go to her in the first place?" She said.

"She promised to protect us," He said. This time, however, she heard a simmer of anger in his voice. "If our King and his little Firebird couldn't do it, then we had to figure it out ourselves."

Ashira restrained herself. Were it up to the furious demon within her, the boy would have been put down for making such an insult. But with Vergil, and Dante to a lesser extent, at the forfront of her mind, she calmed herself. "I understand why you're upset," She said. While she didn't think she and Vergil were entirely to blame for this issue. By demon standards, they were incredibly young. What could they possibly have done to take control of an Underworld which has existed for millennia? Vergil should have known about the consequences of eating the Qliphoth fruit, but it had been a decade. Nothing had happened. No one had come to her or to them. No demon or reaver had ever tried.

But as much as she wanted to snap at him and defend herself and Vergil, she couldn't. The agony in his eyes was too familiar. Too similar to the pain of her own past. All she could do was sit beside him and try to figure out what to say through the chaos in her head. "But she's a monster, Lir. She's killed dozens, maybe hundreds of reavers, and ripped their hearts out. Why would you…"

"She didn't do anything," He said quietly. "I did it all, at her request."

If Ashira were human, she might have vomited. Instead, her flames lurched onto her skin in a fit of pure, animalistic rage. "You murdered and butchered your own people?" She said. "Your own family?"

"I am Azalea," He whispered. "A poison that she… my future Queen promised to use as best she could. But when my family learned the truth…" his eyes closed. "They were horrified. They demanded that we run. Forced me away. Berated me for trusting her. I thought they were being foolish. She promised to protect us once she took the throne. She knew who the king was and she's been working on her plan for years. Why run away?" His hands clenched into fists as tears finally rolled down his cheeks. "She made me kill them. But Iris…"

"Iris?" Ashira echoed. That name was familiar, but she couldn't recall why, nor did she care to puzzle it out at the moment. Regardless, it wouldn't matter if she couldn't figure this out. "Who is…"

"My sister," He interjected. "Half-sister. We used a fake name so that no one would know who she was, nor the power she has." He was trembling now. "She is the only secret I ever kept. I told the Shade that she was a Reaver like me, but that her powers were weaker. Nothing to worry about. She was away when I killed them… visiting some old woman I didn't know. I'd never been so relieved… she saw nothing, so the Shade let her live."

"She did know," Ashira said. "She saw everything."

Lir's jaw went slack as his eyes opened again. They were blank and distant, but the crack on his soul showed all the emotions it needed to. "How?" He whispered. "I planted them when she wasn't there… I…"

"She watched them die," Ashira said. "She watched…" She paused. It was a long shot, but she said, "she watched the plants rip out their hearts."

At that, Lir broke down and Ashira's heart sank. She hoped that part hadn't been true. But Lir's tears proved her wrong. The poison he controlled, the very one that currently plagued Dante, was not nearly as simple as she had hoped. And she had a terrible feeling that she was running out of time. But Lir was inconsolable. "No." He cried. "No… She couldn't have… She… She…"

"Big brother?"

Their eyes both snapped to the doorway where Nico stood sheepishly with Pythagoras' puppet behind Alice - Iris, Ashira reminded herself. The girl's arms were wrapped around the Teddy Bear and, while her eyes were sad, she stood tall and met her brother's horrified gaze. "Your petals are wilting," she said and her lip started to tremble. "You're… dying, aren't you?"

Lir stared at her. "I…"

Iris stepped further into the room. "I…" She choked back a sob, but the tears still came. "I know you didn't want to hurt them."

"Iris…"

"I know you just wanted to protect me."

"It doesn't…"

"Remember the stories Mama used to tell us?" Iris said. "How the Phoenix used to fly through the Underworld just because he could. And sometimes, he'd even leave feathers for the little boys and girls. The ones who will take good care of the feathers, and show them off so that no one would ever forget."

"They're just stories," Lir said, but his voice broke. "The Phoenix is right here, Iris. And she was never there for us. Not when we needed her."

"But we always dreamed that one day she would be," Iris said, tears streaming down her face. "But if she can't save Mr. Dante… if she can't save the King... then all the wishes we made…" She sniffled. "The wishes I made with Mama and Daddy and..." Her voice wavered before she finally broke down. Lir was by her side in an instant, catching the girl before she crumbled. He whispered to her, a repeat of promises and regrets. Ashira swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, trying to ignore the prickle of shame in her chest.

She was never there… Not when we needed her.

"Don't bother," Pythagoras said. "They can blame whomever they wish, but you know the truth."

She closed her eyes. Images of the bodies - the reavers - who had died in this demon's tirade flashed across her mind. She imagined Vergil and Dante locked in an endless battle, maybe waiting for her, or maybe accepting that she was long gone. She thought of the reavers she didn't know, the children who wished for feathers - for hope - that she had never given them.

But dwelling on the past would accomplish nothing.

"I'm here now," She said. Both looked up at her, but she knelt to meet Iris' gaze and held out her hand. Golden light gathered in her palm before solidifying into a perfect feather, like the ones she had made countless times. Both Lir's and Iris' eyes widened as she held it out. "I can fix this," She said. "But I need your help." She made a point to look at Lir, and was relieved when he held her gaze. His eyes hardened. His jaw clenched, and his shoulders tensed the way they had before. But he didn't seem to be angry. At least, not at her. "You said Dante is poisoned, right?" He nodded. "How does it work?"

He took a slow, shaky breath before speaking again. "A seed is placed within the soul, harmless if left alone. But if something… or someone triggers it, it seeps into the body, moves through the bloodstream, and eventually lands in the heart."

"And that's what tears them out?"

"It's more than that," he said. "It drives humans crazy, usually killing them outright." He swallowed thickly. "That one had been a mistake," He murmured.

"And demons?"

"The Shade realized that demons can be controlled," He said. "If you command them to do something, they will feel compelled to obey, no matter the consequences. And if they cannot, or if they take too long, the plant will manifest… and the vines consume their blood, and tear the heart out."

"How?"

"Its something with her power," He said. "I never understood, nor did she ever tell me. My job was to… infect those she asked, and she would take care of the rest." His eyes fell. "I was supposed to infect you, too, but something went wrong."

Ashira's eyes widened. "Prometheus."

Lir nodded. "I'm not sure how, but Vergil took it from you. The Shade thought it would be useful, so it hasn't been activated, but its presence in the soul makes demons frenzy all the same."

"Can she activate it?"

"Maybe, but I don't know what she's waiting for." He hesitated. "I think I can reverse it, but…"

Pythagoras scoffed. "The Sparda twins will kill you long before you get close enough." He looked to Ashira. "But you. You may have a chance."

"What am I supposed to do?" She said.

"Take him as your demon arm," He said. "Theoretically, whatever he manifests as will be capable of dispelling the curse."

"Theoretically is not good enough," Ashira said. "You're asking me to fight two of the most powerful demons in the world seconds from a frenzy, and you think I'll be able to hit either of them?"

"They're not in the best state of mind," Pythagoras said. "And you will have the element of surprise. All you need is two good hits."

Ashira bit back a bitter laugh. She wanted to admit the truth. I barely land a hit when they're going easy on me. But she couldn't. The stakes were too high. She had to fight. No one else could. At least, not anyone who would try to kill them both. "Maybe if I can fight one at a time," she muttered.

"Remember who you are, child." Pythagoras hissed. "You may be young and foolish, but the power within you is not to be trifled with."

You've been pulling off of my power for years… why do you doubt yourself now?

Vergil needed her. Dante needed her. The reavers needed her. No matter the cost, she had to fight. She drew back her emotions and looked to Lir. "Do you know what we are asking of you?"

When Lir didn't answer, it was Pythagoras who spoke in a huff, "The transformation will kill you. A small price to pay for your mistakes, if I'm honest."

"He's right," Lir said quietly as he moved Iris onto his lap. Her eyes widened along with Ashira's. "This is…" He took a deep breath. "I need to do this."

"Lir…" Iris whimpered as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

He pulled her into a somber hug, shutting his eyes so tightly that his tears stopped. "I don't want to leave you, Iris. But I've ruined your dreams once already… this is my chance to fix them."

Iris buried her face against his shoulder. "Just think," She whispered. Ashira could hear the pain in her voice, but she didn't miss the quiet hope radiating off her soul. "You're going to be helping the Phoenix… You'll be with a real queen." She laughed, but it was amidst sobs. "You're gonna save the world, Lir."

While Ashira wanted to give them time, she knew they didn't have much to spare. It was Pythagoras who spoke up. "We don't have time for this prattle," He said. "They are fighting for the throne as we speak, and I'd rather not lose our only chance at a real, stable , King."

Lir nodded as he pulled away, planting a kiss on Iris' head. "Take care of her," he said as he helped her to her feet and motioned toward Nico. "Please… I…"

"I promise," Nico said. "You help Shy kick some ass. Your sister will be safe."

Lir turned to Ashira as he pulled his greatsword off his back and tossed it aside. "Promise me," He said. "That you'll… that this..."

Ashira nodded as she held her hand out. "Your soul will be free." No soul but Vergil and his familiars survived the flames of the Phoenix. But, despite what Lir had done, and no matter his reasoning, she wanted to give him hope; a sign that his life wouldn't be sacrificed for nothing.

If the world can forgive Vergil, I can forgive you.

"Vergil will take the throne, and the Phoenix will fly for reavers again." She said as fire emerged along her fingertips. "You have my word."

With a nod, he took her hand. Flames burst over him. He grit his teeth but forced himself to hold her gaze. Behind him, Nico had pulled Iris into a hug, but the girl still watched in quiet acceptance. Suddenly, he vanished, and the fire surged back into her. She felt something click in the back of her mind and assumed that's what Dante had meant when he once told her that the weapon "is just there now". She closed her eyes for a moment, placing her hand against her chest. "Pythagoras," She said. "I need a blade."

The demon grinned. "I have what you're looking for." Ashira raised an eyebrow as he waddled away. "Won't be as good as his, but it'll do what you want."

"Ms. Ashira?" Iris said. The feather was sitting in her hand, glowing just slightly. "Take good care of him."

Ashira swallowed her fear and nodded. "I will."

Vergil wasn't losing to Dante. He was losing to himself, and he didn't know how much longer he could hold out. His only solace was that Dante was clearly fighting himself too. This kept both of them from killing each other, for now. But they had come miserably close. A stab through the chest. A severed artery. Dante had nearly decapitated Vergil twice. The first strike he jerked away from, the second Vergil had parried. But it was getting messier. If this didn't end soon one of them would die.

The demons were hungry for blood.

His was becoming incessant.

Just kill him.

She's not coming for you.

She's worth nothing to us.

He couldn't even respond, and that might drive him crazier than the demon's rambling.

The last time they clashed, Vergil flinched. But so did Dante. This time, however, Dante hooked his foot behind Vergil's and pushed a bit harder. "Listen to me," He said, his voice low. The demoness was still watching, but was sitting far up on the unmade palace; close enough to observe, but not enough to get caught in their crossfire. The two had eventually figured out that she couldn't hear them either, but barking things through the thoughts of demons was nigh impossible.

So, Vergil dug his feet into the dirt and forced himself to pay attention. "We're running out of time."

Dante grunted. Vergil could imagine him saying something like No shit, Sherlock, but even Dante's sense of humor was gone. "If it comes down to it," Dante said. "I'll take a hit."

Alarm should have swept through him, but Vergil felt nothing. Of course not. His demon was far beyond such pesky things like human emotions. But he managed to growl at Dante instead. "What?"

"Whatever that bitch put in Lucia is killing me," Dante said. "I can feel it." His eyes snapped to his demon's. Vergil yanked himself back seconds before his third impalement, and knocked Dante away with a dozen summoned swords. Pain shot through him. He grabbed at his chest as the world spun for far too long. His muscles were screaming. His demon was furious. His emotions were gone. And as his brother charged for what felt like the hundredth time, he barely found the strength to lift Yamato.

A burst of flame crashed down between them. Golden flames encircled Vergil as he hit the ground, absorbing some of the impact. The flames dulled the remainder of his senses. "Shira," He said. She'd already triggered - he didn't know how he hadn't sensed it - but her feathers were a dark blue instead of gold. On her back was a long staff he had never seen before. Its center was a blend of gold and white before fading to light green near the ends. The top looked like a three-petaled, red and gold bulb that had yet to bloom. A much smaller version was fashioned to the other end. Glittering emeralds were made to resemble leaves. A demon arm certainly, but his connection to her was too weak to discern any more details about it.

"Welcome to the party, Shy," Dante said, wincing as he forced himself back to his feet. "I'm afraid this may not be the best time for you to join in." When he tried to push past her, clearly not of his own volition, two vines erupted at her feet. Both cracked against his chest, throwing him backward. He hit the ground hard, and his voice erupted in some strange combination of a groan and a laugh. "I'm getting a strange sense of Deja Vu."

"V," Ashra said, her voice even as she tossed a sword without looking back. Vergil's eyes widened when his other self caught it. Yamato? V examined it with a curious look in his eyes Then, he smirked as he unsheathed it and glanced at Vergil.

"Well, well." He said. "This is an interesting scene." He ran his fingers along the blunt side of the blade.

"I am a piece of you," He said. "Same soul. Same memories. Same power, or near enough." His form shifted, and Vergil could barely remember the last time V had done this. "So maybe," He said, his voice and appearance shifting to Vergil's own. "The throne will accept me instead."

That was absurd. Vergil knew it.

But his demon could not see reason.

He never thought he'd be happy with his demon's own stupidity.

V shot by him without a second glance. Vergil's demon lurched within him, but he forced his eyes to Ashira. She still hadn't looked back. Still wasn't moving. Shadow manifested at her feet with a low growl. Griffon chuckled. "Well then, big guy." The raven said. "We might actually win this time."

"Interesting rematch," Dante said. "Not quite fair for you, but it looks like I don't have much of a choice."

What was her plan? She couldn't fight Dante like this. V couldn't fight him.

I love you, Vergil. She said as she reached for the staff. The bulbs bloomed into a set of five, crimson and gold petals. Golden light and blue fire radiated from the staff, infusing the vines at her feet. Her voice shifted back to one they'd all understand. "Better hurry," She said. "V might just be right."

Trust me.

As Vergil forced himself to his feet, he pulled on the limited human strength he had left.

I love you.

Her smile was more than enough. Go.

Finally, he let himself go. His trigger shot through him like lightning. His demon half rushed after V with a furious roar.

The Shade's low chuckle echoed in his head, but she said nothing more.