Chapter 8: When All Is Right
The group made their way to the demonic tree's throne room and the older devils stood stock still. There was a massive devil on the throne. He was black, blood red and his claws dripped with lava, as well as with blood. His wings were huge as well as wicked. His horns were twisted and massive as well. He had wicked gauntlets and armor adorned with skulls, bones and as the twins feared: human skin.
"So, you come before me, to seek out your deaths." He rumbled. His red pupil-less eyes looked at them and was ready to dismiss them until he saw Dante. "I would be willing to overlook this disrespect in exchange for the pretty one." At this Vergil and Nero growled and put Dante behind them. Hades chuckled.
"You don't stand a chance against me." He said as he looked at Nero. "And my human self is too…. sensitive… YOU however," He looked at Vergil. "May prove to be quite a thorn in my side. You will die first!" He aimed a blast at Vergil, but he was shocked that the elder twin just swatted it away and raised an eyebrow.
"WHO ARE YOU?" Hades asked. Vergil just smirked.
"I….am your deepest…. darkest…. nightmare…" He said demonically. Dante pulled Nero and Sparda back. Vergil triggered to Full Sin and took a stance. Hades growled but just stood up.
"It's of no consequence, Little King." Hades said. "Once the fruit blooms, your power will mean nothing." With that, he turned and walked through a blood portal. The group followed after him and continued their way up the tree. As they fought through, Sparda explained what happened.
"After the boys and I returned from your time, I spirited you all away when you two were eight. On your eighth birthday to be exact. We went to Morris Island; I changed our names. Afterwards we left Morris Island, we settled in Fortuna, where you two continued to grow and thrive. You grew up with us, for a time."
"What do you mean 'for a time?'" Dante asked. Vergil waved his hand, commanding his swords to slash and attack. Even though he couldn't physically give his father his attention, he was still listening as he battled.
"The demons came biting at our heels when you two hit 13. Your mother was killed before my eyes. Thankfully, you two were at summer camp. I wasn't thinking straight, I just wanted revenge. I summoned up Yamato and split myself. Hades was born from that. He avenged your mother, but his bloodlust was so great that he wanted more. He stopped me from killing him, thereby ruining my chance of reuniting us, merging my halves again. He fled and became the behemoth you see."
"If you were able to maintain your form, how come when Vergil was split, he was slowly crumbling?"
"I was already weakened from the battles in Mallet Island and from my defeat at Mundus' hands." Vergil said. Dante nodded in understanding. They continued to fight their way up, determined to get to the top. Vergil thought about all that he had seen here and compared it to what was. Although this one was better on some aspects, on others it was just as bad. He loved that he and Dante had each other, and that Nero was solely theirs. We can still have that in our time, some circumstances would be different but in the end, it's what we had…that made us…a family again. He looked to Dante who was slashing and dashing away to Nero, who was acting as Dante's backup. The two Hunters were fighting back-to-back, their bond, unbreakable. Even now, I can't imagine my life without them. He looked to his father, who was fighting back-to-back with him. But I can't be selfish…. Father has done more than enough. This is not his place anymore. His place is with our mother. And my place; is with my family. They fought the last demon guards and saw Hades at the tree, waiting for the ugly fruit, which was close to full bloom!
"Ah, you all made it." He said as he looked over a shoulder at them as they finally arrived, ready to battle. "Excellent, this saves me time from hunting you down. I could just kill you here once the fruit has bloomed."
"Do you really think we're going to let you eat that thing?" Dante asked as he aimed Ebony and Ivory. Sparda aimed Luce and Ombra and Nero aimed Blue Rose. Vergil aimed his swords. Hades chuckled.
"Such bravery and yet so foolish." He chided. "Once I devour the fruit, my powers will be complete." He turned to discover the fruit was missing!
"WHAT?!?" He shouted. He whirled around to see Griffon drop the fully bloomed fruit into Vergil's waiting hand. "NO!!!!" He lumbered over but the three gunmen open fired then attacked. Vergil dark tricked a safe distance away, assisting with his swords, Griffon, Shadow and Nightmare. Dante turned to where Vergil was.
"Vergil, eat it!" He called as he dodged a swipe from the enraged Demon Lord. "What are you waiting for?!"
"I…." Vergil began, standing stock still, for the first time in his life, he was unsure. "I don't…."
"Honey, you can never lose us." Dante called, as if he was able to read the elder's mind. "We love you no matter what."
"Eat it Son!" Sparda yelled. "Or we are all dead! I am proud of you and I'm always with you! Your Mother is too!"
"Father, we're with you!" Nero called.
"We do love you and we are proud of how much you've changed for the better. Do what's right!"
This was all the reassurance the elder twin needed. He brought the fruit to his lips and with Hades' cry of outrage being the last push of encouragement, Vergil bit into the fruit and didn't stop until it was all gone, and his world faded to black.
Devil May Cry (Today)
Sound was the first thing that graced Vergil back to reality. He groaned lightly and he heard twin gasps and footsteps approaching his bedside.
"Verge," He heard Dante call softly and felt the Hunter's hand brush his hair back. Vergil slowly opened his eyes and looked at the Hunter. Dante graced him with a smile. "Welcome back Honey."
"I'll never tire of you calling me that." Vergil chuckled softly as he hugged the Hunter. Dante smiled and hugged him back.
"When you ate the fruit, the timeline returned to normal." Dante said with a grin. Vergil was about to ask a question when a knock was heard.
"Come in," He said and Nero peeked in.
"Father, I'm trying to respect your personal space…."
"Come in Child." Vergil said with a chuckle. Nero grinned and came in.
"What the heck happened? I feel a lot happened, even some changes."
"The timeline has been restored." Vergil said. "There is only our line now."
"But the other timelines?"
"Gone," Vergil said. "But we remember what happened, and what we saw, and what was said. Basically, everything from all that's happened."
"And this is for good, Father?"
"Yes Child, it's permanent." Vergil said as he sat up carefully, with Dante helping him. "I'm fine Dear."
"You know I worry." Dante said with a slight huff. Vergil chuckled and moved a stray bang from the older Hunter 's face.
"I know you do. I'm not scolding you for it."
"Better not," Dante said teasingly. "I don't give a flying fuck you ate that nasty fruit; I'll kick your ass, with love." Nero cackled and Vergil laughed.
"Dear, promise me, one thing."
"What's that?"
"Don't ever change."
"Wouldn't dream of it." Dante said with a smirk. Nero grinned.
"Who would've thought that Father eating the fruit would fix everything?"
"Long Live the King." Dante said with a mock bow. Nero laughed and Vergil smiled softly. No matter the time period, one thing remained the same: Dante's love for him.
"Child, would you leave us for a bit?" Vergil asked. Nero nodded and left the room, closing the door gently behind him. Dante blinked but Vergil patted the place next to him on the bed. Dante sat down and waited.
"There's something I would like to ask you."
"Fire away."
"How you feel about Nero?" Vergil asked, raising an eyebrow. Dante looked at the ring on his finger then looked at the elder.
"I love him." He said, the sincerity clear as day. "I see him as mine, as well as yours."
"Would you like him to be your son as well, as he is mine?" Vergil asked. Dante gasped softly then smiled.
"Yes." He said with a warm smile. Vergil saw the love in his eyes. For us both….as a parent and a mate respectively. He's mine….
"Last question." He spoke. Dante smiled and Vergil pulled out a small box and opened it. It was a beautiful ring of ruby and garnet, platinum and gold band with their family crest. Dante gasped then sobbed softly. It was a male version of their mother's wedding ring.
"Will you be mine, always?" He asked. "I would kneel and all but…." He didn't get to finish for Dante kissed him, pouring all the love he felt. Vergil growled softly and leaned against the headboard of his king-sized bed and pulled the Hunter to rest on him, not breaking the kiss. He relished in hearing Dante's soft moan. There was no denying it, he loved the red clad devil. When they finally broke for air, Dante looked at him and smiled.
"Yes," He breathed softly. Vergil smiled and removed the 'cover ring' as he came to call it and slipped the official ring onto place. Dante gasped as he looked at it and Vergil held him close.
"How?" Dante asked. Vergil knew what he wanted to ask.
"Blood Adoption." He said softly. "He will have to drink all of blood, mixed." He eased the Hunter off him and went to his bookshelf. He picked off the tome from the middle shelf and opened it, showing Dante about the blood adoption ritual. He wasn't too crazy on the idea of possible bloodletting.
"Is there a spell that can draw out the blood without hurting him?" Dante asked. Vergil smiled lovingly.
"You are so maternal." He teased lightly. "But yes, there is a way." He turned the page and tapped lightly. Dante smiled.
"Can you do the spell?"
"Of course, I can." Vergil grinned as he carefully closed the book. Then he picked up a small bottle and cupped it, waiting a bit. Then he showed Dante it was full of his blood!
"How did you?"
"I'll show you. Take that bottle and cup it gently." He instructed. Dante picked up the next empty bottle and did as Vergil instructed. "Good, now will the blood to fill the bottle." Dante did as he was instructed, and he gasped when he saw the blood in the bottle.
"Omg it worked."
"Yes, it did, now let's take that last bottle there and come with me." Dante nodded and followed Vergil. They found Nero at the desk.
"Nero, I have a few questions for you Child. They are very important."
"Ask when ready Father." Nero said.
"How do you feel about Dante?" He asked. Dante tilted his head, slightly fidgety. Nero smiled.
"He's caring, loving and even though a pain in the ass, with him I feel ok."
"Aw Kid…." Dante sniffled. "That was the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me." Vergil chuckled and handed the older Hunter a handkerchief.
"Thanks Honey."Dante sniffled softly.
"Did I miss something?" Nero asked.
"I asked Dante to marry me, Child." Vergil said evenly. "And he's accepted. He also wishes to adopt you."
"So…I'd have two parents?"
"Precisely."
"Let's do it!" Nero said excitedly. "I would love it with you being my other parent."
"I already see you as a son." Dante said with a grin. "Even if you need a kick in the pants."
"I know that's right." Nero chuckled. "So, how would this happen?"
"It's simple really. You will need to drink our blood."
"You're shitting me?" Nero asked. Vergil raised an eyebrow at his son's language.
"No, we're not." He said with a sigh as he showed the 2 bottles filled with blood. He set down the clear one. Nero was about to pull a dagger out when Vergil stopped him. "Child, gently cup the bottle and will the blood to fill it." Nero did and whistled when it was full. He handed it back to his father who nodded and took all three bottles and opened them and poured the blood into a chalice with the Sparda family crest. He gently stirred the blood and set it down before Nero.
"Once you drink this entire chalice, the parentage will change. I am your father there is no changing that. It's the role of the mother that will change." Nero grabbed the chalice carefully, looked at the two devils, then he drank the entire chalice, leaving not one drop. As soon as he set it down, Nero felt a change. He groaned and doubled over. Dante ran over immediately and held the younger Hunter. Nero sighed and rested against the older Hunter; his breathing calmed.
"You're safe Kid." Dante whispered as he stroked Nero's hair. "Do you want to go lay down?"
"Yes, Mother." Nero said softly. Dante nodded and helped Nero to his room. Vergil helped as well, and he smiled when Dante tucked the younger Hunter into bed.
"Honey, come on, let him sleep." The Hunter whispered, escorting the elder out. Vergil smiled and allowed him to lead him out.
"Vergil, I know you like to do things big, but can we have a small intimate wedding?"
"Of course, we can." Vergil said as they sat down on the couch in the front area of the office. Dante purred and rested on the elder as they relaxed on the couch. Even the simplest thing like sitting on the couch was a rarity for the two devils.
"So, what's the plan?" Dante asked as he rested his head on the elder's chest. Vergil held him close and chuckled softly.
"For now, nothing. As it is, at this moment, all is right."