Well I'll Be Damned

Summary:

"Well I'll Be Damned" - that achievement you get in DMC5 if you defeat Urizen in the prologue, what if that's what happened?

What would happen to V? How would Dante feel about Urizen's defeat? Would Nero still find out about his father?

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Chapter 1: And They All Lived Happily Ever After...?

"V, get Nero out of here! This was a bad move!"

"I can still fight!"

"Nero, go! You're just deadweight."

And as if Dante hit the jackpot, those words triggered something in the younger devil hunter. "Fuck you!"

Everything happened so fast that all Dante could remember was Nero rushing towards Urizen with his regrowing right arm outstretched and some sort of blue spectral wings sprouting from the kid as his body transformed into something demonic,

V getting blocked by falling debris and failing to pull Nero away,

Urizen commanding that pesky red crystal to hit Nero before he could get closer,

And that red crystal stopping right in front of Nero and turning into Yamato – The hell! Did the sword recognize the kid who repaired and kept her before? Why not do that earlier? Did she need some sort of proof that Nero was worthy and this awakening in him did the thing?

Seeing Urizen's similar surprise to what just happened, Dante took the chance to hit him with all he's got. And he got him good.

And that was it. No next phase, no twin brother coming out for round two, no grand one-on-one like the old times. And he felt somewhat disappointed.

Dante watched the big demon dissipate into blue crystal dust of sort. As ugly as this demon was, the way he scattered was no doubt beautiful. Dante couldn't help but frown at the familiar color. "I guess this really is goodbye, Vergil..."

It was all clean-up afterwards - the lesser demons that remained and the stinking tree itself. This was fun - after all, he said before that this is what he lives for - but he felt a pinch in his chest. It was all too familiar.

When they got out, Morrison and a girl who turned out to be Nero's friend was waiting for them. Those two intended to get them out of here before more soldiers and the press arrived. In the area, there were more human husks than he remembered from before climbing up the Qliphoth. He winced upon seeing them, but a part of his mind reassured him that at least this means what he did was good, right? Defeating that guy was for greater good, right?

His thoughts were interrupted when Nero's friend approached him and introduced herself, in a rather flustered way. "Whoa! You...are the infamous Dante! Um, I'm Nicoletta Goldstein."

She said she was Nell Goldstein's granddaughter, and she promised to make him a weapon from the demon scraps she collected today, in honor of them finally meeting. He merely smiled at her and said, "Looking forward to that," before she gestured for him to make himself comfortable in the van.

Before entering, he heard Nero ask the others, "Hey, where's V? Did you see him?"

"Who's V?" replied Nicoletta. "I ain't seen anyone else come out from there aside from you guys."

"Wasn't he with you?" asked Morrison.

Dante did not bother to listen to the rest. He knew better. V must have disappeared along with that guy. He couldn't sense him anymore. Though V's demonic aura was so weak from the start. He wasn't sure, but he couldn't get his hopes up.

He entered the van and flopped down into the couch there. He felt drained, and it was getting more and more difficult to put on a smile and interact with the others, now that there was no more demon ass-kicking to keep his mind busy.

He heard Nero and his friend bickering, about Nero rushing here without even telling his girlfriend back home, and that she made a prototype weapon he could use in place of his arm but now it was useless because his arm regrew like a lizard tail.

Dante closed his eyes and found a spot to rest his head back. He heard the others talk about the experience, as they climbed in. He heard Nero greet him, "There you are. What, you got so tired? Must be getting old, huh?" He managed a smirk as a response to the kid.

More story-telling went on as everyone got in. Then Morrison suggested they head to his place for some meal, like a celebration of some sort. The guy must've been worried about them, for him to offer something out of the ordinary.

But Dante found an excuse and asked to be dropped off at the Devil May Cry office. He said he needed to take care of something – some shitty excuse that might not have worked had Nero not been busy talking on the phone with his girlfriend. He was thankful that Trish got his back and convinced the others to let him be. She must've sensed it too. After all, she was in cahoots with that guy the first time it happened, back then on that island.

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Upon entering the office, Dante went straight to the bar, got a bottle of whiskey, poured himself a glass and sat on his chair. His mother's portrait greeted him, but he couldn't look at her for more than a second.

"Sorry mom... I had to kill him again," he said before chugging down his first shot.

He then found himself reaching for a drawer, that particular drawer in his desk that rarely gets opened. Inside, his mother's amulet had a subtle glint, despite being in the dark office. The two halves were still clasped together because he couldn't bring himself to separate them, even now.

Beside the amulet was an old glove. He took it in his hand and traced the torn part with his thumb, before he downed another shot.

"Why does it always end this way Vergil?"

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Notes:

The chapter title is a reference to the photo that appears when you defeat Urizen in the prologue.

But not all lived happily ever after, right? Especially Dante. :( And Vergil fans. But we'll see. :)

A bit of an explanation, though: Urizen in here was not yet that strong. The prologue happened about two weeks since V and Urizen's separation. It was just a few days of getting supplied with human blood, as compared to the other Urizen battles a month later. And he hasn't eaten the Qliphoth fruit yet. And the Yamato suddenly betraying him for Nero must've struck him hard aside from losing his protection. Nero's DT on the other hand, still happened because of great emotion but the reasons this time are a bit different. See next chapter for that.