Author's note: No long note, just that the story and its original characters are mine, Capcom owns the rest, none of the Devil May Cry games and its events has taken place, ever, and the prequel I'm writing isn't Devil May Cry 3 since the game hasn't been released yet. However, many things will be taken from the gamr, to give that nostalgic feeling, that even though it's new, it's still familiar, a spice I admire whenever I read a book, watch a film or play a game.
The story is mainly about Ardor, the young child who is raised from a young age to his teens by Dante, and is soon thrown into a world he never wanted part of. And the clashing between Dante and Vergil is also important, but a very important thing you might as well keep in mind right from the very start is that whenever you read about a character from the games, do not expect them to have the same roles as in the games, not even Dante. I am especially referring to not only Sparda, but also his twin children, Dante and Vergil.
Chapter 1 - Odd Pair Out
The train slowly rolled in, and the people at the train station eagerly walked to their respective train compartments. Ardor walked onboard the train and looked at his train tickets, took his seat in front of another man. The man was tallish, with a muscular build and silvery, white hair. He was dressed in leather brown trousers, a black tee shirt and a crimson red trenchcoat. The man, he noticed, was staring back at him.
"Hey", Ardor said and smiled. The man neither replied nor smiled. "Right then..."
Ardor continued to look at the man. Since he was only eleven years old himself, he didn't try to provoke the man, even though they were on a train, with other people around. Now, however, they were the only ones in their row. It was rather late, so there weren't many people on the train.
"Are you going to say something or not?" Ardor finally said.
"Sit somewhere else", the man said and looked out the window. Ardor didn't move.
"Where are you going off then?"
"Not where you are, that's for sure", the man replied as a voice announced through some speakers that they were passing Harbington, and that they were soon arriving in Harlington. When the man prepared himself to stand up, Ardor asked: "Is this your stop?"
"Yeah", the man said and sighed. "Are you an orphan or something? Do we know each other?"
"No, we don't, mister", Ardor replied and smiled.
"Why're you alone so late?" the man asked. "You're an urchin or something, aren't you?"
"No, mister", Ardor answered and looked down. "I was just told to deliver a note to some man at Harlington."
"What does the note say?"
"It says first that the password is 'Albatross', and then that I, Ardor, have to visit a man called Dante at an agency in Harlington called Devil May Cry. Mum said that he can help me with whatever killed dad."
The man looked vividly at Ardor, a stern look upon his face. The train slowed down; they had arrived at Harlington. The man got up, and Ardor did the same. They waited for the train to slow down before Ardor finally asked the man if he could take him to the agency. The man nodded and they both got off the train. The train rolled onwards, and disappeared, leaving the two alone on the station.
"I'm the man you're looking for, kid", the man suddenly said, still not looking at Ardor. "I'm Dante, owner of the detective agency Devil May Cry."
"I thought so", Ardor answered, rather unsurprised. "You look like a Dante. Mum said that you were the best in your field."
"You listen a lot to your mother, don't you?" the silver-haired man said. "What's her name?"
"I don't know..." Ardor said and blushed. "I've always just called her mum..."
"That's alright", Dante said and smiled. "Are you sure there's no other reason she sent you here? Why didn't she come with you?"
"She said that if I got myself in trouble, I would be able to defend myself... what was she talking about, mister Dante?"
"Dante's fine", he replied and chuckled, but then looked seriously back at Ardor. "Defend yourself at... you're not more than twelve years old, right?"
"Eleven", Ardor replied. "And my name's Ardor, by the way, mister Dante."
"Only Dante, Ardor... well, well, I see..." Dante mumbled and realized that this Ardor probably had more or less demonic blood flowing in his veins. "Are you fast?"
"Kind of", Ardor replied and shook his shoulders. "I can run as fast as those teenage boys."
"Are you strong then?"
"I don't know. I'm the strongest one in my class", Ardor said and shrugged. "Why do you wanna know? Oh, oh, oh! Are you going to teach me something!"
"I think so", Dante said and smiled. He was sure that he was supposed to take care of this little boy. "What's your name then?"
"I'm Ardor", the little boy replied, "And you're Dante. So, mum also said that you were nuts. Is that true?"
"Maybe, kid", Dante said and blinked. "Maybe I am."