Dante was rather surprised when Applejack returned to Devil May Cry just before the start of Winter. Probably not nearly as surprised as Lady, whom he had assured solitude and privacy throughout the building on a day it was closed and had to rush upstairs when the door unlocked, though. Dante did his best to compose himself as Applejack entered, her head hanging low and her ears flat against her head. "AJ?" he asked, discarding his embarrassment as he saw how sad she was, walking forward to scoop her into his arm while his other held up his pants. "What's wrong? I wasn't expecting you until Summer."
Applejack looked up at him and sighed sadly. "Ah...ah got expelled again..."
Dante blinked at her for a time, then sat down and sighed. "Did you blow up the school again?" he asked jokingly.
"Yes'm."
Dante blinked for a time. "But...that's hardly an unusual occurrence at that school. I mean, you were there for when it blew up two other times that you'd mentioned."
"It was during school hours," Applejack replied. "Lotsa human witnesses. Kinda hard to explain that...especially since I was in pony Devil Trigger form."
Dante sat back, surprise writ large on his features. "Why?" he finally asked.
Applejack sniffled. "Ah...ah didn't react well ta rejection..."
Frowning, Dante's hands went to Ivory and Rebellion instinctively. "Who do I need to kill?" he demanded.
"...'tain't his fault..."
Dante stared down at Applejack's form, sorrow and heartbreak dripping from every pore. Sighing, he relaxed his grip on his weapons and pulled her into a hug. "Tell me," he said softly. He held up a handkerchief to her muzzle.
Applejack blew her nose noisily, then began her story. "Well...remember that boy I told you about who was at that 'all-girls school'?"
"The one you had to talk me out of transferring you because of?" Dante asked. "The pervy devil boy?"
Applejack nodded. "Yeah, him."
"You said he'd become a pretty good friend," Dante pointed out. "Him and that 'household' he was a part of."
"Yes'm," Applejack replied. "He was a bit pervy, but ah could see he had a real good heart. And...well...over the past few months since last summer, I...well..." She blushed brightly.
"You developed a crush on him?" Dante asked.
"Yes'm," Applejack replied quickly. "At first, I was gonna hold myself back, since he had all those other girls chasin' him...but then I heard about how he was tryin' ta become some sorta 'Devil Harem King', having lotsa girlfriends...and the other girls in that household seemed fine with that arrangement...and he certainly seemed ta love 'em all...so I thought, why not me too?"
Dante nodded understandingly, while inside he seethed with jealousy over this young man, wishing Applejack would let him use her heartbreak as an excuse to beat the crap out of him. "Did he feel the same way about you?"
"Seemed that way at first," Applejack replied. "He didn't reject my advances, and he was always happy when I showed affection...but I thought I should show him the truth before things went any further." She shrugged. "He already knew about the whole 'Child of Sparda' thing and all that...so I showed him..." She gestured at herself with her hoof. "...this." She started to sniffle again.
Dante could see where this was going. "And then he got...very polite?"
"Ee-yup," Applejack whimpered. "He...he couldn't love me like this...not the way I wanted him to...and, well...I kinda lost it..."
"Oh, you poor dear," Lady said as she came back downstairs properly dressed. She scooped Applejack up into a tight, warm embrace. "That must have felt so horrible..."
Applejack began to cry. "Mama!" she wailed, burying her face in Lady's shoulder.
Sighing, Dante stood up. Since he'd taken the time to fix his pants, he was able to wrap both arms around them to join the comforting embrace.
Several hours, cups of cocoa, a warm bath, and a potty break later, Applejack had more or less composed herself, and was eating her preferred comfort food...Dante's scratch made apple pie. While it would normally take a day or more to make it completely, Dante had used Geryon's power to take a quantum shortcut to compress the prep and cook time into three hours. Cooling, unfortunately, couldn't be accelerated.
"Feeling better now?" Lady asked as she gently stroked Applejack's mane.
"Yes'm," the young mare replied. "Just had ta get it all outta my system. I'll be okay now. At...at least I can stay friends with them all, and I don't have ta fight with them over his time anymore."
"True," Dante replied. "Rather forgiving of you."
"Can't really blame him," she pointed out. "Ah mean, he was born human, and I was born pony. That kinda relationship won't work if'n he don't find me attractive at all times...and most humans ain't geared ta find ponies sexy."
"Very understanding of you-" Lady's voice froze. "What do you mean most humans?"
"Ah don' wanna talk about it," Applejack replied, quickly and firmly.
Dante and Lady exchanged a glance. "You can take care of yourself?" Dante asked carefully.
"Yes'm."
"Fair enough," Dante replied. "So...now about what school I send you to next..."
"Actually, ah'd rather not go to a new school again," Applejack replied. "I was kinda thinkin' about opening up a restaurant."
"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Lady replied happily. "Any ideas about locations?"
"Right in front of an active hellgate," Applejack replied.
"I'm...pretty sure we closed all of them," Dante pointed out.
"Ah'll build a new one, then."
Dante and Lady exchanged glances nervously. "I doubt humans would want to eat at a place where demonic invasion is a constant possibility, no matter how good your food is," Dante pointed out.
"Then it's a good thing I sent Berial back to the fire realms with some free samples ta drum up some business," Applejack pointed out.
Lady blinked. "Wait...you want to bring demons to Earth...to feed them?"
"Well, Berial and Ifrit did say that for the bigger demons, one o' the big reasons ta come ta Earth is better food," Applejack pointed out. "Ah figure if one of the conditions of buyin' food from me is swearin' an oath on Sparda that they ain't caused trouble in the human world for the past year. The sword's already enchanted to eat anyone who swears a false oath in its presence, and it'll be hung over the hellgate, and they'll have to swear the oath to get through. Figure that might take a few big steps towards integrating humans and demons peacefully. Ah mean, demons and humans of other mythologies - like those in Japan - manage it. Why can't ours?"
Dante stared at her in disbelief. "You think you can tame demons...with your cooking?"
"Not tame," Applejack countered. "Civilize. I had a lot of fun competin' in the Rating Games, and I - uh, borrowed - the dimensional space technique they use to make the Arenas. Ah figured once a year I could hold a massive tournament where teams of four - human, demon, or other - compete in an elimination style tournament within one o' those spaces, so no one ends up dead, since they can be pulled out and healed before that happens. Since not causing trouble for a year would be a condition for demons to compete or watch, a big reward for any team who defeats the defending champions being advertised, and mah cooking served to spectators and competitors alike...I think it'll be a real huge event."
Dante stared at her, frowning. Lady had already leaned against the wall to steady herself. "So...what's the reward? And who are the defending champions?"
"Well, Nevan told me about this one artifact that - when charged with enough demonic energy - can grant wishes," Applejack pointed out. "Berial will be swinging by Gramps' vaults in the demon world to pick it up. I figure the tournament will provide more than enough energy for it." She chuckled. "And the defending champions...well, the team name's either gonna be 'The Spardans' or 'Devil May Cry'. Which da you prefer, Pa?"
Dante stared at her for a time...and then a manic grin spread across his face. "Genius!" he declared happily, snatching Applejack up off the table and spinning her around, laughing like a loon.
Lady sighed, rolling her eyes. I had to marry a battle junkie, she thought to herself. I wonder if anyone else has to deal with something like this?
Somewhere in Japan, Yukimura Keiko sneezed.
Huh... well Issei HAS had a few problems with inhuman figures over the time he was there... can't exactly blame him in a way. And he was at least polite about it.
So then, let's blow up the school! Rejection has never been so violent!
Now onward! To establishing a restaurant near hell!
Good reference.
That was funny despite the sad scene
And nice Yu Yu Hakusho reference.
AJ's tournament idea sounds an awful lot like the Darkworld tournament from Yu Yu Hakusho...
I wonder if Bayonetta will be involved. Other than that awesome chapter(filler) as always.
Yu Yu Hakusho?
And more demons beating the crap out of each other XD, this could become a great underworld/demonworld/otherworld all star battle XD.
With so many possible fighters that i don't know which one i want to see the most in this XD.
Poor AJ she cannot seem to catch a break when it comes to her schooling. She has a great family but she does need some peer friends, unless they show up in the side story.
There is the slight grammar error of when AJ is confirming for her dad she keeps saying, "Yes'm"
It should be, "Yes'ir."
Other than that, go Applejack.
The funny thing is, the only stallion I can see Applejack going for is Shining Armor. Would be interesting to see how that would work out.
When did Lady and Dante get married
TONIGHT WE DINE AT APPLEJACK'S!
Another enjoyable chapter. Great job.
6100444
6100497
Off screen. I haven't exactly decided on the when.
6100333
Yes'm is actually accurate, too. She's not referring to her father as 'sir', she's mumbling an affirmation.
WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT!!!!
This artifact that can apparently grant wishes, I really hope it's not the one certain item from the FATE series, because that one is seriously messed up, like, you do NOT wanna touch that thing with a ten-mile pole with multiple additional poles on it.
6100815
What 'FATE' stories are you talking about? I was making something up literally out of nowhere.
It's basically a crystal. When it absorbs enough demonic energy, it activates, and can grant any wish. Normally, however, it takes thousands of years - even in hell - to build up enough of a charge. However, having hudreds or thousands of demons in teams of four duking it out in a pocket dimension - where all the excess energy left over after each fight can be funneled directly into the crystal - will provide enough energy to grant the wish over the course of a week.
6100843 Phew, anyways, what I was referring to is an anime series called FATE, essentially it's a 12-person elimination tournament with the price being essentially the holy grail, charging throughout the entire tournament to fulfill the wish of the victor of the tournament, the one time it was used in the anime it destroyed an entire city, killing almost every single inhabitant short of maybe 100 or so, it's a really messed up thing that acts on the true inner wish of the wisher, not what they say they want, which can end up oh so much worse and destructive.
6100859
Ah, one of those.
No, this is one that acts on the exact words of the wisher, not necessarily what they mean by their wish.
For example, "I wish for a million bucks!"
...
"That's a lot of venison."
Hang on I need to break the forth wall here. *CRASH* HEY DEADPOOL! WE"VE GOT ONE!
Deadpool: AWESOME! YOU GET DAGONBORN AND I'LL GET GOKU!
YEEAAHH!
6100894 hopefully, there will be a few things that it cant do...
for example...
6100994
Well, it's a demonic artifact...
So it probably can, but there's always a catch.
Given those three examples...
It can kill anyone, but won't keep them dead.
It can make someone fall in love, but it won't be real.
It can raise the dead, but they won't come back quite right.
6101052 those were just examples, nothing more, nothing less...
6101052
It can kill anyone, but won't keep them dead.
"So it just killed the guy for five minutes?"
"Yeah, but it was like five minutes in Davy Jones locker in Hell, so the guy reformed and became a Buddhist."
It can make someone fall in love, but it won't be real.
"So is basically like most of those marriages that barely last two years or less?"
"Yeah, or a few banned demonic love potions or drugs. It also fades away over time."
It can raise the dead, but they won't come back quite right.
"Why did the person they revived came back as a talking colorful pony like you?"
AJ smiled " I think the artifact found it funny. Plus zombies and undead are a tad overdone. Also it it just did the classical came back wrong wish, the tournament would lose popularity as there are easier ways to revive someone that way than winning a tournament were some of the most powerful demons and fighters fight."
6101134
True. But demonic artifact. It has no limits, but it isn't nice, either.
It's more like a Djinn than a Genie.
yu yu hakusho ftw please tell me team urameshi (sp) enters the tournament heck all of them already qualify technically
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They never did, filly AJ automatically named Dante as Daddy and named Lady as Mommy when she first saw them, and they both played along with it for the sake of AJ's adorableness and the wild secytimes up until present day, ceremonies be hanged.
Poor AJ... but I'm glad to see she's ready to open her restaurant and start the tournament up. Will she have kids' meals with toys for young demons??? And will she have an eating challenge ala Man Vs Food so Adam Richman can come and try to pass it????
I hope AJ was present, I can totally see her jumping up to catch the bouquet as a snack after being the ring bearer.
6102159
They eloped off screen. No ceremony.
Chi Chi.
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again... WHY MUST YOU PLAY WITH MY HEART LIKE THIS???
6102198
So that Applejack can make them have a real one in Equestria.
6102208 Ok... that's a good reason.
Lookin forward to more. also, question, are you planning on eventually pulling an avengers and having all of your various reimagined characters meet up in one drastically messed up dimension, because that would be entertaining.
6100738 I could easily see him as being the only one to be able to beat anybody. He technically can't die except from objects forged in heaven, so that would make him nearly immortal.
6103604
He can still be damaged and slowed down by other weapons.
This is based off the Yu Yu Hakusho Dark Tournament, where there was a 10 count for Downs or Ring Outs.
6101901 One bad ass angle with an op kill anything dagger. One sneaky son of a beyoch Scottish demon king of hell. Dean with the colt. Sam with thor's hammer from that one episode.
And there's the DBZ reference. :P Subtle, but very well played. I approve.
huh, I thought I'd commented already. Anywyas, I made amistake and thought you were referencing DBZ instead of Yu-Yu Hakusho. Sorry about that. Still an awesome ref, though, so have a moustache.
So... this is DMC crossed with MLP and also has Soul Eater, Rosario + vampire and now High School DXD? and Yu Yu Hakusho? Welcome to the mind*ck, everyone!
Is nastsuema and the book of friends in this at all
6569091
I have no idea what that is, so probably no.
Dang it, I'm always frustrated when I encounter references that I don't get and this story is full of them.
Rereading this, and I just got the DxD reference. Damn, that's a good show.
I can respect DxD... but AJ just ruined part of it. What's his face was a terrible yet also great character. I've seen anime with characters like and similar to him... and it's unsettling how they go a dishonorable route in their love life but flip into the big, noble hero.
HA
7373605 Do you know what that means?
I'd stay with a pony... If you know what I mean...
orig11.deviantart.net/e1fe/f/2011/337/e/f/deal_with_it___fluttershy_by_xenovile-d4i30im.png
It's folklore that you sneeze if someone thinks of you.
What?!
Now I'm super looking forward to AJ's school life. Harem hi-jinks sound like so much fun.
I begin to question what AJ is up to...
Dante LITERALLY caught with his pants down... haha, ew.
If you think civilizing demons via food is funny, go read The Dao of Magic over on Royal Road Legends.
Good work AJ