(As the day continues on, over by the Lockheart Kingdom, a huge celebration rages on as loud music plays, people dancing and floats makes their way through the Royal City. Upon one of the floats are Prince Stephen and Lady Lunafreya with Dante's sword in a glass case. Behind them on another float is the King and Queen of Lockheart Kingdom Mason and Kate. As Lunafreya is throwing beads into the crowd, she notices that Stephen is still staring at Dante's sword.)
Lunafreya: You okay Stephen?
Stephen: I don't know. I feel conflicted. On one hand, he was my brother you know? We grew up together, all of us.
Lunafreya: But on the other hand, he was the Bloody Crow.
Stephen: Yeah. Part of me wished that I knew he was still alive so that I could save him, but I was too late. And now he's gone...By my hand no less.
Lunafreya: It is heartbreaking just thinking it about it. We will carry on with his memory and leave the Bloody Crow in the past. It's the only way we will be able to move forward.
Stephen: I guess your right.
(As Stephen says this, Dante's sword begins to shake.)
Ken: What is happening?
Lunafreya: It cannot be?!?....
Stephen: He's still alive.
(As Stephen says this, he, Lunafreya and Ken begin to see crow feathers fall in front of them. Suddenly after this, Dante, in full gear, descends upon Stephen, crashing through their float. As this happens, they begin to fight, matching one another blow for blow. While this is happening, Ken comes in with a kick that Dante catches and tosses him into Lunafreya. After this, Stephen punches him, Dante comes back with a hard kick to the jaw, sending him crashing into the float behind him. As the citizens start to flee, Kate red glowing aura flares up as she flies up and raises up her hand, picking up Dante and tossing him from building to building, then forcefully slamming him into the ground. After this she flies over to him.)
Kate: You're days of threatening my home and family are over!
Dante: Now now.....Is that any way to talk to your youngest son?
Kate: What?
(As Kate says this, she releases her magic's grip. After this, Dante stands up and takes off his mask.)
Dante: Its good to see you again mother.
Kate: Dante? You're...You're the Bloody Crow?
(As she says this, Mason and the others walk up alongside her.)
Mason: Of course he is.
Kate: You knew? Did you Stephen?
Mason: Stephen was the one who told me.
(As Dante stands in the middle of the parade, Mason signals for the guards and immediately all of his army arrives surrounding Dante.
Kate: My son...He's still alive.....
(As Kate says this, Dante looks around and takes in a deep breath of air.)
Kate: Dante?.... Is it really you?
Dante: Yes it is. I see the years have been kind to you.
Kate: My son.
(Kate goes to try and hug Dante, but Mason stops her.)
Mason: So you've survived death twice and your first choice is to come here and pick a fight? You really do have a death wish don't you boy?
Dante: Hahaha! Maybe I do, but contrary to popular belief, I am not here to fight.
Stephen: Then why attack me?
Dante: I owed you. You nearly killed me.
Stephen: You tried to kill me first.
Dante: Fair enough, but we are even now. And like I said, I'm not here to fight.
(As Dante says this, his gears suddenly burst into crow feathers.)
Stephen: Well if you aren't here to fight, then what is it that you want?
Dante: Remember when spoke in the Cemetery of the Disgraced, we had talked about the details surrounding my supposed death. I wish to shed the truth of what really happened that night.
(As Dante says this, Mason charges towards Dante, but is instantly frozen still by Kitara's magic.)
Dante: Funny how quick you are to resort to violence against me. Then again that was your favorite parenting technique.
Mason: So you have women fighting your battles for you now?!? Pathetic! You are the same weakling you were all those years ago as a child!
Dante: Try as you might to get under my skin, I've waited years to get my revenge. I can wait a little longer. But for now, I will settle for exposing you for the liar that you are.
Stephen: You talk about how you wish to show the truth, but how will you do it? There is no way we will believe a single word you say.
Dante: I know. That is why Kitara is here. She will cast a memory linking spell linking my memory along with Mason's and combine it with a projection spell. This way you see the entirety of that night unfold. Mother if I could ask a favor of you? Would aid Kitara with the spell?
Kate: Very well. I will only help because I want to know the truth as well.
Mason: You can't be serious Kate?!? He is the Bloody Crow! We must get rid of him! Now!
Dante: That isn't the way you speak to our mother.
Mason: You will shut your mouth boy!
(As Mason says this, Dante unsheathed his sword and points it at Mason.)
Mason: And there it is. The Bloody Crow. Come on boy, do your worse!
(As Mason says this, Kitara puts her hand on Dante's sword.)
Kitara: Dante...Remember what I said. He's just trying to get in your head. Don't let him.
(After hearing this, Dante calms down and sheathed his sword.)
Mason: Well isn't this a sight? The poor bastard being tamed by a woman.
Dante: Start the spell Kitara.
(As Dante says this, Kitara and Kate begins to chant as their magical aura starts to show. While they are chanting, everyone who is linked starts to see the events that took place seven years ago starting with a young fifteen-year-old Dante leaving the palace on a cloudy night)
Flashback starts
(As Dante is walking, it starts raining heavily as he quickly gets soaked by the rain, but isn't bothered.)
Dante: Rain on my late night walk? What more could I ask for?
(As Dante continues on, a woman standing under a roof sees Prince Dante and waves to get his attention.)
Linda: Excuse me! Is that you Prince Dante?
(Upon hearing his name called he walks over to her.)
Dante: Why are you out wandering the streets this late?
Linda: My apologies your highness. I was just leaving from a friend's and it just started raining out of nowhere.
Dante: Is there anything that I can do for you madame?
Linda: Oh. Where are my manners? My name is Linda, and yes. Would it trouble you to escort me home, Prince Dante?
Dante: Not at all, come.
(As Dante says this, they begin to walk towards Linda's home.)
Linda: May I ask a question, Prince Dante?
Dante: Sure Linda.
Linda: Why are you traveling through the city at this hour?
Dante: This is the time that I like to walk around the city. It is quiet and peaceful. Not to mention the rain that I find calming. If I could ask a question in return, just how far is your home?
Linda: Not far at all. It's just up at this corner. I only ask for your assistance as it would go a great way in calming my nerves.
Dante: I see. Glad I could help.
(As Dante says this, they reach the corner and turn. Once they do this, they hear a woman begging for her life.)
Linda: No! That came from my neighbor's house! You must save her!
Dante: On it!
(As Dante says dashes towards Linda's neighbor's home. Inside the is a group of masked individuals tearing the place up, in search of something.)
Masked Woman: I'm heading back to the hideout. Kill the woman and keep searching for the house. We must find that map. It is essential to our plan.
(As the masked woman says this, Dante arrives and the first thing he sees are the bodies of the woman and her family. Upon his arrival, the masked woman turns around.)
Masked Woman: I'm afraid that its too late to play hero, Prince Dante. The family is already dead.
Dante: You will not get away with this!
Masked Woman: Dispose of him and bring me that map. Kill any and every witness.
(As the masked woman says this, she disappears and her two lackeys begin to combat Dante. They throw multiple kunai that Dante deflects, but he is grazed by one on his cheek. After this, he comes swinging his sword, clashing with them, but they gain the upper hand and both hit him with a powerful kick that sends him crashing through the home's wall, out into the street.)
Linda: Oh my god! Prince Dante!
Masked Man 1: Kill her. I will deal with the Prince.
(As the masked man says this, Dante, who is still recovering, sees the other masked man kills Linda in front of him. As he sees this, the other man grabs Dante's sword and tries to force the sword through his heart, but Dante tries to push it back. In their struggle, Dante's grip starts to weaken so he decides to move to his left, allowing himself to get stabbed through his shoulder. After this, Dante kicks the masked man off of him and pulls out his sword from his shoulder. As he does this, the other masked man comes and kicks Dante through the home once again.)
Masked Man 2: Why don't you go look for the map. I will finish this before the Royal Guards arrives.
(As the masked man was talking, it opened him up for Dante to pierce his heart with his sword killing him. After this, Dante falls to a knee to catch his breath. While he was doing this though, the other masked man hears someone coming, takes his dead comrades body and leaves. After this, Dante
is struck in the head from behind by Mason. Moments later, Dante starts to awake after he hears Mason's voice call for the guards.)
Dante: Father? Is that you?
Mason: Just what have you done, boy?
Dante: Huh? What are you talking about?
(As Dante says this, he starts to realize that covered in the victim's blood. As this happens, the guards arrive.)
Mason: Chain him up.
Dante: What?!? Are you mad?!? Why are you doing this to me?
Mason: Silence boy! How dare you speak to me after committing this atrocity.
Dante: What? You're saying I did this?!? You can't be serious?!? I did not do this father, you must believe me!
Mason: Do not call me father. I am not your father.
(As Mason says this, Kate and Stephen both arrive amidst the chatter of the citizens as they all start to come out of their homes only to see the horror that of their neighbors been slaughtered and their prince covered in blood and in chains.)
Kate: Mason what is going on? Why do you have our son in chains?
Mason: I found him here, standing over the bodies of our people. He murdered them.
Dante: Mother! Don't believe him! This is just another one of his lies! I did not do this! Stephen! You must believe me! I didn't do this.
(As Dante tries to convince his mother and brother, Kate leaves as she cannot believe what she has heard and seen.)
Dante: Mother! Please! Brother...You must help me! Please!
Mason: As punishment for your crimes here in the Lockheart Kingdom, you will be sentenced to death. Your execution will take place tomorrow. Guards....Take him to the Pit.
Dante: You.....You will pay for this Mason! I swear it! You will not get away with this! I swear!
Flashback ends
Dante: And as you all know. He had me struck by lightning the next night. He didn't even attempt to bury me. I later found myself in and out of consciousness for days if not weeks drifting through the Great Oni River. It wasn't until someone pulled me out and rehabilitated me. Thank you for your help Kitara, but you go now. Marcy needs you.
Kitara: I'll return with her.
(As Kitara says this, she exits through a portal.)
(As Dante says this, everyone is shocked as the full story of what happened seven years ago comes out.)
Stephen: Father...How could you? He was my brother! Your son!
Mason: He is not my son! He was begotten by another man. The person who stands before you is a lowly bastard trying desperately to turn you all against me!
Stephen: What? Mother is this true?
Kate: Yes, but that does not excuse you from framing our son!
Mason: What it matter?!? He is the Bloody Crow! A mass murderer who has destroyed numerous territories underneath a mask and a cloak! He is our enemy, not me!
Dante: What Mason says is true. I am the Bloody Crow and I did not come here just to expose the truth. I came here to justify my hatred towards you. To declare that you Mason is my mark and that I will have your head on a pike! So consider this as a warning. If any of you decides to get in my way, I will not hesitate to strike you down. So go ahead and send your armies after me! You're going to need all the protection you can get to save you from me....Father.
(As Dante says this, the guard surrounding Dante prepares for an attack.)
Mason: If it's my head that you want, then face me right now so that I may crush you in front of the entire kingdom.
Dante: I'm afraid that it doesn't work like that. I've waited seven years to kill you, I think I can wait a little longer. But before I go, here's a taste of what's to come.
(As Dante says this, he fires a wave of force at Mason with tremendous pressure that sends him crashing into the ground.)
Dante: I know that this is hard for you mother, but this is the path that I've chosen. So don't bother trying to save me. It's too late for me.
(As Dante say this, he burst into crow feathers as they disappear leaving the Lockheart family in disarray.)