A young couple were about to die. But they were not afraid, because their daughter was going to survive. Even though they knew she would no longer have her parents in her life, she was going to be all right. They had good friends who would look after her, make sure that she would grow up to be a good person. They both truly believed she was a pure soul who could reach even the coldest of hearts. And with that thought, they were ready to except their fate. They didn't know. They had no idea that their little girl was watching in despair as her parents were being taken from her, and there was nothing she could do to save them.

"Kyler?" Earth to Kyler."

"Huh?" Kyler jumped slightly as she was jerked back into reality. As if waking up from a dream, the scene around her seemed to gradually materialize. The sun was showing brightly through the spacious kitchen in the tree house she shared with her close friends and their grandfather. She, Cuphead, and Mugman were preparing a delicious apple cake for the Elder Kettle's birthday. Somehow, she got lost in her thoughts during their preparations and didn't realize that she had overpeeled one of the apples until the brothers called out her name. She turned her head and glanced down at the two brothers, who were looking at her with worried eyes.

"Are you okay? You were spacing out." Cuphead said.

Kyler smiled at him reassuringly. "I'm fine Cuphead. I was just lost in my thoughts, that's all." She reached for another apple and began to peel it.

Mugman nervously shuffled his feet. "You were...thinking about them, wern't you? Ow!" Mugman flinched as his brother kicked him.

"You know she doesn't like talking about that! It makes her upset." Cuphead hissed angrily.

Again, Kyler gave the brothers a reassuring smile. "It's all right Cuphead. It doesn't upset me as much as it used to." She turned her head back to the window and looked outside at the beautiful forest as she continued peeling the apple. "It's true I was thinking about my parents, but not a in a bad way. I was thinking of the good times we had with you guys and the Elder Kettle before...before it happened. Like the therapist said, one of the best ways to heal is to talk about my parents and treasure the time that I had with them."

The two brothers listened to Kyler in silence. As always, they were amazed at how she gracefully took things into stride. Even after losing her parents in a terrible accident, she was still the same sweet, gentle person they had grown up with. Not to mention very pretty. She had put her waist-length silver blonde hair up in a bun so as to keep it out of her face while helping the brothers prepare the cake, and her natural amythist eyes seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. Even though she was nineteen years old, she only stood at a hight of four foot ten. Her frame was so petite, that it seemed she would break if she were to fall over. Since the brothers and their grandfather had first met Kyler and her parents when she was seven, they always saw her as their big sister, and were just as protective. Before her parents untimely death, they had confided in the Elder Kettler that they wanted him to look after Kyler, should anything happen to them. Cuphead and Mugman vowed to protect her as well. Inkwell residents would always joke that the brothers were like Kyler's own personal bodyguards. They wouldn't let anyone bully or harm her in anyway, and any guy who showed interest in her would always get the stink eye from the duo. Now, ten years after her parents' death, they were practically family.

"We did have good times together." Said Mugman as he tossed in the apples he just cut up into a large bowl. "Remember that year we entered a kite flying contest?"

"I remember that!" Cuphead exclaimed. "I won a prize for the biggest kite in the contest."

Mugman's eyes lit up mischiviously. "Yeah. It was so big that it lifted you off the ground when it picked up a huge gust of wind. Then you got tangled up in a tree."

Kyler laughed. "And then my dad had to climb up the tree to free you."

Mugman laughed along with her. "It took a while for Noah to get him down."

Cuphead glared daggers at his brother as his cheeks flushed with embaressement. "I would've been free a lot sooner if you had helped!" He snapped.

"How could I?" Mugman teased. "I had trouble standing up because I was laughing so hard."

Cuphead was about to respond, but was cut short when Kyler got down on her knees and pulled both him and Mugman into an embrace. "I really am blessed to have you two and the Elder Kettle in my life. I don't know where I'd be without you guys." She gave them each a kiss on the cheek, causing bothof the straws in their heads to spin.

"Aw, shucks!" Both brothers blushed. "We love you big sister."

"And I love my little brothers." Kyler smiled and stood up. "Now, lets finish baking this cake. The party will start in a few hours."

"Yes ma'am!" Both brothers said as they all got back to work.

The party was a huge success. Kyler and the brothers had invited all of their and the Elder Kettle's closest friends. Everyone enjoyed the cake they had made, and the late summer weather couldn't have been more perfect. Cuphead and Mugman were teaching some of the younger children how to catch fireflies, while the adults sat on picnic blakets and in chairs chatting amongst themselves. Kyler was having a cheerful conversation with her two best friends that she had met in college. Like her, Arisa and Leann were gifted children. All three girls graduated from high school at age twelve, and had completed graduate school by the time they were eighteen. Arisa had a master's in business and was currently a supervisor at a well known bank, while Leann had received her doctorate's in education and taught at Inkwell's prestigious private elementary school. As for Kyler, she had just completed pharmacy college and was one of the lead pharmacists at the island's hospital. Her job was probably the most unusual, as most of the residents were cartoons who didn't need a hospital to heal. There were, however, humans who did live on the island. Kyler, Arisa, and Leann were one of the few. The past few years have been very busy for all three girls, so they were delighted when they were able to coordinate a two week vacation together.

"City life is nice, but the rural areas are the best places to be when you need a break." Arisa said as she breathed in the fresh evening air.

"I couldn't agree more. Thanks again for inviting us out here Kyler." Leann gave her friend a warm smile.

"Don't mention it. The boys and Elder Kettle always love when you guys visit." Kyler said.

"Are you going to move here permanetly? It is a beautiful area." Arisa asked.

"I haven't decied yet." Kyler said. "The condo I'm living in right now is really nice, but it does get kind of noisy in the city." She had decided to spend her vacation with the Elder Kettle and the brothers. Ever since the Elder Kettle took her in as a child, she had always considered the tree house her home. She had finally saved up for a house of her own, and she was debating whether to buy a place in the forest or city.

"It's a tough decision." Leann added. "It's nice and quite out here in the country, yet there is always something fun to do in the city."

The girls chimed in agreement and watched the activity around them in silence for a bit. "You know, we only have a few days left of vacation. Why don't we do a girl's night out in the city, just the three of us?" Kyler said.

Arisa's blue eyes lit up with excitement. "That's a great idea! We haven't done that since we graduated. What do you say Leann."

"Yeah, let's do it! Any chance to hang out with my two best friends in the world. Where should we go?"

Arisa thought for a moment. "How about we go to that new casino?"

"That sounds like fun. I've always wanted to check that place out." Leann nodded her head in agreement.

Kyler looked worried. "A casino? I don't know. Don't you have to be over twenty-one to go there?"

A sly grin spread across Leann's face. "Not at this one. The age there is over eighteen, since the drinking age on the island is seventeen."

"That's right." Arisa added. "And we all said we wanted to try something spontaneous together. I'm all for it. We could all meet near the Phantom Train, say around 6 pm tomorrow night?"

"Count me in." Leann said. She and Arisa both looked at Kyler expectently.

Kyler was hesitant. She loved going to various places with her friends, but a casino seemed to be pushing it. Who knew what could happen in a place like that. Still, if it was what her friends wanted to do...

"Well...it definetly does sound like something worthwhile to try. And as long as we stay together, we should be fine. Okay, I'm in." Arisa and Leann cheered and threw there arms around Kyler. "H-hey!" Kyler laughed as all three of them fell back on the blanket they were sitting on. They rolled on their backs and held hands as they looked up at the starlit sky, Arisa on Kyler's right, and Leann on her left.

"We're going to have a great time together." Leann said.

"You said it." Arisa responded.

"Because we're the best of friends. Nothing will ever change that." Kyler squeezed each girl's hand. She felt like the luckiest woman in the world.