The Next morning of Inkwell Isle was beautifully animated. The sun was shining off the waters of the harbor, and the morning fisherman were just setting up for their daily hauls. The sunlight shined through the hole in the S.S. Maria, making all of the treasure on the floor glow, and all of the treasure shined. One of the reflected beams of light shined in a sleeping Cala Maria's face. She started stirring and opened her eyes, she immediately shut her eyes again from the blinding light.
She got up from her hammock bed with a drowsy slump and her tentacle hair was covering her face. She swam towards her full body mirror and picked up her brush, she combed back the three tentacles in front of her face, revealing her baby blue eyes to the mirrior. Then she hears barking and sees all her eels swimming around her excited and happy to see her again.
"Good mornin' my sweet little angels." She said greeting her beloved pets. "Are you all hungry?" She asked in a baby talk tone. Her eels got even more excited and started to rapidly swim around her tailfins. Cala maria swam towards her her homes enterence and looked around. The bottom of Captain Brainybeard's ship was nowhere to be seen, it was probably his Shore day. In the far distance, she could see a school of fish. She finger whistled and all her eels rapidly swam right after those fishes. Cala Maria watched all her eels chow down in joy. But before she swam back inside, she noticed something near her home, a red glass bottle tied down to a rock. She really hated it when people threw garbage in the water, let alone the place she called home.
Her curiosity peaked and she picked up the bottle. It was a pretty shade of red, maybe she outta keep it and use it for pocket water when shes on land. She removed the cork and emptied out its contents it was a rolled up piece of paper and a single blue rose.
She rarely came across these two specific items amongst all the garbage she constantly had to clean away from her home. If it ended up in a place like here, chances are the confession probably ended very badly.
She opened the letter just to see who it was from.
'Dear Cala Maria,'
She blinked a few times to see if her eyes were playing a trick on her.
'I have admired you from afar for a very long time in secret, not brave enough to tell you how I feel. I admire the way your uncomparable beauty shines even brighter then the sun, your melodious voice as you sing on your rock, even when you go amongst the the characters I still didn't have the bravery to approach you. If you wish to meet me, I'll be at the Sugarland Ball holding the blue rose. The cup headed gentleman'
Cala Maria mulled over what she just read. This letter was the most honest and sweet thing she had ever read, not to mention that it was addressed to HER. But then she realized something.
...cup...headed...cupheaded...Cuphead...CUPHEAD!
Her excitement reached to the very highest levels to the point of reaching Cloud 9. She began swimming away from her home and into the open ocean, she swam deeper into the ocean until she was no longer visible.
After a moments passing, she began to surface again now in her giant form. In an epic discharge of her emotions, she jumped incredibly high into the sky. So high in fact she disturbed a still sleeping Hilda Berg in her cloud home.
"W-W-WHA!?" Hilda Berg yelled as she fell out of her bed in suprise. She quickly got up and saw her sea friend looking she was about to go over the moon and watched her land back in the water with a very huge splash. Hilda Berg quickly got dressed, putting on her red dress and her Wind Vane hair piece. She jumped on her riding cloud to go see what exactly has her friend so riled up.
"Hey Cala! What's got you doin' tricks so early in the mornin'?" She asked a little annoyed from her sudden awakening.
Cala Maria calmed down a little but was still very giddy, still holding in a girly squeal. "Sorry Hilda. I'm just...so happy right now!"
"Oh yeah? Why's that?" Hilda asked now making herself comfortable on her cloud.
Cala Maria then shrunk back down to her normal size and started swimming back home. Hilda Berg followed her with intrigue and just a small bit of anticipation. Hilda Berg floated over the sunken ships mast or a second until her aquatic friend resurfacesd and showed her the object of her excitement.
"Look!" Cala Maria said as she handed Hilda Berg the Love letter.
Hilda Berg read one sentence and started skimming through the rest of the letter. She never really liked all the mushy gushyness of love letters. She skipped to the end and where it was signed.
"Oh yeah, this was definitely written by Cuphead. I had no idea he could be so mushy." Hilda Berg said as she handed the note back to Cala Maria.
"Oh! I'm so happy Hilda! I had no Idea he had such a way with words! The fact that he asked me to the Sugarland Ball is so amazing! He's so Handsome, Brave, Heroic, and such a good brother to whatshisname!" Cala Maria said so giddy.
"Magman?" Hilda asked
"Yeah Him! I never got to know him as well though. He's always so quiet and...kinda weird to be honest." Cala said, thinking about her loves brother.
Hilda Berg did her best to hide her cringe, she knew Mugman had a thing for her aquatic friend, it was common knowledge. It did not help that she had also overheard the Cup brothers plans to help each other out with the objects of their offecions. Hilda Berg was just minding her own buisness, reading her Horoscope in the Inkwell Inquisition, when she overheard Cuphead and Mugman making a pact. She wanted to tell her that Cuphead DID write the letter, but the words weren't his...But how could she? She couldn't bare seeing her friend get hurt over the misunderstanding. So Hilda Berg needed to do whatever it takes to make her happy by turning Cuphead's direction toward Cala Maria. After all...she never bothered to look to the skies.
...
"Alrighty Mugman, your brother's counting on you. This isn't the first time Baroness invited you to her Castle. You volunteered to help repair for the Sugarland Ball, but you also gotta convince her to agree to go on a date with him. He went out of his way to help you, it's your turn to help him." Mugman said, trying to psych himself up as he stood outside of the entrance of Sugarland.
He grabbed his straw and took a big sip out of his head for courage and walked into Sugarland. All the residents greeted him normally like they normally did, with sweetness and all around kindness. He always liked going to Sugarland because not only was almost everything from the streets to the buildings, the residents were friendly and their always fond of him and Cuphead, and they never ask that annoying question 'What's in your head?' Like that's anyones buisness. He could really imagine himself living there one day.
But Baroness herself was always really nice to him, she always called him just to see if he wanted to have fun or just relax, but he was always busy with his brothers shinannigans. Its not that he didn't WANT to be friends with her, he just didn't want her to feel like she owed him after he saved her life from the fall and the Pier accident.
Ever since that day, Mugman felt pretty awkward around his royal friend. Mainly because of the out of the blue kiss she gave him after he saved her from drowning. He didn't know how to react to it when it happened, he just froze up when it happened. Why would she do that? Was she thankful for it? Why is he so flustered over it? All those questions were running through his head during that moment, but they were overshadowed when he realized Cuphead didn't resurface until he saw someone carrying Cuphead to shore, but now he knows Cala Maria saved him. When Cuphead pointed out the kiss mark, he didnt want to tell it was from Baroness. He knew how his brother felt about her, and he didn't want him to think he betrayed his own brothers trust.
Then Mugman made it to the center of Sugarland, The Castle. There he saw Baroness, standing on her castles balcony. Giving him a warm, welcoming smile, like she always did.
'Stay calm Bonbon, he's just here to help with preperations. But who's to say that the conversation couldn't steer towards who he considers a date for the Ball?' Baroness asked herself.
Mugman walked towards the drawbridge and decided to say hello in the only way he knew how, with a little humor.
He took a bow and said "Lady Baroness, Please-ith let-ith down-ith thy drawbridge!" He said in an over the top 'Ye-Olde' voice. This made baroness Giggle at how cute his little impression was. Baroness decided to play along and said "Sir Mugman! You may pass!" She then pulled a switch and the drawbridge was lowered. He walks in, and is immediately greeted by all the hustle and bustle of all the preparations of the Ball.
He sees a great big hall with 4 giant pillars on each side each pillars have multiple dollips of pink frosting all over them, it was getting decorated with various streamers, the disco ball was getting hoisted up to the ceiling by a rope, and even a stage for the band 'Cagney and the Root Pack' to perform on.
But the rest of the staff was having trouble putting up the banner because it was so high up.
"Dont worry Baroness, I'll help get everything set up lickity split!" Mugman said as he rolled up his imaginary sleeves.
Mugman grabbed one side of the banner and parried along the pink dollips of frosting on the pillars and made his way to the top and tied down the banner to the pillar. He slides back down and does the same to the other side of the banner. The banner said '57th Annual Sugarland Ball' in all Red and Pink. He continued to help throughout the afternoon and close to sunset.
...
Mugman wiped the sweat from his porcelian head and looked back at the now fully set up hall for the ball.
"Oh Mugman! care to join me for some tea?" Bonbon asked.
Normally Mugman would say no to an offer like that. But right now, he really could use something to drink. "Sure thing Baroness."
"Oh Please, Call me Bonbon. We've known each other long enough to not use formalities anymore." She said, making the first move.
Unknown to her, this was a huge weight off of Mugman's shoulders. Knowing he dosn't have to be so formal anymore made him feel like talking to her was easier. She poured Mugman a cup of tea and herself a cup as well. They toasted and took a sip, To Mugman it was really rephreshing, especially since it had a hint of mint, his favorite flavor.
"So, The Sugarland Ball huh? What's the history behind it?" He asked trying to get a conversation started.
"Well...It started around 49 years ago in the Black and White Era when my Grandfather, Baron Von Gingerbread used it to propose to my Grandmother, Baroness Von Licorice. It's a celebration of great Romance and prosperity for Sugarland."
"Romance huh? I just thought it was just a fancy dance we're all invited too."
"It essentially is, but its a lot more meaningful if you happen to-" Baroness swallowed the lump in her throat "-have a date."
Mugman gave a small blush and asked "So...have you considered anyone?" Mugman asked, trying to hide his nervousness, even talking about the subject of dating mad him a little emberassed.
Bonbon saw his nervousness, was...he giving her a hint? Could it be possible that Mugman harbored the same feelings as her? She had to stay calm and play along, but she couldn't help but inch closer next to Mugman.
"I have actually, he often visits a lot." Baroness said, scooting closer
"Yeah?"
"He saved me from the Devil." She got closer.
"Really?" Mugman said not noticing her inching towards him.
"And he has a head made of pure porcelain and a heart of gold." She was inches away now.
Mugman put the pieces together and realized it. 'Holy Cow! She actually likes him! Wait'll I tell Cuph-, Why is she so close to me?' He thought as he took his eyes off his tea, as the really close space between them made Him blush badly.
Baroness had a blush with love filled eyes, staring into Mugmans eyes. You can feel the tension between the two.
Then Baroness closed the tension between them with a kiss.
