Disclaimer: Congrats, everyone! This has recently become my second most reviewed story! Never saw that coming. This story was written on a random idea, and I just went with it.

kitgirl91: Have fun destroying him!

StoriesUnleashed: No one's gonna die, ya dork!

FrostyAngelWings: I still loves me a complicated villain.

KitKatt1998 (reviewed twice): No, he's not gonna do what you think he's gonna do… if my mind is in the right place.

Aster's Descendants: WALLOP!

ultima-owner: Many, MANY backup plans.

RainbowCelin: He's doing much better. It's been a year since it happened. Also, why would you fight with a princess dress and a frying pan? How would that accomplish anything?

snake screamer: Thanks!

Reba G: Literally!

boss train: I know! I was wondering if anyone else would get that line! It even appeared in The Nightmare Before Christmas in Oogie's song.

Laypselgod: I don't think I can use someone else's characters without their permission. That would be a copyright problem. I understand your suggestion, and I also follow said artist on Deviantart. No hard feelings.

PenPerfect: Only difference between the two is one wants to kill her and the other wants to… eh… yeah.

Whiscash: Out of all the stories I've done, only one doesn't have an OC. I try for believable characters, and just try to imagine how any normal person would act in her place. Questioning the extreme lack of logic and physics. I love and hate King too, but you gotta admit… he's not one to mess around with. Man manipulates and takes what he wants.

RainbowCelin (again): I hope things get better for you and your family.

"Speaking"

Thinking

Nicky had never been more terrified. True, she had expected some sort of trickery and deception when she had returned to the casino, but this!? First, getting assaulted by King Dice, and then the Devil comin' in and dragging her down to... to hell!? This. Was. MADNESS!

She had fought against the demon, obviously, but it was a useless and futile attempt. He had easily dragged her to the throne by her shattered wrists, legs dragging behind her, and thrown her against the seat. Walking willingly or not, it didn't matter. He didn't have much visible muscle, but he was much, much stronger then he looked. With all the times he choked her, lifting her onto her toes, it wasn't as shocking as it could have been. The small purple imps were the ones to bound and gag her, and she had screamed when the ropes were put around her appendages. Nicky guessed that was when Cuphead and Mugman heard her. She did shriek pretty loud. Wouldn't you, when you have four tiny but mischievous demons tying you up?

Cuphead and Mugman… she had never been so happy to see a pair of kids in all her life. King Dice, on the other hand… why was he here!?

He was the one responsible for this in the first place! He forced himself onto her! What did he have to gain coming here to his boss, the DEVIL, then to just come and get her back!? "Ming Mice!" She shouted into her gag. "Moo're mead moo me!" The three looked at her, and she hated the pity she felt coming from them. She hated feeling weak. And who's fault is that!? The girl continuing to thrash against the binds, and the trio turned to the Devil.

"Well, well, well… look how far you've come!" He taunted the boys. "Not only did you bust up my good-for-nothing lackey, King Dice…"

Lackey. King's fists tightened, scowling at the words. He's been called much worse, especially in this line o' work. Still, it stung to see that the boss thought of him as nothing less than a pawn. After all he'd done for the Devil… nothin' had changed.

"… but I see you've got my soul contracts, as agreed!" That made Cuphead glance down, resting a hand on the pocket that held all of the papers he and the others had been collecting. The weight of the job still felt heavy on his shoulders, making him shake slightly. "Not many a fool like you comes along. You've certainly got talent, kid. Played all those debtors like a two-bit violin. What do ya say, boy? Hand 'em over, and join my team!"

"Hand them over…? Hand them over!?" Cuphead glared up at the Devil, and Mugman walked around him to stand side-by-side. "We've been through heck to get these things! And now you've gone and hurt my friend too! The deal's off, Devil! We're takin' these here contracts and gettin' rid of them!"

"And give us back Nicky too!" Mugman added. Nicky nodded viciously in agreement. Yeah, let the injured girl go! I'm not good to anyone if I pass out! She felt close to it too. After King… and then him… both had hurt her mentally and physically. The human felt like she was about to faint. And… why was it so hot in here? The flames around the room crackled higher, just as the office room had done… when the Devil lost his temper. Oh no. Beads of sweat dripped down her forehead, and she leaned away the demon, terrified. Terrified for her, and for Cuphead and Mugman.

"Welching on me just like all the others, eh…? I'll teach you for backing out of a deal-have at you!" He leered at the cups, and Mugman gulped as the demon's eye changed in a cup and an ax. The ax sliced the cup into shards before returning to normal, and he sat back in his chair. "We don't need you gettin' in the way, you broad." With a swing of his trident, he whacked Nicky in the chest, knocking the air out of her lungs and making her roll across the floor. She struck the wall in a heap, and laid on her side against it. Groaning, she shakily tried to sit up. Tried, tried to sit up. She was too exhausted and weak to do anything more. Stupid imps and stupid King with stupid broken wrists.

The volcanoes behind them and the red sky… they really were in hell, weren't they? The throne was massive, with red velvet and made of gold. The pillars were the same white and gold as the casino upstairs. But the rest of it… it was something no one should ever witness. "I'll get doll outta the way," she heard King say to the boys. At least… she thought she heard him say. Things seemed to almost be... slowing down now. Never-the-less, the two boys went on, fingers blazing brightly despite their injuries. "Ah, darlin'." King knelt down beside her, and Nicky winced as his fingers brushed against her cheek and pulled the cloth out of her mouth.

"No! N-no! Get away from me! Leave me alone!" She cried the moment the gag was out. She had enough of him, but her strength was drained. She couldn't fight. But she most certainly could bite. A loud bang came from behind the manager, and she jumped at the noise.

"Shh. Shh. It's alright, doll. It's alright." He wrapped his arms around her, hoisting her up off the floor, and she felt his hands go to work at untying the knot. "Bein' all stressed ain't makin' this any easier." The rope fell free, but he kept hugging the girl against the wall. Nicky, with tears still streaming down her cheeks, attempted to break free. She had to get out. She had to get out of here and away from him. Far, far away. "You're safe, doll. He ain't gonna get to ya."

"Please… let me go. P… please, King... please... p... please..." Nicky's head slumped against her shoulder, her energy finally spent. The crackling of flames intensified behind him, and he watched as the mugs and the boss vanish down a hole deeper into one of the nine realms. He had to get doll out of here. Whatever goes on below this room, is gonna put a damper on the scenery up here. Tucking her head forward, he picked Nicky up bridal-style, and stood up.

"C'mon, doll. Let's get you outta here." He walked, with a tad more speed than normal, and moved into the stairwell that led back up into the Devil's main building. Just as the door closed behind him, the room shook in a loud boom. Just in time. He gently lowered her down, and undid the cloak around her neck. She won't be needin' that. The thing was in shreds. Though… he paused to look at the unconsciousness. Her sweater was ripped in several places, revealing scrapes along her arms and torso. Her legs were in the exact same state. His eyes lingered on her for a moment, and he gave a sly grin. Now's not the time for that… not yet, anyway. "Darlin', you're gonna be the death o' me."

He returned to the throne room, one coat less.

Cuphead and Mugman… they honestly had no clue where they were at right now. They were balancing precariously on floating rocks, high above a sea of flames and unholy shrieks of doomed souls. The Devil was-his height had increased to the point that they were practically bugs compared to him. Insects, ready to be squashed. Possessed axes flew from his eyes, swirling around them as pink parrying bombs came out of his ears.

This… this was easy. It was just like Grim, but-oh, who was he fooling. This was crazy! It took them hours to get Grim's contract! "Cuphead, duck!" Cuphead jumped to another platform, barely missing a blue flaming poker chip that smashed down just feet from where he stood.

"Thanks, brother!" He shouted back, as Mugman hit the bomb before it blew up. They couldn't truly defeat the Devil. They couldn't kill him. That was ridiculous. However, they could wear him down enough for him to finally admit defeat. Or… until he was knocked out. Whatever works.

The two rocks on the farthest ends lowered into the sea of agony below, leaving them with only three to move along. Harder, but still manageable. Just like Cagney's battle, right? They could do this. The Devil, though, growled, growing irritated the longer the battle went on. These brats just didn't know when to give up, did they? Glaring down at them, fangs mashing in a grind, he dragged two of his larger imps up from below to assist him in taking them out.

"Whoa!" Cuphead ducked down as Mugman jumped over the skulls the imps spat out of their mouths. The bones were almost as big as themselves! Mugman fired an increased normal red shot at each demon as Cuphead took out the smaller winged imps coming down from high above, spinning down in an attack. Were they coming out of his forehead? Cuphead stuck his tongue out in disgust, dodging another poker chip. Gross.

"Why won't you DIE ALREADY!?" The Devil cried out in frustration. Cuphead looked up at the comment with a small amused grin. He was whining like a child who wasn't getting his way. The all powerful demon, afraid to lose a fight to two kids. How laughable!

"Because we won't let you get away with your reign over Inkwell anymore!" Mugman shouted, hopping onto the same rock as Cuphead. The two rocks on other sides descended, leaving the two stranded on the single platform. Just like the Baroness. The Devil roared, patience wearing thin as boiling lava-like tears began to stream down his face, wailing. "Chip incoming!"

"Jump!" Cuphead and Mugman jumped into the air, splitting apart and avoiding the poker piece as it hit the rock, and landed back down in unison. Mugman was too close to the edge, flinging his arms out trying to maintain his balance. Quickly, the elder brother grabbed Mugman's shirt and pulled him back into the center. "There we go. Hey, Mugs? How much energy do you still have?"

"Enough for one last energy blast, probably. You?" Cuphead nodded, silently sharing his reply. "Golly, this is cutting it close, huh?" Mugman chuckled nervously. "You ready?" He took a quick sip from his head, pumping himself up. Golly, this was gonna be intense.

"Ready." Adjusting his shorts, he too readied himself. "Hehe. Time to foot that overdue bet!" Jumping away from the rock together as another poker chip rained down while avoiding the Devil's tears, they dragged as much energy to their heads as they could… and fired.

King wouldn't say he was one to be impressed, but seein' the Devil get blasted outta that hole and into this throne was somethin' of a treat. Possibly one of the highlights of his day, right there. The demon was missing a chunk of his left horn, and had his own swollen eye to match his own. A patch of his fur was missing on his upper right arm, and he was cradling his right arm. No doubt, it was broken or dislocated.

The room itself had seen better days, too. Those walls of fire that the Devil created, just as he had carried doll out of the room, left the entire area a charred mess. The pillars, the ones still standing and the ones laying like broken twigs, were blackened with ash. The floor was cracked and torn up, revealing the dirt underneath, and parts of the cavern above had begun to crash down around them. Not too many managed to get this much of a reaction out of the boss, that was for sure.

Cuphead and Mugman jumped out of the hole, and it closed up behind them. Th… they did it. They actually beat the Devil himself. Well, color me impressed. He wasn't, but... for a couple of finks, heh, not bad. "Fine," the Devil spat. A piece of one of his fangs was missing, and a small chunk of his ear was too. "You, err… win. Do whatever ya want with those contracts, see what I care! There'll still be suckers comin' to me, and ya can't stop that!"

Cuphead laughed, visibly relieved. Finally, after all they've been through, it was over. They were done. "We shall accept your surrender, Devil," he said. They didn't expect for the complete shutdown of the casino. Contracts or not, there'd be people who'd still come here no matter what. They couldn't stop it, and they were fine with that. "But we're not done just yet!" Fishing the contracts out of his shorts, he handed about half of them to Mugman. And with matching grins, they dashed over to the room, throwing the soul contracts into the flames of hell itself. Each one made a ghostly moan, and they laughed happily. Now every one of Inkwell Isle's residents were freed from eternal servitude to the Devil.

Not yet, though. Cuphead turned back to the Devil, his happy face turned into one of determination. Marching up the demon, he held out his hand. "Now what?" He snarled at the boy.

"You said that once our job is done, you would free Nicky of her deal. She helped us, and watched us get each contract. She kept her end of the deal, and now you have to too." He kept his hand, only for the Devil to swat it away.

"I don't have to do squat, kid! Our deal is none of your concern!" Cuphead's shoulders tensed, and stepped forward. Yet, to his shock, he felt a large hand rest on his head.

"He's right, mug. It's my concern." Pushing Cuphead back into Mugman, he stood front and center in front of the boss.

"Well, what are ya waitin' for? An invitation? Get rid of these pests, Dice!" The Devil barked, before reaching for his head in a moan. Ooh, he had such a headache.

"Ya know what? I think I'll do just that." Mugman and Cuphead watched in disbelief as King Dice, the Devil's right-hand man, turn around on his heel to face them… before spinning around and slamming a fist into the Devil's face. The demon's head slumped to rest on his shoulder, and he slid down in his throne, dazed.

"You… you just…!" Cuphead was pretty sure if he wasn't standing there, he wouldn't believe it. King Dice knockin' out the Devil. "Why?" King Dice turned around, shaking his hand to rid himself of the pain. There, in his other hand… "her contract." He walked up to Cuphead, and to his confusion, the paper was passed over to him without a fight. Cuphead looked at it, seeing her signature in the corner, and looked at the older toon. "Why though? Thought you'd be thrilled at havin' her for yourself," he snapped.

"Ya won. Fair and square, cupfaces" he said, rather bitterly. "Burn that there paper, and get outta here. Doll needs ya both." He rubs the edge of his head, wincing as he felt the chip in the corner. "She needs ya…" more than she needed him. For now. This wouldn't be the last time he saw her, he knew that. "Get goin'." Cuphead nodded slowly, anger melting, and moved back to the fire pit.

"For you, Nicky." Cuphead smiled at the paper, and then tossed it into the flames. The parchment curled in on itself, and disappeared into the ashes. "C'mon, Mugs. Let's get Nicky and get out of here." Mugman nodded, and the two dashed out of the room. Their feet had echoed off the walls, and the only other sound came from the boiling lava off in the distance. King sighed, and glanced back at the Devil, still unconsciousness in the throne.

"I'm-a gonna be hearin' 'bout this when he comes to."

It wasn't as easy as they thought, getting her out of the casino. Both brothers were exhausted, and Nicky was passed out from her injuries. If she was their height, it would have been easy. But... the girl had two to three feet on them. Mugman had found her under the stairwell that led back up to the surface, beaten, asleep, and… wrapped in Dice's jacket?

"I'm not even gonna ask," Cuphead muttered. If that sleaze was staying behind, then all for him. He did give them a hand though. He brought them down there, and, hehe, punched the Devil's lights out. The girl was draped in the coat as a blanket, and once they removed it, they winced. "C'mon, Mugs." She needed treatment, fast. Her wrists... they weren't supposed to be swollen and purple. That wasn't normal for her, was it? They each took an arm, and pulled the teen somewhat to her feet. Her legs would drag behind her, but what choice did they have? The coat, they had decided to just tie around her waist. If he wanted her to keep it for now, then so be it.

"It's okay, Nicky. We'll get Elder Kettle to heal you lickety-split," Mugman said, smiling at her. "Hey, Cuphead?"

"Yes, Mugman?" Cuphead asked, glancing over the raven haired girl's head.

"How are we gonna tell everyone else about this? Ya know? The fact we beat the Devil?" Cuphead opened his mouth, but closed it so he could it over. How would they tell everyone? This was... well, huge!

"We're gonna get to the closest debtor, and get their help. I think Sally's the closest. We can drop Nicky off with her while we round up everyone else. I think she'll understand once she sees Nicky's state… hopefully. Besides, Elder Kettle is too far away. We can't drag her all the way there." Mugman nodded at the idea, but found there was one problem with it.

"But Cuphead," he began, opening the door at the top of the stairs. They began to head down the hallway, seeing the exit just ahead of them. "What about Nicky's appearance? She doesn't have her cloak anymore."

"We'll, uh… j-just get her to Sally's first, Mugs. If anyone sees her, then that's it. We're gonna have to tell the truth about what went on, and Nicky played a role in that too. Might skip out on the whole kidnapping part, but she helped get the contracts too. Without her, we wouldn't be here." Both boys opened the large door, and stepped out the Devil's building and into the large cavern. Sunlight streamed out from the cave opening ahead of them, and Cuphead smiled. They… they did it. They survived the two days, and made it through the night. "We… we did it. We're alive, Mugs." Hesitating at the edge, he smiled as he firmly planted his foot outside. Blinking back the bright light, they looked ahead of them, filled with victory. "We're heroes."

"We all are," Mugman added. He and Cuphead looked down at Nicky's face, and smiled. The girl's breathing was light, but she had a faint smile on her face. Almost as if she already knew they won, or at least weren't in the casino anymore. "Nicky looks pretty relaxed, considering what just happened, huh?" At peace… finally. Laughing in relief, the two hitched up the girl, and ran.

Well, the last boss battle has come and gone. If I'm right, there's only two chapters left after this. Three if there's needed.

Until next time!

Angel