Inked in Mystery
Epilogue
Bendy seems to finally become stable again, his excess ink finally ceasing to flow. A hand strokes his forehead, making him moan. At the same time, this touch surprises him and gives him a lot of happiness. The imp feels the same as when he was with Boris when he was alive.
Calming himself to the point of finally resuming his appearance and moaning, Bendy opens his eyes. His vision is blurry but he recognizes several silhouettes: Pandora, Henry ... and Boris! Blinking several times, Bendy feels like he's going to cry or his heart will stop when he sees his lover in front of him in the flesh! The wolf smiled at him, stroking his head.
« Finally you are back ... » he smiled at his imp.
« Boris! » the imp shouts, throwing himself at him, surprising everyone.
Especially the wolf who ends up on the ground with the imp in his arms which invades him with kisses while weeping with immense joy. Finally! After so many years in misery and pain! Finally!
Sobbing with joy, happiness, relief and all the emotions that run through him at that moment, Bendy can't help but laugh, thinking that his nightmare is finally over. He had defeated Joey!
« You are here, you are alive! » the imp sobs, squeezing the wolf more tightly, refusing to let go.
Boris laughs, tenderly, and sits up, causing the smaller Toon to fall into his lap before wiping his lover's tears away ... and kisses him on the lips. Bendy smiled, finally feeling the wolf's lips against his. After 30 years, he had almost forgotten how it felt.
Suddenly the door opens, startling them, ... and Bendy suddenly finds himself caught in the embrace of three small pairs of arms who laugh and shout his name happily, happy to see him alive. The imp laughs, hugging the children against him, then he manages to stand up to see his three little friends who smile at him, overjoyed.
« You scared us too much, Bendy! » Candice exclaims.
« Ah? Sorry but that was the only way to beat Joey. » the imp mumbles.
« It's not that ! » Aiden chuckle. « Your demon form is so cool! »
« It was your final attack that scared us! » the rabgirl is indignant. « You're crazy for doing that! We thought you were dead! Keffan whine like a madeleine! »
« Hey ! Yourself ! » the Tunman groans.
The two children start arguing again under the laughter of the adult Toons when Aiden quietly goes over to Boris to whisper something to him without Bendy seeing him. Boris smiles and stands up slowly, extending his hand to his lover.
« You come ? » he said.
The imp smiled at him, taking his hand.
« Of course. » he replies.
Now that he was there, they could even go to the end of the world. As they walk away, the kids look at each other with a gleeful grin and walk over to Henry for the surprise.
Bendy smiles as he hold hands with Boris as he walks down the stairs to the house where they are (the imp even wonders what they're doing there) and the wolf leads him to the door. The imp frowns. Where did Boris want to take him? The wolf opens the door ... and there, all the Toons howl with joy seeing Bendy on his feet. The little Toon gets scared and is about to run back to the shelter of the room but Pandora (who followed them silently) pushes him towards the door and into the crowd who happily sing their 'hymn' while catching their found brother. Bendy trembles as he looks at them, almost expecting them to come after him ... but he's carried in front of the High Council Members.
The Members smile at him and Gertie, Félix and Betty approach him.
« Bendy! » the dinosaur begins. « We, members of the Great Council, have the great honor to announce that you have officially been rehabilitated as Toon! And even as Toon of Honor for saving ToonTown! »
The little imp freezes as the Toons applaud their leaders' decision and Felix brings him a medal after Betty kisses him on both cheeks. He remains dumbfounded, staring at the Great Council and then turning to the others who smile and applaud him. Bendy stays there, shaking with tears in his eyes. The Souls had all found their bodies and families and ToonTown was again as beautiful and happy as in Alice and Boris' descriptions.
Bendy finally allows himself a real smile when Boris arrives in the middle of the crowd that the children gently brush aside with an impatient little smile. The imp looks up at the wolf, seeing in his gaze that he has an idea behind his head ... then, without giving Bendy time to understand, Boris plunges his hand into his pocket, knees on the ground and holds out his clenched fist at the little SillyVision Star.
« I was planning to ask you that day. » he said simply.
Bendy gasps when the Wolf opens his fist. In the palm of his hand rests a feather hanging from a choker! A pen nib still in perfect condition despite the 30 years spent in Boris' pocket. The imp freezes, stifling a cry of surprise behind his hand then looks up brightly at Boris.
« Bendy, will you marry me? » the wolf asks, almost pleading.
Indeed, among the Toons, we offer to those who are destined to share our life a black choker with a feather as a pendant during the engagement. Then, the groom or the bride wears it throughout its life and, at the time of the marriage, the two Toons embed the point of this feather in their indexes so that this one keeps a trace of their ink, marking thus their union forever.
Although they don't say anything so as not to break the magic moment, all the Toons are waiting for Bendy's response. The latter remains speechless for a few moments, then begins to cry with joy, nodding his head.
« Yes ... yes yes and a thousand times yes! » he finally answers, trying to wipe away his tears.
The Toons applaud the new couple when Boris puts the necklace around Bendy's ''neck'' before kissing him passionately. After all, what could rejoice and symbolize the rebirth of ToonTown more than the marriage of its Savior?
Six years later, in 1966:
Years have passed since this new tragedy in Toon history. Bendy was of course accepted among the rest and the years of growing up outside of SillyVision and out of Joey's reach had matured him. He had become very mature although he kept his childish side since he was drawn that way. But now he displays a maturity honestly earned by his years of learning among his own, and not an adult mask to hide a child hurt by the horrors of the past. In short, he felt good and at home, where he was sure he belonged, where he could call this place his home. With those he loved and with the one he loved and shared his life with, now and until ''death'' does part them.
Today, the two of them were relaxing for a picnic on a fertile hill which gave a splendid view of all ToonTown.
« Ah! » the imp sighs as he coils up against his husband. « How good we are here, in this heavenly hell! »
The wolf chuckles at this remark before adding:
« You know yourself in heavenly hell. »
This makes his husband laugh, then both straighten up. Boris brings the picnic basket up and places it between him and the demon.
He first serves his husband then serves himself ... but hardly is he about to bite into his sandwich when the imp steals the bread, the slices of tomato and the lettuce leaf, leaving him only the slice of salami. The wolf only realizes this after taking a bite of the slice of cold meats that the rest was missing and turns his head towards the potential suspect he sees eating what he stole from him. His husband turns to him, feeling that he is being watched, and runs away with a laugh.
« Ah, that's how you want to play it! » says the wolf, rushing in pursuit.
Bendy laughs and screams like a child, zigzagging to escape Boris. This chase reminds them both of the start of the Tombstone Picnic episode, even though they weren't playing best friends there. The few Toons present (especially country people like Foghorn Leghorn) smile when they see the couple having fun, enjoying life after so many years of misfortune. Even though Bendy is quick, Boris has bigger legs.
After a few minutes of pursuit to play and in a few very precise strides, he catches up with the little Toon who cries out in surprise when he feels caught and the wolf growls, pretending to devour his husband before tickling him on the stomach. Bendy laughs even though he seems worried about Boris touching his stomach… but he struggles to laugh, dragging his husband into a roll on the grass, amusing Boris as well.
A few minutes later, the two are laughing, lying on the grass, the wolf against his thief husband. Then they calmed down, catching their breath.
« It was still not very nice, that bandit shot! » the wolf says.
The Imp resumes his laughter again.
« It's not my fault! It's the baby who asks me that. » Bendy responds with a tender smile.
« The baby? » the wolf asks confused. « What baby ...? » he asks before stopping, dumbfounded.
He freezes for a moment before lowering his eyes to his husband's stomach where he sees Bendy's hand placed there. He smiles from ear to ear before closing his eyes and curling up against his husband's still flat stomach.
« You will be a great dad. » Bendy whispers before the wolf's head goes up to kiss him.
Finally, everything seems perfect for the two Toons with this promise to soon be a real family.
The SillyVision… this time, the studio is well and truly abandoned. The only noise that reigns in this place is that of ink dripping and falling on the floor. The different upper floors are excruciatingly empty and silent… but in the basement, something seems to be moving, sliding across the floor, creating footsteps like noises. Still, all there seem to be are cans of bacon soup, a few soft toys, papers and sheet music, and a few cutouts featuring Bendy.
Everything seems empty and abandoned, the footsteps stop… when an ax violently hits one of the cutout! The body shatters into a thousand pieces and only the head remains intact. A black hand grasps the ink-stained piece of cutout and a voice hums:
Sheep, sheep, sheep,
It's time for sleep.
The body to which this hand belongs moves away with the piece of cardboard which it places on a desk and the other hand grasps a damaged chisel, rusted by the humidity.
Rest your head,
It's time for bed.
With surgical precision, he cuts an opening in the imp's smile. Once done, he drills two holes, one on each side of the cardboard head, and puts down the chisel before taking a strap.
In the morning, you may wake.
He passes the strap (one end of which ends in a knot) through one of the holes, passes it to the back of the cardboard head and passes it back through the other hole, knotting it to create a mask.
Or in the morning, you'll be dead.
Smiling, the strange being observes his work. Delighted, he puts it on, saying:
« The time is at hand, my lord. Your receptacle is preparing to welcome your soul and I, your prophet, am ready to serve you with your army! »
The figure which happens to be an inky being in white overalls and Bendy's mask walks up to a recess in the floor where the ink has clumped and raises its arms. He then said in a loud voice:
« Arise, servants, listen to me! Our Lord is calling us! Get up and answer his call! »
The surface of the ink blurs… then a gloved hand but dripping with ink comes out. A feminine silhouette then straightens, dripping from head to toe. The inky being smiles behind the mask.
« It's not all over, Bendy… »
Here it is: D We have finished the ''Inked in Mystery'' Story! But don't worry! It doesn't end like that! A second fiction is already available in French but the translation won't be delayed.
Indeed, we cannot talk about Bendy without talking about Sammy, Alice and Susie. Except that given the progress of the story when they appeared in the game, I couldn't add them here. But no worries! You will find out soon! :D
Don't forget to leave a little comment to give me an opinion on this chapter and on the story in general :) And watch my works to see the rest :)
See you later! Hope to see you again on the following story! :D