Elder Kettle finished up his local searching for Mugman and ultimately had to go home for a little break. It was a hot summer day and everyone was working up a sweat from their outside work. And the kettle's tan body was no different. He was about to open the front door to his house when he sensed that someone was inside. A gloved hand paused in front of the door handle. The atmosphere surrounding the hovel immediately turned tense and dark. There was no visible change to the state of the house, but it was an unmistakable aura that sent out terror in waves. It was like a veil that repelled happy thoughts and any creature that came near it. Even the birds that rested in the trees ceased their early morning songs and flew away. The chatter of squirrels and bugs died down as they took refuge in their homes. This left the kettle in utter silence as he stood hesitantly at the door.
Elder Kettle didn't have to take another step forward to know whom this aura belonged to. He had not felt it in years, but there was no denying the intentions of its owner. Kettle knew he had to go in. Failure to do so would result in the creature coming outside and showing no mercy. If it would even give an inch of that by following its demands would be a miracle.
Without another word, Elder Kettle turned the handle and stepped inside. The door creaked loudly as he shuffled in. His bulky body moved to the living room where he found the tall and lanky figure of the Devil sitting in his chair. Gray feet were propped up on the coffee table and crossed at the ankles. It was clear that the Devil wanted Kettle to know that he was going to make himself comfortable whether the old man liked it or not. His black fur was all matted down and looked greasy, as if he hadn't cleaned himself in weeks or even months. Its body was painted with scars from the last battle with the cup brothers. Kettle noticed that he only had one and a half horns left. A devious smile stretched across his face as he twirled a black trident in one hand.
"Ah, Kettle! I was wondering when you were coming back." The Devil greeted almost cordially. "I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of letting myself in."
"Not at all." Elder Kettle said sarcastically. The elderly person eyed his guest warily. No matter what, he couldn't take his eyes off the hairy creature. There was no telling when he could try something sneaky or violent. Although, it would most likely be both if he did. "So what brings you to the west end of the island?"
"I just wanted to say hello to an old friend." It responded, still trying to seem calm. "Speaking of old, age has not treated you kindly, friend."
"You've looked better yourself." Kettle retorted as he took in the creature's scarred-up body.
"Your little brats did this to me!" He hissed, changing his tone. The black fur seemed to stand on end as if its owner had been insulted. For he had always prided himself in his pristine and sharp looking coat. The fact that he now looked so miserable weighed heavily on his ego. "You know, I was seriously thinking about letting them off the hook. But when I realized they were related to you, well… let's just say that pain and suffering were in their future…. And their fate!"
"Leave my boys alone!" Kettle bravely said. "It's me that you really want, isn't it?"
"Ah Kettle, if only it were that simple anymore…." The Devil said, averting his gaze to his trident. He twirled it effortlessly between his clawed fingers.
"What are you talking about?" The elderly kettle questioned.
"Your boys signed a contract with me." It simply said and caught his weapon in a tight grip.
"So? They broke free of it and gave you a good old-fashioned butt whoopin'. That much is evident."
The black creature growled angrily at the old person's words. He certainly didn't need to rub it in, it thought.
"You will come with me to Hell and fulfill your debt! It is your destiny after all."
"Since when do I take orders from you?" Elder Kettle challenged, holding out his cane like a weapon with the curved end pointing towards the demonic creature. As long as his boys were still alive, he wasn't about to give up without a fight. Kettle knew he just had to protect his grandsons, no matter what it took. They were all he had left. And he would fight to the very end to ensure his boys were safe from this monster. The Devil just chuckled at the old man's feeble attempt to be brave.
"You seriously think you stand a chance against me?" It challenged. "We may have been equals at one time, but you're just an insect compared to me now." Kettle inched forward so that the end of the wooden object was mere inches from his former friend's face.
"Put down the cane, old man. There's no need for things to get out of hand…yet." A single clawed finger pushed the cane away from his head.
"Get out of my house!" Elder Kettle steamed.
"Is that really any way to treat your oldest friend?" The Devil questioned.
"We haven't been friends in years. Now get out! We want nothing to do with you!" He roared.
"On the contrary, you and Cuphead are going to be part of my family for all eternity." It said nonchalantly.
"No!" The elderly person cried, bringing the cane down on the dark creature's head. A solid thud resounded through the house. But the Devil did not seem to care much. Its ears merely flattened against its head in annoyance as it let out a groan of impatience. The gray feet removed themselves from the coffee table as the creature went to stand up.
"No?" The hairy beast chuckled. "Neither of you have a choice." Its tall body towered over the piece of glassware as it still stood poised to strike. The spade tail lashed back and forth excitedly. "Not anymore. It is my will…. and I always get what I want!" A gray paw balled up into a fist as it curled up towards his face.
"Look, just take me and leave my boys out of this." Kettle tried to bargain. He knew that the Devil liked to make deals. Elder Kettle just hoped they could find terms they could agree on.
"Oh, I'm not leaving here without my young-blooded slave." He hissed. For he would not be swayed to agree otherwise. "He should be here soon."
"Not a chance! Cuphead and Mugman are far away from here right now! You'll never get a hold of them again!" The cup brothers' grandpa insisted. Imp ears twitched as they detected movement from outside. There was no doubt that the pattern was that of the two meddlesome boys.
"Well, well, it seems your boys are here." The Devil replied, seeming satisfied now that everyone he wanted revenge on was here. A smirk smile gazed down at the elderly person.
"Get out!" Kettle yelled again. He tried to bring down the cane upon the black creature again. Its gray paw merely caught the object and tossed it to the side along with its owner. The old kettle bounced off the wall with a pained grunt. He stayed down, unable to get up by himself after a hit like that. A couple pictures fell off the wall and shattered upon impact to the floor.
Outside, the cup brothers heard the sound of shattering glass. They stopped for a moment, realizing that someone was already there. Their straws went stiff and straight at the thought of confronting King Dice again.
"Hurry, Cuphead! We have to get in there!" Mug urged. "I'm right behind you!" Without another thought, they boys raced in. Cuphead stepped inside first, but Mugman was right behind him.
"Elder Kettle!" They both cried in worry. They gasped and stopped short when they saw the king of darkness towering over their guardian in the living room.
No! How could he know where we live? He's the only thing that's worse than King Dice! Mugman stared in horror as the two former friends were clearly having a spat. And there was no doubt who would win that fight.
"It's about time you boys got here! Old Kettle here can't keep me entertained forever." The Devil taunted the young cups.
"Cuphead! Mugman! Run away!" Elder Kettle cried out as he tried desperately to get up. The cane shook as he put all his weight on it, trying to haul himself up.
"Not without you!" Cup reinforced.
The dark creature ignored what the kettle was doing and greeted the cup brothers.
"Long time no see, little cupface. You were such a good minion, unlike your brother." Mugman stepped forward with a look of determination on his face. For he would not let his grandpa go with this tormentor as long as he was around. Yellow eyes glided over to the young mug.
"Well mugface, I can't say I expected to see you alive."
"Don't you know that your so-called right-hand man runs away as soon as he gets hurt?" Mug challenged him.
"Yes, I knew he had failed the mission when he remained silent for so long. And he will pay very dearly for that when he turns his face up again." The Devil explained, seeming exceedingly angry with his lackey. "And since you all will be joining me, you will have the privilege of watching him suffer!"
"We're not going anywhere with you!" Cuphead protested. "Just give Elder Kettle back and we won't have to hurt you!"
"Always the brave one, eh cupface?" It stayed calm even though it had just been directly challenged. For it was not done toying with the boys yet. "To be honest, I'm surprised little mugface isn't cowering before me."
"I would never cower before you!" Mug shouted, knowing that he had beaten the Devil once already. There was no need for him to be scared anymore.
"Yes, I suppose you wouldn't be scared of this old scarred-up body." The creature admitted. "But perhaps you prefer me to look like this nowadays." It then screwed up its face, transforming it into the very face from the little mug's dreams. The black mug face with beady eyes and sharp teeth stared him down.
"So it was you!" Mugman gasped. "That's why the potion never worked…." Even Cuphead now realized why his little brother had been so scared of falling asleep. He also realized that Mug probably would have died in his sleep that one night if he had not awoken him in time.
"Now you're getting smart, kid." The black mug head said through its tightly grinded teeth. It then reverted its head back to normal.
"Mugs, I'm sorry I didn't believe you! I should have known it was him all along!" Elder Kettle cried out, having only made it halfway up after all that time struggling. A new coating of sweat rained down his tan body.
"Can it you overused pitcher!" The Devil hissed, pointing his trident at the elderly person. Cuphead and Mugman could sense that it was going to attack soon. That they had to do something, and fast, to get their guardian out of there unharmed. The young cup couldn't take it anymore and prepared to charge forward.
"I'll distract him while you get Elder Kettle out of here!" He whispered to his little brother. Mug, on the other hand, knew that splitting up would only end up getting them hurt or even killed.
"Wait, no! Cuphead don't!" The young mug grabbed the cup child as it tried to barge forward. Piercing yellow eyes watched as the boys struggled against one another. Their sudden movement excited him and he lashed out without even thinking. Purple electricity spiraled around his horns and left hand. Streams of it ejected from his claws and latched onto the cup brothers. They both screamed in pain as it lifted them off the ground. The Devil looked to the big nose mug on his left first.
"Too disobedient…." It said and flicked his index finger away. The little mug came crashing to the ground.
"Agh!" He cried as his body collided with the carpet. Kettle reached out for his boy as the glass body struggled to get up quickly. His gloved hand recoiled back a bit at the thought of the mutated version of his grandson popping up. For he knew he was not a person that the demon liked.
The Devil then looked to the other cup child. A wicked smile came across his face as his victim still screamed in pain.
"Now you, on the other hand, will listen to commands." It explained. "This time I'll tighten my grip so you don't escape again!"
Mugman heard the dark creature's words and knew exactly what he meant. It wanted to turn him into that evil, large-fanged cup again. Mug got up and pelted the Devil with his magic.
"Put him down!" He demanded as the blue pellets soaked into the already matted fur. It growled in surprise and ceased the purple electricity streams, causing Cuphead to fall down to the ground as well. The young mug saw the Devil's long spade tail lash back and forth before it came rocketing toward him. He gasped and hit the dirt, covering his mug with his hands. The extremely sharp spade passed where his head had just been. Mugman panicked and scrabbled around on the spot as the tail danced around his body. It was keeping him distracted so that the Devil could do what it wanted to his other family members.
"Say Kettle, have you ever seen a cup fight a mug? It's quite entertaining if I do say so myself And no, I don't mean arguing and maybe a little push. This type of fight has bloodshed…lots of it!" The dark creature answered himself, seeming exceedingly happy. "Let's see what happens in round two, shall we?" With that, the black trident pointed at the disoriented cup. A black pulse emitted from the forked end and entered the red cup's chest. Cuphead immediately started screaming in pain as his body started to snap and grow. Just like before, he doubled in size, gained yellow eyes with fiery pupils, large sawblade-like teeth, and the red color of his pants, nose, and straw replaced by purple.
"What do you think of my new trident, mugface? Much more stylish than the last one, don't you think? It's got quite a kick to it." The Devil went on as he recoiled his tail and the child's screams turned to monstrous roars. Before them now stood the mutated cup. Its oversized head turned towards its family. Fiery pupils studied each of them. A gurgle rose in its throat as it stared down the kettle. Red flames lapped at the cup's brim, burning with a passionate desire to kill and destroy.