One nice day, Elder Kettle announced they were doing a family portrait while Cuphead and Mugman bickered about going to either the movies and the amusement park.
Gwen sits it out and decided to paint a family portrait with the magic inkwell. She is satisfied that she included her best friends, Elder Kettle and herself.
"Hmm, something's missing." She said to herself.
Gwen thought for a moment, then she got an idea and paints her parents, Rose and William into the portrait. Gwen thought about Rose and how she was the closest thing to a best friend she had before Cuphead and Mugman came into her life. The memories of them as kids playing, going to school and putting up with their strict parents growing up. Gwen thought about going to find her sister and seek her help with patching things up with their parents.
Later that evening, she hears Elder Kettle coming into the cottage angrily grumbling then sobbing. Gwen puts her ear against the door and listens to the cups complaining about not going to the movies and the amusement park until Elder Kettle pointed out they couldn't resist fighting and couldn't take their family portrait.
"Oh, guess it didn't go well… as usual." Gwen guessed.
"Maybe my custom portrait might cheer him up."
Gwen grabs her custom-made portrait and was about to go show Elder Kettle. But before she opens her bedroom door, she hears the cups talking about a photo of Elder Kettle as Diaper Baby that they were going to get printed so they could laugh at it forever. Then, she hears the commotion of the family fighting over the camera and said,
"I don't wanna know and I'm not getting involved."
Gwen decided to wait until morning to show them when they have calmed down. So, she lays in bed to sleep, until she hears them fighting over the camera and the camera breaks. Then she hears them screaming and running out of the house as she said to herself,
"Don't get involved Gwendolyn."
Gwen finally goes to sleep after things quieted down.
The next morning, she wakes up to start her duties, but she noticed that her surrogate family were still gone and she realized she was all alone. She gets out her ink pen and restores the damage and fixes the broken camera. Gwen took a good look at the film and saw the restored film with the Diaper Baby photo and said,
"Whoa! No wonder Elder Kettle was freaking out!"
Gwen decided to do Elder Kettle a favor and magically erased the picture.
Then, she decided to take the opportunity to finally go to the human world and find her sister Rose. Gwen goes to the door portal she made over a month ago and puts on her coat and straw hat. Gwen takes a deep breath and opens the door and stepped into the human world once again. She is in the front yard of her old home and leaves to head into another direction.
Gwen remembered Rose and William lived not too far from them and walked to their house. Gwen goes up to the front door and is hesitant to knock the door. Finally, she knocks a few times and waits for someone to answer, but no one came.
"Hmm. Guess they're not home. I'll come back later."
Gwen said to herself and goes back to her old home. Gwen arrives at her old home and activates the door portal with her ink pen. But just as she was about to enter, she hears a familiar voice calling,
"Wait! Stop!"
Gwen turned around, feeling startled and saw her sister Rose running up to her. Gwen is scared at first, so she quickly goes into the door portal but Rose accidentally bumps into Gwen, making them both fall in to the door portal and into the cottage. Gwen quickly closes the door and gets up on her feet and fearfully said,
"Oh no, what have I done?!"
Rose gets up and noticed she was a cartoon version of herself and said,
"What the?! I'm… I'm a cartoon! What's happening?"
Gwen looked at Rose in her new appearance and asked,
"Rose?"
Rose is surprised and backed away.
"Is it really you?" Gwen asked.
"Who are you?" Rose asked, feeling scared.
Gwen takes off her coat and hat and said,
"It's me. Gwen."
Rose took a closer look at her and asked,
"Gwen?"
Gwen nodded as Rose smiled and finally recognized her sister.
"GWEN!" Rose yelled happily.
"ROSE!" Gwen yelled happily and both embraced each other.
"Oh, my goodness, it's really you sister!" Rose said happily.
"I can't believe you're here! In the Inkwell Isles with me!" Gwen said.
"What's that? Inkwell Isles? This cartoon world?" Rose asked.
Just then, the cups and Elder Kettle open the door and are shocked to see Gwen with another human girl.
"Hey, what's going on here Gwen?"
Cuphead asked as he was approaching the girls.
"Why did you follow me here?" Gwen asked.
"What do you mean? I wondered who was at the door and was trying to catch up with you until I bumped into you and landed here!" Rose explained.
"Hey! What's going on here?" Cuphead yelled, finally getting Rose and Gwen's attention.
Rose gasped at the sight of Cuphead as Gwen said,
"Cuphead! There you are! This is my sister Rose, she 'dropped' in for a visit."
"Sister? Oh, is she that girl you mentioned before with your parents?" Cuphead asked.
"Yeah, hey Mugman, come here!"
Mugman shyly approaches Gwen and Rose.
"Rose this is Mugman. Mugman, Rose."
"Uh, hiya Rose." Mugman said and waved to her.
"Hi. Wow, two kids with cups for heads?" Rose asked.
"Yep, everyone here is anthropomorphic in this world like those old cartoon movies we watched in the theaters. Remember?" Gwen explained.
"Oh wow. It's all real, isn't it?" Rose asked.
Elder Kettle approaches the girls and asked,
"Wow, Gwen. You brought your sister here?"
Rose gasped at the large kettle.
"Rose, this is Elder Kettle. My employer. Elder Kettle this is Rose Mary Emmons, my sister." Gwen introduced.
"Pleasure to meet you my dear."
Elder Kettle said as he shook Rose's hand.
"Yeah, me too." Rose said.
"Where have you three been last night? I heard you guys arguing over the family portrait, amusement park and movies, something about a Diaper Baby photo or something? And then I heard you all screaming and leaving the cottage!" Gwen confronted them.
Rose stood there confused, not having a clue on what Gwen was talking about.
"I'm sorry Gwen. Things got out of control until the authorities arrested us and I bailed us out of jail." Elder Kettle explained.
Gwen stood there shocked and said.
"Well, uh, I have something that'll cheer you up."
Gwen gets out her ink pen and magically makes her custom-made portrait float down to her, to Rose's shock.
"What the? You're magic now?" Rose asked, confused.
"I'll explain later."
Gwen presents Elder Kettle with the portrait and Elder Kettle is awed and said,
"Oh, Gwen! This is beautiful! You even combined us with your family in this."
Rose took a good look at the portrait and asked,
"Gwen, you did that? Combined us with them?"
"Yeah, I did. At least, I hope we can be like this someday." Gwen said.
"Well maybe we can dear. Now, what do you say I whip us up some breakfast? Boys and girls?" Elder Kettle asked.
"Yippee!" The cups exclaimed.
"Sure, Elder Kettle. As long as you don't go crazy again like I heard you last night. I had to restore the damage you all caused this morning!" Gwen said frustratingly.
"Deal."
Elder Kettle said as they all head into the kitchen. Gwen creates an extra chair for Rose to sit down as she helps Elder Kettle prepare breakfast.
"So, this is what you've been doing the whole time? Working and living here in this world?" Rose asked.
"Yep." Gwen answered.
Gwen and Elder Kettle served five plates of toast, scrambled eggs and bacon to the cups and Rose while Gwen and Elder Kettle sit down and they all started eating. Rose is confused and said,
"Uh, Gwen. I don't understand."
"Oh, well, most of the time I help keep the house, keep an eye on the boys and we do fun stuff together…" Gwen explained.
"No, I don't understand why you didn't come home? Mama and papa said you were taken by the Devil himself last month. Is that true?" Rose asked specifically.
Gwen paused for a moment, then answered,
"Yes, it is true. But I escaped from him, twice now. And I now live here with them." Gwen said.
"But, why is the Devil after you?" Rose asked, now more curious.
"I'll fill you in dear." Elder Kettle said.
Elder Kettle briefed Rose about the magic inkwell, the Devil, the cups finding her and living with them. Rose is shocked and asked,
"So, the Devil is trying to marry Gwen against her will for that magic inkwell? And she's been training to defend herself ever since?" Rose asked.
"That pretty much sums it up." Cuphead answered.
"Gwen became our best friend." Mugman added.
Rose was stunned and asked Gwen,
"So, if you have the power to travel between the two worlds, why didn't you come home?" Rose asked again.
Gwen thought for a moment and said,
"Well, I don't know if you heard, but mama and papa were gonna marry me off to this dumb, older, rich jerk without my consent. But I refused and papa threatened to disown me if I didn't. He even destroyed my old sketchbook on top of that! Even mama was also unsupportive of me. So, I was planning to leave for California to purse my dream but then the Devil happened and well, you know the rest. Sorry, it's hard for me to talk about."
Rose remembered something and said,
"Wait, mama and papa learned after you were taken, that jerk they were gonna marry you off to was actually a wanted conman who claimed to be a rich man. But he was actually poor and thought we were rich and was after our parent's money instead. But they caught and arrested him."
Gwen was shocked along with the cups and Elder Kettle.
"Really Rose? He was a fraud?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah, he was. So, you don't have to marry him anymore."
Gwen was stunned, but asked,
"So, does that mean they won't marry me off to someone else rich anymore?"
"I don't know sis. I just don't know." Rose answered hesitantly.
"What about you Rose, aren't you engaged or something?" Cuphead asked.
"Yes, to William but he loves me for me."
Gwen felt jealous and said,
"At least you get to live your dream and making mama and papa proud. Being a schoolteacher and marrying a young 22-year-old rich man who happens to be a steel company industrialist and is actually in love with you. I just want them to be proud of me for following my heart, not what they expect me to be. That's why I didn't come back."
"Gwen, I'm sorry you feel that way. But I don't know how I can help you with mama and papa. I just want you to come home. I even delayed the wedding until you were found and brought home." Rose explained.
"Well, the truth is, I was just gonna go visit mama and papa and let them know I'm okay. But what scares me is that they'll make me move back in with them and marry me off to some other rich man. Then, I'll have no choice but to return to the Inkwell Isles and cut ties with them." Gwen told the truth.
"No, please don't do that Gwen. You don't know how hard it was for them after you were taken. They were both heartbroken and they couldn't go to the authorities because it would've made them laughingstocks of the whole town. They had to say to people that you went missing and are still looking for you." Rose explained.
Gwen was stunned, but she knew Rose had a point.
After breakfast, Gwen decided to get their minds off the family drama and said,
"Come on Rose, I'll show you around the Inkwell Isles."
Gwen takes Rose's hand and both head outside. Cuphead and Mugman tag along and Gwen takes Rose to her training grounds and demonstrates her fighting skills, physically and magically, to Rose's shock.
Gwen takes Rose to Inkwell City and shows her the sights and places she's been. Gwen even introduced some of the friends she's made such as Ms. Chalice, Ribby and Croaks, Sally Stageplay, Katzenwagen and Captain Brineybeard. And warned Rose of the enemies to steer clear of such as King Dice, the ghosts in the cemetery, the Root Pack, Baroness von Bon Bon, Ludwig, Bowlboy, Werner Werman and above all: the Devil.
The four go to the movies and watch a new movie as Rose is learning about the Inkwell Isles and the residents.
After the movie, they head to Inkwell Pier Amusement Park. Gwen and Rose were licking ice cream cones while Cuphead and Mugman ride some rides. Gwen and Rose sit down on a bench and Gwen asked,
"Isn't this a wonderful place Rose?"
"It's beautiful and amazing. I can see why you decided to stick around here. But I still want you to come home and make peace with mama and papa." Rose said.
Gwen thought about it and said,
"Well, I don't want to move back in with them, I'm just gonna let them know I'm okay and we can still keep in touch. I'll come visit and you all can come visit me."
Rose thought about it and said,
"You know what? That's a terrific idea. Could you give me a personal entrance to the Inkwell Isles?"
"Sure, but you have to promise to keep it a secret from everyone else. I don't want word to get out so that humans would invade the Inkwell Isles. As if times were bad enough in our world already." Gwen pointed out.
"I won't I promise. I'll make William promise too." Rose promised.
Both girls raise their pinkies and wrapped them, making a pinky promise. They both finish their ice cream cones and Gwen said,
"Come on, let's ride some rides."
Gwen takes Rose's hand and both ride the roller coaster, Ferris-wheel, bumper cars, merry-go-round, tilt-a-whirl and play some games.
Gwen and Rose laughed as they noticed the cups were in their underwear.
"Let me guess, you guys rode the Obliterator again, didn't you?" Gwen asked, giggling.
"Yep, so fast it'll tear your clothes right off!" Cuphead said.
"Uh, would you mind Gwen?" Mugman asked as he noticed they were exposed.
Gwen magically restores their clothes on the cups.
"See why I didn't recommend the Obliterator?" Gwen asked Rose.
"Yeah, I definitely see your point." Rose answered.
The four leave Inkwell Pier and Rose decided to head home.
"Hey, Gwen? I'm gonna head home. Do you mind making me a portal back to my house? I need to let William know I'm okay and then we can talk more about our parents." Rose asked.
"Okay sis." Gwen said.
They all head back to the cottage and Gwen makes a door portal to Rose's house and both girls step through the portal and Gwen and Rose go inside the house and Gwen sets up a door portal in her room.
"Thanks Gwen. I'll come by tomorrow after work."
Rose said and both sisters hug each other.
"Oh, don't tell mama and papa yet until we tell them together about the Inkwell Isles. Pinky promise, remember?" Gwen reminded her.
"I promise sis." Rose promised.
Gwen and Rose hug each other. Gwen was about to step into the portal until she realized her friends were downstairs exploring Rose's house.
"Oh, right. I forgot about those two."
Gwen goes downstairs and saw the cups looking around and said,
"Guys! We gotta go! Now!"
"Aw, can't we just stay a little longer? Your sister's got a nice place!" Asked Cuphead.
Suddenly, the hear a car pull up in the driveway and Gwen realized William was home from his job.
"No, now!"
Gwen grabbed the boys and ran upstairs and said to Rose,
"Love you! Bye!"
Gwen carries the cups and goes through the door portal back in the front yard of the cottage. Rose closes the door and goes downstairs to greet William.
The next day, it was a cold grey autumn day and Gwen and Mugman help Elder Kettle chop up firewood for the winter. Except Cuphead would rather be launching his rockets all day while the rest of the family do all the work. Elder Kettle scolds Cuphead and sends him to gather more firewood as punishment. Mugman realized Cuphead didn't take an axe so, he grabs his axe and follows Cuphead into the forest.
Gwen continues helping Elder Kettle chop up firewood until she hears Rose calling,
"Gwen! Gwen!"
Gwen puts down her axe and goes to the front yard and sees Rose outside the door portal. But to her surprise, William was also right there with her.
"Gwen! You're okay!"
William called and ran up to her and gave her a hug.
"Will! How you doing?" Gwen asked.
"Rose was right! You're okay and this cartoon world is real!" William exclaimed.
"Rose, did you make him promise?" Gwen asked, feeling concerned.
"I made him promise not to tell anyone! Right honey?" Rose said.
"That's right, dear. Don't worry Gwen. Your secret's safe with me." William assured Gwen.
"Thank you Will. I just don't want word to get out about this place." Gwen said.
"Right." Will agreed.
"Anyway, I'm helping Elder Kettle chop up firewood for the winter." Gwen continued.
"Oh, do you need any help?" William offered.
"If you don't mind, my best friends went out into the woods because someone would rather launch rockets than get anything done!" Gwen referred to Cuphead.
Gwen, Rose and William go to the back yard to join Elder Kettle.
"Oh my! We got visitors! Rose and who is this young man?" Elder Kettle asked.
"Elder Kettle, this is William Smith. Rose's fiancé. Will, this is Elder Kettle, my employer." Gwen introduced.
William and Elder Kettle shake hands.
"Nice to meet you sir." William said.
"You too young man."
"You already know Rose." Gwen said.
Rose smiled as Elder Kettle said,
"Of course, dear. Now Gwen, let's get wood chopping."
"Okay." Gwen responded.
"I'll help you if you want." William offered.
"Thank you, William."
Gwen magically makes an extra axe appear and gives it to William. Elder Kettle, Gwen and William chop the firewood and Rose helps by taking the chopped wood and put it in their firewood storage. Afterwards, all the firewood was chopped and Elder Kettle and the humans sit down and have hot cider and socialize with each other.
"I wonder why Cuphead and Mugman haven't come back yet? I hope they didn't get lost in the woods." Gwen asked.
Just then, the group hear the cups bickering and Elder Kettle gets up and find the boys behind the bushes.
"Huh, they weren't too far from the cottage." Gwen guessed.
"So, Gwen, you live here now huh?" William asked.
"Yep, I moved in with them after I escaped the Devil." Gwen explained.
"We're trying to figure out how Gwen and mama and papa can make peace with each other." Rose added.
"Maybe I can help." William offered.
"How would I even approach them?" Gwen wondered.
"Well, William and I could try to talk to mama and papa about releasing you from marrying a rich stranger and to be more supportive of you, following your own path. Get them prepared and then we'll let you know what they say." Rose suggested.
William nodded in agreement with Rose.
"I guess it couldn't hurt to try that." Gwen said.
Just then, they hear Mugman screaming as he is tied to one of Cuphead's rockets and launched in the sky, explodes and Mugman falls to the ground.
"Should we stop Cuphead?" Asked Rose.
"Don't get involved Rose. If there's anything I've learned living with those two brothers, don't get involved with their shenanigans. That's kinda my job." Gwen advised Rose and William.
"Well, they are brothers after all. I mean, most siblings quarrel with each other at one time or another. Haven't you and Rose ever done that?" William pointed out.
"Oh yeah, we had our share of fights, but eventually we made up." Gwen remembered.
"Yeah, you and I are no different." Rose agreed.
"Gwen! Rose! William! Come inside before you all catch a cold!" Elder Kettle called to the humans.
The trio get up and head inside the cottage to warm up. Mugman tags along with them and holds Gwen's hand.
"Don't worry Mugman, I'll think of something to get back at Cuphead." Gwen assured him.
"Thanks, Gweny." Mugman smiled.
"Gweny?" Rose asked.
"That's a cute little nickname they call me sometimes." Gwen explained.
"That's right, Rosie." Mugman added, giving her a cute nickname.
Rose was a little shocked at the nickname but lets it go.
"I call William 'Will' sometimes too." Gwen pointed out.
"Can't argue with that, can you dear?" William said.
"I guess not." Rose admitted.
They all head inside, close the door and Rose and William sit on the couch while Gwen gets an idea for payback to Cuphead.
"Guys, wanna see a trick?" Gwen asked.
Both William and Rose nodded and Gwen shushes them while Mugman joins them on the couch.
"Cuphead! There's a package outside for you! It's from a company called 'Acme Rockets'!" Gwen called.
Cuphead comes running to the door and goes outside to look for the package. But he couldn't find the package and said,
"Gwen there's no package out here! What are you…"
Suddenly, Cuphead hears a loud sizzling noise and realized too late Gwen magically attached a giant rocket and sent him shooting up into the sky and exploded. Cuphead screamed as he was falling down to the ground.
Gwen and Mugman laugh at Cuphead as he is covered in soot and weakly walked up to the cottage door.
"That wasn't nice Gwen!" Cuphead said in an annoyed tone.
"Now we're even!" Mugman said sternly.
"Touché." Cuphead weakly said as he weakly entered the cottage.
"Let that be a lesson to you to stop being such a brat Cuphead!" Gwen scolded Cuphead.
Rose was unsure what she just saw while William laughed. Soon, they were prepared to leave back to the human world to their house.
"So, you and William will talk to mama and papa and then let me know if they changed their minds about them marrying me off to a rich stranger and let me follow my own path?" Gwen asked.
"Yes Gwen, we'll talk to them. But remember, you're still my maid of honor. I'm not having the wedding without you." Rose reminded her.
Gwen smiled and they both hug each other. Then, William hugs Gwen and he said,
"We'll let you know soon Gwen."
"Thanks, Will. See ya!"
Gwen said goodbye and Rose and William step through the portal and close the door. Gwen and the family have dinner together, then head upstairs to bed.
The next morning, Mugman comes into Gwen's room before she was awake and whispers,
"Gwen! Gwen!"
Gwen groaned and said,
"What is it Mugman? It's early!"
"I need your help with something!"
Gwen sits up and asks,
"What is it?"
Mugman whispers his idea to her. Gwen is shocked and asked,
"Are you sure Mugman? It's both your bikes after all! I don't want to destroy your bikes!"
"Of course, I'm sure! Then, you can make a tandem bike for you and Rose and we can go riding bikes together!"
Gwen thought for a moment, then she said,
"I'll help you with your present, but before Rose and I can go riding bikes with you guys, I need her and William help me patch things up with our parents. They're gonna let me know what they say soon."
"I know, but in the meantime, you and Rose could join us. Maybe Will too if he has a bike." Mugman suggested.
"We'll see." Gwen said.
She gets up, gets ready for the day, and joins Mugman downstairs and gets to work.
Later, Mugman calls Cuphead to the living room and has him sit in Elder Kettle's chair and close his eyes while he and Gwen put on the finishing touches.
"Now can I look?" Asked Cuphead.
"Not yet!" Mugman answered.
"How about now?" Cuphead asked.
"No! No. Wait, wait. TA-DA!" Mugman called.
Cuphead opens his eyes and gasped, but to his shock, he saw their bikes combined into a homemade tandem bike.
"You mutilated our bikes!" Cuphead yelled.
"It's a present! Gweny and I made our bikes into a tandem bike. Now we can ride our bikes together!" Mugman said.
"We already did ride bikes together. Separately!" Cuphead argued.
"But now, we can ride our bikes together, together!" Mugman pointed out.
Cuphead groaned and asked,
"Do we always have to do everything together?"
"Cuphead!" Gwen scolded Cuphead.
"You hate it!" Mugman yelled and started sobbing.
Cuphead sighed and said,
"I should probably try it out before I judge."
Mugman quickly stopped crying and happily said,
"Great! Let's go! Gwen and Rose will join us later!"
The cups get on the bike and ride away out the front door.
"Yippee!"
Mugman called giddily while Cuphead was less enthused.
"You boys stay out of trouble now!" Gwen called.
Just then, Rose steps through the door portal and says,
"Hey sis!"
"Rose! You're here!" Gwen said and hugged her.
"So, what did mama and papa say?" Gwen asked eagerly.
"Yes, uh about that… William and I went to their house earlier. But we discovered, they weren't home."
Gwen's eyes popped and asked,
"Did they say anything about going somewhere?"
"No, William and I don't recall them having any plans to go anywhere."
Gwen thinks for a moment and said,
"Well, we can try again later, they'd be home before dinner. Mama usually cooks dinner after all."
"Yeah, maybe. William said he's gonna wait in the house for them to get home, then he'll come here and let us know." Rose told her.
"In the meantime, what do you wanna do since you're here?" Gwen asked.
"Hmm, maybe you could show me around the woods? Maybe show me some of your magic?" Rose asked, feeling curious about the magic inkwell.
Gwen smiled and led Rose out of the cottage and into the woods. Gwen takes Rose to the training grounds and shows her she can bring anything to life with her imagination. Rose is awed and suggests,
"Hey, you think you can conjure us up some lunch? I'm kinda getting hungry."
"Sure, any requests?" Gwen offered.
Rose thinks for a moment and said,
"How about a little tea party with those little sandwiches and desserts we often did as kids?" Rose suggested.
"Oh, we haven't done that in forever before depression happened!" Gwen exclaimed.
Gwen uses her ink pen and magically creates a picnic blanket on the grass, a platter of cucumber sandwiches with two little plates, a platter of assorted desserts and a hot pot of tea with two cups and saucers with sugar and cream.
Rose is awed and both sisters sit down, pour the tea and grabbed a few sandwiches and desserts and eat. They both chatted for a while until they were full.
"I don't understand. The magic inkwell chose you to be its owner and the Devil is trying to marry you to obtain it's power through you?" Rose asked, feeling confused.
"Yeah, he nearly succeeded one time after Elder Kettle lost a card game to him in a disguise until I had to use my acting skills to escape two days later. I just wish there was a way to get out of marrying him and he'll leave me alone for good. He never gives up you know." Gwen said sadly.
Rose thought for a moment and realized something.
"Don't worry, he can never marry you." Rose said smiling.
"What do you mean?" Gwen asked, confused.
"You remember when William had to approach papa and mama for their blessing to marry me?" Rose asked.
Gwen thinks about it, then she remembered.
"Oh yeah. Anyone who wants to marry you and me has to get their blessing first, right?" Gwen asked.
"Exactly! The point is if the Devil doesn't have their blessing, he can never marry you officially!" Rose pointed out.
Gwen's eyes widened, she smiled and said,
"That's it Rose! No blessing, no marriage! You're the best!"
Gwen hugged Rose and happily teared up.
"What else are sisters for?" Rose assured her.
Gwen felt joy building up in her and used her ink pen to create more magic to celebrate her happiness. Gwen pulls Rose to her feet and made magical rainbows and sparkles and lifted both girls up into the sky and fly over the forest. Rose is puzzled at what is happening and asked,
"Uh sis? Could you take it easy for two minutes?"
"Are you kidding? No way! Come on! Loosen up! Just go with it!"
Gwen happily said and uses her ink pen to lift Rose up and make her stand up and enjoy the ride. Rose started to feel joy and holds on to her sister and both are thrown up through the clouds and then land on another swirl of rainbows. Both girls laugh and then are both tossed up again and have the time of their lives, unaware of the blown-up trees and burning city below them.
Meanwhile, unknown to Gwen and Rose, the Devil and Henchman arrive in the elevator and the Devil points at a tree and yelled,
"It was right here! I'm sure of it!"
Henchman flies out of the elevator and noticed the burnt trees.
"Wow, nice work boss. You really uh, burnt everything up." Henchman complimented.
The Devil notices and realizes,
"I didn't do that! Which means… someone has my pitchfork!"
The Devil growled furiously until he hears the girls laughing.
"Hey, did you hear that?" The Devil asked.
Henchman looked up in the sky and saw Gwen and Rose having fun with the magic inkwell.
"Uh, boss? You might wanna look up there." Henchman said and pointed up behind his boss.
The Devil turns around, looks up and saw a girl he'd never seen before playing with Gwen in the sky in the distance.
"What the? It's my beautiful flower! And who's that human girl with her?" The Devil asked.
Henchman thinks for a moment, then he remembered something from the time Gwen used the magic mirror to see her family.
"I just remembered boss! Miss Emmons used your mirror to see her family and she saw her parents and her older sister with her fiancé! Her sister was gonna put her own wedding on hold until Miss Emmons was found. They really miss her. That human girl with Miss Emmons is her older sister!" Henchman explained.
"What's her name?" The Devil asked.
"Uh, it was um… Oh! Rose Emmons!"
The Devil thought for a moment and says,
"Come on! Let's see what they're up to! Maybe they know something about my pitchfork!"
The Devil and Henchman follow Gwen and Rose having fun until finally they dropped to the ground, landing on a big fluffy white cushion.
"You always were a bad influence." Rose jokingly said as they both laughed.
"I haven't had this much fun in forever!" Rose admitted.
"You see? Isn't this the life? Our parents can't control our lives, we do! No restrictions, no expectations! We can live the lives we want to live! That's why I chose to stay. To be free from all that." Gwen explained.
Rose thought for a moment. Then she said,
"I'm glad to see you're finally happy since I know you never were before the Devil took you away. But, have you ever thought maybe, our parents could change for the better?"
Gwen was confused and asked,
"What do you mean?"
"Well, maybe you can show them that by following your dream, you're finally happy. So, they should be happy for you too." Rose explained.
"I hope you're right Rose. If they do, we'll be in contact and be a family again." Gwen suggested.
Rose smiled, held her sister and both looked up at the sky and said,
"Oh, I will be right sis. I will be."
Unknown to the sisters, the Devil and Henchman were eavesdropping on their conversation from behind some trees. The Devil snickered and Henchman whispered,
"What's so funny boss?"
Then, the girls notice Cuphead and Mugman running through the forest carrying something familiar.
"Hey, it's Cuphead and Mugman!"
Gwen said as she and Rose sit up.
"What was that tall thing they were carrying?" Rose asked.
"I don't know, but it looked familiar. Come on, let's catch up and find out!" Gwen said.
She pulls Rose to her feet and both run after the cups.
"Wait a minute! That stupid cup has my pitchfork! I'll explain later, come on! After them!"
The Devil said angrily and he and Henchman follow Gwen and Rose up through the forest.
Gwen and Rose catch up with the cups at the edge of the forest in sight of the mountains. Mugman has his eyes closed as Cuphead is using the pitchfork to blast the mountain.
"Hey guys! What's going on?"
Gwen asked as she and Rose walked up to Cuphead.
"Oh! Hey Gwen! Hey Rose! You're both just in time! I'm working on a surprise for Mugsy! Come on Gwen, help me!" Cuphead said excitedly.
Gwen took a good look at what Cuphead was using and realized it was the Devil's pitchfork.
"Cuphead, where did you get that?!" Gwen cautiously asked.
"Oh, I found it against the tree earlier after we left the cottage!" Cuphead explained.
"Can I look now?" Mugman called.
"Not yet. Almost there."
Cuphead said to Mugman and continues blasting the mountain. Mugman was about to peek and says,
"How about…"
Just then, he gets scared and started muttering fearfully.
Rose looked behind Gwen and has a scared look on her face too.
"Cuphead!" Mugman yelled.
"Patience." Cuphead said as he fired two more fire blasts.
"TA-DA! It's Mount Mugmore!"
He blasted the mountain with four faces of Mugman carved.
Gwen noticed Rose was scared and asked,
"What's wrong Rose?"
Rose struggled to speak.
"You look like you've seen …"
Gwen spoke until Cuphead interrupted.
"What do you think?" Cuphead asked.
"Very nice." The Devil answered.
Rose quickly points behind Gwen.
Gwen eyes widened, turns around, saw the Devil with Henchman behind him and gasped.
"Aw, thanks Devil. But actually…"
Cuphead realized who was behind him and yelled,
"The Devil!"
Gwen armed herself with the ink pen and pointed at the Devil and yelled,
"You! What do you want now?!"
Rose hides behind Gwen and holds her shoulders as she was shaking with fear.
"Well, my beautiful flower. I see you have family visiting you huh? You just had to bring your own sister in to this, didn't you? She's just as beautiful as you are." The Devil said, admiring Rose's beauty.
Gwen glared at him and yelled,
"Leave her out of this! This is between you and me!"
"I didn't bring her into this, you did." The Devil pointed out.
"Don't listen to him! He's trying to play with your mind!" Rose warned her.
"I didn't ask you, Rosy cheeks!"
Gwen cringed at the name he called Rose.
"Where was I? Oh yes!"
The Devil turned his attention to Cuphead.
"I believe you have something of mine. Hand it over!" The Devil demanded.
"Uh, okay. Sure. Sorry. We-we-we was just horsin' around." Cuphead fearfully said.
The Devil was about to take his pitchfork when suddenly…
ZAP!
He is electrocuted by his own pitchfork.
"Oh, wow. That, that was an accident. Here."
Cuphead apologized and hands the pitchfork over again…
ZAP!
The Devil is electrocuted again.
This gives Cuphead an idea, smiled smugly and happily hands the pitchfork again…
ZAP!
He electrocutes the Devil yet again.
"Okay, okay. Sorry, really. Seriously, here you go."
Cuphead said, seemingly sorry and hands him the pitchfork. The Devil wasn't sure at first, but then…
ZAP!
He is electrocuted the fourth time.
"You're doing that on purpose!" The Devil yelled.
"Uh uh."
Cuphead said in denial and hands him the pitchfork.
Suddenly…
ZAP!
He electrocutes the Devil the fifth time.
Cuphead laughs at the Devil for tricking him. Mugman laughed a little until he stopped.
Gwen and Rose are unsure about Cuphead's pranks and Gwen whispered,
"Cuphead! Stop it! You better give it back to him! Maybe he'll go away!"
The Devil angrily growled and asked,
"You think this is funny?! You think you have the upper hand just because you have my pitchfork, your soul debt has expired and I can't marry Gwen without her parent's blessing?!"
The Devil paused, realized too late what he blurted out and gasped.
Gwen and Rose gasped, realizing the Devil knew about getting their parent's blessing all along.
Henchman facepalmed and groaned.
"Expired soul debt?"
Mugman asked and walked up to Cuphead and the Devil.
"Wait, wait, wait. Hold it. Stop everything. Did you just say expired soul debt? He just said expired soul debt!" Mugman said out loud, to Gwen and Rose's shock.
"Expired soul debt? We never learned that in Sunday School!" Gwen exclaimed.
"No, we didn't, I never heard of such a thing either! I bet no human ever has!" Rose added.
"Lemme get this straight. I no longer owe him my soul, and I have his pitchfork?" Cuphead asked and both cups smiled.
Rose gathers up some courage, steps up and said,
"No blessing, no marriage!"
The Devil turned his attention to Rose and sternly asked,
"What did you say Rosy cheeks?"
"It's Rose! And I said no blessing, no marriage! You can't marry Gwen!" Rose scolded.
The Devil stared at Rose as she continued,
"Look, you think you can just show up at our parent's house, break into my sister's room, take her away from us and break our family just like that?! Yeah, that's why mama and papa would never bless this 'marriage'. So, therefore, Gwen will never be yours… EVER!" Rose yelled as swung her arms.
Gwen stood there in shock, seeing her own sister stand up to the Devil and said,
"Wow Rose. I've never seen you so brave before."
"Thanks sis. I kinda got it from you."
Rose said as she walked back to Gwen.
Henchman stood in shock at Rose's bravery.
The Devil hung his head in shame and said,
"Oh, the humiliation."
"Oh, wow. Now this is just sad. Here, you should have this. It belongs to you."
The Devil hesitated and asked,
"And you… you won't zap me?"
"No, I promise." Cuphead said and hands him the pitchfork.
Just then…
ZAP!
He electrocutes the Devil the sixth time.
The cups laugh as Gwen facepalmed and said,
"Oh no."
"Aw jeez." Henchman said and backs away fearfully backs up.
Suddenly, the Devil disappears and an ominous wind blew around them.
Gwen and Rose held each other fearfully as they hear the Devil eerily yelled at Cuphead,
"You have taken something of great value to me! So, I shall take something of great value to you!"
"Ha! There's nothing you can take from me that I care about." Cuphead said.
The Devil continued,
"And girls, I forgot to mention something. Rosy cheeks, were you wondering why your parents weren't home earlier?"
Rose and Gwen grew nervous and Rose fearfully answered,
"H-H-How did you know that?"
Just then, the magic mirror magically appeared on a tree close to the girls.
"You don't know where your parents are. Would you both like to find out?" The Devil eerily asked.
Gwen hesitated and her heart started beating fast.
"Go on my beautiful flower. Ask!" The Devil ordered her sinisterly.
Gwen gulped and she and Rose held each other and walked toward the mirror. Gwen took a deep breath and asked,
"Where's our parents?"
The mirror showed a vision of their parents in cartoon forms chained up in the dungeon of Hell and hear them yelling,
"Help! Help us! Somebody help us!"
Gwen and Rose stood and watched in horror their parents have been captured and imprisoned.
"No! You didn't! You wouldn't!" Gwen fearfully exclaimed.
"Well, before I lost my pitchfork, I made a little stop in the human world earlier today. Since they won't kindly give me their blessing, I will do it… by force!" The Devil declared.
Just then, the hear the elevator bell ding and Cuphead and the girls look to see Mugman tied up and has been captured by the Devil.
"Say goodbye to Cuphead and the girls!" The Devil said evilly.
"Goodbye to Cuphead and the girls." Mugman sadly said.
"When I get your parent's blessing, I'll be back for you my dear!" The Devil declared to Gwen.
"NO!" Gwen yelled.
The Devil laughed evilly and closed the elevator door and disappeared into the ground. Gwen is too late to stop him and she yelled on the ground,
"MUGMAN! MAMA! PAPA!"
Gwen knelt down where the elevator disappeared, breathing heavily and tearfully said,
"No! No! No, please!"
Gwen broke down in tears and started sobbing. Rose runs up to her in tears and held her sister and cried. Gwen sunk her face in Rose's chest and Rose leaned against her head.
Cuphead stood in horror and asked,
"Mugman?"
Just then, the hear William calling,
"Rose! Gwen!" William arrived, running and out of breath, finds Gwen and Rose crying and Cuphead standing there in horror.
"I've been looking everywhere for you two! I found something at their house! A note!"
"Let me see it!"
Rose tearfully demanded and took the note from William. He stood there in horror, realizing he was too late to warn them as he saw the girls crying.
Rose holds the note up for Gwen and read it out loud,
"Gwen, I'm sorry it had to come to this. But by refusing to cooperate with me, you have forced me to take extreme measures. I have taken your parents to get their blessing to marry you by force since I knew they'd never give it to me by asking them nicely. Surprise! And their fates are now in your hands my dear. If you ever want them to see them alive again, you are to come down to my realm, accept my marriage proposal and we will be married officially right away. If you refuse, I'll make sure your parents will be nothing but piles of ashes thus making you and your sister… orphans! And I'll make you watch before your very eyes! So, what'll it be? It's either buy their freedom with your love or send them to their deaths if you refuse me again. But remember, it's your choice, not your sister's. I will send the elevator to you when you are ready with your choice. Until then, your soon-to-be husband the Devil."
Gwen knelt there in horror; she is now stuck with the decision that will determine both her parent's fates along with hers.
Will she choose to go through with the marriage to the Devil or refuse him and have her parents killed? And will Cuphead rescue his brother Mugman or leave him doomed with the Devil forever? Until season three comes out…
To be continued.