Chapter 8: A Surprising Truth

Angel went still in shock before looking at King Dice. "What?" She asked, her mind still trying to process what he had just said.

He looked a bit worried. "I know it's a lot to believe right now, but...it's true," he said, tears in his eyes. "I thought I had lost you forever."

The young woman stepped back a little and Dice let her, though he looked worried. Angel turned to Elder Kettle. "Grandpa?" She asked.

The kettle reached a hand out to her and she took his hand, to which his thumb gently rubbed over the back of her hand in a soothing gesture. "Come, my dear," he said. "There's a dinner buffet at the casino. As we eat, King Dice and I will tell you and everyone a story."

She nodded, still a bit shaken by what she heard, though something told her King Dice was telling her the truth. She looked back at the casino owner and he looked worried and his eyes were filled with tears. The look on his face reminded her of the one her father had before he passed away.

Her mind was still reeling a bit when they arrived at the casino and everyone soon sat down, Specter coming to sit by his wife and he gave her a loving kiss. "Welcome back, my love," he said.

She smiled at him. "I missed you, Handsome," she said, holding his hand.

Everyone was soon served and as they ate, King Dice began to speak.

"Twenty-three years ago, before I fell into debt with the monster, there was a lady that came to visit the Isles. A human, much like our Angel."

Everyone was stunned. "It's true," Elder Kettle said. "Her name was Bethany and she had come here to escape a man that was pursuing her to be his wife."

"Elder Kettle gave her refuge and I helped him to keep her hidden, especially from the monster. But in doing so, I began to fall for Bethany," King Dice admitted, blushing a bit.

Elder Kettle chuckled. "And she returned his feelings," he said. "They made quite a lovely couple."

Angel blinked. "Bethany?" She asked. "That was...my mother's name."

"Yes," the casino owner said. "Your mother and I were set to wed and she was pregnant with you, Angel." He hung his head. "But...the monster...he interfered."

"How?" Cagney asked.

King Dice turned to Brineybeard and nodded, to which the pirate nodded back and stood up. "The very people Angel escaped from made a deal with the monster to get Bethany back to them, as it was Angel's foster father who wanted Bethany as his wife," he explained.

"Is that the deal that bound them?" Angel asked, recalling how Brineybeard had told her a few years ago about the people being arrested after she had battled the monster and he was banished.

"Yes," the pirate said. "I was at the port where those people were waiting and when Bethany was brought to them, my whale sounded the alarm and caused quite a ruckus, helping Bethany to escape and find refuge in the arms of a good man, one who soothed her and helped her to hide."

"Angel's father? The one who gave her the necklace she wears?" Cala Maria asked.

"Yes, my love," Brineybeard replied. "His name was Mark and I had done some business dealings with him before. He was a good man, fair with his trading and good on his word. When he heard Bethany was being hunted, he swore to protect her and her child, a child he adopted and raised, hoping that one day, he could bring her safely to the Isles and introduce her to her birth father, who he was certain was looking for her."

"I was," King Dice said. "And for Bethany. But when I couldn't find them, I began to lose hope and...in my despair, the monster offered me a deal." His face turned red with embarrassment. "Thus making me indebted to him."

"What did he promise you?" T-Bone asked gently.

"That he'd bring my bride back to me, but he never did, nor did he tell me that she had been diagnosed with terminal cancer."

Several people gasped in shock at hearing that and felt sympathy for the man who had lost the woman he loved. Pirouletta went up and hugged her husband, to which he gave her a grateful look before Monica, who was sitting in Sally's lap, spoke up.

"Did she get her wings, Daddy?" She asked softly.

"Yes, sweetheart," he replied. "Bethany gained her wings."

Everyone bowed their heads, knowing this meant that Bethany had passed away. Angel had tears in her eyes and she nodded. "Mom passed away when I was barely one year old," she said softly. "My dad raised me from then on, but we were always on the move. He told me that it was because of his work, but when I got older, I began to suspect it was because someone was after us."

She held the heart pendant in her hand, her fingers lightly rubbing over the cross on the heart. "When he got sick, he gave me this necklace. Told me it would protect me from someone very dangerous. He even told me to try and get to sea if I could. He had a friend that would help me get to where I needed to go."

"Back here, no doubt," Brineybeard said.

She nodded. "But when I was sixteen, he died and those horrid people took me in, but I escaped them when I turned eighteen, finding my father's friend and he tricked the monster in order to keep me safe, but unfortunately, the captain's lie was found out too soon, which lead to the ship being attacked and me getting amnesia."

"To which you found your way here," Specter said, gently squeezing his wife's hand.

King Dice nodded. "When I first saw you, Angel, I noticed how much you looked like Bethany and I began to hope that perhaps you were my long-lost child, but I didn't say anything then because I wasn't sure and you had lost your memory," he said. "And then...the monster was after you."

She nodded before looking at him. "So...how do you know for sure that I'm your daughter?" She asked him.

"When I learned you were going after the boys on the Mystery Isle to save them and Chalice from Saltbaker, I grew afraid that something might happen and I wouldn't be able to know if you were my daughter or get a chance to tell you if you were," he admitted. "So I asked Specter and Elder Kettle to help me."

"When you trimmed your bangs the other day, I snagged a small bit of the cut hair and gave it to Elder Kettle, who got it to King Dice," Specter admitted.

"We got the results moments before you returned," Elder Kettle said, pulling out a piece of paper and handing it to Angel, who took it and she read it, realizing it was the results of a DNA test.

It read that, without doubt, she was King Dice's daughter.

She leaned back in her chair as it sank in before she looked at him. "I wasn't imagining it then," she said. "When you hugged me before I left for the Mystery Isle, you were concerned about me, the way a father is when his daughter is on a mission that could be dangerous."

He nodded and she turned to Elder Kettle. "Grandpa, did you know I was Bethany and King Dice's daughter when we first met?" She asked.

"I suspected it, which was why I gave you those potions with your food. I was hoping that if you were Dice's daughter, the potions would bring out your powers, since they were dormant in you," he said. "The reason your powers were dormant was because while your birth father had powers, your mother did not. So the potions I gave you amplified your magic."

"And good thing too," Cagney said. "If you hadn't, Elder Kettle, we'd still be trapped by that monster and we'd have lost the boys and Chalice today."

"Agreed," Cala Maria said.

Angel nodded and got up, hugging Elder Kettle. "Thank you, Grandpa," she said. "If you hadn't done that, I would still be hunted by that monster."

"But if you suspected Aunt Angel was your daughter, Uncle Dice, why did you wait so long to say something?" Mugman asked.

"Yeah. Aunt Angel has been here for three years," Cuphead said.

It was a fair question. "I was afraid the monster would return, though Angel had successfully defeated him, which you all helping her to kick the monster off the Isles," he said. "He did return after you boys had defeated him and I was worried he'd find a way to use Angel as leverage against me."

"For the past few years, we've been watching to see if that monster will return, but he thankfully hasn't," Elder Kettle said.

"If he ever does, we'll give him the boot again," Angel said.

She then turned to King Dice, who looked away in shame before looking back at her. "I'm...I'm not proud of making that deal," he said. "I'm so sorry, Angel. Because of my foolishness, you were hunted by that monster."

She shook her head. "No," she said. "You had good intentions. It was the monster that used them against you and my former foster family are the ones that made me become hunted, not you."

She hugged him then. "I forgive you," she said.

Monica perked up then. "Daddy, if Miss Angel is like me, does that mean she's my big sister?" She asked.

Everyone smiled at that and Dice chuckled. "Would you like to have a big sister, sweetie?" He asked.

"Yeah!" She said excitedly.

Angel smiled before looking at Dice. "King Dice, would you be okay with me calling you 'Dad'?" She asked.

King Dice felt overjoyed at that and hugged her. "Yes, more than okay with it," he said, tears running down his face. "I'm just so happy you're back in my life, pumpkin."

She smiled and looked at Pirouletta, taking a deep breath. "Pirouletta?" She asked.

The dancer smiled, knowing what was on her mind. "I'm thrilled to have two daughters," she said.

Angel hugged her. "Can I call you 'Mom'?" She asked.

"Of course, dear," Pirouletta said instantly.

Everyone smiled at this. "I can't think of what can make this day any better," Beppi said.

Angel turned with a grin. "Actually, I know what can," she said.

Djimmi chuckled. "Ah, I wasn't imagining that glow the other day," he said.

Everyone looked curious and Angel walked up to her husband, giving him a kiss before smiling. "I'm so glad Grim was able to carry all five of us passengers safely back home," she said.

Specter looked confused. "But, my love. It was just you, Chalice, Mugman, and Cuphead. Who is the fifth person?" He asked.

She took his hand and placed it on her stomach, where he felt something hit his hand and he looked at her in surprise as she smiled. "You're...You're pregnant?" The ghost asked in shock. "We're going to have a baby? I'm going to be a dad?"

Angel smiled and nodded. "The fifth person is our child, my love," she said. "Your son or daughter and my father and mother's first grandchild and Grandpa's first great-grandchild."

The room was still with surprise before cheering broke out. "Alright, Specter!" Cagney cheered for the new father.

Specter felt like he was about to explode with happiness as he lifted his wife up into his arms and spun her around. "I'M GONNA BE A DAD!" He cheered out as more cheering filled the room.

Dice and Pirouletta, along with Elder Kettle began to shed tears of joy, the news filling them with happiness. The owner of the casino was thrilled that not only did he have his eldest daughter back into his life, but he was going to be a grandpa too.

Pirouletta smiled. "What a wonderful surprise," she said before looking at Monica. "This means you'll be an auntie too, sweetie. And a good friend to your sister's baby."

The child was thrilled to hear that and the happiness was boundless for the main Isles.

So yes, Angel is King Dice's daughter that he thought had been lost long ago and she and Specter are going to have a baby. :)

Now don't worry. I'm sure some of you are wondering about Saltbaker. We shall see how he's doing in the next chapter. :)

Please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418