"That'll be all for me today. But before I go, I gotta ask: What's got you in such a good mood, Porkrind? I ain't ever seen you smilin' this much while you're workin'."
"Heh. That noticeable, eh? Well, fer the first time in who knows how long, I've actually had a quiet day. Methinks those boys are finally calmin' down an' growin' up. Took 'em long enough. I ain't seen them rapscallions all day."
"Really? That's... Unusual. You don't think somethin' could've happened to them, do you? With all those rumors about the Devil goin' around, you don't think...?"
"Pssh. What coulda happened to 'em? They're damn near invincible an' if they were in trouble, they ain't gonna go down quietly. We'd know if somethin' was wrong. I'm sure they're jus' fine."
- Chapter Two: Incoming Broadcast -
The Devil watched Mugman writhe and scream in agony till it finally grew boring. With a snap of his fingers, the boy went silent; falling unconscious onto the marble floor.
The Ace of Spades -one of King Dice's minions- slipped out from behind a white and gold pillar. It bowed and meekly approached.
The Devil glanced over. "Take the boy to his room. Ensure you do not wake the other, they must be well-rested and energized in the days to come."
With a brisk nod, the card scooped up Mugman, carrying him away. The Devil couldn't help but chuckle. Those brothers had been his greatest enemies. He'd hated them with a vengeance that was foreign, even to him. Now the boys were -without a doubt- his greatest asset.
"Well done, boss." The rich voice of King Dice declared, echoing out through the throne room. He was still standing in the entryway after having escorted Mugman inside. Striding forward with a spring in his step, King Dice grasped the Devil's hand in his own. "Now with our lil' problem taken care of, nothin' is standin' in our way! What's stoppin' us from reopenin' the casino an' gettin' this show on the road?"
The Devil smiled down at him, almost patronizingly. "Patience, darling. Let those idiots down in Inkwell panic. Realizing their darling "Protectors" have disappeared. Then, we will strike. The casino's return must be calculated, driving it to be more successful than ever before. I will not let it reopen till then."
"Ah... O' course, boss." King Dice's disappointment was evident.
The pair walked from the dark and ominous throne room in the Devil's Palace back into the glittering casino. As they went, King Dice was speaking at length about new ventures he was planning for the reopening.
But, the Devil wasn't listening. His mind was solely focused on his new weapons. Those brothers would be profoundly useful to him. He'd been meticulously mapping out his plans for them throughout these last three months. Now all the pieces were falling into place. But he couldn't fumble now, not so close to his goal. He had to test out his theories first. But on who?
They were approaching the Devil's office when King Dice paused. His gloved hand shot up to his head, eyes glowing a bright green. "Someone's headin' up to Kettle's cottage. Sounds like people are startin' to notice they ain't 'round."
The Devil grinned. "Excellent. Keep an eye on it for me, won't you? Oh! And do try and remain somewhat friendly with the boys, for my sake, darling. Your cooperation will be incredibly important, I promise you."
"Mhm. As you wish, boss." King Dice grimaced, annoyance seeping into his tone. He spun on his heel and hurried away without another word.
The Devil's smile widened. It was amusingly obvious to him that Dice was downright terrified of the Cup Brothers.
The power they effortlessly -and sometimes carelessly- wielded was like nothing the Devil had ever seen in all his centuries of life. To Dice, it was a challenge. To the Devil, it was an opportunity.
But, in Dice's defense, his fear was understandable. Both Dice and the Devil's duels with the boys left them severely injured. It took weeks before the Devil was strong enough to use his magic again, let alone properly use his left arm -which they'd broken in three different places. The Cup Brothers were quite the force to be reckoned with. Thankfully, they didn't seem to know it yet. At least, not fully.
A tinge of fear had come over the Devil, himself when he'd confronted Cuphead -just an hour ago. But it quickly disappeared. After all, despite their prowess, they were still only little children -naive, prone to crying and sputtering about, little weaklings.
But, even little children had their many uses. This excited the Devil. After an eternity of sheer boredom, he finally had a pair of new toys to play with.
Have You Seen Us?
Missing: Elder Kettle (Silver Kettle, Mid 70s) and His Boys, Cuphead and Mugman (Twin Ceramic Cups, 10 years old)
Last Seen: The Evening of December 17th, 1930
This family disappeared from their cottage located in the First Inkwell Isle sometime between the evening of December 17th and the morning of December 19th. Foul play is suspected in their disappearance. Any information that assists in leading to their safe return or recovery will be well-rewarded by the Inkwell Isle Police Department.
If you have any information on them or their whereabouts, please immediately call the Inkwell Isle Police Department.
Djimmi the Great was not known for his goodwill. But today was an exception.
The Inkwell Isle Police came knocking early that morning to call in a favor. Yesterday, news spread like wildfire across the isles that Elder Kettle and the Cup Brothers had disappeared -without a trace. Previously bored policemen now had a job to do and searched Inkwell from top to bottom. No luck. These coppers were way out of their depth -and pay grade.
That's when they came to him. Who wouldn't? An "all-powerful" genie was sure to be their best bet. Usually, Djimmi would've turned them away. He hated the coppers. But not today. The genie agreed to help, but it wasn't for the reward he'd been offered -although it was quite the nice benefit.
Djimmi owed those boys one hell of a favor. They didn't have to save his soul from the Devil. But they did. That meant something. Even to a pessimist such as himself.
The genie was in the main courtyard of his home, a pyramid of all things. He was sitting crisscross, concentrating on his breathing. If Djimmi hoped to find the boys, he'd have to enter a trance. Then, and only then, would he be able to discern their location and -most concerningly- if they were still alive.
His only setback was a squadron of coppers poking about his house. They kept distracting him. If they managed to break something, Djimmi would happily turn their police chief into a chicken. It wouldn't affect his usefulness in the slightest.
These coppers were nothing but a pain in his neck. Especially their act of pretending to be in charge when they were lost without Djimmi's assistance. But, they were a necessary evil. Their involvement meant Djimmi only had to locate the boys, then his work was done. And, he would be paid handsomely for it.
Right on cue, an officer approached. "How long is this gonna take?" He huffed.
His tone was far too demanding for Djimmi's liking. "The more you interrupt, the longer it will take." He quipped back, side-eying the rest of the squadron. Finally taking the hint, the officers began to sheepishly trickle out of the main chamber.
Now, all was quiet. Just the way Djimmi liked it. In the newfound silence, he gradually began to slip away into a trance. Sensing the boys' presence. It was an energy of sorts -an aura.
For such young children, Cuphead and Mugman had surprisingly powerful auras. It made it much easier for Djimmi to hone in on theirs. Finding Elder Kettle's was a little harder, but it didn't take long to uncover it. With all three auras in focus, Djimmi breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Both of the twins and Elder Kettle were still alive. A hefty weight lifted from the genie's shoulders.
Now came the task of trying to locate them. The strength of their auras seemed to indicate they were still here in Inkwell. But, where? He'd have to take a closer look. Taking heavy deep breaths, Djimmi let himself completely slip away and out of the physical realm.
His mind separated itself from the binds of his body. It was quite a relaxing feeling, but Djimmi didn't have time to waste. Something deep down inside him told him to hurry. That he didn't have much time left...
Djimmi drifted from place to place, searching. He was getting close. He could feel it. They were somewhere in the Third Isle. That was for certain. But, that was also a problem in itself. Mt. Inkwell Hell was in the Third Isle. Could the Devil be involved in their disappearance? It was extremely likely. The Devil wasn't one to forgive and forget. And no one had ever wronged the Devil so greatly and publically as the Cup Brothers had.
The closer he went to Inkwell Hell, the stronger their auras were. A pit of anxiety gnawed at his stomach. He hated this place, even in a trance. Djimmi gritted his teeth and forced himself to keep going. This wasn't just about him. He had to do this for the two little boys and their guardian, who very well could be in mortal danger. He approached the mountain. The Devil couldn't find him here in his trance. He was safe. Right?
Their auras grew so strong it was overwhelming. His head pounded. His heart raced. He'd found them. All three of them were here, in Inkwell Hell. This was bad. Much worse than he'd anticipated. Faint screams echoed around him. Fear. Pain. Anguish. Djimmi had to go and warn the coppers. Now. This was so much more vast than him. Something truly terrible was coming and he couldn't do anything to stop it.
Djimmi spun around to flee but stopped dead in his tracks. There was something behind him. A giant black orb. Pulsing. Breathing? It stirred. And opened. A giant yellow eye.
The Devil's eye.
No, no, no. How was this possible? How was the Devil here, with him? His headache grew worse and worse. Everything around him began to fade to black. Djimmi tried to run. Couldn't move. The eye. It floated closer. The pupil a thin slit. This was the end.
Djimmi's eyes flew open. He gasped for air. His whole body shaking. His head felt like it was on fire.
"What happened?" The chief hollered, sprinting back into the main chamber, squadron hot on his heels.
"They're in the mountain. In Inkwell Hell. The Devil's back. He has them." Djimmi panted, gripping his forehead.
All the color drained from the chief's face. "Please, tell me you're joking."
Djimmi chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. "I wish I was, copper."
Over the next few hours, Djimmi was questioned by multiple officers and some gumshoe detectives. All they wanted to hear was that the Devil wasn't involved. Perhaps something else had happened to the family. But there simply wasn't any plausible alternative. The Devil had returned. And they all knew it.
Djimmi was offered plenty of promises of protection from the Devil "if" he did indeed return. The police made sure to heavily emphasize the phrase "if he returns". Were they trying to convince themselves as much as Djimmi was that the Devil's return was just an "if" and not a "when"?
But, as much as Djimmi tried, he knew it wasn't an "if" no matter how many mental circles he ran around it. He'd seen the Devil, himself. Djimmi hadn't the slightest idea how the Devil could've wormed his way into his trance, but he had. The demon's return was inevitable.
How long did Djimmi have left as a free man? If the Devil was able to snatch up the boys just like that, what horrors would he inflict on the rest of them? The demon wasn't the type to forget the runaway debtors that the boys released. With Cuphead and Mugman now gone, they would most certainly be next, with Djimmi being the first on the Devil's hit list.
The officers and detectives graciously thanked Djimmi for his time and assistance. Then they left, just as quickly as they'd arrived. Earlier this morning, their departure would've pleased the genie immensely. But now all he felt was an imminent sense of dread as they departed.
He decided to go on a walk. A feeble attempt to clear his mind. That was when the radios broke.
Every single station turned to static. On every radio. Across the entirety of the Inkwell Isles. Even radios that were turned off miraculously switched on. Some tried unplugging their radios. Still, the static played. People stopped what they were doing. Looking around anxiously. First, the Cup Family went missing, now this? It didn't bode well.
Everyone's eyes were locked on Mt. Inkwell Hell. Waiting in fearful anticipation. The mountain looked so peaceful. But that could change at any moment. And, as if on cue, it did.
Garbled sounds began to broadcast over the static. Snippets from King Dice's show: Roll the Dice. Pieces of songs, news stations, and advertisements. Police had been dispatched to the radio towers, but nothing technological was amiss. Something else was going on. Something much more nefarious. Then, the static and garbled sounds stopped. All was quiet. And a very familiar someone spoke.
"Greetings, citizens of the Inkwell Isles -and beyond. This is the Devil speaking."
People gasped out in horror. Djimmi's blood went ice cold. As the Devil spoke, his voice broadcasted out from every radio across the Inkwell Isles. Maybe even other islands? It was certainly possible.
"It seems that in my absence, rumors have begun to spread. Whispers that I was defeated by two young boys. That I was gone for good and that my casino was to remain closed forever. I am happy to inform you, that this is not the case."
Some fainted. Others cried out in fear and disgust. But, Djimmi just stood there. Paralyzed. He'd known this was coming. But knowing it and living through it were two very different things.
The very rock of Mt. Inkwell Hell moved at the sound of its master's voice. A gaping hole began to form in the face of the mountain. Carving away to reveal the mountain's hollow inside. It was creating an archway. A familiar archway at that. The entrance to the Devil's Casino was reforming before Inkwell's very eyes.
"In three days' time, my beloved casino will reopen, marking a truly monumental day in all of Inkwell's history. The Devil's Casino will reopen with splendor beyond all mortal imagination and I will return to my rightful place in the Inkwell Isles."
Lights began to appear, adorning the sides of the mountain. They flashed with bright colors. Red carpeted stairs emerged, leading up to the casino's entrance. Alongside them appeared a phrase inscribed in gold lettering: "Try Your Luck". A pale blue barrier formed, encapsulating the mountain. Blocking it off from onlookers.
"I am well aware that some among you are unjustly angered by my return. Thinking of me as nothing more than an underhanded trickster. But this is simply not the case. I am no trickster. I am your liberator. I am your only chance at becoming more than what this cruel life has given you. I offer wealth, fame, and fortune beyond your wildest dreams."
A large dock rose out of the ocean, carving its way through the surrounding mountain range. Boats materialized in the water, painted red and gold, with "The Devil's Casino" written on their sides. Imps scurried out from Inkwell Hell's newly formed entrance. Hands full of flyers for the grand reopening. The imps hopped into the boats, sailing off into the distance.
"Even so, with my endless gestures of kindness, there have been some -who once lived among you- that temporarily succeeded in resisting me. I can proudly say that such undesirables have been dealt with. For good. Patrons who sympathize with such cheaters will not be tolerated. And my victory over them will be plain for all to see at the Grand Reopening of The Devil's Casino."
With that, the broadcast ended. All the radios turned off in an instant. Now there was only silence. Djimmi's heart had sunk so low that he was sure it would touch the ground. The Devil was back...
Djimmi had to leave. Tonight.
The police had promised to bring his reward by tomorrow, but Djimmi didn't care. He hurried back to his pyramid. There he'd gather the necessary materials, cast a teleportation spell, and leave this godforsaken heap of hell behind. But, by the time he arrived home, it was already too late. The Devil's imps were already there, patiently waiting for him to arrive.