It was a cold winter's night when the Legendary Chalice returned to the depths of Inkwell Hell. She arrived only to find herself in the middle of a delicate situation. There was one of the Devil's imps -a rather sadistic one as well-, it brandished a whip in its hand, grinning as it relished in Ginette's fear. Killing that nasty thing wasn't a conscious choice that Chalice made, it was instinct.

A familiar golden spear materialized in Chalice's hand and in one swift motion, she drove her spear through the imp's torso as if it were meat on a kebab. Ginette flinched back, expecting to be hit. But no blow came. Chalice dragged her fresh corpse away from the poor woman, lifting it into the air, and putting her free hand on her hip. Just as the knights of the order had always told her, she adored fighting with a touch of dramatic flair.

Ginette still remained in the corner of her cell, trembling, eyes squeezed tightly shut.

Chalice cleared her throat.

That piqued Ginette's interest. It didn't sound at all like the imp who'd been accosting her. Ginette shifted slightly, as if she was steeling herself, and then she opened her eyes. She gasped, unable to speak from the shock. She'd been rescued?

"Betcha didn't think you'd ever see me again, huh?" The Legendary Chalice grinned. "You and I have a LOT to talk about."

- Chapter Seventeen: The Girl and The Ghost -

All was silent for a moment in Ginette's cell. Both studying the other, waiting for someone to speak.

It was Ginette who spoke first, "You came back."

Chalice sensed that this was a surprise to Ginette. Had she expected to be abandoned?

"Well, I promised you I'd come back." Chalice replied, warmth and sincerity in her tone. She knew quite well what it was like to be abandoned and her spectral heart ached for Ginette. "It's not like I was gonna abandon you. I never break my promises, even if it kills me."

Ginette's expression remained dubious, but her shoulders slightly relaxed. "So it would seem." The injured martini glass grimaced, attempting to prop herself up against the wall to better see her unexpected visitor.

"Oh, please don't!" Chalice said, quickly kneeling beside Ginette. "You're hurt. Don't strain yourself on my account."

"I'm fine," Ginette replied sharply. The woman seemed off-put by Chalice's naturally charming nature but said nothing of it. Instead, she cleared her throat and pointedly asked, "What is it you want? I'm sure you didn't go to all this trouble just for a courtesy call."

Straight to the point, Chalice thought. This Ginette seemed incredibly systematic as if she were examining a specimen under a microscope. How on earth did this woman become someone close to the Cup Brothers? Unless, of course, she had a kinder side hidden beneath an untrusting exterior.

"You're close to the Cup Brothers, aren't you?" Chalice replied, maintaining her friendly attitude. "All of Inkwell's presses have begun to call you their adoptive mother."

Ginette's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "I can't seem to recall how that is any of your business."

Chalice's eye twitched. She didn't appreciate the woman's hostility, especially after she'd just saved Ginette from a beating. "They're my friends. Their business is my business, and mine is theirs." Chalice said, crossing her arms.

"For some reason my best friends gettin' kidnapped is a little off-puttin', and I wanna rescue them. You have a problem with that?"

Ginette's hostile expression faltered. Her body language was hard to read, but Chalice sensed that this antagonistic attitude of hers was more or less a defense mechanism. How many times had the Devil broken Ginette's trust to make her so cautious?

With a sigh, Ginette turned, looking away from Chalice. "...Yes, I'm close with the boys. Very close."

"Like a mother?"

"Yes."

"What would you do to save them? Get them away from here, outta the Devil's grasp. What would you sacrifice?"

Ginette instinctively tensed up at the question. "A bold thing to ask of someone you don't know." She met Chalice's eyes. "I would die for them, but not under the orders of the likes of you, girl. Legendary or not."

Her barbed comment prodded at Chalice's pride, something more sensitive than Chalice cared to admit. "You know nothin' of who I am." She snapped back, irritated. "I come here to offer you the chance to save the boys you see as sons and in return, you go after me? How could you? And as a matter of fact, I do know you. Way better than you think, appointed scientist."

Ginette flinched at the mention of her title, lowering her head again. Did she think Chalice was going to hurt her? Maybe Chalice had let her anger get a bit out of hand. Ginette's mistrust was understandable, Chalice had to remember that.

"Hey, hey. Don't shut down on me." Chalice said, much softer now in an apologetic tone. "I- I'm sorry. I let my emotions get a little ahead of me there. I... I know the Devil's hurt you, made you not trust people. And I'm okay if you don't trust me, really I am. All I wanna ask is that you hear me out before you take a swing at me. Is that okay?"

Ginette nodded, not speaking. Her head was lowered, but her eyes were locked on Chalice's. Carefully watching

"All I wanna say is- If you do help me, it will be dangerous. We could be killed for workin' against the Devil. But it's the only shot we got at savin' Cuphead and Mugman. The chances are pretty slim, but- With you? It's possible. I wouldn't ask you to put yourself at risk otherwise.

See, I may not know you too well, but I do know that you and I have somethin' in common: Both of us got saved by those cups. But, not from physical danger, those two dum-dums saved the two of us from ourselves.

I know how you were before you met them. You were calloused. You grew numb to the Devil's love of torture and sufferin'. Your heart nearly turned to stone, unable to cope with the terrible things you were forced to do. That was, up until lil' Cuphead and Mugman came into your life and turned everything upside down."

A dark cloud of guilt and fear crossed Ginette's face, which only grew as Chalice detailed many of the dark secrets of Ginette's heart.

"W-Who are you?" Ginette whispered, eyes wide at the depths of Chalice's knowledge of her personal life.

Chalice's expression softened and she reached out, clasping Ginette's hands. "Call me Chalice."

"So, I'm to advise you on the Devil's plans, supply you with all of the information I can, and that's it?" Asked Ginette.

Some time had passed and the two had talked through a great many things. Chalice's many adventures with the brothers, -though she didn't bother to expand on her statement of how the brothers had 'saved her from herself'- her odd encounters with Elder Kettle and Quadratus, and lastly, the duties she wished Ginette to carry out in complete secrecy.

"What? I thought you'd told me earlier that my 'orders' were somethin' you wouldn't follow, and now you want more to do?" Chalice quipped playfully.

Ginette chuckled, rolling her eyes and lowering her head apologetically. "I know... But, if I'm to betray the Devil, I might as well be as helpful as I can."

It still felt so strange for Ginette to speak of betraying the Devil. It left a strange feeling in her stomach. She longed for freedom, but betraying him? Her heart pounded at the thought.

"True." Chalice replied. "But, I can't have you know too much. If the Devil were ever to discover our partnership, he'd force my secrets outta you. I may be sneaky, but I don't think I'd be able to escape him any longer if that happened. But, I might have something for you.

Remember my story with the boys? How they used enchanted cookies to let me control their mortal bodies for a time?"

"Yes..?"

"Well, If you really wanna help me more, that would be it." Chalice glanced down at her transparent hand. "This ghost body can only do so much. I can fight with it, sorta, for a little bit, but it's nothin' compared to what I could do when I was alive."

"You'd possess me?" Ginette's heart was pounding with fear and excitement, but she maintained a calm exterior.

"Yep! Pretty much." Chalice said. "Cuphead and Mugman never complained, so I don't think it hurts. It's just a little strange."

"Well... Let's say, hypothetically, I did become your-" Ginette paused, trying to find the right word. "Your vessel. Let's say I become your vessel... What would happen?"

Chalice's expression grew serious. "Well, I would use your mortal body in battle. And I won't mince words with you, Ginette, the both of us could die if I get killed in battle. I dunno what would happen if I was killed while using your body, but- If you did let me use your body... I would have a pretty good chance at killing the Devil. I could finish this thing once and for all... But there is a lotta risk involved.

And, you don't have to decide right now. Heck, you don't have to decide for a couple of weeks if you ain't sure." Chalice got to her feet. "I know the connection you used to have with him. The Devil. Somethin' like that doesn't just go away. And I'm guessin' that jumpin' from servin' him to plottin' to kill him weighs heavy on your heart."

Ginette nodded, relieved that she didn't have to say it aloud. She felt Chalice pat her on the shoulder reassuringly. The girl was too sweet for her own good, just like the boys. Ginette could now clearly see how the three of them had become such good friends. Would this ghost girl worm her way into Ginette's heart as well?

"I should be going." Chalice said, a tinge of regret in her voice. "But, I'll be back soon." She continued, turning to face Ginette and putting on a comforting smile. "Hang tight for now and focus on stayin' alive. Sound good?"

Ginette let out a soft chuckle. "Not much else I can do."

"And, Ginette?" Chalice said as she summoned her portal.

"Yes, Chalice?"

Chalice's stare melted into a rather emotional and appreciative look. "Thank you..." She bowed, speaking in a language unfamiliar to Ginette. "Calix Animi benedicat tibi, filia populi mei."

And with that, she was gone.

"If you did let me use your body... I would have a strong chance of killing the Devil. I could finish this once and for all."

Chalice's words tantalized Ginette's mind. Repeating over and over. Was Ginette going to betray the Devil? Would she be the one to kill him? At least, her physical body would be. The Devil, as much as Ginette hated him, was the only link to her past. Her life before all of this.

He'd made her feel so special and important. Was she really going to throw that all away? Seventy-four years of life, he'd been her best friend. Her only friend. Sure, they'd become strained in recent times, but still. He'd trained her in everything she'd ever known. He'd been the only one to see her as a person, and not write her off just because she was a woman.

They'd been the best of friends. Where did it go wrong? Or, had he been manipulating her from the start? That idea was incredibly unsettling but refused to leave Ginette's mind. She'd always seen him as her symbol of hope in an otherwise miserable existence as a child. Was it all nothing but a lie?

The sun was setting. A girl running -fleeing into the woods. Tears ran down her cheeks. Voices called out for her, yelling for her to return, but she didn't listen.

Clambering over tree roots. Scampering through clearings. A tree branch snagged the edge of her shoe. Yanking her back. She tripped, falling facefirst onto the forest floor. Everything hurt. She sobbed, curling up on the ground.

Why were they so mean to her? What did she do wrong? Every day she tried to make her mama and papa proud, but every day they were nothing but disappointed.

Darkness was closing in, the sun was almost gone from the horizon. No one came looking for the little girl. Not a soul. And so the girl wept bitterly, wondering what she'd done that was so wrong.

Then, footsteps.

Could it be mama? Or perhaps papa? She wasn't sure. The girl weakly pushed herself up, wiping away her tears.

But, to her surprise, it was not her mama or papa who had come for her. Instead, a stranger. A goat who stood on two legs. Its head was crowned with curved bull horns and it had such piercing yellow eyes.

"Little girl. Are you alright?" It said, speaking in a soft yet rough voice.

The young girl yelped out in fear, scrambling back.

"No no! Do not be frightened, I beg you." The creature continued, raising its hands in the air. "Please do not be afraid. I am not here to hurt you, child. I only came because I heard you crying. Are you alright?"

The girl's fearful expression softened. Wiping away her tears, she nodded feebly. "Y-yes, sir. I'm alright."

"Good..." The creature said, kneeling to meet the girl's eyes. "What are you doing out here, young miss? It is getting quite late and the sun has almost set. Why, if I hadn't found you, who knows? You could've been devoured by wolves or gotten yourself lost. This is no place for a child so late in the day."

The girl sniffled. "Anywhere's better than home. No matter what I do, I ain't nothin' more than a failure...

Today I- I was talking to my sisters -at the dinner table. I was tellin' them what I wanted to be when I grew up... And they laughed at me. I-I got so mad I smacked my big sis' right in the face. Pa didn't like that one bit, said he was gonna whoop me till kingdom come. So I ran. And I ain't ever goin' back."

The goat-like creature tilted its head sadly. "I'm sorry to hear that, my child. You do not deserve to be treated like that, I assure you."

The girl perked up a little. "I... I don't?"

"Of course not." The creature replied, patting the girl on her shoulder.

The little girl let out a long sigh, calming down. She looked up at the creature, feeling brave, her curiosity piqued. "Are you a faun?"

"Very aptly noted!" The creature smiled. "In a way, yes, I am a faun. You refer to me as such, if you wish, young mistress." He finished with a small bow.

"My name isn't 'Young Mistress'." The girl giggled. "My name is Ginette, but you can call me Ginny!"

"Ah! Miss Ginny. A pleasure to meet you." Said the faun, extending a spindly hand.

The little girl, Ginette, took his hand, shaking it. "Thank you for coming here to check on me, Mister Faun. That was very kind of you."

"Please, the pleasure is all mine, dear." The faun insisted, getting to his feet. "But, it's getting quite dark, hm?" He continued, gesturing to the setting sun. "I think it's about time you get home."

"Home?" Ginette exclaimed. "I don't wanna go home, mister! I ain't ever goin' back! If my mama and papa ever see me again, I'm gonna get the punishment of a lifetime!"

"What if I could make it go away? Make them forget this ever happened?" The faun said, flashing Ginette a devious smile. "What would you do then?"

Ginette raised an eyebrow. "Can you do that?"

"Of course! What faun doesn't use magic?"

Shifting from side to side, Ginette looked down at the forest floor sheepishly. "Well. If you were willin', I'd much rather be at home tonight rather than out here in the forest."

The faun reached out his hand to her. "If you wish it, it will be so."

Ginette smiled, a wave of relief washing over her. Perhaps she wouldn't have to run away after all. She leaned forward as she took the faun's hand, getting to her feet.

"Now, how did this spat between you are your family break out?" The faun asked as the pair strolled through the forest.

Ginette grimaced at the question. She'd been avoiding bringing that up. "Erm, do you have to know?"

"Only if you're fine with me knowing." The faun said reassuringly. "I simply want to shift their memories only a little. Knowing the truth of what happened can help me."

"I guess that makes sense." Ginette exhaled. "Well, I..." She braced for impact. "I wanna be a doctor. Y'know, the ones with the white coats and stuff. Not a nurse, like, a real doctor. Even though they're all boys. I wanna be a girl doctor. My sisters laughed at me and told me that no one would ever teach a girl, especially not one like me."

"I can see now why you began to throw punches" The faun mused. "Ah, mortals never cease to astound me. In one millennium, women oversee all, but in this one, you find yourselves restricted."

Ginette raised an eyebrow but didn't question the faun. He was a fae creature, after all, they worked in mysterious ways.

They arrived, standing a few hundred feet or so away from a small farmstead - Ginette's home. The pair could see Ginette's brothers prowling the fields, yelling out for Ginette. Biting her lip, Gin shrank back behind the faun.

"Do not be afraid." The faun said. "They will forget soon enough."

He began to murmur strange words under his breath, moving his hands up and down in foreign gestures. Ginette watched in fascination, her eyes wide with awe. The faun's piercing yellow eyes were glowing brightly as he chanted, then with a snap of his fingers, he was done.

Ginette watched as her brothers went from screaming out her name, to stopping dead in their tracks across the fields. They looked around, confused as to how they'd even got there, then one spoke.

"Okay Gin! You win! We give up. You were right. You are the hide-and-seek champion. Now would you please come out? Ma and Pa will be smokin' mad if we stay out too long."

Ginette's mouth fell open. The faun chuckled heartily, patting her on the back. "Go on. Do not fret, they won't remember a thing, I promise."

The girl didn't move, her eyes locked with the faun's piercing yellow eyes. "Thank you." She whispered. "But... Will I ever see you again?"

"You can if you desire to."

"Oh yes! Yes, I would!" Ginette exclaimed, clutching the faun's hand tightly.

The faun smiled widely, brandishing pointed -and rather Devilish- teeth. "Then it will be so."