~Author's Note~
Welp! I have a tumblr now! It is DollarLollar and will have images and other Cuphead related things on there! It will also have more drawing and sketches I have created for this fanfic! As always, please tell me what you think! Like, vote, comment, or just read and share because you people are awesome!
"You need to rest." Dice said to Porsha as she noticed the files he was holding.
"No, we need to find out. I need to know this, Dice." Porsha replied to him as she felt the fatigue hit her. She rubbed her head. Was it really this bad? Had she done too much for her body to handle? Porsha shook off the thoughts that roamed around in her mind as Dice touched her cheek.
"Porsha, please, this may sound selfish, but do it for me. You have been doing all these tests with no rest at all. Please, just get some rest to ease my mind." He asked as Porsha held the hand that was sweetly holding her face. She closed her eyes and sighed while she took his hand away.
"Alright, I will try and get some rest..." She replied as Cuphead rushed up to them.
"Miss Porsh! Miss Porsh!" Cuphead tugged on her skirt frantically.
"Dear me, you've got in a scrap or something terrible!" Porsha exclaimed as she noticed Cuphead looking just as worn down as she was.
"Mugman's been taken! I need to get him back!" Cuphead sputtered out as Dice picked him up.
"Calm down now, Cup. Now, where did you last see him?" Dice asked Cuphead to explain.
Porsha and Dice appeared on the scene and they spotted the one man they never thought they'd see. Blackruth. He was in a robe; his black feathers were puffed above the collar as he slicked the feathers on his head back. The robe was a light grey, with trims of purple and gold on the ends. A white sash was around his waist with an emblem on it: a hand gripped a red scarf in the shape of an "S". He was holding Mugman, unconscious, in his arms. Blackruth held his soul in his other hand.
"Porcelain Doll, it is your time to shine! Come on down and show these people what your kind has created!" Blackruth boasted as if he were a preacher in church.
"What have you done to him!?" Porsha yelled, her voice filling with anger.
"What have I done? What have I done? Dollface, this is just a little something your kind left for our end of the bargain. But-but-but! You can save him if-" His words cut through like a knife to her chest. "you come and finish what your kind has started. After all, you are the bargain!"
"What does he mean? Why is he saying all these confusing things?" Cuphead asked Dice as he fought back tears.
"If I go with you..." Porsha held her head down and she clenched her fists. "...promise- and I need your word! None of these people that these boys care about get hurt!" She looks at Blackruth with anger in her eyes knowing his traits too well.
With a devilish grin, he tossed Mugman away from himself. Porsha rushed to catch Mugman as the cruel man also tossed Mugman's soul to her. She cradled the poor boy in her arms as she returned his soul to his body.
"You have 24 hours to make your amends and leave with us." Blackruth stated as he walked away.
Cuphead wiggled out of Dice's arms, "H-hey!" and Dice rushed after him.
"Mugs! Mugs!" Cuphead pled as he watched his brother become responsive.
"...wha..wha happen?" Mugman slurred as he regained consciousness.
"It is over now, little ones...and he will never hurt any of you again." Porsha stated while she watched Mugman get up to his feet.
"Porsha, you can't do this!" Dice said bitterly as she turned to him.
"Take this. I have more to give all of you and the rest of the ones here." Porsha said walking away.
"Mr. Dice?" Cuphead held something up to him. "She dropped this."
Dice recognized that it was one of the documents from the lab. He read the first paragraph, "Boys let me take you home." he says picking them both up.
"What? Why? It's only noon!" Cuphead replied and Dice snapped back.
"You two need to be with your grandfather. Y'all will be there until he tells you that you can leave."
"Yesser..." Mugman agreed as Cuphead let out a huff.
Dice dropped the boys off and noticed the symbol on the door. A hand in the shape of a heart...He told Elder Kettle to not let the boys leave until that symbol was gone. Dice then rushed around town and sees the same symbol in almost every shop, house, and cabin around Inkwell. He spots Porsha talking to Porkrind, worrying even more, and he walked up to them.
"Porsha what's going on? Tell me now!" Dice demanded; Porkrind stepped in between them.
"Hold ya horses, Dice." Porkrind grabbed his shoulders and yanked him inside his shop. "Now, get ta workin'!" He slammed documents and textbooks down on the counter.
"Porkrind, please, I do not have time for this tomfoolery." Dice rolled his eyes.
"Ya do and will. This is what she gave me and I don't know a lick of it!" Porkrind said while restocking shelves.
"Wait you got items back in stock?" Dice noticed and Porkrind huffs.
"Yeah, thanks to that girl of yours." The pig replied with a half smile. "Please just do ya work."
Dice grumbled as he sifted through the files. He thought the pages seemed like gibberish but then he found a note. Three letters back, love. It was Porsha's handwriting, he'd seen it in all of her notes. He grabbed an empty notebook from underneath the desk. He begins to decipher the first sentence: wklv lv d vhfuhw phvvdjh)
"To my dearest, Dice..."
It is a letter, but why hide it from everyone? Dice thinks as he gets his answer in the second sentence:Oryh, doo hbhv duh zdwfklqj, vr, sohdvh ilqlvk wkhvh lq wkh jdughq.
"Love, all eyes are watching, so, please finish these in the garden."
"Porkrind. May I borrow a bag?" Dice asked as he got up; Porkrind was already giving him one.
"Ya got a good eye, kid. Now, remember her words to the tee." Porkrind replied and gave dice a smile for the first time.
"...Thanks..." Dice put the papers and files in the bag and started walking out the door. "Doctor, may I please use the garden?" He asked after reading the lab of Dr. Kohl's The Doc opened the door in surprise.
"What for?" He asked.
"Eyes are watching, please."
"C'mon along then." The Doctor ushered him inside and to the garden.
Dice entered the garden and set his bag down right next to the oak tree. He pulled out the paper and continues to decipher and decode each sentence and paragraph. He was amazed at her, all the things she can do, and looked around him. He finished one full page and he noticed it's in the form of a letter.
To my dearest, Dice,
Love, all eyes are watching, so please finish these in the garden. I know this may seem confusing at first because of my arrival being shortened, but know that this is important. I knew when I came here, that I would pose a danger to others, and tried to stay away at first. I did so by going to the person that they did not care for and taking that one's side. Well, I realize now that I am so glad I did so.
I have seen something I can never unsee in my whole life. Change. Change in people who thought a person was so bad but is just like them; Making a deal and regretting every bit of it. I got to see the people put faith in you little by little because a complete stranger did. Even Mr. Porkrind says you have turned a corner in his opinion, but don't tell him I told you. I am also happy I got to see the true side of you. Although you put on a rough exterior, only because of what you endured, you are a good man at heart. People have seen it in many ways, especially the brothers, and they are just as wonderful.
I have seen these two young boys, I am sure you know who, change the way others see things in this world. They brought back something that this town and my city lost...Clarity. Now, do not get dismayed, clarity can mean many things. Resolving problems, understanding outcomes, and contentment in situations. Well, actually, that is what this town has now more than ever. The people and their lives are so wonderful and beautifully simple...I wish the city where I lived was like this...but one can only dream I guess.
I know from your experience that you knew there was more to me than what I have told you...and you're right...I just was not wanting to believe this until now...Dice, I am the product of an experiment that my family has been doing for centuries. I am the embodiment of my society's "Porcelain Doll" or Perfection in their eyes. But I do not want to be...I deviated from my society and was then kicked out. I then saw all the repercussions that my family's research for the cure had done...it was horrible, so many lives: men, women, husbands, wives, and...and children. So many people suffered because of me being a pawn in their game of glory.
I am finally thinking for myself and I want to stop my family's research from spreading across this world. My existence should have never happened through this much devastation and chaos. Therefore, I am going to stop Blackruth from finding and activating my mother and father's completed products. Blackruth needs me to activate it, so he can rule my city and others once more. I know you have heard of him and I ask of you a favor. Please read the next page to continue, love.
With deep love, Porsha Doll
Dice looks up closing his eyes, taking in all that he has just read, and looks at the pile of papers. "Porsha..." He picks up another one and begins again. It is late now, about ten, and Dice is done with half of the stack. He has never done so much paperwork in his life and hopes to continue more, but his eyes will not let him. He drifts off to sleep and his pen falls out of his hand onto his open journal. Dr. Kohl walks in with Porsha as they notice that Dice is asleep with papers around him in neat piles.
"He really has changed. Porsha my dear, you really are something amazing." Dr. Kohl says as Porsha sighs.
"It wasn't me who changed him. He wanted to change for himself. He is a good man Doctor." She replies sweetly about Dice and the Dr. notices her voice.
"Well then, let's let him rest." Dr. Kohl replies walking away.
Porsha walks to Dice and puts her journal beside him. "Please, don't forget me..." She walks out of the garden and out of Dr. Kohl's laboratory.
Porsha is walking down the streets, she almost felt at home here, and looks to the sky. The starts are shimmering brighter tonight and the moon is almost full. She smiles for a split second then remembers what she needs to do. She has given everyone something as she departs from Inkwell Isle, but there was one left. She knocks on Elder Kettle's door and he opens it.
"My dear, come in!" Elder Kettle responds as he welcomes her home.
"How is Mugman? Is he alright?" Porsha asks concerning the little one.
"I'm fine now, but Cuphead is still pretty shaken up." Mugman replies to their conversation. He walks over to Porsha and hugs her legs.
"Thank goodness you two are alright, but I need to give you boys one thing before I go." She hands Mugman an envelope with their names on it. "Open it when I leave and this should help you two understand."
"Miss Porsh?" Cuphead says walking up to her. "Do you really have to go?" His eyes were filling with worry.
Porsha calmed them, "Don't fret little ones. I will always be with you in your dreams." and sat down on the sofa. Mugman crawls up onto the couch, as does Cuphead, and they scooched closer to her.
"Will you stay with us before you go?" Cuphead asked and Porsha lifts his head.
"Of course I will. Now, what do you two want me to do?" She asks sweetly and Mugman laid his head on her lap.
"Storytime!" Cries Cuphead cheerfully as his brother shook his head in agreement.
"Alright, let's see...well, I do know one, but it is in the form of a song." She replied and the boys look at her in awe. "Okay-okay, I will do it just for you two!" Porsha said tapping their noses and the boys giggle.
~~~Porsha's Lullaby~~~
"Hush little one, Don't shed a tear
I will be right here, Forever and always
Now it is time, For us to go
To our dreamlands, So we can sleep sound
So drift off to rest, As the sun sets
In the east, To make our trouble cease
As the moon rises, To the west
The stars shine bright, For us tonight
But when the moon is gone, the light will all but fade
The sun will now be here, Each and every day
Then one day, I will go away
And you all Will be, all that remains
But do not dismay, these words I pray
For I will, love you always"
~~~end~~~
Porsha's voice was as sweet as honey and her tone was like angels walking among us. She finished the tune and can see the Cup brothers curled up around her. She holds them close and smiled. Porsha looked over and notices Elder Kettle asleep as well on his rocking chair. She thought of Dice and how he should be here resting and not her. Porsha realized she cannot move until one of the boys moves over, so she happily waits while making sure none of the liquids in their head fall out. Cuphead is the first to move over and stretch his arms and legs out then Porsha gently moved Mugman's head underneath a pillow. She does the same for Cuphead and then puts blankets around them both.
"...Mom..." Mugman mumbled those words and Porsha stops from opening her room door. She looked back then closes the door behind her.
"To ease Dice's mind...I can at least try to sleep." She said as she got ready for bed.
~~~Porsha's Dream~~~
Porsha awoke and saw that she was in the garden. She walked over to the oak tree and noticed dice walking around. He saw her and rushed to her side. Porsha smiles, knowing how he must be worried about her, and took his hand.
"Let's go for a walk." Porsha said sweetly to Dice.
"Alright, where to?" Dice replied as a path forms in front of them.
"You know you're dreaming, right?" She stated to him and he gripped her hand.
"Well, why not enjoy it then?" Dice asked raising one of his eyebrows.
Porsha laughe, glancing up at him, then she remembers the letters. "How many pages have you done? Remember love, eyes are watching even now..." She asked looking around.
"15 and 15 more to go once I wake. They are interesting so far, but the first page has stuck with me." Dice noticed flowers around the walkway as he can see Porsha look away.
"There is more to be done. You will look after Cuphead and Mugman, right? Those boys need a father figure after all." She said changing the subject as a rustle was heard in a bush.
"Of course, they need someone to keep them straight." Dice replied seeing a blue animal scurry across their path.
"Good, good...Dice I need to tell you something." Porsha says stopping and turning to him.
"Yes?" Dice awaits her reply with anticipation.
Porsha noticed the blue animal change into Blackruth as he watches from a distance. Porsha pecks Dices cheek as she grips both of his hands. "Do not ever forget that you have a home here in Inkwell and...please try not to forget about me..." She explains while Dice was in shock over the kiss, so she slips something into his breast pocket. Porsha disappeared from the dream and Dice is left in a blue mist of colors.
~~~End of Dream~~~