An unplanned and unannounced Mother's Day special starts herewith.
While it's not until Mother's Day next week, I will post the next two chapters over the course of next week. Yes it will be a maximum of only three chapters. But they will play in the time after Dolly has finished writing the story of the book and before she writes the story of the Delicious Last Course. So expect a lot of new things that you never heard from Alicia and John.
Until then
It was quiet in the Powell house. Very quiet, one could say, since it was still quite early in the morning and the sun had not even appeared in the sky. Almost everyone was asleep in their beds. Dorothy lay with her husband James in their queen size bed, Duke lay on his blanket which was in the hallway where the rest of the bedrooms were as well as the bathroom. But not everyone was lying peacefully in bed like the three of them. No two were wide awake. It was John and Alicia who were in John's room looking at the calendar hanging on the door with a picture of Spongebob with Patrick, Sandy, Mr. Krabs and Squidward.
But the picture on the calendar was not the reason why nine-year-old John, who was wearing a blue striped pajamas with bear slippers, and six-year-old Alicia, who was wearing a plain simple red pajamas, were looking at it. No, it was more the date John had circled. Today was May 14. A very special day.
It was Mother's Day. Both siblings knew what that meant. They had to make a gift for their mother. But what kind? That was difficult to find out. It was Saturday. Both could buy something for their mother but both did not have enough money to buy a bouquet of flowers for their mother. And the way they were dressed now, they couldn't go out either. So that was already not possible. But John didn't want to give up and thought while Alicia rocked her feet back and forth and looked at her slippers that had wolf heads. "I've got it!" said John, but Alicia shushed him.
He looked at her confused "Alicia I-" but before he could say anything she shushes again. Now he was more than confused about his younger sister. Why did she always interrupt him and shush him? "Do you want mom and dad to wake up and hear your idea?" she whispered to him softly while looking at the half-open door of the room from which the door to her parents' bedroom could be seen. Of course, John didn't want that. He hadn't noticed that his door was open. He was a little embarrassed that he hadn't noticed, but Alicia rolled her eyes in annoyance before going to the door and closing it quietly so that her parents wouldn't wake up.
"What was your idea again John?" she asked as she walked over to him. "My idea is that we could ask Elder Kettle for advice. After all, he is an adult, isn't he?" Alicia saw the twinkling eyebrows as John tilted his head slightly. The idea wasn't bad but Alicia wasn't sure. Sure she liked Inkwell Isle's and enjoyed visiting them. But for a while now, Alicia has been having strange dreams. She didn't even know if they were dreams at all, because they always had the same sequence.
She was no longer a child but a young adult and was surrounded in complete darkness while sitting on a bed. Her gaze wandered from left to right and back again. But no matter where she looked there was nothing but darkness. This frightened her very much until she then felt that above her something began to glow. Every time she looked up she saw two yellow shining points which she thought were lamps before they became eyes.
The eyes had pie-cut pupils that every cartoon character from the 20s and 30s had back then. Alicia knew that all the inhabitants of the island had such eyes. But she did not know which residents had yellow eyes. Yes, the Baroness had yellow eyes, but they never glowed as menacingly as the ones in the dreams Alicia always had. But the eyes were not the worst part. These were only the beginning. As soon as Alicia saw them in her dream, she noticed how a pair of huge legs and arms covered with black fur appeared around the bed. At the end of the legs and arms were gray hands and feet equipped with white claws that were very sharp and pointed and looked very threatening.
The hands that were almost as big as Alicia herself slowly moved above the bed towards her. Every time this happened she got scared and always woke up shortly before the hand reached her and grabbed her. Mostly with a fearful sweat and a loud cry for her mother who then immediately came running to her room to calm her down with a hug while Alicia mostly cried in her arm. John knew about her constant nightmares and that Alicia had developed a slight paranoia when she was in the book. Most of the time she clung to someone she trusted like her mother, John or one of her godparents. There she stuck then so long one had calmed her with a stroke on the cheek or one took her in the arms.
"We can go but please promise me John that we won't go near the cave" John knew which cave she meant. It was the one outside the city that they were not allowed to go to. "Sure I promise Alicia" his smile reassured her very much. Her heart wasn't racing as much as before. And she was also looking forward to seeing the residents again. Therefore, the two decided to go to the book. But where was it again? "Uh, Alicia, where exactly is the Cuphead book again?" he asked her as he looked around his untidy room. There were toys, books and used clothes all over the floor. Yes, her mother is not going to be very happy about the way the place looks. Alicia's room looked clean and tidy. "So as far as I remember mom left me the book in my room to help me get over my fear of the big kitty cat" John was confused as to what she meant by big kitty cat.
But then he remembered who she meant. Yes, Alicia was suddenly afraid of the devil, who rarely appeared in the book. At the beginning and at the end. But every time her mother turned the page where the devil appeared, Alicia hid under the covers or held her favorite stuffed animal in front of her face so she wouldn't have to look at the devil, which she thought was a cat. Of course, both knew that this was in the cave outside the city to which they were not allowed to go. Their mother as well as their godmothers had forbidden them to ever enter this place. Why both did not know. Alicia didn't really want to know because she was afraid anyway when she saw the cave.
So both siblings knew where the book was. It was in Alicia's room. And there they both went with quiet steps while John closed the door quietly behind them so that their parents and Duke would not hear them. Both wanted to surprise their mother. So they both tiptoed to Alicia's room. Once inside, Alicia went to her bookshelf and pulled out the Cuphead book, which was between a Grimm Brothers fairy tale book and a Disney book. Alicia's hand, however, stopped and she began to shake. John noticed and tried to calm her down by taking the book in her hand. "Sorry," Alicia said, hanging her head. "You don't have to apologize Alicia" he said and lifted her head before smiling at her and walking to her bed with the book and opening it until he came to the side where you could see the living room of the cottage where Cuphead, Mugman and Elder Kettle lived.
Alicia stood next to him "Shall we?" asked John to her. But Alicia was still unsure. "Um, do we really want to go to the island in our pajamas?" they both looked at themselves in the mirror that was behind them. Yes both were still in their pajamas. Not exactly the right clothes to travel to a cartoon world. On top of that, they were supposed to leave a message in case their parents woke up. So John went back to his room and changed. Alicia did the same and wore a t-shirt with a wolf head on it, a necklace with flowers, gray shorts with pockets and red sneakers.
John entered her room again, now wearing a blue T-shirt with several Donald Ducks on it showing different facial expressions, gray pants and sneakers. "So can we finally go?" he whispered to her with an annoyed tone. Alicia nodded and went into the book first followed by her brother. Both disappeared in the bright light of the book. Dolly did not know that her two children were in the book. But the devil felt this and was very pleased. "So her two kids are in the book" he said as a mirror appeared in front of him watching the two just come out of a notebook and looking around in confusion as they were in the cottage of Cuphead, Mugman and Elder Kettle.
He was very pleased to see both siblings again. Especially Alicia, of course. He had had his eye on the young lady for a long time. His tail wagged when he saw her and he couldn't help but reach for his trident that was leaning next to his throne. "Don't worry Dorothy your daughter will be fine with me" he laughed peelishly "Once she becomes my queen". He disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving the throne room behind him.
"Where did Elder Kettle go?" wondered John as he came out of the kitchen while Alicia was walking down the stairs. "Well, there's no one upstairs either," said Alicia, who was also wondering where the others were. John and Alicia were more than confused. Normally the house was never as unoccupied as it was today. Usually there was always someone at home. It was always Elder Kettle, of course. But where was he now? Well the question was answered when both siblings heard the front door slowly open behind them. Alicia, who was getting scared again, hid behind one of the two chairs at the dining table. Alicia didn't know why, but she had the feeling that she suspected who was behind the front door. The big kittycat she was afraid of.
John, however, was not afraid and went to the front door and opened it. "Hey Alicia you can come out it's not the big bad kitty cat" he said while Alicia slowly came out from behind the chair and saw who was standing in front of the front door. There were two humanoid figures with cups for heads. Both wore a black long-sleeved shirt, white gloves, brown shoes and red and blue shorts respectively.
The figure with the red shorts had a wide cup with a red and white striped straw. His Face consists of eys that are very close together with black pie-cut pupils, and a small red nose. The other figure with the blue shorts had a Mug as a head with a shorter blue and white striped straw and a much bigger nose. His eyes are smaller and his head is slightly thinner compared to the other figure. What distinguished both figures from the two siblings not only in appearance was the fact that they had no neck and their heads were thus attached to their bodies.
Both siblings knew who the two were. They were Cuphead and Mugman. "Hey look Mug who's in our living room" said Cuphead as he smiled and walked over to the two siblings to greet them both. "Hey Cup and Mug how are you two doing?" asked John as he high-fived Cuphead's hand. Alicia joined them and shook hands off the two brothers as well. "Oh we're fine" "Yeah we couldn't be better" replied the two brothers. But both were already wondering why the two siblings were here so suddenly. Usually they were always here with Dolly and never alone. This surprised the two very much. Anyway, you could see that in the facial expressions of the two that they still had questions open that the two siblings could certainly answer them.
Well both of them actually wanted to discuss the reason why they were in the book with Elder Kettle. But since he was nowhere to be seen, they had to explain to the two brothers why they were in the book. And that without their mother. "Well we actually wanted to talk to Elder Kettle because we wanted to ask him... about... well..." John didn't know what to say and blushed more with each word he said than before. Both brothers noticed that he was having trouble finding the right words. Alicia, however, just rolled her eyes in annoyance and gave herself a face palm.
"Gee John you don't have to hide it from them that we are looking for a Mother's Day gift for Mom" both brothers looked from John to her. Now they both knew why they were here. "So you're here to give Dolly a present?" both siblings looked to the two brothers and nodded "Gee Alice and John you don't have to hide it from us" Mugman said as he patted John on the shoulder to reassure him. Although this matter was settled, one thing was still open for both siblings. "Do you happen to know where Elder Kettle is right now?" asked Alicia to the two. Both answered with a shrug and a shake of the head. This did not please the siblings, who had hoped that the two cups would at least know where Elder Kettle was. "But I know who could help you to find a suitable gift for your mother" both siblings who looked sadly to the ground before now looked at both brothers with joyful faces.
You could see the joy in the faces of the two siblings "Really who?" asked Alicia with a big grin on her face. Cuphead smirked, "Follow us and we'll lead you to the person," he said as he walked to the front door, leaving it open for the others to pass through before closing it behind him. "Always follow my straw!" said Cuphead as he marched like a soldier, his straw pointing in the direction he was walking. When Alicia saw this she had to giggle. She had long forgotten her panic fear of the devil.
The four walked along the stone path that led from the cottage to the wooden bridge with which they could visit the rest of the island. It was a bit windy. That's why the bridge was shaking a bit. But that did not bother any of the four. They walked on undisturbed while they greeted Mac. An anthropomorphic apple with a full body wearing yellow and green clothing, brown shoes, and white gloves. He has a green nose, a single leaf and a noticeable bite mark from the right side of his head.
He waved to the four who passed him and made their way to the person who would help Alicia and John. On the way there, the two siblings saw the garden that belonged to the Root Pack. Chaunsey was the only one in the garden tending to his plants. There was no sign of Sal and Ollie until the ground shook briefly and the two came out of the ground and helped their friend while waving at the two siblings. Goopy hopped past the four as well and bowed to them and tips his hat before he hopped on.
Both siblings were very happy to be back. The former debtors were also always very pleased when the two came to visit. Almost everyone argued about who should take care of the two siblings while Dolly wanted to spend time with her husband. It was not difficult to find out that Captain Brineybeard liked John very much while Baroness Von Bon Bon liked to have Alicia with her. The others also liked the two siblings very much and always took good care of them. From afar, Alicia saw the observatory that was on the highest part of the first island. But until then, they still had to walk a bit. Or rather run because John and Cuphead wanted to bet again who could reach Canteen Hughes first. Of course Alicia and Mugman lag behind and couldn't help giggling "Hey wait for us!" Alicia shouted as she and Mugman ran after the other two.
Alicia's giggle could be heard throughout the forest. Ribby and Croaks, who were training in the forest before returning to their ship, heard it and immediately knew who the giggle belonged to. Both frogs grinned and continued to train, beaming with joy. Cagney, who was at the other end of the forest planting new flowers, also heard the giggle of Alicia and had to giggle himself "Oh how nice it is to hear that giggle from her again" he said, very lost in thought. He did not notice that he was almost lying on the ground. Only when one of his Toothy Terror floaters bit his nose did Cagney notice and get up again while pulling the Toothy Terror off his nose.
Yes the arrival of the two was spread very quickly. After all, despite their size, Inkwell Isle's were quite small and news was heard very quickly. The two siblings, however, did not know that they were being followed by someone they should not cross path with. It was the devil. This watched the two siblings from afar. Yes Alicia was his target but she was of course not alone on the road but accompanied by her annoying brother and the two cups to which he owed that his reputation was slightly damaged. Yes, he wanted to grab Alicia right away and bring her to his kingdom. But there was unfortunately a tiny little problem. She was a mortal and would die immediately in his realm if she didn't wear a protective bracelet of course or be immortal like himself.
But the devil wouldn't be the devil if he couldn't think of a way to get Alicia to wear such a bracelet. He knew that she liked wolves very much. So it wouldn't be a bad thing if she happened to come across a bracelet with a wolf pattern lying right in front of her on the path. Oho you're already outdoing yourself yes the devil knew what he had to do and snapped his fingers before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
On the way in front of the four appeared the aforementioned bracelet that John almost stepped on as he was still in a head-to-head race with Cuphead. Alicia and Mugman, however, continued along the path without a rush. Mugman was happily whistling a song while Alicia was humming a song until she noticed something glittering on the path. She went closer and saw that it was a bracelet with a wolf pattern. "Wow that looks cool!" she said and slowly reached for it while Mugman, who realized she was no longer next to him, looked at her and stopped whistling.
Alicia held the bracelet in her hand and was fascinated by it. The devil appeared behind a tree not far from her and Mugman and watched them. "Yes put it on!" he said softly so Alicia or Mugman wouldn't hear him. Alicia slowly tightened it while Mugman noticed that something was wrong with the bracelet. He saw and felt the dark aura. He also noticed that Alicia saw nothing of it. She was blinded by the bracelet.
If she put this on, Mugman knew it wouldn't mean anything good. That's why he ran towards her while Alicia put the bracelet on almost completely around her forearm and the devil just grinned mischievously. Everything happened as if in slow motion. But before anything happened, Dorothy woke up in her bed.
Yes the chapters will not be as long as the others. But still I hope that you will like these.