Prologue
In a forest, not too far from a nearby town, lived all sorts of animals, both big and small. However, if we see the forest from a different perspective, you can see the world from a bug's eye view. While some people think bugs are disgusting to them, there are others that think bugs are amazing creatures that deserve respect. But what they didn't know is, it's nothing personal, that bugs also have lives of their own.
A good example for a family of insect, that would be ants. Ants all around the world always lived in colonies. And there are some that live in cities populated by all other kinds of bugs.
Somewhere in the forest, there was an ant hill like cottage. Inside were 2 little ant brothers, sleeping in their bunk beds. As the sun's rays reach them through the window, they started to wake up. As they get up and change to their everyday clothes, they then walked downstairs to the kitchen to have breakfast.
"Boys, breakfast is ready", said a voice that came from the kitchen. "Yes, Elder Beetle", said the Ant Brothers in unison. They came to the kitchen to see their guardian, Elder Beetle, a rhino beetle, about to serve them breakfast. Elder Beetle is a strict but fair beetle who has been taking of the boys since they were larva. He has a silver skin, a light, purple elytra and a band on top of his head along with his antenna. Elder Beetle wears a pair of glasses over his horn. He also wears yellow gloves and pink slippers.
Both boys sat in their seats as their food is being served. Their breakfasts are acorns and homemade raspberry jam. The older of the twins said to Elder Beetle: "Mm-mm! No one makes a good raspberry jam like you do, Elder Beetle!" "Why thank you, Cupant. You know how I harvest the finest raspberries in these parts of the woods", said Elder Beetle. Then he got suspicious and began to arched an eyebrow. "Wait. Are you just saying that so that I can give you some cookie crumbs?" Cupant was hesitant to answer his question. It is true that he's only saying that so that his strict guardian can give him and his brother cookie crumbs.
"Uh, no. I was just trying to be nice. Right, Mugbug?", Cupant said as he nudged his brother's arm. Mugbug just simply answered: "Huh? Oh! Um, yeah. He is being nice with you, Elder Beetle". "Okay, just finish your breakfast" Elder Beetle said. As Cupant and Mugbug finished their breakfast, they went outside to see their friend while waving goodbye to their guardian. "Now remember, boys. Don't go anywhere far from Bugtown. You know it's dangerous!", Elder Beetle warned them. "Okay, Elder Beetle. We won't!", Mugbug replied. Cupant, however, didn't listened because he too busy thinking about what they're going to do today. Maybe get into trouble.
Chapter 1
High Hopes
In the grass filled forest, Cupant and Mugbug are on their way to meet a friend of theirs. Cupant is an impulsive and adventurous ant who is willing to do things first and asks questions later. He wears a black sweatshirt in his thorax along with red shorts in his abdomen. He also wears yellow gloves and brown shoes. Cupant's skin is colored beige, has a red, small nose and has two, bent antenna with red and white stripes. Mugbug, on the other hand, is more cautious and responsible than his brother. He also wears a black sweatshirt but his shorts are blue. Like his brother, he also wear yellow gloves and brown shoes. Mugbug also has his skin beige, only to have a very large, blue nose and two straight antenna with blue and white stripes. Together, these two bumbling ants will always get into all sorts of trouble.
"So, Mugsy, what do you think we should do today?" Cupant asked his brother. "We could go to the Horsefly Ranch to practice some loop-de-loops or go to get some honeydew flavored ice cream in town." "Well, Cupant, maybe we should just go to the park in Bugtown, just to be safe", Mugbug said.
"Nah. We been to the park way too many times", Cupant said "Why don't we try somethin' different today?" "Well, okay. Maybe we'll decide when we find her", said Mugbug, preferring to their friend they're looking for. As they keep walking through the grass, they then spot another ant standing next to a mushroom. This ant appears to be female as she wears a black sweatshirt with a white collar, along with a blue skirt. She also wears white gloves and gold-yellow Mary Janes. Her skin is colored yellow while also having a gold-yellow brim on top of her head, under her antenna, which are also the same color with one, white stripe on each one. She also has a small, gold-yellow nose and a birth mark on the left side of her face.
"Hiya, fellas!", said the female ant while waving at the brothers. "Hi, Ms Chattice. We weren't expecting to see you here", Mugbug said. Ms Chattice is a free-spirited and fun-loving ant who is a loyal friend to the brothers. She is also a great tap-dancer and singer and has a love for music. Whenever her two friends are in hot water, Ms Chattice can always come in to get the brothers out of trouble.
"Well, I just thought about making a surprise appearance", Ms Chattice chuckled. "Oh. Well, then in that case, can you help us decide what should we do today?", Mugbug asked. "Cupant and I can't decide where we should go in Bugtown". "Yeah, so we just thought about asking you, Chattice", Cupant replied.
Ms Chattice thought for a moment. As she looks up at a nearby tree, an idea came into her head. "Say, fellas, did you ever climb to the top of a tree before?", Ms Chattice asked the brothers. "Well, no. We never actually climbed up a tree before", Mugbug answered. "Why do you ask?" "Because we're going all the way to the top of that tree!", Ms Chattice answered while pointing her thumb at the tree next to them. Both Cupant and Mugbug looked up at the tree to see how tall it is. Cupant looked very eager to climb to the top of it while Mugbug looked very reluctant.
"Wow! That's such a great idea, Chattice!" Cupant shouted in excitement. "Come on, Mugsy! Let's go!" "Absolutely not!" Mugbug said. "There's no way we're going up there without knowing if it's safe to go or not". "Well, we may not be able to find out until we go up there and see for ourselves", Ms Chattice said. "So, what do you say?"
"I say we race to the top!", Cupant shouted as he started crawling up from the roots of the tree. Ms Chattice laughed and started to come with him. A worried Mugbug started to panic and shouted: "Cupant! Ms Chattice! Are you two crazy!? What about the birds!? They might you up for breakfast!" "Oh, come on, Mugbug! You're gonna to miss out if you don't come!" Cupant shouted back as he and Chattice are getting closer to the branches. "Besides, we don't see any birds up here. So, come on! Don't miss out!", Ms Chattice shouted.
Mugbug facepalmed in frustration and shouted: "Okay, fine! You win. I'm coming with you but just to keep you safe". "Alright, Mugsy! We'll wait for you right here!", Cupant shouted back. Mugbug then proceed to crawl his way up from the roots to the branches as he struggles not to look down. When he did, Mugbug started to tremble and tried holding on as tight as he can. But he continued climbing as he reached the branches. When Mugbug got there, he found that both Cupant and Ms Chattice are sitting at a branch waiting for him.
"You made it, Mugbug! Now we're going to continue our way to the top of the tree", Ms Chattice said as she started jumping onto another branch. "You heard her, Mugbug. Now, what are we waitin' for? Let's follow her!", Cupant said with enthusiasm as he too started jumping. "Hey! Wait for me, you two!" Mugbug shouted. As the three ants were jumping from one branch to another, Cupant and Ms Chattice were nearly at the top when they noticed Mugbug nearly fell and started to hold on tightly on a leaf. They both sighed and Cupant decided to calm him down.
"Hey, buddy. No need to be afraid. We're almost there", Cupant said to his brother. He reached his hand out for Mugbug to grab on. When he did, the brothers then went their way to the top of the tree. To their amazement, they can see the whole view of the forest as birds were flying and clouds were all in different shapes and sizes. It even shows the roofs of houses from the local town that's owned by the humans.
"Whoa. This is the most beautiful thing Cupant and I have ever seen", Mugbug admitted. "Yeah, it really is", Cupant said. "And look! I can even see the houses from the town where the humans lived". "Of course you can see the houses from up here. I been up here before when I was a little pupa", Ms Chattice said. Mugbug felt empathy when he heard that and said: "You mean when you were with your scout mates in that colony you used to live in?"
"Well, yes. But you two ding-dongs know that we do not talk about it, all right?", Ms Chattice said with a little sadness in her tone. Then, she shrugged off the memory and said: "You know, I never told you this but I've actually been into one of those houses in the human town". Cupant and Mugbug both had their eyes widened in surprise. "You have!?", they both said in unison. "Why, of course. Everything in that house was very huge, compared to yours", Ms Chattice explained. "And it had all sorts of neat food". "Did you say food?", Cupant said, getting a bit interested about what he heard. Mugbug, on the other hand, is feeling a little worried about what's happening. "Oh-no", he said quietly.
"Yeah, all sorts of food! Like cookies, apples, candy, cheese. You dream it, they got it!", Ms Chattice said, sounding like a saleswoman. Cupant gasped upon hearing that. "Really!? Do they even got not melted ice cream in there?" he asked. "You bet they do, Cupant!", Ms Chattice said. "But Chattice, what about…" Mugbug said as he inhaled. "…the humans?"
"Ah, don't worry about them. I sneak in when their gone and it's like I say: 'When the humans are away, the ants will play'" Ms Chattice explained. "Ya hear that, Mugbug? Nothin' to worry about", Cupant told his brother. Mugbug is still feeling a little worried as he gulped. Ms Chattice then continue: "Anyway, I was thinking that I should bring you two ding-dongs with me into one of them houses by tomorrow in the morning. What do say?"
Cupant thought for a moment. It is true that he's never been inside of a human's house before, despite hearing about them in school. Perhaps he wouldn't mind if he could go exploring with his brother and their friend. Mugbug, however, isn't sure if this is such a good idea going into someone's house uninvited. On one hand, he knew that is a Bugtown law to never to go inside a human's house because they been taught to fear humans due to believing that all human beings are all bad for hating and killing bugs. On the other hand, it would be interesting to see what humans have inside their houses and what things they do with them.
"Okay, we'll go", Mugbug answered. Both Cupant and Ms Chattice were dumbfounded upon hearing his answer. "Wait, really? I just thought you would say no, Mugsy", Cupant said. "Well, I'm just saying we'll just be there for a while in one room, just to be safe", Mugbug said. "Just promise us we won't get killed in there, okay?" "Of course, I promise we will get of there alive", Ms Chattice said. "So, what can we do next, Chattice?" Cupant asked.
"Mm. Well, here's my treat: I recently bought 3 tickets to see a scary movie in town", Ms Chattice answered. "Scary movie!?", said both brothers in unison. Cupant seems more eager to watch it while seems a little bit shocked to hear that but he decides to get join in. "Well, I say let's go see that movie!" Cupant said while he grabbed Mugbug's hand as they slide down the branch they were standing on. Ms Chattice laughed and decided to join in the fun as she too slid down with them. As they crawl down the tree and to the ground, the three friends made their way to Bugtown.
Author's notes
Hi, everyone. I just want to say thank you for reading this chapter because this is my first fan fiction I have ever written so I just hope that doesn't sign me out for rewriting the names of a few characters. The fact is that I just to make my own au of Cuphead as bugs which was in my head for a while so I started writing it earlier in the year in paper.
Also, I'm going to tell you why I rewritten a few of the character's names. The reason I did it is because I thought that writing a story about Cuphead characters as bugs with their names being bug related would make a lot more sense. Cupant is Cuphead, Mugbug is Mugman, Elder Beetle is Elder Kettle and Ms Chattice is Ms Chalice. For those who don't know, the name "Ms Chattice" (my alternative bug name for Ms Chalice) is just a combination between chalice and atta, the genus for leaf cutter ants. Anyway, I just hope you like this chapter and that doesn't reject me.