A/N; I should clarify something. The reason I stopped updating was because according to the Traffic Stats no one has been reading any of my fanfics since September and that really discouraged me from updating again because I thought the readers have stopped caring. I don't understand why but if all of you are still commenting it means maybe the stats are wrong. I don't understand it but some alerts and comments have been helpful. So, thank you
A devastated Cuphead stands alone in the woods still holding the pitchfork in his right hand. Seconds ago, The Devil had taken Mugman and Bendy away to the Underworld because the cup had taken the pitchfork and wouldn't return it.
"Mugman?" Cuphead muttered. His lips trembling. "Bendy?"
The pitchfork fell from Cuphead's hand, and the boy fell to his knees and started to cry. Normally Cuphead brushed off guilt like it was nothing, but this time... this time it was different. Because of him, the two people he cared about the most were taken away. The cup looked at the gleaming pitchfork and snarled.
"Stupid pitchfork!" Cuphead yelled.
He picked up the underworld weapon, ran to the cliff, and held it over his head. He was about to throw the darn thing away... when—
"I wouldn't do that if I were you..."
Cuphead froze when he heard the echo of a feminine voice. He held the pitchfork with both hands ready to hit a target.
"Who said that!? Who's there?" Cuphead asked as his eyes scanned the area, but he didn't see anyone.
Just then a beam of light shined over the cup. He shielded his eyes.
"Cuphead... listen, you mustn't lose the pitchfork. It's the key to saving your friends."
Cuphead slowly opened his and they slowly adjusted to the light... but he still couldn't see anyone.
"Who's there?" Cuphead asked again.
The cup couldn't see that the light was shining from under a cloud and or that on the cloud sat Alice the angel.
"My name is of no importance," the angel said a heavenly echo. "Do you remember the sage advisor; Quadratus?"
"Y-yeah," Cuphead said.
"You must go seek his advice. He can help you." Alice said.
"Good idea. Thanks voice lady." Cuphead said as he set the bike on its wheels.
"You're very welcome," The angel said. "Cuphead. Can I ask a favor of you?"
"Uh, sure?" the cup asked. Very confused.
"Look after Bendall. Remind him that he is more than just a devil to be feared and hated. He deserves a bit of happiness too."
"Okay. I can do that!" Cuphead said with a smile before he hopped on the bike. The cup saw the cloud fly away. "Goodbye and thanks!" he said, he waved at the cloud before he peddled the bike away.
The angel watched the cup go and smiled.
"Good luck Cuphead," Alice said.
Down in the Underworld, a demon soldier roars.
The demon is tall, stout, green, and ferocious. He had small horns, pointed ears, yellow eyes, and large, sharp teeth. He is wearing a black hood covering most of his face and head and a black kilt that covers his body from torso to his knees held up by a studded belt. He also had studded belts on his wrists. The soldier cracks his whip.
A line of pale disheveled, barely clothed slaves, struggling to carry large boulders over their heads, groan as they walk, and the soldier continues to crack his whip.
"Keep walking!" the soldier ordered in a loud voice.
The line walks towards what The Devil calls The Torture Room. These slaves were past sinners now called inhabitants. It is here where most inhabitants are imprisoned and tortured in various ways with soldiers stationed everywhere. Some inhabitants walk carrying heavy boulders over their heads in an endless march, some are trapped in cages hanging over a lake of fire, and some are locked in a row of pillories, and hung on the walls with chains.
Such was the case for Mugman. Chained to the wall, hung by his wrists next to an old man with a long white beard who is also chained to the wall. Yet, Mugman didn't seem the least bit disturbed by his surroundings. He was simply whistling cheerfully like he hadn't a care in the world.
"So, how long have you been here?" Mugman asked the old man.
"AH!" the old man screamed. His mind was too broken for him to speak properly.
"Ya don't say?" Mugman replied. "Well, I'm only here till my brother comes and gets me."
Large footsteps made the ground rumble as a demon soldier approached the mug.
"Prisoner, don't talk to the inhabitants!" The demon soldier yelled.
"Wow! Look at them chompers!" Mugman said. He points at the soldier's teeth with his foot. "Can you even close your mouth all the way?"
"Don't talk to me either!" The soldier ordered.
"Just one more question. Is it hard for you to eat pasghetti with those?"
The demon soldier thinks about this for a second.
"...Not if I cut it up." He answered.
"Ew! You cut up pasghetti? Gross." Mugman said with disapproval.
"I said don't talk to me!" the soldier yelled.
"Oh, hey. What's this thing do?" Mugman asked. He spotted a lever attached to the wall next to him, slipped his hand from the cuffs of the chain, and pulled the lever down.
"Oh, no!" the soldier exclaimed before he fell down the trap door and was presumably incinerated by the fire that erupted from within before the door closed again.
"Oops," Mugman said before slipping his hand back through the cuff. "Well, on the bright side, now we can keep talking."
"AH!" the old man screamed.
Meanwhile, in the Underworld Headquarters, Henchman was pacing outside of the prince's room while The Devil and his son conversed inside.
Bendy was sitting on a chair while The Devil stood up.
"I am very disappointed, Bendall. What were you thinking? How could you betray me like that? And befriend those cup brats."
"I didn't mean to. It just happened." Bendy admitted. "At first I really saw them more as toys or secret pets than friends."
"Oh, well, that's not so ba—"
"But... over time I started growing fond of them. And when they saved my life from the butcher gang, I realized that they were real friends."
"Hold on! When was your life in danger?"
"Ummm... One- two- yeah two times,"
"Bendall." The Devil said sternly.
"Okay, maybe more than two times."
"Again with the lies."
"I'm sorry. My point is, Cuphead and Mugman are not things or pets. They are my friends. And guess what, when they found I was the Devil's kid, they still thought of me as a friend."
"But why them? Of all people. If you wanted friends that badly, I could easily arrange a play date with some demon kids down here."
"You mean those pushovers that'll do anything I say because they're too scared to disagree?"
"Think of that as a perk."
"No thank you," Bendy said before crossing his arms.
The Devil sighed and then placed a hand on Bendall's head, the little devil turned his head making the big devil retract.
"I'm not giving up on my friends," Bendy said. "And I know they won't give up on me."
The Devil grumbled. He walked to the door.
"I like to think of myself as a tolerable person and I can take a prank or two from you, but I will not tolerate a betrayal like this. You knew it was important to me to get that cup's soul and you deliberately went behind my back and protected him."
Bendy raised his head.
"You are grounded."
"What are you going to do to Mugman?" Bendy asked.
"Those porcelain-headed idiots will not get away with stealing my pitchfork or turning you against me. They'll both get what they deserve."
"Dad, if you want to punish me, fine, I know I deserve it, but please let Mugman go." Bendy pleaded. "He and Cuphead were just—"
"You... don't get to defend them this time." The Devil interjected. "You're only leaving this room for lessons and meals, and I never want to hear you say that cup's name ever again!" He exits the room and locks the door behind him.
Bendy bolted for the yellow door. He pounded his fists, kicked it, and melted down to slip through the cracks but nothing worked. He yelled but it was muffled.
The Devil and Henchman start walking towards the torture room.
"The prince is not allowed out of his room without my saw so." The Devil said.
"Uh okay boss," Henchman said. He felt bad for Bendy but knew nothing he could say now could change the boss's mind. "So, uh, about Mugman...?" Henchman asked.
"Ugh, that mug and the cup. This is all their fault!" The Devil said with a snarl. "If those twerps think they can get away with ruining my reputation, stealing my pitchfork, and turning my son against me, they got another thing coming."
"Duh, but boss, you can't just kidnap people and bring 'em down here. It's against the rules."
"RULES?!" The Devil shouted so loudly it shook the Underworld. "I don't care about rules! Those cups had this coming a long time ago. Bendall never deliberately stopped me from taking a soul indebted to me before."
The two made it to the office space overlooking the torture room. The office space had a bulletin board, a water fountain, a file cabinet, a clock hanging on the wall, and a large window where they could see the torture room. From this room, they can see Mugman casually talking to one of the older inhabitants.
"They obviously brainwashed him or something." The Devil said. "That's the only explanation there is."
"Duh, do you really think the cups can do that?" Henchman asked.
The Devil looked at Mugman and saw the goofy mug swinging and singing.
"You might have a point there," The Devil said, doubting his previous accusation. "Still, turning Bendall against and stealing my pitchfork was the final straw. Half of my powers are tied up in that thing. I can't zap stuff, I can't shoot fire. I can't even teleport!"
"Duh, well, at least you can still transform," Henchman said.
"That's not as much fun as shooting fire!" The Devil yelled, shaking the Underworld. "It was my whole style. I was so expressive when I had my pitchfork. Now I don't even know what to do with my hands. I..."
He poses awkwardly until he slumps and sighs sadly.
"Duh, you still got that big spoon that came with it," Henchman suggested. He held out a huge golden spoon that came from a giant box labeled for a set of magical utensils.
"Would you put that thing away before someone sees it? It's embarrassing." The Devil said. "It's time to even the score with that cup. First, I'll crush his beloved brother's spirit."
Mugman was still swinging and singing while the old man screamed.
"Just look at that blue-nosed buffoon." The Devil said and then smiled. "This will be too easy."
"Duh, I dunno, boss. I wouldn't underestimate Mugman." Henchman said.
"Oh please! I bet I can break his spirit before the clock strikes 12."
The Devil looked at the clock hanging on the wall next to him. It was eight o'clock.
"I'll take that bet," Henchman said.
The devil looked at the purple demon questioningly.
"What? I wasn't actually suggesting... Uh... Mm!" The Devil said before he smiled slyly. "All right, Henchman, what's on the line?"
"An all-expense-paid trip to the destination of my choice!" Henchman exclaimed excitedly.
"Deal." The Devil said after extending his hand to the purple demon.
Henchman shakes his boss's hand before looking at him sternly.
"And no cheatin'," Henchman said.
The Devil gives a mocking gasp. "Why, Henchman! You cut me to the quick!" he said.
Back on the surface world, Cuphead was panting as he drove the bike through the long grass and reeds. Soon he reached his destination, Quadratus' pond. He hops off the bike and pulls out a fizzy jawbreaker from his pocket. He was about to throw it into the pond when he noticed a message in the water.
""On vacation"? Sorry, Quadratus, it's an emergency." Cuphead said. "Incoming fizzy jawbreaker!"
Cuphead drops the jawbreaker into the water. At once, the water began to bubble, swirl, and glow magically. The ground rumbled as a voice broke through the air.
"I appreciate your summoning donation..."
Suddenly Quadratus appeared in the water wearing a lei, sunglasses, and a bit of sunscreen on his nose.
"But not while I am on vacation," Quadratus concluded.
"I'm sorry, but the Devil took Mugman and Bendy!" Cuphead said. "I need your help to rescue them!"
Quadratus slips his sunglasses off.
"Ugh, fine," Quadratus said after rolling his eyes. "Let the pitchfork be your passport. Slam it down for instant transport."
"Sounds great. Now you're talking!" Cuphead said before he grabbed the pitchfork.
"Although, if you'd like to travel faster, it takes 1,000 years to master."
"A thousand years to master? Yeah, right. Watch this."
Cuphead slams down the pitchfork. When the smoke cleared Cuphead's body parts were rearranged. The cup slams down the pitchfork again and again and every time he does the mix and match of his body parts gets worse. He stops when everything is back in its usual place.
"Phew! There has got to be another way to get there." Cuphead said before walking to the pond.
"If you cannot cope with such delay, there is perhaps a riskier way," Quadratus said. "Now, listen carefully, you will have to..."
Before the wise man could continue, his image in the pond faded and a new voice came along with a dial tone ring.
"Please insert another fizzy jawbreaker." Said the operator.
Cuphead gasped and threw in another fizzy jawbreaker. Quadratus reappeared.
"...with amends. And that is how you'll save your friends." Quadratus said proudly.
"Wait!" Cuphead exclaimed. "I had to put in another jawbreaker! I missed everything!"
"What? Even the part about the ancient contract of pitchfork ownership?" Quadratus asked.
"What's the ancient contract of pitchfork ownership?" Cuphead asked.
The ground rumbled as Quadratus answered the question.
"Finders keepers, losers weepers!"
The cup scratched his head and thought for a moment.
"Finders keepers?" Cuphead said. "Well, I found it. So if the Devil wants it back, he's got to make a deal!" he said excitedly. "Now, how do I get down there? And make it snappy, Quadratus! That was my last jawbreaker!"
"Snappy I shall make this talk if you take hold of this here chalk," Quadratus said before handing Cuphead the chalk stick.
Cuphead took the chalk stick and looked at it with fascination.
Meanwhile, in the Underworld Torture Room, The Devil was walking down a staircase, his face beaming with confidence. He smirked when he spotted the valve wheel to the heater. He turned the wheel enough times for the fires to burn hotter and brighter. The demon king laughed before he approached the mug.
Mugman was now on the ground, a shackle around his ankle, and playing with his marbles.
"Yes!" Mugman exclaimed.
"Hey! How you doing, champ?" The Devil asked before squatting. "Hot enough for you?"
The Devil spotted one of the inhabitants and smiled when the man groaned and melted under the intense heat.
"Heh. Not too..." The Devil said before wiping the sweat from his forehead. "...steamy, is it?"
"Nah, I'm comfortable," Mugman said honestly. Somehow, he was not affected by the intense heat at all.
A puddle of sweat formed under The Devil, and he panted before getting to turn down the heat. The puddle evaporated before the fires went down. The big devil rushes back to the mug.
"Whew!" The Devil sighed heavily. Then he spoke in a friendly voice. "So, are you enjoying the underworld? Thinking about how you're going to spend the rest of eternity?"
Without taking his eyes away from the marbles, Mugman replied.
"Just passin' the time till Cuphead comes to save me."
"What? You think your brother's going to save you?" The Devil asked. He turned to look at some of the inhabitants and smiled widely with a chuckle. "He thinks his brother is going to come down here and save him!" he mocked with a laugh.
The wretched people didn't respond and stayed in miserable silence.
""Ha-ha"?" The Devil said looking at them expectantly.
"Oh!" one man exclaimed before he started laughing weakly.
After him, all of the other inhabitants start laughing weakly.
"AH!" the old man screamed.
The Devil chuckles gleefully.
"Exactly how long do you think you've been down here?" The Devil asked.
"I dunno. A couple of days?" Mugman answered.
"Oh, Mugman, Mugman, Mugman." The Devil said, shaking his head. He tried to sound earnest and even placed a hand on the mug's shoulder. "It may feel like that, but it's actually been 80 years. And I'm afraid that by now your dear brother Cuphead is dead!"
"Great, so he's here then!" Mugman said with positivity.
"What? No, he's dead." The Devil argued. "But he's not here. He's..."
The big devil looks around and then points upward.
Mugman narrowed his eyes at The Devil for a second.
"Not buying it," Mugman said plainly.
The Devil was taken aback. "What?! Oh! Not buying it!?" he said. He stood up with his hands on his hips.
"Listen, I know my brother, and if he's not down here, then he's not dead, which means he's coming to save me."
The Devil turned around and grumbled. Then he hears singing. He looks up at the office window and sees Henchman vocalizing, dancing to gentle hula music, and wearing a grass skirt. Probably fantasizing about his trip. The Devil growls, realizing he might be losing the bet.
Back at the forest, Cuphead has been getting instructions from the sage advisor.
"With this chalk, now draw a square," Quadratus said. "Do not delay. You're almost there."
Cuphead drew a large square on the ground, the lines glowed magically.
"Now, read the inscription on the chalk."
"Okay," Cuphead said before clearing his throat and reading the inscription aloud. ""Surface world, I'll see you later. Down I go in this elevator.""
The ground started to rumble, and the square drawing soon burst into flames before the elevator to the Underworld appeared.
DING
The door opened. Cuphead puffed up his chest and was about to walk into the elevator.
"One more thing before you go," Quadratus said.
Cuphead ran back to the pond. "What is it?" Cuphead asked.
"Before you go take on this dangerous task, I encourage you to take this mask,"
Quadratus hands Cuphead a cartoon Bendy mask. It looked old, slightly singed, and with a few ink blotches. The cup takes it a looks it over curiously.
"Why should I take this?" Cuphead asked.
"So no demon could detect your presence, if they did there would be consequences."
"Oh, a disguise. Gotcha," Cuphead said. He sniffs it. "Yuck, it stinks."
"Just wear it when you get down there," Quadratus argued.
"Alright, alright," Cuphead said before inspecting the mask again. He sees something written on the edge. ""Sammy"? Eh," he tied the string around his head and placed the mask over to the side. He then walks up to the elevator with the pitchfork in his hand. He slowly closes the door. "Oh! The bike!" he exclaimed.
Cuphead runs out of the elevator and wheels the bike in... but it only fits halfway in. he grunts and the bike bells ding as he tries to fit the bike in the small space.
"No, no, no. You have to lift up the bike. Lift— Lift it up." Quadratus said. "No, not the back, the front! The front."
Cuphead strained to lift the bike and fit it inside.
The wise man rolled his eyes and groaned.
Finally, Cuphead manages to fit the bike at the back of the elevator.
"There," Cuphead said before looking ahead. "Well, here goes nothing."
Then the cup gulped before closing the door and pushed the down button. Flames erupt around the elevator with a roar before the transport sunk into the earth and disappeared.
As the last of the flames flicker away, Quadratus speaks.
"Finally!" The wise man slips his sunglasses back on before disappearing into the water. "Anybody up for some volleyball?"
Bendy sat on his bed, feeling exhausted after trying but failing to escape his room. He turned his head, he spotted his stuffed wolf by his pillows and grabbed him. He looked into the doll's black eyes.
"I'm sure Cuphead will come down here and rescue Mugman," Bendy said. "I can almost see it. But do you think he'll come rescue me too?"
Bendy used his fingers to make the wolf doll shrug.
"Oh, what do you know!" Bendy shouted. He threw the doll against the wall. A second later, Bendy grabs the doll and hugs it tight. He sighed sadly before crawling back into bed, falling on his side, and curling up with his doll on his chest.
At that moment, the elevator appeared in the Throne Room. Cuphead slips the demon mask over his face before opening the door. Through the eye holes, he can see the room in all its menacing glory. He rolls his bike down the path to the throne and spots the three tapestries of The Devil.
"Yikes," Cuphead said. the cup starts to sweat, and he pulls on his shirt collar. "Ugh, why is it so hot down here?" he then noticed the flames everywhere and remembered where he was. "Oh. Right."
Cuphead spotted a hallway and decided to try searching for his friends there first. He parks the bike behind one of the pillars and walks down the hall. The halls were like a maze, but the cup persisted. When he spotted a demon imp, he casually waved at them while hiding the pitchfork behind his back.
"Hey," Cuphead said to one demon imp.
"Hey," Demon 245 replied before walking away.
After a few minutes, Cuphead spotted a yellow door, bolted shut, and with a very familiar demon head shape symbol engraved on it. The Cup gasped.
"Bendy," Cuphead whispered. He ran to the door and knocked. "Bendy?" he whispered to the door. "Are you in there buddy?"
There was no reply... but that won't stop the cup. He stands back, points at the pitchfork, and shoots fire at the bolts. The bolts burned to ash and Cuphead pulled the door open with the handle. The room was dark, the cup slipped the mask over his head, walked into the room, and used the flames from the pitchfork to light the room. What he found was not what he expected.
Inside the room was a collection of Bendy the Dancing Demon memorabilia. Posters, toys, music records, commemorative dinner plates, life-size cardboard cutouts of characters, etc.
""Little devil darlin'"? "Sheep songs", "Sent from above", "The candlestick brakers", "Train trouble"?" Cuphead said reading off some of the posters. He then saw the Bendy Demon cut out standee and noticed how similar it looked to Bendy Devil. "Was Bendy a cartoon star?" Cuphead wondered. "Neat!" He exclaimed. He then noticed something else on another wall.
Set on a wall were two fire axes perched on hooks, a pair of adult-size overalls hanging off a hook, and a large bottle of black liquid set on a shelf. As Cuphead got closer, the bottle shook slightly in the light. Cuphead gasped.
"Bendy? Is that you in there?" Cuphead asked. The bottle shook again. He reached for the bottle with the pitchfork. He managed to move the bottle to the edge, it fell off the shelf, but Cuphead caught it. He sets the pitchfork to the side. "Hang on buddy, I'll get you out."
Cuphead twisted the cork from the bottle until it popped off and he poured the black ink onto the floor.
"Here you go buddy," Cuphead said. The liquid continued to flow out and morphed into a ball on the floor. Cuphead then noticed the ink form getting bigger... much bigger than Bendy usually gets. "Wait a second..." he said.
After the last drop fell out, the mass grew and reshaped into... a full-grown humanoid shape.
Cuphead got a bad feeling in his stomach. He looked at the bottle, turned it around, and noticed a piece of paper glued to it with words on it.
""Dangerous! Keep closed! Do not open under any circumstances!"?" Cuphead read aloud. "Why was this side facing the wall!?"
The ink creature groaned as it slowly got to its feet.
Without a word, Cuphead took the pitchfork and ran away, leaving a dust cloud in his image behind. Well, that and the demon mask which fell off his head.
The ink man barely noticed the cup and the cloud vanished as soon as it turned around. It spotted the mask, picked it up, and fashioned it over its face.
"I can sense you are near, my lord." the creature said before grabbing the overalls and the axes off the wall. "Do not worry, your loyal Sammy will be with you soon,"
Cuphead was still running away until he stopped after turning a corner. He panted before peeking around the corner.
"Phew. It didn't follow me." Cuphead said. "Ugh, how am I supposed to find Bendy in this place?" he groaned. He turned around and noticed a door down the hall with words engraved on it.
"Prince Bendall's Room"
"Oh," Cuphead said.
The cup turns the doorknob, but it's locked in place. Then he shoots fire at the knob until it was ash. The door opens.
Bendy lifts his head when he hears the door open. If it was his dad again, he'd scream... but to his surprise, it wasn't his dad or Henchman or a demon at all. He sits up.
"Cuphead?" Bendy asked.
Cuphead squeals with glee. He and Bendy run to each other and hug. The little devil purred as they hugged, and the cup enjoyed the feeling. They parted away to look at each other, smiling.
"I'm so sorry Buddy. I didn't mean to get you in trouble." Cuphead said. "I'm so sorry."
"Hey, it's okay," Bendy said. "I was bound to get caught eventually. Are you here to rescue Mugman?"
"Yes. And you too. Help me find Mugsy and we can all escape together."
Bendy's smile faded and he backed away from Cuphead.
"Listen Cup. I can help you and Mugman escape but... I can't go with you." Bendy said and looked away sadly.
"Why not?" Cuphead asked with concern.
"Because... we shouldn't be friends anymore," Bendy said.
Cuphead gasped. "Bendy! What are you saying?" he asked.
"Cuphead, I'm a devil and as long as your friends with me, you'll keep getting in trouble. I'll help you but after this, we should just go our separate ways."
"But... I don't want to separate from you." Cuphead admitted. "I like you too much to do that."
"You shouldn't like me anyway, I'm a devil. The prince of demons." Bendy said before turning around.
"You're not just a devil! You're also a dancer, and a prankster, and the guy I like... like. Like more than a friend."
Bendy's eyes went wide, and he slowly turned to look at Cuphead in astonishment.
"Ugh, this is so not how imagined doing this but..." Cuphead said before taking Bendy's hand and looking him in the eye. "Bendy, I like like you. I know it's not normal today for two boys to like each other but I can't stop how I feel about you and, honestly, I don't want to. I like like you, and I need you to know that I don't care if you're a demon. It won't change how I feel about you,"
Bendy's heart leaped as Cuphead confessed his feelings and black tears welled up in his eyes. Wordlessly, Bendy goes to his drawing desk, flips some papers around until he picks up one, brings it back with him, and hands it to the cup.
Cuphead takes the paper and sees that it's a drawing of Bendy and him, holding hands and blushing as they look at each other. With hopeful eyes, Cuphead looks back at Bendy.
"I'm not usually good with feelings but I... I like like you too Cuphead." Bendy said bashfully.
Cuphead pockets the picture and tackles Bendy to the ground with a hug. Bendy relaxes and returns the hug.
Just then a voice broke through the silence. The boys froze and listened.
"Oh, come on!" came The Devil's voice. "I've been torturing you for hours. Will you just break already?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Came Mugman's voice.
The Devil's grumble echoed in the hall.
Cuphead and Bendy gasped and got up on their feet.
"We should hurry and get Mugman," Bendy said.
"And you're coming with us, right?" Cuphead asked.
"But what about my dad? He'll get really mad,"
"We've made him mad before, why stop now?"
Bendy thought for a second and then nodded. "Okay, let's go. I bet I know where Dad is keeping him."
At the same time, Sammy was wandering around the halls, holding the two fire axes, trying to find either his lord or an exit and knocking out any demon he comes upon. Instead, he found the Underworld Library, he stepped inside and looked around until he found a pedestal with a glass dome on it. Inside the glass, he sees a very familiar book.
"THE ILLUSION OF LIVING" by Joey Drew
"The Speaker's book. My lord will definitely want this," Sammy said before smashing the glass with the blunt end of the axe and then grabbing the book.
Meanwhile, The Devil had just stomped back into the torture room office. He stopped in his tracks when he noticed the time on the clock and gasped. It was ten till twelve.
"Duh, cuttin' it pretty close," Henchman said with a smug expression.
The Devil grew visibly nervous and drummed his fingers to his chin in thought.
"Uh... Oh! Say, Henchman, I just remembered." The Devil said with a smile. "I have some, uh, dry cleaning for you to pick up." He lied.
The purple demon just stared at his boss blankly for a second before smiling.
"Duh, okay," Henchman said.
The Devil watched as Henchman walked out of the room before he turned his attention to the clock. He tries to turn the hands on the clock in reverse.
"Duh, what do you think you're doing?" came Henchman's voice.
The Devil turned his head and saw Henchman standing there, looking at the devil with disapproval.
"Oh, Henchman!" The Devil said. "I was just... dusting." He smiled with a nervous chuckle. "It was slow so I just... Daylight savings?"
Henchman crossed his arms and shook his head.
"Boss, boss, boss."
Mugman was still playing with his marbles when he felt someone tap on his shoulder. He turns his head and gasps happily when he sees Cuphead and Bendy. The brothers squeal and hug while Bendy picks on the lock of the chain cuffed around the mug's ankle. The cuff unlocks and the cups part to look at each other.
"I'm so sorry, Mugsy!" Cuphead said.
Mugman shushes his brother quietly, turns the cup's head, and points up. Cuphead and Bendy see The Devil and Henchman in the office room, talking amongst themselves.
"I'm not kidding, Henchman." The Devil said. "It was dusty, it was running way too slow—"
"You ought to be ashamed," Henchman interjected.
"This way," Bendy whispered and gestured the cups to follow him.
The boys tiptoed away but Mugman stayed behind for a second and smiled at the old man on the wall.
"I'll talk to you later," Mugman whispered.
"AH!" The old man screamed.
Back in the office room, The Devil had his back to the window while he talked down to Henchman.
"I don't wish to discuss this matter any further." The Devil said.
Henchman looked out the window, past the boss, and saw the three boys tiptoe to the exit door.
"Boss, look, it's Cuphead!" Henchman shouted and pointed towards the window.
"Uh, excuse me, I was talking!"
"But boss!" Henchman insisted.
"Henchman, you're being very rude."
Bendy had just opened the door and the boys stepped walk through the doorway. Henchman grumbled before he grabbed The Devil's hips and turned him around. The Devil spotted the three boys closing the door to the exit and gasped. The boys closed the door and The Devil grabbed Henchman.
"Why didn't you tell me?!" The Devil yelled so loudly it shook the ground before he threw the purple to the ground. The big devil motioned to slam his pitchfork down before remembering that he didn't have it. The Devil screamed in frustration before stepping on Henchman as he ran out of the room.
"Hey! Get back here!" The Devil yelled as he ran down the stairs.
The three boys were walking when they heard the yell, they screamed and ran. Mugman looks back and sees The Devil chasing them.
"I kidnapped you fair and square!" The Devil yelled.
Mugman pulls the bag of marbles from his pocket, turns it over, and lets the marbles fall behind him.
The Devil realized too late what the mug had done and before he could stop himself, he slipped and slid on the marbles before he fell on his back. A few marbles fell into his mouth.
The boys reached a hall that forked into two ways.
"This way!" Bendy shouted before going to the right hallway and the cups followed him.
Just a few steps in before the little devil stopped and gasped. The boys stopped after him. In front of them stood Sammy. He turned to face them.
"My lord Bendy!" Sammy exclaimed cheerfully with open arms still holding the axes.
"Back the other way!" Bendy said before pushing the others back and down the other way.
They soon reached the throne room, and Cuphead and Mugman got on the bike. Bendy hops on after them as they peddle the bike, sitting between the brothers with his hands on Cuphead's shoulders.
"Who was that man?" Mugman asked.
"Sammy Lawrence," Bendy explained. "But how did he get out of his bottle?"
Cuphead's eyes shifted from side to side.
Mugman turns his head and spots The Devil chasing them with a snarl.
"Faster!" Mugman shouted.
The cup boys peddle the bike faster. Cuphead turned his head before Bendy shouted.
"Watch out!" Bendy yelled.
The bike hits a rock and flies off the ground momentarily.
Cuphead grabs the pitchfork and when they land, the pitchfork shoots fire at a wall and a flow of lava spills out. It flows between the boys and The Devil.
The big devil stops running and then screams. As he screams, he transforms into his dragon form. He flies after the boys.
Cuphead, Mugman, and Bendy notice a large shadow looming over them, turn their heads and see the devil dragon fly towards them with a roar. The three boys scream before turning between two pillars. The dragon follows them.
The boys drive the bike between pillars down the hall and The Devil follows them. Occasionally The Devil transforms into different shapes. Into a gorilla, then a panther, then a horse, and then a giant octopus. Sammy would chase the boys. Sammy would have Bendy in his hands, and everyone chases him. The boys chase The Devil on the bike. The Devil rides the bike and chases the boys who run on foot. Then the boys drove away back on the bike, and The Devil chased after them.
The bike hits a pothole and Cuphead accidentally shoots fire at The Devil's tapestry with the pitchfork.
The Devil stopped flying when he saw the burning paintings.
"My paintings!" The Devil cried out.
Cuphead looked down at the pitchfork and laughed.
"Hey, fellas, watch this," Cuphead said before pointing the pitchfork and firing.
The Devil saw the incoming flames, screamed, and then ducked. The throne was hit with the blast and quickly burned into a pile of ash.
"My throne!" The Devil shouted with a gasp. "I just had that reupholstered!"
At the end of that sentence, Cuphead shoots again and this time, the fireball hits The Devil right on the chest. The dragon groaned.
"Oh, that really hurts." The Devil said before he growled.
Cuphead laughed before he turned the bike down another hallway.
"My lord Bendy, come back!" Sammy cried out as he ran past the dragon.
The Devil snarled and smacked the ink man with his tail. Sammy crashes against a pillar and lies motionless on the floor.
"Stay away from him!" The Devil shouted before following the boys.
The boys drove the bike into a large room with glass tubes everywhere.
"Hey, what are all these tubes?" Cuphead asked.
"They're all coming from up there!" Mugman said, pointing upward.
Four glass tubes are coming from the ceiling.
"Oh my gosh, they're full of souls!" Cuphead exclaimed.
"This is one of the ways my dad gets souls for his collection," Bendy said.
Mugman and Bendy look behind them and see the devil dragon flying behind them. The Devil transformed into a giant bull and bellowed.
Cuphead, Mugman, and Bendy scream when they see the charging devil bull.
"Get off that bike Bendall!" The Devil ordered.
"No!" Bendy shouted.
The Devil tries to get them with his horn.
"Whoa! Whoa!" the boys exclaimed.
The Devil hits the back wheel, and the bike goes flying upward.
Cuphead fell off the bike after it landed on a tube.
"Cuphead!" Bendy and Mugman cried out.
The cup managed to roll onto his feet and started running on the tube with the pitchfork in his hands.
"Will you quit fooling around and get back on the bike?" Mugman exclaimed.
The Devil was still charging forward but turned his head to see the boys on the tube.
"Hey! Get off those tubes!" The Devil shouted. "They lead to my—" Before he could finish, he crashed into his... "Soul vault."
The devil bull fell back and rubbed his head. The sound of souls moaning caught his attention and he noticed the large hole he made into the vault which the souls took advantage of and made their escape. He gasped.
"Not again!" The Devil cried out. He tried to grab them while still in bull form but in vain. "Curse these hooves!" he shouted. He then transforms into a giant octopus and grabs some souls with his tentacles.
"Serves you right, you big jerk!" Cuphead said with a smirk. Then the cup had an idea. He used the pitchfork to destroy other tubes. He laughed seeing the souls fly away.
Bendy took the front seat of the bike and steered.
The Devil screamed when he saw what the cup was doing.
"What are you doing?!" The Devil shouted.
"Whoo!" Cuphead exclaimed as he slid on his tube and destroyed the others.
"Whoo-oo!" Bendy exclaimed as he rode the bike.
"Stop that, you rotten brat!" The Devil yelled.
Cuphead ignored him and kept destroying the tubes. The souls moaned as they flew away. Soon the tubes were empty.
The Devil screamed accidentally releasing the souls he had left in his tentacles.
"No!" the big devil cried out. He reached for them, but it was too late, and they flew away. He sobbed. Then he burst into flames, growled, and glared at the boys.
"Uh-oh, Cuphead, time to go!" Bendy shouted.
The cup got the message and hopped back on the back. Bendy backed up and let Cuphead take the front seat. The boys rode the bike down the tubes until they landed back on the ground.
Cuphead turned his head and saw the elevator not far from them.
"There's the elevator! That's our ticket out of here." Cuphead said before turning the bike.
They hit the brakes when they reached the elevator, picked up the bike, pushed it inside, squeezed inside the elevator together, and pushed the down button.
DING
The elevator door closes.
"Whew!" The boys sighed.
"We made it, Mugsy!" Cuphead said.
The brothers hugged.
"I never doubted that you would come to rescue me," Mugman said. "And Bendy too."
Bendy joins in the hug.
"It's the least I could do," Cuphead said. "I'm sorry I got you guys in trouble."
The boys were still hugging... when they noticed something was off.
"Wait, how come the elevator ain't moving?" Cuphead asked.
The other boys noticed this too... but before anyone could speak there came an awful creaking sound. Suddenly the elevator broke apart around them. The three boys huddled together and were shocked when they realized they were in a giant mouth.
Mugman screams.
The Devil was now a giant and had the three boys on his tongue in his mouth.
"YOU INSOLENT BRATS!" The Devil yelled.
When the giant devil had his mouth open, the cup grabbed the little devil's wrist who then grabbed the mug's wrist.
"Let's get outta here!" Cuphead shouted.
The three boys jump out of The Devil's mouth. Mugman screams as he falls. Cuphead saddles the pitchfork and flies down. Bendy manages to catch the pitchfork while Cuphead reaches for Mugman... but The Devil beats him to it and now he has the mug trapped in his giant hand.
The giant devil laughed evilly.
Cuphead and Bendy gasped.
"Now give me back my pitchfo—" The Devil ordered before something got stuck in his throat. He coughed and gagged. Then he used his other hand to pull the bike out of his throat. He grumbled before dropping the bike.
The bike made a shattering sound as it hit the floor.
"Now give me back my pitchfork and my son!" The Devil ordered.
"Mm, I don't think so," Cuphead said. "I found it fair and square."
"And it was my choice dad." Bendy said.
The Devil growled and, in his anger, he tightened his grip on Mugman. The mug groaned from the pain.
"Cuphead!" Mugman cried out.
"Hey, leave my brother out of this!" Cuphead shouted. "You know the rules of pitchfork ownership."
The Devil gasped.
"Finders keepers." The Devil said.
"Losers weepers," Cuphead said.
The Devil sighed with annoyance as he shrunk down to his normal size. He was still holding Mugman this time hanging by the back of his shirt.
Cuphead flies the pitchfork down, and then he and Bendy hop off before facing The Devil.
"Yeah, that's right. You want this back? You gotta make a deal." Cuphead said.
"I suppose I have no choice." The Devil said with a sigh. "Give me my pitchfork and my son and you can have your annoying brother. Trade on three?"
"Trade on th—" Cuphead said.
Just then, Bendy pulled Cuphead back by the handle and whispered into his ear.
"Oh, wait I want to add one more thing," Cuphead said. "You have to..." he glanced at Bendy.
The little devil whispered again in the cup's ear.
"You also have to 'unground' your son for being friends with me and Mugsy and let him freely go to the surface world and back for the foreseeable future," Cuphead said.
"No way." The Devil said.
"Fine then Cuphead can keep the pitchfork and you can keep the mug," Bendy said. "Say, Mugman, have you told my dad the shoe story yet?"
"Oh! So there was this one time, I found a shoe on the side of the road, and I decided to pick it up and—"
"Shut it!" The Devil snapped.
Mugman stopped talking.
"Fine." The Devil said. "Bendall is free to go, and you can take the mug back after you give me my pitchfork."
"Deal." Cuphead said.
"One, two..." The Devil said.
"Wait, wait!" Cuphead interjected. "Is it on three or right after three?"
"On three." The Devil said.
"Or should it be after?" Cuphead said.
"No, on three!" The Devil argued.
"Will you just do the trade already?!" Mugman yelled.
"Okay, okay!" both Cuphead and The Devil said.
"One..." The Devil said.
"Two..." Cuphead said.
"Three!" they said.
Cuphead threw the pitchfork just as The Devil threw Mugman. The Devil caught the pitchfork and Cuphead caught his brother. The brothers gasped and giggled.
"Hey, buddy! Welcome back!" Cuphead said to Mugman.
"All right. The deal is done. Now you two cups get out!" The Devil ordered.
"Jeez. Mr. Grumps over here." Cuphead said.
"Somebody needs a nap," Mugman said.
"I said...GET OUT!" The Devil ordered in his demonic voice.
Seconds later, Cuphead and Mugman ride their bike out of the Underworld gates with Bendy riding in between them.
"Hey, where are you going?!" The Devil asked in a loud voice.
"Just going along with what you agreed to," Bendy said. "I'll see you later!"
Before The Devil could reply, the boys disappear as they ride into the woods. The Devil growled but didn't go after them and the gates closed. He sighed and used his pitchfork to fix the damage. With a slam of his pitchfork, he fixed the hole in the vault, then closed the wall spuing lava, repaired the glass tubes, and restored the tapestries, and the throne. The Devil gasped.
"Samuel!" The Devil said before flying to where the ink man fell. When he got there, the man was gone.
He doesn't see the few inky footsteps by the stairs leading to the surface world.
The Devil pinched his brow before sitting on his throne. He smiled at his pitchfork.
"At least I have you back, my darling." The Devil said before he started kissing the pitchfork. Then he groaned when he noticed something odd, he pulled his lips back and then smacked his lips. "Is that grape jelly?" The Devil wondered. "Eww, there's a hair on it! What... And it's bent?"
Then The Devil shouted in a loud and demonic voice that shook the room.
"UNBELIEVABLE!"
"Duh, okay, boss." Came Henchman's voice. "Time to pay up."
Henchman was standing in front of the throne. He's wearing a straw hat, a blue Aloha shirt, and a pink lei around his neck. He's carrying two suitcases.
The Devil groaned and facepalmed himself.
Cuphead and Mugman were driving the bike quickly on a dirt road with Bendy on board between them. Bendy looked back.
"I don't see anyone following us," Bendy said. "I think we're in the clear."
The brothers sighed and slowed down their pedaling speed.
"Thank hell's bells that's over with," Bendy said.
"Oh no, nothing over yet," Mugman said. "Not until someone admits we were in that mess because of him."
"Hey, leave him alone," Bendy said. "Cuphead rescued us."
"No Bendy, it's okay," Cuphead said. "I really screwed up back there taking the pitchfork and accidentally ratting out Bendy to The Devil like that. I'm sorry."
Bendy sighed. "I didn't like that, but I can't be mad after you saved me." He said.
"Well, okay. As long as you learned something from all this." Mugman said.
"Believe me, Mugsy. This guy's on the straight and narrow starting right now." Cuphead said.
"Whew! Music to my ears." Mugman said.
Bendy leaned in closer to Cuphead.
"But not too straight, right?" Bendy whispered.
The cup blushed. "Right," he whispered back.
"What are you two whispering about?" Mugman asked.
Bendy and Cuphead turned their heads to look at Mugman with big smiles and no blushing cheeks.
"Nothin'!" Bendy and Cuphead answered.
"Hmm." Mugman hummed.
Just then the bike jerked left.
"Cuphead, eyes on the road!" Mugman exclaimed.
Cuphead turned his back forward and steered the bike.
Mugman sighed, his suspicion brushed off. For now...
"So, uh, Cuphead," Mugman sighed. "Now that you don't owe the Devil your soul anymore, what are you gonna do next?"
"Hmm..." Cuphead hummed as he thought.
"You know," Bendy said. "We never did get to finish our game before."
Cuphead gave a knowing smile to the little devil.
"Ah, the game," Mugman said. "Wait. What game?"
Sometime later...
The boys were at the Carn-evil and a crowd was cheering on Cuphead and Bendy as they competed against each other in a game of the soul ball. The cheers grew louder as Cuphead and Bendy made a trick move that made the winners' circle.
"Winner!" the machine called out.
"You're going down Cup!" Bendy said.
"Oh we'll see, Bendall," Cuphead teased.
Behind them, Mugman stared in disbelief before he fainted.
Meanwhile, in a sunny beach area, Henchman was relaxing on a towel on the sand, sipping on a tropical drink. He was wearing sunglasses over his eyes and a full-body blue and white swimsuit.
"Ah! Finally, some time to get away from it all." Henchman said.
"You said it." came Quadratus' voice. The wise man's pool was right next to the purple demon's towel. "To a long overdue break, for both our sakes."
"Cheers to that," Henchman said, lifting his drink. "Oh, uh, want a sip?"
"Don't mind if I do," Quadratus said.
Henchman holds the tropical drink up while Quadratus takes a slurp. Then another slurp, and another, and another. Henchman pulls back the drink.
"I said a sip," Henchman said.
"Fresh drink sir?" came a feminine voice.
Noticed a tray next to him with a new drink.
"Oh, uh, yes please," Henchman said. He sets the old one on the tray and takes the new one. "Thank you," he said before sipping.
"You're welcome, Henchman,"
Henchman paused his sipping. 'I didn't give my real name here,' he thought. He turned his head, lifted his glasses off his eyes, and suddenly spat out his drink.
The person with the tray was Alice sitting on a cloud and wearing a tightly fitted yellow aloha dress, a large sunhat, and sunglasses.
"Nice to see you again too," Alice said.
Henchman stared in shock at the angel with wide eyes.
"I'd love to stay and chat, but I can't stay on earth for long, so, I bid you adieu." She turned around. "Please give your boss my regards."
With that, the angel floated up into the sky on her cloud. A look of shock was on Henchman's face.
"Ah geez..." Henchman said nervously.