On a sunny Sunday afternoon, Priscilla, Ember, Timothy and Joy Hopewell was out playing baseball in the forest where their mother Gwen lived with her second family. Gwen was visiting Cuphead, Mugman and Elder Kettle while the Hopewell children were playing baseball along with Ember's best friends Isfrid, Marette, Abel and Cliff.
It was Timothy's turn to bat while Cliff was the catcher and Priscilla was the pitcher. Priscilla threw a curve ball and Timothy hit it as hard as he could, but the ball flew out in the distance that it crashed through the window of Porkrind's Emporium.
Porkrind was out in the back stocking more inventory when he heard the sound of breaking glass. He quickly goes to the front to check the damage. He notices the broken window and the baseball and looked outside to find who is responsible.
He catches a glimpse of the Hopewell kids and Ember's friends looking for the ball. Abel flies up to get an aerial view and notices the broken window on Porkrind's wagon shop.
"Uh oh…" Abel said worryingly and flew back to the group.
"Did you find anything Abel?" Ember asked.
"Yeah, uh. Funny story uh, it may or may have not broken through a window of Porkrind's Emporium?" Abel answered nervously.
"Porkrind?! Oh my gosh, he's gonna kill me!" Timothy exclaimed.
"Oh, that angry shopkeeper pig your mama warned us about Ember?" Isfrid asked Ember.
"Yeah… that's Porkrind." Ember nervously confirmed her answer.
"Uh oh! Not Porkrind!" Cliff said as he was shaking fearfully.
"There, there big fella." Joy said as she hugged his large foot.
Cliff picked Joy up in his hand and snuggled her.
Just then, they hear Porkrind coming.
"Let's beat it!" Priscilla exclaimed.
"No kiddin' girl!" Marette agreed.
All the children quickly retreated to the cottage. Before Porkrind could confront the children, they were already gone.
"They're not getting off that easily." Porkrind grumbled.
Later, Gwen, her children and Ember's friends return to the farm. They enter the house together.
"We're home!" Gwen called.
"There you all are!" Clarence said as he and Gwen kissed, to the children's disgust.
Clarence notices Ember with her four best friends.
"Ember, sweetheart!" Clarence said as he goes up to her, hugs and kisses her.
"Hey papa!" Ember said happily.
"So, these are your friends you've been talking about?" Clarence said, noticing the other four children.
"Yes, papa. This is Isfrid Frostbite, ice sorceresses." Ember introduced Isfrid.
"We listen to your records Mr. Hopewell. You are amazing." Isfrid complimented.
"Why, thank you Isfrid." Clarence thanked.
"This is Marette Manowar the water mermaid well siren." Ember introduced Marette.
"Hey, what's up Mr. H?" Marette asked.
"I'm good Marette. Nice to meet you." Clarence answered.
"This is Abel Airway. Tornado-shooting cherub." Ember introduced Abel.
"Salutations, Mr. Hopewell." Abel greeted as he straightened his glasses.
"You too, Abel." Clarence said.
"And this is Cliff Boulderstone. Bigfoot with a green thumb." Ember introduced Cliff.
"Duh, hello Mr. Hopewell." Cliff waved as Clarence noticed Cliff is slightly taller than he is.
"Hello, Cliff." Clarence greeted, looking up at Cliff.
Cliff takes Clarence and gives him a big hug, giving Clarence a crack in his back.
"Oof! Nice grip." Clarence weakly said.
Cliff sets Clarence down as Gwen healed his back.
"Thanks." Clarence whispered.
"No problem." Gwen whispered back.
Just then they hear a knock at the door. Joy answers the door and looks up to see Porkrind outside.
"Porky!" Joy happily exclaimed and hugged his leg.
Porkrind sighed, knowing it was coming.
"Okay, okay. That's enough kid. And it's Porkrind, not Porky." Porkrind corrected her, lifting Joy up in his arms.
"Porkrind! I didn't think you'd come here. I apologize for my daughter." Gwen said as she took Joy from Porkrind.
"Well, I have a good reason kid." Porkrind said, still calling Gwen that after all these years.
Porkrind gets out the baseball from his pocket.
"It appears one of your children broke one of my windows earlier today." Porkrind explained.
"What? Oh, my goodness I'm so sorry Porkrind!" Gwen apologized.
Gwen turned to the children angrily.
"Kids! Did you break Porkrind's window?!" Gwen angrily asked.
"It was an accident mama! I didn't mean to hit it that hard!" Timothy fearfully explained.
He immediately realized too late what he blurted out and covered his mouth with both hands.
Ember groaned and facepalmed.
"Timothy Earnest Hopewell!" Gwen scolded.
Timothy gulped as he nervously approached Gwen and Porkrind.
"This is gonna come out of your allowance!" Gwen said angrily.
Timothy groaned, knowing he was going to be punished.
"Perhaps we could work something out kid. I could use a young pair of hands to help me around the store like you and those cups did for me before." Porkrind explained.
"Sounds fair to me." Clarence agreed.
"So, how about this? Every day after school, you drop your son off at my store and he'll work for me until his debt is paid off. I'll keep an eye on him for you." Porkrind offered Gwen.
"I gotta warn you Porkrind, he is a bit of a prankster." Gwen warned.
"I'm well aware of that kid. But don't worry, I know how to handle kids like him." Porkrind assured her.
"Okay." Gwen hesitantly agreed, knowing he's dealt with her cup brother's antics before.
"So, do we have a deal kid?" Porkrind asked as he reached his hand for a handshake.
Gwen took a deep breath then reached her hand for Porkrind's hand.
"Deal." Gwen hesitantly agreed and both shake on it.
"You hear that son? Every day after school, mama will drop you off at Porkrind's and you're gonna work for him. Until you pay off the debt, you'll do whatever he tells you to do. Okay?" Clarence explained to Timothy.
"Okay, papa." Timothy reluctantly agrees.
Porkrind knelt to Timothy and reaches his hand.
"We got a deal kid?" Porkrind asked.
Timothy was about to shake his hand until Gwen interrupted.
"Uh, uh, uh! Hand buzzer!" Gwen scolded as he reached out her hand to Timothy.
Timothy chuckled nervously and took off his hand buzzer and gave it to his mother.
"Thanks kid." Porkrind whispered.
Timothy faced Porkrind and reluctantly shakes hands with him, agreeing to the deal.
"Then it's settled. I'll see you after school first thing tomorrow." Porkrind said as he stood up and turned around to leave.
Porkrind was about to leave the door until he notices Joy attempting to get one more hug. Porkrind gently pokes her forehead with his finger to gently stop her from hugging him.
"Thanks for the gesture kid, but I'm good." Porkrind said to Joy.
"Bye bye!" Joy said.
Porkrind closes the door and leaves the farm.
Cliff walked up to Joy.
"Don't worry about him. You can hug me anytime." Cliff said kindly.
Joy squealed in delight and hugged Cliff's leg.
Gwen smiled at Joy making friends with Cliff, then she turned her attention to the children.
"Alright, Ember, let's go drop your friends off." Gwen said to Ember.
"Yes, mama. Come on guys." Ember said.
Ember and her friends walk up to Gwen, ready to go home. Gwen tapped her ink pen and the group disappeared. First, they drop Abel in the sky at his cloud home.
"Bye guys! See you at school!" Abel called as he joined his parents.
Next, they drop off Cliff at the mountains where giant bigfeet live in the caves.
"Bye bye friends!" Cliff called as he joined his family in a large cave.
Third, they drop off Marette at the ocean. Marette shapeshifted her legs into her mermaid tail and dived into the water.
"Catch ya later girls!" Marette called and swam away home.
Finally, they drop off Isfrid at the ice castle in the North Pole. Gwen quickly created warm outfits for Ember and herself. Both Ember and Isfrid hug each other as her mother Isolde comes to greet them.
"Ah, there you are my darling Isfrid. Thank you, Gwen, for bringing her home." Isolde thanked Gwen.
"Anytime Isolde. Anytime." Gwen answered back.
"See you at school?" Ember asked.
"Of course. As long as you don't catch chickenpox again." Isfrid answered.
"I won't." Ember said.
Isfrid joins her mother, and both enter their ice castle.
Gwen teleports herself and Ember back home. She magically makes their warm outfits disappear.
Later, the family have dinner together until Ember remembered the time. She says goodbye to her family and teleported back to Hell where her father the Devil was waiting for her in his throne room.
"Ah, Ember darling. You're just in time." The Devil greeted.
"Hey father. Is it time for our show?" Ember asked.
The Devil patted his throne, gesturing her to join him. Ember ran up to his throne, he lifts her up and sets her down next to him and turns on the radio for their favorite radio show. After a half hour, Ember started falling asleep on her father's lap, which the Devil knew would happen.
He turns off the radio, carries Ember to her room, magically brushes her teeth and dresses her in her nightgown. He tucks her into bed, gives her a kiss and petted her kitten Umbra and leaves the room to go to his bedroom.
The next day after school, Gwen along with Joy picks up Priscilla and Timothy from school and drives over to Porkrind's Emporium. Gwen walks with Timothy to the front door.
"Tim, I know this is scary and I should know. But just do what he tells you to do, and you'll be fine. No whining or complaining." Gwen reminded him.
Timothy sighed, feeling nervous.
"It'll be okay honey. I promise." Gwen assured him.
Just then, the door opens and Porkrind looks at Gwen and Timothy.
"Oh, good. You're here. I'll take it from here kid." Porkrind said to Gwen.
"Okay, I'll be back in a while to pick you up. In the meantime, be good and no pranks or tricks. Got it?" Gwen asked.
"Yes, mama." Timothy reluctantly agreed.
"Great. I love you." Gwen said and gave her son a kiss and leaves with her daughters.
Porkrind takes Timothy inside the shop.
"Okay kid. Your first assignment: sweep the floor." Porkrind said as he handed Timothy a broom and dustpan.
"Yes sir." Timothy reluctantly said and started sweeping the floor.
"I'm sure your mom discussed with you some rules around here?" Porkrind asked.
"Yes. No pranks, no tricks, no whining, no complaining." Timothy answered.
"Good. After you sweep the floor, you'll dust the shelves." Porkrind said as he sat down in his chair behind the counter.
"Yes, sir." Timothy said and started sweeping.
Porkrind turns on the radio and tunes into some music as he kept an eye on Timothy. Throughout the day, Timothy puts up doing chores around the shop until his shift was up and Gwen comes to pick him up and take him home.
Throughout the week, Timothy works for Porkrind every day after school doing jobs around the shop. After finishing stocking items, Timothy started to get tired as he sat down in a chair waiting for his mother to pick him up. Porkrind notices and decided to show him some kindness.
"Hey, kid?" Porkrind called.
"Huh?" Timothy asked.
"I got an extra bottle of grape soda. Want one?" Porkrind asked.
"Sure." Timothy said.
Timothy gets up approached Porkrind, opens a bottle of grape soda and he gives it to him. Both drink soda together as they both rest.
"Thanks, Porkrind." Timothy thanked.
"So, you like playing tricks on others?" Porkrind asked.
"Yeah. But I can't help it. I just like having fun." Timothy said.
"I can tell. You remind me so much of those two cups. And to another extent, your mother." Porkrind said.
"Mama? Did she get in trouble too?" Timothy asked.
"Oh yeah. I once made her work off a debt after I caught on her giving me money, she magically created from that magic doohickey she carries on her belt." Porkrind answered.
"Really?" Timothy asked.
"Yes. It took her a week to work off her debt. I was hard on her, but it taught her a valuable lesson. She hasn't cheated me since." Porkrind finished the story.
"Wow. Mama had tricks of her own." Timothy said, fascinated.
"Yep. She did, but I caught on to them. She can't fool me anymore." Porkrind said.
Just then, they hear the door open, only for Timothy to realize it wasn't his mother, but the three bullies from his school. A tiger named Claw, a handsaw named Saw and a crocodile named Jaw.
"Oh no…" Timothy said, feeling scared.
"What's wrong kid?" Porkrind asked.
"It's those bullies from school! They won't leave me alone!" Timothy answered.
"There you are you little runt! Get over here!" Claw yelled.
Timothy felt scared until he felt Porkrind's hands lift him up. Porkrind glared at the bullies as they gasped in horror.
"Is there a problem boys?" Porkrind asked sternly.
"Uh… we uh… were just gonna ask if he wanted to play with us." Saw nervously lied.
Porkrind doesn't believe his story and approached them, making them scared.
"If you nimrods ain't gonna buy anything… GET OUT!" Porkrind said then yelled.
"Let's beat it!" Jaw yelled.
All three bullies ran out of the store screaming. Timothy sighed of relief.
"Thanks." Timothy thanked.
"Why do you let them push you around kid?" Porkrind asked.
"I try to avoid them, but they still try to hurt me. They do mean pranks and tricks to hurt people." Timothy sadly explained.
"Someone's gotta teach them a lesson." Porkrind said.
Just then, the door opens, and Gwen enters the shop.
"Ah, there you two are. Is everything alright?" Gwen asked.
"Yes kid. Your son did a fine job today." Porkrind said as he placed Timothy down.
"Thanks, Porkrind. We'll see you tomorrow." Gwen said as she took Timothy's hand and left the store.
Gwen drives herself and Timothy back to the Hopewell Farm.
At dinner, Gwen decided to tell Timothy something.
"Timothy?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah mama?" Timothy asked.
"I want you to know that Porkrind has not complained about you once since you've been working for him." Gwen announced.
"Really?" Timothy asked.
"That's right son. We're so proud of you for being good." Clarence said as he tousled Timothy's hair.
"Thanks papa, mama." Timothy said, feeling proud of himself.
"Yay Timmy!" Joy cheered.
Timothy giggled and continued eating with his family.
That night, Ember and her father the Devil were out training again when something caught Ember's eye. She noticed the three bullies sneaking up to Porkrind's Emporium with a baseball bat.
"Oh no…" Ember said worryingly.
Ember flew down to the shop and hid in the bushes and spied on them. She noticed the bullies breaking into the shop and started vandalizing all the items and stuff. They even break open the cash register and steal all the money. The bullies leave a note behind and run out of the shop as fast as they could.
Ember couldn't believe what she just saw and decided to investigate the crime scene. She noticed the note and read it out loud,
"I wrecked your store and stole money signed Timothy Hopewell."
Ember grew furious, figuring out the bullies are going to frame Timothy for a crime he didn't commit. Just then, the Devil appeared in the shop.
"Ember! What are you doing? And what happened here?" The Devil asked.
"Father, remember those three bullies Claw, Saw and Jaw you tormented for picking on Timothy?" Ember asked.
"Yes?" The Devil answered.
"They're the ones responsible for vandalizing the shop and stealing the money from the cash register! And worst of all, they're gonna frame Timothy for it with this stupid note!" Ember exclaimed as she held up the note.
The Devil took one look at the note and read it.
"Oh dear. Those dumb brats didn't learn their lesson the last time." The Devil said disappointedly.
"Father, we gotta do something! We can't let them get away with this! And we can't Porkrind think Timothy did this! He's a good brother!" Ember said, freaking out.
The Devil puts his hands on Ember's shoulders.
"Honey, calm down. Now you leave it to your old man. I have a plan." The Devil assured her.
"What is it?" Ember asked.
The Devil whispers his plan in her ear. Ember laughs at his plan.
"Awesome father!" Ember said happily.
"Now, watch and learn my darling." The Devil said as he raised his pitchfork.
He destroys the note and replaces the note with another note saying in the bullies' signatures, "We wrecked your store and stole all your money and attempted to frame Timothy signed, the three bullies Claw, Saw and Jaw."
The Devil places the note next to the cash register. Ember snickered at her father's trick.
"You sure this is gonna work father?" Ember asked.
"Trust me dear. I make sure it works. Now, what do you say we head home?" The Devil asked.
"Sure father." Ember said as she started to feel sleepy.
The Devil lifted Ember in his arms, tapped his pitchfork and both disappeared back to Hell.
The next day, Gwen was dropping Timothy off at Porkrind's when they notice something odd. They notice bee policemen investigating the crime scene. Gwen and Timothy get out of the car and approach the shop. Gwen noticed Porkrind talking to Chief Bea and approached them.
"Porkrind, what happened? What's going on?" Gwen asked.
"Kid, a trio of punks broke into my store last night and wrecked my shop and stole my money from the register!" Porkrind angrily answered.
"The bullies?" Timothy asked in shock.
"What?! How awful! Did they catch the culprits who did it?" Gwen asked.
"They're notifying their parents now. While you're here kid, would you mind restoring the shop?" Porkrind asked.
"Of course." Gwen said as she got out her ink pen.
Gwen magically restores the shop back to how it was before as the bee policemen watched in awe.
"Yay mama!" Timothy cheered.
"Thanks kid. Oh, one more thing." Porkrind said.
"Yeah?" Gwen asked.
Porkrind held up the note the Devil left.
"Those punks attempted to frame your son for this." Porkrind said as he showed her the letter.
Gwen's eyes widened.
"Are you kidding me?!" Gwen asked shockingly.
"What? But I would never do such a thing!" Timothy protested.
Porkrind placed his hand on Timothy's shoulder.
"Don't worry kid. I knew it wasn't you. You've been a good boy, and you wouldn't stoop to their level." Porkrind assured him.
"He's right. And you were home last night so I didn't think it'd be you either sweetie." Gwen added.
Timothy smiled at his mother and Porkrind. Just then, a bee officer comes in the store.
"We got them!" The officer announced.
"Huh?" Porkrind asked.
"We caught the culprits who did it! And we also retrieved the stolen money." The officer answered.
The group walked outside and see the three bullies in handcuffs. Porkrind walked up to the bullies, furious at them. Gwen lifted Timothy up in her arms and gave them a glare.
"I never thought you nimrods would stoop so low. Vandalizing my shop, stealing my dough and trying pin the blame on the human kid?!" Porkrind yelled angrily.
"I thought you said you left the note?!" Claw yelled.
"I-I-I-I did! I left it where you said to!" Saw protested.
"SHUT UP!" Jaw yelled.
"Oh, I found your note alright. You kids are stupider than I thought." Porkrind said as he held up the note with the revised message, making the bullies' eyes widen.
"This is crazy! I didn't write that!" Saw protested.
"Can it kid! I'm pressing charges against you three!" Porkrind scolded.
The officers take the bullies away and drive them to jail. Just then, Timothy noticed the Devil and Ember hiding in the bushes. Ember gestured him to be quiet as the Devil winked at him and both disappeared. Timothy smiled, happy that his sister Ember and her father had his back.
"I hope those punks get what they deserve." Gwen said.
"Oh, I will make sure they do kid. Nobody messes with me and gets away with it." Porkrind said.
"So, do you still need me to work Porkrind?" Timothy asked.
"Actually, your debt is paid off. You may go now." Porkrind said.
Timothy leapt from his mother's arms and hugged Porkrind as he quietly gasped.
"Thank you." Timothy said.
Porkrind patted his back and gave him back to Gwen.
"Alright kid, your son's in the clear." Porkrind said.
"Thank you again. We'll see you later." Gwen said as she left with Timothy.
A week later, Gwen was driving her kids home from school when she noticed at Porkrind's Emporium the three bullies in prison outfits doing community service as Porkrind watched satisfyingly at them. Timothy giggled at them as Gwen continued driving.
"They finally got what they deserved." Priscilla said.
"I agree. They got what they deserved." Timothy agreed.
"Now children, don't stoop to their level. Let this be a lesson to them to mend their foolish ways." Gwen reminded them.
"Yes mama." Both Priscilla and Timothy said.
Back at Porkrind's Emporium, the bullies were physically exhausted from all the hard work they did.
"Can… we… go home… now?" Saw asked weakly.
"Hmm… nope. You boys got cleaning to do. Now get to it!" Porkrind ordered.
All three bullies groaned and continue to work off their debt. The Devil was watching them through his magic mirror in Hell satisfied his plan worked with Ember next to him.
"Wow father. You were right." Ember said, impressed.
"Yep. I told you I had it under control." The Devil assured her.
Ember smiled at her father.
"Besides, I love tormenting those three brats." The Devil added.
The Devil looked it the mirror and decided to play a trick on them. He used his pitchfork to magically turn the wagon shop into a monster-like form, making the bullies gasp. The monster roared loudly at the bullies, making them scream, turn white and faint. Ember laughed at their faces as the Devil wrapped his arm around her.
The Devil turns the shop back to normal as Porkrind comes out of the shop, noticing the bullies passed out. Porkrind grumbled and grabbed a bucket of cold water and splashed the bullies awake.
"Did I say you three could sleep on the job?!" Porkrind yelled.
"B-b-b-b-but, but…" All three tried to explain.
"No 'buts'! Now get back to work or I'm calling the judge, and your sentence will be extended!" Porkrind warned.
The three bullies gulped in fear and rushed back to work.
Meanwhile, the Devil and Ember laugh at their torment.
"Nice one father." Ember complimented.
"Why thank you darling. Now, come along. I believe dinner's ready." The Devil said as he took Ember's hand and left for the dining room.
After dinner, the Devil and Ember listen to their favorite radio show until it was time for bed. After kissing her goodnight, the Devil leaves her room and goes to his room.
Ember wakes up and decided to pay Timothy a visit. She disappears from her room and appears in Timothy's room. Timothy is started at first until Ember calms him down.
"It's okay Tim. It's me!" Ember whispered.
Timothy smiled, got out of bed and hugged his sister.
"Thank you for saving me. You and your dad." Timothy thanked.
"You're welcome. You were lucky father, and I were in the neighborhood when we caught those jerks vandalizing Porkrind's shop." Ember explained.
"Really?" Timothy asked.
"Yep. So, father and I did you a huge favor pinning the blame back on those three with that note father conjured up." Ember said.
"Thank you, Ember." Timothy thanked.
"Yeah, but don't tell anyone we helped you, got it?" Ember asked.
"Got it." Timothy agreed.
"Good. I gotta go. I'll see you later." Ember said.
"You too. Bye!" Timothy said.
Ember disappeared back to Hell as Timothy crawled back into bed and went to sleep. Ember quickly crawled back into her bed and went back to sleep too before her father caught on to her sneaking out after dark.
Things got better for Timothy at school as he wasn't bothered again by the bullies and continued to play with his friends and sisters. And he learned a valuable lesson on owning up to his mistake and fixing it.