Blackwolfen: Hey everyone I hope you like this special me and my best friend Gemwing are writing right now and it will lift up the upcoming holiday spirit. I'm really honored to write this story with Gemwing and we don't know how many chapter will come but let's just say you guys will get more in the future ;)
Gemwing2012: I like to say it is an honour to co-write this fic and how much fun I'm having with special. It was decided to give Alicia one less unwanted lover breathing down her neck. King Dice might have moved on but why not throw him a bone and give him a secret admirer? Hey, it is Valentine's Day after all. Of who this mystery admirer is, that's a surprise.
It was Valentine's Day on the Inkwell Isles and everyone on the Isles were getting into the holiday spirit and spreading and sharing love among one another.
From left to right, many numbers of loving couples were exchanging gifts of affections, ranging from bouquets of lovely flowers beautifully bound in elegant ribbons tied into a perfect bow, massive boxes of varieties of chocolates, cards with heart melting poetry and even cute little teddy bears with heart-themed accessories.
Of course, the holiday isn't just limited to gifts. It can be celebrated with writing love songs or just spending the day on romantic dates such as going on a picnic over at the park, rowing in a little rowboat over at the lake, going out for a candlelight dinner over at the finest restaurant in town or even a walk along the beach at sunset.
Even the Casino and Inkwell Hell prepared something for Valentine's Day. A big and pink banner was hanging above the entrance to the casino.
"Valentine's Day Ball" was written on it and the entry was free for everyone. No one should be afraid to lose their souls on this special day.
"Duh, just a little bit more." Stevie (who was often known as just Henchman) instructed as a couple of tiny blue flying imps were readjusting a streamer with pink and red roses and ribbons along a pillar. "Almost. That's it. Just right about… there! All done! Great job, fellas!"
The chubby purple beamed a goofy smile of approval while giving a double thumbs-up. Sighing, the tiny imps beamed with gratitude by the gesture.
Right after that, the entrance door to the Casino opened and a familiar looking face walked outside.
It was King Dice wearing a pink tailsuit instead of a purple one like he usually wears. His pants, shoes and bow tie were pink too. Stevie and the imps saw it and held their mouths close for a few seconds, trying not to laugh as the manager of the Casino walked down the stairs. In his jacket pocket was a red rose.
Over at his office, Lucifer, the Devil of the book, was at his desk, doing some last minute paperwork, smoking on a cigar. After finishing the final draft, he set the last piece of paper atop of the pile before taking a drag of his cigar in satisfaction. He then picked up a framed photograph of his wife, Alicia Powell. He wagged his tail happily and lovingly as he took out his cigar with his free hand and blew out a smoke ring in the shape of a heart with devil horns.
"Oh my love, I can't wait to spend my first Valentine's Day with you." He purred in excitement.
There was then a knock at the door, making him look up, setting the photo back down.
"Who is it?" He asked, putting the cigar inside the old cigar tray on his desk, grinding it into the ashes of previously used cigars.
"It's just me, Boss. Can I come in?" King Dice answered from the other side of the door.
Lucifer thought about it and said, "Come in."
The doors swing open as Dice casually saunters in, looking a bit more upbeat than usual as he greets, "Happy Valentine's Day, Mr. S! Ya look mighty regal than ever before!"
Lucifer rolls his eyes in annoyance as King Dice says that. "What do you want, Dice?"
"What? Ms. Lilith just wanted to know how the paperwork is going." Dice shrugged. "That and… I just so happen to bring this."
The manager reaches into his pocket and brandishes the rose.
Lucifer grabbed the rose and looked closely at it before he said, "The paperwork is done and will be delivered shortly."
He snapped his fingers and the paper disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"And for the rose. I hope it's a normal one." Lucifer growled slightly before he put the rose on his office table.
Dice gulped before he quickly insisted, "I can assure ya it's clean, Boss! I've learned my lesson about trying to steal your wife! This dice is going straight and narrow! That ship has sailed! It's just a token of amends! I swear I have moved on! Alicia's all yours. Besides, for King Dice, there's plenty of fish in the sea."
"I hope you're right unless you want to walk on the ball with that jester suit again." Lucifer looks to the closet where the said jester suit was hanging with a paper attached to it.
"For King Dice if he tries to steal Alicia again" was written on the note.
"That won't be necessary!" Dice insisted frantically. "Besides, her half-dragon friend from that other dimension had also made it clear that I should respect the laws of marriage. Believe me, I had learned that lesson and let it stuck the hard way."
The manager shuddered as he recalled the cold death glare that could put ice in his veins from those blue eyes. If he didn't know any better, he was sure that Katie Gemwimg hated him before they had even met.
"Well, I hope you don't lie like Silk and the other rivals. Speaking of her and the others, are they in their respective cells?" Lucifer asked. "I don't want them to ruin my first Valentine's Day with my love."
"Their cells are under complete lockdown and perfectly secured, sir." Dice informed. "I can assure you neither of them will be getting out anytime soon even if they tried. You certainly have totally state of the art security down there."
Lucifer sighs in relief. He wants to spend Valentine's Day with his wife without any incidents between rivals and unwanted lovers trying to hurt or steal her away.
"Good to hear." He said as he stood up from his chair and walked out of his office leaving King Dice behind. "Time to visit my love Alicia."
He gets out his trident and teleports away.
Sighing, Dice walks out of the office and walks over to the bar to get himself his drink. He was actually sincere about giving a clean and harmless rose to Alicia as an apology for the many times he had tried to have her for himself. Frankly, he was willing to move on and just leave it at that.
"Oh, hey, Mr. King (hic!) Dice. Happy Valentine's (hic!) Day to ya!" Ol' Ethan, one of the members of the Tipsy Troop greeted, hiccuping. "What'll be?"
"Just some wine, Ethan." Dice sighed.
"Coming right up. Oh by the way, somebody has left this for ya."
The glass of scotch pulled out an envelope with a heart sticker from beneath the counter and handed it to Dice, who raised a curious eyebrow.
"A love letter? For me?" The manager muttered.
He opens the envelope and pulls the letter out. He unfolds it and was intrigued and impressed by the elegant handwriting written down.
"Quite lovely handwriting. And such a sweet poem." He commented. "'From your… secret admirer'? Who?"
Ol' Ethan just shrugged and hiccuped in reply.
Setting the letter down, Dice was rather confused, intrigued and curious. He knew it wasn't from Alicia since she made it clear that she's VERY loyal to her husband and her handwriting is much different from that on the letter.
King Dice always has been a self-claimed ladies man, so… the letter must be someone else in the very casino. The mystery is who could it be?
Back in the Real World, Alicia was sitting in her room in front of her closet, deciding what to wear as she looked through her many varieties of outfits.
She had a vast number of jeans, T-shirts, hoodies and sweaters which have mostly wolves and Balto printed on them. Especially the very same grey T-shirt with the picture of a wolf on the belly and back she wore during her first adventure inside the book.
So many memories.
"Hmm what should I wear?" She asked herself. A dress was fitting for Valentine's Day but she hates dresses.
While she was thinking her phone vibrated.
"Who is calling me?" Alicia asks as she walks to her bed and grabs the phone sitting on her pillow.
It was a message from Katie.
Katie: Hey, Ali. Happy Valentine's Day. What's up?
Alicia: I'm fine so far, just wondering what I should wear and Happy Valentine's Day to you too, Katie.
Katie had texted in a thinking emoji before she replied.
Katie: Do you have something a bit more gender neutral for the occasion? Like some dress pants and a cardigan? Or whatever you deemed comfortable like a cute shirt of two wolves nuzzling one another?
Alicia looked around but saw nothing.
Alicia: Not really. I could wear my graduation suit from High School or University.
Unknown to her, the Cuphead book opens and a familiar claw stretches out of it.
Alicia: Or I ask my mother. Maybe she can help me.
Katie: Well, I'm sure you'll be okay with whatever best suits you. And I'm sure your husband will still find you beautiful no matter what you wear.
"She's right, my dear." Alicia heard that voice behind her and shrugged for a minute until she realised that Lucifer stood behind her.
Slowly, she turned around and to her surprise he stood behind her wearing a tie with heart shapes on it.
"Happy Valentine's Day, my love." He kisses her.
"Happy Valentine's Day too, honey pie." Alicia strokes his cheeks.
There was another ping from her phone as Katie asked if she was okay.
Alicia: I'm fine my husband is here and surprised me.
Katie: Oh! A surprise visit I see? So, have you both decided what you're planning to do today?
Alicia: Well, I don't know. Lucifer said it's a surprise and I should be surprised.
Katie: I see. To be honest, I have yet to decide what Validor and I should do since this is actually my first time spending Valentine's Day with someone since I had been used to celebrating it being single all year round.
Alicia: How about you and Vale visit us? The portal should be open to visit us on the Inkwell Isles in the book world.
A surprised emoji popped up.
Katie: Really? Are you sure that's okay? I really hate to impose.
Alicia: It should be. Dice is no longer interested in me and the rivals are in their cells. We should be safe from them.
Katie: Well… okay. The more the merrier as they say. If that's fine with Luci.
He purrs and rubs his head against Alicia's.
Alicia: He's fine with that. What about Vale?
Katie: I'll let him know. I just need to find an outfit myself for the occasion. I have quite a selection. Can't decide if I should go with something a bit more semi-formal.
A sheepish smile emoji with an anime sweat drop pops up for emphasis.
Alicia: Same here. I'm not a fan of dresses and would rather walk around in my hoodie but I think that's inappropriate to wear during a Valentine's Day date.
Katie: Again, Luci doesn't care whatever you wear as long as you're comfortable with it. All that matters is that you're spending Valentine's Day with the man you love. I think a hoodie or even a jacket might suffice.
Alicia thought before she asked her husband, "You don't mind if I wear my hoodie or jacket instead of a dress?"
He lifted his head up, thought and said with a smile. "I don't mind at all, my dear."
To prove his point, he kissed her.
Alicia: Okay hoodie or jacket it is.
A beaming smiley face emoji and a thumbs-up popped up in reply, followed up by Katie's final text.
Katie: KK. See you later :)
Alicia: See ya! ;)
Alicia closes her smartphone and puts it in her shoulder bag sitting on her bed before she suddenly gets lifted up by her husband.
"Whoa! What is…." she asked herself before lips kissed her cheek leaving behind a kissing mark and a blushed Alicia.
"I missed you so much my love." Lucifer purred more than before. "And I can't wait to celebrate Valentine's Day with you any longer."
Alicia notices that he's walking with her up to the now open Cuphead book sitting on her bed.
He wants to go with her now but there's a small problem. Alicia was still in her pyjamas.
"Hey wait, wait, wait Lucifer. I'm still wearing my pj's!" She protested, trying to free herself from his embrace.
"Whoops! Sorry, darling." Lucifer chortles sheepishly. "Here, let me fix that."
He snapped his fingers and Alicia's pyjamas were magically changed into some clothes suitable for going out and returning to the book. He even made sure she had a pair of nice, clean and comfy socks on.
Much to Alicia's satisfaction and relief, her new attire was a pair of medium blue denim jeans and a light silver grey T-shirt. She now had on a navy blue denim jacket with breast pockets, silver buttons, and a picture of a wolf howling in front of a full moon printed in the back. It also has a little wolf head patch similar to her necklace sewn onto the right breast of the jacket.
She started to like this jacket already. She was most surprised to notice she also has a red gemstone brooch in the shape of a heart pinned onto the left breast of the jacket.
She also had on her treasured wolf necklace and the bracelet that Katie and her other friends, Lexie Luthor and Natty Poke made for her.
For her footwear, she now had on a pair of knee-high black boots, which thankfully, don't have any high-heels so it'll be easier for her to walk (and if she needs to, run) in them.
"There we go." Lucifer smiled. "Nothing's too good for my radiant queen. And I do hope you don't mind the little brooch on your new jacket for the romantic occasion. It is Valentine's Day after all."
Alicia smiled and kissed him. Lucifer purred as little heart bubbles popped around his head, his tail wagging before he grabbed her shoulder bag and carried her towards the book.
Meanwhile, Katie had settled for her own choice of clothes.
She had put aside her trademark cold shoulder jacket with the handless gloves combo for a pink zip-up hoodie over a white T-shirt with a magenta collar and a red heart printed on the front. She also had on light blue denim jeans with a pink heart sewn onto the left leg and small ankle length black boots that, thankfully, lacked high-heels. She also wore her silver book-shaped locket and the silver bracelet Validor gave her as well as her blue bracelet with the two white beads and crocus purple one in the middle on her left wrist. On her right wrist is a silver bracelet watch with a square-shaped face.
Satisfied, she picks up her Pokémon themed mini backpack with the printings of smiling Pikachu emojis, some with pink hearts for eyes and slips it onto her back, ready to go. She then reached for her dresser and picked up her key that Misterie gave her, which serves as the gateway to any of the fictional worlds of her choosing as well as anywhere she pleases.
Those keys are really powerful and one of a kind. It was the only way to get from the real world into the world of fiction. No matter where you want to be. All you need is this key and door with a keyhole.
And with a turn of a doorknob, a portal appeared and she stepped on through into The Legend of Spyro world. It is there that Validor — Vale — had left his home to wait for her the moment she stepped out of the portal.
"Wow! You look amazing." Vale commented.
"Thanks." Katie blushed. "By the way, Alicia just invited us to join her and her husband for a double date over at their dimension and wanted to know if it's okay with you."
Vale looked surprised at first but then smiled before he spoke, "Sure. I don't see why not. Lead the way."
"Well, look who had decided to drop in." Said a voice behind Katie, making her jump a bit. The voice sounded feminine and familiar.
She turned around to see who it was. Much to her relief, it was just Misterie.
"Oh, Misterie. It's just you." Katie giggled sheepishly. "You startled me for a second there."
"Hello, Misterie." Vale greeted.
The wolf greeted them both, "A pleasure to see you both again. I trust the two of you are off to celebrate the Earth holiday, Valentine's Day? Quite a curious holiday. The concept of showering one another with gifts such as sweets and flowers as a token of affection is quite a sweet gesture."
"Yes, and Alicia just invited us to join her and Lucifer over at their dimension for the occasion." Katie replied. "She didn't say how we're celebrating it since Lucifer's keeping it a surprise."
Misterie smiled. "Well, I hope you will be surprised."
"I suppose we will be." Vale confirmed. "We'll make sure to bring you back something if you like."
"Oh you don't have to, Validor." Misterie blushed a bit. "In fact I have a date on my own."
"You? On a date?!" Katie exclaimed in surprise. "Aww, Misterie. I've never envisioned you as quite the dude magnet. Who's the lucky guy?"
"Oh, I think you know him." Misterie smiled.
Vale and Katie looked at one another in confusion.
Misterie smirked a bit more. "He's a wolf just like me."
"Wait… are you talking about Blood?" Katie asked.
Misterie nodded.
"That's quite a surprise." Vale commented. "I've never taken him to be a romantic no offence."
"You can be surprised by what you can live through." Katie shrugged.
"Well, he offered me a rose and a box full of chocolate." Misterie added.
Katie smiled as she said, "Well, we wish you both a happy Valentine's Day. Have fun."
"Thanks, Katie and you too." Misterie thanked her.
The pair waved her off before they walked through the portal for Alicia's dimension in the Cuphead book.
Back in the Cuphead Show dimension, the Devil was lounging around in his large, circular bed, wearing a black eye mask over his eyes, grumbling sleepily as he curled up in bed as he heard a knock at the door.
The door opens and Henchman wheels in a food cart with some food beneath a golden food cover, the Devil's favourite coffee mug with the handle in the shape of a devil's tail and "#1 Boss" written on it as well as the last issue of the Inkwell Blotter.
"Morning Boss. Happy Valentine's Day." Henchman greeted. "I made ya breakfast. Heart-shaped pancakes with some chocolate, strawberries and syrup for the occasion. I even made ya coffee in your favourite coffee mug."
The Devil growled in reply and didn't want to get up. He wanted to stay in his warm, soft and cuddly bed and do nothing at all.
Henchman sighed before he carted the food over to the window.
"D'aww Boss. You can't stay there all day." He insisted. "C'mon, get up. You really shouldn't let a tasty breakfast go to waste. You also got a beautiful day to enjoy."
He grabbed the velvet pull string on the large red curtains with the golden tassel trimmings and opened the curtains to reveal the hectic chaos outside where tormented souls are screaming and writhing in agony in the ocean of lava while a large sea serpent-like creature is swimming through the lava with zero pain.
But the Devil ignores it and is about to curl up back in bed until he remembers something.
"Wait, what day did you say it is today?" He asked Henchmen in surprise, lifting up his eye mask to reveal his surprised eyes.
"D'oh, uhh… Valentine's Day." Henchman replied as he lifted up the food cover to reveal the pancakes were indeed shaped like hearts and are decorated with pieces of chocolate and strawberries, drizzled in golden syrup.
"Valentine's Day? Hmm… Oh! Isn't it the day where everyone acts totally weird?" The Devil asked.
"Ya mean when people exchange gifts like candies, flowers and cute teddy bears?" Henchman answered. "They also spend the day out on picnics, rowing in rowboats down a stream, walk along beaches at sunsets and even go out on romantic dinners at nice restaurants. Isn't that what Valentine's Day is all about? Spending the holiday with a special sweetheart?"
The Devil grinned. "This is perfect!"
He jumps up from his bed and prepares himself in his mirror. He quickly brushes and combs his fur, making it as soft and silky as he can.
"This is the opportunity to ask my two loved ones on a date." He declared while polishing his horns.
"Duh, but isn't Miss Alicia already married to that other you?" Henchman reminded. "And Miss Katie is dating that nice shadow-ice dragon. And they're both so happy to be with them and could be spending the holiday with 'em."
Even thinking about those two makes the Devil angry.
"This cheap copy of mine and this darn lizard with wings are just idiots, nothing more." He responded in annoyance.
"I dunno Boss. Miss Alicia and Miss Katie are definitely in love with them." Henchman said. "And no offence but you do come off kinda… strong with your advances."
"Thank you Henchman but worry not. I got a plan." The Devil smirked and chuckled.
Henchman, bless his big heart, just looked confused. What could his boss possibly be planning this time?
"D'oh, uhhh… ya do?" He asked.
"Yes I do but first we need to find out where my two love birds are right now." The Devil stated.
He walks over to his mirror and touches the glassy surface. The glass ripples and Alicia appears in the mirror. She was with Lucifer. The next image showed a portal appearing just in the middle of town and Katie stepped out, followed up by Vale at her side.
Henchman suddenly felt heat next to him and looked a bit confused as to where the sudden heat was coming from. Sure they are in the Underworld, with flames everywhere but this heat was unusual until he saw where the heat was coming from.
"Uh oh!" Henchman yelped as he quickly ducked for cover as the Devil was about to explode with rage. Literally.
"Am I seeing it right?! My dear Alicia and my darling Katie are together with those goddamn IDIOTS!" The Devil roared.
Not even a second later the Devil explodes in rage and flames. In his rage, he accidentally set aflame to the food cart, reducing it and his own breakfast into a pile of ashes. He was lucky enough that Henchman had managed to save his coffee mug from his fury.
Speaking of Henchman, once the heat had literally died down, he nervously peeked half of his head, just barely up from his nose, out from behind the door, coffee mug in hand.
"That's it! I'm going to get my brides one way or another!" The Devil snarled.
Furious, he grabs his trident and teleports away in a cloud of ominously black smoke and brimstone.
The moment the Devil left, Henchman set the coffee mug onto the dresser before he glanced over at the remains of the food cart and the Devil's untouched breakfast.
"Aww, jeez."
Sighing, he left the bedroom to grab a broom to clean up the mess until the Devil returns. This was not exactly how he had hoped for this year's Valentine to start out.