One day, Gwen gets off work and arrives back home to the cottage. As Gwen was resting from working, Elder Kettle called,
"Hey Gwen?"
"Yes, Elder Kettle?" Gwen asked.
"Would you run down to Porkrind's and grab me a new car battery?" Elder Kettle asked.
Gwen's eyes popped, not wanting to go to Porkrind's.
"Let me guess, the guys hooked you to your old car battery again?" Gwen guessed.
"You know it dear. Here's some money." Elder Kettle hands Gwen some money.
"Okay, I'll be back." Gwen said as she leaves.
Gwen heads on over to Porkrind's Emporium, feeling nervous about her approach. She takes a deep breath and once again says,
"Be nice Gwen. You can do this. Maybe he's in a good mood this time."
Gwen goes up to the door, but before she could open the door, she noticed Porkrind's usual customer Jerry once again obtaining black market goods through the window.
"Hey, Porkrind? We got a problem. I'm having trouble getting those car parts." Jerry said.
"Eh, not my problem." Porkrind said rudely.
"The only other place to get those parts is the junkyard. But it's too dangerous. Rumor has it there's a giant monster there." Jerry explained.
"Eh, not my problem." Porkrind said again.
Just then, they hear the door open, Gwen enters, trying to keep her cool.
"Hey Porkrind." Gwen greeted politely.
"Oh, it's you again kid. What do you want now?" Porkrind asked rudely.
"Do you have any car batteries in stock?" Gwen asked.
"No kid. Not my problem." Porkrind answered.
Gwen sighed and said,
"Fine, I'll go in town and find one at the auto shop. Good day."
Gwen turned around to leave and heads for the door. Jerry noticed the magic inkwell on her belt and gets an idea. He whispers his idea to Porkrind.
"Hmm. That just might work." Porkrind said.
Just as Gwen was about to head outside, Porkrind closes the door to stop her from leaving.
"Uh, what are you doing?" Gwen asked in confusion.
"You know kid. You'd be perfect for a special job. The auto shop is out of car batteries anyway, but I know where you could get one along with a few other parts Jerry needs." Porkrind said as he led Gwen back to the counter.
"What are you talking about? Why do I have to go get car parts?" Gwen asked, unsure about the mission.
"Oh, car parts are hard to come by right now kid. But the only place that has the parts is the junkyard. And you're the only one who can retrieve them." Porkrind explained.
"The junkyard? Why there?" Gwen asked.
"It's the last place known to have the parts." Porkrind answered.
"Here's a list of the parts I need you to find and get for me kid." Jerry said as he handed Gwen a list.
Gwen looks at the list and studies what Jerry needed.
"I don't know about this Porkrind. Isn't the junkyard dangerous…" Gwen was about to ask until Porkrind rudely interrupted,
"Kid, do you want that car battery or not?!" Porkrind scolded.
"Yes. Yes, I do." Gwen answered, not wanting to start an argument.
"Good. Now go to the junkyard, get those parts and be back here in 2 hours or else I'm selling the car battery to someone else! NOW GET OUT!" Porkrind shouted at her.
Gwen quickly runs out of the shop and heads down the road. Porkrind comes out the door and yelled,
"And no cheatin' me with that magic doohickey of yours!"
"Ooh, I hope he's not catching on to my money-making trick already…" Gwen quietly said under her breath.
Gwen ran as far away as she could away from the wagon-shop. After she was out of sight, Gwen heads into town to find the junkyard. She goes to the outskirts of the city and finds the junkyard. She quickly noticed the 'No Trespassing' signs. Gwen looks at the list to remember what Jerry needed. The list said that he needs a transmission, a radiator, a tail pipe and a muffler while Gwen just needed a car battery.
"Well, looks like I'm doing this. And I got 2 hours to do it or else he won't sell me the car battery." Gwen reminded herself.
Gwen noticed the junkyard looked very creepy. Gwen took a deep breath, shapeshifted into her ghost form and flew through the fence. Gwen turned back into a human and began looking around for the parts. She manages to find the first part: the transmission. She continued searching and finding the other four parts and puts them in her satchel. She crosses off all the parts on the list. All that was left was to find the car battery she needed.
Gwen comes across a clearing and spots the car battery in plain sight. But just as she was about to go after it, she felt a rumbling like footsteps approaching. Gwen turned around and saw nothing at first, only to look up and saw a giant Automaton approaching. Gwen takes cover behind a pile of junk as the Automaton walked past her hiding spot. Gwen quietly gasped at the sight of the giant robot.
"Woah. Porkrind didn't tell me about a giant robot." Gwen quietly said to herself.
She watched the Automaton blowing up big piles of junk with a beam from his antenna. Just as the Automaton was about to blow up the pile of junk Gwen was hiding behind; Gwen makes a run for it before the robot could fire. But the impact of the explosion caused Gwen to fall over, dodging the flying scrap metal pieces. The Automaton immediately noticed Gwen ducking on the ground and made a loud beeping noise.
"Intruder detected!" The Automaton said.
"Uh oh!" Gwen said fearfully.
She looked behind her and noticed the robot opened a missile launcher from his chest. He fired some missiles at Gwen as she got up and ran for her life. Gwen used her ink pen and fired her cyan-beam attacks to blow up the missiles. Gwen manages to grab the car battery, stuff it in her satchel and run towards the fence she entered from. Gwen thinks she's trapped at the fence as another missile is launched at her. With quick thinking, Gwen jumped out of the way at the last minute, blowing up a section of the fence. Gwen runs out of the junkyard unharmed and makes her escape. Gwen looked at her pocket watch and realized she was almost out of time to get back to Porkrind's. She quickly tapped her ink pen and reappeared outside the wagon-shop. She enters the shop covered in dirt and soot.
"Oh, you made it, huh?" Porkrind asked.
Gwen walked up to the counter, emptied her satchel and all the car parts fell out.
"Here, I got your car parts. I got myself the car battery too." Gwen said, trying to remain calm as she prepared to leave.
But before she could leave with the car battery, Porkrind once again stops her from leaving by grabbing her shoulder.
"Not so fast kid! Pay up!" Porkrind ordered her.
Gwen sighed, reached into her pocket and handed Porkrind the money Elder Kettle gave her. Jerry pays Porkrind a sack of money and collects the car parts he needed in a crate.
"Nice work kid. Good day to you both." Jerry said and left the shop.
"Okay, see you later. I gotta get home." Gwen said as she turned to leave.
"Kid! Before you go, you and I need to have a little chat." Porkrind said.
Gwen cringed, turned around and headed back to the counter.
"Okay, what's up?" Gwen asked.
"Now, are you gonna admit it?" Porkrind asked her suspiciously.
"Admit what?" Gwen asked, now getting worried.
"That you've been cheatin' me the whole time with magically conjured up money since day one?" Porkrind answered.
Gwen paused for a moment, feeling busted.
"What do you mean cheating you? Why would I ever do that?" Gwen asked in denial.
"Well lately, I couldn't help but notice every time you reach into your pocket to pay for something, that magic doohickey on your belt glows and you pull out the exact amount of money." Porkrind answered, revealing he knows about her trick.
"Oh. Um…" Gwen said nervously, realizing she's been caught.
"You didn't think I'd catch on, did you? The pig knows." Porkrind said, feeling ticked.
"I-I-I-I can explain!" Gwen fearfully said, knowing she was in big trouble.
"Can it, kid. I calculated the money you cheated me, and you owe me 50 bucks."
Porkrind said as he held up a list of the items Gwen bought with the money that she magically created including her sketchbook and hat.
"But I don't get paid for another week at my job!" Gwen protested.
"Then we'll see what the authorities have to say. Unless… we can work something out." Porkrind suggested.
"Like what?" Gwen asked nervously.
"You can't just magically make money kid. You don't wanna go to jail? You're gonna work off the debt. So, how about this: Every day after your job, you come here and work for me until your debt is paid off. But if you disobey any request big or small and if I hear one little complaint out of you, it's the stony lonesome for you kid! We got a deal?" Porkrind asked, reaching his hand for a handshake.
Gwen took a deep breath and nervously reached her hand.
"Deal." Gwen said.
They both shake on it as Gwen cringed, knowing she has no choice now.
"Then it's settled. You start first thing tomorrow after your job. And don't be late!" Porkrind warned her.
"Okay, I won't!" Gwen quickly said and ran out of the shop.
Gwen went home, gave Elder Kettle the car battery, had dinner with her family and went to bed. She dreaded for the moment she will work for Porkrind after work.
The next day came, and Gwen feared the moment coming when work was done, and she must head over to Porkrind's shop. When Gwen clocked out for the day, she said to herself,
"You can do this Gwen. It's just temporary. Until you pay off the debt, you'll do whatever he says."
Gwen groaned and tapped her ink pen and disappeared to the wagon-shop. She enters the shop with Porkrind standing there, waiting for her.
"Oh, good. You're here. Okay, kid, your first assignment: Clean the floor." Porkrind ordered her, handing her a broom and dustpan.
"Okay, Porkrind." Gwen said as she took the broom and dustpan and prepared to start working.
"Uh, uh, uh! Before you start, your magic doohickey and pen!" Porkrind said, reaching his hand to Gwen.
"Wait, I can't use my…?" Gwen was about to ask until Porkrind interrupted,
"That's right kid! New rule: when you come to work for me, you gotta hand over your magic items! You will do things around here normally until you're done for the day! Do I make myself clear?" Porkrind explained his conditions, furthering Gwen's punishment.
"Crystal." Gwen answered nervously.
She reluctantly handed over the magic inkwell and ink pen to Porkrind. He takes the items and locks them up behind the counter in case she got any ideas. Gwen sighed, then got straight to work sweeping the shop as Porkrind kept an eye on her making sure she did the job right.
Throughout the week, Gwen puts up with Porkrind ordering her to clean the shop, make deliveries and stock items. During that time, she has to deal with his constant rudeness and anger issues.
Most of her debt is paid off when Gwen must do one more job for Porkrind to be in the clear. Porkrind was grabbing a list for Gwen when he called out,
"Kid!"
Gwen comes running after stocking items from the back of the shop.
"Yes, Porkrind?" Gwen answered out of breath.
"Most of your debt is paid off. We'll call it even after you do one more job for me." Porkrind said.
Gwen sighed of relief and asked,
"Sure, what is it?"
"I need you to go back to the junkyard and find me these car parts on this list."
Gwen's eyes widened, realizing she must go back to the junkyard to collect more parts and avoid getting killed by the Automaton.
"Oh. More parts?" Gwen asked nervously.
"Yes. More parts. I trust there are no objections?" Porkrind asked, warning her.
"N-No Porkrind." Gwen answered, feeling scared.
"Good. Now, be back by closing or else you're gonna continue working for me another day!" Porkrind warned her.
"NOW GET OUT!" Porkrind shouted.
Gwen runs out of the shop as quickly as she could and heads to the junkyard.
Gwen makes it to the junkyard and sneaks in through a loose board in the fence this time since she didn't have the magic inkwell and ink pen this time.
"Ugh! Why did that selfish, money-grubbing warthog have to take away my magic items!?" Gwen asked herself frustratingly.
Gwen quietly sneaks around the junkyard and manages to find the items on the list Porkrind gave her. When Gwen is about ready to leave, she suddenly heard a familiar voice saying,
"Intruder detected!"
"Oh no!" Gwen exclaimed.
Gwen once again takes off running from the Automaton as he once again fired his missiles at her. But she once again manages to avoid getting blown up by using the piles of junk as she headed for the loose board at the fence.
The robot gets very angry and aimed his antenna at Gwen. Gwen almost reaches the fence to escape until the robot fired his beam at Gwen. She barely jumped out of the way before the beam could blast her, causing a huge explosion. Gwen is blown away, knocked out unconscious on the ground.
The Automaton approaches Gwen reaches his giant hand and scooped Gwen up and lifted her up to his face. The robot scans Gwen with his eyes to learn about her.
"Scanning. Intruder identified. Human. Age 19. Identity: Gwendolyn Mae Emmons." The Automaton said.
Gwen started to wake up, she groaned until she noticed she was in the Automaton's clutches. Gwen was shaking with fear as the giant robot took a closer look at her, making her duck in his palm.
"So, you're that kid with that magic inkwell huh?" An eccentric male voice said.
Gwen's eyes popped. She looked up and saw a cartoony-like human that looked like a mad scientist wearing glasses and with purple hair and mustache pop out of the Automaton's head, to her shock.
"Uh, who are you?" Gwen asked.
"Why, I am the great Dr. Kahl my dear! And of course, you already meet my Automaton. My greatest creation!" Dr. Kahl introduced himself and his Automaton nodded.
"Oh, you made him?" Gwen asked, impressed.
"Why, yes, my dear! I am an inventor!" Dr. Kahl bragged.
"Impressive sir." Gwen nervously complimented.
"Now, then. What are you doing stealin' car parts in my junkyard?" Dr. Kahl asked suspiciously.
"Well…"
Gwen explained her situation with being in debt with Porkrind and he sent her to collect the car parts on his list or else she'll be punished further.
"I see. So, you were sent to take those parts on behalf of that pig huh?" Dr. Kahl asked.
"Yes." Gwen admitted.
"Well, that explains a lot. Come, I gotta show you something." Dr. Kahl said as he hopped back into the Automaton.
Gwen is taken by the Automaton and brought to Dr. Kahl's laboratory. Gwen is lowered down inside the building and Dr. Kahl show her around. Gwen is fascinated by all his inventions displayed.
"You see my dear, I use all the scrap medal and parts to create my finest inventions! Here is my latest invention I'm still working on!" Dr. Kahl said as he showed a machine that was incomplete.
"Wow, what's it gonna do when it's finished?" Gwen asked, curious.
"It's a surprise! But first, I need special parts which I see none of which you found I need." Dr. Kahl said.
"Look, if it's okay with you, I need to take these parts to Porkrind to clear my debt. But, if you let me do that, I'll get my magic inkwell and ink pen back and I'll come back and help you with your invention in exchange?" Gwen offered.
"Hmm, let's see. I let you take those parts to Porkrind, you get back the inkwell and you'll help me with my invention? You got a deal my dear!" Dr. Kahl said as he shook her hand.
Gwen looked at the clock and realized it was almost closing time and said,
"Oh my gosh! I almost forgot! It's almost closing time! I gotta get back or Porkrind's gonna kill me!" Gwen exclaimed.
"Not to worry my dear! I'll take you there! Hop in my flying hovercar!" Dr. Kahl offered.
"Wow, you invented a hovercar?" Gwen asked.
"That's right!" Dr. Kahl said as he drove his hovercar up to Gwen.
She hops in next to Dr. Kahl and he flies the hovercar out of the building and heads on over to Porkrind's wagon-shop. They arrive outside the shop and Gwen quickly gets out and runs inside. Porkrind looks up from his horse-racing book and noticed Gwen's return.
"I got them! I got them!" Gwen said, trying to catch her breath.
Porkrind gets up and said,
"Alright kid, bring them over!"
Gwen goes up to the counter and empties her satchel with all the parts. Porkrind goes through the list to make sure she got all the parts.
"Hmm. Okay kid, that's all the parts." Porkrind said as he crossed off each part.
"Does that mean my debt is paid off?" Gwen asked eagerly.
"Unfortunately, yes." Porkrind grumbled as he unlocked the counter and grabbed the magic inkwell and ink pen.
Gwen sighed of relief. She attempts to take back the items when he grasped her hand.
"You may be off the hook this time. But from now on, if you wanna buy something for yourself from me again, you're gonna pay me with real money or else next time is gonna be even worse! You, got that kid?" Porkrind warned her.
Gwen gulped in fear and said,
"Got it."
"Good! NOW GET OUT!" Porkrind shouted.
Gwen took her items and quickly ran out of the shop. She hops back in the hovercar with Dr. Kahl.
"Wow, he sounded very angry with you." Dr. Kahl said with a shocked look.
"Eh, he's like this all the time with me and my best friends who he really hates. Anyway, I got the inkwell back. Now, let's go." Gwen said.
Dr. Kahl flies his hovercar back to his laboratory. Gwen gets to work with the inkwell and magically conjures up the parts Dr. Kahl needed to activate his machine.
"Excellent! Now, let's give it a try!" Dr. Kahl said as he activated the machine.
Gwen watches in awe as the machine started to make noise.
"What's it doing?" Gwen asked.
"What you're witnessing is the machine making the perfect… cup of tea!" Dr. Kahl announced as he opens a little door showing her a teacup filled with tea.
Gwen looked shocked and felt disappointed.
"That's it? Your invention makes a perfect cup of tea?!" Gwen asked, giving an unamused look.
"That's right my dear! Here, I'll make a second one for you and we'll have tea together." Dr. Kahl offered.
He activates the machine again and makes another cup of tea. Both Gwen and Dr. Kahl sit down at a table together and socialized while sipping some tea. As much as Gwen enjoyed the tea, Gwen looked at the clock and realized it was time to head home.
"Well, I better get going. The elder I live with is gonna have dinner ready." Gwen said.
"Alright then dear. Please drop by again sometime. I could use your assistance around here to help me out with my inventions." Dr. Kahl said.
"Sure thing. As long as your Automaton doesn't try to kill me again." Gwen said, pointing up at the Automaton.
"Oh, don't worry. He won't kill you now that he knows you." Dr. Kahl assured her.
The Automaton reaches his hand down to Gwen. She nervously steps on and is lifted up to his face.
"Identity: Gwendolyn Mae Emmons. Friend." The Automaton said with a big smile.
Gwen smiled and said,
"You friend too."
The Automaton lowers her back down and Gwen steps off his hand. Gwen lifted her ink pen and disappeared back to the cottage. She goes inside and joins her family for dinner. After dinner, Gwen heads upstairs to bed and lays down, relieved her ordeal with Porkrind was over. Just then, Gwen hears a knock at her door.
"Come in." Gwen called.
Cuphead and Mugman come inside her room.
"Hey, Gwen? We were wondering. Where have you been these past few days?" Cuphead asked.
"Yeah, normally you come home around late afternoon but not lately." Mugman added.
"Well, it's a long story." Gwen said.
The cups hop on Gwen's bed, wanting to hear what happened.
"No, guys. I don't wanna talk about it." Gwen said, feeling sad.
"Please?" Both cups asked with big eyes.
"No, guys. Not the faces and eyes." Gwen said trying to look away.
But both cups continued anyway.
"Ugh! Fine! But only if you two promise to keep it between us!" Gwen said seriously.
"We promise!" Both cups said.
"Well…
Gwen explained the whole situation with being in debt with Porkrind and working it off along with meeting Dr. Kahl and the Automaton.
"Oh wow. You shouldn't have magically created that money to pay him with Gwen." Cuphead said.
"I know! I know! I didn't think it would turn into such a big deal!" Gwen said frustratingly.
"Well, I hope you learned your lesson Gweny." Mugman said.
"Yes, I did. And I'm not going back to his shop for a long while until he decides to forgive me." Gwen said, deciding to stay away from Porkrind for a while.
"Probably be a good idea." Mugman agreed.
Gwen laid in bed, feeling sad.
Cuphead thinks for a moment. Then he gets an idea and said,
"Hey, Gwen?"
"What?" Gwen asked.
"I know what'll put a smile on your face." Cuphead said.
"Oh, no. It better not be what I think you're gonna say!" Mugman scolded.
"What?" Gwen asked.
It was morning and Gwen and Mugman were hiding in the bushes outside Porkrind's shop.
"I was afraid he was gonna do this." Mugman said worryingly.
"What's he doing?" Gwen asked as she noticed Cuphead was quietly setting equipment above the shop door.
Cuphead makes sure everything was ready and waves at Mugman and Gwen to get their attention. Cuphead knocks at the door and quickly runs to the bushes to hide with his brother and Gwen. They all duck their heads in the bushes and watch.
"Who is it?!" Porkrind yelled as he opened the door.
But he realizes too late that a bucket tied above the door dipped and poured maple syrup all over Porkrind. Gwen and the cups stifle their laughter as they watched. Suddenly a net above Porkrind was released and chicken feathers covered him completely. Gwen and the cups try to hold their laughter as he angrily grumbled.
"Who did this?! It better not be you lousy cups!" Porkrind yelled.
Porkrind stormed down the stairs and checked out most of the bushes. Just as he was about to check the bush the trio were hiding; Gwen quickly used the inkwell to make themselves invisible. Porkrind looked around but finds nothing, then leaves back into his shop. After Porkrind was gone, Gwen used the ink pen to disappear back to the front yard of the cottage. She removes the invisible paint, and the trio all laugh uncontrollably on the ground.
"Oh, man did you see the look on Porkrind's face?" Gwen said as she tried to calm down from laughing.
"I know! Priceless!" Cuphead answered.
"Very priceless!" Mugman agreed.
After the trio catch their breaths, Gwen is approached by Jerry as he entered through the gate. Gwen looked up and said,
"Jerry! Hey."
"Hi there, kid." Jerry said, tipping his hat to her.
Gwen gets up on her feet.
"May I have a word with you alone for a minute?" Jerry asked.
"Uh, sure. Be right back guys." Gwen said and walked outside the gate with Jerry.
"What brings you here?" Gwen asked.
"Well, kid. I come with a proposition for you. How would you like to work in the black-market business? I could someone with your magical talents. Don't mind what Porkrind said." Jerry said.
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm afraid I'm gonna have to pass. I need to stay away from Porkrind for a while." Gwen kindly declined.
"That's alright kid. And don't worry about Porkrind. Just give him some time. You know, he doesn't like to be cheated. He thinks that's his job. You're the first person I've seen cheating him, very impressive by the way. Anyway, he'll come around and let it go." Jerry advised her.
"You really think so Jerry?" Gwen asked.
"Oh, believe me. I've gotten in trouble with him a few times before. But after giving him some time, he gets over it and we're back in business. Just don't use your magic to make money appear again." Jerry explained.
"Hmm. I guess you're right. Just give him time." Gwen said.
"Oh, I am right. Well, if you change your mind, let me know. I bid you a fond adieu." Jerry said and turned away to leave.
Gwen smiled and went back to her friends and joined them.
"Hey guys, wanna see some magic?" Gwen asked as she got out her ink pen.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!" Both cups said excitedly.
Gwen used her magic and performed some new tricks, cheering herself up. From then on, Gwen stopped using the inkwell to magically create money and started to use real money to buy whatever she needed for herself.