One morning, Gwen started her usual day in the Inkwell Isles. Haves breakfast with her family then headed off to work at the Honeycomb Herald. She worked on upcoming cartoons to be published until her shift was over. She clocked out and teleported to Clarence's apartment to pick up Clarence, then back to the cottage. She and Clarence decided to head to the human world to go join her family to an outing.
They head to a fair in Boston and all look at all the stands and fun events. Gwen, Clarence, Rose and William ride some of the fair rides like the Ferris wheel, the swing ride and the tilt-a-whirl while Edgar and Margarine watched the infant twins Emma and Jack.
Later, they all meet up together at a picnic table for dinner. Everyone in the family each go to different. Gwen and Clarence go up to a hot dog stand and waits in line to get a hot dog. Suddenly, Gwen is bumped into by a passing stranger carrying a garbage bag and a trash picker stick.
"Hey!" Gwen said.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going! Are you alright ma'am?" A slightly-older-than-Gwen Chinese American woman fair groundskeeper asked.
"I'm okay. Thank you." Gwen said.
"Sometimes you get so focused on working, you don't pay attention to your surroundings." The lady said.
"It's okay. I hear ya. Well, see ya." Gwen said and went up to the hot dog stand attendant and ordered two hot dogs.
"You too." The lady said as she walked away, picking up trash around the fairgrounds.
"She seems nice." Clarence said.
"Yeah." Gwen agreed.
Gwen and Clarence get their hot dogs and rejoin her family at the picnic table.
"So, how's everything in the Inkwell Isles?" Margarine asked Gwen.
"Great. Clarence is still doing gigs. Elder Kettle and the cups are doing good. I'm good too." Gwen answered.
"Yep, Ribby and Croaks keep me around the Fly Trap." Clarence added.
"That's great you two." Margarine said.
Rose and William feed their children bottles of milk.
"Well, good to hear you're doing well too with your singing career my boy." Edgar complimented Clarence.
"Thank you, sir." Clarence said.
"Yeah, so how's everything at the office papa?" Gwen asked.
"Well, it's busy at the office with my new job. But that's how it is when you get promoted." Edgar said.
"I'll bet." Gwen said.
"You try handling 20 little kids every day." Rose said as she fed Emma.
"Or help run your father's steel company." William added as he fed Jack.
"Oh, ha ha." Gwen said sarcastically.
Just then, Gwen is unexpectedly taken hostage and has a knife pointed at her neck. The family freaks out as Edgar stood up, realizing the armed suspect is the conman he almost wedded Gwen off to.
"No! Let my daughter go!" Edgar yelled angrily.
"Take your hands off of her!" Clarence angrily said, preparing for a fight.
"Sorry Mr. Emmons. But you broke your part of the bargain after she was found. So, I'm gonna return the favor. So, any of you follow, she dies! That means you too boy!" The conman threatened.
He takes Gwen away in the nearby forest as Gwen kept struggling to break free. Clarence ran off after them, hiding in the forests to rescue her.
Suddenly, something was shot in the conman's neck. Gwen quickly stomped his foot again and punched in in the gut, freeing herself again. The conman falls to the ground unconscious. The same Chinese American woman Gwen encountered earlier is revealed to have shot the conman with a tranquilizer dart gun as she approached Gwen.
"You okay?" The lady asked.
"I'm fine. Did you do that?" Gwen asked.
"Yes, I did. And don't worry, I got the cops here to arrest him." The lady answered.
Gwen looked and saw policemen lifting the conman up, handcuffing him and taken away once again.
"Don't worry Miss Emmons. We're gonna make sure he never gets out of prison this time." The lady assured her.
"You know my name?" Gwen asked, now in shock.
"Yes Gwen. In fact, we know lots of things about you like how you graduated from Brighton High School, you won blue ribbons at some of the local art fairs including state. What we don't know is how you mysteriously disappeared for over a month and was later found safe with no trace of evidence. Am I right?" The lady revealed.
Gwen stood in shock.
"Who exactly are you? You're not a fair groundskeeper, are you?" Gwen asked, figuring it out.
"That's right. I haven't properly introduced myself." The lady said as she pulled out a Federal Bureau of Investigation badge from her pocket.
"Agent Kai-Ming Cheng. FBI." Kai-Ming revealed.
"If you're really from the FBI, what do you want?" Gwen nervously asked.
"Aside from capturing that dirtbag we've been hunting for a while now, I'm here to ask you some questions." Kai-Ming answered.
"About what?" Gwen asked.
"We'll talk about it later. Right now, I need to take care of that convict. We'll talk again soon. I promise. In the meantime, go back to your family. They're alright and do not tell anyone about me. Just tell them, the police arrived and saved you. Especially your boyfriend who is not far from us right now. Understand?" Kai-Ming instructed her.
"Uh, okay?" Gwen answered, unsure.
"Here's my card. Keep it hidden. Give me a call when you're ready within a day or two." Kai-Ming said as she handed Gwen her business card.
"Um, okay." Gwen nervously said.
"Good. Now go. Don't keep that boy waiting." Kai-Ming instructed.
Gwen puts the business card in her pocket and runs to find Clarence.
"Gwen! You're okay!" Clarence exclaimed as he came out of the bushes.
Both embrace and kiss each other.
"I'm okay, I was saved by those police officers waiting for him." Gwen explained.
"Wow, I guess they're getting smarter. Come on!" Clarence said.
They both run back to her family at the fairgrounds. Her family embraced her and Clarence, relieved she was okay.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Margarine asked.
"I'm fine. The police just happened to be there waiting for him and saved me. Then Clarence showed up." Gwen lied.
"Oh, thank goodness. Thank you, my boy." Edgar said, relieved as he hugged Clarence.
"I think we've had enough fun for today. We should all head home." Margarine said.
"Yeah. Clarence and I will head back to the cottage." Gwen said.
"Wait, Gwen and Clarence. Why don't you both ride with us? I want to see you get to the cottage through the door portal." Edgar suggested.
"Um, okay." Gwen answered, unsure.
"Okay sir." Clarence agreed.
The Smiths drove away back to their house while Gwen, Clarence and her parents drove back to their house. Gwen and Clarence hugged her parents goodbye and activated the door portal and stepped through. Clarence went back to his apartment and rejoined his roommate Ms. Chalice. Gwen rejoined her second family and went upstairs to bed. Gwen was greeted by her magic carpet Cerulean Bolt like a pet and joins her on her bed when she goes to sleep.
Two days later, Gwen was at her job at the Honeycomb Herald and thought about Kai-Ming while her magic carpet Cerulean Bolt flew around her office. She pulled out the business card, grabbed her desk phone and dialed the number.
"I hope she doesn't know about the Inkwell Isles or the Devil." Gwen said to herself.
Cerulean Bolt pats her on her shoulder, assuring her it'll be okay. Gwen smiled until she hears someone pick up the phone.
"Hello? Cheng speaking." Kai-Ming answered.
"Hello, this is Gwen. We met two days ago?" Gwen answered.
"I figured you'd call." Kai-Ming said.
"So, what kind of questions did you wanna ask me?" Gwen asked.
"Not here. Are you still working?" Kai-Ming asked.
"Uh, yes. I get off in an hour." Gwen answered, looking at the clock.
"Listen carefully to what I tell you to do. When you get off work, meet me at the coffee house in Boston at 4:00. Come alone and tell no one. I assure you I will keep you safe. Understand?" Kai-Ming instructed.
"Yes." Gwen answered.
"Good. See you at 4." Kai-Ming said and hung up the phone.
Gwen took a deep breath, feeling nervous about meeting the secret agent. Later, Gwen clocked out, put on her coat and hat. Cerulean Bolt wanted to come along but Gwen shook her head.
"No buddy. I have to go alone." Gwen told him.
But Cerulean Bolt flew around her insisting on joining her.
"Okay fine. But I gotta keep you hidden from other humans, okay?" Gwen reluctantly agrees.
Cerulean Bolt nodded in agreement. Gwen magically fits him inside her satchel.
"Now, stay quiet and don't move." Gwen instructed.
Then, Gwen disappeared to the human world. She appeared in a dark alley of Boston not too far from the coffee house. Gwen walked up to the coffee house and went inside. Gwen looked around for Kai-Ming but couldn't find her anywhere.
Just then, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Gwen gasped and turned around, only to find Kai-Ming behind her.
"Oh, it's you. I thought you were someone else." Gwen said, feeling relieved.
"I had to be sure you weren't being followed. I saved us a table." Kai-Ming said.
Both women sat down at a table in the corner, a waitress takes their orders and delivers them their coffees.
"So, what do you want from me?" Gwen bravely asked.
Kai-Ming grabbed some photos and showed her pictures of Cuphead, Mugman, Elder Kettle and the Devil at Rose's wedding and Ms. Chalice at the Boston Children's Museum.
"Do you know of these strange sightings of what appear to be 'cartoon characters'?" Kai-Ming asked.
Gwen's heart started beating fast and started sweating.
"Look Gwen, I'm not here to hurt anyone or expose any secrets. We've been interested in these strange sightings and want to learn more about them." Kai-Ming assured her.
"I-I-I-I can't." Gwen nervously said.
"Gwen, are those sightings of these cartoons connected to your disappearance months ago?" Kai-Ming asked.
Gwen sighed and nodded.
"Can you tell me what happened? And don't worry, it will be safe with me. It'll be classified." Kai-Ming said.
Gwen took a deep breath and started sharing her story. A half hour later, Gwen finished up with her living in the Inkwell Isles, fighting the Devil and just living her life. Gwen sunk her head in her hands, guilty of revealing her secret to a secret agent.
"That's quite an amazing story Gwen. So, these 'toons' are real. And their world is called the Inkwell Isles. And you have a magical artifact passed down by your late grandfather that allows you to access this world and fight the Devil himself." Kai-Ming said, recapping the story.
Gwen nodded and felt sad.
"I know it's very tough for you, but I can help you." Kai-Ming assured her.
"I appreciate it, I really do but you're no match for the Devil. Nothing can stop him. If he knows about you knowing about this, he's gonna come for you too." Gwen warned her.
"Don't worry, I can handle myself just as you do when he attacks." Kai-Ming said.
"Look Kai-Ming, I've already said enough. I really should get back." Gwen said, feeling worried.
"Wait, can you show me this place? I need to see it for myself." Kai-Ming asked.
"I really don't know about this Kai-Ming. He could show up anytime, anyplace. I don't want you getting hurt." Gwen said, fearing for Kai-Ming's safety.
"Don't worry Gwen. Your secret's safe with me. So, please, will you take me with you to the Inkwell Isles?" Kai-Ming asked.
"Uh… okay. But not here." Gwen hesitantly agreed.
Kai-Ming pays the tab and both women leave the coffee house. Gwen takes Kai-Ming to the same dark alleyway and used her ink pen and teleported to the outskirts of Inkwell City. Kai-Ming is shocked at her new cartoon-like appearance and is in awe of the world around her.
"That proof enough for you?" Gwen asked.
"Yes, it's so much like ours." Kai-Ming said as she looked around.
Just then, Gwen noticed in the distance a puff of smoke appears out of nowhere. Immediately knowing who was arriving, Gwen grabbed Kai-Ming and took her to hide in the bushes.
"What's going on?" Kai-Ming quietly asked.
"SHH!" Gwen shushed her and pointed in the distance.
Kai-Ming looked through the bushes and saw the Devil himself. She quietly gasped and got out her camera.
"What are you doing?! He's gonna hear you!" Gwen whispered.
"Don't worry, I have a silencer on this thing." Kai-Ming assured her.
They both watched the Devil blow up some trees with his pitchfork as Kai-Ming quietly took pictures. The Devil sighed happily at his work.
Then, he teleports himself to Inkwell City.
"Oh no." Gwen said worryingly.
"What's wrong?" Kai-Ming asked.
"He's gonna cause more mayhem to the people and set the city on fire again. He did this before until it was up to me to restore everything back to normal." Gwen explained.
"Gwen, can you teleport us into the city? I want to see this for myself." Kai-Ming asked.
Gwen sighed and said,
"Fine, but don't let him see us. I don't want him to know you're here. Okay?" Gwen asked.
"Okay." Kai-Ming agreed.
Gwen tapped her ink pen, and both disappeared into the city. They spy on the Devil using his tail to pop some children's balloons, making them cry while Kai-Ming snaps another picture. Next, he heads to the park as the humans once again follow him. He magically morphs the playground into a monstrous-like form and chases the kids. Kai-Ming takes another snapshot as the Devil laughed at the children.
The Devil appeared at the Inkwell Zoo and magically released all the carnivores chasing the patrons. Kai-Ming takes another photo as Gwen watched with a heavy heart. Later, he morphed into his giant dragon form and chased a crowd of people while breathing fire. Kai-Ming snapped a few more pictures of the Devil causing chaos until the Devil retreated to the outskirts of the city, satisfied with his work.
Gwen and Kai-Ming once again take cover in the bushes and spied on the Devil.
"That'll remind those stupid yokels who to be scared of, not to laugh at." The Devil said to himself happily.
Just then, his elevator appears from a fiery portal as Kai-Ming snapped another picture. The elevator door opens, and Henchman appeared.
"Hiya boss! Did you have a great time?" Henchman asked.
"It sure was! I've never felt more wicked in my life!" The Devil said happily.
The Devil grabbed his pitchfork and leaves with Henchman back to Hell. Gwen sighed of relief as she and Kai-Ming appeared from the bushes.
"Well, that was fun." Kai-Ming said holding her camera.
"Now, I gotta clean up his mess." Gwen said, holding up her ink pen.
"I'll go with you." Kai-Ming said.
"Gwen!" A voice called.
Gwen and Kai-Ming looked to see the ladybug mayor of Inkwell City approaching the humans.
"Gwen! There you are! We have a catastrophe! The Devil struck again!" The mayor said.
"I just saw that." Gwen said.
"Come on! We need you to restore it!" The mayor said and led Gwen to the burning city.
Kai-Ming tags along with Gwen and the mayor. A crowd of people gather around Gwen and Kai-Ming as Gwen announced,
"Are you ready for some magic?"
The crowd cheered as Gwen raised her ink pen. Her inkwell glowed as Gwen unleased her magic and got to work restoring Inkwell City. The balloons were restored, the playground was restored to normal, the carnivores were returned to their cages and the fires were extinguished. Kai-Ming takes pictures of Gwen using the magic inkwell as the crowd cheered her on.
"This is amazing. That girl's full of surprises." Kai-Ming said to herself.
"Yeah, isn't she great? That's why we keep her around." The mayor said, standing next to her.
"I can see why." Kai-Ming agreed as she snapped another photo.
Just then out of nowhere, the Devil suddenly appeared, to everyone's horror.
"THE DEVIL!" An anthropomorphic elephant yelled and pointed.
Everyone screamed and ran away, including the mayor.
"My fans, they love me." The Devil bragged.
Gwen felt scared and pointed her ink pen at the Devil.
"What do you want now?!" Gwen yelled.
"I figured my rampage would get your attention. You fell right into my trap." The Devil revealed.
"What trap?" Gwen asked.
"To finally capture you so we'll finally seal the deal my dear. How many times do I need to tell you this?" The Devil asked impatiently.
"No! Never!" Gwen denied him.
Kai-Ming put her camera away and prepared to attack the Devil. She got out her tranquilizer gun. She quietly shot a dart at the Devil's neck. But to her shock, the Devil managed to stop the dart just in time before it hit his neck.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I guess you had a trap set for me too." The Devil said as he squished the dart.
He suddenly turned around, pointed his pitchfork and levitated Kai-Ming in the air and threw her down to the ground at Gwen. Kai-Ming groaned in pain as Gwen helped her up.
"Well, well, well. Another human friend you brought here huh?" The Devil asked.
"Leave her alone!" Gwen yelled as she held Kai-Ming, slightly injured.
The Devil approached Kai-Ming, getting a good look at her.
"And not just any human…" The Devil said.
Then, he pulled out Kai-Ming's badge from her vest pocket, revealing her profession.
"… a government agent." The Devil finished.
The Devil looked at her badge as Henchman arrived with a folder.
"Hmm. Special Agent Kai-Ming Cheng. Federal Bureau of Investigation. FBI. Shiny badge you got here." The Devil read her ID badge.
Kai-Ming quickly grabbed her badge back.
"Hands off you foul demon!" Kai-Ming yelled.
The Devil snickered as he held his hand to Henchman.
"File!" The Devil yelled.
"Oh!" Henchman exclaimed and held up a file, acting like a podium again.
The Devil opened the file and magically made reading glasses appear on his face.
"Now then, let's just take a look at your file, shall we… Agent Cheng?" The Devil asked.
Kai-Ming grew nervous as Gwen prepared to either attack or teleport.
"Ooh! What's this? You're one of the top field agents in the FBI, you graduated the academy at the top of your class, solved several cases in your career. But alas, you focused too much on your career it costed you your now estranged husband and your three young daughters." The Devil revealed.
"Stop it!" Kai-Ming yelled.
"You valued your career more your family. Very impressive Agent Cheng." The Devil taunted.
"ENOUGH!" Kai-Ming yelled as she got out her gun and tried to fire at the Devil.
But the Devil stopped the bullets from hitting him and made them all drop to the ground as he giggled.
"Silly mortal. Your mere human weapons cannot harm me." The Devil taunted.
"No, but this can!" Gwen yelled as she fired her cyan beam attack, blasting the Devil.
Gwen quickly teleported Kai-Ming and herself back to the human world. An injured Devil weakly gets up as Henchman yelled,
"They've escaped to the human world boss!"
"They won't get far." The Devil said angrily.
He tapped his pitchfork and teleported to the human world. Gwen and Kai-Ming appear back in Boston and both women make a run for it.
"Is he like this with you?" Kai-Ming asked.
"All the time!" Gwen answered back.
"But Gwen, why you?" Kai-Ming asked.
"I told you! He wants the magic inkwell but only I can use it! So, he's trying to kidnap me and marry me against my will to obtain its power to rule both the Inkwell Isles and our world!" Gwen explained.
"That sounds catastrophic!" Kai-Ming called.
"I know! Welcome to my life!" Gwen shouted.
Just then, fire blasts were shot at the women, making them yell in fright. They look back and saw the Devil flying after them, aiming his pitchfork at them. Kai-Ming gets out her gun once again, reloaded and fired shots at the Devil, but to no avail. They come across a construction site. Gwen gets an idea and uses her ink to make the wrecking ball swing toward the Devil, but he barely dodges.
"Ha! You're not getting me that…!" The Devil was about to say until…
WHACK!
The wrecking ball slammed the Devil into a building. Gwen snickered as she and Kai-Ming stop to catch their breaths.
"Wow, that was neat!" Kai-Ming complimented.
"It won't stop him; we need to get you outta here before he…" Gwen was about to say until there was an explosion and the Devil screamed in agony. Then, he shapeshifted into his giant dragon form and roared.
"See what I mean?" Gwen asked.
"Oh boy, we never covered on dealing with giant demonic monsters at the academy!" Kai-Ming exclaimed.
The Devil flew after the women, and both take off running. They run past some old buildings until Kai-Ming pulls Gwen into an alleyway, losing the Devil. Kai-Ming takes Gwen behind a dumpster and has her duck down.
"Shh! Don't move!"
Kai-Ming shushed Gwen as she covered her mouth. Kai-Ming armed herself with her gun, looked up and saw the Devil above looking for them. The Devil searches the area, but no luck. He growled in frustration and flew away to continue his search. Kai-Ming puts her gun away and helped Gwen on her feet.
"Are you alright?" Kai-Ming asked.
"I'm fine. And you?" Gwen asked.
"I'm fine too." Kai-Ming answered.
"Come on, we need to get somewhere safe." Gwen said.
"I know where we can go. The Catholic Church. You know where that is?" Kai-Ming asked.
"Yeah, but it's quite a distance to get there." Gwen answered.
"Then, let's get moving." Kai-Ming said.
They both started their way to the church when all of a sudden…
BOOM!
A fire blast was shot at, startling the women. Both of them realize immediately they've been found. They look up and notice the Devil in his dragon form floating above them.
"Found you!" The Devil taunted.
"Definitely not good!" Kai-Ming said as she grabbed Gwen's hand and started running again.
Gwen thought for a moment and got an idea. She patted her satchel, getting Cerulean Bolt's attention.
"Okay buddy! Come on out! Get us outta here!" Gwen ordered.
"Who are you talking to?" Kai-Ming asked.
"My new friend! Trust me!" Gwen assured her.
Cerulean Bolt magically appeared out of Gwen's satchel, to Kai-Ming's shock. Gwen holds Kai-Ming and jumped on Cerulean Bolt and flew off into the sky. The Devil is shocked to see that Gwen has obtained a magic carpet. He growled furiously and yelled out,
"You're both not getting away!"
The Devil flew after the trio in the sky.
"You didn't tell me you had a flying carpet!" Kai-Ming exclaimed.
"Yep. He was a gift from a new friend I recently made! I named him Cerulean Bolt!" Gwen explained.
Cerulean Bolt waved his tassel hand at Kai-Ming.
"Uh, nice to meet you." Kai-Ming said as she petted the carpet.
Cerulean Blue attempted to do a loop-de-loop until Gwen stopped him.
"Uh, uh, uh! Not right now! We're being chased by a Devil dragon!" Gwen reminded him.
Just then another fire blast was shot at them. Gwen thinks for a moment and gets an idea.
"Cerulean Bolt, lets lose him in the clouds!" Gwen ordered him.
Cerulean Bolt zoomed higher in the clouds.
"You might wanna hold on." Gwen warned Kai-Ming.
Kai-Ming hangs on to Gwen as Cerulean Bolt flew the clouds in a zigzag like way, making the Devil confused.
"No! No! No!" The Devil yelled as he struggled to keep up.
Cerulean Bolt dashed below the clouds and Gwen quickly teleports them back to the Inkwell Isles, hoping to lose him. The Devil roared in frustration until he runs out of breath and shapeshifted back to his regular form. The Devil lands on the ground, groaned and said,
"She's getting good. I'll give her that."
Then, he lifts his pitchfork and disappears back to Inkwell Hell.
Meanwhile, Gwen and Kai-Ming fly down to the cottage. Both girls get off as Kai-Ming catches her breath.
"That was a blast! He should've seen the look on his face!" Gwen said, laughing a little bit.
"Is that what this is to you? Having fun by teasing him like your cup friends do?" Kai-Ming asked.
"Pretty much." Gwen answered as Cerulean Blue gestured laughing since he can't talk.
Gwen teleports herself and Kai-Ming to the Catholic Church in the human world. They take refuge and Gwen uses the magic inkwell to heal Kai-Ming's injuries.
"I'm so sorry for all of this Kai-Ming." Gwen apologized as Cerulean Bolt flew next to her.
"It's alright Gwen, it's not your fault. It's all part of working in the FBI. Danger is always looking for you. Anyways, I want to continue working with you Gwen. I want to learn more about the Inkwell Isles, the magic inkwell and the Devil." Kai-Ming said.
"Really? But how do I know you'll keep it all a secret from everyone?" Gwen asked suspiciously.
"Because this is all classified information, remember? To protect innocent people and the Inkwell Isles. And I wanna help you too. So, would you like to be my informant?" Kai-Ming asked.
"What would I have to do?" Gwen asked.
"You will give me information and let me come visit the Inkwell Isles to study the cartoon world and the inhabitants. Stuff like that to help me learn. We'll even make it worth your while." Kai-Ming explained.
"Well, okay. But only if you promise to keep it between us." Gwen stated her condition.
"Of course. I am sworn to secrecy." Kai-Ming promised.
Both Gwen and Kai-Ming shake on it.
Later, Gwen magically makes a door portal to the Inkwell Isles for Kai-Ming so she can continue her studies on the cartoon world.
Gwen continues with her usual life with her cup friends while her new friend Kai-Ming kept studying the Inkwell Isles and learning more about the inhabitants and the Devil. Occasionally, Gwen would meet up with Kai-Ming and gave her helpful information on the Devil and his associates and warned her not to ever make a deal with him and resist any temptation he will throw at her.