Marinette exited the bathroom, trying to adjust her new shirt. She had finally gotten tired of wearing her jacket backwards, and had borrowed Allison's spare shirt to change into. True, the shirt was more like a dress on her, but at least she wasn't wearing a shirt that exposed her front anymore.

Pity. She really liked that shirt.

"Doing better?" Allison asked from where she had been waiting outside the restroom.

"Yeah, I'm good now," Marinette replied. "Let's get back to the others."

The others hadn't gotten very far. Mostly because Susie and Alice were still stuck together and were still trying to figure out a rhythm to walk to with their legs being uneven lengths.

"Can't you stretch your legs and help a bit?" Susie asked. "It's hard to walk with ninety pounds of ink attached to my leg."

"First off, I weigh only sixty-nine pounds," Alice answered, crossly. "Second, I can't do it if I'm not paying attention, and my attention wanders quite easi-ooh, shiny!" She reached out towards a gear, causing the two to stumble and Susie to mutter curses under her breath.

"Can you two argue quieter," Tom growled. "If ya keep yapping, you're going to attract unwanted attention like the-"

Suddenly, a bright light blinded the group. "Projectionist!" Allison cried.

"Hiya Bobby!"

The light dimmed to reveal another ink man. This one was wearing a pair of goggles and had a grappling hook wrapped around his chest. His glowing orange eyes seemed to radiate cheeriness. There was a bit of pink on his form.

"Samhill, Porter!" Tom growled. "Don't scare us like that! We thought you were a threat!"

"Sorry," Porter said. "Oh! I made a new friend! Say hi, Bobby!"

The light shifted, revealing a towering figure. "Hello," said the Projectionist. He shifted on his feet, before looking at one of the group. "Buddy, is that you?"

"Hi, Norman," Buddy said. "I guess that was you I saw."

Norman nodded his head and looked around. "Miss Campbell."

"Hello, Norman," Susie said. "It's good to see you in your right mind."

"Same to you."

Marinette then noticed something as Porter moved out of the light. "Is that my purse?" she asked.

"Yep!" he said, handing it over to her. "Or at least I hope it is. It would be very awkward if I picked up the wrong pink object in a sepia-toned studio."

"Oh," Marinette said, slightly chastised. "Well, when you put it that way..."

"Oh!" Porter said, attempting to snap his fingers. "I got a message for you!" Reaching underneath the coiled rope, he pulled out a tape recorder and offered it to Adrien. "Here you go!"

Bemused, Adrien hit play and an unfamiliar voice came out.

"Adrien, it's Dot. If you are hearing this, then Porter must have caught up to you. Listen, for I have some important information.

"I saw the fight against Malice and the results of whatever you did in that bubble through the security cameras, but that's not important right now. What is important is that I found the early Cycle reels! I going to try to use those to find out the focus of the spell. Once I find out, I will get word to you one way or another.

"In the meantime, if you are looking for a way to go, head over to the Bendyland fairgrounds. That is where the other group is headed, and you should be able to meet up with them there.

"Stay safe, I'll be in touch soon."

The tape clicked off, and the only thing Marinette could think to ask was, "This place has a security system? I thought those didn't come out until the eighties."

"GENT installed it in the studio in the forties, in order to increase security on the Ink Machine," Tom said. "Of course, the company went bankrupt the next year, so I'm surprised it's still running."

"Again with the eighties!" Susie cried. "Is anyone going to tell me what it means?!"

Buddy took pity on her, and whispered in her ear.

"IT'S TWO THOUSAND AND WHAT!?"

-MToLaCNBatIM-

Allison led the group out into a large cavern that had been converted into something else. From what Marinette could see, it looked like a bunch of building scattered every which way. In the middle of everything was a tower, crooked and twisted. A Bendy face was mounted on top, with the eyes covered in ink.

As the group went down the main street of the abandoned park, Marinette saw something to the side. There was a small stage lit up. Upon the stage was a statue of Bendy and nothing else. A banner hung above the stage, with the words 'SHE WILL SET US FREE' written on it.

"Okay, is someone going to say it?" Adrien asked. "This definitely feels like a level that should have been in Epic Mickey."

"What's so epic about Walt's rat?" Tom asked.

Adrien blinked. "You know, I didn't realized until now, but all of you were around when animation got started."

"I do remember seeing Oswald cartoons in theaters before the war started," Buddy spoke up.

Norman snorted. "You whippersnappers," he said. "I can still remember seeing Julius the Cat from the Alice Comedies."

"Wait, who's Julius?" Marinette asked. "I remember Oswald from that video game, but I have no idea who Julius is."

"What's a video game?" Susie asked.

Adrien opened his mouth, but before he could speak, a small dark shape appeared from behind a building. It ran toward the group with a cry towards the second-tallest member of the group.

"BORIS!"

Boris let out a yelp that turned into a laugh as it leapt up and latched around his neck. With a laugh, the wolf tossed it up and cried, "Bendy!"

It was indeed the cartoon character, looking like he had leapt out of one of the many cartoons that were in the studio. He was also wearing a vest and striped pants for some reason.

Bendy landed in the wolf's arms with a laugh. "Good to see you, buddy!" he said, while the human nicknamed Buddy winced. The little imp looked around and saw Alice attached to Susie. "Well, hello gorgeous!" he said with a wink.

"Do you come around here often, handsome?" the angel shot back.

"Could you two stop the flirting until I'm separated?" Susie said, exasperated.

"Sorry, uh..." Bendy squinted. "Going to be honest with ya, I have no idea who you are."

"Bendy! Where are you?"

The tiny imp perked up at the new voice. "Over here, Audrey!" he called, waving.

Stepping out from behind a building was another group of people. Two of them were ink people, distinguishable because of their differing choices of accessories. There was also what looked like a walking Bendy mascot costume. There was what also looked like a person, only she was slightly covered in ink with glowing yellow eyes. A swirl could be seen on her left hand, glowing faintly. On her neck was what looked like a necklace with a silver claw on it.

Tikki poked her head out. "Wait, is that...?" she asked.

Another head poked out from behind the woman. "Tikki, is that you?" he asked.

"Libré!" Tikki cried, rushing forward and tackling the bird-shaped spirit in a hug. "It's been too long!"

Marinette ignored the kwami reunion (which Plagg had been dragged into under protest) to focus on the last member of the group. It was a human male, in a jacket with ink-stained pants and an undone tie.

And he was in color.

His skin was a healthy peach tone, with black hair that was beginning to go gray. His jacket was green, with blue pants and gold buttons. After weeks of the same color scheme, it was a blessing to see.

The man smiled sadly. "Hello," he said. "My name is Henry Stein. I think, with you here, my nightmare is finally coming to an end."

…

…

Chapter 4 is complete.

Bendy will return…