It was a quiet night in the Inkwell Isles and Gwen was sleeping in her bed. Suddenly, a puff of smoke happened, then the Devil appeared in her room. He quietly sneaks up towards Gwen sleeping. He reaches his hands, preparing to kidnap her when suddenly…
ZAP!
The Devil once again gets electrocuted by Gwen's invisible sweater.
Gwen smiled in her sleep, knowing he is thwarted again.
The Devil growled furiously.
"I see you didn't forget this time!" The Devil whispered angrily.
"Thank you. Thank you very much." Gwen thanked tauntingly in her sleep and snickered.
The Devil groaned, then tapped his pitchfork and disappeared back to Hell. He reappeared back in his throne room, once again defeated. He slumped on his throne frustrated and tired.
"UGH! That girl keeps getting smarter!" The Devil groaned.
Just then, a familiar scatting sound was heard. The Devil's number one King Dice appeared in the throne room and approached his boss.
"Hey, hey boss! How's it goin'?" King Dice asked with a big grin.
"Not now Dice! I'm not in the mood." The Devil angrily said.
"Why are you down in the dumps?" King Dice asked.
"She had her invisible sweater on… AGAIN!" The Devil said then yelled.
"Oh. Well, I know what'll cheer you up. How about some of my razzle-dazzle?" King Dice offered as he prepared to sing and dance.
The Devil glared at King Dice.
"I already told you. I'm…not…in…the…MOOD!" The Devil said slowly until he yelled.
King Dice stood in shock.
"I'm going to bed!" The Devil said as he started his way to his bedroom.
King Dice felt disappointed for not cheering his boss up.
"I know I can cheer the boss up if he'd just give me a chance!" King Dice said angrily as he picked up a rock.
"Why can't I have my chance?!" King Dice yelled.
He threw the rock out of anger. The rock hit a boulder from up on a cliff. The boulder started rolling down and crashed into the wall, releasing lava. Suddenly, the lave splashed against the wall from the opposite side and hit the stalagmite above the Devil's throne.
"Oh no!" King Dice exclaimed fearfully.
But the stalagmite broke off and fell on the Devil's throne, crushing it entirely.
"Oh man, boss is gonna kill me!" King Dice said nervously.
"WHAT'S GOING ON?!" The Devil roared.
King Dice turned around, realizing the noise woke the Devil up.
"Uh oh!" King Dice exclaimed.
Unsure what to do, he fearfully makes a run for it up the stairs to the surface world. The Devil runs into the throne room to see what has happened with Henchman following behind. To his horror, he finds the lava flowing because of the boulder crash and his throne completely destroyed by the fallen stalagmite.
"MY THRONE!" The Devil yelled in horror.
"Oh no!" Henchman exclaimed.
The Devil quickly tapped his pitchfork, restoring the cracked wall and stopping the lava flow. Then he tapped it again, making the stalagmite fall back up on the ceiling and restoring his throne.
"WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MESS?!" The Devil yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Calm down, boss. Who was the last person in here?" Henchman asked
"Ehmm! Excuse me!" A familiar nasaly voice said.
"What?!" The Devil yelled at his auditor Stickler.
"It appears that King Dice threw a rock at that boulder up there, causing a chain reaction the boulder crashing it into the wall, causing the lava to splash the other side and hitting the stalagmite thus causing it to drop to crush the throne beneath it." Stickler explained.
"That Dice is dead! When I find that idiot, I'm gonna put him on ice… PERMANANTLY!" The Devil yelled.
"Don't you think you're overreacting boss?" Henchman asked.
The Devil furiously looked at Henchman with that look on his face.
"Uh… never mind." Henchman quickly said.
Meanwhile at the top of the stairs at the surface world, King Dice managed to finally reach the top, out of breath. After catching his breath, he wanders off in the dark woods trying to find somewhere to hide.
"Gotta hide until the boss calms down." King Dice said to himself.
Suddenly, he stubs his toe on a big rock.
"OUCH!" King Dice yelled in pain.
He held his foot, hopping backwards, unknowingly heading towards a cliff. Suddenly, he falls over and lands in a thorny bramble bush.
"OUCH!" King Dice yelled in much more pain.
He struggled to get out of the bramble, covered in thorns until his arms get trapped and he falls over. Tired from struggling, he passes out on the ground.
The next morning as the sky was grey, he wakes up, still wrapped up in the bramble. He groaned in pain as he once again struggled to get out of the bramble, to no avail. Just then, a little woodpecker flew down to him. King Dice smiled nervously.
"Help me out here?" King Dice asked nervously.
Suddenly, the woodpecker pecked King Dice in the nose.
"YEEOUCH!" King Dice cried in pain, giving him strength to break out of the bramble.
"Shoo! Fly away you little vermin!" King Dice yelled as the woodpecker flew away.
King Dice sighed, then continued wandering in the forest, all beaten with thorns all over his body. After a while of walking, he stumbled upon Gwen's art and fashion studio.
"Oh! Finally! Maybe whoever works there can hide me!" King Dice exclaimed.
He quickly approached the studio, enters through the front door and looked around to see various artwork and dresses displayed.
"Ooh. Art and fashion. Nice." King Dice complimented.
He noticed a tall mirror and made himself presentable and removed the thorns from his body. When he finishes up, he smiled at his reflection.
"Lookin' better handsome!" His reflection complimented.
"Excuse me sir?" A young female voice called.
King Dice turned and saw Akilah entering the studio from her apartment.
"Oh, I didn't think anybody was here." King Dice said.
"We're not open yet. You'll have to come back in a while." Akilah said as she went to work.
"Oh, I'm not a customer pretty lady. I'm looking for help." King Dice explained as he approached her.
Akilah looked at King Dice confused.
"What kind of help?" Akilah asked.
"I need a place to lay low for a while. So, can ya help a poor fellow out?" King Dice asked, being persuasive.
Just then, Gwen enters the studio.
"Morning Akilah, are you ready for…?" Gwen asked until she noticed King Dice's presence.
"Oh… hey there beautiful. This is your studio?" King Dice nervously greeted and asked.
"YOU!" Gwen angrily exclaimed.
"Now, now doll. I'm not here to kidnap you. No tricks this time." King Dice nervously assured her.
Just then, Gwen fired her cyan beam attack at King Dice as he fearfully dodged.
"I'm in no mood for your games Dice!" Gwen yelled.
"Baby calm down! I'm not gonna hurt ya! Just hear me out!" King Dice pleaded.
Gwen backs him in a corner, trapping him.
"What do you want Dice?!" Gwen angrily asked.
"I just wanna talk! I'm hiding from my boss. I messed up bigtime and now he wants me dead!" King Dice fearfully explained the situation.
Gwen gave King Dice a suspicious look, not believing him at all.
"Why should I believe you? I recall correctly the last few times you've lied to me and tried to turn me over to your boss." Gwen said, remembering bad memories of King Dice.
"Because I accidentally destroyed his throne and now, he's gonna put this dice on ice!" King Dice revealed what he did as he cowered in the corner.
Akilah runs up to Gwen.
"Boss, you know him?" Akilah asked.
"Yes. He's Iblis's self-proclaimed number one. He works for Iblis." Gwen answered.
"Wait, Iblis?" King Dice asked confusingly.
"Where I used to be from, my people call the Devil: Iblis." Akilah explained her custom in Islam.
"Oh." King Dice answered, now understanding.
"Wait, is he that man who runs the casino you warned me about?" Akilah asked.
"Yes, he's a conman, a liar, a thief, a manipulator and leaving." Gwen answered.
Then she turned to King Dice.
"OUT!" Gwen yelled and pointed at the door.
"Doll, you send me out there, I ain't gonna last a day." King Dice said, trying to change her mind.
"Boss! Look! Demons!" Akilah exclaimed and pointed at the window.
Gwen looked at the window, noticing large demons searching the area in the forest, scaring off the wildlife. Gwen and Akilah peeked out the window without being seen.
"What are they doing here?! They never come around this area before!" Gwen quietly exclaimed.
"Uh oh! My boss must've sent his new finest demons to hunt me down!" King Dice fearfully exclaimed.
"What do we do?" Akilah asked nervously.
"Shh! Close the windows and turn off the lights!" Gwen quietly instructed.
Akilah nodded and quickly turned off the lights and closed the curtains on the windows.
"Okay now what?" Akilah quietly asked.
"Now, I'll create I diversion and drive them away." Gwen said as she grabbed her ink pen.
To be sure King Dice was telling the truth, she magically creates a decoy shaped like King Dice outside the studio. The demons catch sight of the decoy, and they all jump and attack it, to Gwen's shock. The Demons all run off away from the studio as the women sighed of relief.
"Wow, they're really mad at Dice." Gwen quietly said.
"Now do you believe me doll?" King Dice asked.
"Okay fine! At least I tricked them into thinking they got you and now they're gone." Gwen said.
"Thank you. You saved my life. How can I ever thank you?" King Dice thanked and asked.
"By leaving." Gwen answered.
"No, please let me stay here. I have nowhere to go, and it'll be a matter of time before the Devil realized that those demons killed a decoy! You gotta let me stay! Please!" King Dice begged as he held her upper arms.
Gwen groaned, knowing he was trying to con her again.
"Fine. But one day only!" Gwen said, gritting her teeth.
"Oh, thank you beautiful! How can I ever thank you?" King Dice thanked and asked.
"By leaving as soon as possible!" Gwen angrily answered.
Gwen turned to Akilah.
"Akilah, get everything ready. We're opening the doors soon. And I suggest you lock up your valuables." Gwen instructed.
"Yes, boss." Akilah answered.
Akilah opens the curtains, prepared the dresses on display and made the artwork presentable.
"Ooh, what can I do?" King Dice asked.
"You can stay on the sidelines." Gwen sternly answered.
"I don't wanna stay on the side, I wanna help." King Dice protested.
Just then, an anthropomorphic rabbit customer walked in.
"Sabah alkhayr." Akilah greeted.
"Huh?" The rabbit asked.
"Oh, I mean good morning, ma'am. May I help you?" Akilah translated and asked.
"Yes, I'm looking for a dress for my sister's wedding. What do you have?" The rabbit answered.
"We have a lovely selection of formal dresses. You may look around and see what you like." Akilah said as she showed the customer where the dresses are.
The rabbit customer looked at all the dresses and is awed by their beauty. She looks at a beautiful peacock colored dress. Then, she grabbed a few more dresses.
"Would you like a dressing room?" Akilah asked.
"Yes, please." The rabbit answered.
"Right this way." Akilah said.
Akilah led the rabbit to the dressing room and picked a room for the rabbit to try on dresses. After a few minutes, the rabbit tries the other dresses, but she is in debate which one was perfect. Finally, she tries on the peacock dress and looked in the three-dimensional mirror to check out her dress from all angles.
"This is stunning, but I dunno. What do you think?" The rabbit asked Akilah, unsure on her decision.
"You look beautiful ma'am like the peacock himself." Akilah complimented.
"Are you trying to sell the dress to the customer?" King Dice asked Akilah.
"Uh, yes?" Akilah nervously answered.
"You'll never do it like that. Watch and learn." King Dice said as he stepped up to the customer.
"But…!" Akilah protested.
King Dice gave a wolf-whistle at the customer, making her gasp.
"King Dice?! From the game show 'Roll the Dice'?" The rabbit asked excitedly.
"The one and only!" King Dice answered proudly as he struck a pose.
"Ooh! What dress would be perfect for my sister's wedding?" The rabbit asked excitedly.
"Baby, this dress is so you. You look like the bell of the ball. All eyes are starin' at you, admiring you like the queen you are." King Dice complimented, sounding charismatic.
The rabbit is reeled in by King Dice's compliments.
"I'll take it!" The rabbit said excitedly as she quickly changed out of the dress.
Later, the rabbit pays Akilah as she bagged up the dress.
"Here you are ma'am. Have a wonderful day." Akilah said politely.
"Thank you. I love your new retailer." The rabbit said and then left the studio.
Akilah looked at King Dice shockingly.
"How did you do that?" Akilah asked.
"I bring on the charisma. Make the customers feel good and beautiful about themselves." King Dice answered.
Gwen approached the duo.
"I see we had our first sale today." Gwen said.
"Yes, King Dice helped me sell a dress to a customer." Akilah said.
"You did what?" Gwen asked.
"Relax doll, I only helped that customer make her feel good in that dress. With my compliments and charisma, she eagerly bought that dress." King Dice explained.
"Really?" Gwen asked shockingly.
"She thought King Dice was a retailer." Akilah said.
"How about this? What if I work for you here as your retailer of this fine, lovely studio?" King Dice offered.
"I don't know about this." Gwen said hesitantly.
"Boss, I think he can help sell your art and my dresses to customers." Akilah said, getting an idea.
King Dice wrapped his arm around Akilah and nodded. Gwen facepalmed, then thought about it.
"Alright. But just temporary." Gwen stated her condition.
"Alright ladies, let's sell some art and clothes." King Dice said eagerly.
King Dice shook hands with Gwen and Akilah.
Later that day, King Dice helped Gwen and Akilah sell art and more dresses to customers using his charisma. When it was noon, Gwen goes over the daily profits before going on lunch break.
"Wow, we've earned triple the amount we get in a day's earnings." Gwen said, impressed.
"What'd I tell ya? I told ya I'd sell them your art and dresses." King Dice bragged.
"Yes, you did." Gwen uncomfortably admitted.
"That was amazing Dice." Akilah complimented.
"Thank you, Akilah. We make quite a team the three of us." King Dice said.
Gwen's eyes popped, unsure of what King Dice said.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go on break. Be right back!" King Dice said as he left toward the break room to rest and eat the lunch provided.
"Akilah, can I talk to you in my office?" Gwen asked.
"Of course, boss." Akilah agreed.
Both girls entered Gwen's office and sat down. Gwen magically soundproofed the room so King Dice couldn't hear them.
"What's wrong, boss?" Akilah asked.
"He's up to something, Akilah. You don't know him like I do." Gwen said, feeling concerned.
"Well, he did help us out today. Maybe he can stay on staff with us." Akilah said.
"No." Gwen declined.
After a pause, Gwen sighed.
"Akilah, you need to understand why we can't keep King Dice around here and the bad blood between us." Gwen said.
"I'm listening." Akilah said.
"It started my first day in the Inkwell Isles 2 years ago…" Gwen began sharing her story.
After a while, Gwen finished up with the latest event of King Dice kidnapping her while she along with her friends Kizzy and Chef Saltbaker were helping Cuphead and Mugman lose weight.
"So, you see, King Dice is only loyal to Iblis. He's a liar, a manipulator, a conman and a thief. He will stop at nothing to impress Iblis. Even if he has to kidnap me and deliver me to his boss, earn my trust then lure me into a trap or try to trick me into signing a marriage contract; one way or another." Gwen finished the story.
Akilah sat there in shock at Gwen's dark history with King Dice.
"Boss… I had no idea it was that bad." Akilah admitted.
"Well, now you do. So, we need to keep an eye on him. Find out what he's planning. In the meantime, act normal and nothing's wrong. Can you do it?" Gwen explained her plan.
"I can do it." Akilah agreed.
"Okay, give that blockhead a taste of his own medicine." Gwen said.
Just then, she noticed the doorknob turning. Gwen gestured her to act normal as she quickly grabbed some papers.
"…So, I think we can make up the loses in the last quarter with Dice's help." Gwen said, pretending to discuss business.
"That's exactly what was trying to tell you." Akilah said, pretending to go along with it and winked.
"Hey, hey ladies! What are we talkin' about here?" King Dice asked eagerly.
"Akilah and I were discussing how with your help, we can make up for these losses in the last quarter." Gwen lied as she showed him the graph chart.
"Ooh, I see what you mean. I'll do better than that. I'll help you make up triple, no, quadruple the losses and your business will be booming!" King Dice proposed.
"Really? You mean it?" Akilah asked.
"Of course. Not to mention you ladies will be rich." King Dice said, being persuasive.
"Very tempting Dice. You wanna make us rich, huh? Like at the casino?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah. I told you, I'm done with the Devil, Iblis. Now, I work for you. Besides, I like persuading customers to buy your art and clothes." King Dice said.
"That's true. Maybe you're just what we need to get my business booming." Gwen said, pretending to trust King Dice.
"Wonderful! You won't regret this beautiful." King Dice said with a big grin.
Just then, Gwen saw the time on the clock.
"Oh! Breaktime's over! Let's get back to work everyone!" Gwen instructed.
"You got it… boss." King Dice said with a wink.
Gwen and Akilah looked at each other and nodded. Akilah returned to her station as Gwen returned to her station.
As the hours passed, King Dice helped the women sell many arts and dresses with his charisma, thus earning them more money.
At closing time, Gwen and Akilah closed the doors and started cleanup.
"So, now that the studio's closed, what do you ladies do next?" King Dice asked.
"Well, Akilah and I clean up, I restock our supplies and materials then we split our earnings 50/50 as promised. Then, we go home." Gwen answered.
King Dice got to work, helping Akilah clean up while Gwen magically restocked the art and clothing materials and supplies. Then, she goes up to the register and started counting the day's profits. Akilah and King Dice joined her.
"Well, since there's three of us, we'll have to split it 1/3 for each of us. Is that okay?" Gwen asked.
Akilah nodded along with King Dice.
"Alright then." Gwen said.
"She magically handed Akilah and King Dice their share of earnings.
"Perfect! Well, I guess I better get going. I'll see you later ladies!" King Dice said as he stepped out the door.
"Boss, what do we do now?" Akilah asked.
"For now, we go home. Tomorrow morning, we'll meet up and see what King Dice does next. Remember what red flags I said to spot?" Gwen asked.
"If he'll try to make us sign a contract, lure us somewhere, or if Iblis is nearby." Akilah answered.
"That's right. I gotta get home. I'll see you in the morning. Call me if you have any questions or if you find out anything." Gwen said.
"I will, I promise." Akilah promised.
Both girls head back home. Gwen rejoined the cups and Elder Kettle as she rested up. Akilah joined her fiancé Elijah as he also returned from working at the music shop. They go on about their day until it was time for bed.
The next morning, Akilah wakes up and gets ready for work after she feeds her parakeet Alyaqut. She heads downstairs, preparing to start work. She barely opens the door when to her horror, she noticed the Devil in the shop. Akilah quietly gasped and quietly closed the door and went back upstairs. She dials Gwen's number on her phone.
At the cottage, Gwen was finished getting ready when her personal magical phone rang.
"Phone call Gwen!" Magic Telephone announced.
"From whom?" Gwen asked.
"Akilah Jassim!" Magic phone answered.
Gwen's eyes popped, figuring Akilah found out something so she picks up the phone.
"Hello?" Gwen answered.
"Boss! Iblis is in the studio!" Akilah fearfully said.
"Akilah, calm down! Where are you?" Gwen asked.
"In my apartment! I barely opened the door to the studio, and I saw him right there, so I retreated!" Akilah answered.
"Hang tight. I'll be right over." Gwen assured her.
"Hurry!" Akilah begged.
Gwen hangs up, arms herself with the magic inkwell and ink pen. Then, she teleports to Akilah's apartment.
"Boss! He's down there!" Akilah exclaimed.
"SHH!" Gwen shushed.
Gwen quietly opened the door to the stairway to the studio.
"Follow me and be quiet." Gwen instructed.
Akilah nodded. Both girls snuck down the stairs to the door. Gwen used her ink pen to magically make a path through the walls. They both snuck over where the Devil was standing and started to spy on him.
"That idiot Dice thinks he can hide and work for my beautiful flower, does he? I think not!" The Devil grumbled.
Just then, King Dice opened the front door, scatting happily as he prepared to start work.
"Hello… Dice." The Devil sinisterly greeted.
King Dice gasped in horror, realizing the Devil was right there.
"Boss! Hey, hey! W-w-what are you doing here?" King Dice nervously asked with a smile.
"Did you think my beautiful flower could protect you with that fake decoy?" The Devil asked.
"Uh… yeah?" King Dice nervously answered.
"Did you think you could just run away and find a new line of work with her?" The Devil asked.
"Y-y-y-yes?" King Dice answered, feeling scared.
"And… did you think you could just use her and her assistant to escape from your problems?" The Devil asked with anger in his tone.
"Y-y-y-yes?" King Dice answered, now trembling.
Both girls watched from behind the wall.
"Well, let me remind you what happens when you cross the line such as oh… DESTROYING MY THRONE?!" The Devil said until he started yelling.
"B-b-b-but was an accident! I didn't mean to destroy it!" King Dice fearfully protested.
"Well , King Dice, I can cause accidents too!" The Devil yelled furiously and aimed his flaming pitchfork at his number one.
"W-w-w-wait boss! I've earned that girl's trust! And her assistant's!" King Dice fearfully explained.
The Devil looked at King Dice confused.
"Wait a minute. You've earned her trust again?" The Devil asked as he doused his pitchfork.
"Yes! She thinks I'm her retailer. I proved it to her by helping them earn triple the amount of earnings yesterday." King Dice bragged.
Both girl's eyes widened, realizing Gwen was right to trust her instincts.
"Hmm, maybe something good will come from this after all." The Devil said, after thinking about it.
Gwen looked at Akilah.
"You see what I meant about his loyalty to Iblis?" Gwen whispered.
Akilah nodded, then they both continued to spy on them.
"What's your plan this time?" The Devil asked.
"Simple boss, when the girls get here to work, I'll tell them I'm ready to be their full-time retailer and she'll probably have a contract ready for me. That's when I'll 'sign' it, then let them continue their work. I'll have a surprise waiting for her in the dressing room when I tell her there's a commotion in there. That's when you'll surprise her and take her away to marry her." King Dice explained his evil plan.
Both girl's eyes widened at his evil plan. Gwen had to think quickly, then she got an idea. Gwen whispers her plan to Akilah and her role.
Gwen quietly teleports themselves out of the wall.
"Alright, then. But remember, if this plan fails, you know what'll happen…" The Devil warned.
"Of course, boss." King Dice agreed as he started getting the studio ready. The Devil quickly disappears as Akilah just entered through the door.
"Ah, Akilah. Good morning." King Dice greeted with a smile.
"Good morning, Dice. I see you came back to work with us." Akilah said as she was getting everything ready including brewing fresh coffee.
Suddenly, Gwen entered through the front door.
"Ah, good morning you two." Gwen greeted.
"Hey, hey beautiful! You ready to start another day?" King Dice asked.
"Of course. Always." Gwen answered as she got ready.
"You know, I'd like to accept your offer to become your full-time retailer at this fine business." King Dice said.
"Really? You mean it?" Gwen asked.
"Cross my heart." King Dice answered as he gestured the crossing his heart.
"Well, I have a contract in my office. But you can sign it later. We're about to open the doors soon." Gwen said as she got her station ready.
"You got it, beautiful." King Dice said.
Akilah opens the doors, and a few customers walked inside. King Dice kept up with his compliments and charisma to get customers to buy art and dresses.
Later at noon, it was time for their lunch break. Gwen and Akilah prepare to go have lunch when suddenly, they hear a clatter of noises.
"Boss! Boss! We got a problem!" King Dice exclaimed as he ran up to Gwen.
"What's going on?" Gwen asked, pretending to be shocked.
"There's something in the dressing room making clattering noises! It's freaking me out! I don't want the customers freaking out!" King Dice exclaimed as he looked scared.
"Well, I better look into then. Akilah, you go ahead, I'll be right there." Gwen instructed.
"Yes, boss." Akilah agreed and left for the break room.
Gwen goes to the dressing rooms as King Dice eagerly watched for the ambush waiting for her. Suddenly, he heard noises in the dressing rooms of struggling until the noises stopped.
King Dice quickly runs into the dressing room to see what happened. He noticed one room was a bit damaged with clothes scattered on the floor. King Dice snickered evilly.
"Poor poor Gwen. You really had potential with this art business. But, when the boss marries you, the only work you'll have to do is help him take over the two worlds." King Dice taunted as he approached the dressing room.
But when he opens the door, he discovers the Devil all covered in cactus needles and discovers a bunch of cactuses grown.
"What happened to you boss?" King Dice asked shockingly.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ask… ow! Her! Ow!" The Devil struggled to speak as he tried plucking out the cactus needles.
King Dice turned around and saw Gwen with a furious look on her face with her glowing ink pen.
"Gwen!" King Dice exclaimed.
Just then, Akilah came in through one the dressing rooms.
"Akilah!" King Dice exclaimed.
SLAP!
Akilah furiously gave King Dice a fierce slap in the face.
"OW!" King Dice cried in pain.
"You tried to set up my boss for a kidnapping!" Akilah angrily said.
"Akilah warned me earlier before opening you and the Devil were planning something. So, we took the liberty of taking extra precautions." Gwen explained.
"But…!" King Dice exclaimed, knowing he was busted once again.
Gwen fired her cyan-beam attack at King Dice, knocking him into the cactus-filled dressing room with the Devil, getting stabbed by the needles.
"YEEOUCH!" King Dice cried in pain as he struggled to get up, only to get stabbed by more needles.
Gwen prepares to finish King Dice and the Devil off by sending them back to Hell.
"Boss was right about you. You are a conman, a liar, a thief and a manipulator." Akilah said, expressing her disgust for King Dice.
"Have fun in the ER you two. Hopefully you guys patch things up with the throne incident." Gwen taunted as she prepared to send them back to Hell.
"Oh, and one more thing. King Dice…" Gwen said.
"Y-y-y-yes?" King Dice nervously asked.
"You're fired!" Gwen yelled as she tore an unsigned employment contract.
Gwen raised her ink pen, opened a portal below the Devil and King Dice and they fell down as they screamed, and their voices died off. Gwen closes the portal.
Both women sighed of relief.
"Wow, boss. You were right about him." Akilah admitted.
"Yep. He'll never change." Gwen said.
"Now, let's have our lunch." Akilah said.
"I couldn't agree more." Gwen agreed.
Both women leave towards the breakroom to grab lunch.
Meanwhile, the Devil and King Dice were in the personal ER wrapped in bandages in hospital beds.
"Ugh! She's getting harder and harder to trick!" King Dice groaned.
"As soon as our injuries heal, I'm going to KILL YOU!" The Devil yelled furiously.
The Devil tried to reach for King Dice, but he was in too much pain to move.
"Say, boss? I know what'll cheer you up." King Dice said, getting an idea.
"Not now!" The Devil complained.
But the theme to 'Roll the Dice' started play and King Dice started singing the song. With no other choice, the Devil listens to his number one singing. After the song, the Devil sighed.
"Alright, I admit. That did make me feel better." The Devil admitted.
"Was I right or was I right?" King Dice asked.
"Fine, yes." The Devil grumbled.
Gwen and Akilah continued working at the studio. Later after closing and splitting the profits, a well-dressed anthropomorphic clock city official entered the studio.
"We're closed!" Gwen called.
"Oh, I'm not a customer Miss Emmons. I am a business inspector of the city Mr. Pendulum." Mr. Pendulum introduced.
"Oh, well what can I do for you?" Gwen asked politely.
"Well, Miss Emmons, I commend you for having a swell art and fashion business. However, we've noticed you don't have a business license or a known college degree." Mr. Pendulum said, checking his papers.
"Well… I did complete some college credits in high school in Boston…" Gwen nervously explained.
"Look Miss Emmons, I'm afraid your business is at risk of being shut down unless you obtain your art degree and obtain a business license. Otherwise, your business will be officially shut down." Mr. Pendulum warned.
"What? But we have clients and customers! And my assistant needs a job!" Gwen fearfully protested.
"If you want to keep your business and your assistant her job, you will need to go back to college and obtain a business license." Mr. Pendulum reminded her.
"And where am I supposed to go to college in this place?" Gwen asked.
"Well, there is Inkwell Isles University if you are willing to apply there to earn your degree." Mr. Pendulum answered as he handed her a brochure.
"Alright, I'll see what I can do." Gwen reluctantly agrees.
"Remember, if you fail to earn your degree and business license, your business will be shut down. Good day ladies." Mr. Pendulum said and left the studio.
"No! They can't shut us down! I won't let it happen!" Gwen yelled in frustration.
"Boss! Calm down! Breathe!" Akilah said as she hugged Gwen.
Gwen took a few deep breaths.
"Listen, our business is threatened. So, you need to do this to keep the studio running." Akilah said.
"I wanted to go to art school after high school, but my father wouldn't let me because he expected me to be a housewife like my mother." Gwen sadly explained her past.
"Well, here's your chance to go to back to school. You get your degree, get a business license and save the studio. I could go and get my degree in fashion designing. Maybe I could learn more about fashion than I did in Syria." Akilah said.
Gwen looked at the brochure and the programs.
"Well, what have we got to lose?" Gwen reluctantly agrees.
Gwen summoned her magic telephone and calls the academy.
The next day, Gwen and Akilah are at the Inkwell Isles University in the admissions office with her paperwork of her credits from Brighton High School.
"Well, Miss Emmons, I see you graduated from Brighton High School 2 years ago, then you had 2 years off." The counselor said.
"Well, that was all when I was brought here to this world, and I decided to stay." Gwen explained.
"Well, we're still accepting new students. I believe we can make you the first human student here in the art department." The Counselor said.
"Really?" Gwen asked.
"Yes, really. We'll offer you a scholarship since you did restore our school when the Devil destroyed it once." The Counselor said.
"Great. How long will the art program be?" Gwen asked.
"It could 3 to 4 years depending how you get your credits and if you take time off. So, are you willing to go through with the program to save your business?" The Counselor asked.
"Yes, I'll do anything to save my business. And my dear friend and assistant needs her job." Gwen said.
"And you Miss Jassim wish to join the fashion department?" The Counselor asked Akilah.
"Yes ma'am, I have been interested in going back to school since where I used to be from, they forbade women from getting an education or jobs." Akilah explained sadly.
"Well, we don't discriminate genders here. You are welcome to apply." The Counselor assured her.
"Oh thank you." Akilah thanked.
"Wonderful. Then let's get started. Since your tuition is covered, here is your schedules for you two. Just stop by the front desk to get your pictures taken and obtain your student IDs." The Counselor instructed as she handed the humans some papers.
"Great! Thank you so much!" Gwen thanked.
"Shkran lika." Akilah thanked.
"And since you both run the business, there is a way you can keep your business open if we work something out. You two will need work credits to graduate. Working at the studio will earn you those credits." The Counselor suggested.
"Oh, thank you so much!" Gwen thanked.
Both girls leave the office, get their pictures taken and get their student IDs.
"Well, it's official. We are now college students." Gwen said.
"This is wonderful. I've always wanted to go to college. I never could in Syria, but now that I'm here because of you, I have that opportunity." Akilah said happily with a few tears.
"Well, now you do. Now come on. We have to join the other freshman for the campus tour." Gwen said.
Both girls joined the other freshman for the guided tour. They toured around the university as Gwen studied where the art department building was, and Akilah studied where the fashion department building was.
At the end of the tour, both girls returned to the studio to set up their equipment for their classes. Afterwards, both girls returned home preparing to start college the next day.
Gwen and Akilah started classes and worked on their assignments and studies to keep the studio open while they continued living their lives with their loved ones.
