It had been a while since Gwen and Clarence had both gotten engaged with each other after their cruise to the Caribbean Islands. Gwen along with her parents have got started with the plans for the wedding. Her mother Margarine made a few appointments with the church, the catering, the florist, musicians, wedding cake and the wedding dress shop. Her father Edgar helped set the budget and keep track on how much they spend.
"I was thinking we could get have the parmesan chicken with those potatoes and vegetables for the dinner Clarence and I both liked at the catering place. Of course, we'll have the appetizers Clarence and I both liked for the starters. Then we'll have the tall three-layered wedding cake with the blue jasmine flowers while everyone is dancing." Gwen said excitedly as she looked at the papers.
"Alright, alright dear. We'll get those for the wedding. Slow down, Gwen. I know you and Clarence are excited for your upcoming wedding, but we can't rush these things. It takes time and patience." Margarine said, calming her daughter.
"Sorry mama. It's just the whole thing is exciting! I mean, you and Rose had fun planning her wedding, right?" Gwen asked.
"Dear, it was just as hard as it is planning your wedding. During your disappearance, Rose was going to put her wedding on hold until you were found. But thank goodness she found you and brought you home, so she didn't need to." Margarine said.
"Oh. Well, then, I decided I wanted the jasmine flowers for our wedding. The shades of blue will be the color theme. I'll have the bridesmaids get their sizes for their gowns. I really like that jazz band for the reception at our backyard." Gwen continued.
Margarine sighed, but she still felt happy for her daughter.
"Anyway, Rose is gonna be my maid-of-honor. Ms. Chalice and Cordelia are my bridesmaids. William will be Clarence's best man, then Cuphead and Mugman will be the groomsmen. Cousins Hailey and Kailey will be the flower girls then Emma and Jack could carry the rings since they should be starting to walk by then. They sure grow up so fast. Oh, Clarence and I need to look for wedding rings to give to each other." Gwen said, looking through more papers.
"Dear, slow down. We'll get to everything, one step at a time. Just be patient." Margarine said.
"Okay, I'll head back to the cottage." Gwen said, feeling tired.
"You go home and rest. Your father and I will handle this." Margarine said.
Gwen leaves the house and returns to the cottage through the door portal. She goes upstairs to her room to take a nap and lays on her bed.
After a while of napping, Gwen wakes up and thinks for a moment. She thought about the possibility of the Devil planning to sabotage their wedding. So, she decided to pay Quadratus another visit. She packs her magic inkwell and ink pen and leaves the cottage.
Just then, she heard her fiancé calling.
"Gwen! Gwen!"
Gwen turned around and saw Clarence running up to her.
"There you are! I was looking for you! Did you get some of the planning done?" Clarence asked.
"Yes, Clarence. But mama thinks I'm rushing it, so she told me to rest." Gwen answered.
"Don't worry, Gwen. Whatever gets planned is gonna be perfect." Clarence assured her.
"You're right, you're right." Gwen agreed, trying to calm herself.
"Where are you headed?" Clarence asked.
"Oh… um…" Gwen hesitantly tried to speak.
"Wait a minute, you're going to see Quadratus again, aren't you?" Clarence figured it out.
"Yes. I'm afraid until the wedding comes, the Devil's gonna try to sabotage it! I need some more advice from him. I won't be long." Gwen said as she turned to leave.
"Wait, I'll go with you. I've started to get worried too ever since he found out about the engagement and almost took you away. He might try to kill me again." Clarence confessed.
"Well, okay. We need to be prepared for anything." Gwen agreed.
They both walk into the forest down the dirt road. Finally, they reach the ancient ring of stones and the pool of water. Gwen and Clarence both kneel as she magically creates a jawbreaker. She took a deep breath and dropped it into the water, making the water fizzle.
"You think he'll help us?" Clarence asked.
"I hope so. I really hope he has the answer this time." Gwen answered.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, and a light shone from the water.
"You two lovebirds are now finally engaged, but you fear the Devil's war will be waged!" Quadratus called out.
"Yes Quadratus! You got it!" Gwen answered.
Quadratus appeared in the water.
"Yes, Gwendolyn I am very wise, and I would never tell you or anybody lies." Quadratus rhymed.
"Nice, so, we're now engaged. But we've been concerned about you-know-who and he might try to sabotage our wedding or even try to kill me." Clarence said.
"It is time to reveal to you two the truth, my words will be your sooth. The answer to your problem will be hard, for you need to keep the Devil barred." Quadratus said as he showed silhouettes in the water.
"You knew the answer to stop the Devil from marrying me all along?! But why didn't you tell me?!" Gwen asked frustratingly.
"Calm yourself Gwendolyn. Two reasons. One: you were single back then. Two: when you two were dating, you were both not ready to commit to each other." Quadratus answered.
"Oh yeah, you told me to give our relationship more time and put effort into it." Clarence said, remembering Quadratus's previous advice.
"Wait, you came here alone?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah, I had concerns too so he helped me." Clarence answered.
"Oh. Well, I did too." Gwen admitted.
"Anyway, I have here exactly what you need to stop the Devil from marrying you once and for all." Quadratus announced.
"What it is? What is it?" Gwen asked eagerly.
"Patience, Gwendolyn. Now, where did I put that…" Quadratus said as he swished the water around, looking for something.
Gwen and Clarence wait anxiously for Quadratus to find whatever he was searching for.
"AHA! Here it is!" Quadratus called as he pushed up a scroll sealed with two rings out of the water.
"Take it, Clarence!" Quadratus instructed.
Clarence stepped up on the rocks and took the scroll with two rings and stepped down.
"What is this?" Clarence asked.
"Open it but don't lose those rings!" Quadratus ordered.
Clarence took the rings off and opened the scroll which read the words:
"I (groom's name) give myself to you
to be your lawful wedded husband
I will stand by you through good times and bad
To love and cherish every moment
I give you my heart and soul to honor
from this moment forth and for eternity.
I (bride's name) give myself to you
to be your lawful wedded wife
I will stand by you through good times and bad
To love and cherish every moment
I give you my heart and soul to honor
from this moment forth and for eternity."
And the bottom had two lines for two signatures.
"What is this? Some sort of marriage contract?" Gwen asked.
"It's more than that. These are the vows you both must deliver to each other on the day of your wedding. You each must say your vows, slide each ring on your ring fingers and finally, sign the bottom with your names. Therefore, the Devil can no longer claim you to marry and will have no choice but to stop kidnapping you because you will have given your heart and soul to each other." Quadratus explained.
"So, we must give each other our hearts and souls so the Devil cannot claim them? He'd be forbidden from harming me?" Clarence asked.
"That's right my boy."
Gwen smiled at Quadratus's words and squealed in delight.
"This is great! Once we're married, the Devil will be through! Washed up! Ruined! His days of trying to kidnap me are over!" Gwen said excitedly, jumping down and doing cartwheels.
"Woah, woah, slow down honey. We still have to wait until our wedding day to make our vows and seal them with the rings and sign the contract." Clarence reminded her.
"Gwendolyn, it won't be easy. The Devil is still very clever and is now more determined to marry you than ever. You both still need to be on your guard, wear your invisible sweaters. For whatever obstacles he'll throw your way will get worse than anything before!" Quadratus warned.
"What do you mean? Is something else coming?" Gwen asked, now feeling nervous.
"Unfortunately, yes. But it will be your test to see if you both are willing to make your commitment to each other work." Quadratus answered.
Gwen sighed in disapproval and held her head in her hands.
"Hey, hey. It's gonna be okay." Clarence said as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I just want this to be over. So, we can finally live happily ever after in peace." Gwen said, feeling upset.
"It will be over. I promise." Clarence promised.
Gwen smiled and both kiss each other.
"Aw, how sweet. But remember, don't let the Devil get a hold of those vows and rings and don't lose them! They're your only hope! And also remember everything I told you before! They will be useful to you in the future!" Quadratus reminded them.
"Okay." Gwen said.
"I can give you one more piece of advice Gwendolyn if things get too dire. When in doubt and things go badly amiss; give your true love one last kiss." Quadratus advised and disappeared from the water.
Gwen and Clarence look at the scroll and the two rings.
"We need to hide them from the Devil." Gwen said.
"But where?" Clarence asked.
"I know just the place." Gwen said, having an idea.
Later, Gwen approaches her FBI agent friend Kai-Ming Cheng at her house. She explained to Kai-Ming about the scroll and wedding rings, and they are the key to stopping the Devil from kidnapping her once and for all.
"So, that's why I came here. To hide the vows and rings with you. I figured it'd be safer with you until our wedding day." Gwen explained the situation.
"Of course, I will keep them safe. And congratulations on your engagement. You and Clarence." Kai-Ming congratulated.
"Thank you, Kai-Ming." Gwen thanked.
Kai-Ming takes the scroll and rings and places them in a suitcase to hide them later. Gwen leaves Kai-Ming's house and returns to the cottage, relieved the scroll and rings were safe with Kai-Ming.
Gwen goes upstairs to her room, puts on her invisible sweater and lays in bed, to get her mind off the wedding. Then, she hears a knock on the door.
"Come in." Gwen called.
Cuphead and Mugman enter her room.
"Hey Gwen. How's the wedding prep coming?" Cuphead asked.
"Oh, mama thinks I'm rushing it. But the whole thing is so exciting! Not only will I be marrying the love of my life, but it's the only way that'll stop the Devil from trying to kidnap and marry me once and for all!" Gwen said.
"Ah. So, there is a way to stop the Devil all along and save you! Why didn't Quadratus tell you before?" Mugman asked.
"Actually, he just did. He said I was single at first and the second reason was Clarence, and I were not ready while we were dating." Gwen answered.
Both cups looked unamused.
"Why is Quadratus so unreasonable?!" Cuphead asked.
"I thought that too. But I'm sure he had his reasons." Gwen said, trying to calm him down.
"He is rumored to know all." Mugman added.
"But it's good to know you two will stick by me the whole way as you always have. You two are gonna be Clarence's groomsmen and William's gonna be his Best Man." Gwen said.
"Yay! Whoo! Yay!" Both cups cheered.
"Ms. Chalice and Cordelia are gonna be my bridesmaids and Rose is gonna be my Maid-of-Honor." Gwen finished.
"That's awesome, Gwen." Cuphead said.
"Thanks. But until the wedding day, Clarence and I still need to be on our guard for the Devil." Gwen said as she put on her invisible sweater.
"Don't worry, Gwen. We're with you as always." Mugman said.
Gwen smiled and hugged her best friends.
"Guys, I maybe getting married, but you two are still my brothers no matter what." Gwen said.
"Aw…" Both cups said, feeling happy.
Meanwhile, down in Hell, the Devil just barely recovered from his concussion Clarence caused him on the cruise ship. He sits on his throne, feeling angry as usual. Henchman comes in with a cart carrying a teapot and a cup.
"Duh, hey boss. You're lookin' better already! I see you're recovering from that concussion." Henchman complimented.
The Devil growled furiously as he sunk his claws in his throne. Henchman felt uncomfortable as the Devil continued growling.
"Duh, here boss. You need your calming tea, then we'll start your next therapy session." Henchman suggested.
"I don't want my tea, I don't want to do another therapy session, I want to GET THAT GIRL!" The Devil roared.
Henchman sighed, clearly knowing his boss is now more determined to kidnap Gwen now that she's engaged to Clarence.
"EHM! Excuse me!" A familiar nasally voice called.
"WHAT NOW?!" The Devil yelled at his auditor Stickler.
"While I do need to remind you of your upcoming therapy session, I need to tell you something else." Stickler said, holding a book.
"What?" The Devil asked impatiently.
"According to the bylaws of Article 14, Section 3, Paragraph 8 specifically signifies that if the marriage between the two humans happens, they will both be given the special marriage contract with the vows and two wedding rings. If they both give each other their hearts and souls plus wear the rings and sign the contract, the human girl will be out of your reach since she will be bound to the human boy. Therefore, trying to pursue her will be unauthorized." Stickler revealed.
The Devil's mouth hung open and his eyes widened, knowing that it meant he could no longer try to win Gwen's affections if she and Clarence complete the ritual.
"Well, then. I guess I need to step up my game. I'll find that scroll with the two rings and destroy them! But to do that, I need to find out where she hid them!" The Devil declared.
"But how are ya gonna find them boss? She could've hidden them anywhere." Henchman asked.
"Oh, I'll find a way to get her to reveal the location of the scroll and rings. I have ways to persuade her." The Devil said, getting some ideas.
"Aw jeez." Henchman said worryingly.
Meanwhile, back at the surface, Gwen resumes planning the wedding with her mother. She discussed the vows and rings and that she and Clarence have to perform the ritual to stop the Devil.
"So, you've hidden the rings and the scroll?" Margarine asked.
"Yes. In an undisclosed location." Gwen answered.
"Thank the lord this will stop the Devil once and for all." Margarine said, feeling relieved.
"Yeah. Until the wedding, we still have to be on our guard." Gwen said.
"Oh dear." Margarine said worryingly.
Gwen hugged her mother, hoping things will be okay.
Unknown to Gwen, the Devil appears in her room looking everywhere for the scroll and rings after disarming her security system. Her flower and butterfly were tied and gagged, Cerulean Bolt was tied up and Jack-in-the-box was chained shut.
He searched her drawers, her bed, her closet and her chest where she kept her possessions.
"She can't keep those rings and scroll hidden from me forever!" The Devil grumbled as he kept searching.
"Duh, boss. I don't think she's hidden them in here. She's probably hidden somewhere you would least expect it." Henchman said as he entered Gwen's room.
"Hmm… somewhere I would least expect it." The Devil said as he put everything back to the way it was.
Suddenly, the Devil gets an idea.
"Wait! I think I know where she might've hidden them!" The Devil said.
"Where?" Henchman asked.
The Devil tapped his pitchfork, and both disappeared.
Later, Gwen returns to the cottage to rejoin her second family for dinner. After dessert, Gwen goes upstairs to her room, only to discover her little friends are tied, gagged and chained.
"Oh, my goodness!" Gwen exclaimed.
She gets out her ink pen and magically ungagged her little friends and frees them.
"What happened? Was he just here?" Gwen asked as she held her little butterfly in her hands.
The butterfly nodded as Cerulean Bolt hugged Gwen. Jack-in-the-box emerged and gasped for air.
"Ah! Finally! I thought he was gonna keep me chained up forever!" Jack-in-the-box exclaimed, gasping for air.
"What was he doing here?" Gwen asked.
"Looking for some scroll and rings or something!" Jack-in-the-box answered.
Gwen's eyes widened, realizing the Devil knows about the scroll and the rings and is searching for them.
"I'm so sorry guys. He's now more desperate to marry me now that I'm engaged to Clarence." Gwen apologized.
Cerulean Bolt patted Gwen's head, assuring her they're okay. The butterfly fluttered in her face, making her giggle.
Gwen gets ready for bed and puts her invisible sweater over her nightgown. She covers herself in blankets and goes to sleep. Cerulean Bolt lays at the end of her bed and falls asleep.
Meanwhile, back in the human world, the Devil was searching the Emmons residence for the scroll and rings, but to no avail.
"UGH! Not here either!" The Devil said frustratingly.
"Duh, boss. It's time to give up. She hid them good. Probably in an undisclosed location." Henchman said.
"Hmm… Oh!" The Devil quickly tapped his pitchfork, and both disappeared back to Hell next to Stickler.
"You! Where is the scroll and rings?!" The Devil angrily asked.
"Ehm… I do not have them." Stickler answered.
"But boss! I didn't mean Stickler! I meant in another undisclosed location!" Henchman fearfully explained.
"You could've been more specific you idiot!" The Devil yelled.
"Sorry boss." Henchman apologized.
"UGH! How do we find that scroll and rings?!" The Devil asked in agony.
"Might I suggest making her talk?" Stickler suggested.
"Make her talk? Hmm…" The Devil said as he thought about it.
"I think I got it!" The Devil said, getting an idea.
He tapped his pitchfork and disappeared.
The next morning, Gwen was out in the forest on her walk. She reaches the mountain where Cuphead created Mount Mugmore and sits down on the edge. She remembers that horrifying day when she found out her parents were imprisoned and Mugman was kidnapped in front of her, Rose and Cuphead. Then she was blackmailed into surrendering herself in exchange for her parent's freedom. Gwen hung her head in her hand, unable to bear those dark memories.
"Ah, such sweet memories huh dear?" A familiar voice asked.
Knowing who it was, she says nothing. The Devil sits down, right next to her.
"You know, we could put an end to this once and for all. You wanna know how?" The Devil asked.
Gwen ignored him as she looked down the cliff. She knew exactly what he was going to say.
"Well, I'll tell you. You could just easily accept my marriage proposal and marry me without fighting and resisting me. Is it really that hard?" The Devil asked.
Gwen kept her cool and just sat there quietly.
"Hmm. Still not speaking to me huh? No matter, first though, I need you to tell me where you hid a certain… scroll with two rings. Would you be so kind as to tell me?" The Devil asked calmly.
Gwen folded her arms and shook her head.
"I thought so. I guess I'm gonna have to do this the hard way." The Devil said as he lifted his pitchfork.
With quick thinking, Gwen teleported away from the Devil. She reappeared on the highest mountain of the Inkwell Isles. Having a plan, Gwen quickly conjures a replica of the scroll and two rings and hides them under a rock.
Suddenly, the Devil appeared before her, and she tries to make a run for it. She nearly falls over the cliff as the Devil closes in on her.
"Gwen, stop it. You have nowhere to hide them from me." The Devil said, losing patience.
Having another trick, Gwen disappears with a black smoke like he does, only it was just a cloud of smoke, and she secretly jumps over the cliff.
"What the? Now where'd she go?" The Devil asked frustratingly.
Meanwhile, Gwen was falling down the mountain and she whistled. Just then, her magic carpet Cerulean Bolt appeared from nowhere and catches Gwen and flies down the mountain. Before they could go any further, they are suddenly glowing and being pulled back up by force. Gwen realizes the Devil is using telekinesis on them.
They are pulled back up on the mountain and lowered down to the ground. Gwen looked up at the Devil angrily.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Always wanna do it the hard way." The Devil said, unamused.
The Devil magically ties Gwen down along with Cerulean Bolt as he started searching for the scroll and rings. When the Devil reaches the rock where Gwen hid them, he removes it and starts digging until he finally reaches them.
"At last, I found them!" The Devil exclaimed.
Gwen pretended to be shocked as the Devil opened the scroll and read it. Then, he levitates the scroll and rings and burns them to ashes and dust.
"NO!" Gwen cried.
"There, now that you both cannot give each other your heart and soul, I can still legally take you away and marry you!" The Devil taunted.
Out of anger, Gwen manages to free herself by shapeshifting into her ghost form, then she fired her range of attacks at the Devil, severely injuring him once again.
"I never giving up on marrying Clarence and don't even think for one second you can stop me!" Gwen yelled.
Gwen tapped her ink pen and she and Cerulean Bolt disappeared back to the cottage. They both go back up to her room. She sighed of relief as she overcame another encounter with the Devil.
Just then, both Cuphead and Mugman enter her room.
"Hey Gwen? You, okay?" Cuphead asked.
"What happened?" Mugman asked.
"The Devil happened again." Gwen answered.
"Uh oh! He found out about the vows and rings, didn't he?" Mugman asked.
"Yeah, and he found them and destroyed them." Gwen said sadly.
"Oh no!" Both cups exclaimed.
Just then, Gwen smiled smugly and snickered.
"Wait a minute!" Cuphead realized something.
"You tricked him, didn't you?" Mugman asked, figuring it out.
"Oh, I may or may have not tricked him into destroying a fake scroll and fake rings." Gwen said innocently.
Both cups laugh out loud as Gwen smiled, feeling proud of herself. She and Cerulean Bolt high five.
"That should keep the Devil off your back." Cuphead said.
"For now. I just hope he doesn't figure out that what he destroyed were fakes." Gwen said.
"Where did you hide the real one?" Mugman asked.
"In an undisclosed location." Gwen whispered.
"Oh, right. It's a secret." Mugman whispered.
Gwen winked.
"I'm a genius." Gwen bragged.
Meanwhile, in the depths of Hell, Henchman is once again treating his boss for his injuries in the ER.
"Well, at least I found the scroll and rings and destroyed them." The Devil said weakly.
"Yeah, but still, you need to stop chasing her around. You know she doesn't love you." Henchman reminded him.
"Whatever. I'll have my chance to marry her before their wedding day!" The Devil declared.
Henchman shook his head in disapproval as he continued treating his boss.
Just then, the imp therapist enters the ER.
"Alright Mr. Devil, let's begin our next session." The therapist said as he took his seat.
The Devil groaned in agony.
Gwen felt proud of herself for tricking the Devil into thinking he succeeded into finding and destroying the one thing that'll stop him from marrying her. Gwen and Clarence continue helping Margarine and Edgar plan the wedding. As long as Kai-Ming hid them in an undisclosed location, Gwen and Clarence's marriage was safe for now.
