It was a nice Sunday evening in the human world where Gwen and Clarence joined her family once again for Sunday dinner.
"So, you're finally going to college huh?" Rose asked.
"Yep. Akilah and I are going since that business inspector warned me to get my degree and business license or else I'll face my studio being shut down." Gwen explained.
"Oh my. Well, you're doing the right thing going back to school." Edgar complimented.
"Thanks, papa." Gwen thanked.
"We're really proud of you dear. Taking responsibility for your life." Margarine added.
"Thanks mama." Gwen thanked.
"It's a good thing you didn't have to pay tuition since you've restored their school." Clarence said.
"Oh yeah. Same with Akilah since she's with me." Gwen agreed.
"Are you going for an art degree?" William asked.
"Yes. It's really fascinating with my classes. Intro to Art, Basic Drawing, Basic Painting, etc." Gwen said.
"My sister Cordelia's studying to be a nurse at Inkwell Isles University." Clarence said.
"Yep. She was thrilled when I told her Akilah and I were attending. She wants us to be college buds, the three of us." Gwen said.
"That's great." Clarence said.
After dessert, Gwen and Clarence returned home to the Inkwell Isles.
The next day, Gwen and Akilah both teleported to Inkwell Isles University where they met up with Cordelia.
"Hey girls!" Cordelia greeted.
"Hey Cordelia." Gwen greeted.
"Salam." Akilah greeted.
Cordelia hugged both girls.
"Isn't this wonderful. All three of us in school together?" Cordelia asked.
"Yeah. We're doing this to save our business from being shut down." Gwen said.
"I'm so sorry. But don't worry, you can do it." Cordelia encouraged her.
"I want to learn more fashion design and someday get a better job. No offense Gwen." Akilah said.
"Oh, none taken. You're free to choose your own path." Gwen said, not taking offense and understanding.
Akilah smiled, then the girls realized it was time for classes.
"Okay, see you girls later!" Cordelia said and rushed off to nursing class.
Gwen and Akilah took off to their classes.
Later that afternoon, Gwen goes to the student building to study and do her homework. Suddenly without warning, her cup brothers appeared in front of her.
"Hiya Gweny!" Both cups greeted.
"Guys! What are you doing here?" Gwen asked shockingly.
"Elder Kettle said you were going to college. So, we wanted to check out the school!" Cuphead answered.
"Guys, I'm trying to study. This isn't a vacation; Akilah and I are doing this to save my business." Gwen answered.
"Ooh! Look at those games!" Cuphead exclaimed as he pointed at a table with board games.
Cuphead ran up excitedly and grabbed the Monopoly game.
"Uh, maybe I'll do one game or two." Mugman said.
"Fine but stay out of trouble. Both of you." Gwen instructed.
"You got it." Mugman agreed.
Mugman joined Cuphead for a game of Monopoly. After a while of reading her art textbook, Gwen finishes studying and homework. She looked over and saw Cuphead and Mugman still playing Monopoly. Gwen packed her schoolwork and joined them.
"Still playing Monopoly huh guys?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah, but he keeps winning every time! I think he's cheating!" Mugman accused.
"Am not! I'm just very lucky!" Cuphead argued back.
Gwen got a little suspicious.
"Want to play next round with me?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah!" Both cups answered.
"I'll be the banker this time." Gwen said as she sat down.
She set up the fake money in the bank section and gave each player $1,500 to start.
Cuphead rolls the dice to go first and moved his game piece. As they played, Gwen noticed on Cuphead's sleeve something stuffed under his arm. Having an idea, she discreetly used her ink pen to loosen his sleeve.
When Cuphead landed on an owned property space, he took some of his fake money to pay the bank when suddenly, more fake money fell from his sleeve.
"What the? You had more money stuffed up your sleeve?!" Mugman asked angrily.
Cuphead chuckled nervously.
"Just as I suspected. You cheated." Gwen said, folding her arms disappointedly.
"I'm sorry! I was afraid I'd lose since Mugsy's really clever with money!" Cuphead fearfully explained.
"Cuphead! You know better than that! We're just having fun, not competing!" Gwen scolded.
Cuphead chuckled nervously then frowned.
"I'm done with this game, let's go do something else." Mugman said as he put the game board and the game pieces away.
After putting the game away, Gwen and the cups leave to find something else to do.
Meanwhile, down in the depths of Hell, the Devil recently recovered from Gwen's latest attack on him with the cactuses in the dressing room.
"Ugh. Why is she getting harder and harder to capture?" The Devil groaned in his throne.
"Boss, you might as well throw in the towel. You know she hates you and she's determined to marry Clarence." Henchman advised as he handed him his cup of tea.
The Devil groaned frustratingly as he gulped his tea in one gulp. The Devil summoned his magic mirror, tapped it and it showed what Gwen was up to. She and the cups were still at the college campus attending an event activity with other students.
"What's this? She's attending college now? Not traveling to other countries?" The Devil asked confused.
"Well, she's gotta get an education I guess." Henchman guessed.
The Devil's eyes suddenly popped, getting an idea.
"Hmm, maybe this is an opportunity to finally capture her." The Devil said evilly.
"How boss?" Henchman asked.
"Next class she goes to, I'll pose as another college student and lie in wait. Then, when she least expects it, I'll snatch her before anybody notices." The Devil answered then cackled evilly.
"Aw jeez." Henchman said worryingly.
The next day, Gwen goes to Intro to Art class. She takes a seat with her textbook and homework at a desk in the classroom with other students.
Unknown to her, the Devil disguised himself as a college student. The art professor started his next lecture as Gwen paid attention. Meanwhile, the Devil starts to make his move and snuck up behind Gwen.
But before the Devil could grab her, the professor, an anthropomorphic paintbrush caught sight of him.
"AHEM!" The Professor sternly said.
The Devil froze in terror, realizing he was spotted.
"Is there a problem mister?" The Professor sternly asked.
The Devil quickly backed away, feeling embarrassed and shook his head.
"Then either take your seat or… GET OUT!" The Professor yelled.
The Devil quickly darted out of the classroom before Gwen had time to notice. She shrugged it off and continued to listen to the lecture.
The Devil quickly retreated to Hell, transforming back his real form. Henchman folded his arms disappointingly.
"So… another failed attempt?" Henchman asked, knowing it was going to happen.
"UGH! I almost had her! She was right within my reach!" The Devil complained.
"Right up until the professor caught you. I watched the whole thing." Henchman finished pointing at the mirror.
The Devil sighed frustratingly.
"I'm going to take a nap!" The Devil grumbled and walked off to his bedroom.
Later, Gwen returned home from the university. Gwen went upstairs to her room and laid in her bed, resting from a long day of classes. Her roommates the little butterfly and her magic carpet Cerulean Bolt greet her.
"Aw, thanks guys." Gwen thanked.
Cerulean Bolt laid on her bed while the butterfly fluttered in her face before flying down to her living potted flower. Gwen put on her invisible sweater then settled down for a nap.
An hour later, Gwen woke up and joined her family for dinner.
"So, how's school going for you Gwen?" Elder Kettle asked.
"Pretty good. I've been learning a lot." Gwen answered.
"Wonderful. Just stick to it and you'll go places." Elder Kettle said.
"Oh, I will Elder Kettle." Gwen said, committed to her studies.
"Excellent. Now, let's eat, shall we?" Elder Kettle asked.
"Yeah!" Both cups agreed.
They continued eating together until it was time for bed.
The next morning, Gwen went to her class, only this time she is shocked to see an unexpected guest teaching her class. She noticed the Devil dressed up in a graduation outfit with reading glasses.
"Oh no…" Gwen said dreadfully.
She tries to exit the classroom, only for the doors to be slammed shut, trapping all the students inside. All the students screamed once they realized who their teacher was.
"Good morning, class. Your professor could not make it today. So, I will be your substitute teacher." The Devil greeted evilly.
It is revealed the real college professor was tied and gagged up in a locked closet.
All the classmates whimpered, feeling scared. Gwen pulled a head scarf to cover her head to avoid being spotted by the Devil.
"Now then class, today we're going to learn… the eternal horrors of the beloved underworld." The Devil said evilly as flames started emerging around the classroom.
Everyone started screaming, to the Devil's amusement.
"Why did I think this was gonna happen?" Gwen quietly asked herself.
Just then, they all find themselves in the depths of Hell in a classroom-like setting. The Devil tapped his pitchfork and made the chalk write all the lessons.
"Now class, behold the horrors you're all going to face when it's your time." The Devil said menacingly.
The drawings suddenly came to life and showed pictures of souls being sucked into the soul vault and people enslaved to eternal servitude and torture. All the classmates are frozen in terror as Gwen kept low to avoid being spotted.
A fellow classmate turned to Gwen.
"Psst! Help us! Do something!" The classmate quietly begged.
"Don't worry. I have a plan. But keep quiet." Gwen whispered.
The classmate nodded and turned back to the front.
"So, who wants to tell us what we've learned here today?" The Devil asked the class.
All the students hesitated to answer or raise their hands.
"No one? Fine I'll just call on one of you." The Devil said, keeping his cool.
The Devil scanned all the students until he noticed Gwen hiding her head down, trying not to make eye contact.
"You there in the back!" The Devil called.
Gwen cringed, knowing her cover was blown.
"Come on up here!" The Devil ordered.
Gwen groaned, then got up from her seat and walked to the front of the classroom. The Devil gave her a smirk, hinting he knew she was in the class.
"Now my dear, would you kindly tell us what we've learned here today?" The Devil asked.
"Oh, I already know. The tortures you're gonna inflict on everyone when they're dead." Gwen said sternly.
"That's correct my dear." The Devil said.
"You did unknowingly leave out one teensy wincey little detail however…" Gwen continued.
"What's that now?" The Devil asked, confused.
"You left out the part where I kick your sorry butt once again along with saving my class." Gwen said as she raised her glowing ink pen.
"Oh no…" The Devil said worryingly.
Gwen fired her cyan beam attack at the Devil followed by her other range of attacks. The whole class cheered her on as she mercilessly beat him up once again.
After beating him up once again, the Devil groaned in pain as the class cheered.
"Thank you everyone. Who wants to join me in the fun?" Gwen asked the class.
Everyone excitedly raised their hands.
"Alright! Let's lineup and everyone gets a turn." Gwen said.
Everyone lined up and one student went first beating the Devil up as one by one, each student had their share of beating him up. Feeling satisfied, Gwen teleported her whole class back to their classroom at the university. Everyone cheered for Gwen as the real college professor managed to free himself from the closet.
Gwen helped the professor up and untied him.
"Oh! Finally! I thought I was to be locked in there forever!" The professor exclaimed.
"It's alright sir. We're safe now." Gwen assured him.
"Well, thank you Miss Emmons for saving the class. Now, we can get our lesson started." The professor said as he stepped toward the front of the class.
Gwen took her seat, ready for the day's lecture. After class, everyone left the classroom.
"Miss Emmons, can I see you for a minute?" The professor called.
Gwen turned around and walked up to the professor.
"Yes sir?" Gwen asked.
"What you did for the class and for me was very brave. I want to personally thank you for saving us. The Devil has caused us trouble for as long as we can remember." The professor explained.
"Yeah. I know what that's like." Gwen said.
"I probably shouldn't say this, but I hope you keep protecting everyone as you have when you were first brought here." The professor said.
"Thank you, sir." Gwen thanked.
"Alright, I'll see you next class." The professor said, ending the conversation.
Gwen nodded and turned and left the classroom. She rejoined her family back at the cottage and got to doing her homework. Afterwards, she decided to check on her three students Darcy, Tatiana and Merindah back in the human world.
First, she traveled to Ireland to check on Darcy with her enchanted violin. Next, she traveled to Russia to check on Tatiana and her swan transformation. Finally, she traveled to Australia to check on Merindah and her floral powers.
All three of them were doing great and continue using their gifts to do good in their communities.
After returning home in her bedroom, Gwen realized she was bored with school, working and traveling. She laid on her bed, feeling bored.
"Ugh! Why am I so bored? Fighting the Devil, going to school, traveling to different countries? What am I missing?" Gwen asked herself.
She laid for a while until it was time for dinner then she went back upstairs to bed.
After school, her art professor once again asked to see her again.
"Yes professor?" Gwen asked.
"I couldn't help but notice you've been bored especially with that rescue yesterday like it's nothing new to you." The professor said.
"Honestly, no. I deal with his balderdash every day and now it's nothing new to me. I dunno, I've just been losing my spark lately. With stopping the Devil, working at my studio, traveling the human world and all that stuff. I feel like I'm in a rut." Gwen explained.
"Hmm. That can happen to anybody when they feel stuck in a rut." The professor said.
"What should I do?" Gwen asked.
"I have an idea. I'm going to give you an assignment." The professor said.
"What is it?" Gwen asked.
"I'd like you to go to three art museums of your choice in the human world and write an essay about your experiences." The professor answered.
"Really?" Gwen asked.
"Yes. I'll give you a week to visit museums and write an essay." The professor said.
"Alright then." Gwen agreed.
"Wonderful. I will see you next class." The professor said, ending the conversation.
Gwen leaves the classroom and heads back home. In her room, she grabbed a travel book and looked up some world-famous art museums in her world. She picks out possibilities like the museums in New York City, London, Athens, Chicago, Paris, Washington D.C., Madrid, Vatican City and St. Petersburg.
"All these places I want to see but I need to pick 3 to visit for this essay. But which ones?" Gwen asked herself.
Just then, she heard floor creaking noises near her bedroom door. Knowing who it was, she sighed.
"Guys! I know you're eavesdropping!" Gwen sternly called.
Both cups enter her room.
"Hey Gwen." Cuphead said.
"Why are you two eavesdropping? You know it's rude." Gwen asked.
"Well, we figured you were gonna travel again so we'd like to accompany you to wherever art museums in the human world you go." Mugman answered.
Gwen sighed, knowing they found out about her assignment.
"Well, okay. But remember, this is my assignment so don't cause any trouble." Gwen said and stated her condition.
"We promise!" Both cups agreed.
"Thanks, guys." Gwen thanked.
"Want help picking which 3 art museums you wanna go?" Mugman offered.
"Sure guys." Gwen said.
After discussing possibilities, they decided to go to the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Vatican Museums.
When Friday came, Gwen and the cups with Ms. Chalice tagging along traveled to Vatican City to visit the museums. Inside one of the buildings, the group were awestruck by the sights.
"Woah!" All three cups exclaimed.
"Yeah. Look at the ceilings. They're painted too." Gwen agreed looking up.
They continued exploring and looking at the paintings and statues until they decided to explore the Sistine Chapel. There, they found one of the most famous paintings on the ceiling by the famous artist Michealangelo: The Creation of Adam.
"Wow, how long did it take for this Michealangelo guy to paint this?" Ms. Chalice asked.
"They say it took about 4 years to complete the ceiling. It depicts the Book of Genesis like the Creation of Adam, the first human God created. That's who those two men are, God and Adam. See their index fingers barely touching?" Gwen explained and asked.
"Oh yeah." Cuphead said, now noticing.
They moved on to look at other sections of the ceiling such as the paintings of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden.
After getting a nice view, the group decided to return home.
"Well, that was interesting. We learned about earlier human history." Mugman said.
"Yeah, yeah. Now, come on! Dirk Dangerous is on!" Cuphead exclaimed and turned on Elder Kettle's radio.
"Oh goody!" Ms. Chalice said as they sat down listening.
While the cups listened to Dirk Dangerous, Gwen got started writing her essay with an introduction and her visit to Vatican City. After a half hour, Ms. Chalice goes back home to Clarence while Gwen and the cups have dinner until it was time for bed.
The next day, Gwen and the three cups decide to go to the Louvre in Paris, France. They explore the museum looking at more famous paintings and sculptures including the famous Saint Michael Vanquishing Satan by Raphael.
"What's that one?" Cuphead asked.
"That's the angel Michael vanquishing his own brother Lucifer who betrayed God, thinking he should be the sole ruler of Heaven and Earth. So, Michael and the other angels fought Lucifer until he was defeated. Then God, transformed Lucifer into…" Gwen explained until she hesitated to finish the story.
"What? What did he turn that jerk into?" Ms. Chalice asked.
"You know him, Chalice. You two know him. I know him." Gwen subtly hinted.
"Wait, you mean… the Devil?" Mugman asked.
Gwen nodded.
"Oh… even as an angel, he was still a big jerk." Cuphead said.
"Yes, after his transformation, God casted the Devil and his followers out of Heaven and now resides in Hell." Gwen finished the story.
"Woah." All three cups said in awe.
"Let's move on." Gwen suggested.
They looked around until they notice a famous painting of a woman smiling.
"Who's that lady?" Ms. Chalice asked, imitating her face.
"That's Mona Lisa. Painted by Leonardo da Vinci." Gwen answered.
"What's she smiling for?" Cuphead asked.
"No one knows Cuphead. They say she was the wife of a cloth and silk merchant that Leonardo painted." Gwen answered.
"Well, she seemed happier when she saw her portrait." Mugman guessed.
"Possibly." Gwen agreed.
They continued to explore the Louvre until they were satisfied and returned home.
For their final visit, Gwen and the three cups traveled to New York City to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Inside, they look at more famous paintings hung on the walls. They look at a portrait of a man wearing a straw hat.
"Who's that?" Cuphead asked.
"That's Vincent Van Gogh. He did a self-portrait of himself wearing a straw hat." Gwen answered.
"Quite a narcissist." Ms. Chalice said.
"Not really. It was expensive for him to hire models so that's why he did self-portraits of himself." Gwen explained.
"Why is he missing an ear?" Mugman asked.
"He got in a fight with a former friend. But he had mental problems he just did it out of rage. What's weird was he later boxed it up and gave it to some woman." Gwen answered.
"Ouch. That guy had serious problems." Cuphead said, shocked at the story.
"He sure did. Let's move on." Gwen said.
They continued looking around until they came across a painting of men in a boat crossing a river.
"What's that one?" Mugman asked.
"Oh, that's General George Washington and his Continental Army crossing the frozen Delaware River during the Revolutionary War on Christmas Day." Gwen answered.
"What a lousy way to spend Christmas." Cuphead said.
"No kidding. But he fought to free America from the British. When they made it across the river, they ambushed the Hessians in Trenton, New Jersey and won that battle." Gwen explained.
"Neat." Ms. Chalice said.
"5 years after the war, Washington was elected our first U.S president and established a constitutional democracy." Gwen finished the story.
"Nice American story, but can we go get some ice cream?" Ms. Chalice asked.
"Sure, Chalice." Gwen said.
"Yay!" Both cups cheered.
Gwen and the cups leave the museum to go get some ice cream. Later, they walked down the sidewalk licking their ice cream cones.
"So, now that we went to 3 art museums, are you gonna write that paper of yours?" Mugman asked.
"Yep. I've got plenty to write about." Gwen said.
"So, you think you got your spark back Gwen?" Cuphead asked.
"I think it's starting to Cuphead. Maybe doing this assignment is just what I needed." Gwen answered.
"Cause we still wanna have fun and adventure with you." Ms. Chalice said.
Gwen felt bad for feeling bored with the things she was doing in her life.
"Of course I will you guys. I may be going to school now, but that doesn't mean we're gonna stop having fun and adventures together." Gwen assured her friends.
"Really? You mean it?" Mugman asked.
"Cross my heart." Gwen said.
"Yay!" All three cups cheered.
Gwen and the cups returned home in time for their favorite radio show. Gwen continued to write her essay about her visits to the art museums and spending with her dear friends that made it more fun.
Gwen finishes her rough draft and felt pretty good about it. She had her sister Rose proofread it and had several corrections.
A week later, Gwen turned in her essay to her professor. Afterwards, she thought of the Devil and teleported back to the Louvre in Paris. She looked at the painting of Michael Vanquishing Satan and wondered if it could give her an idea of how to defeat the Devil once and for all with the knowledge of the Lake of Fire she learned from Isaiah in the middle school library.
Suddenly, a puff of smoke appeared the Devil appeared before her. Gwen sighed tirelessly.
"I don't have time for you. I'm busy!" Gwen complained.
"Well maybe you should make time!" The Devil argued.
Just then, he looked at the painting and was shocked. He quickly took the painting off the wall and looked at it.
"No no no no no no! This is bad! This is very, very bad!" The Devil exclaimed.
Then, she showed Gwen the portrait.
"That stupid painter couldn't get my horns right!" The Devil complained.
Gwen was unfazed.
"You think I care about your appearance in the eyes of Renaissance artists?" Gwen asked sternly.
The Devil growled furiously and was about to blow fire when suddenly, security guards were coming.
"I'd put that painting back if I were you and go back home before more humans know of your existence." Gwen taunted as she teleported away.
The Devil quickly put the painting back and quickly disappeared back to Hell before the guards arrived. Gwen reappeared at the cottage. She went up to her bedroom, laid in her bed and felt satisfied with everything that's happened.
Her butterfly and Cerulean Bolt hugged her.
"Aw, thanks guys. Things are getting better." Gwen said.
Gwen turned on her side as she went to sleep.
Back in Hell, the Devil commissioned a painter to paint his own twisted version of Raphael's painting. But it had the Devil vanquishing Michael instead. The Devil looked at it and was satisfied.
"Ah, much better." The Devil said happily.
He added the painting to his collection of paintings of himself in his bedroom.
Gwen learned a valuable lesson on not taking everything she had in her life for granted including her family and friends.
