A/N: Welcome to the latest chapter of "Heart, Soul, and Mind". Today, we're revisiting Liam and Matt as they meet the Cup Brothers for the first time! And set out to rescue me and Nat from the Devil...and Dice...hoo boy. Anyways, enjoy!

(Liam's P.O.V)

It was nice to be flying high above the Isle of Inkwell, and I felt more confident in finding Lex and the others. While I was worried for her, I knew she could handle herself. She told me once someone creepy was flirting with her so she suckerpunched him.

Ahhh, I love her for being tough.

However, my thoughts were interrupted by Matt's voice telling me, "Lee, look! There's the bridge Cagney told us about!"

"Sweet! Lex must be nearby with the cups! Let's check it out!

Hilda landed on the ground as we ran to the bridge, but there were no signs of the Cups…or Lexie.

"That's odd, where's Lex? Lex! Lex! Where are ya!?" I called out.

I then heard a voice from below call "Hello?! Is someone up there?!"

"What the-?!" Hilda exclaimed.

"Help! We can't get back!" Another voice cried.

I looked down and saw none other than Cuphead and Mugman. Ok this was kinda cool, but there wasn't time for that.

"Whoa! How'd you mates get down there?" I asked.

"Long story!" Mugman replied with a cry. "Help us up and we'll tell ya!"

"Hang on guys!" Hilda called. She flew down and scooped them up, helping them back to the top.

"Good thing I found ya boys. What on earth happened?!" she asked.

"Well, we were helping our friend when we heard an explosion and when we went to go check it out the bridge vanished." Mugman explained. "We fell and King Dice and his cards ambushed us and nabbed Miss Lexie!"

"He took Lexie?!" I gasped in fright.

"Oh! You're her boyfriend? Cool! She told us about ya." Cuphead smiled.

I looked and noticed Cuphead had something in his hands…wait was that-?!

"Lexie's hat!"

Cuphead handed it to me and sure enough, it was her hat. She never went anywhere without it. She was thinking of wearing it while at Comic Con, but we talked her out of it, worried it might ruin the effect of her costume.

"I still cannot believe that Dice kidnapped her!"

"Yeah. And don't ask me how, but he was lookin' at her all...creepy. Like...what's the word I'm lookin' for, Mugsy?"

"Uh, romantically?" Mugman suggested.

"Yeah, I think so." Cuphead answered. "I heard him sayin' something about how her 'hair was too gorgeous to be covered with a hat'. Ew, what a sicko!"

It didn't take long for Matt to realize what they were talking about.

"Wait, you're saying he's got a crush on her?! EEEEWWWW!" Matt gagged.

While that was disgusting to hear, I was not thrilled about it. I clenched my fists, to the point I was squeezing Lex's hat and the flowers I was hoping to give her. That blockhead thinks he can steal my girl like that?! He's got another thing coming!

"He can't date her!" I argued. "I'm her boyfriend!"

"We know and we're sorry! We tried to save her but the cards blocked us and he escaped with her through a portal. She's probably at the casino now…" Mugman trailed off.

"We've got no time to lose! We have to help her! That freak could hurt her!" I gasped. I wasn't worried about what Dice would do, but his boss was another story.

I felt a slight tug at my shirt to find a worried Matt, looking at me with puppy dog eyes.

"You think Lexie will be okay, Lee?" Matt asked.

"I-I don't know but we gotta get to the casino and help her!" I announced.

"Whoa whoa whoa time out!" Cuphead held his hands out. "You can't go there all by yourself! The casino is dangerous even if we trounced him months ago."

Mugman suddenly looked concerned, lost in thought as he looked down.

"But what's botherin' me is why. Why does he want Miss Lexie? The Devil doesn't kidnap people unless it was for a good reason."

His face suddenly lit up like he remembered something.

"Wait, bro…do you think it could be about those gems she told us about earlier?"

Cuphead nodded with a glare as he replied, "No doubt about it. She said they glowed. That's gotta be magic, some sort of power that the Devil would be all too happy to get his grubby hands on."

"Wait gems...those might be the same ones on the book cover we saw!" I recalled. "Oh jeez, if he's involved, who knows what'll happen."

"But we gotta think of something!" Matt exclaimed. "What're we gonna do?"

"Well, you guys know the ins and outs of the casino, maybe you can help us find a way in?" I asked for the Cups.

Cuphead looked down in thought, putting a finger to his chin.

"We could…but it might be risky."

"I'm willing to risk anything to get Lex back." I stated.

"The only way to get in that casino is through the entrance." Cuphead explained. "One way in and out. You'll need a way to slip past the Dice and the staff."

Hilda pondered over for a bit when a thought came to her.

"I might know a gal that has something to help us. Come on, I'll take you to her."

"Thanks, we need all the help we can get. Come on! Let's go save Lexie!" I claimed.

Hilda promptly turned back into her bull form and all four of us got on her back, flying in the direction of this mystery person that was gonna help us.

While I was happy we got something to work with, the thought of Lexie in the clutches of the Devil really made my throat go tight. Seeing him from a TV screen was one thing, but dealing with him in real life is a whole different playing field.

And with Dice involved flirting with her? That didn't sit right with me. Not one bit. I just hope that blockhead knew that if anyone were to mess with her like that, they were in big trouble.

I looked down at Lexie's hat, brushing it off before hugging it to my chest. I just hope and pray that Lex stays safe and out of temptation. Who knows what the Devil has planned for her…

A/N: Well, that was a ride, but who is this mysterious "gal" Hilda is referring to? And how can she help us? Stay tuned for the next chapter, where we visit Katie in Isle 3!