A/N: Thanks for joining this week's edition of "Heart, Soul, and Mind"! Today, we're taking a short break from our heroes to reveal an interesting surprise regarding the Cups and a certain Chalice...what secrets lie in store? Stay tuned!

(Normal P.O.V)

Upon his return from Misterie's shop after successfully stealing Mugman's soul, an overly prideful King Dice hopped out of his portal and sauntered towards the door leading to the Devil's throne room.

He may not have recaptured the girls and got Lexie back in his arms, but he was beyond pleased to have succeeded in obtaining a soul as his boss had ordered.

With an arrogant smirk, Dice knocked on the door, waiting until he heard the voice of the Devil answer from the other end.

"Enter."

Satisfied, the Devil's right hand man opened the door and saw the Devil seated on his throne, looking as devilishly regal and menacing with his blood red gemstone encrusted cuff around his horn and his pitchfork in hand as ever.

"Big D! Good news!" Dice announced, proudly strutting to the Devil's throne. "I managed to get the li'l mug's soul. They should have seen the look on their faces!"

The Devil turned to Dice with a sickening grin as he mused, "Ah, Dice! Good work!"

Dice smugly held up the sphere and handed it to the Devil, proud with himself while he rubbed a hand on his suit.

"I would have gotten the cup's soul but I figured you would wanna do the honors."

"Indeed. I wanna see that little brat squirm."

The Devil opened the sphere as he mused, "Now, let's see what we have...?

He trailed off when he noticed that Mugman's soul is...in half.

"Dice?" The Devil raised an eyebrow. "Did you notice that the mug only has...half of a soul?"

Dice's usually smug smirk dissolved into a mask of shock, confusion and disbelief.

Did… did he actually hear his boss correctly?

"Huh? Half a soul?" Dice sputtered.

He gaped in shock and disbelief when the Devil held up Mugman's soul. It was indeed half a soul, like someone took a heart and split it in half pieces.

"What the-?! How's that possible?!" Dice exclaimed in disbelief. " Never seen that before!"

The Devil frowns, cupping his chin in thought, just as puzzled as he examines the cleaved soul. This was certainly new.

"Neither have I...but I need the other half." The Devil instructed. "Find it, and bring it to me."

Dice bowed as he replied, "As you wish, Boss. But where could the other half be?"

"I'd start with that...Cup." The Devil growled, clenching his fist.

Then, from what appeared to be from another room (or another part of the room), Henchman called out, "Head!"

The Devil rolled his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose as he groaned, "Thank you Henchman…"

"He's in another room…" Dice raised an eyebrow. "How did he hear that?"

"That's Henchman for you." The Devil grumbled. "If I say the word 'Cup'-!"

"Head!" Henchman piped up again as he peeks.

"Oh right…" Dice uttered.

"Yes Henchman, I know his name's Cuphead!" The Devil snapped. "Just shut up!"

"Duh, sorry, Boss!" Henchman replied apologetically.

"Anyways, Dice, just find the Cup."

The Devil then shot Henchman with a warning look that actually screams, "Don't say one word", which Henchman nodded nervously.

"Er…yessir." Dice replied awkwardly.

Dice disappears as the Devil peered deeper into Mugman's soul. This was indeed something he'd never seen before, not even in a billion years' lifetime. But wherever the other half of Mugman's soul was…it was going to be his as well.

"I'll have to do a bit of investigation of my own it seems...not nearly as important as bringing in my little family, but this will be a great...asset."

Meanwhile, on an island far off from Inkwell Isles, was the DLC Island. A happy little town of the friendly toons as well as the somewhat unfriendly. Among its residents was a young chalice girl with a yellow face, a black shirt, and a blueish green skirt with yellow flats.

"Ah, Chalice!" A voice greeted her. "Welcome to my bakery! What can I get ya?"

"I will go for a dozen cookies, and a loaf of bread please." Chalice replied.

Ever since she and the Cup Brothers traveled on the island together, her and Saltbaker's relationship slowly started to get better with time and patience. It was a matter of time before things went…somewhat back to normal.

"Alright, coming right up!"

He went to make the ingredients when he suddenly heard Chalice groan in pain, clutching her chest.

"Ooh…my heart…ooh it's hurting…"

Saltbaker rushed out of the counter to Chalice, "Are you okay?! Do you need some water?!"

"N-no. It-it's not that." Chalice grunted. "I-I can feel…something's wrong…the boys…I think they're in trouble…I sense…dark magic."

"It might be the Devil…" Saltbaker trailed off. "Here, let me get you something that'll help you. It's a new recipe I had been working on for weeks since I had reopened my bakery."

He took out some brownies from the oven and packed them in a small yet beautifully decorated tin. He hurried back to Chalice, holding the tin towards her.

She reaches over and grabs one, biting it and chewing slowly. After swallowing, she took a sigh.

"Whew. Thanks, Salty. That helps, for the moment." She said.

"This will hold you over, but you should see what's happening with the boys. There is a shopkeeper I recommend, her name is Misterie. She can help get you on the right track."

"Misterie, huh? Well, sounds like I better go see for myself." Chalice claimed. "I just hope she can help me and figure out what's going on. I just hope they're okay, but with the Devil involved, I think he's back for revenge."

"Are you sure you don't need anymore help?" Saltbaker asked, concerned.

"I need to go alone for the moment." Chalice replied. "Before I get anyone else involved, I need to see what's going on and then make my next move."

Saltbaker nodded as he replied, "Understood."

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine, and whoever this Misterie is, I'm sure she can be a great ally." Chalice beamed. "I'll come back if things get outta control and get help."

"Please be careful, Chalice." Saltbaker spoke. "Who knows what the Devil could be planning. And whatever it might be, I fear it would truly be a dark day for the Inkwell Isles and theDLC Island… as well as many other places beyond them."

"No worries! I ain't afraid of that old alley-way cat!" Chalice smiled. "And if his good for nothing lackey is with him on this too, I'll give them the old one-two!"

She grabbed her baked goods and scurried out of the shop. Transforming into her ghost form, she quickly flew off to Inkwell Isle.

"Oh, you overgrown throw rug." She grumbled. "What are you up to now?"

Back on the Inkwell Isles, after the young cup and his human allies had left to begin their quest to warn the former debtors and to unlock the girls' hidden powers, Misterie was meditating in a lotus position on the floor, her staff on her lap.

The soulless Mugman laid silently still in the bed. If he wasn't devoid of colors, he would actually look like he's sleeping peacefully thanks to the protective charms Misterie had placed to prevent the Devil from manipulating his body into a demonic puppet.

Misterie had sent Aren to fly over to Cuphead's home to deliver a message to Elder Kettle to know about the terrible news about Mugman and to ask him to take refuge in her abode for his protection should the Devil actually plan to target the old kettle.

Although Elder Kettle had never made any deals with the Devil nor does he owe the demon his soul, he could still be in terrible danger.

Misterie's ears twitched and perked up as she sensed a presence ghosting through her.

"The wisest thing to do is knock first, but I suppose being a spirit who's here for urgent matters, I can turn the other cheek." Misterie spoke.

"I'm sorry for the rude intrusion, but I was told to come to you." Chalice explained, turning back into her normal form. "Are you Misterie?"

Misterie uncrossed her legs and pulled herself back onto her feet, using her staff as a support.

"Indeed, I am. And I have been hoping to meet you for some time… Legendary Chalice. Or do you preferred to be called simply Ms. Chalice now?"

"Erm, Ms. Chalice is fine, thanks." Chalice smiled. "Listen, while I was over at the bakery in the DLC Isle, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. I don't get those unless the boys are in trouble. Has something happened?"

"I'm afraid so, young Chalice." Misterie answered solemnly. "The Devil had sent his minion, King Dice, to do his dirty work and stole the young mug's soul when he ambushed him, his brother and five humans at my shop near Cagney Carnation's area."

Chalice gasped. "Gadzooks! That's terrible! Oh, that rotten good for nothin' lackey! He'll pay for hurting Mugsy!"

"Patience, there'll be time for that foolish man to face his comeuppance in due time." Misterie soothed. "Now, this pain in your chest you had mentioned… I take it that it might have some connection with the Cups' souls somehow? Is there a possibility that's how you're able to switch between your living and spirit form at will?"

Chalice pondered for a bit before she remembered. "Oh, yeah! A while back, I sent word to them to come to the DLC Isle to help me find the ingredients for the Wonder Tart. They had special cookies that allowed them to switch places, allowing me to be normal and join the battles."

Misterie tapped her muzzle in thought before she concluded, "Then, that would mean that each of theirs have been cleaved in two and the other halves of theirs have combined into a single unique soul, transferring into you. So, which means… you bear each half of each soul of those young boys."

She walks over to Mugman's bedside and places a hand on his chest, the very spot where his heart is.

"If the Devil has only half a soul, no doubt it'd be very difficult for him to attempt corrupting it and controlling Mugman's empty vessel." Misterie stated. "But it's best to keep these protective charms close, just to be safe. We cannot take any chances."

"Wait, you said there were five humans with Cuphead? Where are they now?" Chalice asked.

"They have left to warn the former debtors of the Devil's plan to steal their souls by force as a means to break the spirits of the three girls he plans to control while they try to unlock their powers." Misterie replied. "It's a long story, but I'm certain they will tell you once you meet up with them. But… before you go, there's one thing I need to give you that might help you and the cup on your journey."

The painted wolf walked over to her desk and pulled the drawer open. She then pulled out a small bottle filled with a radiant crystal blue liquid that sparkled like the sunlight glistening over the waters of the deep ocean.

"I had been meaning to give this to Cuphead before and his friends had left but it had slipped my mind until your arrival had reminded me." Misterie explained. "Once you meet up with them, you and Cuphead will need to drink this potion for it will make your powers much stronger and give each of you new abilities that no one on the Isles have ever seen before. Not even the Devil."

"Wow, not even the Devil himself? Sounds good to me!" Chalice smiled. "I'll meet up with Cuphead and give him the potion. Hopefully I can get caught up with what's happening, especially with these humans."

"Do not worry. You will." Misterie reassured. "But I advise that you'd be careful. The Devil will send his forces all over the Isles to hunt down those girls and the former debtors. It is believed that he also has a very dangerous bounty hunter prowling about. So be cautious, this bounty hunter is believed to be very powerful."

"No worries, Madam M! I ain't scared of what the Devil throws at me!" Chalice confidently replied. "And whoever this bounty hunter is, I'm sure I can give him a run for his money!"

Putting the potion for safekeeping in the pocket of her skirt, Chalice transformed into her spirit form, preparing to take her leave.

"I'll find Cups, and help the girls on their journey! You can count on me!"

"I believe they have gone to see the Root Pack." Misterie stated. "So, I advise to go look for the old lighthouse."

"Got it! Thank you!" Turning to Mugsy, she announced "Don't worry, Mugman. We'll get your soul back and you'll be running around Inkwell til your heart's content!"

Waving Misterie goodbye, flies away, phasing through the wall and disappears into the wilderness.

Very soon, a new player shall be joining Cuphead's team on the field.

A/N: So it seems Chalice's soul is connected to the Cups'! Hopefully she can assist us in our quest to defeat the Devil! But only time will tell...stay tuned for next week's edition of "Heart, Soul, and Mind"!