Gwen was once again training in the gym in her palace to build her strength and flexibility. But she finds herself not improving as she was hoping.
"Ugh! I can't do this! I'll never defeat the Devil even in my current shape!" Gwen groaned frustratingly.
Her pet rainbow phoenix watches from the sidelines and chirps.
"Don't remind me." Gwen said feeling unamused.
She stops training and catches her breath and sweating. Just then, the lead servant entered the gym chamber.
"Excuse me milady?" The lead servant called.
"What is it?" Gwen asked.
"It's Lord Zeus. He wants to see you." The lead servant announced.
Gwen hurried over to Zeus's palace and approached Zeus on his throne.
"My lord, you've summoned me?" Gwen asked.
"Yes Lady Gosa. I understand you are struggling to get stronger?" Zeus answered.
"Well, not that it matters, but just trying to prepare myself for worst-case scenario: the Devil breaks into my palace and kidnaps me." Gwen explained.
"I see." Zeus said.
"Is that all sir?" Gwen asked.
"Well, even as a goddess, you're still no match for the Devil. What you need is training from an expert." Zeus said.
"Training? From who?" Gwen asked.
"Come." Zeus instructed.
Zeus escorts Gwen to a large ancient gymnasium in Greece. The guards open the doors and inside was a large, tall, muscular man with a beard and mustache training, punching stone statues with one blow.
"Woah." Gwen said impressed.
Suddenly, the man noticed Zeus's arrival.
"Father, I didn't expect to see you again." The man said not happy to see him.
"Son, I know it has been a long time, but I do have a reason for coming here." Zeus said, revealing he is his father.
"He's your son?" Gwen asked, confused.
The man noticed Gwen's presence and is not impressed.
"Who is this? A new favorite of yours?" The man asked, insulting Gwen.
"Son, may I present our newest goddess of imagination: Lady Gosa." Zeus introduced.
Gwen nervously waved to the man, still not impressed with her.
"You're a little small for a goddess, aren't you?" The man asked.
"What's that's supposed to mean?" Gwen asked.
"Gosa, this is my son: Hercules." Zeus revealed.
Gwen's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
"H-H-H-Hercules? As in the strongest man alive? God of heroes and strength? Slayer of the Nemean Lion, the Hydra and the Stymphalian Birds? Cleaner of the Augean Stables? Capturer of the Ceryneian Hind, the Erymanthian Boar, the Cretan Bull, the mares of Diomedes, the Cattle of the giant Geryon and Cerberus? Collector of the belt of Hippolyta and the golden apples of Hesperides?" Gwen asked, stating the 12 labors Hercules completed.
Hercules sighed and facepalmed.
"Father, why do you bring me this weak goddess?" Hercules asked.
"Son, I am assigning you to train Lady Gosa. To strengthen her physically, to fight in combat, and make her a hero." Zeus explained.
"What? No, father! She is not worthy to be a hero!" Hercules protested.
"This is not open to discussion! It is decided!" Zeus boomed with lightning cackling.
Hercules glared as he calmed down.
"You have not seen what she can do. Now, train Gosa to fight so she would be ready to face her greatest enemy who desires her hand in marriage to destroy our world: the Devil." Zeus sternly ordered.
Hercules sighed, knowing he had no choice.
"Very well, father." Hercules grumbled.
"Good. I leave her in your strong hands." Zeus said as he teleported back to Olympus.
Gwen looked uncomfortably at Hercules, knowing he doesn't like her.
"So, my father wants me to train you?" Hercules asked.
"I… I guess so?" Gwen answered awkwardly.
"Well, Gosa, my father may've chosen you as a new goddess. But when I'm through with you, I promise you will wish he hadn't!" Hercules sternly warned.
Gwen gulped in fear.
"Now then, let's get started." Hercules said and walked to the center of the gymnasium.
Gwen reluctantly follows him.
"What's first?" Gwen asked.
"First, you can't train in that." Hercules said, addressing her dress.
"Oh." Gwen said.
She magically changes her outfit into a training outfit and her hair in a ponytail.
"Is this better?" Gwen asked.
"Close enough." Hercules said.
"Okay, then I'll get started." Gwen said as she approached some large weights.
"What do you think you're doing?" Hercules asked.
"I'm ready to start lifting weights." Gwen answered.
Hercules grabbed Gwen's shoulders with one hand and lifted her up to his serious face.
"You're not ready to lift my weights yet! Until you learn the basics first!" Hercules scolded as he pointed.
Gwen gulped at the training grounds with rigorous obstacles.
"You will learn to develop your strength and use it to overcome obstacles without the use of your magic." Hercules explained.
He places Gwen down. Hercules grabbed some large rocks and chains smaller ones below Gwen's knees. He chains more small rocks to Gwen's wrists. Finally, he ties a large boulder to Gwen's back, making her drop to the ground from all the weight.
"W-W-W-What's all this?" Gwen struggled to ask.
"You will start by carrying all this weight through these obstacles. To overcome them, you need discipline and strength." Hercules answered.
"Oh boy…" Gwen said worryingly.
"Move!" Hercules ordered.
Gwen struggled to get up and struggled to walk as she groaned. She makes it to the obstacle course barely when she looked in horror at all the obstacles including tire flipping, wall climbing, mud crawling, monkey bars, rope climbing, log carrying and spear throwing.
"What is this? The freakin' Olympic games?" Gwen asked in dread.
"No, this is worse. This is the obstacle course is the new trainees' test to find out who has what it takes to be a hero. And who doesn't." Hercules answered.
"How will I know if I pass?" Gwen asked.
"You will if you can conquer these obstacles with no struggle." Hercules answered.
Gwen took a deep breath.
"Now, get started!" Hercules ordered.
Gwen quickly approached the first obstacle: tire flipping. She struggles to lift the giant tire with the stones holding her back. She barely makes the tire flip, making her drop to the ground, sweating and breathing heavily.
"I'm ashamed of you Gosa. You really are weak." Hercules insulted.
"I… should've known… you'd be… the greatest… biggest… JERK!" Gwen struggled to speak until she yelled the final word as she insulted him.
Hercules is shocked at her insult as he lifted her on her feet as she shot a glare at him.
"You got guts, I'll give you that." Zeus said, unfazed.
After catching her breath, she ripped the chains off her, dropping the boulder and stones.
Gwen returns to her palace, suffering muscle aches all over her body. The servants massage her to make her feel better in the spa chamber. Gwen had a few tears in her eyes, feeling humiliated.
"Milady, I know you're upset and humiliated." The lead servant said.
Gwen said nothing.
"But you need to keep working hard at it so you can achieve your goal and to prove him wrong." The lead servant advised.
Gwen sighed, knowing it will be difficult.
Later, Gwen laid in bed resting. Her bedroom door opened.
"Knock, knock?" Cuphead called.
"You in here Gweny?" Mugman added.
Gwen flipped to the other side, avoiding their gazes. The cups hopped on her bed and comforted her.
"Gwen? You okay?" Cuphead asked.
"No." Gwen answered.
"Training with the big guy didn't go well?" Mugman asked.
Gwen sighed heavily.
"Hercules is such a jerk to me. He hates me." Gwen answered.
"Really?" Cuphead asked.
"He thinks I'm weak. He doesn't think I'm hero material." Gwen said.
"That's not true. You're our hero." Mugan assured her.
"You're many people's hero." Cuphead added.
Gwen looked at her friends.
"I don't know what to do." Gwen said.
"I think you should keep training with Jerkules." Cuphead said insulting him.
"What?" Gwen asked in shock.
"Think about it. If you give up, he'll still think you're weak." Cuphead said.
"What he means is if you prove him wrong and you actually succeed his training, he'd have to admit he was wrong about you. But if you quit now, he's going to think less of you a hero and will mock you for not only being a weakling but also a stinkin' quitter. So, my best advice, is for you to keep on training and prove to him that Gwen, the goddess of imagination, is no weakling and certainly no quitter." Mugman said.
"Yeah, his face would be priceless when he sees how less of a quitter you are and how much more of the greater hero you are!" Cuphead said.
Gwen thought for a moment. She had faced, endured and conquered extremely difficult and challenging obstacles and problems and her past triumphs that don't define her as a quitter. She realized she couldn't just give up.
"You know what fellas? You're right. I haven't backed down in battles before and I can't let him make me do that now. I'm going to finish what I started." Gwen said, now determined.
"That's our Gweny. You can do anything you set your mind to." Mugman said.
"Yeah. Show Jerkules how you are the Inkwell Isles number one hero!" Cuphead said.
Gwen smiled at their faithfulness and confidence in her. Then her expression changed to anger, determined to prove Hercules wrong.
"Look out Jerkules. Gosa is not going down for anything you throw at her." She said, her voice full of resolute and unbroken will.
The next day, Gwen shows up at the Gymnasium with her cup brothers this time. They enter and find Hercules waiting.
"So, you're back. And you brought 2 little fools with you." Hercules said, unamused.
"Yeah, but they're my fools." Gwen said bravely.
"Coming from you, that's a compliment. Thank you Jerkules." Cuphead taunted.
Hercules gave an unamused look, unfazed by his insult.
"Now then, let's begin." Hercules said.
Gwen sighed, knowing the drill. He ties the rocks and boulder to her legs, arms and back once again.
"Woah. I beginning to see what she meant." Cuphead said.
"I never knew this is what she was talking about Jerkules making her go through all this. But I got confidence she can do this." Mugman said with belief in her.
Gwen still struggled to head to the obstacle course, but now with new determination. She kept working at Hercules's brutal methods. But over time, she slowly started to improve her strength, and the obstacle course started to get a little easier for her.
Hercules doesn't show it, but he is secretly starting to get impressed with Gwen and her perseverance.
One day, she finishes the obstacle course with the rope climbing. She slipped a little at one point, but she kept going until she finally reached the top and climbed up on the roof and drew deep breaths.
Hercules approaches her and studies her.
"Maybe you're not so weak after all." Hercules admitted.
Gwen smiled at his remark, getting some praise for once.
"Thanks." Gwen thanked.
"Don't thank me yet. We still got work to do." Hercules reminded her.
"Right." Gwen said.
"Now, we work on your combat." Hercules said.
Later, Gwen held a sword, and Hercules taught her the basics of sword fighting. She is knocked a few times but keeps getting back up and continued fighting. She even receives her own sword and shield commissioned by the smith god Hephestus himself.
Next, Hercules teaches her wresting, how to take down enemies with her bare hands. Being the strongest man alive, he outmatches her until she threw him over to the ground at the last minute.
Gwen was shocked herself at overthrowing Hercules himself.
"WHOO!" The cups cheered.
Gwen reached her hand to Hercules and pulled him up.
"I'm so sorry about that!" Gwen apologized.
"Do not apologize for that!" Hercules snapped at her that made the cups nervous.
He stared at Gwen with a harden look before it changed into an impressed look and a small smile.
"Not bad." Hercules said with a nod.
Gwen smiled, knowing she was making progress.
One day, after another training session successfully completed, Gwen overcomes the obstacle course with no struggle. She finishes off a dummy with her sword.
"No struggle." Hercules said.
Gwen looked at Hercules.
"You're ready." Hercules said.
"For what?" Gwen asked.
"To prove yourself as a hero." Hercules answered.
"How?" Gwen asked.
"You need a test." Hercules said.
"Let me guess, I gotta fight another monster?" Gwen guessed.
"Pretty much." Hercules answered.
"Wait a minute. What exactly am I fighting? I already defeated Medusa before." Gwen asked suspiciously.
"Oh, I assure you it's not a gorgon. It's worse." Hercules said.
"What is it?" Gwen asked, eager to know.
"Well, it's sort of… giant. And ferocious. And has… three creatures in one body." Hercules hinted.
Suddenly, it clicked for Gwen, making her eyes widen in horror.
"Oh no. Not the three in one monster Chimera!" Gwen complained.
Chimera is a giant monster with the bodies of a lion, a goat and dragon combined into one body and is a very dangerous monster.
After training, she rejoins her family in her palace for dinner.
"So, he's testing you tomorrow with that giant freak monster?" Cuphead asked.
"Yeah. It's kinda of a ritual for those bigshot heroes like how Odysseus defeated the cyclops, Perseus slayed Medusa then later so did I, Theseus slayed the Minotaur and Bellerophon actually slayed the Chimera." Gwen explained examples.
"So, this time they're resurrecting Chimera for your test?" Clarence asked.
"That's right." Gwen answered.
"Well, best of luck to ya Gweny." Mugman said, feeling nervous.
"Thanks, Mugsy. At least Kai-Ming's got a big day coming up too." Gwen said.
"What's up at the FBI?" Ms. Chalice asked.
"She recently told me she's having a new recruit joining her team long with the triplets. Some German American guy who just graduated the FBI Academy with flying colors." Gwen explained.
"That's great. The more the merrier." Mary said.
"We need all the help we can get for this war. The god's protection probably won't be enough." Earnest said.
"I'm sure it'll be fine." Mary said.
"Let's just hope Gwen doesn't get barbequed tomorrow." Cuphead said nervously.
"CUPHEAD!" Mugman and Ms. Chalice yelled.
"It wouldn't be the first time someone tried to barbeque me." Gwen said, remembering memories.
"That's true. Even the Devil's tried to barbeque us lots of times." Mugman said.
That night, the group head upstairs to bed as Gwen dreaded the morning when her test will begin.
In the morning, Gwen is in the arena with Hercules warming up.
"I'm not sure I can do this." Gwen said, expressing her doubt.
"You have to block out your doubt and your fear and head your enemy face on. Remember what I taught you. It's learn fast or die. Kill or be killed." Hercules reminded her.
"Right. Right." Gwen answered.
Just then, the Olympian Gods along with Clarence, Ms. Chalice, Earnest and Mary sit next to Cuphead and Mugman appear in the stands, ready to watch.
"She's really doing this? In front of us?" Clarence asked worryingly.
"Son, this'll be her test to see if she can be a hero." Zeus said.
"Well, it's been nice knowing her." Mugman said nervously.
Cuphead smacks him.
"Don't be a dingdong! She's done this lots of times!" Cuphead argued.
"Yeah, but not like this!" Mugman argued back.
"Guys! Enough! I believe she can do it." Clarence stopped the argument.
"Yeah fellas. Nothing she can't handle." Ms. Chalice said.
Something in the sky gets their attention.
"AHH!" Both cups screamed.
Gwen looked at the cups holding each other in terror.
"Stop it guys. It's not working. There is no Chimera." Gwen said, thinking they were trying to scare her.
"No! Really!" Cuphead exclaimed.
"Look up there!" Mugman exclaimed.
Realizing the cups weren't joking, she looked up and noticed a large shadow covering the gymnasium.
Suddenly, the giant Chimera landed in the center of the arena, destroying the equipment and obstacle course. Just then, it gave a loud, trembling roar.
Gwen tried covering her ears and tried to take cover behind Hercules.
"Do something! You're the real hero! Not me!" Gwen protested.
"Kid! A real hero doesn't run and hide! Now get out there and slay it!" Hercules sternly reminded her.
Gwen groaned, then grabbed her sword and shield and entered the arena. She posed, trying to look heroic. Chimera growled and started to breathe fire.
"Uh oh…" Gwen said worryingly.
The monster attacks, but Gwen quickly jumps and rolls away in time.
"Wow." Gwen said amazed.
Chimera tries slashing its claws at Gwen making her jump back, barely missing her.
"It's too fast! I gotta get up there!" Gwen protested.
The dragon head tries to shoot its venom at her, making her lift her shield to block off the venom.
"Eww! Gross!" Gwen groaned in disgust.
Suddenly, Gwen got an idea. She whistled, calling for Cerulean Bolt. The magic carpet quickly flies down and snatches Gwen in time before the monster ate her alive.
"Thanks buddy!" Gwen thanked, catching her breath.
Just then, Chimera spread its enormous dragon wings and flies up after her.
"Oh right. It has dragon wings." Gwen said in dread.
Cerulean Bolt flies in the sky as Chimera chased after them, shooting fire at the duo.
"Snowball fighting Jupiter was way easier compared to this!" Gwen complained.
They kept flying until they reached a trainyard with trains parked.
"Ugh! How did Bellerophon slay that stupid beast with that stupid spear?!" Gwen angrily asked.
Just then, she remembered something from Greek mythology in high school.
"Bellerophon rode Pegasus up to the monster, threw his spear into the beast's flaming mouth. The metal melted, put out the fire, hardened and choked the monster to death." Gwen recapped the story.
"That's it! Throw something big and metal into the monster's mouth!" Gwen exclaimed, figuring it out.
"But what's big and metal to choke a giant three-in-one monster?" Gwen asked.
Cerulean Bolt pointed at something.
"What is it buddy?" Gwen asked.
Gwen looked and noticed a large and long unused train, getting an idea.
"You're brilliant buddy!" Gwen exclaimed.
Cerulean Bolt gave a thumbs up gesture.
BAM!
A giant fire blast was fired past Gwen, making her realize Chimera was closing in on her.
"Okay, we gotta time this carefully." Gwen said.
Just then, the Devil appeared on top of the train out of sight.
"There you are my beautiful flower." The Devil said, looking at Gwen.
Before he could attack, Chimera tried swiping at Gwen again until she dodged.
"Woah! What's that three-headed freak doing trying to kill her?!" The Devil exclaimed as he took cover below the train.
Cerulean Bolt bravely flew up to the lion head of the monster.
"Go on! Barbeque me!" Gwen yelled.
Chimera growled and prepared to breathe fire as its mouth glowed red. Gwen quickly hopped off Cerulean Bolt, grabbed the train and started swinging it with her superstrength.
"Woah!" The Devil exclaimed as he ran to hide behind another train and watched.
Finally, she releases the train and throws it strait at Chimera's mouth. The train crashed down its throat, making the fire dim out. Now furious, Chimera lunged at Gwen as she stood her ground with her sword and shield when suddenly, the monster started coughing.
"It's working!" Gwen said.
Chimera choked until it finally stopped breathing and dropped to the ground dead. Gwen caught her breath, relieved the monster was finally dead.
"Yeah! Nobody messes with the goddess of imagination! Nobody!" Gwen yelled.
The Devil stood in shock, realizing Gwen has been training to fight and get stronger.
"My pretty flower is getting much more stronger and more better than ever. This might make things a bit more complicated than I thought." He says to himself before he quickly disappears back to Hell.
Just then, there was a loud applause, she finds herself whisked away back to the arena with Cerulean Bolt and the dead monster.
"That's my fiancé!" Clarence yelled happily.
"That's our bestie!" Ms. Chalice yelled.
The cup brothers ran down to the center and jumped in Gwen's arms and hugged her.
"You did it Gweny! You won!" Cuphead cheered.
"You choked that beast to death!" Mugman cheered.
Ms. Chalice jumped on Gwen's shoulders and hugged her head.
"I knew you could do it girlfriend!" Ms. Chalice cheered.
Clarence ran up to them, lifted and swung his fiancée in the air.
"That was awesome my love!" Clarence cheered.
"Thank you. All of you." Gwen thanked, feeling happy.
The spirits of Earnest and Mary floated up to the group and hugged her.
"In all my years, I never I thought I'd see you fight a real monster my doodlebug." Earnest said.
"Yeah, you really persevered till the end daughter." Mary said.
Gwen smiled at her grandfather and her mother-in-law. Renata flew down on Gwen's shoulder and snuggled her head.
"Aw, thanks girl." Gwen thanked.
Just then, Hercules approached the family as they looked at him.
"Hercules?" Gwen asked.
Hercules knelt down to Gwen and held her shoulders.
"That… was pretty heroic." Hercules finally complimented her.
Gwen smiled, finally earning Hercules's respect. She quickly jumps in his arms and hugs him, to his shock.
"Oh. Uh, thank you. I never get any hugs." Hercules said.
Cuphead approached Hercules.
"Heh, heh. I'm sorry I called you Jerkules." Cuphead apologized.
"I didn't take any offense son. I've been called worse." Hercules assured him.
"Oh. Uh, thanks." Cuphead thanked.
Just then, Zeus approached the group.
"That was one impressive battle. You have done us proud." Zeus complimented.
The group bowed to Zeus.
"Thank you." Gwen thanked.
Zeus faced his son.
"Son, I am very proud of you too. You have taught her well." Zeus complimented.
Hercules gives a slight smile.
"Thank you, father." Hercules thanked.
Back in Heaven, a grand celebration was given in Gwen's honor at her palace with all the gods, goddesses and Gwen's friends and family with Dionysus hosting, being the god of wine and parties. A live band was playing music.
"I knew she could do it." Hera said, sipping wine.
"Yes, she worked very hard, and it paid off." Athena agreed.
While the gods socialized, Gwen and her friends kept to themselves.
"Is this what their parties are like?" Cuphead asked.
"Yep. Dionysus knows how to throw a party." Gwen said.
"This is nice. At least we get to see all the gods." Clarence said.
"What do gods like to do for fun?" Mugman asked.
"Well…" Gwen hesitated to answer.
"Let's show these immortals how to get a party started." Ms. Chalice said.
Ms. Chalice goes up to the band and whispers something to them as they nodded. The band started playing jazz and Ms. Chalice started tap-dancing and scatting. All the gods turned and looked at Ms. Chalice performing a show.
"I like this kid." Apollo, the god of light and music complimented.
Apollo got out his lyre and started playing along with the music. Ms. Chalice danced in front of Apollo and winked, charming him.
After the dance, everybody cheered for Ms. Chalice as she curtsied before the gods.
"Thank you. Thank you everyone." Ms. Chalice thanked.
After the party, the gods and goddesses returned to their palaces as the group settle in for the night.
"That was fun. But even being a hero can be tiring." Gwen said, settling in bed.
"You're the cup's hero. You're my hero." Clarence said.
Gwen leaned into Clarence. The rainbow phoenix Renata flew to Gwen and nestled in her lap.
"Aww. Is somebody feeling jealous?" Gwen jokingly asked.
Renata chirped as Clarence petted her. The couple and phoenix go to sleep.
The next day after breakfast, Gwen continued training under Hercules to improve her fighting skills and stealth. As she trained under Hercules's guidance, she grew stronger and agile.
Meanwhile back on Earth at the FBI headquarters, Kai-Ming brings in a young blonde man to the Inkwell Isles Branch.
"Welcome to the Inkwell Isles Branch Agent Klaus Bauer." Kai-Ming welcomed.
"Thank you, Mrs. Cheng." Gunter thanked.
"I must admit I was surprised you wanted to join our newly developed department. You could've written your ticket anywhere with your credentials and impressive skills." Kai-Ming complimented.
"I have a passion for adventure, new discoveries and magic. Now that we know it really exists, we can explore the possibilities. Especially the Inkwell Isles. It's all exciting and challenging." Klaus said.
"You like excitement?" Kai-Ming asked.
"Yes, I do." Klaus said.
"But remember what you're signing up for. This is beyond our reality you know. You need to be prepared for anything we come up against." Kai-Ming cautioned.
"I think I can handle it ma'am." Klaus said.
"Well then, let's introduce you to your teammates." Kai-Ming said.
Kai-Ming opens the door, and the Connery triplets were training with their magical equipment and gadgets. Klaus stood amazed at what he was seeing.
"Wow." Klaus said, amazed.
"Yes. Even I was amazed when I first discovered magic." Kai-Ming said.
The Connery triplets come up to their boss and new teammate.
"Is this the new guy?" Bethany asked.
"Yes, Bethany. Everyone, this is Agent Klaus Bauer. Your new teammate. And these are Agents Bethany, Beatrix and Barret Connery." Kai-Ming introduced.
"Charmed." Klaus greeted.
Barrett reaches his hand and shakes his hand with Klaus.
"Welcome to the team." Barret greeted.
"You are German descent. Am I right?" Beatrix asked.
"Ya dame." Klaus said in a German accent.
"I figured from your name." Beatrix said.
"My parents came here from Germany years ago. I'm fluent in German too." Klaus explained.
"Anyway, you three will show him the ropes as we discussed." Kai-Ming instructed the triplets.
"Can do boss." Bethany agreed.
The triplets take Klaus to start his training with the Inkwell Isles Branch. Kai-Ming goes to her office to work on other matters. Her magic carpet Lavender's Blue flew up to her.
"I know. Having a new member is exciting. We'll see what he's capable of." Kai-Ming said.
Lavender's Blue shook its head, hinting a sign of mistrust.
"What's wrong? You don't trust him?" Kai-Ming asked.
Lavender's Blue shook his head, saying 'no'.
"Don't worry. Trust is something he has to earn. We'll see if he's worthy of that." Kai-Ming assured her carpet.
And so, the Connery triplets begin Klaus's training with combat, magic equipment and their flying carpets and the missions they carry out in the Inkwell Isles.
Everyone was proud of Gwen and her recent accomplishment as she continued practicing her new fighting skills and live her life.