#cuptale

[cuptalecupheadxundertale]

Chapter 8.5 “Heartache Pt 2”

Warning: Might be a heavy chapter for some. Won't give any more details to avoid spoiling. If there are some grammar, spelling, or any other editing mistake, I apologize in advance, I've been working for this draft for months last year, only when I had time.

Author's Comment: Sorry, Chapter is 2 weeks late, but I got it done. Again, might not be posting for a long time, probably by July again after my next exam.

Without further ado, Enjoy... or you know, bring tissues.

Chapter 8.5 “Heartache Pt 2”

Dozens of scribbles and strokes were heard from Cuphead’s intense & messy, and Mugman’s calm & concentrated waxy crayons pointed towards their respective papers. Mugman wiped his paper of the excess wax with his right backhand and then he held it up to get a good look.

It was a waxy drawing of Cuphead eyebrows scrunched and smiling with confidence while shooting his light blue peashooter to different directions to the air.

“What did you draw Cuphea-“ Mugman turned to his brother, but his eyes-widened glaring at what he saw.

Cuphead, who was holding back tears behind his happy-squinting eyes and his laughter behind his left hand, showed the drawing of Mugman having a big open mouth while scattered around candy was being sucked into it like some black hole.

Mugman just stared at it with his jaw dropped, confused whether he should be laughing or be annoyed.

Cuphead burst out laughing as he pointed his finger at Mugman’s dropped jaw. “YOU LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THE PICTURE HAHAHAHAHA!”

“Man, that is not fair.” Mugman then flipped his paper to look at his drawing and smiled sadly at it. “I even made ya super cool in this.”

Cuphead came over, buddy hugged Mugman, and looked at his brother’s drawn picture of himself.

Cuphead sighed. “Aw man, now I feel like a joirk.”

Mugman giggled. “Nah, not really.” He said as he looked endearingly at his brother.

“Aw come on!” Cuphead let go of his buddy arm and used it to nudge Mugman’s elbow. “Make me silly!”

Mugman picked up a black crayon, put the waxy tip on the paper, and then confidently smirked at Cuphead with a raised eyebrow.

Cuphead folded his arms and smirked. “Bring it on Mmmuggo.”

Starting from Cuphead’s smile on the drawing, Mugman drew long squiggly lines to make a tongue three times longer than it actually was. He then shaded the inside of those lines with a red crayon.

Cuphead snickered. “Since when did I get a long tongue?”

Mugman tinked his chin with his crayon, then smiled as he had an idea. He picked up a brown crayon from the table. “Since ya did this.” He drew a brown ball at the tip of that long tongue.

Cuphead raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

“The pie duh!” Mugman nudged Cuphead’s elbow.

Cuphead snickered, and then he burst out laughing together with Mugman at their drawings; the former had his forehead facepalmed, while the latter buddy-hugged the former and held up his drawing proudly.

When they were done, they let out a big sigh.

Cuphead smiled at his brother. “Bud, I still think yer nose is big.” He casually booped Mugman’s nose.

Mugman’s eyes focused on his brother’s finger that booped his nose, and he grunted as it was booped. “Cuphead! We made a deal!”

“I ain’t a jokin’ Mugs.” He wiped his right hand left to right as if saying ‘no’. With confidence, Cuphead pointed his thumb to himself. “I think it’ll be a whackin’ good look on me. Watch!” He suddenly yanked Mugman’s nose off his brother’s face.

“Nhey!” Mugman said with his voice sounding like he pinched his nose. He tried to grab his nose back, but then he suddenly had a small red nose pinned onto his face.

Closed eyes, Cuphead put on the big blue nose onto his face, giving it a small wiggle as he attached it in place. “How do I look?” He said with his deep nasal voice. He wiped his hand down his nose so that when he released it the nose bounced back and wobbled until it was still as straight.

Cuphead looked back at Mugman with a raised eyebrow and his flashing confident smile; the big blue nose was blocking the middle line of his eyes.

Mugman’s mouth squiggled, and then he laughed out loud as he pointed at Cuphead. “YOU-HUHU L-HOOK SILLY!” His voice sounded squeakier.

Cuphead snickered and put his hands on his hips. “Yeah?” His voice was deeper and more nasally. “Well what does that make ya?”

Mugman wiped a tear of laughter. “W-hell that makes me…. Me….” He frowned, realizing that he was ridiculing his own nose. Abruptly, he started to sob; tears came out of his eyes, his mouth began to tremble, and his red nose started to run with colds.

Cuphead’s chest jumped and his straw formed an exclamation. “NO! MUGS!” He shook his hands trying to stop his brother from crying. “I DIDN’T-! WHAT DID I SAY?!”

In a loud voice, Mugman started to wail again, with waterfall tears coming out of his eyes. He then ran away to the hall.

“MUGS!” Cuphead groaned with his deep nasally voice. “Not again! BUDDY WAIT UP!” He ran after his brother.

As he ran, Mugman wailed and left a trail of tears behind him. He ran past the railing on the left, and turned left at the end of it where the mouth of the stairs was.

“MUGS!” Cuphead now shouted frustratedly. “COME BAC- WOAAAHH!” He slipped from the trail of tears Mugman left behind, and then fell to a sit on his bum. He grunted, and then got up. “MUGSYYY!!!” He yelled angry.

Downstairs, along the eerily quiet hallway of purple walls with brick patterns and pink floors, Toriel stood there watching the end ahead and numbly wondering if she should keep going.

She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. She kept quiet… and quiet… and quiet… holding her breath during this time… and then she exhaled, and a tear poured down her right eye. “No… not again…” Her eyes opened with renewed determination. “I have to do this.” She took a step forward-

“WAAAAGHHAAGHHH!!” The wails of Mugman echoed from above the stairs behind her; his voice sounded squeakier and higher pitched than usual. Soft footsteps started running down echoing & bouncing on the walls, and they (with the bouncing echoes) got louder as they got closer.

“TORIEL!” Mugman clung onto her robe.” C-CUPHEAD HE-!” He sniffled.

Slowly, Toriel turned her gaze towards Mugman and she blankly stared at his face which had Cuphead’s tiny red nose attached on his face.

Noticing her blank and numb stare, Mugman released her robe and took a step back. “T-Toriel?”

“MUUUUGGS!” Cuphead furiously yelled with his deep nasally voice from the stairs, followed by running steps towards him.

For a moment, Mugman turned to notice Cuphead running towards him, but then turned back to Toriel in concern.

Cuphead punched Mugman’s arm.

“Ow!” Mugman said, mostly out of surprise.

“WHY CAN’T YA STOP BEING A WIMP AND JUST PLAY ALONG FOR…. Once…” Cuphead slowed as he noticed Mugman not paying attention to him, and instead looking at Toriel with deep concern.

Cuphead looked up, and saw Toriel looking back at them with a numb stare.

“Uhhh…” Cuphead proceeds to whisper to Mugman with his right backhand covering his left sidemouth. “Ya think it’s the noses?”

“Oh! Right!” Mugman giggled.

They pulled out each other’s nose out of the other’s face, and then attached it to their faces.

“Tah dah!” They both said, while doing their jazz hands with their center hands forward and their outer hands spreading outwards that they looked like they were forming a big Y.

Numb, cold, and indifferent, Toriel just stared at them for a few seconds of silence… and then she took a deep sigh and closed her eyes. “You are too innocent…” She shook her head.

The boys frowned. From a stop, they slowly retracted their jazz hands to an uncomfortable stand.

“What…?” Mugman said, confused and more worried than ever.

Toriel looked towards the end of hall. “You wish to return to your home, do you not?”

Still worried, Cuphead and Mugman looked at each other, and then they slowly turned back to Toriel while saying “Yyyyeeeaaaah….?”

Toriel paused in silence, still staring at the end of the hall ahead.

Mugman’s mouth squiggly smiled nervously. “W-we’ll stop by more often!” He shyly raised his index finger.

“Yeah!” Cuphead buddy hugged Mugman, and the latter smiled in relief. “So we can have more pie!” He splayed his hand in explanation.

Mugman’s eyes widened. “Cuphead!” He glared at his brother.

Cuphead blinked as he noticed Mugman’s reaction. “Oh! Right.” He smiled at Toriel. “We’ll bring Elder Kettle too!”

As if to argue with his brother, Mugman opened his mouth and raised a finger, but then began to tap his chin in thought with that same finger.

“Actually… Yeah!” Mugman smiled. “What he said!” He pointed his thumb to Cuphead.

In their buddy hug, Cuphead and Mugman clinked each other’s heads and winked at each other.

“Thoughtful… as usual.” Toriel said numbly as she kept looking onwards. She took a deep sigh. “But no… that’s impossible.”

Smiles fading, Cuphead and Mugman started to worry again. They looked at each other and saw they were thinking the same thing.

“Oh-kay… Toriel you’re startin’ tuh scare me.” Cuphead’s eyes squeezed in worry.

 Toriel took a step forward, and then stopped with her feet together. “Ahead lies the exit to these ruins.”

Cuphead and Mugman gasped, then looked at each other, and squealed while they held each other’s hands and danced their feet by running in place quickly.

“Golly that’s swell!” Cuphead looked at Toriel.

“We can go home!” Looking at his brother, Mugman gently squeezed his brother’s hands with his own. Cuphead looked back, met his brother’s eyes, and nodded.

“I’m going to destroy it.” Toriel said, her back still turned towards them.

Once full of hope, Cuphead and Mugman’s smiles turned into horrified frowns as they turned to Toriel. “Wh-what?!”

“No one will ever try to leave again.” Toriel turned her head a quarter towards the boys just so she could see them in her right periphery. “Children. Please be good and go upstairs.” With that, she looked forward and walked on to the end.

A few seconds of shock passed, but then Cuphead and Mugman gasped as they noticed her moving away. “NO!” They leapt forward and grabbed onto her dress.

As she felt the tug, she stopped taking another step. “You don’t understand… my naïve children. I am only trying to protect you.”

“From what?!” On the floor, Cuphead looked up to Toriel. “The monsters?!”

“From Asgore.” Toriel said the name in a deep blood-curdling voice

Cuphead and Mugman shuddered at his name and it made them let go of Toriel’s robe. They mouths were left wide open, wanting to gasp, but they were so scared that nothing came out.

“Every human that falls down here meets the same fate.” Toriel held out her right-hand face up, representing the human.

“They come.” She brought her right-hand to her left-hand that caressed it.

“They leave.” Her right-hand slipped from the grasp of the left-hand.

She took a long pause, her right-hand shivered as she did. She then closed her right-hand to a fist. “They die.”

On the ground, holding their breaths in fear, Cuphead and Mugman stared at Toriel’s right-fist. They held each other’s hands and felt a comforting warmth in this cold and anxious tale that had overpowered their auras once full of energy and fun.

“If you leave the ruins…” Toriel turned her head a quarter slowly. “They…” She kept turning, now half-towards them. “Asgore…” She now looked at them, who were still holding hands and looking back worried.

“Will kill you.” She spoke the last words slowly and heavily.

Whimpering. Squeezing their grasps on each other’s hands tighter. Gulping. Mugman started to crawl back a bit, but Cuphead was staying put trying to be brave and be the front for his brother.

Toriel’s eyes looked down in a sorrow. “I am not going to let that happen.” She looked back to the end of the hall far ahead. “Not again.”

Cuphead and Mugman (who was slightly behind the former) looked at each other.

“A-again?” Mugman looked back at her.

Toriel did not answer to that question, and just looked on. “This is your final warning.” She shot a strict stare at them. “Go to your room.”

With that, Toriel hurriedly walked on.

Scared, Cuphead and Mugman watched her go, and they even looked at each other just silently asking what just happened.

Trying to muster courage, Mugman took a deep breath, and then got up.

“W-WAIT MUGS!” Cuphead raised his whispering voice. “WHAT’RE YA DOIN?!”

While looking back with an insecure look at Cuphead, Mugman took a step forward. “I-I’m-!” He took a deep breath. “I’m gonna be brave.” He looked forward to Toriel. “M-ms Toriel! E-Elder Kettle might be-!”

As she walked forward, Toriel’s hands blazed with orange fire, then she turned around and swiped her right backhand behind her, drawing a horizontal line of fire on the floor between them.

Cuphead and Mugman screamed, and the former got up to catch Mugman into a protective hug while they shivered in terror.

The line of fire grew into a tall wall reaching up to Toriel’s chest.

“Don’t make me ask again.” Toriel said coldly with the flickering fire reflecting on her numb eyes.

After turning around and walking a few steps, Toriel went left where the corner turned, and she disappeared from view.

Still hugging, Cuphead and Mugman panted as they watched Toriel go.

“She….” Cuphead panted. “S-she tried tuh-….” He looked in concern at Mugman, who was shivering and whimpering in the hug.

Mugman buried his face onto Cuphead’s chest. “M-maybe…” He started to cry. “M-maybe w-we should just do what she says… I-it’ll… i-it’ll… I dunno…” He started to wail again.

“Okay…” Cuphead panted as he patted Mugman’s back gently. “Okay… w-we should just…”

While in their hug, guiding Mugman, Cuphead slowly turned them around and they slowly walked towards the stairs.

“Y-you…” Cuphead looked at Mugman. “Y-you okay pal?”

In response, Mugman buried his face onto his chest even more, shivered more violently, and tightened his hug even more, to which Cuphead just patted his brother’s back and took the intense tightness like a brother.

They walked on and on, back to where they’re being kept… but they knew they could not call it ‘home’ anymore.   

Laying in the small twin-sized bed, Cuphead and Mugman hugged each other, numbly staring at the walls over each other’s shoulders. Lost… confused… conflicted…

But then… there was Toriel… she took them in when they needed help… she healed them when they were hurt… she laughed and played with their jokes… but now… with the fire and the warnings… was this really the same Toriel?

Asgore… The name sent shivers over their spines. They imagined a beast more vicious than the Devil… a bloodthirsty smile with the silhouettes of the cups on his sights… would it be right to just listen to Toriel? Leave Elder Kettle forever… leave Inkwell Isle… stay here… Elder Kettle…

Mugman just tightened his hug just to snug in comfortably. “Good night.” He said glumly as he closed his eyes.

Cuphead tightened his hug in response, and closed his eyes as well. “Good night.”

Warmth… in this cold dark room, they could only feel some form of relief in each other’s hugs… much like the warmth of home... home…. Home…

Home…

Home… the humble brown mushroom house, the crackling fire, the creaky rocking chair of Elder Kettle…

The forest where they ran around, laughing and playing together… Mugman desperately trying to catch Cuphead while the latter just spit raspberries and then ran into a tree in their game of tag, making the former tag the latter and laugh to his heart’s desire… and then, them playing hide and seek but with the unfortunate discovery of a beehive in Mugman’s hiding spot within the tree, which then got them all stung all over.. and then, them counting stars and drawing constellations on the roof when Elder Kettle supposedly tucked them in for the night…

The Root Pack... Hilda… Djimmi… Ribbey and Croaks… Ms. Chalice… Everyone… Toriel?

She stood there in the constellations. “The puzzlezz are vaiting for youzz my childrenzz!” She then flapped her arms like wings and began to squawk like a crow.

‘Asgore!’ A loud whisper echoed from around the boys, making them sit up at the roof in vigilance.

‘Asgore. ASGORE! A-ASGO-ASGORE!’ The voice echoed again, with the last being the loudest, and this time the boys held each others’ hands and readied their finger guns with the other.

“Cu-…her….” A fatherly voice spoke with its second syllable being muffled.

“Huh?!” Cuphead and Mugman looked around trying to find the source.

“Please…” The fatherly voice grew more desperate. “Wake up!”

Mugman looked at Cuphead, who also looked back. “Wh-what?!”

“You are the future of humans and monsters…” The same fatherly voice spoke desperately.

“Oh-kay…?” Confused, Cuphead looked to Mugman, who shrugged his shoulders while still staring in confusion.  

The voice made them so uneasy that they went back to hugging each other, and closing their eyes.

“C-cuphead?!” Called out an endearing elderly and familiar voice. “Mugman?!”

Popping their eyes open, Cuphead and Mugman turned and shifted their gazes everywhere to find the source of the voice in the now dark void.

“E-Elder Kettle?!” They called out.

“Boys! Boys?!” His voice sounded very worried.

The void turned into Elder Kettle walking in the rain while wearing a raincoat in the forest.

 “It’s time to go home! Where are you?!” Elder Kettle’s voice cried out in despair.

In panicked waking, Cuphead and Mugman’s eyes popped open, and they gasped. “ELDER KETTLE!” They yelled as they jumped out of the blanket and shook in the air (like they were shock-electrocuted) with their straws turned into exclamation points.

They both scrambled out of bed, banged the door open, rushed to the main hall, ran back down the stairs, sprinted through the long purple hallway that now, near the end of the corner, had a horizontal black ash mark on the middle of the floor, held hands, and then they turned left to see:

Like deafening rocket booster engines blasting off, powerful and colorful fires blazed from Toriel’s two hands towards the large arched door that was about a foot higher than her.

“Hey!!” Cuphead stomped his foot furiously.

Immediately, Toriel’s hands stopped blasting fire, revealing a violet door charred black on its upper-half; whatever design the door had in the middle, it was covered by black.

Toriel sighed. “So… you really do want to leave so badly after all…” She slowly lowered her hands and turned only a quarter towards them; she was facing the upper right corner of the room.

Mugman took a breath and took a right foot forward. “Ms. Toriel ma’am, thanks for everythin’…. But we really gotta go! Ya can’t keep us in here!” He jabbed his index finger to the floor.

“Yeah!” Cuphead pointed an index finger at Toriel. “It ain’t all about you lady!” He jabbed that same finger to her.

“CUPHEAD!” Mugman glared at Cuphead as he gripped the latter’s hand tighter.

“WHAT?!” Cuphead yanked his hand away from Mugman’s slightly painful grip. “It’s like ya said Mugs, we can’t stay here! Elder Kettle’s waitin’ for us back home!”

Closing his eyes, Mugman sighed. “Well… yeah!” He opened his eyes and faced Toriel. “Like my brother said, Elder Kettle’s prolly worried sick ‘bout us so we really have to go!”

“And I’ve told you already…” Toriel sighed, and kept looking at the upper corner. “If you leave, you will die…” She made a long pause. “…just like the others.” Her voice weakened and sounded it would break.

Looking down, Mugman shuddered at the thought.

“Pfft! We’re not like the others!” Cuphead flicked his left hand down. He then buddy-hugged Mugman. “WE have a brother.” He winked at the latter.

Mugman snickered. “YOU…” He touched his brother’s chest with his pointing index finger. “Have a brother. WE…” He pulled Cuphead closer that they clinked. “Have each other.” He winked.

Cuphead grumbled, his cheeks blushing from embarrassment. “Not now Mugs!” He pushed Mugman away (while Mugman grunted slightly annoyed). He then smirked at Toriel. “We’ve beaten the devil and won!”

Mugman gasped and beamed. “Oh yeah!” He snapped his fingers. “We could definitely give a wallop tuh any dum dum who gets in our way!”

“Yeah buddy!” He smiled with confidence at Mugman. “It’ll be easy as pie!” He giggled. “Get it?” He elbowed Mugman.

Mugman groaned. “Cuphead.” He rolled his eyes with a smile on his face that he’s trying to wipe off.

Toriel glared coldly at them. “Even if it were me?”

“Yeah!” Cuphead and Mugman said confidently while raising their fists and held hands to the air… but then their smiles faded into frowns of horror.

“I’m in your way…” Toriel slowly and eerily turned to them. “Would you fight me?” Her cold and numb eyes stared directly at them. “Would you…” She looked at the corner of her eyes for a moment, and then back at them; her body was now facing them. “Hurt me?”

Cuphead and Mugman made a shuddering gasp.

“If you want to leave… Prove it to me then.” Toriel elegantly and gently flipped her palms face up and laid them at the ready. “Prove to me that you are strong.”

Their breaths grew into shudders. Cuphead and Mugman took a couple of stutter steps back. “N-No…” They shook their heads in disbelief.

PING! Their pink hearts beneath their chests popped into visible.

Out of thin air, above each of Toriel’s palms, two sparks grew into candlelight fires, then flickered into larger multicolor flames.

Shocked and confused, Cuphead and Mugman’s faces turned into cold and sad frowns respectively; they knew there was no way of changing her mind. They held each other’s hands and, with each of their free hands, they formed finger guns with the tips of their index fingers humming with power and glowing with a red spread shot for Cuphead and a blue peashooter for Mugman.

The fireballs on Toriel’s hands blazed into flames two-times larger. She swirled her hands clockwise and then pushed forward while joining her fireballs together into a blast of two long-tailed spiraling comets flying and hurtling towards them.

After an alarmed gasp from each, letting go of each other’s hands, Cuphead and Mugman jumped into a curled-ball front flip to dodge the spiral through the gap on the center… but as halfway through their front-flip, their butts touched the multicolor fire from the top of the ring.

Midair, Cuphead and Mugman goofily screamed in panic and pain with tears rushing like waterfalls out of their eyes, while their legs flailed around, and their hands were covering the sides of their bums.

On the floor, the two brothers ran around in a frenzy of screaming while trying other ways to put the fires out on their own (such as sliding their bottoms on the floor, bouncing them, or patting them out). Then, still screaming, they ran around circling each other for about one, two, three times until they quickly pulled their heads popping up from their necks, and then (like buckets of water) threw the milk from their own heads towards each other’s backsides. As the fire hissed into steam and left big charred spots on the tush of their shorts, Cuphead and Mugman’s eyes (on their detached heads that their hands were carrying) squeezed shut and their teeth gritted as they felt the sting lessen… and finally as the sting receded, they sighed with smiling relief.

“Thanks buddy.” Cuphead and Mugman said in sync as their straws, that were facing each other, formed into fists that bumped into each other.

They opened their eyes, and then those eyes bugged out, and then they screamed, with their bodies shivering, as they saw a colorful fireball blazing towards them. Feet spinning like super-fast bicycle pedals, their bodies ran, but then they grunted as their bodies slammed into each other, causing them to drop their heads clinking and rolling to the floor.

The fireball blasted just above their necks (where their heads were supposed to be).

Toriel grunted coldly and unimpressed. She crisscrossed her wrists and conjured more fires on each hand.

Heads on the floor, Cuphead and Mugman whimpered and shivered (their straws formed into exclamation points, and their pupils shrunk and shivered).

“SHE’S GONNA TOAST OUR BUTTS AGAIN!!” Mugman cowardly yelled.

Their bodies grabbed a head and plugged it into the X spot on their collarbones.

Wrists crisscrossed, Toriel whipped her backhands spread apart, and the fireballs from each hand multiplied into eight fireballs that hovered in the air for a while and then dashed towards the boys in the middle; four each were homing for either Cuphead or Mugman.

The boys dashed and tumbled in opposite crisscross directions, dodging the fireballs as they dashed towards the back of the room. Cuphead and Mugman willed their bodies to aim their finger guns of where they saw Toriel, and then they fired… but their shots hit the walls respectively in front of each of them on opposite sides. The boys looked at the walls they fired at confused, and then they looked at their bodies to see they were wearing the opposite-colored shorts; their heads were on the wrong bodies.

Meanwhile, the eight fire balls that divided into two pairs of four bounced on the corners of the room back towards the boys.

The boys tumbled to the center, each knelt on one knee closest to each other while their other legs were lunged to opposite side; they posed like action stars holding their guns up. Smirking, they then held their own head handles with the use of their bodies, pulled their heads out of the wrong neck, hovered it over their respective necks, gave each other a light clink, and put their heads back to their respective necks… but then the fireballs that bounced from the corners behind them blasted onto their butts again, and they jumped up screaming and crying in pain while flailing their legs around and covering their bums with their hands.

Side by side, they landed on their chins with their butts pointing to the ceiling, while flames kept burning on their bums like they were brazens, and Cuphead and Mugman just stared annoyed, unamused, and uncaring.

“Alright we get it…” Cuphead said annoyed. “We’re really hot!”

Mugman groaned. “Not now Cuphead.”

Cuphead and Mugman licked the tips of their index fingers and pressed the flames on their bottoms, extinguishing them with a ‘tssss’ sound from the steam.

“Yeah, tell that to every joirk that made puns while we got our butts kicked back home.” Cuphead said, still staring at space unamused.

As he chance-glanced at Toriel, Mugman’s eyes bugged out in shock. “LOOK OUT!” He pushed Cuphead to the side and he dashed away opposite of him, leaving a puff of white smoke behind, to dodge a fireball that instead exploded on the ground they were on.

Toriel brought her wrists together, palms forward, and hands spread open horizontally. From the center, where the wrists met,  she shot a continuous shower of smaller fireballs towards the boys.

Standing up after their roll, Cuphead and Mugman grabbed their head own handles, and gave them a hard spin that their heads spun very fast. Meanwhile, their straws turned into hands glowing with pink energy; their heads turned into spinning helicopters with a pink spinning energy ring which then parried the fireballs that flew towards them.

Toriel gasped as she saw her attacks being swatted away like flies.  

The boys then jumped up with the pink energy ring from their straw hands being seeped inward the tubes of their straws and into the milk in their heads. Their heads stopped spinning, and they looked fiercely at Toriel while their bodies were twisted to the right with their fists pointing towards that direction as if to wind their own bodies up like toys. Then, they aimed the mouth of their cup-heads towards Toriel and spun their bodies counterclockwise really really fast and unleashed a spinning blast of milk towards her.

Toriel’s eyes widened, and with fast reflexes, she unleashed, one from each hand, two powerful multicolor fireblasts towards each blast of milk that was coming towards her. The fireblasts and the milk blasts met in the middle gap between, and it resulted in a thick steam building up between Toriel and the boys. Each of her fireblasts were being pushed by the blasts of milk, the boys’ power was stronger in this attempt, but even if she could be stronger otherwise, Toriel willed her blasts to weaken instead and then frowned in acceptance.

The milk blasts hit her hands, and then her body, and they were powerful enough to slam her body towards the door behind her.

Cuphead and Mugman landed on their feet on the ground and watched the wall of white foggy steam cautiously with their finger guns glowing with their respective red and blue energy pointing towards it.

I’m… I’m determined too…

In the steamy fog, two colorful fires blazed from within, and those two fires were wiped sidewards to dissipate the fog and reveal Toriel with sharp canines on her teeth and a fiercer stare towards the boys, who then gasped and backed off a bit.

Toriel blasted the ground, and a wave of large pillars of fire came towards them in one… two… and three. The boys split up (Cuphead ran forward, while Mugman backflipped) and Cuphead just stood in the gap between the first and second pillars of fire as he kept firing with his red spread shot, while Mugman just stood in the gap between the second and third fire pillars as he fired his blue peashooter shots from afar. The bullets pierced through the fires creating gaps within the fire, and they kept hitting Toriel, who just stood there secretly gritting the teeth beneath her fierce frown, bearing the pain.

Mugman saw the suffering expression Toriel bore on her face, and in a compassionate look, he stopped firing his shots. “Cuphead!” He started to run forward to his brother.

Hands drawn together, from the gap between her palms, Toriel formed a big multicolored fireball twice the size of the boys. She launched it forward, and Cuphead gasped as the fireball was hurtling towards him, but then he was tackled from behind (by Mugman) and they both disappeared in a puff of white smoke, and then reappeared on the other side of the fireball behind it. They both fell to the floor with Cuphead below, and Mugman’s head stacked on top of Cuphead’s.

Cuphead smiled at Mugman above him. “Thanks pal!”

“Cuphead!” Mugman gently raised his voice to Cuphead below him. “Toriel! We-!”

Just then, Toriel conjured another huge fireball and then fired it at the boys.

Mugman gasped. “Look out!” With his arms and legs, he pushed Cuphead to the right, all while the fireball hurtled towards himself.

KABOOM!…SHATTER!

As he landed and heard the explosion, Cuphead looked back to where Mugman was, but what was left was a big black burnt mark on the floor with smaller rays of black burns spreading radially from the center (shaped like a sun). He gasped. “M…Mugs?” he crawled to the ash slowly, his eyes shivering in horror.

A groan came from the left side, and Cuphead looked towards its source. He found Mugman slumped on the corner wall, still intact with no burns on his face or his clothes, but his head handle was chipped off and he fell to the floor on his right; the fireball didn’t hit him, but the force of the explosion pushed him to the wall.

“MUGS!!!” Cuphead yelled with tears trickling from his eyes as he stood up and ran to him.

Toriel gasped, her eyes shrunk, and she covered her mouth with both her hands.

Cuphead reached Mugman. “Buddy?” He held his brother’s shoulders.

Mugman just groaned in pain.

Breathing stopped… and then intensified into raging deep breaths. “That does it…” Cuphead turned to Toriel with a furious stare; his pupils turned crimson red with a sinister energy.

From his right pocket, Cuphead brought out a plastic toy knife with the blade colored in gray plastic and the handle in orange.

As she saw the knife, her terrified gaze turned softer, as if she was accepting it. From covering her mouth, Toriel spread her hands wide to her sides and conjured two-multicolored flames that were smaller than they usually were.

Growling, huffing, and puffing, Cuphead then dashed forward and ran towards Toriel with a finger gun on his left hand and a toy knife on his right.

Toriel pushed her hands forward and unleashed another showering fireball attack.

Cuphead kept running forward, even if he knew he could get hit. But the showering fireballs just hurtled to the side, leaving a large gap in the center for Cuphead to run safely to.

With a sinister bloodlust smile on his face, Cuphead leapt to the air, held his toy knife high in the air, and stroke a vertical overhead slash right down the middle of Toriel.

For a moment, Toriel’s body turned into dust while retaining its shape, and she yelled in pain.

Slumped on the wall behind Cuphead, Mugman groaned as he rubbed his head. Blinking his eyes open, a blurry figure of someone with a black top and red shorts ducking under a multicolor fire attack, which was fired towards the ceiling from the white arms of the figure wearing purple in front of the black and red one; the sound of the fire attack was slightly muffled due to his dizziness. The finger gun from the black and red one glowed yellow and an ascending ‘zhooming’ sound was beaming up.

Vision clearing. Hearing stabilizing. Mugman blinked to see Cuphead firing a yellow charge-shot at Toriel, whose body, for a moment, turned to dust but retained its shape, only this time the dust form stayed longer before it reformed back to her stable default, and she screamed in pain.

Mugman gasped, and his eyes widened in horror. “CUPHEAD NOOO!”

He ran to Cuphead, who started to give a sadistic giggle as he held his finger gun and toy knife proudly.

Mugman grabbed hold of Cuphead’s hand which held the finger gun. “BRO WHAT’RE YA-!” He gasped as he saw Cuphead’s crimson pupils and toothy carnivorous smile.

“OUT OF THE WAY WEAKLING!” With his voice sounding demonic (lower pitched and as if gurgling with blood), Cuphead pushed Mugman away very strong that the latter fell to the floor, but did not show any sign of pain due to how scared he was.

“Cup…” Mugman reached out his hand to Cuphead but…

Laughing like an evil maniac, Cuphead ran forward with his hands gliding to his sides like an assassin; he held his toy knife on the right and finger gun on his left.

Toriel unleashed another attack of tiny showering fireballs, but the quantity of the fireballs is fewer, and were all moving away from Cuphead as he got closer.

With his haunting maniacal laugh, Cuphead spun horizontally and slashed Toriel across her stomach, and again she screamed in pain.

Her body turned into dust form again, this time retaining for about longer seconds, but then her body kept flickering back and forth from dust to her regular body as she panted and tried to catch her breath.

Mugman did his ‘dash’ move towards Cuphead and tackled him with a really tight hug from behind. “CUPHEAD WHAT’S GOTTEN INTO YA?!”

Cuphead squirmed and struggled from Mugman’s hug; the white in his eyes were turning yellow, and the red color in his shorts and the two stripes in his straw were turning purple. “I need… TO BE STRONGER!” His voice turned demonic on the last phrase. “YOU’RE NOT GONNA BE A WIMP ABOUT THIS AND GET IN THE WAY AGAIN!!”  He gave two hind kicks towards Mugman’s legs, and Mugman yelled in pain as he let go of Cuphead due to losing control of his arms.

Mugman tried to catch Cuphead with his arms again, but the latter was too fast. “NOO!” He yelled with his strongest voice. He fired a shot of his peashooter to Cuphead, aiming for his foot, but Cuphead jumped over, and the shot went to Toriel instead. Toriel screamed in pain again, this time weaker from all the hits, and her body was flickering from dust to stable.

Mugman gasped at what he did, and tears started to form in his eyes.

A sinister cackle came from Cuphead. “Thanks pal!” He looked behind him with a demonic carnivorous smile at Mugman.

The sound numbed everywhere, and only Mugman’s voice echoed. “CUPHEEAAD!!! PLEAAASE!! NOOOOO!!” He ran towards his brother.

Cuphead leapt up held his toy knife overhead, and prepared to strike.

Panting from all the pain, her body flickering in and out of stability, Toriel just stared numbly at Cuphead, at the knife he was carrying… and then closed her eyes.

SLASH!

…

…

Huffing…. Panting… Groaning in pain…. Toriel held the part in her chest which was slashed, and her body just continuously flickered from dust to stable… dust... stable… dust…

Huffing… Panting… Cuphead just smiled devilishly at the deed he has done. Then… He was punched in the face from his left by a white-gloved fist.

“OWW!” Cuphead yelled in pain, but then he was punched again with the other gloved fist, and he was knocked to the ground.

Huffing… Panting… with tears in his furious eyes, Mugman approached Cuphead who was groaning on the floor and grabbed his shoulders. “WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!” He shook his brother.

Huffing… Panting… With a blurry vision in his eyes… Cuphead blinked repeatedly to see Mugman with tears streaming from his furious eyes staring back at him. “B…Bro?”

PUNCH!

“OW! MUGMAN!” With an angry face, Cuphead caught Mugman’s fist before he punched him again.

“WHY DID YA DO THAT!” Mugman tried to pull his fist back but Cuphead’s grip was too strong. “WHY DID YA DO THAT WHY DID YA-!” He blinked his eyes and started to sob.

Cuphead stared at him, bewildered at what his brother was talking about.

Urgh….  

Turning towards the direction of the groan, Cuphead gasped to see Toriel was hurt.

“TORIEL!” Mugman yelled. He dropped his brother and ran to her.

Cuphead just stared in horror, confused as to how it happened. He used his right hand to start pushing himself up from the floor, but he felt a rod-like item was held in it. He flipped his right hand open, and gasped as he dropped the dusty-blade toy knife and hurriedly crawled away from it. He looked at Toriel again to see that her physical form was flickering from dust to stable more and more; she had a slanted vertical slash on her robe.

“You…” Mugman held her arm right arm. “Ya gotta get back up. Ya-ya need to rest.” He tried to lay it behind his shoulders.

“No…” Cuphead’s breathing started to panic. “No, I-I couldn’t have-!”

Mugman tried to walk, but in addition to his exhaustion from the fight and Toriel’s weak state, he could not support Toriel to move. “Toriel! Come… ON!” He gasped, as suddenly the weight of carrying her became lighter.

From the other side, Cuphead took Toriel’s other arm and carried it over his shoulders. “On the count’a three Mugs.”

For a few seconds, Mugman just looked at his brother confused, but then nodded in agreement. “One.”

“Two.” Cuphead counted.

“No….” Toriel breathed heavily, and gave a weak chuckle. “My sweet children…” She just kept breathing.

Cuphead and Mugman just looked at her in confusion.

Cuphead shook his head out of distraction. “Come on!”

“No!....” Toriel kept panting, her form was still flickering. “Please…. Just listen…”

A tear streamed down of Cuphead’s left eye.

“You… you are both stronger…” She kept panting, and her dust form kept lingering for longer seconds. “Than I had expected…”

Sobbing, with tears falling from both his eyes, Mugman looked at her. “T-Toriel?...”

“But you… you cannot… waver….” She kept panting. “You cannot lose focus…”

Cuphead closed his eyes, and tears streamed from his face, but he stubbornly motioned to start carrying Toriel.

“If you go beyond this door…” Toriel kept panting, and her dust form kept persisting. “Eventually… you will find an exit…”

Both of them gasped and opened their eyes wide.

“Home…” Mugman whispered.

“Yes my child…” Toriel smiled, she gently turned Mugman’s head from the top to face him to her, and she wiped a tear from his left eye with the back of her right index finger. “Home-!” A sharp pain came from her abdomen, and she quickly covered the slash on it with her right hand.

“TORIEL!” Cuphead and Mugman raced to catch her elbows and stopped her from falling by letting her shoulders lean on their chests, while the boys carried her with their hands.

She panted. “Asgore…” She breathed more slowly, her form started to flake and dust started to fly away from her body. “Do not let Asgore take your soul. His plan…” Her voice became softer. “His plan… cannot be allowed… to succeed…” Toriel groaned in pain.

Her arms faded into dust for a moment, and they went through the boys who tried to catch her in vain, and then her arms caught the floor, stopping her from falling.

The boys held her arms as more tears started to form.

“Toriel….” Mugman gave a light tug at her arm. “Please…”

She smiled and gave a weak chuckle. “Be good… and be good to each other… won’t you?” She then placed her hands on top of their heads and gave soft rubs to both while they watched her body turn to dust. “M y …. c h I l d r e n…” Her face turned gray and dusty as she spoke.

As if a gust of wind had blown, her entire form dissipated into dust, and the boys gave shivering gasps as they watched her dust fly. The thick dust that formed Toriel’s body grew thinner and thinner… until a white upside-down heart was left behind floating before them. The white upside-down heart trembled violently for a few seconds, then broke into two halves… which then dissipated into bits. 

Silent. Panting. Horrified eyes wide open. Toriel… Toriel she… Slowly, they both looked at each other.

“Wha…” Mugman kept panting. “What have you done…”

“I…” Cuphead panted, his head shook, his shocked eyes had tears falling (but fewer due to adrenaline), and his heart pounded of guilt and fear (especially with Mugman in front of him). “I-I didn’t…” He stuttered a step back.

“Ya didn’t?” Mugman’s cold voice matched his cold and heartbroken stare. He walked towards Cuphead and aggressively snagged the collar of his black turtleneck (and Cuphead shivered and whimpered loudly as it happened). “YA DIDN’T WHAT?!” He screamed; he stared furiously straight into his brother’s eyes while they were practically in face-to-face proximity.

“I-I-I-I DIDN’T-! I-MEAN-!” Cuphead’s voice shuddered as he sobbed. “I-I DUNNO WHAT HAPPENED I-?!

“WHADDYA MEAN YA DUNNO WHAT HAPPENED?!” Mugman violently shook Cuphead once.

Cuphead wailed. “MUGS STOP-!” He managed to plead out of his whimpering scared-to-death voice.

“I KEPT TELLIN’ YA TUH STOP!” Mugman shook him again.

“I-I-!” Cuphead gasped for breath (the grab on his collar was a little tight), and he grabbed hold endearingly on Mugman’s wrists. “Y-YOU WERE-! I DIDN’T!”

“QUIT YER SCRAMBLIN’! SPIT IT OUT!” At the last three words, Mugman yelled at the top of his voice while he shook Cuphead with trembling force.

“YA GOT BEAT UP PRETTY BAD MAN!” Cuphead yelled at the top of his voice too, as if he were pleading for his life. “Y-YA G-GOT BLASTED, A-AN-AND I SAW YA, Y-YA CHIPPED YER HANDLE!” From his left pocket, he brought out his brother’s head handle.

Mugman gasped. He let his right hand go of Cuphead, and then touched the back of his head to indeed find that it was broken off.

“I-I-I GOT SO BOILED UP I-I-I-!” Cuphead heaved for breath again, this time from sobbing. “I-I-I LOOKED AT ‘ER AND THEN…” His eyes looked left and right, trying to remember what happened. “I-I DUNNO I BLACKED OUT! I ONLY THOUGHT ABOUT YA AND-AND- THEN TORIEL AND-AND- THEN…” His eyes suddenly looked towards the floor on his right.

Mugman’s shocked gaze followed the direction Cuphead looked, and he gasped as he saw the plastic toy knife laying on the floor. The grip from his left hand on Cuphead’s collar loosened, and then he looked at his brother.

“Mugs… After everythin’ Toriel…” Heavy streams of tears fell from Cuphead’s eyes. The desperate grip of his right hand on Mugman’s left tightened. “Why would I do that Mugs?... Why would I…” He looked down at his shaking hands. “Why… did… I…” He started to sob. Slowly he knelt down to the floor and covered his face with his hands in shame.

Mugman’s breathing slowed down, and his gaze at his brother turned more understanding as the seconds went with Cuphead’s sobbing filling the silent room. He remembered the red eyes that replaced Cuphead’s when he was on a rampage. Somehow… he knew it wasn’t him. But how it happened… he didn’t know. He knelt down and watched Cuphead while the tears in his own streamed down once again.

Never in his life did Mugman see Cuphead saw so devastated. Even when they had lost their souls to the Devil, Cuphead always kept a smile on his face. They sang songs, they buddy walked to every debtor they had to face (some walks hippy-happy, while others were miserable), and even with this dread they felt within them, they kept reminding each other how sticking together would get them out of every trouble they were in.

Cuphead kept beating his thoughts with questions. Did he do it? Was it all a trick? Was he controlled? He didn’t know anymore. He just knelt there sobbing and sobbing while in deep shock and shame of what had happened… of what he did. He was alone, he felt so alone… he felt that he deserved not to be saved from this misery… for once, he felt he needed to answer for what had happened… and this was it…

And then… he felt a tackling hug.

Cuphead opened his eyes and saw that Mugman was hugging him.

Mugman had his eyes shut tight and his hug wrapped even tighter.

Shocked, Cuphead’s eyes welled with new tears. “M-mugs? No… Wh-why?”

“I…” Mugman took a pause, and then sniffled. “I would’ve done it too…” He whispered as tears fell from his eyes.

Shocked eyes widened, and Cuphead’s chest started to shudder. “Wh-what?!”

For a moment, Mugman’s eyelids squeezed shut… but then opened with tears falling from them. “If she hurt ya… If ya weren’t the same again…” He just looked down… and kept silent while he let more tears fall.

Cuphead’s tears fell. “No…. no ya wouldn’t Mugs stop…” More tears fell as he squeezed his eyes shut. “You wouldn’t… You’re not… You’re…” He started to wail.

With that, they just wrapped each other in their desperate hugs, not caring how painful they were being to each other. It was usually funny when they did stuff like this, hugging each other ‘til the other choked… but now, they felt the world was against them; they needed to be sure that they weren’t alone, and that they would have someone to hold on.

“I never wanted this Mugs…. I never wanted this.” Cuphead kept sobbing.

“Me too Cuphead.” Mugman sniffled. He tried to be just silent, and strong. “Me too….”

They just stood there clinging to each other’s hugs; Cuphead was practically leaning and giving all his weight to Mugman, and the latter was trying his best to stand strong, even though he wanted to break down too. Their thoughts circled and circled over what could’ve been, what they could’ve changed, and what would it take to stop this from happening… not like this… not like this…

Not like this…

The room got darker, and darker, and darker… until it was pitch black. Their sobs were echoing in the darkness louder and louder. The boys opened their eyes to see what was causing the echoes, and they gasped and broke apart as they discovered they were no longer in the same room.

They looked back at where the hallway they came from was supposed to be, but it was not there. Mugman looked to where the door was, it was not there.

“C-Cuphead?” Mugman asked nervously.

Looking in opposite directions, they both took a step closer to each other… but then the floor vanished and suddenly they were falling and screaming at the top of their lungs as they did. Falling and falling, and screaming and screaming into the bottomless black void, Cuphead and Mugman flailed their arms around in search of something to grab hold of… and then they saw each other.

“CUUUUPHEAAAAAAAAAD!!!” Mugman screamed as he reached his arms for his brother.

“MUUUUGMAAAAAAAAAN!!!” Cuphead screamed as he reached his arms for his brother.

Reaching and reaching, they kept swiping the air almost catching each other’s hands… and then they finally grabbed hold of each other’s right wrist.

Cuphead pulled Mugman towards himself, and the latter caught Cuphead as they both hugged each other very tight and fell… fell… fell…

Their tears were falling upwards due to the speed at which they fell.

“Don’t let go buddy.” Cuphead said as he kept holding Mugman. “Don’t ever let go.”

Mugman made his hug as tight as he could. “I won’t…” He sobbed. “I’ll never.”

They fell… and fell… and fell… alone in the silent void… alone without anyone to save them…

They fell…

And Fell…

…

And fell…

…

And fell…

…

Until a whisper came.

“Wow….” That same whisper of two familiar voices said.

Surprised, Cuphead and Mugman opened their eyes, and instead of an infinite black void…

A giant 360-degree image of the majestic door that marked the entrance to the ruins with Cuphead and Mugman holding hands as their eyes filled with awe appeared before them. The fall of gravity did not feel treacherous anymore, and instead it felt like they were in a dream.  Without breaking their hug, they kept watch of the image as it shifted into another.

“And… our cupbrohood.” Mugman’s voice echoed loudly in the space.

“Just… don’t. Say. The L-word.” Cuphead’s pretend-fearful voice echoed into space.

The giant 360 image changed into that of Cuphead and Mugman (with leaves sprinkled onto his head like it was cereal) holding hands after the latter took the oath.

Mugman suddenly giggled, and it caused Cuphead to giggle to.

“Heeey! Why’re ya laughin?” Cuphead smiled to Mugman, who just shrugged his shoulders in response.

“You know bro, I believe some day he’ll be brave enough to get the cheese.” Cuphead’s echoing voice said.

“Yeah… me too bro… Me too.” Mugman’s echoing voice responded.

The 360-image changed into Cuphead and Mugman holding hands while they watched the mouse hole on the bottom of the pink wall patiently.

Cuphead and Mugman smiled with relief at this vision.

““Uhh, what did I say?” Cuphead’s echoing intrigued voice said.

The 360 image showed them by the leafless tree with red leaves on the ground, and Mugman was just leaning closer to Cuphead’s non-existent ear.

At this, Cuphead and Mugman’s mouth started to squiggle-smile a bit, and they snickered.

There was a long pause… until

“Piss a cake.” Mugman’s whispering voice said.

Starting from loud snickers, Cuphead and Mugman burst into their loudest laughter they ever had to the ceiling, and that laughter echoed through the halls… a really loud laughter that they had felt really really familiar with. As they felt strange with this all too familiar laughter, they opened their eyes.

In front, they saw a wide purple wall. They looked below them and then sidewards to each other, and they saw that they were not standing, but slumping and leaning cheek-to-cheek side-by-side each other looking like an upside-down V.

“Whoa! WHOOAAHH!” They yelled as they lost their balance and fell backwards.

Leaves rustled beneath their heads as the boys crashed into the pile of them. Looking up, they saw the top branches of the leafless tree.

They both gasped.

“N-no way!” Mugman made a whispering exclaim.

Mugman got up hastily, followed by Cuphead who just followed his brother’s lead.

Turning to his left, Mugman gasped, his pupils shrunk, and his hands covered his mouth in shock. Cuphead followed behind Mugman, and he gasped too.

Before them, was a small rectangular castle-like house standing in front of them; it had a doorless castle doorway with large cubes of rocks lining the arch, crenels lining the borders of the roof, and two long red beds of leaves flanking the left and right of the doorway… they were back in front of Toriel’s castle-house.

“Wh-….” Cuphead turned to Mugman. “What’s goin’ on?...”

Mugman blinked repeatedly, trying to clear his vision for any chance that it might be blurry or it might be tricked. “C-c’mon…” He started to walk towards the entrance of the house.

Cuphead stood there watching and wondering what Mugman was doing, but as soon as he noticed they were gaining distance, he scrambled and ran to catch up with his brother.

“M-Mugman? Y-yer freakin’ me out…” Cuphead held his brother’s hand.

For a moment, Mugman looked at his brother. “S-sorry… I just… I just had a strange feeling…”

Cuphead raised an eyebrow. “’Bout what?”

“Well… if we’re back here…” Mugman kept walking to the entrance of the house. “If we woke up there… like that… ‘exactly like we did yesterday… wouldn’t that mean…”

They entered the house, and immediately they were greeted with the same familiar scent of butterscotch cinnamon seeping into their nostrils. They felt a familiar hunger and craving that had gotten them all goofy… but it didn’t feel right to them.

“Surprise!” By the door, a familiar motherly voice said from behind as she stomped her foot forward towards the boys.

Cuphead and Mugman screamed, hugged each other, and they pointed their finger guns towards the direction of the voice and stomp.

There, Toriel was enthusiastically and happily smiling as she was shaking her jazz hands towards the boys. “That’s butterscotch pie you are smelling!” She let out a giggle as she covered her mouth with her right hand. “It turned out, you were right! Those two flavors do mix well together!” She placed her hands on her lap as she leaned closer to the boys and smiled at them endearingly. “Like two best friends!”

Slowly lowering their finger guns, the boys looked at her with tears in their eyes.

Toriel’s smile faded into an astonished frown. “Wh-what’s wrong?” She looked back outside, then back at the boys with her thumb pointing towards outside. “A-a while ago you two were so curious about my surprise, and then now- OH!”

She was suddenly given a really big hug on her legs by Cuphead and Mugman, and her arms backed away in such surprise. She looked at the boys, confused by their sudden behavior, then smiled at them endearingly, and then gave them her own warm hug as well.

Toriel chuckled. “I’m glad you really like the surprise my children.” After a few more seconds, she then lets them go, and sets her hands on each of their shoulders. “But! I have another big surprise for you!”

From bending forward, Toriel stood straight and then headed towards the hall on the right.

With confused and disbelieving frowns, Cuphead and Mugman just watched her go as if she was a ghost. Then, they looked at each other, held each other’s hands, and just followed her along the familiar hallway they knew. They walked past the light torch, and then stopped behind Toriel, where she stopped before the first door on the left.

“Here it is!” Toriel said as she took a deep breath.

Gently, she grabbed their hands and together they looked at the door in front of them.

“It’s a room for the both of you! I hope you like it!” With that, she rubbed the top rims of their heads endearingly.

Toriel looked at the door with such hope, while Cuphead and Mugman looked at it still in shock, but now with a bit of numbness.

A warm scent came before them, and Toriel took a few loud sniffs. “Oh my!” She covered her mouth with her left hand. “Is something burning?!” She looked alarmed towards the direction of the kitchen. “Oh my… Uh…” She turned towards the boys. “M-make yourself at home!” She said as she was making a run towards the kitchen.

Cuphead and Mugman ignored her, they just kept staring at the door.

They felt… numb, miserable, confused… this scene was all too familiar… like it was… scripted… and they were the only ones who knew… but… they looked at each other… and with that look alone, they silently agreed that they felt the need to follow it somehow.

Exactly like before, Cuphead and Mugman opened the door, with the latter turning the knob, and the former pushing it. Before them, was the familiar warm room that had filled them with excitement… but now it didn’t feel real anymore.

“So…” Cuphead felt obliged to speak. “Wh-what do you wanna do?” He slowly looked strangely at Mugman.

“I…” Mugman took a shuddering breath, and then slowly looked at Cuphead. “I wanna cuddle.” He said numbly.

Numb, Cuphead looked a few seconds more at Mugman, and then slowly turned to the bed. Like it was scripted, like it was a scene he just had to reenact for the sake of it, he walked over to the bed, sat on it, looked at numb, miserable Mugman standing in the doorway (where he used to used to see his brother’s devastated face turn into cute pure joy), and then he opened his arms for a hug.

Mugman saw his brother’s arms, remembering how excited he was to see his brother’s prank turning into a dream come true. But this time, like an empty soul, he just walked over to Cuphead hugged him, and together they laid in that same bed that was too small for either of them.

Mugman just stared at the wall in front of him (behind Cuphead), trying to understand what just happened. Fighting Toriel… Toriel dying… and then Toriel welcoming them into her home as if they had just gone back a few steps… how did it happen? Was this really Toriel? He didn’t know anymore. He was ready to shut his eyes… but then Cuphead squeezed his hug really really tight on Mugman, then he sobbed and crashed onto his brother’s shoulder. Mugman felt his eyes water so much that he couldn’t help but crash into Cuphead’s shoulder as well.

Horrified, confused, devastated… Toriel… Toriel…

They never wanted it to happen again.

­End of Chapter 8-

(Cutscene)

“A-as-g-gore huh?!” Mugman looked up to Toriel. “W-well… Me and Cuphead could take ‘im!... I-I think!”

Cuphead giggled. “Nice!” He smirked and nudged Mugman’s elbow.

Mugman gasped and stars formed on his eyes. “Thank you!” His fist cuddled on his chin.

“Buuut, lose the ‘ya think’ next time?” Cuphead teased as he raised an eyebrow.

“I know, I know.” Mugman blushed and he mumbled, to which Cuphead just giggled.

(Cutscene)

Mugman turned to the stairs, and saw Cuphead furiously catching up to him. Quickly, he hid in front of Toriel, using her as a cover while he peeked at Cuphead. “Y-YOU’RE BEING A BIG MEANIE!”

“HUMBUG!” Cuphead pointed at Mugman while trying to get closer (but Mugman was just going around Toriel away from Cuphead). “I DIDN’T SAY NUTHIN’! I SAID YA NOSE’LL LOOK GOOD ON ME! YER THE ONE WHO’S MAKIN STUFF UP!”

Mugman mumbled nervously. “Y-you…” He started to peek his head more. “You weren’t sayin’ nuthin ‘bout my nose?”

Cuphead made a snarky laugh. “Come on! Look at me!” He stood proudly with his fists on his hips, and his big blue nose held high. “I dun’ care whatcha say, I’d keep this look forevah.”

Feeling his heart warm, Mugman couldn’t help but smile. He slowly came out of hiding with his index fingers touching together repeatedly, and he walked to Cuphead.

When Mugman was close enough, Cuphead playfully punched Mugman’s arm.

“Heey!” Mugman rubbed his arm and frowned at Cuphead.

Cuphead giggled. “Just messin’ with ya bud.” He opened his arms.

Mugman immediately took the hug. “Yer such a joirk.”

Cuphead smirked and shrugged his shoulders. “L-word.” He tightened his hug.

Author's Comments: Yep. Sorry if it wasn't what you guys expected, but I wanted to continue to capture the essence of Undertale, where you had the choice of venturing into either Genocide, Pacifist, or Neutral types of endings.

I was considering if I would include the warning 'Character Death', but it would be a spoiler if I put it above.

Almost done with this arc, and I promise I won't make a single arc as long as this in the coming chapters.

See you next time!

[th3d0nutl0rd]

Eeby Deeby goncharov 1973 polls horse plinko vanilla extract glup shitto Suez canal superwholock superhell five nights at dokidoki cuptale bug race sexyman blorbo ao3 down November 5th destielputinelection twitter downfall where'd you get your shoelaces verification summon crabs colour of the sky children's hospital colour theory the ides of march

[deltaswapjevil]

The AUs

My AUs:

TerrorTale: A parody of overly creepy and violent AUs like HorrorTale

MemoryTale: An AU where Chara commits a genocide route against their will and after each kill gain that person's powers and memories

DeltaFell: Deltarune but more UnderFell.

FurtureTale: An AU that takes place 100 after the original and most monsters merged their soul, a human soul, and machines to live forever

Sans Bar: A bar for any AU but mostly Sanses

Cuptale/CupSwap/CupFell/CupFellSwap/OuterCup/DeltaCup: Undertale and other AUs but all characters are turned into Cuphead characters

TJP Underfell and FellSwap: My interpretation of the concept of these evil AUs

DeterminationTale: An AU where all monsters all so filled with Determination that they are constantly melting or violent

DeltaTale: Undertale but with Deltarune characters

HarverstTale: Where Monsters began to mutate due to using the human's Souls and hearts

CivilWarTale(or WarTale for short): Where the Underground is split into three divisions: The Royal Family, The Royal Guard, and The MTT Fan Club and all are at war over rule of the Underground

BrokenTale: UnderTale but everyone is falling apart literally and figuratively

ExaggerateTale: Every character has one part of their personality turned up to 11

HumanTale: Everyone is a human....

Cool Sans: Everything is the same except Sans wears sunglasses

[na0myartist]

Cuptale

(cuphead/undertale)

I had the desire to draw videogame kids crossovers.

[kalebishop96-blog]

Art Title: Cool Hat

I've finally learned colored pencils and pen inking!

This is my best piece for now, but it could be better with more practice and

learning. I'm still learning the colored pencil blending techniques,

pencil pressure and how to use solvents. Right now it doesn't

look as refined, but as I get into the craft better it will.

I put alcohol as a solvent on Mugman's shorts to see what happens,

and it was quite messy. I didn't put solvent on anything else anymore.

Just pretend... Mugman wet his pants

What could've been done better was that I rubbed it with a dry cotton

swab just to blend the colors together. It will get better

I promise!

Oh! And Sans and Papyrus from Undertale are here too haha.

This is a sneak peek of my fanfic Cuptale (CupheadxUndertale)

to how the 4 brothers would interact with each other.

Seems like they have a goofy bro rivalry on who's and

who has the coolest bro. Oh well!

Enjoy!

Materials used:

Faber Castel 36 Classic Colour Pencils

PILOT Hi-Tech Point V7 RT

Mongol No. 2 Pencils

Alcohol

Cotton Swabs

[cuptalecupheadxundertale]

Found this in my Tumblr browsing and it looked so good!

Drawing a crossover drawing fills you with DETERMINATION

Yes I miss Undertale deal with it

Also tumblr ruined the quality I'm so sad

Might make a comic about this if I'm not lazy and actually has the determination and time

[diceywaffle-blog]

Cuptale fight!!!

[trusp-3-q]

I see this

How does this image make you feel

[cuptalecupheadxundertale]

Chapter 9 “The Yellow Star” (Act I Finale)

Author’s Note

Hello! This will be my final chapter for now, before I enter into hiatus again. The major priority for me right now is to finish my book, so I probably won’t come back to this project for a couple of years.

It’s been really fun writing this project, I wish I had a lot more time and energy to finish this project at the same time my novel, but I have to set my priorities straight. See you all again after a couple of years!

Chapter 9 “The Yellow Star” (Act I Finale)

Clear blue skies. Fluffy white clouds. The yellow sun shining with red orange rays and smiling down to earth with its red puffy cheeks and freckles. Blue birds chirped and flew around each other, playfully chasing each other. The sun watched these birds play around with glee… until-ZHOOM!

From behind the birds, two airplanes (the left red, and the right blue) SHREDDED and SHAVED through the bird like barber’s razors, leaving behind four pinkish bare-naked birds spinning in the air. As if by will, the birds stopped spinning, and then looked in shock at their featherless bodies, and right in front of them were the blue feathers falling down from above.  The birds scrambled and frantically collected all the feathers, then covered the front of their lower bodies with them, and then smiled at the fourth wall with their cheeks flushed in red… only after then did they obey the laws of gravity and fall down with goofy ‘gunshot’ sounds.

The sun watched horrified at what happened, and then glared furiously (that he turned red) at the two airplanes that were piloted by no other than: Cuphead and Mugman!

With their confident and playful smiles, and flying airplane sounds spitting from their mouths, they flew towards a lady in red, hovering on her back in the air and laughing with her backhand covering the side of her mouth and her “Hee, Hee, Hee” that unleashed black bold ‘HA’ words all over the air.

“Come to collect my contract?” She stared with her snarky smile and menacing yellow star-pupilled eyes. “I’ll just blow you away, you no good brats!”

Hildaberg stirred the air in front of her, and the wind twirled into a small tornado. She pushed the tornado forward with her hands, and blew with her mouth, making the tornado grow larger, taller, and catastrophic. The tornado collected trees, cars, boulders, and houses, cows, birds, and other debris with it.

Cuphead and Mugman screamed in fright, with their straws turning into exclamation points. But they smiled as they pressed a button from the right of their steering wheels, and their planes shrank into tinier sizes as they flew through the tornado.

All while screaming with such joy and thrill like he was in a roller coaster ride, tiny Cuphead corkscrewed under a clay-tiled roof, over a cow, and through a hole within a large tree trunk. Cuphead looked to his left, and saw that Mugman with his arms out, was zipping, zigzagging, and corkscrewing through scattered bricks , branches, and  stars with ease.

Tiny Mugman grew back to normal size, and then he tipped his ‘Mug’ head out as if he were tipping his hat.

Tiny Cuphead grew back to normal. “Show off!” His hands cupped into a megaphone surrounding his mouth as he shouted over.

“Last one tuh the contract’s a leaky cup!” Mugman pointed his finger to Hildaberg, and then his plane retracted like a caterpillar and then dashed ahead like a speeding race car.

Cuphead pulled his shorts up. “Oh it’s on, Donkey Kong!”

Out of the tornado, the two planes (the first blue, and the next red) shot out of the tornado like bullets and raced zooming through the sky.

Ahead of the boys, a swarm of tiny flies were flying towards them zigzagging like angry bees, and some grinned evilly while others grinned cheerfully. Hildaberg had transformed into a frog-shaped monster with yellow star pupils; it was a Froggit imitation of her cloud Zodiac transformation. The boys fired their bullets from the planes. The swarm of flies screamed, and then parted, leaving perfect-circle gaps in between, and the bullets hit Hildaberg who growled irritated.

The boys flew through the circles of flies, but as they did, the flies transformed into mixes of butterflies and roaches. Hildaberg’s cloud shape transformed into a cockroach-like monster (Migosp) and a ghost-moth hybrid (Whimsun), both shapes were morphing erratically as if competing which morph would commit, and all the same time she was firing ‘HA’ projectiles from her laughing mouth. But, each and every attack was either shot down, dodged, or parried by the two confident-grinning cups on red and blue planes.

“Is that all ya got?” Cuphead yelled with his left hand cupped in a megaphone.

“’Cuz ya missed us by a lot!” Mugman yelled with his left hand cupped in a megaphone, in imitation.

With his hands on his tummy, legs above the steering wheel, and his head lower than the headrest, Cuphead laughed hysterically. “Ni-hihice one pal!”

Mugman looked back at Cuphead with his knuckles squeezing his ‘chin’ and his pupils turning into stars.

“Oh!” Hilda smirked. “Ya startin’ tuh have fun? Why dont’cha play with the sun?” Her right palm showed above her.

A bright or red-orange light loomed over the boys, who then squinted, shielded their eyes with their left hand, and started to sweat. As their eyes adjusted to the light, their eyes bugged out, their straws turned into exclamation points, and their bodies trembled.

Mr. Sun himself came to Hildaberg’s side and stared angrily at the boys with his freckled puffy red cheeks puffed red, while Hildaberg just slyly covered her evil smile implying to the boys ‘You’re in trouble hee hee hee.’

Mr. Sun blew into his closed mouth, making his cheeks puff larger, and the sun rays around his body radiate two dozens of hot solar beams. The bases of their planes caught one of the beams, and the planes themselves bounced up in pain yelling ‘HotHotHotHotHot!’. Cuphead and Mugman aimed their straws at the fires, then pinched their noses and then blew into them, making the milk spray from their straws into the fire like fire extinguished. The fires on the planes extinguished into white steam, and the planes themselves sighed in relief and resumed their inanimate plane forms.

This sun rays then started rotating clockwise, and the pulled their plane controls up to avoid the hot beam. After a few seconds, Mr. Sun took an inhale, and the sun rays disappeared and the sky returned to blue for a moment.

“Go down!” Mugman called.

The boys pushed their controls down, making the plane drop by a few feet.

The sun puffed its cheeks again, and blew into its mouth again, repeating the rotating sun beam attack pattern, and the boys flew upwards avoiding the beam; meanwhile Hildaberg was just cackling at the supposed demise of the boys. After a while, Hildaberg pushed her hands again, and out of her hands shot rows of stars, and the boys sweated nervously as they evasively flew into the safe gaps that were made narrow.

“Keep shootin’!” Cuphead called.

Both Cuphead and Mugman began shooting

Hildaberg cackled. “Ready to call it quits? ‘Cuz  yer about to be…” Hilda took a big inhale and then screamed and her body trembled as if she was transforming. Mr. sun also vibrated very rapidly and puff its cheeks even bigger. The two entities swirled into each other and then popped out of thin air with puffs of white smoke into an…

 “EEEH-CLIPSED!” The hybrid voice of Hilda and a deep male spoke.

The boys gasped as they basked before a yellow-orange-red-black clockwork mechanical eclipse into a red & black crescent clockwork mechanical moon; The crescent bottom-right represented Hilda’s crescent moon, while the quarter top-left represented Mr. sun, but their colors and clockwork gears were mixed together in different places.

For a good long seconds, Cuphead and Mugman stared at the freakishly gigantic fusion. Like super long rubber bands, Cuphead and Mugman stretched their arms to each distant other, then pulled each other for a hug as they (and their squished together animate planes) screamed like girls.

The ecliopse puffed its cheeks like Mr. Sun, but then unleashed a chilling cackle (like Hilda) at them as it unleashed a flock of… angry Toriel’s with fairy wings holding fireballs on her hands.

Cuphead stared at them with confusion and then looked at Mugman beside him to check if he had the same reaction, but Mugman smiled with confidence.

Mugman pointed his finger at the eclipse. “Ya ain’t gonna win that easily Hildaburger! We’re the Cupbros!” He then smiled at Cuphead.

Cuphead snickered. “Yeah! And the Cupbros will win against any h-“

“Foe!” Mugman glared at Cuphead.

Cuphead covered his mouth. “Foe! I meant foe!” He giggled.

Mugman rolled his eyes, and together they sped forward.

The fairy got lady Toriels raised their hands and then shot fireballs of black and white colors, and they cut off the various safe spaces the boys could fly into.

The boys licked their fingers, and then pushed the same shrink button, and their planes shrunk, and they were able to corkscrew and maneuver through the various fire blasts with ease. After the volley of attacks, the Eclipse and the Toriels started to huff and pant due to exhaustion. The boys then grew to normal sizes and then fired their volley of bullets.

The Toriels shrieked and then vanished in puffs of white smoke to avoid the bullets, but those pellets led to the Eclipse which started yelling in pain as they took the full volley. The eclipse looked weary, tired, and beaten up; it had black eyes and bandages all over. It then exploded in a white puff of smoke, and as the smoke cleared, it revealed Mr. Sun and Hildaberg were separated. Mr. Sun was crying with black eyes as it floated back up to the sky; his crying turned the sky gray and caused it to start raining. Hildaberg fell to the ground like a leaf, swaying, and twirling left and right as the wind kept slowing her descent.

The boys dove in and followed her.

“Great job Mmmmugsy!” Cuphead winked to his best pal and gave him a thumbs up.

“You too Cccccuppyy!” Mugman winked back and gave him a thumbs up.

Hildaberg landed softly on the rustling grass that was wet from the rain. Laughing (with snorting from Mugman and hiccups from Cuphead) soon closed in as their motor planes landed near Hildaberg onto a spot of wet grass with some water splashing from the wheels of the planes. 

The boys hastily hopped off their planes, splashed their shoes onto some wet grass, and (with splashing footsteps) raced each other to Hildaberg.

The boys hastily hopped off their planes and raced each other to Hildaberg.

Hildaberg was lying down on her back on the ground with swirly circles for eyes, and miniature versions of Cuphead and Mugman flying their planes and circling around Hildaberg’s head.

Cuphead stopped a few inches away from her, and pointed his finger gun at her. “Alright! Give us yer contract lady! Or yer-!”

Meanwhile, Mugman approached her, unpocketed a toy knife, held it in his right hand, and then stabbed to the ground.

Cuphead’s eyes widened in horror. “Y-you’ll…” He then looked at Mugman.

Mugman cackled in a sinister demonic voice.

“Well… she got it didn’ she…” Mugman turned his head 180-degrees to Cuphead and revealed a creepy looking smile; his eyes were two crimson vertical lines, and his mouth was a curved closed-mouth cheeky smile. “Right buddy?” He spoke with his demonic creepy voice.

Cuphead shivered and took a stutter step back.

“Aww, what’s the matter best friend?” Mugman raised his finger gun. “Didn’t ya want us to be free?”

Mugman’s smile showed sharp teeth and he unleashed a demonic creepy laugh like Flowey’s.

From the bed, Cuphead jumped up to the air screaming “AAAAAGH!” with his arms and legs shaking.

“AAAAAGH!” At the same time, Mugman also jumped up to the air. His arms and legs mirrored Cuphead’s.

Back on the bed, Cuphead squeezed his head as he screamed. “AAAAAAAGH!”

“AAAAAAGH!” Mugman was hiding his arms and chest under their shared blanket, and his eyes looked left and right trying to find the danger.

“AAAAAAAAGH!” Cuphead spun his head alone for three quick rotations.

“AAAAAAAAAGH!” Mugman held Cuphead’s head, stopping him exactly on his face looking back at him. “WHAT’S-?!”

“AAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHH!!!!” Cuphead grabbed Mugman’s shoulders and shook him like a doll.

Annoyed, Mugman slapped Cuphead’s face, making his head spin round and round and round really fast.

Cuphead held his head with both his hands to stop it from spinning, but his eyeballs kept spinning in various other directions, and his straw kept stirring clockwise until they both slowed into a stop. His eyes looked sideways towards Mugman.

Mugman’s stern eyes softened into endearment, then he gently held Cuphead’s left cheek, turned it to face him, and then sandwiched the sides of Cuphead’s head with both his hands.

“Ya okay bud?” He asked softly.

Trembling, Confused, Cuphead could not say or do anything but stare. Then, his eyes scrunched, determined to challenge his inner thoughts.

Mirroring Mugman, he sandwiched both sides of Mugman’s head with his hands, and the latter glared confused.

“W-what?!” He blinked.

“Smile for me bro.” He said, as he seriously looked into Mugman’s eyes.

Mugman paused and raised an eyebrow. “Huh?!”

“Just do it Mugsy!” Cuphead gave Mugman’s head a very light shake. “Just do it!”

Mugman blinked again, still quite unsure what Cuphead was on about, but he just smiled with his best smile anyway.

Cuphead scanned his brother’s face from top to bottom; Mugman had the same round eyes with with pie-cut shaped pupils, his cheeks were so puffy that they covered the lower part of his eyes, and his smile was showing his square, decaying, and candy-covered teeth.

Cuphead took a deep breath, and sighed in relief.

“You’re…” He huffed. “You’re not creepy.” He rested his forehead onto his brother’s, earning a clink, and his nose was resting on his brother’s big blue on one because it was too big to ignore… and it was squishy. “You’re not a creepy buddy.”

Mugman’s eyes widened in surprise, then he raised an eyebrow in confusion, then he made a big curly smile as the brotherly heart on his chest melted with a dreamy sigh as it watched the both of them touch foreheads. He then pressed his forehead back towards Cuphead in return, and then he closed his eyes. They both smiled, hands on each other’s sides of their heads, leaning their foreheads to each other like real brothers would.

“You’re a dorky buddy.” Cuphead said softly.

Mugman’s eyes popped open, then glared unamused at Cuphead. “What was that?!”

“Nuthin’.” Cuphead’s right lip smiled bigger.

Mugman pushed his nose and forehead deeper. “Oh ya said sumthin’.” He narrowed his glare.

Cuphead giggled. “Nah, yer just hearin’ stuff.” He pushed Mugman’s face back to its comfortable pose, and then kept resting his forehead and nose onto his brother’s.

Mugman just kept glaring at him suspiciously, waiting for a sign that Cuphead would say any humbuggery and dum dumness… and then he just closed his eyes and resumed his curly smile. The brotherly heart in Mugman’s chest meanwhile hugged a picture frame which contained Cuphead and Mugman’s buddy-hugging picture. It even planted a kiss on it in the middle and then continued hugging the frame.

“…dorky buddy…” Cuphead whispered.

Mugman recoiled away as far as Cuphead’s arms could reach, his eyes glared unamused, his mouth gaped as if non-vocally saying ‘Ahh… so that’s how ya wanna play it’ and ‘I can’t believe ya just did that!’ at the same time.

Seeing Mugman’s face, Cuphead started to giggle louder and giddier with a few hiccups.

Mugman leaned a little closer and narrowed his stare. “Oh yeah? What does that make ya?”

Closed eyes, Cuphead held his hips proudly. “I’m the cool one remembah.”

“Uhh uhh!” Mugman shook his head, and folded his arms. “Yer the sippy one.”

Cuphead’s eyes widened and his mouth slowly gaped open… and soon Mugman’s eyes did too as he realized what he just said.

His eyes narrowed. His smile smirked. “What did’ja call me?”

Mugman smiled with a nervous scrunchy mouth, his shoulders shrunk and shivered, and he retreated back under the blanket a little… but then he closed his eyes, bit his chin, and gulped his fear down. He then opened his eyes, held his head high (higher than Cuphead’s in fact) and stared him down.

“I called ya a sippy!” Mugman jabbed a finger down Cuphead’s stomach.

Jolting and squeaking from the finger jab, Cuphead giggled and recoiled. “Oh that’s how ya wanna play it huh?!” He scrunched his eyebrows, rolled up his black sleeves, exposing his white arms, and then wiggled his fingers in front of Mugman’s face.

Seeing the wiggly fingers, Mugman’s body shivered with goosebumps, he bit his lower lip, his smile squiggled, and his straw straightened into an exclamation point. But then he shook his head, then pushed his smile to be bigger & more confident, and he raised his hands. “Yeah. I DO!”

Fingers straight onto his stomach, Mugman tackled Cuphead down to the bed, and the Cup laughed and laughed as Mugman’s fingers wiggled round and round, over, under, and even in the center of his stomach. Cuphead tried to push away his brother’s arms, but laughing Mugman kept jabbing them back or dodging his brother’s pushes.

As Mugman jabbed his right arm, Cuphead’s left hand jabbed into Mugman’s armpit, causing the squeak in laughter and move his right shoulder away from Cuphead’s hand, but Cuphead took the opening and jabbed his brother’s right hip. Mugman’s body curled in, trying to cover his hip, but Cuphead’s hand was still in it and was wiggling its fingers.

Growling, laughing, and battle yelling, the boys went on and on in this back and forth rumble and tumble fight cloud in this tiny wrestling ring of a one-person bed, with both of them either giving it their hardest tickles yet, or laughing their hearts out as they were tickled. In one instance, Mugman managed to snatch Cuphead’s head off his neck and then tickle the base of his ‘cup’ head, leaving Cuphead’s body to jolt on the bed while the head laughed with squeaky hiccups. In another, Cuphead kept wiggling onto Mugman’s side stomachs, and Mugman kept laughing and laughing with snorts while his body jolted. In another, Mugman was sitting on Cuphead’s tush, and tickling Cuphead’s right foot mercilessly, and the latter kept laughing with tears while he pounded the pillow with his fists. Back and forth, dominating each other, this fight cloud of laughter went on and on.

Eventually, they rolled off the bed, and crashed down to the floor with their heads rolling on the floor (literally) in a half-circle each, Cuphead rolled to the left, and Mugman rolled to the right, laughing with their respective snorts and squeaky hiccups. Their heads clinked together, completing the full circle with each of their half circle rolls, and the clink tilted their heads upright, jiggling ‘til the bases of their ‘cup heads’ were flat on the floor.

Finally, after a long while of laughing, they both made big sighs. Closed eyes, their bodies grabbed their heads from the floor, then held it on top of their stomachs facing the ceiling.

Opening their eyes, they saw a ceiling full of plastic green stars, and they both smiled.

“Guess that really wasn’t ya back there…” Mugman’s eyes kept looking at the stars.

Cuphead blinked, and his mouth opened a little in surprise. “Whaddya mean Mugs?” His eyes kept looking at the stars too.

“I mean, it wasn’t ya who dunnit ya know?” Mugman looked at Cuphead momentarily. “Back there… ya did stuff ya wouldn’t normally do, ya said stuff ya wouldn’t yap about…” His hand opened while explaining. “Ya had this… creepy smile on ya face…”

Cuphead’s eyes widened. ‘Creepy smile…’ Two crimson vertical lines for eyes… A closed curved mouth smile, as if delighting in what it had done… Was that connected?

“I haven’t been freaked out like that ever since we met the devil or…” Mugman took a breath. “Ya prankin’ me tuh thinkin’ ya were gonna give the soul contracts tuh the devil.”

Cuphead snickered. “I got ya pretty good didn’t I?” He elbowed Mugman.

Mugman grumbled. “Cuphead, ya were turnin. Yer teeth were sharkin’, yer straw was chippin’, yer eyes turned yellowy with red… fiery circle thin’s in em.”

Cuphead snickered. “’Circle’ thin’s?”

Mugman grumbled again. “Look, I dunno the werd for ‘em okay?”

“I thot ya ‘ad good comblahblahsion?” Cuphead looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

Mugman’s cheeks puffed and his eyes twitched in annoyance. “W-well-“

“Ah! Ah!” Cuphead beamed, his head was sitting on his stomach and his fingers were pointing straight to Mugman. “I gotcha!”

Eyes twitching, straw puffing with steam, mouth scrunched in annoyance, Mugman grumbled as he slammed his head back onto his neck. “Well at least its bettah than yers!” He poked Cuphead’s stomach as he said ‘bettah’.

As he was poked, Cuphead’s body jolted and he squeaked in laughter, and in retaliation he poked Mugman’s side stomach, which caused him to squeak in laughter as well.  Giggling, they both raised their hands, ready to block any finger jab to be thrown at either of them, and then they lowered their hands down, silently agreeing to stop. They both looked back at the stars, while Cuphead was putting his head back to his neck.

“I just…” Mugman looked at the lower cornoer of his eyes. “I just know ya that’s all. It dun make sense but, that cup who dun’ all that back there….” He looked at his brother and smiled. “I know that wasn’t ya.”

While Cuphead twisted his head secure, his eyes were locked onto Mugman’s and he smiled as well. They both held hands and then looked up at the ceiling.

“I dun…” Cuphead turned his head slightly to Mugman. “I dun remember anythin’ after I got ticked off. I just woke up aftah ya smacked me ‘n the face.”

“Well…” Mugman looked at Cuphead. “What ticked ya off then?”

Cuphead paused for a moment, and looked at Mugman. “Toriel hit ya pretty square. She sent ya flyin’ tuh the wall, and then yer…” His eyes widened. “Yer handle!”

Mugman raised an eyebrow. “What about it?”

“It’s fixed!” Cuphead pointed to it.

Looking behind him. Mugman reached and grasped his handle, and gasped as he could feel it whole. “It is!” His eyes widened as he looked back at Cuphead.

Then… creamy golden-brown wisps of air seeped into Cuphead and Mugman’s nostrils, and they sniffed in the scent of butter and cinnamon. At the same time, the boys sat up… and there they saw the source.

Two creamy brown pies (with golden brown crust and creamy brown filling) were set on the floor in the middle of the rug blessed by the warm white light peeking from the narrow open doorway.

“Woah… De ja vu…” Cuphead stared at the pies with a raised eyebrow as he scratched the top of his bendy straw.

“Cuphead…” Mugman stared at the pies in epiphany. “I think we’re way past de ja vu ville at this point.”

They both stared at the pies, trying to grasp what’s going on.

Out of the semi-open door, Cuphead (above) and Mugman (below) peeked their heads out and looked around the brightly warm-lit hallway. Knowing it was clear, Cuphead walked out with Mugman following behind him, reaching his hand for a hand hold, but Cuphead, annoyed, swatted it away with his back hand.

As they walked, Mugman looked up to see a series of glowing orbs that were painfully as bright as the sun. His eyes squinted as they passed him… he wondered what they were called.

The growing sound of fire crackled as they approached the living room. They peeked in to see Toriel sitting on her reading couch, wearing her reading glasses, eyes focused on the brown book she held up to her eyes. She was humming a tune similar to what the music box was playing.

Toriel chuckled to herself. “Snails, snails, snails… I do really miss snail pie though.” She sighed longingly as she kept reading her book. “Snails cannot survive in-“ She was about to read the rest of the passage, but then caught a tint of blue and red at the bottom right periphery of her vision.

“Oh!” She exclaimed as she moved the book away to the left, to see Cuphead and Mugman standing there with their blank faces. She smiled. “Up and about I see. Did you sleep well?” She tilted her head playfully. “In fact, you slept like a…” She closed her eyes. “Cupple of angels!”

She laughed out loud to the ceiling, but the boys only kept silent, looking at her, remembering what had happened to her. Toriel’s laughter awkwardly died down as she looked at them strangely.

“Is there…” She cleared her throat. “Something wrong?”

Cuphead and Mugman’s straws turned into exclamation points and their eyes widened.

“Oh! Err… n-nuthin!” Cuphead nervously smiled as he scratched his head.

“Y-yeah!” Mugman began touching his fingers. “W-we just-“ Mugman stretched his arms wide, accidentally hitting Cuphead with his right fist. “Woke up!”

After he was hit, Cuphead looked at Mugman annoyed, but then smirked. “Yeah! We-“ He stretched his arms wide and hit Mugman with his left fist.

“Ow!” Mugman yelled.

“We’re still feelin’ the mornin’ blues!” Cuphead continued.

“Hey! Watcha do that for!” Mugman rubbed his right shoulder, comforting it from the pain

“Hey!” Cuphead shrugged his shoulders, then raised his hands as he smiled carefree at Mugman. “Ya started it foirst.”

Mugman’s fists tightened as he grunted loudly, and stomped his left foot as his straw puffed with steam.. “That’s not how it woirks!”

Cuphead grinned, with fists at the ready to fight.

Toriel sighed and rolled her eyes. “Children, just because I have healing powers, does not mean you can just fight each other over and over.”

“Aww.” Cuphead looked at Toriel with a sad face. “Why not?!”

“Cuphead!” Mugman stared angrily at him, with tears welling in his eyes, a little betrayed knowing that his brother wanted to fight him.

“What?!” Cuphead put his fists on his hips as he smiled at Mugman. “It’s fun tuh have a lil’ rumble!”

Mugman’s eyes widened. “Oh yeah that is fun!” He nodded as his fists pounded the air excitedly.

“No!” Toriel held their shoulders. “No fighting as long as you are living in this house!”

Smiling, Cuphead and Mugman looked at Toriel, but then they slowly frowned as they heard what Toriel said. ‘Living in this house.’

Toriel’s eyes widened as she caught herself saying that.

“Oh! F-forgive me.” She gave a forced chuckle. “Only if you are willing of course!” She clapped her hands.

Cuphead and Mugman looked at each other worried, and then back at Toriel.

Toriel forced her smile. “Don’t worry my children. I have it all planned out!” She held her index finger pointing up. “In fact, I have prepared a special curriculum for your education!” She clasped her hands together. “You could learn about monsters magic, snails!” She touched-counted her index, middle, and ring finger, counting each subject that was mentioned. “Oh!” She spread her hands. “Let’s not forget your basic subjects like Math, English, and even your arts!” She counted the subjects with her left hand.

She closed her eyes and sighed as she rested her hands on her lap. “I have always wanted to be a teacher you know?” She looked at the boys, who just listened to her blankly. “Actually… perhaps that wasn’t much of a surprise…” Her eyes looked at the corner, as she chuckled nervously. “But still.” She glared intently at space.

“Oh!” She smiled at them as she clapped her hands together. “Would ya like to get started?”

Cuphead and Mugman just stared at her not knowing what to say. They looked at each other trying to find something, but they could not.

Toriel huffed. “Well, I think we can start by reading a book. Mugman, could you go to the shelf and choose a book for us to read?”

For a few seconds, Mugman looked at Toriel with worry, and then he walked towards the bookshelf. His eyes scanned left and right at the bookshelf to find something interesting… and then he came across a golden title in a black leather book spine.

‘The Underground: A History.’

Mugman pulled out the black book and then brought it to Toriel with the front cover facing her.

As she looked at the book, Toriel’s expression numbed into a frown. For a few moments she kept staring at it, and then suddenly shook her head awake.

“Why… this particular book my child?” Toriel faked a smile as she held the book with her hands.

“W-well…” Mugman touched his fingers. “I wanna learn more about this place. Ya- ya know it’s… it’s…” Mugman looked to the side thinking what to say.

“Home!” Cuphead raised his finger.

Mugman gasped and smiled at Cuphead’s answer.

Cuphead winked at Mugman, and looked at Toriel. “It’s like ya said Toriel. It’s home!”

Toriel’s smile warmed and stretched up to her eyes. “Alright.” She set the book down above the fireplace shelf, and then patted her hands on her knees. “Come up here my children.”

Cuphead and Mugman made half-smiles, and then climbed up to sit on her knees. Toriel picked up the book again from the shelf, brought it between the boys, and then opened it.

Toriel began reading. “Long ago, two races ruled over earth: humans and monsters. And apparently…” She chuckled, and looked at Cuphead. “Some of them were cups!” She booped his tiny red nose with her left finger.

“Hey!” Cuphead smiled, raised an eyebrow, and swatted the finger away gently.

She looked towards Mugman. “And mugs!” She booped the tip of Mugman’s nose, and he giggled bubblily with a few snorts.

Toriel looked back to her book. “One day, war broke out between the two races.”

“What kind’a war?” Cuphead leaned forward to the book, his hands held his knees.

“A terrible one my child.” Toriel said, smiling.

“Was there any ‘kaboom!’” Mugman spread his hands, mimicking an explosion. “Choo Choo!” He pretended to fire his finger guns.

Cuphead laughed at Mugman’s comment. “Or any ‘Wham!’” He punched the air with his right fist. “’Bam!’” He punched with his left fist. “’Ka-pow!’” He spread his hands to mimic an explosion.

“He-hehey!” Mugman giggled. “That’s what I said!” He pointed his thumb to himself as he leaned towards Cuphead.

“Nah, ya said, ‘Kaboom!’” Cuphead folded his arms as he smirked at Mugman.

Mugman rolled his eyes playfully.

Toriel chuckled. “Yes. There were plenty of those my children. Plenty….” She looked back at the book and frowned. “And terrible.”

Cuphead gasped in amazement, while Mugman frowned.

“After a long battle…” Toriel’s eyes started to tremble. “The humans were victorious.”

“Woohoo!” Cuphead punched the air in celebration.

Glaring at his brother, Mugman lightly punched Cuphead’s side-stomach. “Cuphead!”

“Ow! Hey!” But then, Cuphead gasped and his eyes widened in realization. “Oh! Ummm…” He smiled apologetically to Toriel. “Sorry.” He scratched the back of his head.

Toriel smiled numbly. “It’s alright my child.” She closed her eyes, feigning a happy smile. “You won.”

Mugman and Cuphead frowned… then shivered; it creeped them out, especially remembering what they did to her.

Toriel opened her eyes and looked back at the book. “They sealed the monsters underground with a magic spell.”

Cuphead and Mugman looked at the book with gloom; this wasn’t their fairytale… it was the beginning of their dark fate.

“Fearful of further human attacks, we retreated.” Toriel’s voice became gloomier. “Far far into the earth we walked, until we reached the cavern’s end. This was our new home, which we named… Home.”

Toriel stopped, and she just stared into the book eerily and silently.

Mugman looked into the page, and read the last sentence.

‘As great as our king is, he is pretty lousy at names.’

Worried and confused, Mugman looked back to their caretaker. “Toriel?”

Her hands gripped the book with tension, and then shut the book gently. “Excuse me for a moment.” She set the book down to the right armrest. She picked up Cuphead and Mugman’s handles and set the boys down standing on the floor.

With gloomy faces, Cuphead and Mugman just stood there and watched her leave, just like she did before.

“This is the part she tells us she won’t let us go. You know… when we go down theeh’” Mugman pointed his finger to where Toriel left.

Cuphead just silently listened, not reacting to something he should’ve known already. He put his hand into his right pocket, and then unpocketed something. Bringing it out and unfolding his fist, he gasped as he saw the toy knife, and he dropped it to the floor in shock. 

When Mugman looked at it, his eyes widened and he gasped in shock too.

They both looked in horror at the toy knife on the floor.

A Froggit squeaked in shock. “Where did you get that?!”

Cuphead and Mugman, holding hands and standing side by side, looked at the Froggit standing by the corner of the doorway they exited from.

“Oh! Hey there fella!” Mugman smiled and waved hi.

“We found it lyin’ around back there.” Cuphead pointed his thumb towards the doorway behind them.

The Froggit squeaked horrified. “Y-you’re” It croaked, as if gulping anxiously. “You’re not gonna use that are you?!”

Cuphead and Mugman stared in shock and confusion.

“What fer?!” Cuphead’s grip on Mugman’s hand squeezed a bit as he stared with a raised eyebrow.

The Froggit croaked. “Oh… a long time ago that was used for some unspeakable horrors…” Its eyes looked at its lower left corner in remembrance.

The boys looked bewildered at the Froggit, but then their cheeks puffed accompanied with snickers, and then they each unleashed a squeaky and snorty laughter; Cuphead had his hands on his stomach as he leaned back, and Mugman had his hands on his lap as he bent forward.

“Hey look Mugman!” Cuphead raised his toy knife and looked mischievously at his brother who was raising an eyebrow back at him. “I’m gonna get’cha with this!”

“AGH!” Mugman’s body jolted as Cuphead poked his toy knife into his right armpit. “C-Cupheadd-AGH!” He made another loud squeak loud as he was poked again. He raised his hands trying to swat away or block the jabs, but Cuphead just kept jabbing into openings he saw. “PLE-HEehease!” He laughed. “Ss-stohaHAHAHAHA!” Merciless and relentless jabs kept poking to his tickle spots while Cuphead just kept giggling like a menace.

Furious, and holding back tears from its eyes and stomach, The Froggit grumbled and stared the boys down with all four eyes. “Oh you can make fun of it all you want but it’s true! YOU DIRTY SCUMBUGS!” It SHOUTED, then hopped towards them.

Mid-laughter, they abruptly fell silent, and the boys stared wide-eyes offended at the Froggit that was trying tower over them despite his small size. Mugman’s eyes started to moisten, and he made a sniffle. Cuphead’s eyes widened as he noticed his brother’s reaction.

To the Froggit, Cuphead stomped forward while clutching the knife on his right hand. “WHAT DIDJ’A CALL US?!”

Squeaking in alarm, The Froggit stuck its back against the wall, and its fore and hind webbed feet grasped it for life.

“CUPHEAD NO!” Mugman yelled as he grasped his brother’s wrist, the one Cuphead was clutching the knife with.

Though enraged, Cuphead looked at his brother, and after hearing his brother’s plea, his eyes and hands softened. After an angry huff, Cuphead yanked his hands away from his brother’s, and folded his arms as he looked away in some corner.

Mugman smiled with gratitude and sympathy at his brother, then turned to the Froggit. “W-we’re sorry, we just thought-“He began to touch his index fingers.

“Well you thought wrong!” The Froggit leaned forward, with his webbed feet still clinging to the wall. “That thing was used to torment us monsters! Just like what you just did right now!” It pointed a webbed finger to Mugman.

Mugman just covered his mouth with his hands, and looked away with tears on his eyes.

The Froggit croaked and then sighed, closing its eyes for a moment. “Please… as much as you can..” It croaked, and then opened its eyes. “Have mercy on us monsters.”

From looking away, Cuphead and Mugman stared in horrified confusion at the Froggit. For a second they looked at each other, and then back at the Froggit.

“M-Mercy?!” Mugman’s eyebrows creased with concern and worry, the shaking fingertips on his hands were about to touch together.

“Golly we’ah sorry!!” Cuphead swung his fists behind him. “We ain’t gonna hurt ya pal, quit yappin about that stuff!” He folded his arms again.

“Oh…” The Froggit croaked, its body started to relax. “That’s what they all say.” It croaked again, and then relaxed onto all fours. “Trust me humans. One day…” Its eyes looked at the corner of them, and then back at the boys. “You will have to exercise mercy. Even if they don’t ask for it. Even if-!” It croaked again. “Even if they don’t deserve it.” It shook its head.

Cuphead and Mugman looked at each other, biting their lower lips creeped out by this advice and unsure how to respond.

The Froggit croaked, it hopped a little closer to the boys. “By the way… Toriel came by here just a while ago.”

From creeped out, Cuphead and Mugman gasped and smiled at the Froggit. “She did?!”

The Froggit croaked and smiled. “Yes! She was carrying some groceries.” It croaked again. “I didn’t ask what they were for, unfortunately…” The Froggit looked left and right and then whispered with its backhand covering its sidemouth. “We’re all too intimidated to talk to her.”

Cuphead and Mugman snickered and snorted into giggles.

“Yeah, she tends to do that sometimes.” Mugman rolled his eyes to one side.

The Froggit nodded and croaked. “Indeed.”

Looking back at the doorway, Cuphead and Mugman saw a majestic view of castle towers, walls, and the star-like glowing lights coming from the windows and the summits of those towers.

Still holding hands, the boys walked past the doorway into a balcony with pink-bricked battlements on the walls. They walked ‘til their hands touched a crenel, and they took a deep breath as they basked at the view.

The castle was huge! Two tall castle towers flanked each side (one on the left, and one on the right), and there was one shorter tower in the middle. Behind the short middle castle tower was a dome tower; the top had a small lookout room with crescent-arched windows, lines etched from base of the lookout room down to the baseline of the dome radiating from the center outwards, and finally there were three small crescent arched windows below the baseline of the dome. The dome was flanked by four tall towers, two on the front of it, and two from behind, and they all looked smaller from this distance. From each flanking tower, there was a hall that had thin pillars supporting the thick ceiling/roof, each hall spread apart from the dome like they were its wings. Behind the castle, were numerous villages and communities, and far beyond was a tinier castle they could barely see.

The Froggit hopped close beside them and then jumped up several times to at least get to see the view beyond the wall taller than him. Letting go of Cuphead’s hand, Mugman looked down at the Froggit, picked him up, and held him close to his chest as they looked at the view together.

The Froggit croaked. “No matter how long we’ve been trapped here… I can never deny that this…” It croaked again. “Is a majestic sight to behold.”

Cuphead and Mugman sighed dreamily. They sidestepped close to each other, then Cuphead buddy hugged Mugman, and then they gently let their heads clink together.

“Righty-ho pal.” They said in sync. “Righty-ho.”

Their eyes were glued to the floor with heavy thoughts looming over their heads as they walked the long pink hallway. They left the toy knife behind on the floor in the living room, not daring to touch it again.

As they walked, Toriel had been speaking to them about destroying the door, about Asgore, and how she insisted them to go upstairs, but these words fell on their deaf ears as their minds circled over heavy thoughts.

“One day… you will have to exercise mercy. Even if they don’t ask for it. Even if-!” The Froggit croaked. “Even if they don’t deserve it.”

Killing her… Cuphead not remembering how… Mugman trying to stop it but failing… and just at the thought of it, they erased all that by going back in time… and now they’re afraid of making that same mistake again… of seeing her die again…

They stopped walking. Their eyes looked up.

Far ahead, Toriel stood there looking at the door in front of her, with her back turned towards the boys.

“You want to leave so badly?” Toriel spoke in her numb voice. “Hmph… You are just like the others.” She began to turn slowly, and she stared back at them with her numb eyes. She gave a deep sigh and closed her eyes. “There is only one solution to this… Prove yourself…” She opened her eyes, and laid her palms to her left and right at the ready. “Prove to me you are strong enough to survive.”

Cuphead and Mugman looked at Toriel with such sorrow, this was the moment before Toriel… before they…

“Why are you looking at me like that?”  Toriel’s numb eyes squinted little.

Confused, Cuphead and Mugman’s eyes squinted. “W-what?!”

“Why did you just look at me as if you saw a ghost?” Her numb but soft voice spoke. “Do you know something I do not?”

Mugman’s eyes widened and he gasped. “C-Cuphead!”

In response, Cuphead held Mugman’s hand as he stared in shock-realization at Toriel. Mugman looked at his brother, who noticed his focused stare.

“No… that is impossible.” Right then, Toriel firmed her stance at the ready.

Cuphead and Mugman’s mouths straightened numb, and they stared at her, accepting the inevitability. Mugman looked to Cuphead, waiting for him to say something. Then… Cuphead smiled with cheery bright hope. Cuphead looked at his brother and winked at him.

Mugman’s eyebrow arched, confused why his brother was smiling… but slowly… Mugman smiled too. They didn’t know why, they didn’t know how… but as they looked at Toriel with brave and determined faces, they tightened the grip on each other’s hands with one idea in their minds.

‘We’re gonna save Toriel.’

A yellow star glowed from between their hands.

From Toriel’s palms, two candlelight fires sparked from thin air and grew into fireballs. Like before, she circled her arms clockwise ‘til she brought her wrists together and then thrusted them forward, unleashing a colorful spiraling fire blast.

Mugman stared at the spiral of fire with a sweat on his brow. “Backflip!” He looked at his brother urgently, and he nodded.

Cuphead and Mugman made continuous backflips until they reached they were a meter away from the wall behind them. But then their eyes widened as the fire blasts kept approaching them.

They jumped away from the center trying to dodge it, but the fire blasts hit the wall, and the flames bounced and spread sidewards. When they turned, the flames were already in their faces.

Far ahead of Toriel who was gritting her teeth while maintaining her power, the hallway was engulfed in rainbow-colored bright flames. After a while, the boys emerged screaming, bodies charred in black except for their eyes, flailing their arms around and running in panic.

“CUPHEAAAD!” Mugman turned to Cuphead behind him.

“MUGMAAAN!” Cuphead turned to Mugman behind him.

They both ran into each other’s arms, but as their chests bumped into each other, their bodies dissipated powdery ashes, leaving their shivering pink hearts or SOULs behind. Before their eyes dissipated, the boys caught a glimpse of Toriel covering her mouth and watching in horror at what she had done.

Falling… falling… into the darkness. Closed eyes, into the null, silent void…

“C-…” A faint voice echoed.

They kept falling… and falling…

“You have to wake up…” The faint voice said.

Their close eyes stirred for a moment but remained shut.

“Boys…” Elder Kettle’s voice spoke, in his warm, caring, and playful nature. “I’ve got hot chocolate for your Mugs if you’ll come home!”

Cuphead and Mugman’s eyes opened with fresh determination in their eyes. They both turned to the bottom of the void, which then turned into the image of Toriel standing at the ready to fight. They both held hands and they dove straight to the image. The boys’ voices spoke in the void.

‘We’re gonna save Toriel.’

Their eyes opened to the moment when Toriel laid her palms open at the ready.

Toriel, like before, twirled her hands spiraling towards the center, then prepared a fireball from the center of her coned palms. This time, she spread her arms open in quick whips of her arms, unleashing eight fireballs arranged in a curved row.

Cuphead leaned in towards Mugman. “Mugs…” He whispered.

Mugman turned to him. “Yeah?”

“Ya saw that look Toriel gave us?” Cuphead he raised an eyebrow to his brother.

Mugman paused for a moment of thought, a moment of dark, hibby jibby thought, and then nodded. “Yeah.”

Toriel pushed her hands forward, and the fireballs launched towards them.

Mugman’s left eye reflected the fireballs that were coming to them, but his right eye showed the memory of Toriel’s shock.

Cuphead jumped to the side to get out of the way. As he landed safe, he turned around and saw Mugman, closed eyes, and arms wide open… while the fireballs were hurtling straight towards him.

“MUGMAN!” Cuphead screamed, his straw turned into an exclamation point, and his eyes shrank and shook with terror.

All eight fireballs landed onto Mugman and exploded. Cuphead covered his eyes with his arms, because of the bright light of the explosion. When he opened them, he saw a dark ash spot left behind with a mound of ash.

From the ash pile, Mugman’s ghost came out floating up unconscious.

After swinging his fists to the right and lifting his left foot to the right in cartoony fashion, Cuphead sprinted to Mugman and, using his gloved hand that popped out from the tip of his head-straw, gave a loud clapping high-five to Mugman’s pink heart on his chest.

In ghost form, Mugman gasped for air and opened his eyes, and then his body (starting from his torso to his appendages, to his mug head, and finally to his circular straw halo straightening back again) popped back into its solid, physical form. From midair, Mugman fell down, and was caught laid across Cuphead’s arms; some milk splashed out of Mugman’s head in the meanwhile.

“Mugs!” Cuphead yelled as he looked with watery eyes at his brother. “Speak to me buddy!” He shook his brother.

Mugman moaned. He turned his weak half-open gaze to Cuphead.

“Nice… catch…” With a deep exhale, Mugman slumped onto Cuphead’s arms.

Cuphead smiled, his watery eyes streamed down tears to his face. “Don’t scare me like that ya dum dum!” Arms holding Mugman’s knees and torso, Cuphead hugged Mugman very very tight, and the exhausted latter just wrapped one buddy arm to Cuphead’s neck and clinked his head.

A sigh… a very heavy, heartaching but relieved sigh… followed by a desperate gasp for air.

Shaking and shivering breaths in and out... in and out… Tears streamed down from Toriel’s horrified eyes… Her trembling hands were lowered to her chin… and then, her knees crashed to the ground, and she buried her face within her hands. (Get draft from other laptop)

Cuphead and Mugman looked her way and saw her panting, breathing in shaking, shivering, and heartaching breaths. Her eyes flowed with tears, and her hands lowered to her chin after covering her mouth in shock. Her knees shook, and then crashed to the floor. She buried her face into her hands, and began to sob to the point tears flowed through the gaps of her fingers.

To see her so broken like this… eyes wondering if there was any other way, any lesser evil they could’ve used to convince her… but the boys sighed, knowing that this was the best chance they’ve ever gotten.

Cuphead set Mugman down, and together they made two steps forward.

“Pleeaase…” Her shuddering whisper was like a ghost’s. “Go upstairs…”

The boys paused and froze just to look at her. But they took a breath, held hands, and took another step.

“PLEEAASSE!!” Toriel screamed, her hands covered her eyes, leaving only her mouth open.

Mugman shuddered while Cuphead’s chest jumped.

Breathing in and out… shuddering… in and out… Toriel made a cold and forceful chuckle. “Ironic… is it not?” Shuddering breath in and out. “…I couldn’t save a single child… and now…” She made a sob. “It’s as if I killed one… no… all of them…!” Her forehead dropped to the floor, and she wailed so loud, her voice echoed through the halls.

“A-all-!” Mugman gulped.  “All of-f th-them?!” His legs began to jelly tremble.

Knowing there was no point in delaying, Cuphead shook his head to clear his mind. “Come on Mugs!” He started to walk around Toriel.

With his glossy caring empathetic eyes, Mugman turned to Cuphead, and then glanced back at Toriel, as if to say they could not just leave like this.

Cuphead just shook his head in response. “Mugs!” His eyes pointed at the door, then he looked back at him. “We can go now! Let’s just go!”

“Oh…” Mugman glanced at Toriel again, and he made a sniffle. “O-okay…”

They walked around Toriel who kept wailing in the meantime. They made it to the door, and pushed it open (Mugman on the left, Cuphead on the right). They took their first step past the doorway, until-

“Wait!” Toriel called.

The boys turned around.

With her back turned, Toriel had stood up, wiped her face with her paws, then wiped the skirt of her toga with her hands. “This… this isn’t your home.” She took a deep breath and let out a deep sigh of regret. “Even if I were to convince you to stay… you won’t be happy here… and…” Toriel turned her head back to them. “There is someone… waiting for you?”

Cuphead and Mugman nodded.

“Elder Kettle…” Mugman responded.

She looked at the corner of her eyes, then closed them, and then turned away from the boys. “If you truly wish to leave the ruins… I won’t try to stop you any longer…” Her right hand grasped the chest of her toga tightly. “And if you do…” She showed the right side of her face to them, where a tear streamed from that closed eye. “Please… don’t come back.”

Cuphead and Mugman’s eyes widened. They glanced at each other, and Cuphead rolled his eyes, frustrated that it wasn’t right to go, while Mugman just gave a look of sympathy. The boys walked to Toriel.

Cuphead tugged on her toga. “Hey… we dun’-!” 

Toriel suddenly turned around and hugged them on their backs, and the boys gasped in response. “Please… try to understand.”

The boys looked with wide eyes at her after this sudden act of hers, but then their eyes began to well up and they began to sniffle with runny noses. With big arms, they hugged her back and they began to cry.

She then pulled away, wiped a tear from each of their eyes, and smiled at their booger-infested runny-nosed sobbing faces.

The boys touched their necks, and their eyes widened to feel cloth wrapped around them. They looked down and gasped to see that their necks were wrapped with scarves, blue and red with their respective colors.

“Goodbye… children…” With a smile, she stood up and wiped tear from her right eye with her thumb. “Be good, alright?”

Toriel then took a step away, and then sprinted back towards the direction of home.

“W-wait!!” They both shouted as they reached their hands towards her.

Her footsteps faded, and faded… and faded… into silence. She was gone… she was gone… Only the breaths of the two boys staring at the empty hall could be heard. Their eyes met, communicating a mix of ‘what just happened’, ‘what do we do?’, and calling each other’s names, all in just that one look. And then… they just turned around and ran.

Side by side, footsteps echoing through the halls, they ran in this long narrow hallway towards the darkness ahead. While they were running, Cuphead’s eyes widened suddenly remembering, then he angrily looked at Mugman, and punched him on his left shoulder.

“Ow!” Mugman recoiled away. “Hey, what was dat foh?!” He glared at Cuphead while he rubbed his own shoulder.

Suddenly, Cuphead gave a tackling hug that almost tipped Mugman over to fall, but he held his ground.

“Why’dja do that ya big joirk?!” Furious, Cuphead finger-jabbed Mugman’s side stomach, causing the latter to squeak in laughter. “Yer gonna gimme nightmares with dat stunt ya pulled!” He hugged Mugman really tight.

“Aww…” Mugman smiled heartwarmingly, and returned the hug. “Well, ya saw how she looked at us when we got toasted…” He opened his eyes and looked at a corner in deep thought. “So I figyad it was what we needed tuh get outta heeya.”

“Clever…” From the darkness, a triple-pitched demonic, sarcastic voice spoke.

Eyes widened, frozen in place, the boys slowly turned towards the direction of the voice.

Over the center of the room, where a sunlight spotlight shone over a large circular spot with grass, Flowey was there puffy-cheeked making a ‘jolly-sarcastic’ bubbly giggle.

“Veeeery clever.” Flowey’s stare narrowed narrowed. “If only every solution to yer problem involved killing yourself.” With its carnivorous smile, it unleashed a demonic cackle straight up the ceiling that had a large hole where the sun light came through.

Cuphead grunted, broke his hug, and pointed his finger gun at Flowey. “Ya shut yer yap ya stupid pansy!” He stood in front of Mugman to shield him.

With its sly smug, Flowey leaned away. “Ohoohoho! Veery scary!” It tilted its head left and right. “Of course… I would be too after finding out what you did.” It leaned forward and gave a sly cunning smile at them.

“Yer babbling Flowey!” Mugman stood beside Cuphead and pointed his own finger gun at Flowey.

“Oh…” Flowey’s face morphed into Toriel’s. “Am I really my stupid idiots?!” Its demonic voice imitated Toriel’s voice.

Eyes wide, they gasped, and their finger guns were lowered slightly.

“Thaat’s right! I know what’cha did!” His face became gigantic, and towered over the boys, who fell sitting and leaning away from Flowey. “You MURDERED HER!” He shouted, and his voice echoed to the top. “MURDERED HER! MURDERED HER! MURDERED HER!”

“But theeeeeeen…” While menacingly rolling his eyes, Flowey’s face shrank back to normal. “Ya both had a cuute brotherly fight ‘bout how that Cup went berserk, and then hugged it all out and cried like wittle babies!” Speaking as if towards a baby, Flowey wagged its face left and right, and pouted its lips “…‘Til ya woke up back at that stupid tree!” It spoke in its normal tone.

Mugman’s eyes widened, while Cuphead just stared horrified and furious.

“W-… wh…” Cuphead uttered.

“You…” Mugman pointed his finger.

“Thaat’s right!” Flowey tilted its head to one side, teasingly. “I saw the whole thing! I guess you could say I’ve been… ‘stalking’ ya!” With its sharp carnivorous teeth showing, Flowey unleashed a demonic cackle to the ceiling. “Ugh! I can’t believe I sound like that trashbag.” It sneered, looking to the side.

“Get away from us ya creep!” Cuphead pointed his shivering finger gun at Flowey.

“And ya ain’t supposed to know that!” Mugman yelled while also pointing a shivering finger gun at Flowey.

“Oh yeah…” Flowey stretched its face really close to Mugman, that the latter gasped, shivered, and backed away.  “Yer SUPPOSED to be the smart one here!” Flowey said in mocking imitation of how Mugman said it before. “NOT!” With its demonic pupil-less eyes and carnivorous smile, it stretched closer to Mugman, making the latter yelp in fear.

Mugman ran behind Cuphead, and hid behind him while they both pointed their finger guns at Flowey.

“Going back in time to save poor Toriel…” Flowey hummed in a mocking tune while it shrank itself back to normal size. “You think yer the only one who has that power?” It raised an eyebrow and tilted its face to the boys.

Finger guns still pointing at Flowey, Cuphead and Mugman narrowed their stares trying to understand.

“The power to reshape this world…” With its leaves for hands, Flowey traced a rainbow starting from the center then ending to the sides. “All by sheer determination…” It then scooped up the air and held up an imaginary thing on the tip of its leaves and lifted it up to the light. “The power to play God! The power… to ‘Save’.”

The boys’ stares narrowed even more. “The power… to ‘Save’.”

“Those visions you saw while you were falling down that dark abyss that suddenly opens up when ya simply ‘want to go back’?” Flowey raised an eyebrow, then giggled. “That was every moment you ‘Saved’. And you could only go back to the last one ya did it. Never the others.” It shook its head.

With widened eyes, Cuphead and Mugman gasped. They flipped their palms facing themselves and looked at them, then looked at each other.

“I thought I was the only one…” Flowey rolled its eyes playfully. “But you!” Its eyes turned pale white, and it smiled with sharp teeth again. “It’s because of you I can’t do it anymore!” It chuckled with its triple-pitched menacing voice. “And once I kill ya, Imma have a nice CUPPLE of warm milk as I drink up your SOULS!” It chuckled, its leaves covered its mouth as if mimicking a playful child.

Feeling threatened, the boys pointed their finger guns at the flower.

“Awww, did I scare ya wittle babies??” Flowey wagged its head and puckered its lips. “Well buckle up! ‘Cuz that’s not even the most interesting part is it…?” It smiled with its sharp-toothed grin, and it leaned towards the boys. “I mean, the dummy phasing through the wall…” Flowey tilted its face and rolled its eyes from one side to the other as it enumerated “The pineapple spike beds, star-shaped beams from Loox, Toriel’s fire pillars…” Flowey stared at them with his narrow eyes. “They never did those before… You’ve changed the game haven’t you?” Its smile widened as it chuckled.

“What’re you yappin’about?!” Cuphead yelled as both he and Mugman made a step back.

“YOU!” Its face suddenly bloomed into gigantic size, and it smiled with its tongue out and its carnivorous teeth showing like a giant snake. “YOU ARE FROM ANOTHER WORLD! Every ‘Save’ I’ve loaded!” It pushed forward to the boys, and the boys stepped back. “Every Reset I’ve ever run in this world!” It pushed forward again, and the boys fell sitting and crawling back, while pointing their guns, wanting to fire but hesitant to even start a fight. “Froggits, Whimsuns, Vegetoids, Toriel, even that stupid rock!” On each Flowey enumerated, it pushed forward, and the boys kept crawling back to the foot of the hall. “They’ve all done and said the same things, in every Pacifist, Neutral, or Genocide run I’ve ever done! But You!” It chuckled. “Ever since you came along, they’ve all done something they’ve never done and said something I’ve never ever heard!” It cackled maniacally to the sky, its voice echoed in this dark chamber.

The boys charged their finger guns, and a ball of bright yellow energy formed at the tip of their fingers.

As his cackle ended, Flowey’s size and its loud voice shrank back to normal. “It figures.” It smirked at the boys. “Every human that ever tripped into that pit of buttercups was all flesh and bones… and they never had fingers for blasters… but you’re human alright! ‘Cuz in every monster’s eyes… your SOULS are actually upside down.” It raised its leaves as if it were shrugging its shoulders.

Cuphead raised an eyebrow. “Upside… down?”

Mugman gasped, and entered a flashback. As Toriel’s body dissipated to dust, an upside down heart hovered in the air, trembling very violently, then cracked in half and crumbled to bits of dust that dissipated to nothing.

“The monsters…” Mugman’s eyes trembled in realization. “Their hearts…”

Cuphead raised an eyebrow at Mugman, still confused.

“Whatever it is you’re ‘doin in here, it sure is shaking things up a bit!” Flowey tilted its head playfully, and chuckled. “I can’t wait to kill ya, and see what world you got up there!” It pointed its leaf to the hole above them. “What power I could get by beating every single weakling in your world!”

The boys growled, stood up, and pointed their finger guns to Flowey.

“JUST TRY IT!” Mugman charged his finger gun, converting a large ball of yellow energy to his finger tip.

“Ohoho! The baby boy’s learned his first word!” Flowey mocked as he rocked his head sideways.

Cuphead growled, and stepped beside Mugman. “Shaddup and leave us alone!” Mugman stepped his foot forward, mirroring Cuphead.

“Oh don’t play innocent you idiot!” Flowey gave Cuphead a sly look. “You’re the one that killed her in the first place!” It then smiled with its sharp teeth.

Cuphead growled, held the wrist of his right hand with his left and charged his right finger gun.

“And you!” Flowey looked at Mugman. “Are you sure ya should be pointing that gun at me? I haven’t killed anyone right?” It raised an eyebrow at Mugman.

Mugman’s eyes widened, he gasped, and his finger gun was unconsciously lowered with its charge weakening.

“Hmm your best friend on the other hand…” Flowey slid his eyes teasingly pointing at Cuphead

Mugman growled and fired a bright yellow ‘Charge’ blast to Flowey, who then, after a squeak, quickly dug the ground, and the shot flew overhead.

From the ground, Flowey started with a demonic giggle, then sprouted from the ground cackling with his shark-like smile, while his face grew two times larger. “So you do have it in you…” It narrowed its stare at Mugman while it smiled. “You’ve got what it takes to kill!!” It cackled to the sky.

Mugman growled, and together with Cuphead, they both charged their guns.

“Just one last question… Would ya do it when he turns again?” Flowey nudged his head towards the direction of Cuphead when it said ‘he’.

The boys’ eyes widened again. Cuphead’s crimson eyes and creepy smile… Waking up, seeing Toriel in a critical state…

Flowey gave another cackle. “I’ll be watching you, you stupid hot-headed cup!” It looked at Cuphead. “I’ll give her time to settle in… ‘cause when the time comes… you’ll be my best friend now!” Its creepy smiling face protruded from the flower, and then gave a demonic tri-pitched cackle that echoed through the chamber.

Flowey then plunged itself to the ground digging deeper… and deeper… and deeper… until the sound of digging dirt was gone.

The boys stood there petrified at the thoughts Flowey had planted in their minds. Then… they both gave a deep exhaling huff. They looked at each other, searching their shivering eyes for answers... and then, they just ran forward.

Before them, two giant double doors stood with two marble pillars on each side, and an arch on the top with the same ensignia of three triangles, the same that was on Toriel’s robe. They both pushed it, Mugman on the left, and Cuphead on the right, and from the middle a bright blinding light seeped in… The boys stared into it anxious of the unknown.

-Undertale-

Epilogue:

A bed of yellow buttercups bloomed over a mound of earth beneath the yellow sunlight, and swayed as they were blown by the wind from above the hole. From the darkness a panting a voice grew louder… and louder… followed by loud running and thumping of feet on the soil… her white feet emerged, then her purple robe, then her tearful face: it was Toriel.

At the foot of the bed, she stopped, then crashed her knees down to the ground, and then bowed down forehead to the ground, and wept.

“Oh Chara…” She sniffed. “My child… I’m so sorry…”

-End of Chapter 9-

-End of Act I-

Edited passage:

While Mugman was tickling… … … … … Cuphead mercilessly poked Mugman’s armpits left and right, poking wherever it was open.

In the middle of the poking, Mugman managed to snatch Cuphead’s head off of his neck. Mugman then kicked his body gentle enough to just knock him down to the body. 

“Hey!” Cuphead stared with a competitive smile, but then he started to laugh.

Mugman rubbed under the base of Cuphead’s ‘cup-head’, and his body jolted while his disconnected head laughed with hiccups.

Still jolting from the tickles, Cuphead’s body crawled towards Mugman and then poked his stomachs, making the latter jolt and drop Cuphead’s head to the bed.

“Gotcha now!” Cuphead yelled.

Cuphead’s fingers kept wiggling onto his side stomachs, and Mugman kept laughing and laughing with snorts while his body jolted. Meanwhile, Cuphead’s foot hooked onto his own head handle, and he kicked the base of his head towards his body and it landed back onto his neck.

Mugman grabbed his brother’s shoulders and used it to flip himself up, and then he landed sitting on Cuphead’s tush. He grabbed Cuphead’s right foot, and then wiggled his fingers on it, making Cuphead pound his fists onto the bed as he laughed really loud.

[deltaswapjevil]

WHICH AU SHOULD I FOCUS ON THE MOST FOR NOW

[kalebishop96-blog]

Promoting in this blog too. If you want to read the entire story it’s here:

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/cuptalecupheadxundertale

Chapter 5 Premiers in 04/13/22 (Wednesday) 21:30 Philippine Standard Time (GMT+8). So that's 09:30 in America 04/13/22 (Wednesday).

Sorry if it’s a few weeks late, been busy with other artistic projects and work as well. The draft is ready! It’s just sitting in my laptop waiting to be published.

Not yet “Home” Sorry, but am working as much as I can to deliver good content.

This is my first sketch I've inked. It's pretty simple, so glad it turned out great.

See you tomorrow! Chapter 5: (Insert link here).

[flutterblues]

Five Night At Doky Doky Cuptale

[dasabucket]

Cuptale!Cuphead and Cuptale!Mugman is requested by @boyinthehat

[alynstuff]

idk wht to put here lol

[fantasblog]

I finished draw about cupheadtale/cuptale -

(I using this xp pen 22 artist pro, ibispaintx and fire alpaca)

-w- done

Credit:

Cupheadtale/cuptale belongs to me

[cuptalecupheadxundertale]

CupTale (CupheadxUndertale) Ch 8: Heartache

Author’s Note:

Finally got this done after a half-year hiatus! This fic is still in hiatus sadly, but it’s slowly progressing. It’s my birthday today! And soon it will be my Japanese test on Sunday. Thank you so much for sticking around, even if it’s really taking this long. Enjoy!

Music box melody playing. The peaceful darkness. A cushy pillow on the back of your head… well, half of it for Cuphead at least. The other half was taken by a baby cooing and moaning Mugman, and Cuphead felt his brother snuggling on his right face, as if he was a pillow.

 Opening his eyes, Cuphead glared annoyed at his brother’s big and goofy smile, and his rubbing snuggles on his face… but he also felt the end of his lip curl into a smile and felt a heartfelt stiffness on his right arm that is stopping him moving away from Mugman’s shoulders. Looking down and realizing he smiled, his eyes widened, then he shook himself and growled at Mugman for making him feel like this. They weren’t flexing. They weren’t wrestling. They weren’t chest bumping, fist bumping, butt bumping, or clinking… They weren’t manly at all.

 Closed eyes, Mugman moaned and squeezed his hug a little. “Cuphead is red… Mugman is blue…”

 Cuphead couldn’t help but chuckle. “Flowers are stupid. So Cagney is too!” He continued to giggle which got a little louder and then ended with a sigh mixed with fun and disappointment. Annoyed, he glared at Mugman who was still on his face. “Ya awake yet?!” He said with a hiss on his voice.

  “Nope.” Mugman said jokingly.

 Cuphead grunted. “Well, when are ya awake?” His right hand on Mugman’s shoulder splayed.

 Mugman opened his eyes and smirked. “When I open my eyes.” And then he closed his eyes again.

 Cuphead moaned and rolled his eyes. “How long will that be?”

 Mugman squeezed his hug a little more. “Few more minutes.”

 Cuphead grumbled and pounded his left fist on the bed, causing the mattress to shake. “That’s gonna take ferever!” And then looked at the ceiling, waiting for that forever to finish… but then his eyes widened. “Wait a minute…”

 Mugman started to snicker, then bubbly giggle, then bubbly laugh. “Yer such a dum dum bro.”

 Cuphead growled. “Get off!” He pushed Mugman but he didn’t move.

 “N-ho!” Mugman giggled and tightened his hug.

 “You’re being super icky right now!” With his hands, Cuphead pushed his face off.

 “Aww come on!” Mugman pushed his head through Cuphead’s hands and clinked the head of his brother, who squeaked startled in reaction. “You like this ickiness!”

 Milk boiling, straw steaming and whistling like a kettle, Cuphead readied his hands. “I. DO. NOT!!!” At the last word, Cuphead pushed Mugman’s face away very very hard.

 “OW! HEEEY!” Mugman swatted Cuphead’s hands. “YA DIDN’T HAVTUH PUSH SO HARD!”

 “THEN GET OFF ME!” Cuphead pushed Mugman’s chest.

 “NO!” Mugman pushed Cuphead’s chest back. “I’M NOT DONE!” He placed his hands on Cuphead’s shoulders and hit his forehead onto Cuphead’s.

 Cuphead’s furious eyes glared straight into Mugman’s. “YES!” He put his foot on Mugman’s stomach. “YOU-“

 A wisp of brown creamy curly air waved and seeped into the nostrils of Cuphead and Mugman who then sniffed, sniffed, closed their eyes, and then followed the scent with their sniffing noses. The trail led to the floor behind Mugman and they both leaned their noses towards it while sucking the scent with their giant nostrils at the same time. They opened their eyes and gasped.

 Two creamy brown pies (with golden brown crust and creamy brown filling) were set on the floor in the middle of the rug blessed by the warm white light peeking from the narrow open doorway.

 Dog-like tongues dripping with drool stuck out of the brothers’ mouths and they used them to lick their own entire faces. They looked at each other, cheekily grinned at each other, and then scrambled out of bed while growling, laughing, and playfully pushing each other, to get to the pie. Along the way, they pushed each other so hard they crashed sitting and laughing on the floor next to the closest pie they each had.

 They both looked at the pie with their black pupils reflecting the pie’s image… but then Mugman raised an eyebrow confused.

 “Huh…” Mugman continued to stare. “No forks.”

 “Heh!” Cuphead elbowed Mugman. “Relax, we can eat it on the floor.”

 Mugman glared at Cuphead. “On the floor?! Like animals?!” Then suddenly Mugman’s eyes widened. “Ohhhh…” He said in realization, picked up his plate of pie and smiled at it. “Toriel-! THAT’S WHY THERE’S NO FORKS!” He held up the pie like it was gold.

 Cuphead glared confused at Mugman “Uhh, yeah!” He smiled. “Forks are borin’ anyway.” He motioned his right hand to pick up the pie until-

 “HEY HEY HEY!” Mugman swatted Cuphead’s hand.

 “Hey!” Cuphead glared surprised at Mugman.

 “Didja wash yer hands?” Mugman pointed his right finger at Cuphead while looking at him with his squinted right eye.

 Cuphead snickered and then swatted Mugman’s right index finger away. “Who cares?” He splayed his carefree hands, while Mugman just looked at him annoyed. “We’ve got gloves.” He presented his hands wiggled his fingers.

 Mugman scoffed and rolled his eyes. “The same gloves you drooled on and fell on the dirty creek! You’ll wind up buzzed by germsville! I’ll go find the bathroom.” He placed his right foot down, ready to stand.  

“Mmmmokay!” Cuphead smiled smug and picked up his pie. “I hope ya don’t mind if I eat that other slice if yer not havin’ it!”

 After a moment of staring cautiously at Cuphead, Mugman picked up his plate and moved the pie away. “No way! I just need clean hands!”

 Cuphead shrugged his shoulders. “Alrighty!” He offered his hand. “I’ll just hold onto yer plate while ya go wash yer hands!”

 Mugman gasped and beamed. “Thanks buddy!” He was about to lend his plate to Cuphead. “Hey wait a minute…” He pulled back his plate to the middle and squinted his eyes at Cuphead. “Ya tryna pull a fast one on me?”

 Cuphead snickered while biting his teeth together and holding back tears. “Whaddya mean bro?”

  “Yer gonna wait until I’m outta sight.” Mugman pointed his left finger at the door. “And then when I come back” He pointed his finger to the floor. “Both pies’ll be gone and in yer stomach!” Mugman stretched his left arm two times its size to poke Cuphead’s stomach, causing him to squeak in laughter.

 Still giggling, Cuphead swatted his brother’s left hand away. “Soooo… Let’s eat em togethah!” He presented his plate to Mugman. “Come on!” He smirked and raised an eyebrow at Mugman. “Don’t leave me hangin’ pal, or I’m getting that slice!” He winked and pointed at Mugman’s pie.

 Mugman grumbled at Cuphead for this idea… but then he rolled his eyes. “Fine.” He laid his right foot to a sit, and (together with Cuphead) picked up his pie with his right hand while his left held the plate.

 They lifted their pies to the middle between them. “Cheers!” Then bumped them together “Clink!”

 Both with their biggest open mouths, they chomped their pies almost finishing it with one bite leaving only the crust they held on their fingers. They both chewed the pie with their cheeks puffy and lumpy.

 Cuphead elbowed Mugman. “Hnn Mhhgmhhn!” He talked with his mouth full.

 Closed eyes, enjoying the pie, Mugman peeked his right eye to Cuphead.

 “Thish ish howsh ya eatsh yush candish!” Cuphead spoke with salivary crumbs spitting out of his mouth. He closed his eyes and then vocalized “NGAM NGAM NGAM NGAM!” as he made very big chews with his teeth showing, saliva spitting everywhere, and the gooey pie in his mouth breaking down to pieces as it was being tossed around his mouth.

 “EEEEEHHEEHEHEHEEEEEEWWW!” Mugman giggled as he smiled disgusted and intrigued at his brother. He then gulped down his pie. “I love ya buddy.” He then bit off a part of the crust.

 Eyes popped out open, chewing stopped, and mouth scrunched at the same time. The words of the last phrase echoing in his mind. Cuphead’s horrified eyes slid towards his right looking at his innocently smiling brother who locked eyes with him for a few seconds.

 “LEAUGH!” Cuphead let his ball of pie roll out of his tongue down to his plate like a ball rolling down a red carpet.

 “EEEEHEHEHEHEEEEWW!!” Mugman laughed and pointed at the ball of masticated pie.

 “Mugs!” Cuphead said disgustedly. “I know!” He splayed his right hand. “Ya literally just told me the day yester!”

 Mugman giggled. “You mean yesterday. Wait was that yesterday?!” His eyes scrunched in surprise and then his eyes looked left and right as he tapped his chin in thought. “I thought it was a few hours ago.”

 Cuphead grumbled. “Mugs, you were literally on my face fer like ferever!”

 “Really?” Mugman raised an eyebrow. “I thought it was just a nap.”

 Cuphead uttered a sound but then stopped to look left and right, thinking about how long they slept, but then he shook his head. “It doesn’t mattah ya literally tell me that gross L-word more often than not, it’s like ya think I don’t know.”

 Mugman smirked. “Aww come on, I know ya like it!” He winked at him.

 Cuphead’s eyes twitched, his milk boiled, he blushed and even the beating brotherly heart on his chest glared annoyed at Mugman. “NOO I HATE IT!”  He he stood up at the same time.

 Mugman’s smile faded into a disbelieving frown. “Wh-what?!”

 “YEAH!” Cuphead stomped his foot down. “Y-YEAH Y-YA HEARD ME! I-I H-HATE IT WHEN YA USE THAT GROSS L-WORD A LOT!”

 Tears started to form on Mugman’s eyes, but then he scrunched them angrily. “I DON’T BELIEVE THAT ONE BIT!”

 “YOU SHOULD TOO!” Cuphead pointed his finger at Mugman.

 “OH YEAH?!” Tears welling on his eyes, Mugman splayed his arms. “WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT?!”

 “WHAT’S WRONG IS THAT YER ACTIN’ LIKE A BABY BRO!” Cuphead jabbed his finger once at Mugman.

 “WELL I LIKE ACTIN LIKE A BABY BRO! IT’S WHAT WE DO!” Tears fell from Mugman’s face as he spread his arms.

 “NO IT’S NOT! YA SEE THIS?!” Cuphead flexed his left arm, and a lump of muscle appeared. “AND THIS?!” He flexed his right arm. “THESE…” He alternately flexed his arms left, right, left, then right. “ARE WHAT REAL MEN DO! THEY ACT TOUGH! THEY ARM WRESTLE!” He arm wrestled both his hands together. “THEY BURP!” He puffed his cheeks and unleashed a loud trembling burp to the ceiling while spreading his arms wide like he used inner power to do so. “AND THEY DO…” His eyes looked left and right at his hands. “OTHER MANLY STUFF!”

 “I DO THAT!” Mugman pointed his thumb at himself.

 “NO, YA DON’T! YER ALL-“ Cuphead formed two fists that were cuddling his chin. “’Hee hee, I’m a baby bro, I like tuh cuddle with my brothah and get lotsa tickles all day!’” He grunted and dropped his fists into demanding open hands. “Come on ya gotta man up bro!” He smirked and folded his arms. “Or we might as well start callin’ ya Mugbaby!”

 Fists clenched. Mouth trembling. Tears falling from his furious eyes. Mugman took a sobbing breath. “NOOOOOOOOOO!” Shutting his eyes, Mugman stomped his foot forward, and punched his fists behind him as he screamed as loud as he could in front of him.

 Cuphead gasped and trembled at his brother’s sudden scream; his straw turned into an exclamation point. He took a step back and raised his hands in caution.

 Fists lowering. Eyes open and glaring at his brother. Breaths shuddering and turning into sobs. Mugman pointed his finger at him. “I LIKE WHAT WE-! NO!” He stomped his foot again, making Cuphead shiver. “I LOOVE WHAT WE DO!” His sobbing became louder. “YOU’RE MY BEST FRIEND AND MY BROTHER!” He pointed his finger at Cuphead, whose eyes started to crease in sadness. “I-I-I COULD BUILD A BLANKET FOHRT WITH YAH A-AND-AND READ OUR FAVORITE COMIC BOOK ALL NIGHT! I-I COULD WRESTLE ON THE BED WITH YA ‘TIL ELDER KETTLE COMES! A-A-AND I COULD CUDDLE UP TUH YA I-IF THERE WAS LIGHTNIN’ OR I-I HAD A BAD DREAM OR-!”

 Mugman grabbed his head grunted in frustration, and Cuphead took a step forward reaching out his hand.

 “ANYTHIN’ CUPHEAD!” Mugman spread his open ‘crying out’ hands. “ANYTHIN! I-I-ITS LIKE EVERY DAY’S A SLEEPOVER W-WITH MY BEST BUD AND-AND I-I DON’T HAVETUH INVITE YA OVAH CUZ WE’RE BROTHAHS! WE LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE! I-IT’S LIKE MAC N CHEESE” Mugman brought out two index fingers representing each food. “A-AND CHOCOLATE AND VANILLA” He pumped each of those two fingers each again. “O-OO-OR SUGAR N SPICE TOGETHAH! TWO OF OUR FAVORITES IN ONE! WE COULD DO ANYTHIN CUPHEAD! ANYTHIN’! WHY WOULD YA WANNA MAN UP FROM THAT?!”

 Eyes creased. Pupils trembling. Cuphead started with a stammer. “B-because…” His eyes looked down in defeat. “B-because…”

 Sobbing turned into open-wide loud wailing and the tears fell like rushing waterfalls from Mugman’s eyes. Cuphead’s creased eyes looked up apologetically at Mugman, he reached his hand and opened his mouth to try talk to him, but then Mugman covered his eyes, turned around, and ran while pulling the door open.

Cuphead gripped the hem of his shorts, and grunted while kicking his plate, which flipped over and then spun on its rim on the floor to a noisy shaking stop. Closing his eyes, He slapped his own forehead with both hands, grunted as he looked up at the ceiling, and roughly wiped his face down with his hands.

 “WhydoeshehavtuhbelikethisIcan’tbelieveit!” He gave big heavy sigh and opened his air-patting ‘calm down’ hands. “Alright. All I gotta say is…” He took a deep breath, and opened his eyes pretending he was there. “Mugs… I’m…” His mouth shut uncomfortably, it gradually puffed up, and it struggled to open to say something... but then he unleashed a loud raspy whine as he stomped his feet left right left then right. “WhydoIhaftuhsaythes-word” He walked towards the door and yanked it very aggressively that it banged onto the wall. “AllIevahwantedwasfuhMugstuhmanupforonceandnotbesoickyandsobabyishandsoftandstuff.” He kept grumbling other jibber jabbers while walking towards Toriel’s living room/dining room. “Whydoeshehavtuhbesuchababywhycan’themanup.”

 “Why couldn’t he just go with it and have fun?” The sound of Mugman’s sniffling being wiped could be heard. “It’s not like I’m hurtin him or nothin.”

 Toriel hummed endearingly. “Well, if I may suggest, based from experience, maybe you’re giving him too much love.”

 “Too much?!” Mugman exclaimed.

 As Mugman ranted, Cuphead entered the mouth of the room and saw Toriel wearing her eyeglasses while sitting on her couch by the fireplace and Mugman sitting on Toriel’s left knee by the crackling fireplace.

 “Well, what did you do with your brother yesterday?” Toriel rubbed Mugman’s back handle endearingly.

 “Well, we went lookin’ for ya.” Mugman said as he was touching his index fingers together.

 “And… did the search, by any chance, involve lots of hugging?” Toriel teased and raised an eyebrow.

 “What?!” Mugman started counting with his fingers on his right hand. “Noo, there was running, and parrying, and we played tag n’ uhh… ghosts, and spiders and…” He counted his left fingers while looking at them nervously and a curled mouth. His left fingers unfolded one by one, ‘til all four of them were splayed.  “S-sure… there were some hugs here n there but… they weren’t too much!”

 “Uhh, yeah they were!” Cuphead interjected.

 Mugman’s chest jumped, and looked his under right to see Cuphead with his arms folded and blankly staring at him at the foot of the couch.

 “Ah!” Toriel smiled. “Good morning Cuphead!”

 “NUH-UH!” Mugman furiously leaned in closer to Cuphead and stared him down.

 “UH-HUH!” Cuphead stood on his toes closer to Mugman and stared him down... or up rather.

 “NUH-UH!” Mugman leaned in very close to Cuphead.

 “UH-HUH!” Cuphead stood even taller and pushed his nose against Mugman’s as he stared straight into his eyes.

 “AW COME ON YOU STARTED MOST OF ‘EM!” Mugman poked a finger on Cuphead’s chest.

 “I-!” Cuphead blushed from embarrassment, and then swatted his hand off furiously. “THAT’S NOT THE POINT!”

 “HA!” Mugman poked that same finger on Cuphead’s chest, while pushing his nose forward. “SO YOU DO ADMIT IT!” He poked his chest a second time.

 “DON’T YA ‘HA’ ME OR I WILL ‘HA HA’ YOU!” Furious-eyed Cuphead pushed back with his nose and poked Mugman’s chest.

 “WELL DON’T YA ‘HA HA’ ME OR I WILL ‘HA HA HA’ YOU!” Furious-eyed Mugman with steam erupting out of his straw pushed back with his nose and this time he pressed hard Cuphead’s chest with his finger.

 “WELL DON’T YOU ‘HA HA HA’ ME OR I WIL ‘HA HA HA HA’ YOU!” Furious-eyed Cuphead with steam erupting out of his straightened straw pushed back with his nose as he pressed Mugman’s chest back as hard.

 Growling Cuphead and Mugman pushed each other by their noses in some sort of push-o-war with an intense stare down.

 “CHILDREN!” Toriel yelled, and then sighed. “Please! No yelling!” Without breaking their nose connection, she picked up Cuphead and sat him on her left knee. “And…” Toriel giggled. “Do you have to literally be at each other’s noses when you argue?”

 As they broke apart, Cuphead and Mugman blinked and they both looked at Toriel unamused and confused respectively.

 “Uhh…” Mugman scratched the side of his head. “What’s wrong with that?” He said while briefly stealing a peek at Cuphead.

 “She doesn’t have a brother.” Cuphead spoke to Mugman while his backhand was hiding his sidemouth

 Toriel’s eyes widened, she frowned, her eyes stared in anger and her head pulled back pushing against the couch.

 Mugman gasped and covered his mouth with his right hand. “Aww… that’s so sad.”

 Snapping at Mugman, Toriel made a loud flaring inhale, and gritted her teeth under her closed mouth.

 Cuphead giggled. “I know right.” He winked at him.

 Mugman giggled in response. “Yeah, she don’t get what we do.”

 “Yeah. Only we do buddy.” Cuphead buddy hugged Mugman and they both shared a moment to giggle.

 Cuphead ended with a sigh. “Now… where was I?” He raised an eyebrow.

 “Ha ha ha.” Mugman said casually as he tilted his head three times, one on each ‘ha.’

 “No no, what’re we beefin’ about?” Cuphead swished his free hand on front of him.

 “Oh! Uhh…” Mugman tapped his chin twice. “My hugs are too much. Which THEY’RE NOT BY THE WAY!” Mugman bumped his forehead and pressed his nose onto Cuphead’s, who stared back furiously.

 “YA THEY ARE!” Cuphead pushed back with his nose.

 “NO! THEY’RE! NOT!” Mugman pushed forward with his nose and forehead on each syllable.

 “YA! THEY! ARE!” Cuphead pushed forward with his nose and forehead on each syllable.

 They both grumbled as they kept pushing in this nose push-o-war again.

 “Toriel!” Cuphead and Mugman turned to her they pointed their fingers at each other.

 Then, they gasped in shock.

 Before them were two crimson-piercing eyes looming and staring back at them furiously. Toriel’s mouth scrunched and she took one fiery fuming breath.

 “Apologize… Now. “ Her irises burned with fire within them.

 “W-we’re…” Cuphead and Mugman hugged each other very tightly as they shivered. “W-we’re-!”

 “Say. It.” She hissed with every word.

 “WE’RE SORRY!” Cuphead and Mugman yelled as they kept shivering and hugging each other.

 She glared at them, turning her eyes slowly to Mugman, then Cuphead, then Mugman, and then Cuphead.

 Then, she sighed in relief, and chuckled. “I guess it’s not too much when you are taking care of each other!”

 Cuphead and Mugman’s eyebrows creased with confusion, and then they habitually slid their eyes to each other to check if the other understood… but then those same eyes widened and they gasped in shock. They were hugging each other, and Mugman quickly pushed Cuphead away.

 “WHA-! HEY!” Cuphead splayed his palms open.

 Mugman folded his arms and looked away. “I don’t wanna hug you anymore. You ruined everything!”

 “I-!” Cuphead growled, gritted his teeth, squeezed his fists, and his milk boiled. “FINE!” He turned away and folded his arms, mirroring Mugman’s posture.

 “Oh children…” Toriel gently placed her hands on their heads, covering their milk completely, but not the straws. “This is all a misunderstanding. Can’t we talk it out?”

 “No!“ They both said as they bumped their folded arms onto their chests and stuck their noses higher to the air.

 “But… you’re both right!” Toriel smiled.

 Cuphead and Mugman’s eyes opened, and they looked at her confused. “What?!”

 Toriel’s smile showed teeth as she chuckled. “Yes! You’re both right!...” She raised and index finger as she explained, but she tapped that same finger on her lips thinking for a few seconds. “But you’re also both wrong.” She giggled. “Does that make sense?” She looked at them with a kind and patient smile.

 Cuphead and Mugman kept staring at her with their silent speechless mouths open. “Nnno!”

 Toriel chuckled. “Alright, I’ll explain.” She cleared her throat. “Cuphead. Don’t be so harsh on your brother. Just tell ‘im.”

 “I did!” Cuphead thrusted his showing hands towards Mugman. He then glared at him. “But he wouldn’t gimme a break!”

 Mugman spit raspberry sounds at towards Cuphead.

 “Well in that case, Mugman.” She looked at the blue mug with a gentle smile. “Don’t blame your brother. You fed him too much pie.”

 Eyebrows creasing more confused, Cuphead and Mugman looked at each other for a moment, and then back at Toriel.

 “But… I didn’t feed him any pie!” Mugman raised right eyebrow.

 “Yeah!” Cuphead raised his left eyebrow, mirroring Mugman.

 Toriel chuckled, with her hand politely covering her mouth. “Your hugs ARE the pies.” She endearingly booped Mugman’s nose.

 “Hey!” Mugman’s eyes looked at Toriel’s finger booping the middle of his nose, earning a slight chuckle from Cuphead who thought Mugman’s crisscross pupils were funny.

 “Yeah, I still don’t get it.” Cuphead scratched the top of his bendy straw.

 “Yeah!” Mugman looked up at Toriel. “Why would anyone get tired of your pie? It’s delicious!” He smiled and began moving in some forward kicking-like action alternatively with his left foot, then right, then left, and then right.

 Cuphead stared with a confused raised brow at Mugman. “Uhh… that’s not it, but he’s not wrong though.”

 “Aww, that’s very sweet of you!” Toriel smiled with his hands together with thumbs touching her mouth. “Come here my child!” She opened her arms wide enough for Mugman to enter.

 A big smile spread on Mugman’s face and he made a quick tackling hug on Toriel’s stomach earning a surprised “Oh!” from her. She chuckled, and then hugged Mugman very fondly, and Mugman stuck his tongue out with a loud “LLLLLLHH!!!” at Cuphead who growled and folded his arms in reaction… until Toriel tightened her hug that it caused Mugman to squeak at the sudden tightness.

 “Ughh-!” T-Toriel!” Mugman made a grumbling sound as he pushed Toriel’s stomach away trying to free himself of the tight space. “Too tight!”

 “Oh?” Toriel chuckled. “I thought you said you wouldn’t get tired of my pie!” She maintained her tight hug on Mugman.

 As he watched Mugman struggle, Cuphead’s mouth turned from a curious ‘o’ into a right-lipped giggling smirk.

 “Wait!” Mugman grumbled louder and pushed harder. “I get it!” He brought his feet to her stomach and pushed. “TORIEL!”

 Cuphead laughed and pointed his right finger towards Mugman, who then growled at Cuphead.

 Toriel chuckled and let go, but it made Mugman push himself too far that he wobbled with a “WOAHOAHOAH!” and he spun and spread his arms trying stop himself from falling over her knee.

 With a sly smile, Cuphead leaned over to Mugman and tapped the back of his head with a “Boop!”

 “WOAH!” Mugman wobbled forward and was finally balanced sitting on Toriel’s knee.

 Mugman looked at Cuphead to see that he was smug smiling.

 “You’re welcome.” He showed a cocky white-teeth sparkly smile.

 Eyebrows scrunched, Mugman gave a slightly hard pat on Cuphead’s face.

 “Ow!” Cuphead covered his nose with his right hand as he recoiled backwards.

 “Mugman!” Toriel glared shocked. “He just saved you!”

 Mugman’s eyes widened in realization. “Oh yeah…”  His eyes looked down in regret.

 “Yeah…” Minorly grumpy Cuphead rubbed his nose with his index finger. “No thanks buddy.”

 Mugman’s eyes began to water, and he rubbed his sniffing nose with his right back wrist.

 “Aww… Mugman.” Warm smiling Toriel opened her arms wide enough for Mugman like before. “Come here.”

 “Not…” Mugman sniffled and a tear dropped as he blinked. “Not too tight.”

 Toriel nodded and gave an endearing hum. “I think you’ve already learned your lesson.”

 After one last sad look, Mugman let himself fall towards Toriel’s stomach, and they shared a tender hug.

 “MMm Sorrrmmm.” Mugman said, muffled by her stomach.

 Toriel chuckled. “Not to me my child.” She gently turned Mugman’s handle ‘til he faced Cuphead who was just pouting.

 Mugman took a breath and sighed, realizing the hassle he must go through.

 “Oh.” Toriel stroked Mugman’s handle with her right hand. “It’s alright my child.” She gave a gentle smile to Mugman, and he looked back with his frown turning into a hopeful smile. “Nothing wrong with trying to fix something… especially if it’s with your best friend.”

 Grumpy Cuphead looked away for a moment of thought, and then looked back at Mugman.

 Smiling more hopeful, Mugman let go of Toriel and placed his hands on his knees. “Hey. Bro…” He looked at the corner of his eyes and scratched the back of his head. “I-I’m…” He took a breath, closed his eyes, exhaled, opened his eyes again and then faced his brother properly. “I’m sorry.”

 Cuphead’s right lip smirked. “Heh. No biggie.” He closed his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. “It’ll just gimme more reason to get back at ya later.” As he spoke, He opened his eyes and punched his right fist onto his own left hand at ‘get back’.

 Mugman’s smile curled, nervous about the anticipated revenge.

 “See!” Toriel gently placed a hand on Mugman’s left shoulder, and Mugman’s nerves calmed to a genuine smile. “Even after all that fuss, he still loves you!” She playfully tapped Mugman’s nose, causing him to giggle.

 Eyes bugged out. Chest jumped. Bendy straw turning into an exclamation point. “WHAT?! NO!!” Cuphead glared at Toriel.

 With a big smile, Mugman gasped. “AWWWWWWWWWWW!!!” His glossy eyes sparkled and shimmered as he looked at Cuphead.

 “SHADDUP!!” Cuphead lunged his nose against Mugman’s, earning a surprised squeal that soon turned into a snorty bubbly laugh.

 “Aw-!” Mugman snorted.  “Come on buddy!” He snorted and giggled some more. “Embrace the brotherly love!” He snorted with a giggle as he opened his arms. “Get it? Embrace!” His smile got bigger as he laughed, even as Cuphead continued to glare at him annoyed.

 “Oh I’ll show ya some BROTHERLY LOVE in a minute!” Cuphead rolled up his right sleeve, showing his white arm, and he pulled back ready to punch.

 Mugman’s pure smile turned forceful as he stared with a sweat drop back at Cuphead… but then the latter’s right lip trembled as he snickered, and then he threw his head backwards as he made a loud laugh.

 “I HA-HA-HA-HATE YOUHUHUHUHUHU!” Cuphead playfully pushed Mugman, who just closed one eye as he was pushed, and he laughed with his brother.

 “No you don’t.” Mugman folded his arms and he smirked at Cuphead as he danced his head left and right sassily.

 The three of them threw laughing fits. Toriel laughed while hugging her stomach, and then eventually placed her hands on Cuphead and Mugman’s shoulders. Cuphead hugged his stomach, Mugman accidentally rested his hands on Cuphead’s knees instead of his own, but Cuphead placed his left hand on the back of Mugman’s right hand, and then playfully pushed it away starting a small pushing of hands game as they laughed.  

 Finally, Toriel sighed. She turned to both each. “You two remind me so much of…” She looked at the corners of her eyes in thought. “a couple of… faces I used to know.”

 With curious big eyes, Cuphead and Mugman looked at her, then at each other for a moment, then back.

 Turning to the right, Toriel looked at the dining table behind her. “They made me so happy.”

 Mugman turned to his left, while Cuphead leaned forward to look past Toriel.

 Three chairs were arranged on the long table; one was the smallest about the size of the Cups by the far head of the table, next was the biggest on the right side, and lastly across the smallest was just the size of Toriel’s.

 “Who were they?” Mugman kept looking at the table with his brother.

 Toriel looked at Cuphead and Mugman’s hands, held them each with her own hands, and softly clasped them together. “Two best friends.” She looked at both, who then looked back at her with curiosity. “Just like the two of you.” She turned back with a proud smile at their holding hands.

 They smiled at each other; Cuphead had an excited and big smile while Mugman had a warm, endearing, and awestruck smile.

 Still excited, Cuphead looked at Toriel. “Where are they?”

 Her smile turned into a sad and longing one. “I...” She slowly turned to the fire on her left. “I will tell you… another time…”

 “Aw come on!” Cuphead gave a light tug on their held hands, earning a smile from Mugman. “Tell us!” He smiled with his white teeth at Toriel.

 “Not now my child!” Toriel snapped a glare at Cuphead, and they both gasped in reaction. She then returned her gaze to the fire and then let of their hands. “Not now.”

 Still holding hands, Cuphead and Mugman looked at each other, and then shrugged their shoulders.

 “What about you two?” Toriel smiled at them. “I’ll be honest, you’re a cupple of unexpectedly delightful surprises that dropped-in!”

 “Hey!” Cuphead smirked.

 Cuphead and Mugman laughed in reaction to the puns Toriel made.

 “Well, thanks a bunch for taking care of us Ms-! I mean!” Mugman shook his head so hard, it splashed tiny droplets of milk in different directions (Cuphead chuckled as he covered his face) and shook his head straw. “Toriel.” He finished smiled.

 Toriel chuckled with her hand elegantly covering her mouth. “You’re a very sweet gentleman you are Mugman.”

 “Or should I say…” Cuphead smirked as he leaned towards his brother. “Muggentleman?” He winked at Mugman, earning a snicker from him.

 They all laughed together.

 “So…” Toriel leaned in with a curious enthusiastic smile. “is everyone a cup or mug in your world?”

 “Nah!” Cuphead and Mugman said in sync. They gasped at each other. “Jinx!” They booped each other’s noses and laughed.

 “We’ve got all sortsa fellas!” Mugman explained with his right hand splayed open.

 “Yeah!” Cuphead raised his index finger. “We’ve got Beppi!”

 “A, uhh…” Mugman tapped his chin repeatedly, then widened his eyes with an ‘aha!’ expression. “A balloon clown!” He smiled.

 Toriel’s eyebrows creased confused. “A… balloon clown?”

 “Yeah!” Cuphead and Mugman said in sync. “Jinx!” They both booped each other’s noses.

 “But I said that.” Mugman smirked with his eyes closed and arms folded,

 “Yeah!” Cuphead winked and nudged Mugman with his elbow.  “That’s what I said.”

 “No! I said that!” Annoyed Mugman pointed his thumb to himself.

 “Yeah!” Cuphead glared at him annoyed. “That’s what I said!”

 “No!” Mugman bumped his nose against Cuphead’s nose again while he stared him down. “You are stealin’ what I’m sayin’!” He poked Cuphead’s chest.

 “No! I’m sayin-“ Cuphead pointed his thumb to himself. “What ya said-“ He poked Mugman’s chest. “Is exactly what she’s ask sayin!” He splayed his hands to Toriel as he explained.

 Mugman uttered a retaliating tone, but then tapped his chin and hummed in thought. “So what you’re sayin’ is-“ He poked Cuphead’s chest. “What I was sayin’-“ He pointed his thumb to himself. “Was exactly what she was askin fer?” He pointed to Toriel.

 “Yes!” He pressed his clinking forehead forward as he pressed his point, regardless of how ‘in-your-face’ he was with Mugman.

 “And in addition to what you’re sayin’-“ Mugman poked Cuphead’s chest again. “Yer not tryinna snatch my sayin’-“ He snatched the air to demonstrate. “And yer actually sayin is-“ He poked Cuphead’s chest again. “What I was sayin-“ He pointed his thumb to himself. “Is exactly what she was sayin’?” He pointed to Toriel.

 “YES!” Smiling Cuphead pressed his forehead even further, goofily making Mugman lean backwards (which he didn’t mind), and he spread his happy exclaiming hands high to the air. “OH MAN!” Placing his head on Mugman’s shoulder, he used those same hands to hug Mugman tightly. “It feels so good to be on the same page again buddy!”

 Mugman’s mouth scrunched smiling. “Awww! You’re huggin’ me again!”

 Cuphead’s eyes bugged out. “LEAUGH!” He spit his long tongue out as he pushed himself off of Mugman, earning a bubbly laugh from him, and he panic-wiped his shirt off like he was cleaning off a disgusting infection, and then he folded his arms. “Hmph!”

Toriel joined in on Mugman’s snorty bubbly laughter with her own endearing and gentle laughter.

 “See my child?” Toriel raised a finger in front of Mugman’s nose, and he looked at it with his crisscross eyes. “All you need… is patience.” She booped Mugman’s nose.

 Mugman giggled, his shoulders excitedly tensed as he was booped, and then he nodded.

 “Now…” Toriel looked at Cuphead. “You were talking about balloon clowns? These are humans who are clowns, who sell balloons right?”

 Cuphead glared confused at Toriel. “Uhh… No. He’s walkin’ n talkin’ balloon… human. Right Mugs?” He looked at his brother.

 Mugman giggled. “Yeah!” He nodded. “Uhh, Then we’ve uhh…” He tapped his tinking chin. “Baroness Von Bon Von.” His eyes shrunk and his straw turned into an exclamation point (Cuphead giggled in reaction). “No no!” He shook his head. “I mean uhh, Baroness Bon Von Von! NO I MEAN-!” He grunted to the sky.

 Cuphead laughed. “No it’s Baroness Von Bon Von Bon Bon Von Bon!”

 Mugman laughed, in chorus with Cuphead’s. “No it’s Bon Bon Von Von Bon Von!”

 The brothers laughed together with their respective squeaky hiccup sounds and snorts.

 Amused, Toriel watched them as they laughed. “And, what kind of person is this Baroness?”

 “She’s a candy-! No, I mean… a cake human?” Mugman looked to Cuphead.

 Cuphead shrugged his shoulders. “She’s got the candy cane though so you’re not wrong.”

 Mugman smiled and held his hand high, and Cuphead high-fived it casually.

 Smiling Toriel raised an eyebrow intrigued.

 “Then there’s Djimmi!” Cuphead raised his index finger.

 “He’s a ghost human!” Mugman raised his index finger in imitation.

 “Uhh…” Cuphead raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that ghost train thingy-!”

 “The Phantom Express?” Mugman raised an eyebrow too as he smiled.

 “Yeah the phantom train thingy! That one!” Cuphead pointed to Mugman as he smiled. “Isn’t that ride full of ghosts?”

 Mugman gasped. “Oh yeah! That mean’s Djimmi’s uhhh, uhhh…” He stirred his head milk with his own straw as he tapped his chin; his eyes went whirly as he stirred.

 “A djinni?” Toriel raised an eyebrow.

 Stopping his stirring, Mugman snapped his fingers. “Oh yeah! A Djinni!”

 “Yeah, like that one story Elder Kettle tells us about?” Cuphead was wagging his pointing finger.

 Mugman giggled and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t remember which one, there are so many!”

 “Pfft!” Cuphead flicked his hand down. “Yeah, until he-“ He pretended to snore with his head tilted down and his bendy straw inflating a big bubble at the tip of it.

 Mugman laughed loudly and bubbly. “He’s the best!” He spread his hands in the air.

 “Yeah!” Cuphead also spread his hands in imitation… but then he looked at the lower corner of his eyes. “Yeah…” His smile started to fade.

 Mugman noticed his fading smile, making his own smile start to frown as well.

 They looked down to their laps, and felt a peculiar familiarity. Sitting down on the knees of someone else. Fire crackling from the fireplace. If they looked up, they could probably see Elder Kettle smiling with wonder with his right hand in the air wiggling with magic wizard fingers and his left hand holding a book picked from a shelf of dozens of storybooks arranged on the shelf above the fire. If not stories, then they listened to the radio, and would sing a hippy happy song they would know.  

 Their minds raced. Elder Kettle giving them the blue potion of their powers… them training in Kettle’s magic drawing board with Elder Kettle himself gently guiding them from above.… Him catching up to Inkwell Isle II to give them hope of defeating The Devil… and finally celebrating in a hippity hoppity group hug after everything was over… with a few back breaks from Elder Kettle that they had to take him to the hospital.

 They both looked up to the headrest of the chair, but Toriel, instead of their beloved guardian, rested her head on it while watching them with curiosity. They both looked at each other, and gave a sad smile and a sigh of longing.

 “Toriel…” Mugman slowly looked to her, who just blinked. “It’s been a real slice…”

 “Literally!” Cuphead raised his index finger and giggled. “That pie was the bee’s knees!”

 Mugman gasped. “Aw man no fair!” He pushed Cuphead a little roughly.

 Cuphead and Toriel just laughed.

 Cuphead put his hands on his hips. “Ya gotta be faster buddy!” He winked.

 Mugman rolled his eyes. “Anyway, yeah it’s been a real-“ He paused, and then slid his glaring eyes at Cuphead who was just smirking at him. “Real.” Mugman said smug.”

 Cuphead snickered. “Jealous.”

 Mugman rolled his eyes again. “Toriel, when can we go home?”

 Cuphead smiled at Toriel.

 Toriel blinked confused. “Home?”

 “Yeah! Ya know, our reeaal home!” Cuphead he spread his arms as if he was demonstrating a huge place.

 Mugman chuckled apologetically. “Yeah! Elder Kettle might steam his spout if we’re gone for too long.”

 Eyes shut, Cuphead shuddered. “Wouldn’t wanna see that.”

 Toriel chuckled. “You’re very thoughtful to think about your grandfather like that.”

 Mugman raised his finger. “Well technically he’s-!”

 “Don’t.” Cuphead put his index finger on Mugman’s mouth. “Just don’t.”

 Mugman just nodded.

 “But first…” Toriel raised her finger. “You mentioned you had… cake humans…” She started counted with her fingers. “balloon humans, djinnis, ghost humans, and Elder Kettle, which I think is a walking kettle or… a kettle human?

 “With a cane and a jolly good ‘ol sense of humor.” Cuphead made a hook punch in front of him.

 Toriel hummed in amusement. “I see. I suppose there are other cup humans in your world too!”

 From smiling, Cuphead and Mugman looked at each other, and then frowned looking down.

 “We… um…” Cuphead started.

 “We don’t know.” Mugman finished.

 “Oh…” Toriel put her hands on their heads. “I’m sure there are my children.”

 Cuphead and Mugman looked at her and smiled.

 “And I also suppose that… in your world, there are other kinds of ‘humans’” She wiggled her fingers to make quotation marks. “Not just candies, balloons, and ghosts?”

 “Oh yeah!” Cuphead and Mugman said. “Jinx!” They pointed at each other.

 “There are plant humans!” Cuphead raised a finger.

 Mugman raised an eyebrow to Cuphead. “Are those humans?”

 Cuphead blinked confused for a moment. “Well.. there are human humans.” He shrugged his shoulders and smiled with uncertainty.

 “Yeah but… plant humans?” Mugman smiled with cringe.

 “Well… there’s Goopy.” Cuphead pointed to Mugman.

 Mugman stared in space, thinking about what he said. “Good point.” He then smiled at Toriel. “There are mermaids and fish too!”

 “Fish in the water?” Toriel smiled with curiosity, though her tone sounded more suggestive than surprised.

 “Nah! Fish walkin!” Cuphead smiled. “And fish… fishin’….” He cringed in realization.

 Mugman cringed in realization too, and their eyes met.

 Toriel chuckled. “Are you sure you know what a human is?”

 Cuphead and Mugman looked at each other confused. “Yes?” They then looked back at Toriel.

 Toriel chuckled. “Only one way to find out.”

 She carried Cuphead by his body and put him down and did the same with Mugman. She stood up, held their hands, and walked towards the dining table.

 “Wait here please.” Toriel let go of their hands and walked towards the kitchen.

 Cuphead looked to Mugman confused but the latter just shrugged his shoulders with the same confusion as his brother.

 As the big soft footsteps approached, Cuphead and Mugman turned to see Toriel carrying in her hands paper and a box of crayons which the two brothers cringed at the sight of.

 Mugman leaned to Cuphead. “What’re we babies?” He whispered with his sidemouth.

 Cuphead spoke back with his side mouth. “I’m not, but you are.” He smirked

 Mugman’s eyes widened for a moment, then he glared at him sideways, and then pushed him. “Stop it!”

 Cuphead laughed as he was pushed.

 Toriel went to the table and laid down the paper and the box of crayons she carried onto the table.

 Cuphead and Mugman cringe-smiled. “Yay…” They said unenthusiastically.

 Toriel sighed. “I’m terribly sorry my children, these are the only arts and crafts supplies I could find.” She hummed and tapped her chin to herself. “Maybe I could find or buy more once you get settled in.”

 Mugman blinked and stared at her cautiously. “Once we what?”

 Toriel’s eyes widened. “Oh! I mean, I have a favor to ask both of you.”

 “Oh! What is it?” Cuphead smiled while gliding his hands backwards.

 Taking a sheet from the stack on the table, Toriel placed a piece of paper to her left in front of Mugman, and placed another to her right in front of Cuphead.

 “Could you draw yourselves…” Toriel opened the box of crayons, and rolled the crayons in the middle. “But with your own hearts?”

 Cuphead and Mugman raised an eyebrow confused and looked at each other. “Hearts?!”

 “Yes! You know…” Toriel picked up a black crayon and drew an upside-down heart on the paper. “Like that!”

 Cuphead and Mugman kept staring at the heart example with their raised eyebrows.

 “Uhh…” Cuphead looked at Toriel as he pointed at the heart. “I think ya got it upside down.”

 Toriel’s enthusiastic smile turned into a shocked eyes widened frown.

 “Yeah!” Mugman then smirked. “Wow Cuphead you’re not so dum dum after all.”

 Cuphead playfully pushed him. “Shut up.”

 Mugman giggled and rotated the heart right-side up. “And his heart is pink!” He grabbed a pink crayon and colored the once black-lined heart.

 Toriel’s shock slowly turned into despair.

 “Ew!” Cuphead glared at Mugman. “Ya make it sound like I have a gal’s heart!”

 “Wha-!” Mugman glared at Cuphead confused. “No! It’s the same color as mine!”

 “EW WE BOTH HAVE GIRL HEARTS!” With a playful smile, Cuphead leaned away from Mugman.

 “EW CUPHEAD!” Mugman playfully pushed Cuphead and they both laughed.

 Amidst their laughter, Toriel slowly became numb and it turned into a frown of indifference.

 “You have a stupid tiny nose.” Giggly Mugman drew a cup for a head with a black crayon and put a red dot on it.

 “Oh-ho yeah?”  Cuphead confidently raised an eyebrow. He snatched the black crayon from Mugman. “Well you have a giant nose the size of a football!” He drew a mug for a head and then picked up a blue crayon and drew a huge oval that covered most of the mug.

 “Hey!” Mugman snatched the blue crayon from Cuphead, who then was surprised at first but then glared back at him annoyed. “It’s not that big!”

“And my nose ain’t that small!” Cuphead pointed his thumb to himself. “Ya started it!” He tapped his brother’s chest.

 “Okay okay!” Mugman raised his ‘stop’ hands. “No nose jokes.” He wagged his finger.

 Cuphead smiled. “Deal!”

 They bumped their backhands to each other.

 “Excuse me for a moment.”  Toriel said with an empty voice.

 “Okay!” Cuphead and Mugman said together as they continued to finish their drawings of each other; Cuphead grabbed a sheet and started a new Mugman drawing, while Mugman just normalized the size of Cuphead’s nose on the drawing.

 -End of Part 1-

  (Cutscene)

 Once they were done, they ran out to the main hall and looked around to find her.

 “I think… she went to her room?” Mugman pointed towards the hallway.

 Cuphead smiled. “Come on!” He grabbed Mugman’s hand and they happily ran to the end of the hallway to the last room on the left.

 They opened the door, but Mugman screamed, jumped towards Cuphead and hugged him, while the latter then caught his brother by his back on one and his back knees on the other.

 “F-f-fl-! F-F-F-Flowey!!” Mugman pointed above ahead.

 A bunch of bright yellow flowers in a vase glowed in the upper part of the dark space.

 Cuphead snickered at Mugman who just blushed and looked away.

 “Hey, flowers can be horrible. Like Cagney for one!” Mugman looked at his brother, hoping the explanation was enough.

 Cuphead put his mouth closer to Mugman’s ear side. “Baby br-!”

 “AM NOT!!!!!!” Mugman yelled with his mouth opened three times larger than its actual size, showing its sharp shark-like teeth, and unleashing a strong wind that blew onto Cuphead’s smug face.

 Cuphead laughed and began to sing. “Rock a bye baby on the tree top!” He began to sway Mugman left and right.

 Mugman growled and wrestled Cuphead down to the floor, who laughed in reaction, and then laughed louder as evil-smiling Mugman was wiggling his stomach.

 “OKAY!” Cuphead kicked the ground repeatedly with his heels as he laughed. “OKAY OKAY YOU’RE BIG BRO!”

 Mugman held his fists on his hips. “That’s right, and dontcha forget it.”

 Mugman looked to the room, leaving Cuphead to just laugh the tickles off.

 It was a mostly dark room, save for the things lit by the hallway light. On the dark parts (after his eyes adjusted) there was a bed on the far left corner, a tall flower vase on the right of it, a four-space bookshelf full of books right of it, on top of the book case was the yellow glowing bunch of flowers on the left side and a tall cactus in a pot on the right, on the right of the bookcase was a two-drawer dresser with a lamp standing on its left-side on top, and a mirror on the wall behind the dresser.

 In the lit parts of the room, closest to Mugman who stepped in, was a desk with an unlit lamp on the upper right, some scratch papers below it, below that off the desk was a pulled-out seat, and to the left of the scratch paper was an open written journal with one paragraph encircled in red. Mugman tiptoed to read the journal.

 ‘Why did the skeleton want a friend?’ Mugman read in Toriel’s voice. ‘Because she was feeling BONELY…’

 Mugman raised an eyebrow and smiled in reaction.

 “What’cha readin’?” Cuphead approached Mugman.

 “Eh, just some of Toriel’s jokes.” Mugman shrugged his shoulders.

 Cuphead tiptoed to read, and just snickered. “Where does she get these bad jokes?”

 “Speaking of who, where is she?”

 (End of Cutscene).