Disclaimer: Hey, everyone. Here you go, with the last chapter of Cuphead! Despite extending many of the chapters to having a minimum length of 3000, thanks to the updates, the epilogue remains the shortest chapter. After all, it is meant to wrap up the loose ends and set up what comes next.

StoriesUnleashed: There shall be a sequel after this, but I'll wait a while before working on that. School and all.

ultima-owner: Well, she is old.

FrostyAngelWings: Mweeehh?

RainbowCelin: You could try, but most roasts might go over their heads due to their lack of modern day language.

gregorian12: Thank you!

GreenRoze: Time: not right now, no. Will: heck yeah! There is going to be a sequel, but you'll have to be patient for it.

Brass: That's exactly what I had in mind for the sequel. I figured it'd be great to see how they react in her world.

Whiscash: She doesn't like him romantically, and never will. That doesn't mean she doesn't fully hate him though. It's complicated.

kitgirl91: Depends if there will ever be more stories like this. Your question at the end is kind of confusing me. What did you mean?

HiILikePie: Yes. As it's been mentioned a few times in past chapters and in this one, I do intend to write a sequel. Though, I don't plan on starting that for a while. School's busy, and I'm in full-swing of finishing up a story that's been going on for over a year.

"Speaking"

Thinking

Edited: May 11/20

It had been two weeks, and Nicky's entire thought process was all over the place. So much had changed for her, since finding that strange book. Okay, maybe not a lot, but it's noticeable for some people. She dropped her bag along the side of her desk, rubbing the spot the strap had rested against her shoulder. Heavy, but nothing she couldn't handle. "Good going, Nicky." She dropped to her bed, laying on her back and legs dangling off the mattress. "Knew you could do it."

She aced the project. Lower end of the A scale, but aced nonetheless. David was baffled at her state when she had waltzed into the cafe the following day, staring constantly at the bandages around her hands, but she assured him that she was fine. They were only on for two more days, since returning to her reality, so she didn't have to put up with the odd looks for very long. As for the scratches on her face, those had heeled up just as quickly. Though, removing the stitches herself was a pain. Honestly, I thought I'd be in a lot worse state. Surprised at how fast I've recovered.

Her teacher shared nearly the same reaction as her study buddy, noticing the faint scars when she had entered the door the next Monday, and a smile on her face. Nothing bright, but one that came when you had a good thought in your head. A secretive smile, that belonged all to yourself. Even the few students who had teased her, right up until she left for the library, seemed to almost… stop. There was still some picking. She didn't expect it all to go away. Yet, there were a few who seemed to stop once they saw she was shrugging them off. Nicky didn't care anymore, what they said. Or, at the very least, she had more important things in her life than being bothered by them. Her snappish behavior was still very, very loud and clear and ready to bite, however, just in case.

Her parents never were overly concerned that she had showed up late that night. She was an adult, so the action wasn't one that they were stressed about. She had managed to sneak up to her room before they caught sight of her hands, and she hurried to throw a new long sleeved shirt, since the old one's sleeves had to be torn apart to apply the wrappings. A simple hoodie that was too big for her fixed that problem. They saw the increased cheerfulness in their daughter too, making more jokes rather than snide remarks, and… talking like someone from the early 20th century.

Dang it, King Dice. She wanted some payback though, something to show up her classmates. After some thorough research, and an eventual return to the library for actual research, Nicky chose to do her report on Iwerks himself and his influence on the cartoon industry. With a newfound appreciation of rubber hose animation, she enjoyed looking at old cartoons for key points. Him, and bits and pieces of the Fleischer Studios. She did her digging to put together the best report she could manage, and boy, did it show.

What really sold her change in personality to them, was the cover she drew for the essay. Nicky was rather good at sketches, mostly involving buildings rather than animals and people. Trying her hand at it, and learning that a detailed cover would give her bonus points, she latched onto the idea that rushed to the surface. In water colors and pen, she drew Cuphead and Mugman standing atop a dice the same color as King's head. Fingers glowing blue and ready to fire. Cuphead was smirking with a mischievous glint in his eyes, while Mugman was smiling shyly, a little behind his older brother.

It was dark out now, as the woman had gone out as a small celebration for her grade. That, and in addition, she had gone back to the library. Back to where it all began, to explain to the no doubt still confused Mrs. Graves as to what she had witnessed. Pretty sure I gave her a heart attack coming out of the pages, Nicky thought with a small laugh. Small. She was partially serious in it. The elderly woman was highly intrigued with her tale. Had it not been for her sprouting from the pages before her, she might not have even believed it. The curiosity in her questions and attention to her retelling, was near identical to that of Elder Kettle. There were slight differences, but it reminded her of the brothers' caretaker. She retold the basics, seeing it as an event that was better kept to herself, and together, they reviewed the book, front to back.

She wasn't in the book, and her influence within the Inkwell Isles was not shown. But she knew, she knew, it wasn't her imagination. She knew it wasn't her mind playing tricks when she saw the last page shifting every few minutes on her sprint home. Shouting a quick and rushed "I'm back, love you," to her parents as she threw herself through the door and up to her room. Dropping to her seat at her cramped desk, she flung open Cuphead's book to check what she had seen. It wasn't just the ending scene. The few pages after it, showing snapshots of the different areas of the cartoon world, changed. Alternating every now and then to show whatever the book was open up to see on the other side. She couldn't hear them, and they couldn't hear her. But it didn't matter. They could still see each other, albeit one way, and that was enough for now. Wonder if Cuphead and Mugman can see the same things I can? She doubted it. Having their book work the same way as hers would generate a ton of problems.

There were a few other things that had occurred, since she traveled into the Inkwell Isles. She had caught her parents practically smothering the phone a few nights ago. She couldn't hear the exact details, and to her confusion, her mom never explained who was on the other end. Why? Was it something at work? Family related? I really did want to know. Nicky hated being kept in the dark, but it wasn't long afterwards that they finally calmed down. There was still something being kept from her, but if it was that huge, then they would let her know in time.

Kicking off her sneakers, she rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. She was too tired to bother changing clothes. That could wait until the morning. Is it… morning already? Nicky shrugged, and closed her eyes with a sigh. "Ah… night, guys." So I have a habit of talking to the book… it's not weird.

The room went silent; the only sound being the soft breathing from Nicky and the cars passing by outside the house. A crackling sound rippled through the air, akin to an electric current and, unaware to her and the other occupants of the house, jazz began to fill the room. She shuffled, the noise disturbing her for a moment, only enough to make her roll onto her side to face the book on the desk. "Mmm…"

"Well, Cuphead gambled with the Devil." It wasn't the same barbershop quartet, that had sung the odd introduction to the book and the world of Cuphead. No, it was a baritone voice. One that was… highly familiar. "Thought he'd win a heft purse. Mugman came along to help him. But, things they just got WOOORSE!" As the music continued to flow, the book opened itself, and the pages began to flip one by one. In time with the beat, it showcased each boss battle the brothers went against. From the madness of the Baroness with Mugman stuck in the castle's frosted roof, to the pain of Cala Maria and having the brothers get distracted by Cala Maria's cuteness-specifically, Mugman. From the all-out brawl with the King Dice and his court, to the long and tiring fight with the demon himself. While the human did not appear in the pages, the impact she made was quite noticeable. Not on the outside, but on the inside. To the characters illustrated on the pages, with such care and emotion that they could leap off the pages.

Leap off the pages… heh, what an accurate sentence.

The jazz began winding down, and the final drum beats led the song into fading out. Nicky mumbled in her sleep again, and unconsciously rolled back onto her back, a hand resting over her chest, and the other stretched over her head. "That's all there is. There isn't anymore."

Nicky was tired. Flat-out exhausted. She wasn't aware of the music, nor was she aware of the glow that had lit up her room. A well-acquainted glow, that though dying down, had not vanished altogether. Quiet footsteps thumped along the floorboards, stopping just short of the woman. A pair of green eyes flashed down at her, and the wide grin was almost visible in the dim light the book still cast. "Or is there…? Hehehe, yeah..." he slipped his jacket off, draping it around her, and retreated back the way he came. A jacket, that was still as torn as when he wore it in his brawl against the brothers… oh, he'd definitely needed to get a new one. But besides that, the quicker he moved, the better. He didn't need anyone noticin' he dipped out. "Be seein' you real soon, darlin'." Especially not the cupfaces. After all, gettin' hold of that book wasn't exactly easy. The Isles ain't done with you yet.

Thank you everyone for reading Cuphead: Into the Inkwell Isles. This was a short story, but I don't plan on letting it die out so easily. There shall be a sequel down the road, so don't forget!

Also, if you happened to read the previous version of this ending; yes, it is edited. Having it end like that did nothing to set up for the sequel. In addition, it only enforced the shipping idea. I find this much better and easier to work with.

See you all soon! Once again, thank you everyone!

Angel