It was an awkward procedure using the ink machine, that's for sure. First, you had to monitor it and make sure all the ink was flowing properly, otherwise clogs would occur. Then you had to go through the dozens of reels of film to painstakingly search for all the right scenes. You had to get all the front and back and ups and downs of all the characters, otherwise something wonky might happen to the resulting toon.

Then you were forced to take all those reels, stacks so tall they could reach heaven, and shuffle them to the ink machine. The machine itself was a piece of work that required almost daily maintenance, to Thomas's chagrin, and was somewhat difficult to get to at that.

Bendy constantly berating him on where they were going wasn't helping in the least with his mood.

"Are we there yet?"

"For the last time, no!" He growled behind his tower of reels.

Bendy snickered before fumbling with his own stack, sending reels showering down to the floor. He let out a squeal and caught them with his foot, horns, and free hand just in time.

A smirk of twisted amusement crossed his lips. "See what happens when you get distracted?"

The demon gave a pout, securing the reels more tightly in his arms. "What're we even doin' down here? This seems kinda phooey to me."

"You'll see. It's a surprise."

The duo crawled through the basement of the studio, those ink pipes becoming more and more numerous the deeper they traveled. The hallways gradually widened into a large, cavernous room that housed the enormous ink machine itself. Tom only had a inkling of an idea of how it worked, but he didn't want to know. The whole thing was eerie and unnatural, a far cry from the art department that gave birth to the characters in the first place.

It towered above them, the ink pumping through like the beating of a giant heart and echoing in Tom's ears as they entered the machine itself. Those whirring gears hummed while they strode past the empty formation containers.

Bendy stopped to stare, a haunted look entering his notched eyes before turning away.

The center of the machine revealed itself as a chamber fitted with dozens of glowing projectors. The mechanic gave a great big sigh, proceeding to begin his tedious task with the oddly quiet demon trailing behind.

How could he have forgotten?

Those first few moments in this world filled with fear and confusion came flooding back. It was distant now, however. He had people he knew, people he pranked, people, or at least aperson who was his friend. It was okay .

A shuddering breath was taken, fingers jerking at his bowtie to disguise his unease. He was okay.

Tom was finishing up with the last of the projectors, flicking them on and wiping the sweat off his brow.. "Finally!" He muttered. "C'mere bud, just one more thing."

He went over to a pair of the containers, flicking two switches on either side of both. The ink in both began to flow, that gurgling thundering playing in the background. Bendy forced down his fears and slowly approached, putting his face to the glass.

The ink didn't just fill up the compartments; it seemed that they clumped together like a sort of clay, slowly building a shape. A figure taller than him began to form, over time filling out into a familiar shape of perky ears and a wriggling tail.

The one to the right shaped itself into the figure of a fallen angel, horns poking through and halo beginning to form.

Peeking back over to the taller one, Bendy saw the ink begin to glimmer and shake. With a bright flash, white was visible over the dark black and notched eyes opened. He gazed right back, happy tears threatening to fall. It was them. He wasn't alone anymore.

"Tom! You can turn it off now!" He yelled frantically over the roar of the machine.

The inkflow died and the doors opened with that familiar hiss. Boris tumbled out on shaky legs and Alice not-so-gracefully fell flat on her face with a girly shriek.

Everything was strange, black and white a swirl around her. Her head felt like it was splitting down the middle, pain throbbing through her skull. Her limbs were like noodles, splayed out over the ground carelessly.

A face blurred into view as she struggled to stand.

"Bendy?" Alice croaked through her throbbing migraine, eyes squinting. "Is that you?"

"Tha' one an only, angel face!" the devil in question replied with a wink. "Now jus' let the depth settle, it'll be better in a bit."

How- what? What was going on?

"Welcome to the real world, toots!" He said gleefully.

She realized Boris was slumped next to her, pulling down on his ears and whimpering pitifully. A five-fingered hand, oddly slender and shaded, petting the toon wolf down his back. It led up to more odd flesh and a face that was both unnerving and strangely calming, with his dark beard and tiny glinting eyes. Clearly not a toon.

Her eyes narrowed, going back to Bendy who had started sweating profusely. "Why do I have the distinct feeling this is all your fault, devil?"

"Why do ya always think it's my fault, angel face!" he shot, eyes narrowing right back. "Ya know, maybe I should just leave ya flailin' in the dark like a loon then! That'd teach ya to assume everything!"

"By heaven, I think I still have a cross around here somewhere-"

"Eeep!" Bendy flew behind the strange person for cover from the gleaming cross that emerged from Alice's back.

"Okay, that's enough you two," the person growled. "Stop bickering like kids and we can leave."

Boris didn't know what was going on, but he didn't care much. All that mattered were those heavenly scritches behind his ears. He gave a shudder of pleasure as those strange but wonderful fingers gave him another scratch.

"...so, yeah, that's about the whole story. You guys exist now, and if Drew's plan goes on...everythin', and I mean everythin's gonna change. For good or bad, I dunno. Just play along for now I guess."

Alice's halo had noticeably dimmed during the explanation. "...so we're really here for good then?"

"As far as I can tell. I'm...I'm sorry. I never even thought that you'd already come from someplace before the machine. Bendy never said anything, the little rascal!"

A grumble made its way out of the demon's throat, a pouty face forming.

She gave a faint laugh at that, then sobered. "I'd never thought Flatland was ever a place I'd miss. You get kicked out of heaven one day to the place, and all you do is try to get away from it."

The owner of those majestic fingers paused for a second in his scratches, much to Boris' dismay. "What was it like? Everything being, well, flat?"

Bendy broke into the conversation eagerly. "Well, it's like if ya were two-dee! No depth or nothin'!"

There was another pause. "...wow. That was so enlightening. On another note, is that why you were complaining about the headache your first day here?"

"You try gettin' depth perception for the first time eva! 's really dis-orientatin'!"

Boris let out a warning growl. The scritches would commence, or else-! They began getting that area right over his crown, and he gave a happy sigh. Did the extra finger maybe make even better at this? Ah, the meaningful questions in life.

"...he doesn't say much, does he?"

"Nope. This little wolfy is the silent type. I can't actually remember the last time he talked instead of growling."

The wolf gave a protesting whine, but that only served to make the group laugh.

Those shards of ice Drew had for eyes sharpened as the CEO inspected the three toons lined up before him. Boris was a mess, constantly fidgeting and avoiding that cold gaze. Alice's face was devoid of all emotion, but her flickering halo gave away her anxious state. Bendy, on the other hand, glared right back into those soulless eyes.

Was this really the person who'd created them? With his cheery facade peeled back, Drew was clinical, cold and impersonal, like they were a product to be perfected and sold.

Yeah, Bendy didn't buy that for even a second.

Thinking back to his life in Flatland, there were those moments he'd felt like someone was watching over him, inexplicable feelings of peace and warmth as he pranked and confused his enemies. It was the kind of warmth that filled up your whole being and you had this certainty that there was someone out there who loved you.

It was those feelings that got him through the heart-wrenching days in Hell and all the terrible things that resided there. Even now, Bendy couldn't look at a pitchfork without getting chills.

In any case, he knew his true Creator was someplace else, and they loved their toons with all their being.

Bendy was snapped out of his thoughts by a clap from Drew. "Well done, Mr. Connor! They seem perfect! Now, to unveil them to the investors…" he trailed off. A smirk covered his face as Drew turned around. "Amazing what can come of a pencil and a dream, no?"

And that was another problem. None of the toons wanted to be the living mascots for the despicable Drew's planned theme park. How could they get out from this business man's thumb? Maybe they could find their real Creator somehow and they could help?

Nghh! There's gotta be a solution to dis!

Not for the first time, Bendy silently fumed in frustration at their predicament as they were casually dismissed from the office.