(Start in the King's Castle. The QUEEN, a tall figure in a long red and blue dress, sits typing on a typewriter when CUPHEAD and MUGMAN enter.)
Cuphead-Excuse me?
(The QUEEN glares at them.)
Mugman-We, uh, heard that the King's final champion was in here.
Queen-How dare you? I was busy transcribing my own dictation!
Cuphead-I think that's called writing.
Queen-Well, if it's a fight you're looking for, it's a fight you'll get!
(She flips the table and stands up.)
Queen-Have at you!
(She raises her staff. Three pink lion figures on top of each other land beside CUPHEAD and MUGMAN and slide towards them. CUPHEAD parries them.)
Mugman-How are we supposed to hit her?
Cuphead-Uh, hello!
(He points at the three cannons with pink fuses pointed towards the QUEEN.)
Mugman-Oh...
(He parries the right cannon. It fires a cannonball at the QUEEN. She begins shifting left and right and takes out two jewelry boxes. Jeweled eggs fly out of them and land around the boys.)
Cuphead-Oh no! It's raining...
(He picks one up.)
Cuphead-Eggs?
(He throws it back at the QUEEN. It misses.)
Cuphead-Worth a shot.
(The QUEEN sends three more lion figures. MUGMAN parries them and then parries the left cannon, shooting another cannonball. The QUEEN brings out her jewelry boxes and pelts them with jeweled eggs.)
Cuphead-Ugh, this is so tedious! Let's get this over with.
(He parries the middle cannon. It fires a cannonball that misses.)
Cuphead-Dangit!
Mugman-You gotta make sure it's pointed towards her.
Cuphead-Pointed what now?
Mugman-You see how the cannons are moving?
(CUPHEAD looks at the cannons. They rotate left and right.)
Cuphead-What in the--
Mugman-You gotta wait until the cannon is aimed at her and then...
(He parries the left cannon. It misses.)
Mugman-Oops.
Cuphead-This is impossible!
Mugman-Until it isn't.
(He parries the middle cannon. The cannonball hits the QUEEN.)
Cuphead-I can do that.
(He dodges jeweled eggs as he runs to the right cannon. He parries the fuse. The cannonball misses.)
Cuphead-Hey! You can't move like that! She's playing mindgames with us. I just know it.
Mugman-Lemme try something.
(He fires the left cannon. It misses.)
Cuphead-(parrying a stack of lion figures) And just what is this something?
(The fuse on the middle cannon lights up. He runs towards it and parries it. The cannonball hits the QUEEN. She collapses onto a daybed, her head spinning on top of her scepter.)
Mugman-Yeah!
Cuphead-We did it!
(Cut to outside the palace. CUPHEAD and MUGMAN are talking with the KING.)
King-Hark! To my new champions, the remaining spoils!
(He gives them three coins.)
King-And with that, the tournament has concluded. Henceforth, my castle shall remain a training ground for you! Fare you well, champions!
(Cut to DLC Island. CUPHEAD and MUGMAN are climbing down the ladder. CHINA is waiting for them.)
China-So how was it?
Cuphead-It was awesome!
Mugman-We defeated the queen of the castle, and we got three coins!
(They reach the bottom of the ladder.)
China-Wow! Good for you!
Cuphead-Hey, Mom, are you really okay with us fighting all these people like this?
China-Cuphead, you and Mugman defeated the Devil and freed me from the Casino. You two are the strongest and bravest boys there are. I know you won't get hurt out there.
(MUGMAN takes out an astral cookie.)
Mugman-Cuphead, you wanna try something?
Cuphead-Sure.
(MUGMAN breaks the cookie in half and hands one half to CUPHEAD.)
Mugman-You and I are each going to throw our half of the cookie in the air and see who can catch it in their mouth first.
Cuphead-Well, obviously, it's going to be me.
(He tosses his half in the air and catches it in his mouth. He turns into a ghost.)
Cuphead-Ha! I win!
Mugman-I should have mentioned we'd be doing it at the same time.
Cuphead-Well, it doesn't matter because I won and you...
(He notices that his arm is transparent.)
Cuphead-Wait. Hold on. What did you...
(He glares at MUGMAN.)
Cuphead-You knew I'd do this.
Mugman-Yes, I did.
Cuphead-You knew this would happen!
Mugman-Yes, I did! I've known you for ten years! Of course I did!
Cuphead-Mooom! Mugman tricked me into becoming a ghost!
(CHINA snickers.)
China-You gotta admit, he had you hoodwinked.
(CHALICE comes running towards them.)
Chalice-What are you boys doing over there? I'm off trying to have a little alone time, and all of a sudden, I have a body!
Mugman-I'm just messing around with Cuphead.
Chalice-Hm, serves him right.
Cuphead-Oh, come on!
Chalice-Well, now's not the time for dilly-dallying. We've got one last ingredient to get, don't we?
Mugman-I think we do.
(He takes out the recipe. There's one box unchecked.)
Mugman-The Gnome Berries from Glumstone the Giant.
Cuphead-Glumstone? More like DUMBstone!
Mugman-Cuphead, you already said that.
Chalice-Ah, yes. The Gnome Berries. We were about to get those before getting sidetracked by, you know, everything else.
Mugman-Then there's no time like the present!
Chalice-Luckily, I know just where to find them.
(She takes MUGMAN and leads him away.)
Cuphead-Wait, what about me?!
China-What, you don't want to spend a little time with your mommy?
Cuphead-Oh, okay.
(Cut to the mouth of a cave on a cliff. MUGMAN and CHALICE walk up to it. MUGMAN looks at the rocks.)
Mugman-These sure are some interesting rock formations.
(He looks down at the white fuzz on the ground.)
Mugman-And some interesting...grass.
(There are two GNOMES striking at the cave walls with pickaxes.)
Chalice-Excuse me?
(The GNOMES look up.)
Gnome 1-Hm?
Chalice-I'm looking for Glumstone the Giant.
(She shows them the recipe.)
Chalice-We're looking for Gnome Berries for this recipe, and we heard we could get some from him. Is he in this cave?
(The GNOMES look at each other.)
Gnome 2-Well, Glumstone isn't in the cave?
Mugman-He's not?
Gnome 2-He is the cave.
Mugman/Chalice-What?!
(Five pillars of rock rise from the ground, one of which MUGMAN and CHALICE are standing on. The rocks fall away, revealing the face of GLUMSTONE THE GIANT. MUGMAN and CHALICE look up in shock.)
Glumstone-WHO DARES DISTURB MY SLUMBER?!
Chalice-Uh...sorry?
(MUGMAN looks down at the white fuzz, which is actually part of GLUMSTONE's beard.)
Mugman-You know, this is starting to make sense.
Glumstone-YOU WILL PAY!
Chalice-I said I was sorry!
(GLUMSTONE pulls his lower lip down, revealing two gnomes stirring a bubbling cauldron in his mouth. Puffs of purple and pink gas drift towards them. One of them hits MUGMAN.)
Mugman-It looks like we've got no choice. Shots out!
Chalice-Huh?
Mugman-It's just something Cuphead says.
(He begins shooting GLUMSTONE using Twist-Up.)
Chalice-Oh, I get you.
(She begins firing using Chaser. She parries a pink puff. The pillar in front of them rises up, blocking their shots.)
Mugman-Oh no. I'd get on the ground and go around...
(He points at the gnome hats sticking out of the ground.)
Mugman-But I'd land on those spikes.
(CHALICE jumps down and keeps shooting.)
Chalice-Relax. They're just gnomes.
(MUGMAN jumps down next to her and keeps shooting. One gnome pops up from the ground. CHALICE shoots it. She jumps back up onto the middle pillar.)
Chalice-C'mon up here. The gnomes might just get us.
Mugman-But you told me to relax!
(CHALICE runs as close to GLUMSTONE as she can get, switches to Charge, and fires an EX shot. GLUMSTONE pulls out a Geese Xing sign and whistles with his nose. A flock of geese being piloted by gnomes flies across the top of the screen.)
Chalice-Oh dear.
(She jumps back down.)
Chalice-It's a lovely day in the mountains, and you are a horrible flock of geese.
Mugman-What are you talking about?
Chalice-It'll make sense on another plane. I just know it.
(A gnome gets out of the ground, does a little dance, and fires a yellow cloud out of his hat at CHALICE.)
Chalice-Now that's just not fair.
Mugman-I know, right? I thought they were our friends!
(GLUMSTONE opens his mouth, again revealing the gnomes at the cauldron and the puffs of gas. CHALICE runs farther away and switches back to Chaser. MUGMAN follows her, turns away, and starts shooting Roundabouts.)
Mugman-Hey. I just wanted to apologize for not noticing that gnome before it shot you.
Chalice-Are you shooting Roundabout shots while facing backwards?
Mugman-Yeah. I'm taking the reverse and reversing it.
(GLUMSTONE picks up a bear and pulls it towards them from behind CHALICE.)
Mugman-Run!
(CHALICE turns around and sees the bear. She runs away. MUGMAN switches to Twist-Up and runs as well.)
Chalice-I just couldn't believe it. You weren't even looking, and all your shots were hitting.
Mugman-Look at him. He's so big that he's pretty hard to miss.
Chalice-Still, you must be a pretty good sharpshooter if you're that confident in your Roundabout.
(MUGMAN fires an Energy Beam at GLUMSTONE. GLUMSTONE grabs onto the cliff and pulls away, ripping off his beard. He falls offscreen.)
Mugman-The Gnome Berries!
Chalice-Don't worry. I have a feeling he'll be back.
(GLUMSTONE comes up at the side of the cliff with hand puppets that look concerningly like KING DICE and the DEVIL.)
Mugman-Oh...
Chalice-See?
Mugman-Has anyone told you you look nice with a clean shave?
(The Devil puppet bounces the ball it's holding on the ground for the Dice puppet to catch.)
Mugman-This should be easy. As long as we don't get hit by that ball, we'll be fine. Right?
(He stands close to the Devil puppet and fires at it with Twist-Up.)
Chalice-Good idea!
(She runs to the Dice puppet and fires at it with Chaser. A gnome pops out of the ground and nearly hits MUGMAN.)
Mugman-Did something almost hit me?
(He turns around and sees the ball bouncing towards the Devil puppet. It flies over his head.)
Mugman-I should keep an eye out.
(He switches to Roundabout and keeps shooting.)
Chalice-Okay, now you're just showing off.
Mugman-What?
Chalice-I seriously wouldn't expect you to be the sharpshooter. It seems to me like you're the one who prefers to avoid conflict.
Mugman-I do, but if anyone messes with me or my brother, I have no problem hitting 'em.
(GLUMSTONE grabs the cliff and breaks it apart with his hands.)
Chalice-What's going on?
(They fall into GLUMSTONE's mouth.)
Chalice/Mugman-AHHHHHHH!
(Cut to inside GLUMSTONE's stomach. CHALICE and MUGMAN are both standing on crocodile skulls in a lake of stomach acid.)
Mugman-What are we supposed to do now?!
(A bulge with a face appears on the top and begins moving from side to side. CHALICE fires at it with Chaser.)
Chalice-Hit that thing, apparently.
Mugman-Okay...
(He begins firing using Twist-Up. The face spits out a drumstick. The skull CHALICE is on opens up to eat it. She jumps to another skull.)
Chalice-We'll have to stay light on our feet.
Mugman-No problem.
(A gnome jumps out of the lake and fires a pink blowdart. MUGMAN parries it. He jumps to another skull. The one next to CHALICE opens its mouth and rings a pink cowbell. She parries it before landing on the skull when its mouth closes.)
Chalice-Mugman, that's it! If we stay apart like this, one of us should be able to hit it at all times!
(The face is right above her.)
Chalice-And also...
(She fires a vertical Energy Beam at it. Then she ducks underneath another blowdart.)
Chalice-I thought for sure that would beat it.
Mugman-And then what? We're stuck in this guy's stomach!
Chalice-We'll figure something out.
(The mouth of the skull she's on opens. She double-jumps to the skull in the middle. The same happens with the skull MUGMAN's on. He jumps to the same skull.)
Chalice-There goes my plan.
Mugman-Then let's fire together!
(They both fire up at the face until it goes in a daze and sticks it tongue out.)
Chalice-There it is!
Mugman-That still leaves the question: what now?
(Cut to DLC Island. MUGMAN and CHALICE enter. CHALICE is holding a gnome hat full of strawberries.)
Chalice-We did it! That's the last ingredient we needed for the Wondertart. Let's get back to Saltbaker lickety-split!
(CHINA is standing alone looking more than a little worried. )
Chalice-Congratulations! It's a bunch of berries!
Mugman-You won't believe what we had to do to get these!
China-Chalice, I appreciate you trying to cheer me up, but I can't seem to calm down.
Mugman-Why? What's wrong, Mom?
China-Cuphead's missing!
(MUGMAN and CHALICE gasp.)