The questers walked forward into the dark room trying not to bump into each other. It wasn't until some candles had magically turned on making them jump did they realize that they were in a wide room like hall. There were book cases lining up the walls and sticking out making little corner like areas. Many of books had titles that neither Felix or Bendy had ever heard of before. Some not in any known language. It wasn't until eight ghostly figures appeared in different spots around the room did they started to figure out what they might have to do.

Felix was the one who approached one of the figures, a young rabbit who strangely resembled another one he knew. The ghostly figured turned his gaze over to the group giving them a small smile.

"Greetings chosen ones," the rabbit began his voice sounding partly echoed in nature, "A test of knowledge is what you must do. Each figure in this room will ask that of a riddle and you must answer every one of them correctly. Do you understand?"

Each of them nodded as the rabbit began his riddle.

"Echoes from the shadow realm,

whispers of things yet to come.

Thought's strange sister dwells in the night,

is swept away by dawning light.

Of what do I speak?"

The questers looked at one another trying to figure out the riddle. The rabbit had told them they could take all the time they needed. But the question was.... What was it? Before any could stop him, Mug had spoken out his own answer.

"Dreams," he piped up making everyone look at him with wide eyes.

Everyone turned nervously as they saw the rabbit's smile widen, "Correct. A dream of one man was what had started the creation. I am the man who had provided the inventor with the dreams as his mentor and friend."

The group watched as the rabbit suddenly disappeared in a bright light momentarily blinding them. They all looked at Mug in mild surprise. Even Cup was surprise by his own brother.

"H-how did you get that," asked Boris in surprise.

Mug gave a simple shrug as they went over to the next ghostly figure. It was female cat with a short bob cut, that also strangely similar to someone else. But now wasn't the time to think about that. She gave a sweet motherly smile to the group as she spoke her riddle.

"The smallest lark could carry it,

while a strong man might not.

Of what do I speak?"

It was Boris who had answered this one, "A Tune."

"Correct. My daughter could carry the most beautiful of tunes, but alsa her tune was cut short by a single sword. I am a mother who grieves the loss of a child whose tune will be forever guarded by her soul," the cat explained gently with a sad smile as she also disappeared in a bright light.

"Well..... Two down six to go," Felix spoke up as they moved on to a young mouse.

Bendy felt mildly irritated while looking at the mouse. He looked too much like another mouse she was not too fond of at the moment. It was weird so far three of these figures looked like people they knew. The question was....Why? Maybe after they passed the test they could ask the guardian.

The mouse looked at them with a friendly as he spoke his riddle.

"I have seas with no water,

coasts with no sand,

towns without people,

mountains without land.

Of what do I speak?"

Cuphead answered it this time around,".....A Map?"

"Correct! The map was forged by both the heavens and a famous map maker. I am the map maker that takes pride in my work and adds every detail to even the simplest of maps. But I was not prepared for a challenge from the heavens themselves," the mouse explained cheerfully as he disappeared.

The continued onto the next figure, but the next one made them look between both Felix and the figure. They looked almost the same. Now something fishy was going on. The male cat looked at the group with a sad smile as he spoke out his riddle.

" A poison of the soul,

passion's cruel counterpart;

from love she grows till love lies slain.

Of what do I speak?"

Felix quickly got the riddle almost immediately, "Jealousy."

"Correct! When my wife was chosen for the task of guarding a piece instead I, anger had blinded me. I am a husband who's jealousy blinded me and had been the one to slain my own wife. Even through her ashes she could not be arisen....," the cat explained sadly as he disappeared.

The next one was almost uncanny to that of Mug.Except he looked as though he was knight of some sort. He looked at them with a sad smile as he started his riddle.

"I'm rarely touched,

but often held.

If you have wit,

you'll use me well.

Of what do I speak?"

Bendy was the one who finally answered, "My tongue?"

"Correct! My friend had quite a tongue to her, she could talk her way out of any situation. I am a childhood friend who watched as her once witty tongue was cut from her mouth. And ironically if I had used my own tongue could I have saved her.....," he explained a frown crossing his face as he disappeared.

"Five down..... Three to go," Felix piped up as they went over to the next one.

The next one was a wolf who had quite a resemble to Boris. Except he was much older and battle scars littered his body. He also seemed more intimidating as he glared at the group as he begrudgingly began his riddle.

"An eye for an eye,

a tooth for a tooth.

The debt of blood must be paid in full.

Of what do I speak?"

Cuphead spoke the answer yet again, "Vengeance."

"Correct. I was angered at the kingdom for allowing such pathetic weaklings to take the mantel of guardians. The leader was the one who gave me these hideous scars. I am the man who ran the charge to take the ink machine from the guardians, if I knew it would start a war.... Then maybe I would've thought of another way to take the ink machine.....," the wolf explained as he disappeared.

On to the next one for them. Bendy and Cuphead froze in shock as they saw a perfect replica of Cuphead standing in front of them. He wore clothes that would fit a ruler. A king to be precise. He looked and simply smirked as he began his riddle.

"No man has seen it but all men know it.

lighter than air,

sharper than any sword.

Comes from nothing,

but will fell the strongest armies.

Of what do I speak?"

Mug answered it with a small frown, "Hunger."

"Correct! After the war, the heavens had struck the kingdoms bringing famine across all the lands. I am a king who had been oblivious to my guard captain's plans and had only hoped to protect my queen and wife from such cruel torture of hunger, especially with her being with child.......," he explained sadly as he disappeared.

Cuphead frowned gently from the explanation. Did this king save his wife though? Part of him wanted to know so much, but now it was time for the last riddle. And of course the last figure looked exactly like Bendy. Except she also wore similar royal garb and was very heavy with child. She looked at Bendy with a sad smile as she spoke her riddle.

"She wields the broken sword,

and separate true kings from tyrants.

Of what do I speak?"

Bendy frowned as she was one who answered the final riddle, "......Mercy."

"Correct. I had hoped that death would have mercy to the guardians. I am a queen who showed mercy to even those who had started the war. Had I'd known I maybe showed too much mercy my child might've seen the light of day....," she explained as tears streamed down her face disappearing.

Bendy placed a hand her very small baby bump frowning. Could she end up having the same fate? Cuphead looked over at her and gently wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her close to him. Everyone had moved on ahead as they went over to the new door that had suddenly appeared out of no where.

"Hey. It's alright I won't let anything to you or our child," Cuphead spoke softly kissing the back of her head gently, "I promise."

Bendy turned to face him as they shared a quick kiss. They broke apart when they heard Boris clear his throat. Both blushed as everyone was looking over at them waiting for them to finish up. They quickly went over to them. All them slowly opened the door and entered it hoping to find the piece in the next room.......

~~~~~~

Here we go! I actually got the riddles from one of my favorite video game series.... Dragon Age! I thought they would fit for the back story of the ink machine. More info later on with the lore for the ink machine. Antebellum96 Out!