Under Pressure

## **Plot**

Squirt gets a talking to from his parents on the events that occurred the week prior regarding the video game virus. His step brother Richard teases him about the incident, calling him dumb for running headfirst into something that could've gotten him killed. Squirt ignores his input and is instead told that he isn't allowed back into the castle starting tomorrow. He tells Peach and the others about this and Mario tells him that he should do something to prove to his parents that he is worthy of being responsible and safe without being in direct peril. Peach tells him that even though it seems hard to face the ugly truth of realizing one may need a bit more practice of safety before an actual mission, one must endure it to move on.

At school, Toadette asks him what is wrong and Squirt explains everything. She gives him her condolences and just as Squirt is about to ask her a question, a boy arrives and they both share a kiss, alerting Squirt. Toadette apologizes and says that she forgot to tell Squirt that she got a new boyfriend named Jason. Squirt solemnly greets him before saying he needs to go leaving them both a bit puzzled. Squirt heads to the bathroom and begins to silently sob and takes out a picture of both him and Toadette when they were both in kindergarten, then a photo of his biological father and mother along with him. On his walk home, a large earthquake occurs and the ground begins to shake violently. Mario and the others come out to find Squirt and wonder what the cause is, Peach mentions that excavators have seen signs of magma and fire growing beneath the Mushroom Kingdom and could explode at any given moment. Mario decides to check out the danger and Squirt realizes this is the perfect opportunity for him to show his courage and bravery to his parents: by stopping the fireball from destroying the kingdom. Mario doesn't allow Squirt to join, saying this is way too dangerous for him and that his day of showing his courage will come. Mario is told by an excavator where to go down underground, however, he doesn't notice Squirt sneaking in. Squirt's parents see him going down and Squirt only replies that this is the only way to show them that he is ready to take on whatever is thrown at him. He heads inside just before the ground closes, leaving Peach and Luigi to calm down both Squirt's parents.

Mario goes deeper underground until Squirt coughs revealing himself. Mario becomes very angry and begins to yell at him to which Squirt breaks down saying how many times he has been told he isn't strong or courageous enough to do things in his life because of his short size and demeanor. Mario takes in his words and hugs him. He tells him that he didn't mean to come off as mean, he only wants to protect him to which Squirt replies that eventually, he will have to protect himself and that the world needs to let him show he can. The ground begins to rumble once more, reminding them they must be going. Peach has a talk with Squirt's parents about the situation, saying that despite everything they might think of Squirt, he has already shown to be quite brave and daring even in times of doubt. Gregory says that he has never seen that side of him until now. Luigi tells him and Lily that Squirt is unlike any toad that he has ever met, and that he is someone truly extraordinary.

Back underneath the kingdom, Mario and Squirt traverse further and further into the Earth but find themselves gasping for air. Mario realizes that there is going to be less oxygen the more they go underground. It is here where Mario must tell Squirt to wait where he is and that he can't risk him dying over this. Squirt reassures Mario that he can hold his breath as he claims he was the winner in his 4th-grade classroom when they were testing who could hold their breath the longest. Mario insists he still stays put and goes on by putting on the suit the excavator gave him. He comes across the fireball, which begins to grow more and destroy more of the earth's crust. Mario begins to use after fire from his own power and begins to snuff out the flames. The flame ball begins to tucker out but suddenly grows even more once more magma spills onto it. This causes the kingdom to shake violently, knocking down some foundations completely and people over. The castle begins to crumble while Peach and Luigi take Squirt's parents to shelter. Mario continues to fight the magma ball with his firepower but to no avail. Suddenly Squirt comes out of nowhere and breaks off a piece of crust and throws it at the ball, causing it to pause in its growth, allowing Mario to completely snuff it out before it can explode. Squirt celebrates by exclaiming loudly but in turn, forgets he has to hold his breath and begins gasping for air. Mario realizes the situation and darts back up to the kingdom. He runs quickly to the surface but hits a roadblock and sees Squirt starting to lose consciousness. Mario becomes horrified at this and becomes angry. He bursts into a fiery aura and comes out of the ground with Squirt in his arms. He takes Squirt to his parents who are horrified. They desperately try to revive him but Richard comes in to perform CPR on him which immediately brings him back. Squirt regains consciousness and Mario says that it was Richard who revived him. Squirt thanks him but Richard can only mutter a small "don't mention it" before shaking his head. Squirt's parents are about to punish him once more before Mario reveals that if it wasn't for him, he would not have stopped the fireball. After hearing him explain, they decide to take the time to apologize to Squirt about how they have been treating him and believe Mario about what happened. Squirt embraces a hug from both Greg and Lily.

That night, Greg comes to Squirt telling him that he isn't trying to replace being his biological father if he doesn't want him to be. Squirt tells him that his own dad didn't want him, so he considers Greg his own father anyway. They both share a hug before Squirt asks him why Richard acts the way he does. Greg reveals that his mother told him that she was going to go on a crazy expedition to a secret island but she never returned. Word got out that she eventually succumbed to the island's conformities. Ever since then, Richard switched to a different personality and has been to therapy countless times, Greg also mentions there is nothing personal between Squirt and himself. Squirt goes to bed that night clinging onto a teddy bear.