Torn from the Inside

## **Plot**

Squirt and Mason revel about their latest adventure with Mason saying how exciting and dangerous it was. This alerts Mark who is nearby and begins belittling Mason, who tries to argue back saying how he should try and do something useful in his life. This infuriates Mark who violently punches him in the face, giving him a nosebleed. This angers Squirt so much that he charges toward Mark and begins punching him violently. This ultimately results in both him and Mark getting sent to detention and having their parents called. Squirt is picked up by Lily who gives him a harsh talking to about why his behavior has seemingly took a turn for the worst. Squirt argues back saying he is busy saving the world and doesn't have time to study in school, he further mentions he was just protecting Mason. Lily can only sigh but apologizes, understanding his point but ending the conversation with her saying she just doesn't want him to end up down a violent path of rage.

At his house, Richard comes up to Squirt's room and says that he personally thinks that he is pretty brave for sticking up to Mark, saying that even he wouldn't have been able to do such a thing at his age. They both talk a bit more on how a person knows their limits when it comes to good and bad with Richard saying it really all depends on the person. They both share a hug before a loud banging comes to the front door. Unfortunately, it's the police at the door searching for Squirt, mentioning they have a warrant for his arrest and detain him, taking him away from his house. When provoked on what the charges are, they reply that he committed battery which is a federal offense in the Mushroom Kingdom, he will also be seeing Mark who was also revealed to be detained as well.

The police drive Squirt to the kingdom jail where they have him take a mugshot and provide fingertips among being forced to give personal information. He is put into a room with Mark while policemen surround them. Lily, Gregory, and Richard do their best to convince the policemen that he acted on account for Mason and only did what he did out of the kindness of his heart. Mark's parents come out to see him and are outraged at the sight, saying if Squirt is the supposed "best friend" he was talking to them about. Squirt becomes briefly confused. They then further become angry, saying how Squirt almost "killed" him to which Lily and Greg immediately become angry, claiming they need to raise their son better. A correctional officer silences everyone in the room, citing that they will discuss the future actions on what needs to happen to Squirt and Mark. They decide to have them both alone in a room but with heavy security watch and a guard right outside the door. Squirt and Mark are left alone inside. Squirt decides to ask Mark what his parents meant when they referred to Squirt as his "best friend". Mark refuses to answer and Squirt takes this as the opportunity to ask him why he is they that he is and are his parents to blame. Mark budges and tells him that there are things he can't say, especially in front of cameras. Squirt understands and ends the conversation by saying that despite all the horrible acts of mean bullying he has committed, he isn't afraid to see how becoming friends with him would turn out. An officer walks in, saying their time is up and that they can leave with their parents. The officials state that while Squirt and Mark are free to leave with their families, they will now be placed under a 2 week long probation, stating that they both will be eligible for expungement at the termination of said probation. Lily and Greg tell Squirt that he did the right thing and that Mark along with his parents should be the ones who feel ashamed. They offer to take him out for ice-cream at Gary's Yum-Yum Hub to which Squirt says he would love to go.

While there, Gary asks if Squirt is doing better while eating his mega chocolate vanilla banana supreme 1-up shake. He replies that he is doing much better now that he has got an ice-cream. He tells Richard that Mark has a secret but wouldn't tell him because of the cameras they had inside the interrogation room. Richard tells him that what if he was only lying so he could stop asking questions to which Squirt argues that saying something like that would only pique one's interest further.

Back at home, Squirt is brought some extremely unsettling news: the Toadsters invited them for dinner. Naturally, they at first are willing to decline but Greg insists that maybe this could be their only chance with being on good terms towards them. The others agree and they nervously prepare for the dinner.

They arrive for the dinner and the unsettling atmosphere settles in between the two families, the vibe becomes more and more cringeworthy and nail-biting as the discussions between the two families continues on. Squirt ends the awkwardness with saying that he needs to use the restroom loudly to which Mark's father points behind him. Squirt scurries out towards the bathroom, breathing in and out of a bag. Before he returns to the table, he notices that Mark is missing. Mark reveals himself behind Squirt and tells him that he also didn't want to be at that table. He goes into his room with Squirt following but hesitates to enter on his behalf. Mark insists he is allowed but can only sit on the chair. Squirt promptly does so and wastes no time asking him what his secret is. Mark ultimately gives in to Squirt, telling him that he never actually liked Toadette, only agreeing to be with her because he felt bad if he was the one to tell her he didn't like her back. Squirt becomes even more puzzled. Mark goes on to explain that his parents always intended him to live a life they envisioned and not one he wanted to live. As a result, he became moody, jealous that those who were happy in life were able to be and that he wasn't. He never felt comfortable putting on a fake smile at school, because every day he would return to the same thing: being called someone who wasn't living up to one's expectations. Not only that, but he also mentions that his type isn't associated with the norm, stating he "isn't like the rest". Squirt at first doesn't know what he is talking about but immediately realizes once he looks around his room and notices that his posters are all pictures of men, not a single piece of a woman. Squirt tells Mark that his secret is safe with him and that he promises not to tell anyone about it before returning to the table. Mark begins to silently weep alone.

Squirt returns to the table to see that both families have seemingly reconciled, discussing a lot more calmly and with ease. Mark's mother asks Squirt where he is at, to which Squirt replies that he is only using the bathroom.

Both families bid adieu at the end of the dinner and Mark goes towards Squirt to hand him a note, whispering not to read until after he gets home. Squirt becomes eager to know what is on the note and zooms past his family towards his room. He opens the letter and while he doesn't read what is written aloud, it can be assumed Mark wrote something astonishing as Squirt makes a surprised expression. Another knock occurs at the front door and it's Peach and Mason. Peach reveals she just heard about what happened but was unable to help since she and other toads were repairing the Observatory. Squirt understands but tells her that he needs to tell her something about Mark.