Elder Kettle woke up early the next morning. The sun was just peaking over the horizon as the birds and insects began to sing their morning song. He remembered what Forkington had said yesterday. That he still wanted to have a talk about Mugman and his dangerous personality changes. If it were up to the utensil, the mug child would be banished from the island. But Elder Kettle was going to make sure that wasn't going to happen. Even if the boy did seem to scare him lately, it was still his grandson they were talking about. He did not wish for the little mug to be sent away.

After doing his routine stretches for his back, he made his way toward the boys' room. The elder quietly shuffled to their door and eased it open. He had left his cane in the living room to avoid that noise penetrating its way into his grandsons' heads. His tan body came to a resting position beside Cuphead's bed. A single gloved hand nudged the cup child's shoulder back and forth. The young cup's eyes fluttered open to see his guardian standing before him.

"Cuphead, I'm going to talk to Forkington, and I'd like you to come with me." The kettle whispered.

"Okay, I'll get Mugman up!" Cup replied a little louder than the adult and proceeded to jump out of bed, which creaked loudly. The old kettle flinched at all the noises the cup child made, especially when his boy's feet slammed into the ground. He realized that Mug stirred a little but ultimately stayed asleep. But Cuphead was being loud on purpose, hoping that his sibling would wake up and come with them.

"No!" Kettle said desperately. Cup stopped short and gave him a confused look. His cup cocked to one side as his straw swayed back and forth a little.

"I mean, no, we should let him sleep." His guardian said with more composure.

"But he should be there to defend himself!" The red cup pointed out.

"Please, Cuphead. I don't want things to get out of hand." Cuphead's grandpa pleaded with him. It was obvious that the reason the kettle didn't want the young mug around was that he was afraid of him. Not because he could do harm to others. This had even become evident to his grandson that was standing before him. And Cup was not a person to hide his thoughts unless specifically asked to do so.

"Why are you so afraid of him? You act like he's a monster!" Cuphead called out his grandpa. Kettle just looked at his boy desperately. He would have given anything not to have those words said out loud. But now it was out, and Cup would in no way take that back. He was the older brother. And HE was supposed to protect his little brother from any danger. Right now, that danger seemed to be due to the lack of their grandpa sharing his feelings with them. The two of them stared at one another, hoping the other with give in to their demands. Elder Kettle still stood there with his pleading look. The young cup gave a sigh of disappointment when he realized that he couldn't convince his guardian otherwise.

"Fine. But if we're leaving Mugman home, then you owe us some information when we get back." Cup was not willing to give in if Kettle refused to talk.

"Deal." The old kettle sighed in relief at the thought of getting his way for the time being. No doubt he would still try to find an excuse as to why he did not want to talk about the truth. He then left the room, giving Cuphead a minute to get dressed and prepare for another talk with the arrogant utensil.

Cup was pulling on one of his usual long-sleeve black shirts when he noticed some bruise marks along the bottom of his brother's mug. The child even seemed to be breathing in a way that said he was uncomfortable and possibly even in pain. Cuphead ran his curious gloved fingers along the blue-black area, causing the little mug to wince in his sleep.

He really was attacked, Cuphead realized. This is getting really serious. Don't worry, Mugman. We're going to get answers today, I promise.

The young cup made sure to put a Miracle Heal next to Mug's bed as well as a note as to where they went before he left. He bolted out the door to catch up with Elder Kettle, who was already heading towards the other end of the island with a purpose.

"Hey! I've got an idea!" The red cup called up to his grandpa. Kettle stopped and looked to his boy to listen to what he had to say. This was the type of attention Mugman wished he could have again. Anytime the young mug talked to him, Kettle seemed to close his mind and look the other way. Cuphead, on the other hand, didn't change into a monster and was still himself. Not talking to imaginary people like he had seen the other one do.

"If we can get all of Mugman's friends to speak with us, then Forkington won't be able to win people to his side!"

"That's…. a good idea, Cuphead. Let's do it!" He realized this was a sensible idea and that they would have strength in numbers. They then began to gather up people from each section of the island that supported Mugman. From their own section, they gathered Hilda and Cagney. Even Chantenay and Moe volunteered to come along, leaving Weepy to tend to the gardens. Djimmi and Grim joined in from the middle section. And from the farthest section came Sally, Rumor, and Werner.

They all marched right up to the boundary of Forkington's house, where the utensil was waiting eagerly to put the young mug in his place. A look of panic came over his face when he saw the number of residents following the old kettle.

"What's this? I don't believe I said you could have an entourage!" The fork said, trying to seem in power of the situation.

"All of us are Mugman's friends! We all have a right to be here!" Hilda snapped at him.

"And I'm here to make sure Mugman gets a fair judgement." Rumor said. As queen bee, she held the power of being judge for any trials held on Inkwell. Even though this was not an official trial, she still planned to see that everyone had a chance to say their part. "And that goes for your son as well."

"Where is he?" Sally questioned the arrogant utensil. Spoonfred was still in his house. His father had told him to stay in unless told otherwise. His little concave head peered out of the window at the crowd of people. He saw the genie and queen bee within the crowd. The young spoon longed to be out there with those people that trusted him. Forkington stayed quiet when he was asked about his boy.

"Spoonfred has a voice too." Rumor reminded him. The fork huffed and reluctantly ushered his son outside. The poor spoon nervously stepped out of his house and shuffled forward. He slowly stepped past his father, careful not to make eye contact with him. At this point, even an unexpected glance could get him in trouble. Everyone could see the child's tense and scared body language. Spoonfred even flinched when passing by his father, as if he were afraid of being hit.

"Now about that mug-!" Forkington began but was cut off by Werner.

"Now wait just a minute!" The mammal snapped. "You can't deny that you witnessed Mugman save me from my blind fit yesterday!"

"The only thing I saw was that dangerous mug going after you and Spoonfred!" Gloved hands rested protectively on the spoon child's shoulders.

"No, he didn't…." Spoonfred muttered to himself. His father heard this and squeezed his shoulders, telling him to be quiet. He flinched yet again upon the adult's reaction.

"What you may not know is that Mugman and your boy saved my son yesterday from some bullies." Rumor explained.

"Spoonfred thinking of others before himself? Not likely!" The utensil huffed.

"Why is that such a bad thing?" The spoon child mumbled. It was so quiet that Forkington could not distinguish what he had said.

"Mugman has never gone looking for trouble." Bellowed the dragon. "I've been watching him these past few days."

"He saved my theater from Pirouletta!" Sally pointed out.

"And he saved me from being turned into lunch!" Hilda added. Forkington just scoffed at their feeble attempts to change his mind.

"He was probably looking to eat you in the first place!" The utensil haughtily replied. Such an accusation made Hilda even more frustrated with the living fork.

"Why you impudent-!" She yelled and tried to go after him. Rumor held the witch back and gently reminded her that they had not heard from everyone yet.

"Be calm, Hilda. There's still plenty proof that the boy is innocent." The queen buzzed.

"He's tried to hurt you two, hasn't he?" Forkington pointed a gloved finger towards Djimmi and Cagney.

"Only because we provoked him first!" The flower snapped back.

"He was merely reacting to our own questionable behavior." Djimmi replied nonchalantly with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"And we live right next door!" The carrot chimed in. "If the kid was going to attack anybody it would be us."

"But we haven't seen claw or tooth of him." Moe added.

Now everyone they had gathered said their part. But Forkington did not seem swayed by this at all. He merely stood there with his chest puffed out, looking especially smug.

"Isn't this enough proof for you?" Cup questioned and waved a hand to the crowd of people behind him. The utensil stayed quiet and stood protectively by his son.

"There's still one voice we haven't heard from." Rumor reminded everyone. The multiple sets of eyes all settled on Spoonfred, expecting him to speak up. Poor Spoonfred was scared. How would his father react if he shared how he really felt? Most likely punished for the rest of his life. A big knot grew in the spoon child's throat. He wished he could've said something – anything – to change his father's mind. Forkington felt his boy begin to resist against his hold. But he would have none of that.

"I don't have to listen to this!" The utensil snapped. "We're going home, Spoonfred!" He announced as he began to drag his boy away from the prying eyes. All of Mugman's friends began to call out for the spoon. Not only did they know that he was in danger from his own father, but that he had so much he could say otherwise. For it had been kept inside for years without anyone noticing.

"Come on, Spoonfred! Speak up!" They all chanted. The spoon tried to turn himself as best as he could to look at the crowd that supported him. He seemed to home in on one voice in particular as he was still being dragged away.

"Don't be afraid, Spoonfred." Hilda said softly. Her warm and comforting voice traveled to the child's heart, giving him the courage he needed to stand up to his abusive father.

"Let me go!" He roared and yanked against the fork's grip as hard as he could. Spoonfred had put so much effort into the action that he escaped the hold and fell to the ground.

"What has gotten into you, child?" Forkington huffed, starting to get even more angry. "Come here! Now!"

"No!" Spoonfred shook his concave head and started to squirm away from his parental figure. "I don't want to live like that anymore!"

The fork now had a look of fear on his face. How much was the kid going to say? Would he divulge how he was punished?

"You're always telling me what to do and what not to do! I know you want me to be like you, but that's not what I want! You never listen to me! You never have! Not a day in your life! Would it really be so bad to let me make my own decisions?"
"I am your father, Spoonfred! You listen to me!" Forkington snapped right back. "I never want to hear such insolence again!" He tried to grab onto his son's arm and yank him back towards home.

"Get away from me!" Spoonfred yelled, scrambling backwards even faster. He felt something behind him and looked up. Cuphead stood there, ready to help the boy up. Now standing next to the cup child, the young spoon felt even more empowered than before.

"Running away to your so-called friends? What a coward!" Forkington huffed.

"At least I have friends now! Up until yesterday, I was mean to everyone just like you. Mugman opened my eyes to what friendship really means. For years I was a bully to him and so many others... and I feel terrible about it. I want to be Cuphead and Mugman's friend for real this time." He then turned his head nervously toward the red cup. "That is, if they agree to that…"

"Absolutely, Spoonfred!" Cup beamed. "It would make both me and Mugman happy. But most of all, I know it would make you happy." Spoonfred nodded and turned back to his father.

"I'm not going back home with you! I won't!"

"Where will you go? There is no one that would take you in!" Forkington snapped.

"Anywhere's better than with you!" The little spoon's anger then started to subside. If only his father could see how wrong he was. That he would change his outlook on the world. "Why can't you just love me like a father should?" He asked pleadingly.

"Tch! You're just a little coward like the mug! You'll come running home soon enough." The adult utensil said.

"I am like Mugman, but not how you say. He's more like family to me than you ever were. I won't come back. You can count on that." Spoonfred told his father while keeping calm. The living fork stood there looking shocked. For he was at a loss of what to do. Should he really leave his boy in the hands of these other people? His son made it clear he didn't want to be with him anymore. If the utensil tried to drag the young spoon home by force, Rumor would be on him and surely separate them for good. It seemed the only option was to let Spoonfred be for the moment. Whether or not he would come running home was something only time would tell.

"Fine! Do what you want! Go and see how cruel the real world is!" Forkington huffed, throwing his hands into the air and whipped back around to enter his house.

The only cruel one is you, the little spoon thought. He watched as his father stormed into the house, slamming the door behind him. And then it hit Spoonfred. He was out on his own, in the world that suddenly seemed so much bigger than before. The child started to realize that he left home without any of his belongings. His father surely wouldn't just let him in for supplies. For if he stepped inside, the fork would certainly find a way to keep him there. No, he would just have to wing it and hope for the best. But what does one do with nothing on him? Especially with no money…

What do I do now? He wondered. For the spoon wasn't sure where he was going to stay. Sure, the residents of Inkwell were kind to him now, but that didn't mean they wanted to look after him. Spoonfred let out a sigh of worry and hung his head, realizing he had pushed away his only blood relative. A gloved hand was slowly placed on his shoulder.

"You did the right thing, Spoonfred." Cuphead reassured him. "He wouldn't leave you all alone if he really cared about you." His cup gave a quick glance over to his guardian, emphasizing the fact that leaving poor Mugman behind was not the best idea. "I'm proud of you, and so would Mugman if he was here." Cup watched as the utensil gave him a weak nod.

"…..But what do I do now? I don't exactly have a home to go to anymore…" Spoonfred voiced his worries.

"Heck! You can do anything you want!" The young cup beamed.

"Cuphead!" Kettle said sternly.

"Well, anything within reason."

Spoonfred nervously whipped his concave head around, as if he were looking around for someplace he could sleep that wasn't ungodly rough or dirty. Rumor realized that the boy would be insecure if he didn't have a place to sleep and settle in. Being queen bee, she felt responsible for everyone within the hive and even the other residents of Inkwell. It was the bees' job to protect them as officers and judge, after all. That and she just had a soft spot for children. Rumor knew the boy was still too young to sustain without a parental figure. Her sympathetic gaze stared at the wilting silver body. A large gloved hand rested on the spoon's shoulders.

"Spoonfred, I want to invite you into the hive. No one should be left out alone at night." She said softly with her mothering tone. "Bumble would be happy to have a buddy to hang around with. He's actually having a bit of a tough time dealing with the dark right now."

Spoonfred immediately perked right up at the thought of having a place to rest and the opportunity to help someone that needed it.

"Yes! I'll do it!" He shouted with excitement. "I mean, I'd be happy to help Bumble get over his fear." Spoonfred said with a bit more composure.

"I'm sure there's other people that would appreciate your help too, Spoonfred." Cuphead explained. "All you have to do is ask around. Come on! I'll help you!" The spoon's outlook on life did not look so bleak after all. He may not have a father figure anymore, but there were plenty of people that would enjoy his company and help him along the way. Cup helped the young utensil mingle with he and Mugman's friends. Elder Kettle followed his boy around and assisted with finding tasks for the other child to do.