SpongeBob SquarePants Cephalopod Quest The Story Begins

It's very early in the evening as a lone figure is entering his bedroom and planting himself down at his desk. Taking out a small book and grabbing a quill, the octopus opens up the book and, dipping the quill in ink, begins writing...

...Well, hello again! Bet you've been wondering what I've been up to lately, eh? This may come as quite a shock to anyone whom may read this someday, but I've been away for who knows how long! Really, I've just forgotten! But, I will tell ya, It certainly was an adventure!

Pausing to dip his quill in the ink, the cephalopod continues to write more...

...Which only started after me and my old rival got into our usual little quarrel, one I deeply regret when recalling the memory because It had been in front of King Neptune himself. And-well, he was not at all pleased either. Let me tell ya, the way he held me and Squidward, certainly didn't feel good at all, as a matter of fact I still ache!

...Although, that should be nothing compared to what I've been through! Well, my dear readers, I'm sure you're curious so I won't delay any longer! This story is quite long, but you shouldn't be bored! Then again, when is Squilliam Fancyson Ever Bor-? Never Mind! Don't answer that! Let me just tell ya all the story of this epic quest that me and Squiddy had to endure together instead, as it will be one that will stick with me for as long as I'm still alive and breathing! Wellll, after the great King Neptune sent us away, both me and Squiddy return home to prepare for our "supposed" quest. You won't be able to see this part, since I'm using "air quotes," neither of us were all that thrilled about what King Neptune wanted us to do at all.

With an angry grunt, Squidward laid a makeshift knapsack down on his bed, all while a curious yellow sponge stood observing the scene without flinching once. "Squidwa-..."

"What?"

Not even when the octopus snapping and stomping his foot. "Do you need any hel-..."

"No!"
"Are you-..."
"Sure?! Yes! I'm Sure!"
"Really?"
"Really, Yes!"
"Positive?"

"Yes!" And Squidward gave out a sigh of Inevitable-suffering. "I'm positive!"
"Absolutely positively?"
"Yes! Absolutely Positivity!"

Squidward exploded. "Now cut that out! He then gave another sigh, this one was simply to calm himself down. "Look, I need to be packed and ready for when Squilliam gets here! I don't want to have to listen to him go on and on about how I should've been ready, because You were Holding me up!"
Packing, only the essentials, Squidward's next task was gathering enough food to get him and Squilliam by... although he was positive that the other would be packing his entire pantry. Again, SpongeBob continues to plead for Squidward to allow him to help, having seen... or felt... that Squidward didn't have... or wasn't... packing enough. "Is that gonna be enough Squid-..."

"Yes, SpongeBob!"
"It looks like you'll need-..."
"More? No! This, will be More then enough!"
"But-..."

"I'm packing, Only what I can Carry!" The octopus begun bagging his supplies. "Oh, but I'm sure that your friend will-..."

"Squilliam Fancyson is not gonna lift a Tentacle to Help me!"

Tying the bag, making sure it was nice and tight, the octopus took a quick look over his check list. "I've told you, over and Over again, far to many Times! So this, shall be the Final I Explain! Me and Squilliam, Are not Friends! And Never will Be!"

"Never say never Squidward."
"I'll say It If I want to!"

Squidward goes over his list, ignoring the sponge while he's deep in his thoughts. He couldn't scarcely fathom that King Neptune was seriously going to send him on a long, treacherous journey with Squilliam Fancyson. His archrival, over an argument between them? It wasn't His fault Squilliam was so arrogant. But this, this was crossing the line. Surely Neptune couldn't possibly expect him and Squilliam to just, drop their rivalry and work together, was he? "So, where exactly Are you and Squilliam going?" The sponge broke Squidward's train of thought. "Somewhere, high up in the Mountains!" The octopus replied. "Where we go afterwards, no idea." Checking over his list, Squidward folded it, tucked it into his pocket, then heading back up stairs (With SpongeBob following, and Squidward attempting to block out the squeaky shoes.) he grabs his knapsack on the bed. Returning downstairs he placed it on the table, SpongeBob eyed his neighbor's supplies as the octopus tied them to a long stick. "I really, really, Really Wish that I could go with you Squidward...it'll be just like that time you and I delivered the first Krabby Patty pizz-..."

"Well, you can't."

And as SpongeBob's head droops Squidward let's out a sigh, pulls out a chair, sitting down he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Okay, it's Not that you Can't go! It's just that, this is going to be a seriously dangerous journey, Squilliam and I are trenching into the Unknown. Neither of us have any idea what's out there, which is the reason I'm Not making any exceptions, no matter how much you may beg, and plead, and-..."

"I could be a great asset to you as well as Squil-..."
"You're needed Here! You still have to work, and take care of Gary. You'll also have to look after my house while I'm gone and get my mail to."

SpongeBob held his neighbor's amber gaze, Squidward took notice of the seriousness, and the pain in the Sponge's blue eyes. "You..you will come back, won't you?" Squidward blinks. "SpongeBob I...can't guarantee, or promise that either me or Squilliam, will come back." He answered slowly, and feeling bad in the process, yet he knew he couldn't sugar coat it or give the sponge false hope. "It won't be possible for me to maintain focus, knowing that you're out there in the harsh wilderness-..."

"You'll have to. I'm gonna be counting on you to look after Snellie also."

These words, the octopus never imagined, or comprehend that these words had just spilled out. "Bu..but what if...if you don't come back? What if you-..."

"Snellie will have a new caregiver then!"
"Squidward-..."

"Here-...Squidward hands his neighbor some papers. -..."I had this filled out. SpongeBob read over them, blue eyes widening. "If Anything happens to me, then you'll Legally Snellie's new owner." SpongeBob looks back up at Squidward. "I...will keep Snellie?"

"If by chance I don't return, then yes...Snellie's yours. Who else, but you is obligated for the job? You take, such good care of Gary already."

He took one last glance at the paperwork, then he shivers as he set them on the table. "Squidward, rest assured, I'll take good care of Snellie."

"I know you will."

"But-...
"But what?"
"You have to come back!"

Squidward, taking good care not to shout at the sponge, took in a deep breath. "Look, SpongeBob, I'll not be making any promises I can't keep. I've done that, far to many Times! This time, SpongeBob, I'm gonna be real honest when I tell you... that me and Squilliam... may, or may not, come back to Bikini Bottom." Now Squidward felt himself shivering, leaning closer, he pulls the sponge closer as he's sniffling. "Don't do that, I know you're upset but..act your age." The octopus says this with, as much patience as he could stomach. "I'm sorry I can't make any promises myself, but you can."

"I...'sniff'...can?"
"Yes, SpongeBob I want you to promise me that, no matter what may happen...you will keep yourself together. Stay strong, if you have to cry, then cry. But don't let it overwhelm you to the point of quitting. Do this for me, SpongeBob, and I'll be happy."

Shivering, the sponge threw his arms around his neighbor. "Promise me, SpongeBob." Squidward squeezed his shoulders. "I...'sniff'...I promise, Squidward." The octopus took in another deep breath. "Good." Patting his back, Squidward pulls him back and gives him a handkerchief. Just then, there was a knock the door, which Squidward used as an excuse to end the conversation with SpongeBob. "That must be Squilliam." Getting up, the octopus went and opened the door, just as he thought, his rival was there to greet him... with disapproval written all over his face. Although Squidward couldn't blame him in the slightest. "Squilliam Fancyson, what a present surprise." He said in a dull, uninterested tone. "Cut the small talk, Squiddy." Squilliam's tone matched Squidward's perfectly. "There will be pantry of time to chit-chat later. Now, are you packed?"

"Yes, I'm packed."
"Good! Then get a move on and get your supplies. King Neptune is expecting us."

"You're leaving now?" Both cephalopods turn in the direction of the sponge. "I suppose we are, SpongeBob." Squidward nodded while fatching his knapsack, the sponge watched him, blue eyes minutes away from watering. "Squidward."

"Here's your list, don't lose it."

Trying to avoid his watering orbs, the octopus gave him a piece of paper, then his hand on SpongeBob's head. "Remember, you promised." Squilliam blinked, studying their body language though, kept his usual snarky remarks at bay. Squidward though, didn't need to look at SpongeBob's sapphire gaze, he could feel the weight on his shoulders already. Having to turn away from him broke his heart. "B..bye SpongeBob. Take care of my Snellie." Squidward called back, guiding Squilliam out the door. 'Meow' Only to pause when hearing Snellie's meowing, the octopus briefly pets her shall. "Goodbye Snellie, be good alright?"

'Meow'

"No, you can't come with me, SpongeBob's taking care of you." She meows, but Squidward turns away, Squilliam glanced at her for a moment then turned away also. Without a word to each other, the two arch-cephalopods approach the millionaire's limo, greeting them, the driver opens the door for them. Squidward let Squilliam climb in first, while he took one quick... and probably his last... glance over his shoulder. Abit surprised that SpongeBob was not following after them... or him... for that matter. "Come on, Squiddy-..." The millionaire whispered, grasping his tentacle to get his attention. -..."You've said your goodbyes." With SpongeBob weighing on his mind, Squidward didn't have the will power to combat his rival like he normally would have. He just gives off a sigh and ducks inside the limo, Squilliam scooted to make room for him. "Yeah, I did but...I've thought that he'd be out here already...crying his heart out and begging me Not to go."

"He's a Big sponge-..."
"But a child at heart."

Squidward cuts Squilliam off, and didn't bother to see the frown he had made, the octopus just tilts his head down. "We...should just go, before he tries to stop us."

"Shall we go, Master Squilliam?"

The driver ducks his head inside, the wealthy octopus glanced at both him and Squidward, then taking one last peek at his rival's house... and seeing the yellow sponge in the doorway... along with Snellie... nods. "Yes, we shall Cody." Bowing his head, Cody raised his head and shut the door. "Squidward?" Squilliam tapped his shoulder. "You need to wave goodbye to them."

"Huh?"

Raising his head, Squidward looked at him, the millionaire points towards the house. Turning back he saw, almost what he had expected, SpongeBob standing in the doorway, staring at him with a sudden gaze. And, it didn't help that Snellie was by the sponge's feet either, he waited for him to rush over as the limo starts up. But instead SpongeBob waved a sad goodbye, in dismay... and abit of guilt... Squidward waves back as they're pulling away. 'Goodbye SpongeBob' Watching them drive away, SpongeBob sniffled. "Goo...goodbye Squidward."

'Meow'

The sponge lifts up Snellie. "Come on, ole girl." He petted her shell as he's taking her to his pineapple. "Let's get you settled in." She begun meowing. "No, no, no Squidward isn't Abandoning you!"

'Meow'

"Of Course! Squidward made sure you'd be in good hands." SpongeBob replied to her meowing, his cheerfulness failing him as he stepped inside and placed Snellie on his sofa. "Now, let's get you some food-..."

'Meow'

"Oh, hey Gary! Even when being greeted by his own snail, who was looking at him and Snellie questioningly. "Snellie's gonna be staying with us for a few...for awhile, I hope you don't mind sharing your foodbowl with your friend. I'll be getting her one of her own soon."

'Meow'

"Great! You're a trooper Gary! Why don't you make our guest feel at home while I get you both some food. Meowing happily, Gary nodded, slithering over beside Snellie who responds by purring. The moment he was alone in his kitchen, was where the sponge's pain crept back in. For awhile he just stood in the kitchen staring at the wall. "Great Neptune, please watch over them. And please, keep them safe."