This chapter has a bit at the start that clears up a loose end from Darkness Rising I forgot to close off. Just thought you ought to know.

Gokiburi Prince: Funnily enough, I did have a concept for a NU story in which Jimmy and Carl would chase the Syndicate through time to stop them from erasing the other Nicktoons, but I thought it didn't really fit the arc I had going at the time. Anyway, thanks for reading!

Arandomdude345: Thanks mate! I hope I don't dissapoint!

Autobot-Outcast: You, sir, are a stinker. =P Thanks for reviewing!

SOLmaster: Well, here you go! :D Thanks for the review.

The Shadow Syndicate: That's why I picked it. :P I'd pay for those shirts, btw. Add 'I Heart M.A.D.' and we'd be set! XD Thanks very much!

TweenisodeOrange: Well, without villains, there'd be no story! Thanks!

Zim'sMostLoyalServant: I won't lie, I shan't be easy on Spongebob in this. :| Thanks a bunch!

Chapter 01: How It All Began

"You sure you don't want to go back?" quizzed Jimmy.

He, Danny and Timmy were gathered in the lab, standing next to the portal (which was currently hooked up to the Time Booth.) They were not alone – two other men were standing by the portal, neither of whom were in 'modern' clothing.

"No thank you, dear boy," replied Dr. Thourrel, "I'd rather not be restricted by the resources of the 1900s. I want to explore the marvels of this world!"

"Suit yourself, mate," shrugged Lieutenant Bailey, "I'd rather get back to Caen before the Major gets on my case."

He tipped his helmet.

"Have a good one, you mad kid," he farewelled.

He walked into the portal and disappeared.

"Well, I must be off," grinned Dr. Thourrel, "World to see, things to do – we'll meet again. Farewell!"

He walked towards the lab exit, whistling to himself.

"OK, so we just released a 1900s-era doctor into the modern world," said Timmy, "What do we do now?"

"We go back to normal, for now," shrugged Jimmy, "Until I can find out more about this 'Warlord' the Man in the White Suit mentioned."

"I don't think he exists," said Danny, "I mean, all-conquering warlord? How do we know the prophecy wasn't self-fulfilling?"

"Danny's right," agreed Timmy, "No way there's something worse than that guy."

"Maybe," nodded Jimmy, looking unconvinced, "Well, I'll call you if something comes up."

"See ya, Jim," said Timmy.

He and Danny pressed a button on their recallers and portalled away.

Jimmy looked down at his feet.

"Maybe," he muttered, "But somehow, I doubt it."

It was a beautiful morning in Bikini Bottom, and as usual, Squidward was stuck at work.

He rapped his fingers on the register, looking outside. There were no customers at the moment – everyone was probably enjoying the warmth outside. He, on the other hand, was being forced to listen to his...'wonderful' co-worker.

"...and then we went for ice cream," Spongebob was saying, "So, all-in-all, I'd give that day a...hmm...six outta ten. What do you think, Squidward?"

"Uh-huh," mumbled Squidward.

"Yeah, six outta ten, sounds right," nodded Spongebob, "Hey, Squiddy, can I show you something?"

"No."

"Thanks, buddy," said Spongebob, ignoring Squidward's rejection.

He pulled something out of his pocket. It was a small box – in fact, it was a matchbox. He pushed it open, revealing a small and rather shoddy looking ring of coral.

"You made a coral ring, and you put it in a matchbox," grunted Squidward, "And I should care...why?"

"Well, that whole thing with the Man in the White Suit got me thinking," shrugged Spongebob, "I mean, I could have died, couldn't I? I nearly fell off a dragon, for corn's sake!"

"Uh-huh."

"So, I've started to think about what I really want in my life," continued Spongebob, "I mean, I have my dream job..."

Squidward hit his head on the cash register.

"...I have a wonderful neighbour..."

Bash.

"...a considerate and helpful best friend..."

Bash.

"...a great boss..."

Bash.

"...only thing I'm missing is...well, commitment."

There was a long pause.

Then Squidward hit his head on the register six times in quick succession.

"Are you practicing drumming?" quizzed Spongebob.

"Who," demanded Squidward, "Would want 'commitment' with you?"

"Yeah, I thought about that," replied Spongebob, "But I think I've decided – I'm going to ask Sandy out."

"Of course," muttered Squidward, "She's a squirrel, and you're a nut."

"Yeah, exactly," nodded Spongebob, completely missing the insult, "So, tomorrow we're going to the beach and I'm hoping I can ask there..."

"What're ye talking about, boys?"

Mr. Krabs had walked out of his office and was now standing next to the cash register, arms crossed.

"Commitment," grunted Squidward.

There was another long pause.

"Oooooo...kay then," nodded Mr. Krabs, backing up a little, "Anyway, just thought I'd show you boys what I got in the mail this morning. It's from the Navy."

He pulled an envelope out of his shirt pocket and opened it, revealing a small silver medal.

"Fascinating," grunted Squidward.

"Ooh, how'd you get that?" quizzed Spongebob, "Did you save someone's life? Or did you board an enemy ship? Or maybe you..."

"Twelve years long service!" replied Mr. Krabs, proudly, "My fourth medal!"

"What were the other three?" asked Spongebob.

"Three years long service," recalled Mr. Krabs, "Six years long service and...nine years long service."

"Of course," grumbled Squidward.

Mr. Krabs scowled.

"You sayin' there's something wrong with me medals?" he snarled.

"No, of course not," replied Squidward, flippantly.

"I'll have you know that I learnt things in the Navy that'd make yer lily-livered bones quake," snarled Mr. Krabs, "Or are ye too afraid to mangle with a true sailor?"

"Oh, I'm shaking," grunted Squidward.

Mr. Krabs scowled and marched back to his office. Before reaching the door, he turned around and looked Squidward in the eye.

"One day, Mr. Squidward, I'll make ye eat those words."

He slammed the office door.

Squidward shrugged and went back to staring longingly outside.

"...hey, Squidward, d'you think I could join the N..."

"No."

"What do you mean, no?! This is a highly sensitive device and it's just been stolen! Send someone to look for it! ...no, don't you dare hang up on..."

Dorian Fletcher slammed the phone onto his desk.

"The FBI won't help us," he spat, "Said that this is 'CIA business' and they can't intervene."

"...which is a nice way of saying 'get lost'," nodded his assistant, Agent Jonah Thompson.

"Pretty much, Jonah," nodded Fletcher, "It's all on us."

"Sir!"

An agent burst in the door, looking worried.

"Picked up an energy surge in Pennsylvania," he called, "Not far from Three Mile Island!"

"Chronomancer?" quizzed Jonah.

"We think so!"

Fletcher and Jonah looked at each other before racing out of the room.

In retrospect, Monopoly Night at Timmy's House had been a pretty bad idea.

It had started poorly, with everyone arguing which piece they got, and went south when AJ managed to buy all the railroads in his first run around the board. Chester had nearly strangled Sanjay over Boardwalk, and Elmer (of all people) had eventually rage quit and gone home. They had eventually ended up abandoning the game and playing video games instead.

Now Timmy lay on his bed, making a mental note never to play Monopoly again. His friends had gone home, and he was preparing to go to bed.

Suddenly, his recaller beeped. Timmy sighed, and pressed a button.

A portal opened up and Spongebob walked out.

"Timmy, I have a problem," he said.

"Uh-huh."

Spongebob was tossing the matchbox between hands, looking anxious.

"I don't know how to do this," he muttered.

"And you thought I could help?" demanded Timmy, "Spongebob, this is more of a Danny thing!"

"I can't get Danny," replied Spongebob, "I think he's busy."

"Spongebob, I don't know anything about romance," snapped Timmy, "If I did, Trixie would be my girlfriend. Now go home."

Spongebob sighed, and pressed a button on his recaller.

Nothing happened.

"Uh, Timmy," he gulped, "My recaller isn't working."

"What?"

Timmy shot out of bed.

"What're you talking about," he spluttered, "These things always..."

He nudged Spongebob as he reached for the recaller.

There was a sudden, brief shock, and both slumped to the ground.

"Sir, something's happened."

Fletcher arrived at a computer terminal, where a man in a shirt and tie was staring at a screen and typing furiously.

"What is it, techie?" demanded Fletcher.

"There's been an energy spike," replied the techie, "Something is blocking the Chronomancer's effects!"

"Where?!" thundered Fletcher.

"...hold on...Dimmsdale, California," replied the techie, "We'll have an exact address soon."

"You do that," snapped Fletcher, "Has anyone managed to shut down Three Mile Island?"

"Plant managers don't believe us, Fletch," apologised Jonah, "Think we're pranking them."

"...then there's nothing we can do?" sighed Fletcher.

"No, sir," replied Jonah.

Fletcher buried his head in his hands.

"Then keep an eye on Dimmsdale," he grunted, "Prepare a fast response team ASAP."

"Chronomancer is going to full power," exclaimed the techie, "Standby for shift in three...two...one...shift."

Sandy had been working late.

She was just heading inside from the lab when she felt the wind pick up...which should have been impossible, given that she was in a dome.

She looked outside. Dark clouds had gathered – lighting flashed and thunder began to boom. In the distance, she could see the lights downtown begin to go out.

Then the buildings themselves were gone, replaced by an expanse of darkness stretching to the horizon.

"What the..."

The walls of the Treedome faded, but no water rushed in. Sandy turned around, heart pumping wildly in her chest, as the grass, the table and everything else outside of her tree home faded away, like ghosts. Then her tree went, and she was alone in the great, dark expanse.

"Wh-where is everything?" she exclaimed, utterly, panicked, "What's goi-"

And then she was gone, too.

I could have just said 'the Chronomancer activated', but I'm too messed up to do that! =D