Chapter Seven: In the Presence of Royalty

Despite facing only a jellyfish, Ami was as stiff as an elderly person with nervousness. How powerful was King Jellyfish?

SpongeBob led she and Usagi up the slope, a cast iron gate erect near the top. Was the gate for King Jellyfish's privacy or for the fish's protection?

The gate creaked open.

Ami suppressed a gulp. "Are we ready?"

"As ready as we'll ever be." Usagi didn't keep down her gulp. "I'm as afraid as I would be if we were facing a major enemy, like the Dark Kingdom or Black Moon."

Ami didn't blame Usagi. With the physics in Bikini Bottom, King Jellyfish could be capable of shapeshifting or teleporting.

"Don't worry, guys," SpongeBob said. "King Jellyfish is friendly, as long as we don't catch him at a bad time."

"What's a 'bad time'?" Ami said.

"According to the Jellyspotters' magazine, a bad time is only when he showers. But it's evening, not morning, and King Jellyfish showers at night, right before he goes to bed. It's not that late yet." He placed a finger on his chin. "Unless he has an appointment tomorrow morning that he has to get up early for."

"All this speculation will do is make us more worried," Usagi said. "The only thing we can do is keep going."

The three ran up the winding slope. Where Bubble Buddy awaited them.

"How did you get up here faster than us?" Usagi blurted.

Bubble Buddy put a finger to where his mouth would be if he was human or a fish. "Shhh. King Jellyfish is just at the top of this path," he said softly. "And he's not a big fan of too much noise. To answer your question, I floated up here, of course."

"Of course," Usagi said, voice flat.

"Good luck. You'll need it."

"Gosh, everyone is helping out today," SpongeBob said. "Thanks, Bubble Buddy."

Bubble Buddy waved as the three tiptoed up the path. A series of drawn-out buzzes came from the mountain.

"Is that jellyfish singing?" Usagi whispered.

SpongeBob trembled, a grin encompassing his face. "What a beautiful voice he has."

Above ground, people usually sang when they were showering.

Ami heard the fall of water that indicated that someone was showering.

They had to at least look. The three peeked over the surface.

King Jellyfish looked no different than the other jellyfish, save that he was five times bigger than the smaller ones. He scrubbed his back with a brush, water cascading from a showerhead, into a porcelain tub. A shower curtain patterned with jars of jellyfish jelly shielded King Jellyfish's inoffensive nakedness—save for his red cape and shower cap (did this jellyfish have hair?)—from perverted eyes. He sung to his brush. Or he was using it like a microphone, imagining himself singing at a concert.

Ami squared herself. This wouldn't be easy.

"How about we wait until he's done showering? I think Squidward should be able to hang in there with the pain for a few more minutes." Usagi turned back toward the slope. Almost took a step, but jabbed her foot on a rock. Her yelp echoed throughout the mountain.

King Jellyfish whipped toward them, coughing. His shower cap popped off, floated into the tub, revealing the crown atop the jellyfish's head. No hair. The jellyfish was protecting his crown.

"Sorry, guys," Usagi whispered.

"No, this is exciting." SpongeBob jumped, flapping his hands like he was a bird, and landed on the ground. "Hello, King Jellyfish. How are you?"

King Jellyfish made a rumbling noise that was a hybrid between a buzz and a lion's growl.

"I'm assuming you're okay. You were singing joyfully a few seconds ago, until you saw us."

"That's not a good sign." Usagi's eyes darted over King Jellyfish, taking in his size, searching for weaknesses. Ami couldn't find any. Fighting King Jellyfish was unnecessary. All they wanted was a jar of his jelly to heal someone, not to sell or do anything harmful with it.

Now explain that to a jellyfish, Ami.

But how? Could jellyfish understand speech? Or were they like dogs, able to understand speech but unable to speak?

Usagi and Ami climbed onto the surface. Usagi gripped her Moon Kaleidoscope so hard that her knuckles whitened.

They were too nervous, fighting against a jellyfish. They had faced worse. Or had they?

"Do you remember me, Your Highness?" SpongeBob said.

King Jellyfish floated in place. Couldn't tell where King Jellyfish was looking because he had no eyes.

King Jellyfish scratched his head with one of his stingers, which the three had to stay away from at all costs. Since SpongeBob operated under different rules, if he was stung, he would likely be okay, albeit incapacitated for a few hours. But Usagi and Ami, who were human and operated under "normal" rules, would likely die, especially with the size of the king making his shocks more powerful.

Hopefully, King Jellyfish remembered SpongeBob positively. Because if the king remembered SpongeBob from a bad experience—SpongeBob never told them about the circumstances leading to him giving the king pie—then their fight would become ten times more difficult.

King Jellyfish lay on the ground, quaking it, spreading out his stingers, making Usagi, Ami, and SpongeBob stumble. A wave of electricity pulsed throughout King Jellyfish's body.

"Get ready." SpongeBob's eyes twinkled. "Our Highness is about to release his famous shockwave, known for devastating buildings, fish, and burning the earth while being beautiful. We're gonna have to jump over it." He was too happy to be fighting against this jellyfish.

Ami loosened herself. King Jellyfish released a shockwave. The three jumped over it, even though Usagi and Ami were weighed down by their suits.

King Jellyfish floated above the three. Ring-shaped electricity pulsed throughout the king's stingers, up and down, up and down, hypnotic. Smaller jellyfish popped out from between King Jellyfish's stingers. King Jellyfish was giving birth without breeding.

The small jellyfish buzzed, flying toward the three, electricity crackling from their stingers.

"We don't have to hurt them badly." SpongeBob raised his bubble wand. "A swing of this should take care of them."

"Then a swing of my Moon Kaleidoscope should take care of them, too," Usagi said. "Prayerfully."

One of the jellyfish suctioned itself to Ami's helmet, her vision covered by its light purple body. She hadn't seen or heard it coming. She screamed, her self-control gone in that instant of literal shock; the jellyfish zapped her, electricity spreading throughout her body. She collapsed on the ground, flailing, hitting something squishy. SpongeBob screamed—she must've hit him.

The electricity stopped just as quickly. Ami's eyes shot open. Usagi was before her, gripping her Moon Kaleidoscope. SpongeBob barreled into King Jellyfish, sending both himself and the jellyfish off Spork Mountain. Ami must've hit him harder than she thought.

King Jellyfish crashed into one of the water fountain-like machines at the base of Spork Mountain, where Mrs. Puff stood. The pufferfish hollered and ran faster than Ami thought a pufferfish could move.

"Ami-chan, are you okay?" Usagi said.

"Yes, I am. To be honest, I'm more worried about SpongeBob."

SpongeBob slid off King Jellyfish, landing on the island in the middle of the water fountains, the rest of which poured water into the lake. A D1000 puffed on top of one of the fountains, creating three robots at a time.

Fodders, Ham-mers, Tar-tar Sauces surrounded SpongeBob on the island. He couldn't fight them and King Jellyfish on his own.

Ami pushed herself to her feet, staggered. "We have to help them."

Usagi caught Ami by the arm before she fell, using her Moon Kaleidoscope to bat another jellyfish away. Thankfully, no others moved as quickly as the first had. "Ami-chan, are you sure you're okay enough to move? SpongeBob and I can handle this by ourselves. I don't think King Jellyfish is friends with the robots. They've taken over his territory, after all." Her frown deepened. "Although, if a bunch of robots took over my territory, and I was a jellyfish, then I wouldn't be taking a shower. I'd be getting them out of my land."

If enemies took over Planet Mercury, then Ami would be fighting to reclaim her planet, too. Maybe Usagi was thinking the same way about the moon.

Below, King Jellyfish hovered above the robots, SpongeBob swinging his bubble wand, keeping the robots at bay, but the robots inched closer to him as the seconds passed. Soon, they'd overwhelm the sponge.

Ami pushed herself into flight. "We have to hurry, Usagi-chan."

Usagi ran her tongue over her lips. "If you're sure… Okay. I'll keep you safe."

Usagi and Ami flew toward King Jellyfish and SpongeBob, the robots approaching SpongeBob, the sponge swiveling, wand raised.

The smaller jellyfish surrounded Usagi and Ami with neckbreaking speed. A blue jellyfish floated in front of them all—the leader? Usagi and Ami jerked to stops.

"We really don't want to hurt you guys," Usagi said. "We're just trying to help your father, erm, king, I guess, defeat those robots. We're on your side, not the robots'."

The jellyfish didn't move.

Usagi swung her Kaleidoscope, batting several jellyfish away, but they returned in moments.

SpongeBob hollered. Ami whipped her head to look. The robots were carrying SpongeBob. Mrs. Puff was trembling, and Mr. Krabs had joined her. The crab rolled up his sleeve, raised his pincer, and charged toward the fray. Mrs. Puff grabbed after him, her fin brushing his sleeve. Mr. Krabs' shouts reached the sky.

Mr. Krabs was an older fish. If he tried to fight too…

"We'll have to charge through," Usagi said.

"Agreed." Ami dove, Usagi doing the same. They shoved through the smaller jellyfish, splitting the wall of purple until the way below was clear.

Electricity, all around Ami. Like she had touched an electric outlet while building up static electricity, but instead of the sensation in one part of her body, the shock covered her. She writhed in place, eyes bulging, likely making some ghastly facial expression that would be hilarious in another situation.

Usagi started to call her name and then was cut off by her own gargled scream. One of the jellyfish had gotten her, too.

Ami could no longer see what was happening to SpongeBob. She hoped the sponge was doing better than she and Usagi were. Heck, she and Usagi were the experienced ones. They should've been doing better.

But they weren't. Against jellyfish.

Even though Usagi and Ami had faced worse, they couldn't withstand the rules of Bikini Bottom.

But SpongeBob was familiar with this universe's rules, could likely make up new ones. Ami had confidence in the sponge. If anyone could save them, he could.


The robots were making SpongeBob hit himself.

One Ham-mer tickled SpongeBob's armpits, loosening the sponge's grip on his bubble wand, while another Ham-mer grabbed the sponge's arm and made him bonk himself on the head with his wand. The bubble wand didn't hurt because he absorbed physical punches, but his absorption didn't make his hitting himself any less annoying. Because if he was hitting himself, he wasn't hitting the robots.

SpongeBob was being lifted above the robots, too, like he was about to be thrown. Hopefully, the goo wasn't part of the equation.

Mr. Krabs was coming to help him, his peg-like legs blurs as he hurried toward the robots and SpongeBob.

"I'm comin', SpongeBob," Mr. Krabs shouted.

Above, King Jellyfish hovered. Watching.

The Tar-tar Sauce sprayed sauce, smacking the king in the forehead. King Jellyfish reared back, his stingers swiping over the spot where the tartar sauce hit. The Tar-tar Sauce kept spraying. King Jellyfish moved up and opened his mouth, the sauce shooting inside. The sauce slammed into the back of King Jellyfish's mouth, propelling the king like a bullet. The king bounced off a wall and careened forward, sticking out his tongue. A black mark had been burned in his smoking tongue. The tongue's odor wafted to SpongeBob. Smelled like a krabby patty.

Mr. Krabs reached the chaos only to be tickled and made to hit himself, too. A Fodder shocked Mr. Krabs' stomach, and Mr. Krabs pinched his own rump. Mr. Krabs howled, shot into the air, was smashed on the head by a Ham-mer, and fell, eyes blank. Mrs. Puff cried out.

SpongeBob managed to peer above between hitting himself. Smaller jellyfish crowded in the sky, where Usagi and Ami floated. Was No Name with them?

SpongeBob had to not only stop the robots by carving a path to the D1000 that was chugging away on one of the water fountains, but he also had to save Mr. Krabs.

"Your—Highness," SpongeBob called between hits from his bubble wand, "we have to stop these robots. We can defeat them together. And since we've cleared out the robots from the rest of the Fields, then I think you owe us at least your jelly."

King Jellyfish shrugged and then nodded.

"Yay! Once all the robots are gone, we can eat bubble pie together."

King Jellyfish buzzed. "Mm-mmm-mmmmm." Pie was strong motivation for doing anything.

The king pulled out a football helmet from under his bulbous body and placed it over his crown. He charged the Tar-tar Sauce. When the robot shot sauce, the king lowered his head so that the sauce hit the helmet instead, the sauce fanning out and then falling to the ground, melting robots below. The robots were weak against heat. Too bad SpongeBob couldn't use heat vision.

Between hitting himself with his bubble wand, SpongeBob looked around. As quickly as King Jellyfish was destroying the robots, more were taking their place because of the D1000. If only SpongeBob could fly to reach the D1000.

King Jellyfish could fly.

"Your Highness," SpongeBob said between hitting himself, "I know where the robots are coming from, but we'll have to fly to get there." His pants fell off from the robots making him hit himself, leaving him clad in his underwear. "If you can come down here, please, Your Highness, then we can fly there together."

King Jellyfish released a buzz that shook Spork Mountain and then dove toward SpongeBob like a linebacker, swerving past the Tar-tar Sauce's spraying sauce. The king didn't dodge one spurt of tartar sauce, and the sauce smashed the king's helmet, which began to melt, a sizzling noise coming from the helmet. King Jellyfish didn't slow. The king cared for a lowly creature like SpongeBob. Either that, or the king wanted that pie.

"You can do it, Your—" A Fodder shoved its electric wand into SpongeBob's mouth. Black and white lights flashed in his eyes and holes. The robots' laughs filled his ears.

The robots' laughs stopped, and smashing noises echoed. The flashing ceased, letting SpongeBob see. The robots before him were gone, leaving only a handful left, but more were being created. King Jellyfish swept SpongeBob up in his stingers, the king electrocuting himself since the electricity wasn't completely gone from SpongeBob. In unison, King Jellyfish and SpongeBob writhed, like they were line dancing. SpongeBob never imagined he'd be fighting side-by-side with King Jellyfish, much less line dancing with him.

The writhing stopped as quickly as it had begun, and King Jellyfish placed SpongeBob on top of him, rising above the chaos. Usagi and Ami were surrounded by jellyfish. Mrs. Puff stood near the bridge leading to the island where the robots were, wanting to go to Mr. Krabs but afraid she would be electrocuted, too.

The robots surrounded Mr. Krabs.

Panic sliced through SpongeBob. Mr. Krabs couldn't defend himself. Worse, Mrs. Puff was rushing toward the robots, no weapons with her. She couldn't handle the robots.

"Mrs. Puff, no," SpongeBob said. His teacher kept going. A robot met her on the bridge, reached out to electrocute her. She swelled into three times her size, smashing the robot.

"You weren't expecting that, were you?" Mrs. Puff said, her voice low, her words drawn out as they always were when she blew up, as SpongeBob knew well, as often as he crashed during his driving test. So she could blow up at will, not only when she was hurt.

SpongeBob clenched his hand. "All right, Mrs. Puff."

The other robots that had been charging toward her wheeled backward. Mrs. Puff rolled toward Mr. Krabs, the bridge creaking under her weight.

King Jellyfish cleared his throat. SpongeBob snapped to attention. He had been so focused on Mrs. Puff that he had forgotten that he was supposed to be guiding King Jellyfish to the D1000.

SpongeBob bowed. "I apologize, Your Highness." Above, the jellyfish still surrounded Usagi and Ami. But Mrs. Puff didn't know how to fight, so she couldn't defend herself against an assault of robots being created by the D1000 at a rate of one per second. Neither could Mr. Krabs because he was unconscious. SpongeBob had to go after the D1000 first, and then he would help Usagi and Ami.

Unless…

"Your Highness, can you ask the smaller jellyfish to stop attacking my friends?" SpongeBob clapped his hands together. "Please. They're here to save Jellyfish Fields from the robots, too."

King Jellyfish stroked his underside with one of his tentacles as though he was stroking his chin, if he had a chin. "Hmm." He buzzed. The jellyfish stopped, spun toward King Jellyfish. Usagi and Ami sighed collectively, like they had been holding their breath for several minutes.

No Name—no, Friend, the blue jellyfish, pushed his way to the front. Defiant, buzzing loudly. Just like he had been when he helped SpongeBob stop Mr. Krabs from using jellyfish to make jelly.

Didn't seem to want to stop attacking Usagi and Ami.

King Jellyfish buzzed back, louder than Friend. Friend kept buzzing, and King Jellyfish buzzed. They were getting into the jellyfish version of a shouting match. SpongeBob couldn't help but smile. Friend was as brave as he had been when SpongeBob had worked with him to save the jellyfish.

Seeing Mr. Krabs might also have triggered a bad reaction from Friend.

SpongeBob crawled slowly so that he wouldn't fall off King Jellyfish's round head. "Friend, the humans are all right. I promise you, they're trying to help."

Friend breathed like he had over the phone when he'd called SpongeBob. The sponge couldn't blame Friend for not trusting the humans, especially after what one of his fellow sea creatures, Mr. Krabs, had done to the jellyfish.

King Jellyfish lashed out with his stingers. Friend flitted sideways, the stingers whistling past the blue jellyfish. Friend wrapped his own stingers around the king's and then zapped electricity. King Jellyfish danced, the electricity spreading toward SpongeBob, but SpongeBob waved his bubble wand and blew, creating a helmet with mini-jetpacks at its side, and shot upward from the rocket-like momentum created by the mini-jetpacks. SpongeBob blew a bubble net that was twice his size, one that Friend couldn't dodge. He swung the bubble net downward, to Friend. Capturing Friend for the first time, stopping Friend's shocks and, thus, King Jellyfish's dancing. Sweating, King Jellyfish stilled.

Poking his stinger, Friend popped the bubble net.

Maybe SpongeBob should start calling "Friend," "Enemy" instead.

No, SpongeBob couldn't give up on Friend. Friend was being overprotective for the sake of his species.

Below, robots were still being created. SpongeBob had to stop the D1000 before it created more that engulfed Mrs. Puff and Mr. Krabs.

SpongeBob landed on King Jellyfish and then pointed toward the huffing and puffing. King Jellyfish charged toward the D1000.

Friend faced Usagi and Ami. But SpongeBob and King Jellyfish were too close to the D1000 to stop now.

King Jellyfish hovered above the D1000 and thrusted electricity. The world flashed, and two explosions rocked the land, the sea. Pieces of the D1000 and the water fountain shot in all directions. Water gushed everywhere, one jet slamming into King Jellyfish and sending the king and, by extension, SpongeBob, spinning backward.

Right toward the hoard of jellyfish that were attacking Usagi and Ami.

The jellyfish and Guardians were going to be crushed.

SpongeBob hoped they had insurance.


Electrocution hadn't made for a pleasant last few minutes.

The zapping had stopped for a time under King Jellyfish's command, but the blue jellyfish had fought back. After a brief fight between the king, who led by authority, and the blue jellyfish, who led by respect, all the smaller jellyfish, under command from the blue jellyfish, started shocking Usagi and Ami once King Jellyfish had turned his back to destroy the D1000.

Explosions quaked Usagi.

A ball of pink, King Jellyfish, barreled toward them, knocking over the smaller jellyfish like bowling pins.

King Jellyfish collided with Usagi and Ami.

Usagi felt like she had been smashed by all the trains in Japan.

Her world blackened, and the noise drowned out.

Thanks to her powers as Sailor Moon, she came to quickly. Shouting filled the area, the buzzes of jellyfish mixing with the shouts of Mrs. Puff and SpongeBob.

The smaller jellyfish were lying around her, motionless, near King Jellyfish's tub. Except the blue jellyfish that hovered above and shook a stinger, like a human would shake a fist at a driver that had cut him off. But King Jellyfish ignored the blue jellyfish, floating above the remaining robots, electricity crackling in his stingers.

"Your Highness, wait," SpongeBob said, atop the king. "There are two innocent people down there. If you zap the robots, they'll be hurt, too."

Mr. Krabs, unconscious, and Mrs. Puff remained with the robots, Mrs. Puff rolling toward Mr. Krabs, over several robots. How could steel be crushed by flesh?

Usagi placed her hands on the ground and pushed, arms shaking. Beside her, Ami did the same. They hadn't done anything during this fight but get caught and electrocuted by the jellyfish. Had to do something now, regardless of the pain that threatened to keep them down.

Usagi wouldn't be able to move in time. She shouted, "No, Your Highness. At least save the two innocent fish first."

King Jellyfish grumbled. He swept down, gathered Mrs. Puff and Mr. Krabs in his stingers and then tossed them onto his head, near SpongeBob. Mrs. Puff deflated upon impact. Mr. Krabs released a loud snore that sent ripples across King Jellyfish's bell. The crab had fallen asleep. Even Usagi, who could fall asleep in almost every situation, had never fallen asleep during a battle. Maybe it was a part of getting older.

Floating above the robots, King Jellyfish jolted electricity, causing the robots to explode, the mushroom from the explosion nearing the king. When the smoke cleared, the robots were gone, only a scorch mark that covered the island remaining. Could become an historical landmark, signifying the teamwork of humans, fish, and jellyfish to end the robot takeover.

Mr. Krabs sat up, holding his head. Mrs. Puff and SpongeBob crawled to Mr. Krabs' side, Mrs. Puff cradling his head. SpongeBob cradled his arm. Mrs. Puff shot SpongeBob a look. SpongeBob stopped cradling Mr. Krabs' arm.

The blue jellyfish crossed his stingers. Growling, the blue jellyfish flew into the distance.

SpongeBob reached after the blue jellyfish. "Wait, Friend."

The blue jellyfish kept going, not hesitating. Several jellyfish followed the blue one, but others gathered around King Jellyfish, who turned toward the blue jellyfish and shouted in a series of short buzzes. Hopefully, they could solve their disagreement peacefully. The Fields didn't need any more havoc wrecked upon them.

Mrs. Puff massaged the back of Mr. Krabs' head, the crab's eyes fluttering open. "It's okay, Eugene." She cast a small smile at SpongeBob. "Our favorite fry cook saved us, along with his…" She managed to keep the smile on her face. "…human friends."

"Aye." Mr. Krabs placed his hand on top of Mrs. Puff's hand. "I just want to go home. I'll think later."

King Jellyfish lowered himself near the ground, and Mrs. Puff and SpongeBob helped Mr. Krabs off the jellyfish. SpongeBob guided Mrs. Puff off the jellyfish.

"Thank you, SpongeBob," Mrs. Puff said. "You were such a big help today."

"No problem. Now, I think all this proved that if I can drive a giant jellyfish, then I can drive a boat. Therefore, I believe it's appropriate for me to get my driver's license."

"The world may work in many different ways, Mr. SquarePants, but it doesn't work that way."

"Ah, well. Didn't hurt to ask." SpongeBob stayed on King Jellyfish, waving at Mrs. Puff and Mr. Krabs as King Jellyfish flew him to Spork Mountain.

SpongeBob cupped his hands around his mouth. "I hope you feel better soon, Mr. Krabs. I'll get everyone to sign a card for you."

Mr. Krabs' eyes were shut, forehead creased. "Urgh…"

"I can stop his headache," Usagi said. But her accident with Squidward rang in her head. No, it wouldn't be like that. She would make her power weak enough to heal, not hurt.

"I think that's a good idea," Ami said. "It won't end up like it did with Squidward, right?"

"Right. It can't." They had to trust Usagi and Ami, or else they wouldn't be able to save Bikini Bottom from the robots together, wouldn't be able to rebuild Bikini Bottom together. Usagi floated down, Mrs. Puff gaping. Mr. Krabs kept his eyes closed.

Usagi landed near Mr. Krabs, crouched to his level. "Mr. Krabs, I can heal you."

Mr. Krabs moaned. "Don't touch me. I can heal meself."

Usagi wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Krabs did have healing powers of his own. "I promise I won't hurt you."

Mrs. Puff drew Mr. Krabs closer to her, away from Usagi. "You may have helped defeat the robots, but I won't let you touch him. Don't push your luck with us."

Usagi imagined Mrs. Puff expanding, sending Usagi into oblivion. "Y-you don't have to worry, ma'am. This'll take only a second." She let the smart aleck in her eek out. "Besides, I won't have to touch him. Only my wand does."

Before Mrs. Puff or Mr. Krabs could protest, Usagi put her Moon Kaleidoscope to Mr. Krabs' head, between his eyes. Mrs. Puff stiffened, as if she had been touched.

"Moon Healing Escalation," Usagi whispered. White light trickled out from her Moon Kaleidoscope, surrounded Mr. Krabs. The crab sunk.

"Ooh… Ah, that feels…good."

"Is your headache gone yet, sir?"

"It, it is. I can't believe… Ah, Neptune, feels like me mother's givin' me a hug."

Usagi stopped the energy flow, withdrawing her Moon Kaleidoscope from Mr. Krabs forehead.

A smile spread on Mr. Krabs' face. "I feel loose, like I just…ah…" Mrs. Puff's body reddened. Was she blushing? Usagi averted her eyes to the ground. Well, if the relationship between them was like that...

Usagi stood. "I don't have to touch you anymore. I'm glad you're feeling better." She gathered energy and began to fly.

Mrs. Puff grabbed Usagi's boot. "Wait."

Usagi stopped, mouth parted.

She softened. "Touch us anytime."

Usagi nodded, smiling.

Mrs. Puff let her go, and she returned to Spork Mountain.

On Spork Mountain, SpongeBob was saying, "But Your Highness, you have to give us the jelly. You promised."

Ami bowed as Usagi landed beside them. "Yes, please, King Jellyfish. We helped you with the robots."

King Jellyfish buzzed.

SpongeBob's eyes lit up. "Oh, that's right. I forgot." With his bubble wand, he blew out a piece of steaming bubble pie on a plate, a fork floating beside it. "Here you are, Your Highness."

Hearts popped out from King Jellyfish's head. Usagi had no idea that could happen in real life and, based on the expression on Ami's face, neither could her fellow Guardian.

"Mmm-mmmm." King Jellyfish ignored the fork, ignored the plate, grabbed the pie and swiped it into his underside. He rumbled, his bell rippling. Was that a burp?

Humming, King Jellyfish floated behind his shower curtain and then returned with the jar of Jellyfish Jelly. He tossed it into SpongeBob's arms.

"Thank you, Your Highness," SpongeBob said.

"Bzzz." Was King Jellyfish thanking them, too?

The king lowered himself near Usagi, Ami, and SpongeBob. It pointed to its head with one of its stingers.

SpongeBob's eyes danced. "Get on?"

"Bzz." The king bobbed his head—a nod.

SpongeBob pumped his fists into the air. "Woohoo!" He jumped onto the king's head, making King Jellyfish bounce up and down. The king growled. SpongeBob then placed a hand on King Jellyfish's head. "I-I'm sorry, Your Highness, if I hurt you." He sang, "Just so excited, can't help but be about it, just so excited…"

He kept singing nonsense lyrics as Usagi and Ami clambered onto the king, Ami more gracefully than Usagi. As the group flew down from Spork Mountain, toward Squidward, Mrs. Puff and Mr. Krabs watched them. And if Usagi's ears weren't failing her thanks to the noise from the fight, she could've sworn she heard Mr. Krabs thank them.

They approached Squidward, who yelped, stepping back.

"It's okay, Squidward," SpongeBob said. "We're all friends now." He raised the jar of jelly. "And we have your cure."

Squidward tensed. King Jellyfish stopped several feet away from Squidward, and Usagi, Ami, and SpongeBob climbed off. King Jellyfish raised his crown, saluting them, and then flew back to Spork Mountain, SpongeBob, Usagi, and Ami waving after him.

SpongeBob opened the jar. "How about I rub some on?"

Squidward's face fell. "As appreciative I am of your gesture, no."

To keep herself from seeing something she would never be able to unsee, Usagi turned away as Squidward rubbed the jelly over his stings. Now she wished her hearing had been taken from her so she wouldn't have to hear Squidward's moaning about how good the jelly felt.

"I believe I owe you my thanks." Squidward pulled out a Golden Spatula from his shirt pocket. He shifted from side to side. "I saw a bit of the chaos up there. Looks like you all risked your lives for me. Even though you two humans hardly know me." He smiled—the first time Usagi had seen the octopus smile. "I can't thank you enough."

Usagi's heart lightened. Despite the weird rules and characters, things in Bikini Bottom were going to go well after all.