Yay mindscapes!

Review replies;

BlooMan2: Yeah, I didn't think Eustace would be a good actor, and Carl is...well...Carl. :P Thanks for reading!

TweenisodeOrange: YOU MAY HAVE COOKIES ANYWAY. I HAVE SPOKEN. :P Thanks for reviewing!

SOLmaster: I hope so too. Glad you liked the play! Thanks for the review.

Zim'sMostLoyalServant: The climax is here, my friend, worry not! :D Thanks very much!

aslan333: Thanks!

Chapter Nine: In Which We Enter Spongebob's Mind

The further Sandy went down the corridor, the darker it got. Before long, only the dimmest of lamps provided light for the damp hallway. There was a terrible smell that only got worse as she went on.

These things confirmed that she was going the right way. The worse it got, the more right it was. That was just how these things worked.

At last, she reached the last cell in the corridor. Beyond this cell was a wall of darkness – almost like a wall to infinity.

There, sitting in the corner with his back to the wall, was Spongebob Squarepants.

He was shaking visibly, his clothes torn and ruined. On one of the walls was a tally marking four of something. On the wall opposite to it was a list of names written in white chalk.

Timmy. Danny. Jimmy. Patrick.

Below these main names was a list of all of the victims of the Shadowed One, prior to the play.

Sandy pulled on the door. To her surprise, it opened easily.

Spongebob turned around. Bloodshot eyes stared into Sandy's – the sponge had been crying.

"…so, you're abandoning me too?" he whispered.

Sandy winced. He sounded completely broken.

"Abandon you?" she asked, "Why the heck would I wanna do that?"

The back wall of the cell shifted suddenly, turning into a mirror. It was no ordinary mirror, mind you – Sandy's reflection wasn't there, and Spongebob was rocking back and forth against another wall.

"Just watch," sighed Spongebob.

Spongebob didn't know how long he'd been there. Hours? Maybe days? It was hard to tell in the dark.

"Oi, heads up scum; you got a visitor."

Another tall, white-uniformed soldier had opened the door, and was now standing to attention by the cell door. Spongebob's eyes widened as he saw his guest.

"Timmy?" he exclaimed.

"Save it," snapped Timmy as he walked into the cell.

"Wh-what did I do?" demanded Spongebob.

Timmy laughed a hollow laugh.

"You let the Shadowed One take over your body," he snarled, "And you thought I was the screw-up of the team."

"B-but…"

"You're pathetic," sneered Timmy, "If you weren't so weak, Danny and Jimmy would still be here. We wouldn't have lost Dani and Cindy either. And Cosmo and Wanda…"

He sniffed.

"Heck, he even got Poof!" he snapped, "He's just a baby! Now he's a doll…thing, and it's all your fault!"

He turned to leave, but turned his head as he left.

"You're nothing but a waste of space, Squarepants," he sniffed.

The door slammed.

"Oi, scum – you got another one."

Spongebob looked up. The same tall guard was there, and this time he was letting Danny into the cell.

"You having fun?" he sneered.

"Not you too," gulped Spongebob.

"What's there to say, Spongebob?" sighed Danny, "You failed – your luck finally ran out."

He grimaced.

"Good riddance," he growled, "Maybe Jimmy'll kick you out now."

"Danny, please…"

"We all wanted it, really," continued Danny, "You never had anything to offer, except bad karate and bubbles. The Doomsday Machine – that was all dumb luck. The Mawgu – yeah, guess who did all the work? Don't get me started on everything else…"

Spongebob gulped.

"Yeah, you're just a waste of space, Spongebob," he sighed, "You deserve to be stuck here."

He strode out the door without ever looking back.

"Oi, scum – guess what? Visitor."

Spongebob was starting to dread that voice.

He winced as Jimmy entered the cell, an enraged expression on his face.

"I'm gonna make this short, sweet and to the point," he sneered.

Sandy shut her eyes, unable to watch. The projection of Jimmy had brought many of his more dangerous gadgets, all of which he was unleashing on the poor sponge. On and on it went, far too long for her tastes.

At last, it stopped.

Jimmy stood up, leaving the injured sponge on the ground.

"By the way," he sneered, "You're fired."

"Special treat today, scum. The boss wants to see if he can break you with just two words…so he sent a visitor."

Patrick walked into the cell.

"Patrick!" exclaimed Spongebob, "You gotta help me! I…"

He stopped. His best friend was just staring at him.

"No, no-no-no-no-no," he stammered, "Not-not you. Please, not you, I couldn't…"

"Goodbye, Spongebob."

Patrick turned around, and walked away.

"No, no, don't go, you're my best friend, please, Pat, don't go…"

"Too late, scum. Too bleeding late."

Spongebob fell to his knees and began to sob.

"You get it now?" wheezed Spongebob, "Just say what you want to and go away."

Sandy put a hand on Spongebob's shoulder.

"Spongebob, none of this is real," she said, "This is just the Shadowed One tryin' to beat you down. Don't let the varmint win…"

Spongebob shook her hand off, and continued to stare at the wall.

"Don't even bother with the scum, lass."

Sandy jumped. The tall, white-coated guard was at the door to the cell, his arms crossed.

"We broke him real good," he sneered, "Not that he had much backbone to begin with. You'll never get him to reassert control – he's much too happy moping in here for the rest of eternity."

"That ain't true!" shouted Sandy, "He's better then that!"

"Is he, now?" nodded the guard, "We'll see about that."

Suddenly, Sandy began to feel strange, as if her energy was being sapped away. He glanced at her hands – to her horror, they were slowly beginning to fade.

"This is the Shadowed One's domain," sneered the guard, "He's in total control. Basically, he's just gonna think you out of existence and go on his merry way."

He smirked.

"Any last words?" he asked, "I do need a laugh."

"Spongebob!" yelled Sandy, turning to her friend in panic, "Get a darn grip of yourself! Stop mopin' in the corner and fight!"

"Why?" demanded Spongebob, "If I'm so much of a failure, why should I?"

"Yeah, why should he?" sneered the guard, "He obviously don't want to. Why shouldn't he just get rid of the missus, eh?"

Sandy lashed out at the guard, but her hand just went right through him. He laughed nastily.

"Game, set and match, miss," he snarled.

"Spongebob, please!" exclaimed Sandy, "You have to do this! Everyone's counting on you!"

"Save it for yer maker," hissed the guard, "You'll be meetin' him soon!"

Spongebob glanced up at Sandy. She was totally transparent now, and getting harder and harder to see. She looked back at him, a look of desperation in her eyes."

"If you don't do this," she said, "The Shadowed One'll take over the world. He'll kill Timmy. He'll kill…"

She gulped.

"Please," she whispered, looking at her feet, "For me."

She was nearly gone now, barely visible in the dark chamber.

"You really are scum, lad," snarled the guard, looking at Spongebob, "Just letting her fade away like that. Weak little…"

Spongebob looked up at him. There was a new fire in his eyes.

There was a sudden burst of bright light. The guard screamed, and covered his eyes. Sandy looked at her hands with wide eyes as they came back into existence.

All around them, the dungeons were burning with a new light. The dampness evaporated, and the stench disappeared. Spongebob got to his feet as the dreamscape changed.

With one last scream, the guard collapsed into dust, blown into the wind.

Sandy turned to Spongebob and grinned at him.

"I knew you could do it," she said.

"What're we waiting for?" asked Spongebob, "Let's go get my head back!"

Spongebob stepped out of the cell, turning towards what had once been the wall of blackness. Now, it was a wooden door with a sign on it; 'To the Shadowed One'.

He held the doorknob. Sandy tilted her head as he paused, looking thoughtful.

"Wait," he mused, "Something's not right…"

There was a long, uncomfortable pause.

"I'm ready!" he exclaimed, and he kicked open the door.

He's baaaaaack! :D

Moar Timmy vs Shadowed One action next chapter.