Chapter Thirty-five: Élan Vital
"She went into the Security Tunnel," SpongeBob said. Ignoring the radiant horse was almost easy when Chibi-Usa had run away for reasons SpongeBob didn't understand. By the looks on the other Guardians' faces, they didn't understand, either.
"She thinks she isn't needed," Setsuna said. Oh, she did understand. She looked the same all the time, so her emotions were hard to read. "Small Lady is a lot like her mother, both a blessing and a curse. Like her mother, she doesn't like others to see her emotions, so she hides to let them out. Unlike her mother, she's not as good at hiding her emotions, so when she feels like she's about to lose control, she runs."
"But we're her friends. She shouldn't feel like she has to hide her emotions from us."
Her eyes softened. "That's true. I wish she'd realize that."
SpongeBob faced Helios, suppressing the urge to throw on a mane of hair, jump on the horse's back, and ride through Bikini Bottom. "What's going on?"
But the beautiful Helios shimmered away. Gone as quickly as he'd come.
SpongeBob's heart dropped. "Did I scare him off?"
Hotaru's eyes grew more somber. "He likely left because Chibi-Usa left, not because of anything you did, SpongeBob. I don't think Helios is as interested in us as he is in Chibi-Usa-chan."
Relief touched SpongeBob. He didn't want to make Chibi-Usa's rough day worse by scaring off one of her friends. "Does that mean he went after her?"
"That I don't know," Setsuna said. "But we have to find her. Who knows what trouble Small Lady will get into by herself, especially here?"
"The Mermalair can be dangerous if you don't know where you're going. Plus the security system's being messed with." SpongeBob turned toward the Mermalair Computer, erect near the Security Tunnel. "I bet the Mermalair Computer can make it so Chibi-Usa isn't hurt by the Mermalair's dangerous recesses and booby traps. Then, while we're looking for her, she won't be blasted to smithereens."
Ami covered her mouth. "B-blasted…"
These humans worried too much. "It's not as bad as it sounds. Sure, you might be blown up into a million little pieces but, hey, you're in the Mermalair. Something to celebrate." What an honor, to be annihilated in his favorite superheroes' hideout.
What an honor to be in the Mermalair.
SpongeBob had been in the Mermalair when he and Patrick had hideout-sat and defended the Mermalair from Manray, but the robots were deadlier and more plentiful than Manray. And the Dead Moon Circus had infiltrated the hideout.
Protecting the Mermalair one more time was a dream come true.
"I don't see any other robots around," Hotaru said. "I can go look for Chibi-Usa. She doesn't realize what she's getting herself into."
"You likely don't either, Hotaru." Setsuna shook her head. "None of us but SpongeBob does."
SpongeBob shrugged. "The Mermalair remains a mystery to those who have studied it day in and day out. There are parts of the Mermalair that I don't know about, either."
"There are enough of us here to split up," Ami said. "Two of us could go after Chibi-Usa-chan while the rest of us clear out the robots."
From what SpongeBob had gathered, Setsuna and Hotaru were Chibi-Usa's best friends, and Ami was in the middle, but each of them cared deeply for the pink-haired Guardian. Makoto had mentioned something about being sworn to protect the princesses, Chibi-Usa and Usagi. How amazing that both were princesses. If only SpongeBob were a princess. Or, a prince with his own princess. However royalty worked.
What was happening on land? The humans talked about how confusing Bikini Bottom was, but their world sounded more complex. SpongeBob had been with the humans for what felt like years, but he wasn't any closer to understanding their world than when they'd arrived. Now wasn't the time to ask about their origin stories.
SpongeBob winked. "I know how to sweet-talk the Mermalair Computer. I've watched enough episodes of the television show to know what tickles her fancy."
Setsuna gave SpongeBob an unreadable look.
"But we might need you as a guide," Ami said.
"We've fought in different dimensions before just fine," Hotaru said. "I think we can handle the Mermalair."
SpongeBob's eyes brightened. "Did you go to the dimension where the giant monkey man lives?"
Another unreadable look, this time from Hotaru.
"You guys keep looking at me like that, and I don't know what that look means." They were doing some of the coolest things SpongeBob had seen. Of course he was curious.
Finally, Hotaru said, "We didn't."
She'd hesitated. Hiding something? But he said nothing. The situation was dire, and they had to reach Chibi-Usa before the Mermalair's security system did her in.
"You're spunky today, Hotaru," Setsuna said. "Because Small Lady ran away?"
"Yes, and I'm worried about her, so that's making me snippy."
"You guys have gotten through Bikini Bottom okay by yourselves," SpongeBob said. Whenever they'd been separated, without SpongeBob, Patrick, or Sandy guiding them, they traversed through Bikini Bottom unscathed. Maybe the sadness-blinded Chibi-Usa would be fine, too. He waved them away. "Go ahead. I'll catch up."
Ami stepped beside SpongeBob. "I'll stay with you, SpongeBob. We've worked together before, and our attacks are similar, so we'll be at an advantage against the robots."
"I'd love to," he sang. Working with Ami was fun.
"We'd better get going." Hotaru took to the air. "Good luck, you two." She and Setsuna flew off before Hotaru finished speaking.
SpongeBob whistled. "Wow. You all are worried sick about Chibi-Usa, huh?"
"Yeah." Ami gazed after Setsuna. "I wish I could spend some time alone with her," she said softly.
"I'm sure you'll be able to one day." SpongeBob clenched a hand. "In the meantime, we'll mesh so well that we'll taste as good as sea-nut butter and jelly."
"A-ah. I didn't mean for you to hear…" She flushed. "Anyhow, sea-nut butter and jelly. Yes, we'll work that well together." Her brow creased, like she was working through what SpongeBob had said. Almost every time the sea creatures spoke, the humans stared at the sea creatures or didn't respond, even though the different species spoke the same language. "Anyway, let's go to the Mermalair Computer. The sooner we can figure out how to shut down the security system, the better."
Ami and SpongeBob didn't bother running to the Computer. Instead, Ami picked SpongeBob up, SpongeBob saying that, hopefully, he wasn't too heavy for her; he'd gotten into bodybuilding and gained two pounds worth of biceps. Ami twitched. A sign of strain. Good. SpongeBob was showing results. Sandy would be impressed the next time he karate-chopped her. She'd fly into the sky from the force of his new, bulging muscles.
They landed in front of the Computer. SpongeBob's knees weakened at the sight of the Computer that secured the Mermalair, helped Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy think of plans to defeat villains. There was never an episode in which the Mermalair had been overrun by villains. The first time the Mermalair was overtaken was in real life, by robots, but the Mermalair was still standing. A testament to its strength, its creators' genius.
SpongeBob dropped onto his knees, wanting to worship the legendary Computer. "She's here. The Mermalair Computer."
"Does 'she' really have a gender?"
"Right. Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy designed this computer specifically to be a female so that she'd have that je ne sais pas that, y'know, only females have."
Ami forced a smile. "I don't know what to think."
"You've never heard of a female computer before? Are they all men where you come from?"
"Computers in Japan don't have a gender."
"You mean, on land, computers are just 'its'? Another great thing about our superheroes—they were ahead of their time." On his knees, SpongeBob shuffled to the Computer and kissed the floor at her base. If she had feet, he'd kiss them.
"Why are you doing that?" Her high, velvety voice… She could talk SpongeBob to sleep.
"The Mermalair Computer has spoken." SpongeBob lay his hands down, bowing. "Listen to her, heed her, and be amazed."
Ami bit her lip.
"The human seems incredibly uncomfortable."
She flushed more deeply, tapping her fingers. "I, I mean…"
"You've brought Ami to a loss for words," SpongeBob said. "And who could blame her, entering the presence of the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient Computer?"
"We'd better put the human out of her misery and get down to business." She cleared her throat.
SpongeBob gasped. "An almighty computer that needs to clear her throat? A computer with a throat? Blasphemous."
"As I was saying, or trying to say, before I was rudely interrupted, in order for me to regain control of the security system, all of the override buttons throughout the Mermalair must be pressed."
He clapped his hands. "Ooh, goody, I like pressing buttons."
"Do you know exactly where these buttons are?" Ami said.
"Ah, you've recovered your voice."
Yet another blush from Ami.
"To ask a good question, too. The first one happens to be beside me, to your left." A button was embedded in a metal cavity next to the Computer.
SpongeBob blew a bowling ball into his right hand, wheeled his arm. "Looks like the Bubble Bowl'll need to take care of this one." He threw the ball, and it popped against the button, pushing it, turning the button green. He deepened his voice into a superhero's; he was almost a superhero, saving his superheroes' hideout from villains. "Press the buttons. Got it."
"You indeed 'got it.' The rest of the buttons are in the next few areas. I'd rather not tell you the locations in case the robots overhear and destroy them."
"Nothing exists on Earth that can destroy the Mermalair, much less anything in it."
"You'd be surprised. Mermaid Man once leaned back too much on his recliner and destroyed that. If I wasn't a computer, I would've lost count of how many times the toilet's been broken by those two old men."
"They're the exception. Of course they can destroy what they've built."
"Uh-huh. Gullible guy, aren't you?"
A lot of people called SpongeBob gullible. "I like to think of it as seeing the best in people."
"That's a nice way of looking at it," Ami said.
"Anything to make yourself sleep better at night." The Computer sounded like Squidward, but she was squishy inside, too. "Anyway, if the buttons are destroyed, then the security system will fail permanently, and I will lose my own life, which means that I will never be able to turn on again. The Mermalair will be defenseless."
SpongeBob shuddered. "An awful way to go. Without security, the Mermalair might fall, too, even with our superheroes protecting it."
"Honestly, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy aren't much of a defense."
"Nonsense. You may know everything about the Mermalair, but you do not know our heroes' capabilities. They might have had to keep some of their powers secret from you on the off-chance that their arch-enemies hack you for information."
"Your faith in those old men is admirable. It's blinded you so much that you're talking like you live on a whole different planet."
"Thank you." If SpongeBob had reached another planet, then he was ahead of his time.
"Do you understand what I'm saying to you?"
"Of course. There's no language barrier."
"Let me rephrase. Do you understand that I'm insulting you to your face and you're thanking me?"
"Naw, you're just like Squidward. You don't mean any of those things."
The Mermalair Computer remained silent. Ami shifted from foot to foot.
"No need to be uncomfortable." He deepened his voice once more. "Nor is there a need to worry, almighty Computer. Ami and I will press these buttons and make sure that the robots don't destroy them. In other words, we shall save your life."
"I appreciate that," she said flatly. "Once you've pressed all the buttons, return here and press the master shutdown button." Another button embedded in a cavity, guarded with metal bars, stood beside the first button. "As you've probably guessed, that will do exactly what it implies it will do—the security system will be temporarily shut down. I'll then work as quickly as possible to regain control of the security system. Once I do, the system will turn back on, and the Mermalair will be protected once again."
Goggles etched themselves onto Ami's face, and letters scrolled on them. Ami narrowed her eyes, concentrating on the jumbled words.
"What are you doing?" The Mermalair Computer didn't know something?
"I'm, um, analyzing you, if you don't mind. I'm sorry I didn't ask first, but the technology down here is remarkable. I'm trying to gain a better understanding of how Bikini Bottom works."
"Admirable. Most humans are so selfish that they prefer to stay ignorant about the world unless it pertains to them or will further their own ambition. A shame, really. The world would be much more advanced if humans would yank their heads out of the sand."
SpongeBob was having a hard time following. An example of her brilliance.
"You're very insightful." Of course Ami could understand. She was a brianiac like Sandy.
"For a computer, you mean."
"Th-that's not what—"
"I know you Japanese folks are polite, but I'm a computer. I don't take offense to much. Except when it seems like others, like the sponge, aren't listening to me."
SpongeBob startled. He'd been hanging on the Computer's every word. Instead of telling her that she'd been wrong (what was this world coming to when computers were wrong?), he said, in his superhero's voice, "Listening, got it." The superhero voice made others take him seriously. Besides, before Mermaid Man had gotten older, he had a bass of a voice, his voice's power reverberating throughout the ocean, commanding all to listen.
Smoke emanated from Ami's goggles, and they popped in a mini-eruption of sparks. Ami squeaked. A product of the Sailor Guardians had exploded? Their equipment was almost as indestructible as Mermaid Man's and Barnacle Boy's.
Ami gaped. "My Mercury Goggle."
The Computer chuckled. "Apparently, I'm too complex for your mere goggles to comprehend."
Ami worked her mouth. "It's okay. If I de-transform and then transform again, they'll come back. I couldn't understand anything that was scrolling on it, anyhow."
"You humans overestimate yourselves," the Computer said. "Especially you Japanese. Not everything you make is superior. You like to pretend you're humble, but you're not."
Ami's expression blanked. "Uh, okay?"
The Computer housed a swath of knowledge beyond the Mermalair, which hadn't been explained in the show, the fanzines, the official magazine, or any of the Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy products.
"But keep going. Astound me with your wisdom."
"I kind of don't want to now."
"No, seriously. I want to know what you think you know."
Ami averted her gaze. "Well, things in Bikini Bottom seem simple, but they're not."
"Like me?"
She darted her eyes everywhere but on the Computer. "I mean, things seem to be simple yet complex at the same time. Or everything here is an oxymoron." A blue light encapsulated her and then faded, revealing Sailor Mercury in her glory. The Mercury Goggle etched onto her face. "It's back, thank goodness. Better put it away before it explodes again." The Mercury Goggle disappeared.
"Even Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy don't have goggles, and they have everything. How cool." The more time SpongeBob spent with the Guardians, the more difficult it was deciding whether the coolest superheroes were Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy or the Guardians.
"I know I gave you a lot of trouble earlier," the Mermalair Computer said, "but I earnestly wish you two the best of luck. Your other human friends rushed by a few minutes ago. Living creatures in general can be emotional, and emotions can be destructive. If I could, I'd shut down the security system to make sure no one gets hurt, blinded by their emotions. Through the security cameras, I watched you handle the Orbs of Confusion excellently, in a way I've never seen anyone handle it. What I'm saying is, without the security system in place, you're all the defense that's needed."
The Computer had never paid anyone a compliment. She was objective, impartial. Ami, a non-fan of The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, couldn't appreciate the significance of what the Computer said.
Ami bowed. "Thank you." Perhaps she did understand.
"Oh, you Japanese, so polite, it's sickening."
Her face fell.
"Don't think about what I said too much. I did give you a mission. Besides, shouldn't you be flying after your distressed, crying friend while pushing the override buttons?"
"Right. We'd better hurry, SpongeBob."
"Thank you, Mermalair Computer." SpongeBob saluted the Computer. "We shall not let you down."
Ami and SpongeBob ran into the Security Tunnel. Darkness nearly engulfed them, the tunnel lit by dim dome-shaped bulbs that were few and far between.
A light brightened the opening ahead. They emerged in a wide-open area, airborne platforms rotating like moving walkways in airports. Porcupine-like machines circled the platforms. Some of the machines pulsed electricity.
None of the other Guardians were anywhere to be seen. Maybe they'd reached the Rolling Ball Area.
SpongeBob pointed toward the tunnel leading to the Rolling Ball Area. "We have to get to the top of this room somehow." He rubbed his chin. "But how?"
"Maybe through there?" Ami gestured to a tunnel ahead, the disco floors inside lighting it in green, yellow, red.
SpongeBob squinted. "The tunnels. Of course. As many times as I've watched the episodes of The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, you'd think I would know this place inside and out. But I don't."
"You knew enough to get us this far. We'd be having a tougher time without your help."
"There's always more to learn, young grasshopper."
Ami raised her eyebrows.
"Awed because I'm wise beyond my years?"
Her eyebrows shot into her hair.
SpongeBob cracked his growing knuckles. No need to puff himself up more. "Let's go. There are many a robot to vanquish."
The two ran through the open area and into the tunnels. A disco floor stretched before them.
"Be careful of the red parts," SpongeBob said. "They sting if you touch them."
The disco floor's colors alternated on each tile, some turning red while the others remained a silver hue. SpongeBob and Ami jumped over the red tiles.
A yelp from ahead.
"Chibi-Usa?" Ami quickened, bounding up several platforms. Falling into step beside her, SpongeBob wasn't sure if that was Chibi-Usa's voice, but they couldn't take chances. Hotaru and Setsuna might have missed Chibi-Usa. The Guardian was small, so she could hide in crevices.
Another, larger disco floor stretched before them. On the ground in front of the floor hopped CereCere, clutching her foot, muttering a string of curses.
SpongeBob covered two of his holes. "All those naughty words. Does everyone from the land say naughty things?"
Ami rubbed her arm. "I don't. Much. At least not in front of my friends." She coughed lightly. "There are more eloquent ways to vent our frustrations."
Fisheye crouched beside CereCere, blowing on her foot. Like that would help.
SpongeBob stopped breathing. In Fisheye's hand was Gary. Maybe Gary and Fisheye had become friends. Or was Fisheye planning to manipulate Gary's dreams?
SpongeBob ground his teeth. No way would he let Fisheye inject Gary with nightmares.
He wheeled a bubble bowl in his hand. "Let go of Gary right now, or else." The Dead Moon Circus members snapped their heads toward him, CereCere dancing on the disco floor, an apropos place to dance.
Fisheye sneered. "Why do you hero types stupidly announce yourselves every time you walk into a room? If you'd said nothing, you could've gotten the upper hand."
"Hm. You have a point." Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy had always announced themselves, though, and they never lost a fight.
Ami aimed the palm of her hand at the two. "Don't let them distract you, SpongeBob."
"I won't. I'm ready." He hurled the ball. Fisheye pointed Gary toward the ball. His friend would be hit.
Despite the disco floor, SpongeBob ran as fast as he could. The floor flashed red, melting his shoes and leaving him barefoot, but he kept going. The ball was moving faster.
SpongeBob needed something that moved faster than him.
Boats did.
Visualizing a boat, he sucked in a breath, blew a bubble with jetpacks on the back, like his helmet with jetpacks; after all, boats were powered with jets. Not wanting his muscles to slow the bubble, he launched the bubble alone. Like a missile, it split the air. SpongeBob watched through his bubble wand.
Its moving quickly wasn't enough. SpongeBob had to steer it to get Fisheye and, thus, Gary out of the way of the bowling ball.
His wand did a lot of things. Maybe…
He swerved his wand to the right. The bubble missile swerved to the right. Like his wand was a wheel that controlled a boat. There we go.
He swung his wand sideways, into Fisheye's side milliseconds. Fisheye careened into CereCere, the bowling ball dissolving. SpongeBob had forgotten that it'd dissolve after moving a few yards. Maybe Gary wouldn't have been hurt after all.
Regardless, Gary's peril had caused SpongeBob to think of a new attack, a controllable missile, not a boat. Missiles exploded.
But this one didn't because SpongeBob hadn't used enough of his imagination to cause it to explode. The dead missile dissolved against Fisheye's side. SpongeBob would have to do more work to perfect his attack.
Rushing over the red squares, SpongeBob reached Fisheye, snatched his snail. Gary snuggled to SpongeBob.
"Gary, you're okay. Thank goodness. I don't know what I'd do if you weren't around to pay the electric bill."
"After all that…" Ami said.
SpongeBob rubbed Gary on his cheek. "Just kidding. You're one of my best friends, Gary. There's no way I'd let them get into your head."
Gary's eyes shot open, and he pointed one of his eye stalks to CereCere and Fisheye, both of whom stumbled onto their feet. SpongeBob had to get Gary someplace safe. He sprinted backward, stepping on the red squares of the disco floor, yelping and shooting into the air but still moving toward Ami.
A jet of water wrapped around SpongeBob, pinning his arms to his sides so that he couldn't use his bubble wand, and lifted him near the tunnel's ceiling.
SpongeBob tightened his embrace on Gary. They could do whatever they wanted to him, but he'd never let them get Gary.
"Shine Aqua Illusion!" Another jet of water crashed into Fisheye's stomach, throwing the former fish backward, the wave splashing onto the floor, SpongeBob falling onto a red square. The burning rocketed him upward once more, and he yelped, scurried behind Ami, to safety.
He whirled around, facing the recovering Fisheye. CereCere scowled, but SpongeBob paid attention to only Fisheye.
SpongeBob placed Gary on the ground. Gary, the smart snail, hurried away, moving his maximum of half a mile an hour. Good enough.
Fisheye… His name didn't betray his origin. "You were a fish, right?" SpongeBob said.
Fisheye hawked a red glob out of his mouth. "What's it to you?"
"Because you're one of us." He placed a hand over his heart. "We're related, you and I. Why do we have to fight each other?"
Fisheye's expression darkened. "I'm nothing like you."
He stepped back, eyebrows arching. "But…"
"But nothing." Fisheye raised his hands, the palms facing SpongeBob and Ami. "We may both come from the ocean, but that's where the similarities end. I live to serve my creators. You live to take up space. You're an idiot. I am not. I am a masterpiece created by people. You are a simpleton created by cells. I refuse to associate with you."
Tears filled SpongeBob's eyes. No one had ever said anything like that to him before.
"SpongeBob?" Ami said, but her voice was far away.
He couldn't think of anything to say. The tears fell. He opened his mouth to say something, anything, but he blubbered and sobbed.
SpongeBob tried to be a friend to everyone, but Fisheye didn't want to be his friend. Why? Fisheye's explanation made no sense.
Fisheye felt no camaraderie with other sea creatures or allegiance to the ocean. Wasn't trying to stop the robots but pursued the Guardians under obedience to his masters.
He'd forgotten who he was. A sad existence.
Maybe Fisheye's identity crisis was why he had spoken those mean words, not out of hatred. SpongeBob had to prove to Fisheye that he was a more than a puppet, that he was a sea creature and should take pride in his homeland, fighting to protect it instead of only serving his masters.
It didn't seem right for SpongeBob to fight Fisheye to show him that they should be friends, but Fisheye was going to attack SpongeBob. He had no choice but to defend himself.
SpongeBob raised his bubble wand. Time to strike back.
Ami aimed the palm of her hand at the Dead Moon Circus members. Hopefully, they were weak enough for her to finish them. In case a rush of water couldn't kill them, Ami would freeze them. Once the ice broke or melted, they'd be dead from hypothermia.
"Shine Snow Illusion!" Ice burst from her hand.
Fisheye pointed his hand toward the oncoming snow. "C-come on!" Water exploded from his hand, struck and pushed against the ice. Ami pulsed more energy.
Ami's snow began to freeze Fisheye's jet of water, threatening to freeze him and CereCere.
A missile burst on Ami. She flew backward. No! Her chance to end two members of the Dead Moon Circus, stolen.
There'd always be other chances.
Despite the burning, Ami opened her eyes. Above hovered a Chuck, her new most hated robot. SpongeBob threw a bubble bowl into Fisheye's jet of water in an attempt to keep the water back, but Fisheye's water slammed into the sponge anyhow, and he flew backward.
The bubble ball knocked over Fisheye, and he collided, headfirst, with a red tile. Smoke billowed from where his forehead had smacked the floor, and he hollered.
He scrambled. "My gorgeous face is melting." He found his footing and ran, but the Chuck whipped around, threw a missile toward him—the robots took no one's side but their own—and CereCere dove, her feet touching a red tile. Wincing, she tackled Fisheye out of the way, into the wall, above a white tile. She tugged Fisheye upright and then dragged him toward the dirt above the disco floor.
Ami outstretched her arms. "Shine Snow Illusion!" More snow fanned forth from her hands. The energy from being underwater was making her more powerful. She couldn't let these fiends terrorize others anymore.
Not only would she save others, but Setsuna would be proud, too, her earlier embarrassment forgotten.
Ami couldn't think about the glory she'd receive. Had to remain focused on saving other people, when she did her best.
In her recklessness, Ami had launched her attack in SpongeBob's path.
"SpongeBob, watch out!"
Looking back and still flying, the sponge's eyes bulged at the oncoming avalanche. He turned so that his back faced the ground, his face closest to the snow, the snow passing inches above him. Yet the snow spread to him, encasing him, dropping him to the ground. Normally, Shine Snow Illusion didn't home in on others. One time when gaining more power hadn't worked to her advantage. Hopefully, Michiru didn't have the same type of issue.
Of course not, Ami. Unlike you, she knows how to think things through.
No more comparisons. Ami was fine being Ami. Besides, correcting her mistake was what mattered.
Water melted snow and ice, so Ami followed Shine Snow Illusion with Shine Aqua Illusion, the water squeezing and beginning to melt the ice-encased SpongeBob.
The snow from her first attack spread to the Chuck that hovered above CereCere and Fisheye. The snow froze the Chuck in ice, and its lights dimmed, its motor stopping. It dropped onto Fisheye, crushing his chest, making him deflate, stopping CereCere's run. She slammed onto her back like a thread from her shirt had caught on a chair, the air being knocked out of her. Her pupils contracted.
Fear. Like she had made hundreds of people feel.
"No, Fisheye, you can't die on me. If not for me, then for PallaPalla. Who'll keep her safe? Or for the fish down here. You may not like some of them, but you have to care for them. They're like you. The robots will destroy the ocean if you don't wake up." She gripped the Chuck, tried to lift it. "Please, Fisheye, please."
Fisheye didn't move.
If Ami had killed him, then he'd brought it on himself.
Although she told herself that he deserved to die, Ami felt a pang of…regret? Sadness? Was she feeling bad for her enemies?
Fisheye said weakly, "It's okay. You and the others will do well here. All of you are stronger than you think. And the sea, it's strong. The robots won't destroy it or its inhabitants." He did care for the sea.
CereCere grit her teeth. Roaring, she slammed both hands onto the Chuck and heaved, veins bursting from her forehead.
She was the enemy, but she was about to lose someone she was close to, like Ami had lost her father.
Think. Breathe. Don't be rash.
Ami's mind told her to let Fisheye get what was coming to him, but her heart told her to save him, that he and the Dead Moon Circus deserved a chance, too.
They deserved every bit of misfortune that befell them. If she kept Fisheye alive, then he'd terrorize more people. Ami was a Guardian. He was part of the Dead Moon Circus. That was all.
Ami didn't see monsters who manipulated and destroyed dreams. She saw two people who loved each other.
Water splashed onto the ground. A freed SpongeBob ran toward Fisheye. "I don't care how bad you made me feel. I'm gonna save you."
Her mind told her to stop SpongeBob, tell the sponge that Fisheye needed to die for the greater good. She'd always followed logic but, for the first time, for her enemies, she was going to follow her heart.
She blasted water toward CereCere, Fisheye, and the Chuck.
CereCere ground her teeth. "Kicking the dog while it's down, huh?"
"If you want to live, then move." Felt like someone had possessed Ami.
CereCere's eyebrows shot up. She jumped backward, milliseconds before the water smashed the Chuck. Fisheye hacked, gasped for air, clutching at his throat. Started to take longer, deeper breaths.
Gaining his life back.
Reaching Fisheye, SpongeBob put his mouth to the former fish's and breathed into it, helping Fisheye along the path of recovery.
CereCere gawked at Fisheye and then turned her attention to Ami, then back to Fisheye, then gawked at Ami once more.
Ami couldn't hear what CereCere said, the circus member's voice was so soft, but she could guess based on CereCere's mouth movement. "Why?"
Ami stared. Didn't know how to answer. She had followed her unfathomable heart.
Fisheye sputtered, eyes shooting open, sharpening at SpongeBob. He shoved the sponge off, wiped his mouth.
SpongeBob sat upright. "Great, you're alive." Despite the horrible things Fisheye had said and done to SpongeBob and Ami, the sponge had helped save Fisheye. Heck, Fisheye could've regained his power and then killed SpongeBob right then and there.
Fisheye sputtered. "Y-you…" Coughed. Couldn't say anything. Couldn't move.
CereCere gathered Fisheye in her arms, took one last look at Ami, and ran deeper into the Mermalair.
Ami watched. Another mistake, another embarrassment.
She couldn't return to her fellow Guardians, let them know that the enemy had been literally pinned down, about to die, and then she'd saved them. SpongeBob had, too, but he wouldn't have been able to speed up Fisheye's recovery without Ami blasting that Chuck off.
Made no sense.
Setsuna, especially, would be disappointed.
She had to fix what she'd done.
"They went farther into the Mermalair." Ami plucked SpongeBob up by the hand. Thank goodness the sponge was as light as a kitchen sponge. He needed a new fitness regimen. "We have to go after them and capture them."
"Aye-aye." SpongeBob frowned, a rare expression, at the spot where Fisheye and CereCere had disappeared. "Y'know, Ami, I'm starting to think that they're not as evil as they say they are. Fisheye had a chance to do something to me right after he pushed me off of him, but he didn't."
"You noticed?" SpongeBob was so happy-go-lucky, he didn't seem to see the darkness behind people. Maybe the Dead Moon Circus' deeds gave him no choice but to see evil.
He nodded. "These other humans, the Dead Moon Circus, they're scary sometimes. Watching what they did to you, I'm starting to realize what they're capable of." His tie blew sideways, and his voice deepened once more. "But we shall not let evil prevail. We shall unlock and exploit their hidden kindness mode."
SpongeBob wasn't as innocent as Ami thought. Or the Guardians being down in the ocean, their enemies in tow, was stealing his innocence. Something that Ami never wanted to do. Was she failing at protecting him, too?
SpongeBob tried to remain lighthearted. The effects of the fight against the robots and the Dead Moon Circus on him remained to be seen.
She could at least keep helping him through. "How are you feeling, SpongeBob?"
He blinked. "I'm fine. Why?"
"Well, with everything you said earlier, about realizing how deadly the Circus is…"
He wrung his hands. "It's fine. Fisheye doesn't realize that we're as close as brothers. All I have to do is get close enough to him to show him that we're connected. Literally."
Ami's heart caught in her throat. "A-are you going to do that lung…thing you did in Jellyfish Fields?"
A grave nod. "It's the only way."
A chill rocked Ami. She had to make sure to blind herself somehow so she didn't see that again.
Did SpongeBob realize how much the Dead Moon Circus was affecting him, or did he realize it and was trying to cover it up with lightheartedness?
Maybe a mixture. Maybe SpongeBob didn't know himself.
Before she could keep asking about his well-being, SpongeBob rushed to Gary, who had hidden behind a boulder, gathered him in his arms. "Gary, you're okay. Thank goodness."
Gary purred, rubbing SpongeBob's cheek.
"How'd you get all the way down into the deepest recesses of the Mermalair, anyway?"
"Meow."
"Oh. The elevator. Makes sense. Did Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy invite you down here, too, like they invited Squidward to defeat the robots?"
"Meow."
"Cool, you and Squidward were supposed to work together, but Squidward had such faith that you could do it yourself that he let you go ahead." He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and blew his nose. "How beautiful, the trust between two friends."
Ami pursed her lips. Usually, she wasn't quick to speak, and she didn't want to say anything concerning Squidward's motives that would hurt SpongeBob, but his naivety kept him from seeing the true Squidward. How could he be insightful when watching the Dead Moon Circus but ignorant about Squidward?
"What did they want to do with you?" An undercurrent of anger ran beneath SpongeBob's tone. The first time Ami had heard SpongeBob angry.
"Meow, meow."
"They wanted to keep you as a hostage. Well, that didn't work out." He glanced over his shoulder, at the tunnel. "We have to keep going, but I don't want to leave you. They could come back and take you again."
Gary pointed an eye stalk at a hole behind the boulder. "Meow."
"Great idea, Gary. You can hide in there and escape once the security system is taken care of." He gave Gary one final squeeze and then let he snail go. "Go forth and be free."
As Gary slithered toward the hole, Ami and SpongeBob flew farther into the Mermalair, destroying robots, searching for Fisheye and CereCere. Carrying Fisheye, CereCere couldn't be moving fast, but Ami and SpongeBob didn't see either of them, nor did they see Hotaru, Chibi-Usa, or Setsuna. Just as well; Ami couldn't face them.
Ami would never have an explanation for what she'd done, other than the illogical excuse that she felt she was to be kind to enemies who wrecked lives without a second thought.
Her mind told her that they hadn't deserved to live, but her heart told her that they deserved the right to live.
Her mind was screaming that she'd been stupid for the first time in her life, but her heart was saying that she'd done the right thing.
Ami couldn't understand her mind or her heart. So she focused on capturing her enemies to salvage something good.
SpongeBob perked. "Now we're heading toward the Rolling Ball Area. There's a giant rolling ball inside, and it is so much fun to play with." How carefree.
As soon as Ami and SpongeBob entered the Rolling Ball Area, the water-covered ball flew overhead, demolished the wall to their side, revealing another area with a disco floor.
The ball bounced off the walls, striking a button where a funnel extended and, suspended in the middle of a block of ice, a grey creature hung that resembled Plankton, wearing a horn like a backpack. The ice melted, puddling onto the disco floor. The creature dropped onto its feet. The ball plunked onto the disco floor.
Two figures, black and green, shot after the ball. Ami had never seen anything move that fast, yet they were too slow to catch the ball.
SpongeBob's jaw hitting on the floor once more. His buck teeth dropped from the roof of his mouth, clattering onto his tongue.
Ami readied herself. She didn't know who these possible new enemies that awaited her were or what was happening, but she knew one thing.
She would not be merciful again.