Chapter Forty-seven: The Narrow Path Forward
After a long struggle, Sandy fell asleep.
She had tried not to show how much the hallucination had affected her, pretending to fall asleep right away. Makoto had conked out as soon as Sandy finished blabbing her life story. The squirrel had never told SpongeBob or Patrick why she moved to Bikini Bottom. They hadn't had the insight to ask but, as their friend, she should've told them like she'd told Makoto.
Even if she told SpongeBob and Patrick, they couldn't relate like Makoto.
Makoto's perceptiveness and her ability to keep secrets made Sandy feel like she could tell Makoto anything, had finally found a confidante. Telling her sponsors about her life's intimacies would be awkward. The well-intentioned SpongeBob and Patrick often slipped. As soon as Sandy had told SpongeBob she came from Texas, the news spilled out. Granted, she serenaded the great state in front of everyone in Bikini Bottom. Regardless, SpongeBob wouldn't have been able to keep the news to himself.
Sandy's confessions to Makoto had lifted a weight heavier than a tractor-trailer from her shoulders, yet she didn't doze off for an eternity. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw her mentors choking to death from her failed invention. Got to the point where she didn't want to blink.
If she couldn't sleep, then Dead Moon had won. No one beat Sandy Cheeks.
She coaxed herself into sleep, telling herself that her invention would never kill others in real life, that she'd never have a nightmare like that again.
Until she did.
Her mentors' faces turned blue, they grasped at their throats, they couldn't breathe, clawed at Sandy, trying to carve her from the inside out, rip her neck open so that she'd die the same slow death as they.
It was a dream; she had to wake herself up. She shook herself on the bed, tearing open her eyes, drenched in sweat, paws clammy. Makoto's forest-green eyes, the same color as the greenery in Texas, greeted her. Pitying her. The Guardian feeling like she'd failed Sandy. Knowing that Sandy had lied to make her feel better.
Sandy hadn't realized how deeply her nightmares pierced her until she tried to sleep. Even if she was aware of how badly she ached, maybe she still wouldn't have told Makoto.
Makoto didn't lecture her like Sandy had mounted her high horse. Only gathered Sandy into her arms and let Sandy cry.
Sandy had thought she needed words when all she needed was silence and a shoulder.
They stayed that way for a long time, Makoto's shoulder bleeding into darkness, until Michiru knocked on the door, telling them that it was time to go. Sandy opened her eyes, head leaden with grogginess.
Sandy had slept peacefully after all.
She and Makoto climbed down the tree, where the rest of the Guardians, SpongeBob, and Patrick were sprawled on the grass. Chibi-Usa yawned, and Hotaru yawned in turn. Then Setsuna yawned. A game of Follow the Leader but for yawning instead.
"I'd say, 'Good morning,'" Michiru said, "but it's only been a few hours. So if it feels like only a few hours have passed, it's because it's true."
Minako rubbed her eyes. "Feels like I slept for a grand total of two seconds."
"Better than no seconds." Bags hung under Rei's eyes. Looked more tired than she had before she'd slept.
Haruka smirked. "We look like hell."
SpongeBob jumped onto his feet, his shoes fluttering. Patrick stretched. Everyone but them seemed exhausted.
Plankton poked his head out of Patrick's pocket. "The good news for you but bad news for me is, you've eradicated most of the robots. We've made our way through most of Bikini Bottom in the process. We're getting closer to my Chum Bucket. There, I will put every single robot back under my dominion. But fear not. Your protecting me has granted you mercy. Therefore, I shall give you a generous five-second headstart to futilely try to escape before my robots zap you into oblivion."
"How generous," Rei said.
Sandy resisted the urge to cover her ears. "Goodness gracious. You don't seem tired at all, Plankton."
Hopping out of Patrick's pocket and walking to the polyurethane that domed Sandy's home, Plankton said, "The Chum Bucket is ahead, near Kelp Forest and the Flying Dutchman's Graveyard, where robots have surely taken over. Of course, you want to be goody-two-shoes and destroy all the robots, but it'd be easier if we destroyed the source first at my restaurant, before going to the Forest and the Graveyard."
"Your first idea that hints you're actually a genius." Minako clapped slowly. "Good job, Plankton."
"I always give genius-level ideas."
"Do you ever listen to yourself speak?"
"Who wouldn't? My voice is like a beautiful symphony."
"Your voice is more like nails on a chalkboard."
"No wonder you're an idiot. You don't listen to those smarter than you."
"If I listened to you, I'd lose I.Q. points."
Plankton reddened. "I bet you need all the I.Q. points you can get."
Ignoring their spat, Sandy eyed Michiru. Had the Guardian of the Deep Seas kept watch the entire time? Even though Michiru had her fancy powers, she was still human and needed rest.
Nevertheless, her aura hadn't diminished from tiredness. Nor did her voice lose its power, reverberating like a goddess that commanded obedience. "We should get going," Michiru said, her voice silencing Plankton. "As soon as possible."
"Agreed," Haruka said immediately. Sandy wasn't well-versed in love, especially between humans, but were they an item, or did Haruka always act whipped toward Michiru? Haruka didn't easily submit to the other Guardians.
Minako scowled. "Who made you the leader?"
Michiru leveled her eyes at Minako. "It was simply a suggestion. No need to get uptight."
She gestured toward the other Guardians. "I see that everyone's still tired. Except you, which is why you have no sympathy."
"I do have sympathy."
"You're not acting like it."
Her voice deepened, danger lurking, an undercurrent. "What do you want me to do, Minako?"
"I want you to be more considerate."
"We have to keep moving. If we don't, Bikini Bottom will be destroyed. Do you want a whole world's destruction on your shoulders?"
SpongeBob ran between them. "How about this? I'm not feeling too tired. How's about Plankton and I go to the Chum Bucket and see if we can get in while the rest of you get some more sleep? Then we can come back and report how things are out there. Maybe even stop more robots from being built."
Chibi-Usa let out a gargantuan yawn. "I agree with SpongeBob. We don't have to leave now." Tapped her fingers. "Sorry to sound like a little kid, complaining and everything, but, well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm so tired, I can barely move." She glanced at her blanched parents. Maybe she wanted to stay to keep an eye on them.
"If you do go out," Setsuna said, "then you'll have to be careful, SpongeBob."
SpongeBob saluted her. "Of course. I won't let the robots get the best of me."
"I mean, careful of Plankton."
Plankton's cheeks stretched with a grin. "Yes, fear me."
SpongeBob patted Plankton, replacing the smaller critter's laugh with, "D'oh, d'ooph, dumph."
"Don't worry," SpongeBob said. "He's done lots of things to me, but he's never been able to pry out the krabby patty secret formula. Besides, I've always come out in one piece after Plankton's through with me."
"That doesn't sound very reassuring," Rei muttered.
Patrick swiped Plankton into his pocket. "I'll go too. I'd never leave my master anywhere by himself. Oh, and you too, SpongeBob."
"Much appreciated," SpongeBob said. Hopefully, Sandy never treated SpongeBob as an afterthought. Maybe Patrick wielded the modicum of sense needed to protect SpongeBob from Plankton's schemes.
"You two don't seem tired at all." Minako still glared at Michiru. Angrier than a bull released from its pen, not looking at those she was addressing. Nor did Michiru break eye contact with Minako. "I think it's a great idea." Hardness laced her voice.
Makoto stiffened. "Not by yourselves, though. Not after—not by yourselves." She stood erect, trying not to show her exhaustion. Trying to be strong for everybody else when everybody else could take care of themselves.
Sandy was one to talk. She'd tried to hide her pain, too.
"Then I'll go with them." No way was Sandy letting these humans tire themselves more.
"Keep watch over your treedome," Makoto said. "I'll go with them."
"I will, too." Michiru didn't break her gaze from Minako. Goodness, were these girls furious with each other. And for what? Pride?
SpongeBob spread his arms. "It's settled, then." Looping his arm through Patrick's, SpongeBob skipped toward the door, Patrick in tow. "Return we shall." In unison, he and Patrick opened the door and sprung into the dangers of Bikini Bottom, tossing their helmets into the treedome's foyer, Michiru and Makoto close behind.
The door shut, echoing. Seeming final. Chibi-Usa jerked with the sound.
Silence drenched the treedome.
Chibi-Usa's eyes darted between each of her friends. "Somebody say something."
A smile snaked onto Minako's face. "Som—"
Chibi-Usa groaned. "Please don't be smart, Mina-chan." Minako's anger had left with Michiru. Or the Guardian was trying to calm herself by being goofy.
Sandy wasn't going to wrack her brain to figure out Michiru and Minako's…dynamics. She settled onto the grass, lay on her back, twined her hands behind her head. Nothing to do but wait.
SpongeBob ran toward the Chum Bucket. Had to fix things quickly so everyone could stop being sad.
Whatever was happening, his heart ached. Seemed to be a deeper backstory than the Guardians were letting on. The more time he spent around them, the more their problems and pasts came to the forefront. Everything had been hunky-dory until the Dead Moon Circus and the Outer Guardians arrived.
SpongeBob fell back, letting Patrick lead, Plankton's head bobbing with Patrick's footfalls. The sponge ran alongside Michiru and Makoto.
"I feel like there's a lot more going on that I don't know about," SpongeBob said.
For the umpteenth time, Michiru and Makoto exchanged looks.
"What are you guys thinking when you look at each other?"
"We said we'd stop doing that," Michiru said to Makoto, staring at her friend.
"Yes, we did." Makoto kept staring at Michiru.
They continued to stare at each other. Who would break first? If Johnny Elaine were here, he'd have a field day, saying that Michiru and Makoto were embroiled in one of the most intense staring contests on the planet, with sweat gathering on Makoto's brow, her mouth twitching, Michiru's flawless stoicism.
Makoto looked forward. Johnny Elaine would exclaim, "Oooh! A devastating loss for the green lady. Wounded pride, wounded win/loss record. Wounded like a hurt animal."
"There is a lot that's going on behind the scenes, SpongeBob," Michiru said, "and we're sorry for not telling you, Patrick, or Sandy about any of it. We dropped in your home and brought our enemies, who wound up being more destructive than the robots, but didn't let you know why."
"And then we're confused when you all aren't sympathetic with us," Makoto said. "Or, even worse, we don't tell you because we don't expect you to understand."
Michiru looked squarely at Makoto. Makoto bit her lip.
"Am I making you uncomfortable, Makoto?"
Makoto coughed lightly. "Not at all. I'm sorry for interrupting. Go on, Michiru-san."
"Thank you."
SpongeBob would've interrupted too. He thought she was done talking. "See, there's another thing I don't understand. The way you guys talk to each other. I know you knew each other before you came down here, but I feel like I'm the third wheel."
Makoto winced. Michiru pursed her lips, her glow unsettling.
"It's like you guys have a bunch of inside jokes that I'll never understand."
Eyebrows tented, Makoto looked at Michiru, waiting for the older Guardian to speak first. Did they have some sort of mentor and mentee relationship?
"I don't understand this silence, either. It's making me think you're trying to hide something from me."
Makoto worked her mouth.
"You look desperate, Makoto," Michiru said. "You go ahead first. No need to be afraid of me."
Makoto flushed. "I was thinking that, well, I'm sorry, SpongeBob. The whole time we've been here, we've been working together with you, Patrick, Sandy, and even Plankton to an extent, but we haven't told you anything, just that we're Guardians and have powers, because we didn't think telling you anything else was necessary. But I'm starting to think that it is. We can't fight as a team and defeat the robots and the Dead Moon Circus if we can't trust each other with everything, and that starts with telling each other everything. I've been feeling the divide too, especially once the Outer Guardians and the Dead Moon Circus came. It's felt like we're on two different teams. We all have the same goal, but you don't understand why we have to defeat the Dead Moon Circus. I can only speak for myself, but I never told you much because I was afraid that you'd get confused. If there's this divide between us, then we won't work well enough to defeat our enemies. Becoming a Guardian has taught me that part of teamwork is knowing each other thoroughly, down to our favorite foods."
Patrick whipped around. "What food?"
"Maybe not that detailed," Michiru said.
"Right." The redness in Makoto's cheeks spread to her neck. "Anyway, like I was saying…" Patrick kept looking. "There's no food, Patrick."
"Then why'd you say it?"
"It was an example. That's all."
He shook his fist. "The name of food should never be taken in vain." He kept running ahead.
"Like we're separating ourselves from Patrick." Makoto gestured toward herself. "Patrick, come back here for a second. You need to hear this, too."
Patrick did, matching his pace to SpongeBob's and the Guardians', smiling lazily, his outrage at the lack of food forgotten.
"From now on, we're going to tell you everything." Makoto's eyes grew distant. "Everything starts with our past lives."
Makoto and Michiru told the most fantastic tale SpongeBob had heard. More fantastic than Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy's origin story. Past lives, kingdoms, princesses, queens, a story brimming with amazingness.
It started with a queen of the moon who had a daughter, the Moon Princess. The princess fell in love with a prince on the earth. Because they hailed from different planets, their love was forbidden. They perished from an attack from the Dark Kingdom, led by the queen of the Dark Kingdom, another part of the universe. Sailors Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus, who were princesses of the other planets, died trying to protect them. Centuries later, the Guardians were reincarnated on modern-day earth to fulfill their destinies of ruling the Moon Kingdom, leading it in peace and prosperity.
Sailors Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus existed to protect their princess, Sailor Moon. The Outer Guardians were tasked with protecting Sailor Moon and the Moon Kingdom from outside forces.
"But Chibi-Usa's as important as Sailor Moon," SpongeBob said, "being the princess of the princess. Shouldn't she have her own guardians, too?"
Michiru cupped her chin. "That does make sense. I haven't picked up on anything suggesting that she has her own protectors."
"It'd be great if she did. She felt unimportant in the Mermalair, even though she's anything but. We wouldn't have made it this far without her."
They told the sea creatures about their defeated enemies, how the gravely ill Hotaru had been experimented on by her father. A chill rocked SpongeBob. She'd been quiet in the Mermalair, not because she was awed by its greatness, but because it reminded her of a traumatic experience. If SpongeBob had known, he would've dissuaded her from coming. Nevertheless, she'd conquered her fears to save the Mermalair.
Which brought them to the Dead Moon Circus. The Guardians weren't sure how the Dead Moon was related to them, why Dead Moon pursued annihilation of the Guardians and the Moon Kingdom.
Patrick picked above his lip, where his nose would be if he had one. "Maybe it's because you guys keep gettin' in their way."
Michiru looked down at Patrick. "Maybe," she said quietly.
"With how discombobulated everything is," SpongeBob said, "that's too simple of an explanation. See, the rest of their enemies had something against the Guardians. So the Dead Moon Circus probably has something against them, too, because the Guardians did something to them, real or imagined. They did mention that Usagi sealed their queen."
"Likely imagined," Makoto said, "to make PallaPalla and her sisters feel like they're on the right side. Seriously, it's like, these bad guys come out of nowhere, and they're from our past lives, and we don't remember them, but they remember us, and they carry their grudge millennia later. It's uncanny. And then they hate us more when we say we don't remember them. Patrick, you're not wrong, though. We're their enemies simply because we keep them from taking over the universe. Now, normally, I'd have no issue with anyone taking over the universe, but they want to do very bad things with the universe, like destroying earth, enslaving humans, terrible things like that."
"The fact that they've come underwater worries me more," Michiru said. "This is the first time they've ever tried taking over another part of the world. I wouldn't be surprised if future enemies decided to take over the world starting literally from the ground up."
SpongeBob placed a hand on his chest. "Why us? What'd we ever do to them?"
"Nothing. They see you as assets." She looked SpongeBob up and down. "I don't blame them. You're so humanlike that they think that they could turn you against us, that if they can control you, they can control the land, too. The more creatures they get on their side, the easier it'll be to defeat us and take over the universe."
"I'd never turn against you." Tears burned SpongeBob's eyes. "I'm your friend."
Michiru's eyes softened. The first time Michiru had shown softness toward him. "I wouldn't count on it, SpongeBob. You never know what could happen. I've learned many things as a Guardian, not the least of which is that anything can happen to anyone at any time. We have to stay on guard. We could be attacked unawares, manipulated and controlled to do our enemies' bidding."
SpongeBob's mouth parted. The tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Michiru-san, you're being too harsh on him."
"We have to tell them the hard realities of our lives that they're now wrapped up in, Makoto, not hold anything back like we were before. Besides, we're a team. They don't have to handle our mess on their own."
While burdens and worry and fear crushed SpongeBob, Patrick hadn't skipped a beat, eyes half-lidded like he was bored. How could he remain calm? Or had their explanation grown so convoluted that he checked out?
"Did you hear all that, Patrick?" SpongeBob sniffed.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, about the tapioca and the giant monkey man?"
Had he visited another planet while they were talking? "No, about the Guardians."
"Oh. Yeah, I did."
"What do you think?"
Patrick began to drool. "Uuuuhhh…" The Guardians' past was so depressing and complicated, the starfish didn't know what to think.
"He gets like this only when he's trying to decide what to order from the Krusty Krab." SpongeBob sighed. "Alas, `tis tough to decide which krabby patty to order."
"Our past lives are being equated to a fast food restaurant," Michiru said.
"Patrick, you have to have some opinion about what we said," Makoto said, the starfish still uh-ing.
Patrick shrugged. "I don't really understand it. Ever since you humans got here, everything's got confusing. I mean, you brought all sorts of people down here. And all of them are weird."
SpongeBob gasped. "Patrick. That's rude. Take that back right now."
"My minion has the right idea."
Michiru shot a glare at Plankton. The creature shrunk.
Makoto crossed her arms. "What's your superior opinion?" she said to Plankton.
Plankton straightened. "Well, if you insist, I shall bless you with my wisdom. Listening to all your problems, it seems as though they're awfully complicated. So complicated that not even my minion could understand it. Not that he understands much."
She narrowed her eyes. "Insulting him right to his face…"
Patrick kept grinning ahead.
"See that grin?" Plankton said. "My minion doesn't understand, nor does he care. Anyhow, before you rudely interrupted me, I was going to say that it seems like you should just blast your enemies away."
"We were," Makoto said. "Usagi-chan tried but wasn't successful. Now, things are more complicated."
"She's right, Plankton," SpongeBob said. "I don't quite understand everything, either, but the solution is much more than vaporizing them. Their enemies—our enemies—could be connected to the Guardians' past lives. So we need to figure out how." He looked to Michiru and Makoto. "If I'm understanding correctly."
Michiru smiled softly.
Makoto winked. "You are." Her expression hardened. "They hold a key to our past lives that we have to find out about."
SpongeBob looked ahead. The Guardians' history was deep, rich, multilayered, and they'd just tapped the surface. If only SpongeBob could travel back in time, see what life was like for these Guardians centuries ago.
Would SpongeBob live that long enough to see the Guardians live in the thirtieth century, when they were destined to reign once more?
His bottom lip quivered, and fresh tears filled his eyes. "I wish I could live to see you guys take over the world."
Plankton shuddered. "Yuck. You want these goody-two-shoe cretins to take over the universe?" He snorted. "I'd do a much better job."
For once, SpongeBob barely heard the loud Plankton. The Guardians could live almost forever. SpongeBob wouldn't get to see his friends restore the world, rule it passionately and with heart and love, end wars and bring peace.
Once they returned to the surface, SpongeBob might not see them again.
His heart sank. Had to be able to see them somehow.
He peered up at Makoto and Michiru. "Can you two promise me something?"
"Anything," Makoto said as Michiru said, "We'll see. It depends on what it is."
Brushing aside their conflicting answers, SpongeBob pressed on. "Promise me that you'll come back and visit once this is all over. Maybe we can come visit you up there. I mean, you've spent so much time down here, I hope you guys feel like it's your second home. Because you're welcome here anytime, no matter what happens, even if Bikini Bottom is destroyed because of the robots and the Dead Moon Circus. You'll always be my heroes."
Makoto slowed, stopped. SpongeBob stopped, and the rest of the group stopped in turn.
Makoto crouched to SpongeBob's level. "SpongeBob, that's so sweet of you. You'll always be my optimistic, brave hero and, more importantly, my friend."
SpongeBob could only nod, wipe the tears from his eyes.
The glow around Michiru intensified, and her eyes became brighter, more piercing, like they could see into SpongeBob's soul. "I command the seas." Michiru's voice took on a godlike quality.
The sky growled. A warning.
"Doesn't sound like King Neptune's thrilled to hear that." Plankton ducked into Patrick's pocket, his antennae twitching like a radar trying to detect the god.
"I am not afraid of this god," Sailor Neptune said. "Since I command the seas, I will not let anything happen to you or anyone else. My job is to protect and represent your home. I'll return to this world frequently to protect you. And to see you as your friends, SpongeBob, Patrick. I'll always protect this world. I'll never forget or forsake this world. I'll always have you on my mind."
Around Michiru, instead of slightly uncomfortable, SpongeBob felt…safe. More awed than he was before.
"She's acting more like a god than King Neptune ever has," Plankton mumbled.
The sky's growl broke into a rumble. Lightning split the sky, struck Plankton alone, frying him to black.
"He looks as crisp as bacon," Patrick said.
Michiru eyed the sky. "I'm guessing that was a message from this world's god."
"Surprised he hasn't appeared yet," Makoto said. "Especially since you declared yourself this world's goddess, Michiru-san."
"Not in those words, but yes, basically I did."
"Not even denying it."
"He wields no power over me."
Darkness crashed into Bikini Bottom. Other fish looked around, and a group of Fodders stopped spray painting graffiti on the Krusty Krab's wall that said, "Loserdz were here!" and turned their attention to the sky.
"Is this one of those solar eclipse things that Sandy talks about?" A shudder rocked Patrick. "It's so dark. I don't wanna be in the dark." He clung to Michiru's leg. Sailor Neptune's frown deepened.
Above, water etched into the shape of King Neptune and then shimmered, materializing into the god himself, arms crossed, in all his muscly, golden, kingly glory, stealing SpongeBob's breath. King Neptune was always majestic.
"Who proclaims to be as powerful as I?" King Neptune roared. SpongeBob wanted to run but stay at the same time, King Neptune's power freezing the sponge in fear and reverence.
As if not expecting an answer, the god snarled at Sailor Neptune. "Do you dare answer me?" Electricity sparked around the god. "Or will you stand dumbly until I electrocute you?"
"I'll answer." The power of Sailor Neptune's voice matched King Neptune's. "I declared to be as powerful as you. I am the Guardian of the Deep Seas, Sailor Neptune. I protect you and your sea creatures from harm."
"Protect me?" Sailor Neptune laughed, quaking the world. SpongeBob nearly fell. "A puny human like you? You don't carry a tenth of my power."
"So you think."
King Neptune's eyes knifed. "Watch yourself." Electricity sparked on his finger. "It's already blasphemous that you share part of my name."
"This is the name that was given to me from the planet I also protect, Neptune."
"Still, others will confuse me with a mere human." The electricity on his finger grew. "With all these fish around, I must reassert my superiority."
The sponge scrambled in front of Sailor Neptune, unsure if he had the capability to protect the Guardian, but willing to try. "Please, Your Godliness, don't hurt her."
King Neptune raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. 'She knows not what she speaks of'?"
"Well, yes, that."
Michiru's expression darkened.
"I mean, no, not this time."
"She knows perfectly well that she's provoking and defying a god?" King Neptune said.
"I do." Even though Michiru said the words quietly, her voice reverberated. She was endangering herself more than Patrick and his ignorance ever could. Worse, Michiru knew what she was doing.
King Neptune's lips were pressed in a line. The electricity jumped from one finger to the next. Like it was alive.
The electricity grew a head and started chomping the air. It was alive.
King Neptune boomed out a louder laugh. SpongeBob, Patrick, and Makoto staggered, but Michiru stood her ground, planted as firmly as Sandy's oak tree.
"All right, then." King Neptune crossed his arms once more, the electricity dancing upon his knuckles. "If you're confident that you're more powerful than I, then you be the god of Bikini Bottom."
"I protect the seas already," Michiru said. "It won't be difficult for me."
SpongeBob covered his mouth. "Michiru." He couldn't tell whether she was haughty or confident.
"Oh ho." King Neptune laughed louder. "A live one, you are, without the likeability of my much lowlier colleague, SpongeBob here."
Warmth spread through SpongeBob. Who was he to earn the honor of being the colleague of a god?
He kept silent. The moment was so tense that SpongeBob didn't want to interrupt.
Patrick honked out a snore.
Electricity darted to Patrick, and the starfish flashed pink, red, black, white, neon blue.
"A light show for those who don't believe I'm as powerful as I say I am." He pressed his face to Patrick. "Am I boring you, starfish?"
Patrick collapsed onto his back. "Yes."
Another shock eradicated Patrick into a black stain upon the sand. "Am I still?"
"Not, not anymore," Patrick's stain said. Had Plankton been fried into a stain right along with the starfish?
King Neptune nodded. "Satisfactory." He straightened. "As I was saying. So-called Sailor Neptune, I grant you authority and rulership over all of Bikini Bottom. Except with one caveat—no defeating the robots all at once." His eyes grew almost soft. "I want you to keep showing me…" He jerked, as though catching himself, and glared at the group. "I shall be watching from afar. Take as good care of Bikini Bottom as I do, or else I shall destroy you myself and prove, once and for all, that I am Bikini Bottom's one true god." The god spread his arms. The world flashed several times, King Neptune disappearing.
Gaping, SpongeBob waved at the sky. "Always a pleasure to see you too, King Neptune."
"Not for me," came Plankton's muffled voice.
"Thank you, young sponge," King Neptune said from his throne in Atlantis.
SpongeBob's eyes twinkled. "That proves that he really is watching from afar."
Sailor Neptune glowered at the spot where King Neptune had disappeared.
"He doesn't take good care of Bikini Bottom," Makoto whispered, "so taking care of this place better than him should be easy. Besides, if he did care for Bikini Bottom, he would've destroyed the robots. He said something about us showing him something back when we defeated the Sandy robot, but I'm not understanding what we're showing him and how what we're showing him is more important than protecting Bikini Bottom. So not as much pressure as you think."
"No, more pressure than I think, especially since King Neptune wasn't taking great care of Bikini Bottom in the first place." The glow around Michiru brightened. "Because now, I have to show the sea creatures what it's like to have someone genuinely care for them and clean up King Neptune's mess."
"I'll let your insulting me slide," King Neptune said, invisible, remaining in Atlantis. "You'd better be thankful that I have tasked you with a great, enormous job. If not, then I would electrocute you into the example beside you."
Patrick and Plankton remained steaming black patches.
"Uh, Your Godliness," SpongeBob called, "can you please put them back the way they were?"
The sky harrumphed, the world flashed, and Patrick was standing, Plankton peeking out of his pocket, both intact.
Plankton's eye watered. "Why was I shocked? I didn't do anything."
Michiru remained grave, as though ruling over Bikini Bottom was already weighing on her. Most sea creatures probably didn't know that she was the new ruler of Bikini Bottom. Not that many of them were aware that King Neptune was supposed to be caring for them.
The group hadn't reached the Chum Bucket, but what they had to do next was already burdening them. Whether they destroyed the robots' source or not, the group had to explore and eradicate the rest of the robots. Possibly return to places they had already been in, in case the robots had retaken those areas.
Not to mention the Dead Moon Circus prowled about.
Plus, King Neptune had tasked Michiru with lording over Bikini Bottom.
Suddenly, everything seemed more complicated, couldn't be uncomplicated with the wave of a bubble wand.
Ahead, the Chum Bucket loomed larger than it ever had. Dread settled in SpongeBob's stomach.
He did not feel ready.