Chapter 10
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It had been one week.
The light-brown, overdosed form of SpongeBob lay on a extra-large sized bed, specifically made for absorbtion-locked sponges.
He was still unconscious from his fill of alcohol-laced ice cream, which in itself was loaded with chemicals.
His eyes were unable to open, like they were pressed down with weights.
All of his friends; Patrick, Squidward, Sandy, even Plankton, were concerned.
"Will he be his old self again?", Sandy asked the doctor.
Forrest replied, "Ms. Cheeks, it could take some time for your friend's health to improve. But we're doing everything we can. He took a lot of ice cream."
Mr. Krabs tried to convince the doctor that his longtime friend and mentor was a would-be mass murderer.
"I know. I still can't believe it."
The crustacean glared at him.
"That's just what I'd expect an accomplice of his to say!", he shouted.
"How do I know there isn't a ring of you, and he was just the diversion while the real threat is somewhere else?", he asked growing suspicious.
Squidward slapped him.
"Why does there always have to be an evil mastermind with you?"
"Because it takes one to know one, except for the evil part.", Krabs replied.
The squid began shouting, "Says the guy who made us work 24-hour-a-day shifts with no breaks for 43 days straight!"
Dr. Forrest motioned for everyone to get out if they were just going to argue.
He and a team of surgeons put a drainage hose inside him, ready to slowly empty out the ice cream.
"Remember team, this is serious. One wrong move and his natural sponge-fluid could burst."
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At his anchor home, Krabs turned on his TV.
*static*
"...funeral of renowned physician and veterinarian Dr. Gilbert Gilliam was held today more than one week after he was exposed as a criminal mastermind. We would've shut it down, but all his friends and students at the medical clinic insisted he get a proper tribute. After all, we're all part of Neptune's creation."
A picture of a smiling Gilliam appeared with the words "12/13/1952-3/4/2020."
The crustacean wrote down a list of ideas to improve his own reputation.
He snapped out of his psychological monologue, then looked at a picture of his restaurant, and then one of his two employees.
Deep down, he hoped the sponge would be okay, and not just to make him more money.
He then went to visit Squidward.
The bluish-grey squid was busy mouth-syncing to his clarinet-records, when he heard a knock.
He opened the door and there stood Krabs.
"Come in, sir."
"Listen, uh, Squidward.", he asked. "Was there ever a time when you actually cared about SpongeBob? I mean, you did try to run over him many times with a bulldozer once."
The squid then told his boss about his personality.
"It seems like every time I apologize to him or make peace with him, I'm right back to my stubborn arrogant self the next day. Like a fog comes over me as soon as I fall asleep. I really hope today won't be one of those times."
Krabs reassured him.
"Well maybe you can go to your therapist and tell him about your problem."
Squidward held his head in his tentacle and quietly sobbed.
"If-if this is how it all ends for him, I know I'll never forgive myself. I mean I'm not the one who did this, but still."
"I know, Mr. Squidward. I hope he pulls through."
Krabs gave his employee a goodbye before going back to his house.
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At the Bikini Bottom Hospital, SpongeBob's monitor began to beep slower and slower.
"Oh no.", Forrest exclaimed.
"What is it, doctor?", Nurse Retchid asked.
"We're losing him!"
He turned to the drainage team, who then tossed the 20th bucket of ice cream into the pile.
"I think we may have more ice cream than sponge-fluid, Dr. Forrest.", the head surgeon replied.
"Give it to me in English."
"I don't think he'll make it."
SpongeBob was slowly slipping away.
After a few hours of constant around-the-clock work, the ice-cream was just about drained, but his monitor beeped slower and slower.
From his point of view, the sponge felt something he never had before.
He thought he was dreaming, but at the same time, he knew where he was heading.
He had made it to Atlantis.
.
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"Where am I?", the newly-made SpongeBob wondered.
Just then, a chariot of seahorses arrived to welcome their newest arrival.
The door opened and King Neptune stepped out.
Even though the sponge had seen him before, that was just his earthly form.
This Neptune was bathed in wonder beyond anyone's imagination.
"Ha-HA! Mr. SquarePants, I knew you'd come!", the god proclaimed.
"Welcome to my home of Atlantis!"
He opened the gate and the sponge was breathtaken by the wonder.
"Follow me, SpongeBob.", Neptune led him to a two-million-and-counting roomed mansion.
They entered and he could see rooms filled with everything the Atlantis-bound enjoyed down on earth that pleased themselves and the gods.
"Your room is right in here, Mr. SquarePants.", he then pointed to a swirling door just like all the other ones.
SpongeBob then entered his heavenly room.
It was everything he could ever hope for, not to mention a king-size Krusty Krab, with Krabby Patties beyond what anyone else could ever taste down here.
"One Krabby Patty, coming up Mr. Kra-"
He then remembered Mr. Krabs.
He wanted to cry, but he just couldn't.
Concerned about his friend's position with Neptune, he asked if there was any way his friends on earth would ever come.
The yellow boy then began having flashbacks, thanks to his new completely photographic memory, to twenty years prior.
He remembered Neptune being more arrogant, ignoring his friends.
"Ah, but SpongeBob. That was the Atlantis for the living. And as for your friends, unfortunately there isn't anything I can tell you about their coming here and also nothing you can do."
He continued, "But someday maybe, because there is a battle for everyone I am eternally fighting for. Enjoy your stay!"
The sponge made it to his Krusty Krab house, where a familiar sound greeted him.
"Gary? Is... is that... you?", he was on the verge of tears.
The happy snail came in and meowed with excitement, cheerfully licking SpongeBob's face.
"Oh, I knew I'd see you again someday.", he laughed, not his usual cartoon laugh, but this one with a sense of true joy.
He then turned on the TV to see if any new arrivals were heading there.
The weatherman announced a cyclone was heading to Atlantis that claims residents back to the "earthly realm".
Gary then ran away, knowing his owner was still clinging on.
"I know, I know Gary. I just got here. But it seems like a miracle has happened with my operation."
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Back at the Bikini Bottom Hospital, the ice cream and alcohol were completely drained, and the doctors tried everything to re-start his heart.
Just as they were about to put the cover on his head, they saw one of his fingers start to move.
"Hold it!", Dr. Forrest shouted.
"Keep on him! Don't let him go into the light! Come on! That's it!", he kept shouting as he instructed the team to keep moving.
Meanwhile, the sponge tried his best to run away from the cyclone.
But it was too late.
He called out to Neptune to save him, but the god reminded him that his time was still needed on Earth.
"You have so much more to live for, my son! One day, though... ONE day you will be here again with your snail! Don't fight back! They're coming for you!"
"I... I understand.", the sponge replied through tears and let go of the gate bars.
Everything went dark and SpongeBob slowly woke up in his hospital bed.