Chapter 5

Later that evening.

King Neptune was sitting on his throne. He gasped suddenly.

"Something evil approaches," He said, almost mechanically, "I can taste Aquarius' grief."

"I feel it too, Daddy," said a female voice next to him.

Neptune looked down to see a mermaid sitting on a small throne next to him.

"Mindy," Neptune asked, "Is that you?"

The mermaid smiled and said, "Yes Dad, It's me."

Neptune's eyes started to water. Mindy swan up and hugged her father. Neptune hugged her back.

"I'm so glad your home," Neptune said.

"I am too," Mindy said, She let her father go and swam back a little.

"This reunion is bitter-sweet," She said, wiping the tear from her eye, "It's my half brother, Triton, he has made a deal with the Flying Dutchman."

"What," Neptune asked flabbergasted, "What sort of deal?"

"The Flying Dutchman would give Triton the power to get rid of SpongeBob," Mindy explained, "in return, Triton gave the Flying Dutchman his body."

"Oh, my," Neptune said, "what can I do about it?"

"You can't do anything," Mindy said, "Aquarius has chosen already chosen his true wielder."

"Why can't I just use my godly powers," Neptune asked.

"You can't," Mindy replied, "it's not strong enough to undo what it has done."

Neptune's eyes widen.

"You don't mean," Neptune asked, shaking all over.

"Malum," She whispered, and then said quietly, "He is awake and very vengeful."

"How did it wake up," Neptune asked, "Styx put him asleep over half a millennia ago."

"Aquarius and he have been active for the past few years," She said, "But I've never been able to tell you because they've only ever stirred around the edge Bikini Bottom."

"It has been moving so fluidly now that SpongeBob has lost his memory," Mindy said.

"He lost his memory," Neptune asked.

"Where have you been for 11 seasons," Mindy asked.

"Making cameos," Neptune said.

Mindy face-palmed and said, "Of course."

"What do you suppose we do," Neptune said rising from his throne, "If everything is repeating then that means my crown (He takes it off to look at it) will be stolen again."

"I know it's unorthodox, daddy," Mindy said swimming close to him, "but time is of the essence. I hate to be the bearer of bad news when I just returned but, you must be willing to sacrifice if Aquarius' chosen one is going to fulfill his destiny."

Neptune looked at his crown then looked at Mindy.

"You are far more precious to me than a thousand crowns," He finally said, "I just hope Eugen doesn't mind being framed a second time."

He set his crown on a podium and turned towards Mindy.

"Quick question," Neptune said.

"Yes, Daddy," Mindy said, obliviously.

"How do you know how Aquarius is being active," He asked.

"Ick,'' Plankton thought, "I don't want to hear this."

He Silently flew in and grabbed the crown off the podium before flying away into the night.

"Those two can rattle on about ocean magic for all eternity if given the chance," Plankton thought as he carried the crown to the county line.

A hooded figure awaited him.

"We knew you'd get it," It said ominously, then a lime green arm came out of the robe, "Now hand it to us."

"Uh," Plankton said, "I don't know if I can trust you, Triton."

"It's Driton," He said angrily, taking off his hood revealing Phantom green eyes, "And we did not intertwine our consciousnesses and strengthen our leader to be mocked by being called by our separate components."

"Alright, Driton," Plankton said, "Here's your stinking crown."

He puts it in the extended hand. Driton pulls it in and examines it carefully.

"We will give you the power to over-throw Bikini Bottom with help from Squidward," Driton said at last.

"What, why," Plankton asked.

"We feel you must learn how to be evil with someone rather than all alone," Driton answered, "like us."

Plankton sighed and said, "of course."

"One more thing we would like to share with you," Driton said, "do not eat anything with sugar, we fear you might turn if you do."

"Right," Plankton said and flew back to the Chum Bucket to wait.