Chapter 6
Dayja Vu
It was a clear sunny day, perfect for Mr. Krabs to use his periscope. He spotted Neptune coming to his restaurant. He quickly started to change the prices of the food. It felt familiar to him for some reason. The carriage parked out front. Mindy nodded at her father, Neptune nodded back. He got out of the carriage and started swimming towards the Krusty Krab. He didn't pay attention to what was in front of him. He hit his head on the pole of the Krusty Krab sign.
"Squire," Neptune shouted.
"Yes, your highness," the fish said.
"Have this pole executed at once," Neptune said.
"But sir," the squire said, "It's just an object."
"Then move it out the way," Neptune said.
He entered the Krusty Krab. Mr. Krabs was repainting the menu so the prices were $100 more expensive.
"Eugen Krabs," Neptune shouted, "You have stolen the royal crown!"
Mr. Krabs jumped, startled by the accusation.
"Your highness," He pleaded, "I've done some mean, cruel and downright illegal things. But I've never done anything to that extent."
"You would think that, but you left one DAMNing piece of evidence at the scene of the crime," Neptune said reaching into his robe and taking out a rolled-up piece of paper.
"I stole your crown," Mr. Krabs read aloud, "Signed Eugen Krabs?"
"Relinquish the royal crown at once," Neptune said, pointing his trident at Mr. Krabs.
"There's got to be some sort of mistake," Mr. Krabs said, "I didn't do it."
Then the automatic voicemail started.
"Ahoy," The recording said, "You've reached Eugen Krabs leave a message!"
A beep.
"Hi, Mr. Krabs this is Clay," a strange voice said, "The guy you sold Neptune's crown to. I sold it to a guy in shell city and uh, I just wanted to say. Thank you for selling me the crown, Neptune's crown. Which is now in Shell City, good-bye."
"My Crown is in the forbidden Shell City!?" Neptune shouted in anger and panic. He proceeded to yell out a few times before once again aiming this trident at Mr. Krabs.
"Prepare to burn Krabs," He said, the points of the trident aflame.
"This is crazy," Mr. Krabs said, "I didn't do it. but I can't prove that, so I might as well accept my fate."
"You're not going to get someone to vouch for you," Neptune asked.
"As if it would make much of a difference," Mr. Krabs said, "Go ahead ask someone to vouch for me, I doubt it will change anything."
"Before I flambe this crustacean," Neptune said, addressing the crowd, "Who here has anything to say about Eugen Krabs?"
Spongebob burst through the door and shyly said, "Um, I've got something I'd like to say about Mr. Krabs."
"Spongebob," Mr. Krabs asked.
"Out with it boy," Neptune said, "I haven't got all day."
Spongebob walked over to be beside Mr. Krabs.
"I've worked with Mr. Krabs for many years," Spongebob said, "and always thought he was a great boss."
"You're doing this," Mr. Krabs asked.
"He's been hurting lately," Spongebob said, "all my friends and myself have."
Neptune was surprised.
"Sure his greed might be more obvious than ever," Spongebob said, "but he wouldn't stoop that low, (he turns to Mr. Krabs) would you?"
"Probably," Mr. Krabs said.
"No," Spongebob said, "Don't say that about yourself."
"Anyone else," Neptune asked, "No?"
"Well then," He said, the tips of his trident freshly ablaze and fired. Mr. Krabs was on fire for a few moments before he jumped into a tub of water.
"Stop," Spongebob said, hopping up to hug Neptune's nose.
Neptune could taste the water grow sour, it made his heart hurt.
"What did Mr. Krab do to deserve this," Spongbob asked.
"He stole my crown," Neptune said, "And sent it to Shell City."
"That seems a little too harsh," Spongebob said.
"My crown is a sign of my king-like authority," Neptune said, "And Between you and me, I may have a small bald spot."
"Well," Spongebob asked, "what if I brought it back?"
"You go to Shell City," Neptune asked. He laughed for a minute.
"Oh," Neptune said, "you're serious. Only two people that have gone to Shell City have ever returned."
"But I could do it," Spongebob said.
"Run along," Neptune said, putting Spongebob down, "I have crab to cook."
Mr. Krabs lowered his head in shame. Spongebob felt his heart fill with courage.
"NO, "Spongebob shouted, jumping in front of Mr. Krabs, "I won't let you."
Neptune tasted the water grow sourer, it made his heartache increase.
"Very well then," He said, hesitating before shouting, "I WILL HAVE TO FRY YOU BOTH."
"Daddy stop," Mindy pleaded. Neptune was relived.
"Can't you go through one day with-out executing someone," Mindy asked.
"Mindy," Neptune said, pretending to scold, "I thought I told you to stay in the carriage."
"Look at this little guy," Mindy said, picking up Spongbob. She felt like she was entering a bubble of comfort and protection.
"He's willing to retrieve your crown," She continued, "and save his boss."
"Alright," Neptune said, "I'll give him a chance, but if he fails, the Krab is dead meat."
Mindy gently put Spongebob down.
"And as for you," Neptune thundered to Spongebob, "Be back with my crown in exactly 10 days."
"He can do it in 9," Patrick interrupted.
"8," Neptune rorted.
"7." Patrick insisted.
"6," Neptune said. Mr. Krabs pinned Patrick to the ground and silenced him with a chokehold.
"6 it is then," Neptune said, and then said, "Until then The Krabs will be frozen where he now stands."
"Fair enough," Mr. Krabs said, positioning himself off of Patrick. Neptune shot a bright beam that turned Mr. Krabs into an ice statue.
"Come along Mindy," Neptune urged before shooting Mindy a wink. Mindy winked back before she swam to Spongebob.
"Listen, you guys," she said, "The road to Shell City, Although tamed, is still dangerous. There are monsters, crooks and worst my half-brother Drition is guarding the outskirts of the city. Don't let him catch you, or he might use his dark magic to keep you from coming home."
"Here is a magical conch shell," Mindy said, handing Spongebob a beautiful blue conch shell, the kind with 30 different shades of blue, "It's linked to the magic from The Heat of the Ocean when you see my half brother, blow into it as hard as you can. It will finally put his restless soul to rest. Be careful, It can only be used three times before it will lose its color and magic. So use it wisely."
"Mindy," Neptune shouted.
"I'm coming," Mindy shouted back, then she said to Spongebob, "Good luck, Spongebob."
"You know my name," He asked. Mindy smiled warmly.
"I know so much more," Mindy thought to herself.
"I've learned the names of all sea creatures," Mindy said, "As part of my training for being the queen of the sea."
Mindy left her heart was soaring as she heard, "Bye Mindy, thank you."
Spongebob gently rubbed the shell, the conch dimly glowed.
"Don't worry," Patrick reassured, "We just need a ride."
"I have just the thing," Spongebob said. He and Patrick went to go see Sandy.
"Sandy," Spongebob said, "We need your Drivable-Patty-inator 3000!"
"You mean the one built I built with my crazy high school science partner," Sandy asked, "from Drusselstein?"
"Yeah," Patrick said, "We have to get King Neptune's crown from the Forbidden Shell City."
"Shell city, huh?" Sandy repeated.
"Yeah," Patrick retorted, "Shell City."
Spongebob then suddenly had an epiphany, He looked at the Polaroid. The second word appeared, with only a small blur surrounding the name.
"SHELL CITY!?" Spongebob shouted in surprise.
"You okay Spongebob," Sandy asked, "You act like you've seen a ghost cowboy."
"Patrick," Spongebob said, The shell in his hand beginning to glow brighter, "This is a picture of the sign for SHELL CITY!"
"What," Patrick asked, "But we've never been there, have we?"
"I don't know," Spongebob said, "But I fear we have to find out."
"So, You guys still want my Drivable-Patty-inator 3000," Sandy asked.
"Yes," Spongebob said, "Yes we do."
Sandy rolled out a car that looked more sandwich then car. Spongebob put away the polaroid, still a little shaken.
"Here you go fellers," Sandy said, "Just be careful with it, my partner may have installed something that can cause major harm."
"Don't worry Sandy," Spongebob, " We'll take good care of your Drivable-Patty-inator 3000."
"Yeah," Patrick chimed in, "We'll take great care of your Drive-a-Patty-whats-it 2008."
The two climbed in and bulked up. Spongebob was on the driver's seat.
"Can you hold on to the shell Pat," Spongebob said, handing Patrick the conch, "I need my hands free for driving."
"Of curse, Spongebuddy," Patrick said, gently taking it, the glow faded away as it passed from SpongeBob's hands into Patrick's, "I keep it safe on my cushiony belly."
He leaned back and set the shell on his plump belly. Spongebob laughed, then he turned to Sandy.
"So How do I turn it on," Spongebob asked Sandy.
"With your spatula," Sandy said then she pointed to the ignition, "It goes into that hole."
"Okay," Spongebob said voice shaking, pulling out his spatula. He put it into the slot, it fit like a glove. He took a deep breath and turned the engine on. The car roared to life, before puttering softly. Normally, Spongebob would feel an overwhelming sense of dread at that sound. At that moment he didn't feel fear and anxiety, he felt an indescribable sense of control. Does he know this feeling? Maybe, his memory is still so foggy.
Spongebob sat there for a solid minute lost in these thoughts before driving off, Shouting to Sandy, "Thanks Again, Sandy, Bye!"
"Good Luck Spongebob," Sandy shouted back.
Patrick reclined there as they drove, enjoying the comfort of it all. He couldn't help but notice that the shell seemed to be trying to slip off to Spongebob. Patrick kept it on himself by gently moving up his stomach flap so it slid back. He couldn't help but wonder why Spongebob was remembring things and not him.