Chapter 10
The Heart of a Sponge
Patrick cradled a balled-up Spongebob as he carried his friend into the Thug Tug. He rushed inside. he then stopped in his tracks when he noticed a group of tough fish around a single table.
"Oooh," Patrick said, "I wonder what they're all doing."
"Patrick," Spongebob began, but the starfish dropped him and went to see.
The miscreants were all taking turns trying to crush a blue conch shell. As one after the other, the fish tried to smash the shell, Spongebob was clinging to his chest, taking short breaths. Patrick was going to do the same, but the shell went into his hand. It glowed. Patrick felt the conch in his palm, which seemed to have a pulse. He looked at SpongeBob and gasped when he saw how much pain the sponge was in. Even though the bullies tried to cheer on Patrick to crush it. Patrick did not; he tried to walk out of the circle. But the tough fish blocked his path.
"Come on," the fish urged, "Let's see how strong you are."
Patrick backed off, but his heart ached.
"Spongebob," Patrick shouted to get his friend's attention.
Spongebob looked over to Patrick wearily.
"Catch," Patrick yelled as he threw the shell as hard as he could over the fish.
Spongebob quickly caught the glowing shell. And the sponge was about to run off, but the crowd looked ready to beat up Patrick.
Patrick winced, ready for the worst.
"Pat," SpongeBob shouted, "Now would be a good time to use your anger!"
"But Spongebob," Patrick pleaded to ask, "what if I lose control?"
"Don't worry," Spongebob reassured, "I'll be over here."
Patrick took a deep breath as if to focus himself.
"So," Patrick said, addressing the thugs closing in as Patrick's rage builds, "You guys think you're tough, huh? Trying to hurt my friend, stealing our stuff, and trying to break something priceless!?"
The thugs were surprised, but still they loomed over a seething Patrick.
"Oh yeah," one of them said, "What are you going to do about it, tubby?"
Patrick roared, "Nobody calls me tubby!"
Patrick then charged the thug and began to wail at him. The others quickly dog-piled Patrick and tried to beat him. Patrick quickly pushed them off, and the scuffle became hard to see.
At one point, He jumped off the ceiling beam using his elbow to plunge back into the fight cloud. Finally, Patrick came to Spongebob, dusting off his hands and wiping his mouth.
"Phew," Patrick said, "That felt good."
"Come on," Spongebob urged, "We still have a long way to go before Shell city."
Patrick and Spongebob left the Thug Tug utterly trashed and all of the fish beaten senseless.