The Ravine

SpongeBob felt the water rushing through him as he fell in the darkness. The excitement was filling him up his joy was being released and at last, he felt like he was floating instead of falling.

"Uhm," Patrick said in worry bringing Spongebob back to reality, "Spongebob, why did we jump off the ledge instead of taking the stairs?"

That was a good question, but the elation was still oh so strong within him. He almost forgot all about what had happened.

"I'm not sure," Spongebob sheepishly admitted. The two of them then looked down, the ground was coming up fast. Patrick panicked and hugged Spongebob screaming in fear. Spongebob hugged him back to comfort him, and they both closed their eyes. Spongebob hoped something would slow their descent. As luck would have it the roots of a plant caught them and slowed there fall and they landed safely on the floor of the dark hole. Spongebob opened his eyes first.

"Patrick," Spongebob said to calm him down enough to stop screaming.

"Huh," Patrick asked, "Are we dead?"

"No," Spongebob said with a chuckle, "Where okay! Look we're safe at the bottom of the trench!"

Their eyes adjusted to the darkness as they looked around. In the darkness was a hoard of writhing monster-like sea creatures. Skeletons littered the ground.

"The mustaches worked," Patrick declared happily.

They stood up and brushed themselves off, and started their march along the road passing the monsters that were staring at their bright colors. The two hadn't noticed the crowd fallowing them into the midnight zone. In which the sun's light does not reach. The Holy this illuminating them is the monsters' own bioluminescent glow. Before them, a big bright red angler fish came towards them.

Red Angler fish spoke gently at first, "Welcome to my world of black, SpongeBob SquarePants."

"You know my name," Spongebob asked surprised.

"Of course," the Red Angler said a bit annoyed, " I know lots about you. Like how your friend can't see or hear me."

"Who are you talking to bud," Patrick asks.

"Oh," Spongebob said, "Uhh, well do I tell him you're here?"

"No," The Red Angler said calmly, "Let him squirm, but listen to me. Disregard him and everyone who you know hold you back and come with me. I can help you start a new life one where you can have everything your little spongy heart desires. You can live in a utopia that you design, full of laughter and excitement. That catch is that you can never go back to what it was before, you have to surrender to me all your memories of what you left behind. You want things to be back to the way they were? I can grant your wish, but in exchange, you must stay here and allow me to strip away all other memories."

SpongeBob thought about it, hard. Then he shook his head.

"No," Spongebob said, "I won't abandon my friends just because I'm upset."

The Red Angler fish was surprised and then angry.

"Then I will eat you," He snarled and then he opened his tooth-filled mouth and charged. Spongebob closed his eyes and shirked waiting for the pain, but Patrick brought him into a hug.

"It's okay buddy," Patrick's voice reassured, "We're men now remember? We're invincible!"

Spongebob calmed down at the thought, took a deep breath, and stood tall as he opened his eyes again. To see the angler was gone and in his place was a being he has never laid on. The best way to describe it was a big blood-red eel with piercing black eyes and a mouth full of fang-like teeth. Spongebob stepped forwards slowly rather spitefully. He wasn't sure what's coming over him but he was moving forwards toward this hostile monster's gaping mouth even though it was nerve-racking. He couldn't look away and as he stepped onto the jagged blades of the creature's teeth he felt nothing but the ground. Spongebob then noticed Patrick was holding his hand. and they walked through the beast's body like it was just a tunnel to the other side of this place. They slowly made their way up into the other side of the trench and felt proud.

"Look," Patrick said triumphantly pointing at a sign, "Shell City dead ahead. We made it!"

The crowd of monsters cheered and then went about their way. Spongebob and Patrick were just about to continue when the Deniss-bot intercepted them.