Onwards and upwards we go. :)
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OwlheadAthena: If he's like Chuck Norris, then we must call in Teddy Roosevelt to defeat him. :P Thanks for reviewing.
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Zim'sMostLoyalServant: I like being mean to characters. :) Especially Squidward. :D Thanks very much!
Chapter Two: In Which Auditions Take Place
The Play of the Shadowed One has three main parts.
The One, to fall to darkness...
The Soldier, to choose his side...
The Maiden, to bring back light...
That evening at Lindbergh Elementary, the stage was (quite literally) set for the auditions for the play. All those who wanted to take part were backstage, ready to take the world (or at least the judgement panel) by storm.
Spongebob and Patrick were standing behind the curtain, waiting.
"I'm so excited, buddy!" grinned Spongebob, rubbing his hands together, "I've never been in a play before!"
"What about that one time in grade school?" asked Patrick.
"Pat, we promised never to talk about that again," reminded Spongebob.
"Oh yeah," nodded Patrick.
He put his hand on Spongebob's shoulder.
"Well, I'm happy for you, Spongebob," he said, "You're getting the chance to act before the expectant eyes of a vast crowd of strangers…"
Spongebob's grin faltered a little.
"…knowing that everything you do is being watched by hundreds…"
"Hundreds, huh?" quizzed Spongebob, nervously.
"…and if you mess up," finished Patrick, staring Spongebob straight in the eye, "You will never live it down."
There was an uncomfortable pause.
"Well, good luck, buddy!" grinned Patrick, walking away, "I'll be rooting for you!"
Spongebob watched his friend leave.
"Uh…yeah," he gulped, "Thanks…thanks Patrick."
Principal Willoughby, the Man in the White Suit and Mr. Bickles (the casting director) sat at a table in front of the stage, waiting for auditions to start.
Butch walked onto the stage, carrying a clapper board that he seemed to have got from nowhere.
"First audition for the Soldier role," he announced, "Sheen Estevez!"
Sheen jumped out from behind the curtain.
"Yes!" he bellowed, ignoring the script, "It is I! UltraSoldier! Defend of Earth in it's time of colonial peril! Face…"
Principal Willoughby buried his head in his hands.
"Next!" called the Man in the White Suit.
Timmy strode onto the stage, sighed heavily, and looked at the script.
"I am a man of England," he read, eyes glued to the script, "But I have been assisted in my recovery – gesture to leg-wound – by the people of this town. And now you have come – point accusingly to lieutenant – to torch this place and leave the people homeless. Heavy sigh. If I am forced to choose between my King and my friends, then I must choose…"
"He's reading the stage instructions," hissed Principal Willoughby.
"I like his voice, though," mused the Man, "He could use a bit of work, but I think he has potential."
"Oh, he does not," replied Mr. Bickles, waving his hands.
"I guess we could see how he does after a few weeks rehearsal," nodded Willoughby, "If not, he's not too hard to replace…"
"I reckon we take a chance," agreed the Man, a smirk crossing his face.
Principal Willoughby stopped, just as Timmy finished a particularly long stage instruction.
"Okay, Timmy," he stated, "We like your voice, so we're gonna trial you for a few weeks. Okay?"
"…um, yeah, sure," nodded Timmy, somewhat reluctantly.
"Very good," grinned the Man in the White Suit, "Everything is going as planned…"
His sneer was missed as Timmy walked behind the curtain.
Spongebob stood in the backstage corner, shuddering nervously.
"You're on in two minutes, Mr. Squarepants," stated the Man, walking up behind him.
Spongebob shrieked, and jumped.
"Nerves shot, son?" quizzed the Man.
"No, no," replied Spongebob, giving an unconvincing grin as he rubbed the back of his head, "I-I'm just – I'm just…"
"Yes, they are," nodded the Man, "But not to worry, I have the antidote."
He walked over to a chest against the wall, taking something out before returning.
"This will help, my boy," he grinned.
He handed Spongebob a black cloak, somewhat worn but soft to the touch. Curiously, Spongebob put it on, and found that it fit perfectly.
"What…"
"It'll come to you, boy," replied the Man, "Just go out there and give it your best."
He strode away.
"Next up, Spongebob Squarepants for the Shadowed One," yelled Butch.
Spongebob crept out from behind the curtains, script in hand. He gulped, and looked at the words.
"…uh…um…I-I…"
All of a sudden, Spongebob felt his fear melt slowly away. Slightly more confident, he began to read further.
"I have been betrayed by the ones I thought were my kin," he read, "They have abandoned me to this fate, to be…"
He took a deep breath, and kept going, his voice growing louder and more confident.
"To be consumed by this monster in my heart!" he thundered, "They promised to stand by me!"
His voice lowered, as he read the instruction to do so.
"They think I'm doomed to become a beast," he hissed, "And if they think me a beast…"
He flung away the script.
"Then a beast I will be!" he bellowed.
There was a long silence.
Mr. Bickles dropped a glass of water, an expression of shock on his face.
"…um, d-did I overdo it?" gulped Spongebob.
"That was…" stammered Principal Willoughby, "That was perfect…"
"I told you so," grinned the Man, standing up, "Mr. Squarepants, we've heard enough. You have definitely got the part."
Spongebob cheered.
The Man was right. The Cloak did help.
"Isn't it great, Timmy?" exclaimed Spongebob, "We both got lead roles!"
He and Timmy were sitting out the front of the school, waiting for the auditions to finish.
"Wonderful," groaned Timmy, "Now I have to rehearse – I don't have time for that! I have a full schedule of laziness to keep up with!"
"Yeah," nodded Spongebob, "But you get to spend more time with me!"
Timmy groaned again.
The door opened and Butch clambered out, holding an icepack over his check. He stumbled down the steps and glanced at the waiting people.
"Okay, show's over, we filled the last lead!" he yelled, "We can all go home now!"
"What happened to your cheek?" asked Timmy.
"…stageaccident," mumbled Butch.
"He accidentally got hit by the Maiden," Squidward explained, walking by without a second glance.
Butch scowled and stormed away, ignoring Timmy laughing at him.
"So," wondered Timmy, "Wonder who got the last part?"
"Howdy, Spongebob!"
The two turned as Sandy walked up to them, grinning.
"Sandy?" quizzed Spongebob, "What're you doing here?"
"Well, didn't ya hear?" replied Sandy, "I'm the Maiden!"
Spongebob, Timmy and Sandy in the main roles?
WHAT AN AMAZING COINCIDENCE