Well, this only took a blooming month, didn't it? :| Sorry about the delay, I was working on something else for Halloween.

Review replies;

TweenisodeOrange: Well, Chet is pretty funny, isn't he? Thanks for reading!

OwlheadAthena: Another Timmy fan, is ya? :) Thanks for reviewing!

Zim'sMostLoyalServant: Let's just say 'bad things happen to good people' and leave it at that. :D Thanks for the review!

SOLmaster: You're close on the password. :) And don't give up on Spongebob just yet... :I Thanks very much!

aslan333: Thanks!

Chapter Six: In Which There Are Confrontations

"…Spongebob? You alright?" gasped Sandy, leaning over her fallen friend.

Spongebob had fallen backwards off the seat and was now on the grass, out cold. Sandy was preparing to spray him with the hose to wake him up when his eyes opened.

"What happened?" asked Sandy, "You looked like you were in more pain then…"

Spongebob slowly climbed to his feet, his eyes red. There was a gust of wind, and the cloak (which had been lying against the tree trunk) blew over to him.

"Spongebob is not here right now," he hissed, "Please leave a message after the beep."

He grinned nastily.

"Beep."

The uncharacteristic ice in his voice made Sandy wince.

"What are you?" gasped Sandy.

She hardened her tone.

"And what did you do to Spongebob?"

"What am I?" sneered Spongebob, "You've been reading this script, Ms. Cheeks, you know what I am, and what I did…"

Sandy shook her head.

"No," she gulped, "It can'tbe…"

"Can't it, ma'am?" asked Spongebob, tilting his head mockingly.

His hands erupted with blue energy.

"Well, let's not beat around the bush," he sneered, "You know what comes next…"

Suddenly, there was a knocking sound.

Spongebob and Sandy glanced at the door. A blue fish was standing outside, a box of chocolates under his hand.

"Does anyone wanna buy some CHOCOLATE?" he bellowed.

Spongebob cursed.

"Curses!" he snapped, "I can't do this with witnesses around! Well, consider yourself lucky, for now…because I'll be back!"

He laughed evilly as his body turned into a faint mist and was blown away.

Sandy blinked.

"Oh my gosh," she breathed, "Spongebob's the Shadowed One…"

The next evening, just after rehearsal, Timmy, Cindy and their group crept down a hallway at Lindbergh Elementary. Dani was in ghost mode, and the fairies had changed into Timmy's Starflinger and backpack. Cindy had 'borrowed' Jimmy's Tornado Blaster.

Before long, they stopped by a junction in the corridor and waited.

A door opened, and the Man walked out into the corridor. He stopped when he saw the group, and crossed his arms.

"Mister Turner," he nodded.

Timmy blinked, and paused for a few seconds.

"…guy," he replied, at last.

"Might I ask why you're still here?" the Man asked, "Rehearsal ended ten minutes ago."

"We know what you're up to," snapped Dani, "The gig is up."

She paused for a moment.

"Guys," she continued, "Never let me say that again."

"Oh, but my dear friends, I'm not involved in whatever you're accusing me of," the Man replied, smirking, "In fact, you and I are on the same side."

"What do you mean, 'on the same side?"' demanded Cindy, "We saw what you did to Jimmy and Danny…"

"I can honestly tell you I did not do that," explained the Man, "Although I was an unfortunate witness to what happened to poor Mr. Phantom."

When there was no reply, the Man continued.

"There was…an incident," he explained, "He was cornered on the roof of a friend of mine's apartment in Amity. It was all so fast – a flash of purple, and he was gone. I didn't even have time to see the perpetrator."

"You're lying," snapped Timmy.

"Am I, Mr. Turner? Do you have any proof?"

Timmy gritted his teeth.

"I thought not," nodded the Man.

There was a sudden, chilling gust of wind from down the corridor, and the lights flickered out. A classroom door was flung open, and a square figure stepped confidently out.

"Spongebob?" called Dani, "What are you doing here?"

Spongebob turned to the group, his red eyes shining eerily in the dark hallway.

"Oh my," noted the Man, very slight alarm in his voice, "It's the assailant. I…best be going, good day to you all."

He quickly made for a nearby exit.

"Great, he's shady and a coward," groaned Cindy.

"Spongebob?" quizzed Timmy, "What the heck's up with you? 'Cause rehearsal's over and that's kinda creepy."

Spongebob sneered.

"So, you haven't made the connection, have you Turner?" he mocked, "The outbursts, the obsession with the cloak…you really are an idiot, aren't you?"

Timmy blinked and tilted his head. Spongebob groaned.

"Maybe this will help," he snarled.

He bared his arms, and a burst of purple energy exploded from his palms. Timmy braced himself as it washed over him. For a moment, he could see only purple…then it receded.

Timmy blinked again.

"Hey, we're okay!" he exclaimed.

No-one replied.

Timmy looked around. The floor was littered with five dolls, similar to the ones Danny and Jimmy had turned into. This time, however, he recognised them as Dani, Cindy, Cosmo, Wanda and Poof.

"Ah crud," he cursed.

Spongebob squinted his eyes at Timmy, looking incredulous.

"But…how did you…you should…" he stammered.

Then he grinned. It was a very nasty grin.

"Oh," he sneered, "I get it. You're the Soldier, and the squirrel is the Maiden. It all makes sense…"

"Dude, it's just a play!" snapped Timmy, "Snap out of it!"

"Oh, it's more then a play, Timmy," growled Spongebob, "It's much more then just a play…"

He chuckled as he turned into a faint mist and wafted away.

Timmy stared at the place where Spongebob had been for several seconds, before sighing heavily.

"When this is over, I'm never doing show business again," he groaned.

Not far away, the Man in the White Suit watched Timmy, a sly grin crossing his face.

"Yes," he sneered, "Work on the Shadowed One, Mr. Turner…leave me to my own devices…"

Hopefully, it won't be a month before the next chapter. :\