Here's the next chapter of The Yellow Avenger. What will SpongeBob do next with his new superhero alias? Now's your chance to find out. Read and Review.

Chapter 3: The New Sheriff in Town

At the Krusty Krab, SpongeBob opened the door to go to work, and he yawned, feeling tired as he stepped in, trying to keep his eyes open. His boss, Mr. Krabs, walked over to him as he informed, "SpongeBob, you're two minutes late."

"Sorry, Mr. Krabs." SpongeBob apologized as he yawned again. "I was just up late last night with-"

But Mr. Krabs just grabbed his lips. "That's enough, boy. Now go in there and start making me money." Then he walked away as he mentioned, "And fix that loose floorboard while you're at it."

SpongeBob managed to salute. "Aye, aye, sir."

Later on, SpongeBob was working at the grill, yawning as he tried to stay awake.

"Gee," SpongeBob groaned. "I never knew being a superhero could take up most of your sleep."

Then, Squidward poked his head through the window to see the sleepy SpongeBob. "You know, SpongeBob, if I cared one bit, I would ask what's got you so sleepy. But, I don't."

He turned back to the cash register, but SpongeBob poked his head through the window at him. "Well, Squidward." SpongeBob replied in an enthusiastic voice, "It's kinda hard to explain. But last night, I was fighting crime and taking names."

Squidward couldn't help but laugh. "You? Fight crime?" he asked in disbelief as he looked at SpongeBob through the window. "Don't make me laugh."

SpongeBob just smiled and giggled. "I'm not trying to make you laugh, Squidward. I have a costume and everything."

"I'll believe that when I see it."

But suddenly, Squidward heard the front doors open, and he, Mr. Krabs, and all the other customers gasped when they saw at the front entrance was the Restaurant Bandit.

"Sweet Davy Jones," Mr. Krabs muttered as she shook in fear. "It's the Restaurant Bandit!"

"Alright, nobody move!" the Bandit ordered. "I'm shaking this place loose of all its cash!"

Both Mr. Krabs and Squidward screamed in fear while SpongeBob was quietly watching through the kitchen window.

SpongeBob slid down onto the kitchen floor, holding his legs as he shivered in fear. But then a thought bubble appeared over his head as a miniature SpongeBob appeared inside and shouted, "Come on, SpongeBob, BE A HERO!"

"I don't know if I can." SpongeBob sadly replied. "It was one thing to do it by accident, but if I go out there in front of the Restaurant Bandit now, he might recognize me and kill me."

But the Mini SpongeBob just slapped SpongeBob across the face and hopped onto his nose. "Who's supposed to be the new hero of this town?"

"I am." SpongeBob muttered in response.

"Who promised to protect the citizens from evil?"

"I did." SpongeBob answered in a more serious tone.

"Who eats evil for breakfast with a side of milk?"

"I DO!" SpongeBob shouted as he stood up.

"Now go out there and show that bad guy who's the hero in this town!"

"Right!" SpongeBob shouted as the Mini SpongeBob disappears. Narrowing his eyes, he uttered, "Now to get dressed."

Meanwhile, at the front counter, Squidward and Mr. Krabs were holding each other in fear as Mr. Krabs cried, "No please, don't take me money!"

"Too bad, old man!" The Restaurant Bandit sadistically responded, "Open the cash register!"

When Squidward was about to open the cash register, a familiar voice shouted, "Keep locked the cash register, Squidward!"

Everyone in the restaurant turned to see the kitchen door open, and there stood SpongeBob wearing his superhero outfit. All the customers gasped in shock when they saw him.

"Who is that masked man?" Mr. Krabs wondered.

As Squidward stared at him, he saw he looked very familiar. "SpongeBob?" he quietly asked.

SpongeBob then pointed at the Restaurant Bandit. "Alright, criminal! You are bad fellow to go around robbing from innocent restaurants, especially one as great as the Krusty Krab! Now if you leave right now and give up your criminal ways, I won't have to get messy with you!"

But the Restaurant Bandit just laughed. "We'll see who gets messy once I turn you into mulch!"

Then he charged toward SpongeBob as the hero yelped and jumped out of the way. When SpongeBob tried to run, the Bandit had grabbed a hold of SpongeBob's cape which kept him still.

"Uh oh." SpongeBob muttered when he stopped trying to run.

"Nowhere to run now, fool!" The Restaurant Bandit smirked.

SpongeBob had a worried look behind his cape collar, but then he looked around and got an idea when he spotted the 'condiment island'. He reached into his utility belt and pulled out his spatula, and then he hurled it at the ketchup and mustard bottles, causing them to fly into his hands.

He squirted the ketchup and mustard at the Bandit in his eyes, "MY EYES!" the Restaurant Bandit cried in pain as he let go of SpongeBob and he was able to get away.

SpongeBob turned around and pointed the ketchup and mustard bottles at the Bandit. "Do you give now?" but then he gasped when he spotted the Bandit holding a krabby patty hostage. "You wouldn't?"

"I would!" The Bandit threatened. "Now why don't YOU give?"

Not wanting to put his one of his precious krabby patty in danger, SpongeBob had no choice but to slowly put the bottles on the floor and surrender. But his eyes gave a glare from behind his cape collar and maybe ever a smirk once he noticed just what the Bandit was standing on. Then SpongeBob pulled out a bottle of bubble soap from his belt and blew a quick bubble that went toward the krabby patty and got it safely away from the Bandit.

"And now…for a finale!" SpongeBob yelled as he stood on one foot with his hands in the air.

Then SpongeBob spun toward the Restaurant Bandit, but stopped a few feet away from him until he jumped in the air and landed on the loose floorboard that propelled the Bandit in the air and through the ceiling as he screamed.

"Glad Mr. Krabs never got that loose floorboard fixed." SpongeBob said proudly.

Outside, after the Restaurant Bandit flew through the Krusty Krab ceiling, he landed on top of a nearby police car.

SpongeBob opened the door and shouted, "I hope you learned a valuable lesson!" when he closed the door and turned, he noticed everyone in the restaurant staring at him. "Uh…hi." He nervously waved, which made everyone cheer for him.

"Oh, thank you, masked hero." Mr. Krabs gratefully said, shaking SpongeBob's hand. "You really saved me money."

"You're quite welcome, Mr. Krabs." SpongeBob humbly replied. "All in a day's work."

"Just who are you anyway."

"Yeah…" Squidward also asked suspiciously. "Who ARE you?"

"Uh…" SpongeBob wasn't sure how to answer until he pulled his cape in front of him, and secretly read his book, 'The most important rule: Always keep your identity a secret.' Then he put his cape down to notice everyone still staring at him, waiting for his answer.

SpongeBob got a determined look as he shifted his feet apart and held his cape up, trying to look mysterious. "I am the protector of truth, justice, and the krabby patties." He said in a heroic tone. "I am…The Masked Sponge!"

"Ooooh!" all the customers said in awe.

"Farewell, citizens!" the Masked Sponge waved as he opened the door and walked out. "When evil comes…I shall be there."

"That guy is a real hero." Mr. Krabs stated as he got teary eyed, and then quickly shook it off. "But he better not think of receiving any reward money in return. Where's SpongeBob anyway?"

"That's right, Mr. Krabs." Squidward said in a sly tone. "Didn't you notice that SpongeBob was absent the whole entire time that superhero was here?"

"What do you mean?"

Squidward then walked to the kitchen door. "I mean that the Masked Sponge is actually-"

But then, the door slammed open, crushing Squidward as SpongeBob came out, now in his regular attire, holding a tray of krabby patties. "Hey guys! Did I miss anything?"