Here's the next chapter of The Yellow Avenger. It's a little short though, but still pretty good. Be sure to read and review.

Chapter 5: Revealing Identity

Later that night, SpongeBob was in his room, lying on his bed in his underwear while Gary was on the floor beside the bed.

"You know, Gary, I never knew being a superhero could be this hard." SpongeBob explained.

"Meow," Gary responded.

SpongeBob laughed. "Oh, who am I kidding? Mermaid Man never said fighting crime would be easy." Then he stood up on his bed. "And I made a promise that I wouldn't give up! Now Gary, how does this sound?" he cleared his throat and proclaimed, "'The Masked Sponge: Frycook by Day, Totally Awesome Superhero by Night!'"

Gary just frowned in annoyance. "Meow."

"Or…how about this one?"

But before he could suggest another title, a voice that sounded like Patrick called out, "HELP! HELP!"

SpongeBob giggled at the thought of having another heroic deed he will soon accomplish, "And that's a sign that I'll have to continue my hero duty right now."

He slid under the bed and came out the other side, now wearing his Masked Sponge outfit. "Now to save my best friend!" he shouted.

Outside, next to Patrick's rock, the starfish was shouting, "Help! Help!"

The Masked Sponge suddenly jumped out of his pineapple window and shot his grappling hook at the top of Squidward's house, which he used to swing across Squidward's yard. He ended up smacking into Patrick's rock, but tried to salvage his entrance by climbing to the top and making a heroic pose.

"No need to fear, Patrick!" SpongeBob called as he stood on the rock. "The Masked Sponge is here!"

"Wow," Patrick said, amazed. "The Masked Sponge, you're standing on top of my rock! You're my hero!"

SpongeBob got a confused look since he didn't see any kind of emergency around. He calmly responded, "I'm…flattered, Patrick, but what's the emergency?"

"Emergency?"

"You shouted for help." SpongeBob pointed out.

"Oh yeah," Patrick remembered. "I was calling SpongeBob."

"SpongeBob?" he questioned since he had no idea why Patrick would want his civilian identity to rescue him from danger.

Patrick nodded. "Uh huh, I wanted him to meet you."

"But you were shouting for help." The Masked Sponge pointed out.

"I was?" Patrick wondered until he remembered, "Oh yeah, I wanted to HELP him meet you. But alas, he's not here once again to see how cool you are. If only I knew where he was so I can introduce you to him."

Though the Masked Sponge was flattered by Patrick's desire to interact with him, he couldn't waste any more time since a real emergency could happen at any moment. "Sorry, Patrick," SpongeBob responded in a gentle voice, "Maybe I can meet this 'SpongeBob' some other time."

Then when SpongeBob slid down from the rock, he had not noticed his mask got caught on the T.V. antenna, and when he slid to the ground, his mask came off.

When SpongeBob was walking away, Patrick called out, "Hey, Masked Sponge!"

"Yes?" SpongeBob asked as he turned to face Patrick.

Patrick gasped in shock at what he saw. "Hey! You're not the Masked Sponge!"

SpongeBob got a confused look. "What do you mean?" he asked until he spotted his mask on the ground. He gasped in shock, knowing his identity was now exposed for everyone to see. "Wait, Patrick, I can explain!"

"No need to explain, I know what's going on!" Patrick responded in a disappointed tone, crossing his arms.

"You do?" SpongeBob asked nervously, praying to Neptune that his best friend will understand and be willing to keep his secret for him.

"Uh huh," Patrick nodded until he smiled. "You've been so busy that you hadn't had the time to meet the Masked Sponge."

SpongeBob's eyes widen in surprise, not expecting that response. "What?"

"Yeah, you just missed him, he was so awesome!"

"So…you don't know that I'm the Masked Sponge?"

"You? The Masked Sponge? No way." Patrick responded in disbelief. "He's nothing like you. He was standing right there." He pointed over to where SpongeBob's mask is. "I wonder where he could've gone."

SpongeBob just walked over and picked up his mask and tied it back on. "Listen, Pat, I think I should tell you-"

"Masked Sponge!" Patrick cried as he jumped for joy. "You just missed SpongeBob. He wanted to meet you so bad."

SpongeBob pulled his mask up again in order to show Patrick that he was indeed really the Masked Sponge. "But, Patrick…"

"SpongeBob!" Patrick shouted, happy to see his best friend again. "Why do you keep leaving when the Masked Sponge appears? I mean, come on! Do you know how quickly he leaves? You know he's probably really busy."

Then SpongeBob just smiled and shrugged. "Well…I guess I am able to trust you with my secret. But don't worry, Patrick, I will always be around to protect you."

"Hey, you talk just like the Masked Sponge." Patrick noticed.

SpongeBob pulled his mask down and made a heroic pose. "For…justice!"

He ran away with his right fist held in the air while Patrick waved goodbye. "Bye, Masked Sponge!" he looked around and noticed someone missing. "Aww…SpongeBob missed him again."

While the Masked Sponge was walking past Squidward's house, he had a relieved smile on his face, happy that no one in Bikini Bottom knew his secret superhero life. "Well, that went better than expected."

But then Squidward came out of his house, holding a flower pot as he spotted SpongeBob. "Well, hello there, 'Masked Sponge'." He greeted in a sarcastic tone.

SpongeBob turned around when he spotted Squidward. "Why, hello there, citizen." He greeted happily with a salute.

Squidward crossed his arms and said, "I can see this superhero phase isn't over yet, is it, SpongeBob?"

SpongeBob held his cape up as he mysteriously asked, "Who is this 'SpongeBob' you mention, sir? I am the Masked Sponge: Protector of-"

"Oh, stop with the heroic monologue already." Squidward interrupted. "I already know it's you."

SpongeBob's eyes widen a bit as he said, "Uh…well, even if he was, and I'm not saying he is, will you keep the secret?"

Squidward sighed in annoyance. "I could care less about revealing your 'secret identity' to anyone." He replied, using air quotes. "I know this whole thing's gonna pass eventually."

SpongeBob saluted again with a smile. "Thank you, sir! If that SpongeBob guy were here, he'd be very proud. For justice!" he shouted as he ran off with his right fist held in the air.

Squidward just groaned as he turned around. "Maybe if I'm lucky, this whole superhero thing will get him killed." He laughed jokingly and walked inside his house.

The next morning, SpongeBob walked out of his pineapple and spotted the newspaper in front of his door. He picked it up and read it to see his alter-ego on the front page.

"Ha, ah, ah, ah!" he giggled as he read the newspaper. "'The Masked Sponge does it again'. Aren't I a hero, Gary?"

Gary slithered over to him and suggested, "Meow."

"I can't stop now, Gary." SpongeBob told him. "Why would I?"

"Meow."

"That's silly, Gary." SpongeBob said as he laughed. "There's no way that could ever happen." Then he took out his jellyfish net. "Well, I'm off to do a little jellyfishing with Patrick, and then later tonight…well, let's just say I have a meeting with some fellow superheroes."

As SpongeBob walked off, Gary stared at him in uncertainty. Could SpongeBob's superhero career last?