PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU PROCEED

As a quick Author's Note, I'd like to thank all my reviewers. You guys are awsome! I know, I've made you wait too long for this chapter. And since I'm headed to Florida in just a few days, I figured I'd better get it posted soon! So read, review, and just enjoy the story ;-)

Chapter 5

That evening, Sandy sat out on her balcony, strumming a few simple notes on her guitar. Bernie quietly approached, and took a seat by her. Several moments when by, when all you could hear was the soft melody of the acoustic instrument.

Bernie finally spoke up, in a quiet tone. "Sandy? Dare I say, far better than any dream man," He spat out 'dream man' like it was sour. "is the loyal caring one right before our eyes." He finished the sentence with a friendly pat on the shoulder, and then left Sandy to ponder his words.

Sandy looked away from the ocean, and up toward the castle window, where Spongebob was inside with his friends. He didn't notice her looking. Sandy angrily threw her guitar off of the balcony and into the sand. She turned to march back inside in frustration, when she heard a familiar voice. She glanced toward the ocean once more, and saw a young sponge walking on the beach. He was clad mostly in black leather, silver chains hanging from each of his pockets. The only thing that was out of place was a peach-colored seashell necklace. The young man was singing, and it was an enchanting sound. Very enchanting.

She felt momentarily lightheaded, but after a moment, all expression faded from the young squirrel's face.

Sandy was under the stranger's spell.

-----

The next morning, Spongebob was awakened by Patrick jumping onto his bed. "Spongebob, Spongebob! Wake up, wake up!" He shook his friend violently, and after a moment, Spongebob blinked groggily awake. "We did it buddy!" Patrick exclaimed. "The announcements have just been made! We did it, we did it!"

Spongebob yawned sleepily, and Squidward grabbed his head stressfully. "What is it this time, Patrick?" He asked.

Patrick laughed. "As if you didn't know! The whole TOWN is talking about it! The princess is getting married this afternoon!"

At this news, Spongebob popped immediately awake.

"Just came to wish you good luck, pal!" Patrick said. He began to climb out the window. "See ya later buddy, wouldn't miss it!" Patrick lost his balance and fell, crashing into the sand below.

Spongebob's mind cleared, and the reality of Patrick's words sank in. He jumped up off of the bed and wrapped Squidward up in an embrace. And for once, the usually-doleful octopus was smiling.

Still in his pajamas, Spongebob dashed down the big grand palace staircase, but froze about in the middle, causing Squidward to bump into him. Spongebob put a finger to his lips, motioning Squidward to remain silent. Down in the castle proper, Sandy, Bernie, and one other man stood, talking, Bernie looking slightly embarrassed.

"Well Sandy, I guess you were right!" He was saying, while looking at the stranger, a sponge looking a lot like Spongebob. "Your mystery-man does exist. He's not bad looking, either!"

Gary caught up with Spongebob and froze, as shocked as his owner at the scene down below.

"Congratulations, Sheldon." Bernie said, smiling and shaking the sponge's hand.

Sheldon...why did that name sound familiar? Spongebob shook his head in disbelief at what he was seeing.

"We wish to be married as soon as possible!" Sandy said, her voice ringing out in an eerie monotone.

Spongebob stared at the scene. He just couldn't accept this...this...stranger barging in on his third day. He was so close!

"The wedding ship departs at sunset." Sandy continued.

Bernie raised his eyebrows. "What!? Sure, but...these things take time, you know!"

Sandy stared expressionlessly at her steward.

He sighed. "Okay, if that's what you want."

Squidward saw Spongebob run up the stairs, and could hear a faint sob as he slammed the bedroom door. Sheldon also saw, and allowed himself a quiet snicker. Squidward squinted and glanced at the necklace around the young man's neck. Something was fishy around here, and it wasn't the ocean.

-----

Later that afternoon, Spongebob sat on a dock and watched as the wedding ship made it's way out onto sea. His lip quivered, and he wiped tears out of his eyes. Squidward put a hand on his shoulder, and that small show of affection was enough to make Spongebob cry. Gary, seeing his owner so upset, also broke into tears. Squidward patted Spongebob's back in a friendly manner.

On the ship, Patrick sat in a slight confusion, wondering where his yellow friend could have been. He heard humming, and it sounded ominously like Spongebob. How was that possible? It sounded much like it was coming through a window. Patrick peeked in and saw--not Spongebob, but what looked like a slightly-older, but still young and handsome, version of Spongebob. The strange sponge, Sheldon, was humming to himself in the mirror and laughing.

Patrick looked at the mirror, wondering what could possibly be so funny. What he saw, horrified him.

Sheldon's reflection, was Plankton.

Patrick jumped away from the window, a look of disgust on his face. "Plankton!" He mumbled. "I've gotta...I've got to..." As he was thinking, he lost his balance and fell off of the ledge onto a small catapult, and was slingshot back toward shore. He landed directly next to Squidward.

"Spongebob, Spongebob!" Patrick shouted. "You'll never believe it! IwasontheboatandIheardanoiseanditsoundedlikeSpongebobsingingbutIknewitcouldn'tbeSpongebobsingingandsoIwenttogoseewhatitwasonlythenitwasPlanktonandhewassingingtothemirrorandhelookedlikeaspongeand--"

Squidward's hand flew over Patrick's mouth. "One word at a time!" He scolded.

Patrick took a deep breath. "The princess is marrying Plankton in disguise!"

Spongebob gasped, and his tears were replaced with anger.

Squidward made a face. "Are you sure about this?"

"Have I ever led you wrong?" Patrick asked. He paused for a moment. "Don't answer that. But yes, I'm sure about it! I saw his reflection in the mirror!"

Spongebob stared after the ship in shock. Before the sun sets on the third day...Plankton had said. Without thinking, Spongebob jumped into the water and began to swim toward the boat with all his might. Patrick jumped in after him, as Spongebob grabbed onto a barrel. He began to swim with all his might.

"Get Spongebob to the ship!" Squidward ordered. "I've got to get back down to Bikini Bottom and tell Mr. Krabs what happened! Gary!" Squidward said, climbing into the water.

"Meow?" Gary replied.

"Stall that wedding!" The octopus disappeared, and a smug grin crossed Gary's face.

On the ship, Sheldon and Sandy were walking down the aisle, hand in hand. As they walked past Bernie, Corniel, who was on a leash due to his "strange" behavior that day, growled at Sheldon, who delivered a nasty kick to the small dog, and continued walking. They reached the end of the aisle, and the preacher began his speech. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today."

Patrick, still towing Spongebob (and at a rather slow pace) panted "Don't worry buddy, we're almost there!"

"Do you, Sandy, take Sheldon to be your lawfully wedded husband? In sickness and in health, for better or worse, until death do you part?" The Preacher continued

"I do." Sandy answered, in the same entranced tone.

A loud noise sounded from behind, and Sheldon swung around just in time to be attacked by a small pack of seagulls, and covered with seaweed and starfish. At the same moment, Spongebob had just managed to climb aboard the ship, spotting the mayhem.

"They did it!" Corniel mumbled, and yanked free of Bernie's grasp, barking. Gary landed on Sheldon's face, covering him with a clear slime.

Sheldon shrieked like a girl, flailing his arms about until he managed to grasp the snail and shake him violently. Corniel ran up to him and gave him a sharp bite on the leg. Sheldon swatted at him, his arm catching in the string of his necklace, which broke of. The tan seashell came crashing to the floor of the ship, shattering into hundreds of tiny shards.

Sandy broke out of the spell the minute the necklace broke, blinked a few times and shook her head, and then managed to say "What in tarnation?"

Spongebob was giggling. "That tickles!" he exclaimed, and then covered his mouth, realizing it was the first thing he'd said in three days. "Hey!"

"Spongebob!?" Sandy shouted, running toward him.

"Sandy!" Spongebob called back.

Corniel was barking and wagging his tail, unusually behavior for him, but he was unusually happy.

"You can talk!" Sandy declared in awe.

"Oh Sandy, I wanted to tell you!" Spongebob replied, desperation crossing his face.

"Sandy! Get away from him!" Sheldon shouted, his deep natural voice returning. Sandy stared at him for a moment, and then looked back at Spongebob.

"It's really you I was looking for, isn't it!" Sandy breathed.

Spongebob smiled sheepishly, as Sandy leaned toward him for a kiss. But before they could touch, Spongebob gasped.

Plankton started cackling. "You're too late!" He exclaimed. "The sun's gone down!" Plankton had turned back into his normal self, but this time equipped with several sets of large claws that swung about him, giving him the appearance of a giant metal octopus. He grabbed Spongebob and jumped off of the ship.

"Goodbye, doll," Plankton teased, as he vanished.

"Spongebob!" Sandy shouted, leaning over the edge of the ship and reaching out toward the slowly vanishing pair.

"Not so fast, Plankton!" A voice called. Spongebob spotted Mr. Krabs, and felt his cheeks burn red.

Plankton smirked, and released Spongebob, handing him over to Manray and the Dirty Bubble. "Not a chance, Krabs!" Plankton retorted. "He's mine now. We made a deal, see?" He held up the glowing contract.

Spongebob tried to run toward his boss, but Plankton's two henchmen held him tightly by the arms. Spongebob was nearly in tears again. "I'm sorry, Mr. Krabs!" He yelled. "I didn't mean...I--I didn't know!"

In anger, Krabs grabbed the contract and tried to tear it, only to find it unbreakable. It vanished, and in a split second, reappeared in Plankton's hands.

Plankton laughed. "You see? It's legal, binding, and unbreakable." He chuckled at a joke funny to only himself. "Of course, I've always had an eye for a bargain." A menacing grin spread across his face. "And, of course, the maker of the Krabby Patty does make my senses tingle." He dropped a square-shaped bucket helmet onto Spongebob's head. Spongebob whimpered and pushed at it, trying to pull it off. "But of course," Plankton continued. "I would be willing to trade him for someone even better."

Up on the surface, Sandy was rowing in a dinghy out to ocean.

Bernie was leaning over the side of the ship. "Sandy! What are you doing!?" He called anxiously.

"I lost him once, and I ain't gonna loose him again!" Was all she would say in reply.

Spongebob stood, a complete zombie under the brainwashing of Plankton's bucket helmet.

"So, do we have a deal?" Plankton asked, grinning at Mr. Krabs.

Mr. Krabs sighed, a pathetic picture in the least. "We have a deal." He mumbled. Slowly, he signed his name over Spongebob's onto the contract. Spongebob's name vanished.

"It's done then!" Plankton shouted, pulling the bucket off of Spongebob's head and putting it onto Mr. Krab's.

"No!" Spongebob squealed, reaching out only to be shoved to the ground by a laughing Manray.

"Hand over the Krabby Patty secret formula, Krabs!" Plankton commanded.

Mr. Krabs mindlessly obeyed the order.

Plankton began to cackle, growing in size thanks to one of his numerous spells. "Finally, it's mine! All mine!"

Spongebob gasped, and pointed at Plankton with tears in his eyes. "How could you!? You monster!" He jumped at Plankton, only to be brushed back onto the ground, and then pinned down by a large metal object.

"Don't bother me, fool!" Plankton cautioned, getting larger by the second. He aimed a huge tentacle at the trembling sponge. "Contract or not! I'll blast your little--ow!"

Sandy was a few feet underwater, and had proceeded to fire a spear gun at Plankton's arm.

"Idiot!" Plankton exclaimed. He gestured toward the princess. "After her!" He commanded. Manray and the Dirty Bubble both swam rapidly toward her.

"Sandy, look out!" Spongebob called, struggling to free himself.

"Come on!" Squidward shouted to Patrick, and they both swam toward Sandy, Patrick pulling Spongebob out of the metal thing on his way.

"Say goodbye to your sweetheart, fry cook!" Plankton cackled, aiming his weapon at the fighting squirrel.

Spongebob jumped onto his back (and by now, Plankton was big enough for this to be accomplished) causing the ray to misfire and hit Manray and the Dirty Bubble.

Plankton startled, and then shrugged. "Well, two less mouths to feed." But he was still angry. He spotted Spongebob and Sandy swimming toward the surface, and begin to grow bigger at a faster rate, frightening Squidward and Patrick.

Above the water, Spongebob grabbed Sandy's arms. "You have got to get out of here!" He told her. His hands trembled violently, and Sandy took them gently.

"No!" She said, defiantly. "I ain't gonna leave you!"

The now giant Plankton came from beneath them, and Spongebob and Sandy clutched onto each other protectively, both tense with fear.

"Fools!" Plankton growled, trying to smash them with his huge foot.

"Look out!" Sandy shrieked; Her and Spongebob both dived underwater.

"I am ruler of this ocean, now!" Plankton shouted, triumphantly. "Wave, obey my commands!"

At that note, a huge wave crashed right between Spongebob and Sandy, sending Sandy flailing away.

Plankton began to stir the water, loosing shipwrecked boats from the sand in surrounding areas. Sandy grabbed onto a rock and held on for dear life.

Spongebob spotted a rope and grabbed onto it, and hauled himself up onto an old ship. "How do you work thing thing!?" He wondered aloud to himself.

Plankton fired several more deadly rays at the petrified Sandy, who barely managed to dodge them.

The ship that Spongebob was in went sailing toward Plankton.

"You!" Spongebob shouted; he had tears in his eyes. "You used me to hurt my friends!"

Plankton laughed. "That's what I do, kid. And because of your selfishness, I finally got what I wanted!"

The words stung like a whip. Spongebob bit back a sob. "Well your days of tyranny are over, Plankton!" As he finished the sentence, his boat went crashing into Plankton. Startled, his spell was once again broken, and he shrank back down to his normal size. The secret Krabby Patty formula went fluttering to the ground, and Mr. Krab's bucket helmet broke off. He picked up the tattered paper, and tucked it into his pocket for safe keeping. Things were back to normal.

Well, almost.

-----

The next morning, Spongebob sat on a small coral reef, watching Sandy on the beach. He was being observed vigilantly by Mr. Krabs and Squidward.

Krabs sighed. "Poor boy. He really does love her, doesn't he, Squidward?"

Squidward shrugged. "I can't be sure. But he really did seem very desperate."

Mr. Krabs stared at Spongebob for a moment, before saying "I guess there's only one problem left." He stated.

"What's that?" Squidward asked.

"Who's gonna make me patties?" Mr. Krabs sobbed. He took a golden spatula, surprising Squidward, and pointed it toward Spongebob.

"I thought you said that was only for emergencies," Squidward commented.

"This is as much an emergency as ever." Mr. Krabs answered.

Spongebob felt funny for a moment, but before he knew it, was on dry land. And he could breath!

"Sandy!" He shouted.

Sandy stopped strumming on her guitar and spotted Spongebob. She squealed with delight and ran up to him. They embraced, and shared a short sweet kiss.

The following day held their wedding. A huge happy celebration. Bernie shared a hug with both of them, before bursting into happy-tears and squeezing Corniel. Corniel gasped for breath, and wriggled free of the hug.

Spongebob hugged Patrick, and then turned to Squidward, who extended a hand. Spongebob shook the hand, and then pounced him into a hug. Squidward just smiled.

Spongebob glanced toward Mr. Krabs. He ran over to him and stood in front of him. He owed this man a lot of things. "Thank you, Mr. Krabs." He said, quietly. Mr. Krabs blinked away tears, looking slightly embarrassed.

"Good luck, me boy." Was all he would say. "We'll miss ye back home."

As their honeymoon ship sailed away, Spongebob waved goodbye to all of his friends and family who had gathered for the wedding. He turned to Sandy and smiled.

They shared one more kiss.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IT'S COMPLETED! FINALLY!

Remind me not to do any more crossovers. EVER! This was SUCH a fun story, and at the same time, it was really hard to interpret correctly. I mean, stuff like this is easy when you make up your own characters, but...yeah.

SO, I hope you all enjoyed! PLEASE review, and don't be too mean to me, because this IS my first crossover fic. So...I got the last chapter up before I headed off for Florida! I'M SO PROUD OF MYSELF!

-Meg

PS. In case you wanted to know, this chapter was 8 pages long OO