Prompt 8- Concert
A/N: Only August Mackerel and my version of 'Oh du lieber Augustine' belong to me- he's based on Marx Augustine. Mindy, SpongeBob and Patrick, as well as everyone else belong to Hillenburg. The original 'Oh, du lieber Augustine' belongs to Marx Augustine and Marx Augustine belongs to Viennese history. This oneshot contains eventual Minrick.
...
Mackerel August wiped his sweaty fins on the legs of his blue velvet trousers and tried to slow his hyper-pulsating heart, to no avail. He fingered his beloved bagpipes as he peeked cautiously through the red curtain.
King Neptune himself was sitting in pride of place on his seat, with his wife Queen Amphitrite beside him. Nearby were two chairs occupying their children- their son, Prince Triton and their daughter, Princess Neptuna. Another seat was empty- the seat of Princess Mindy herself. A yellow square shaped sea sponge and a pink starfish were also in the presence of the king and the royal family.
"August, there you are!" A familiar voice exclaimed.
"Prin-princess!" August spun round in shock to see the bespectacled princess behind him.
"Are you alright, August? You appear to be very nervous."
August sighed. "I'm ju-just not relishing the honour of playing for your father, if you know what I mean."
"I can see that you're nervous about my father, but please don't worry, August. I've heard you play your bagpipes- no one's better at it than you are." This made the mackerel perk up hopefully.
"You think so?"
"Of course!" Mindy replied. "After all, you played a wonderful song on your bagpipes after Triton was banished. Besides, I thought you didn't get scared easily." She added, smiling.
"O-of course n-n-not," Said August.
"After all, who survived sleeping in a grave with a dead fish woman who had died of fish tuberculosis?"
"I-I-I did!" August exclaimed proudly.
"So go, August, and play those dear bagpipes." Mindy encouraged. "I'll be cheering you on –silently, of course. I don't want to disturb your music."
"Act-actually, Mindy, I do h-have one request I'd l-like to make..." August said shyly. And he whispered it into Mindy's ear. She beamed and nodded in agreement at her friend's plan.
...
SpongeBob and Patrick were confused at first when King Neptune started yelling like a madman and then threatened to execute the messenger that told him that Mindy would not be joining them this evening.
"I wonder what's happening, Pat." SpongeBob whispered.
"I have no idea, SpongeBob." Patrick replied feeling disappointed that he wouldn't get to see Mindy again- he had a huge crush on her, and he really wanted to ask her out.
"Well, never mind, Patrick." The sponge whispered, trying to be consoling. "Whatever Mindy's up to, she'd want us to enjoy this thank you concert."
"Suppose..." Sighed Patrick, slumping in his chair just as a loud fanfare blew.
"Ladies and gentlemen of His Majesty's King Neptune's court- I am pleased to announce that tonight's concert- held in honour of our two heroes, SpongeBob SquarePants and his compatriot, Patrick Star- is about to begin."
...
They sat through nearly two hours of all sorts of musical talent- including a woman who played the harp with her feet, which cheered Patrick up immensely, and made him laugh.
"And now, for our final performance, we have the esteemed bagpipe player, Mackerel August, with our beloved Princess Mindy accompanying him on voice!"
"WHAT?" King Neptune bellowed in shock.
"Calm down, dear- you know that Mindy's been good friends with August for some time now." Amphitrite said soothingly, rubbing his arm in an attempt to quench her husband's hot temper.
At this news, Patrick felt that his heart would break- he thought that Mindy already had a boyfriend, and he didn't know what to think anymore.
SpongeBob noticed the change in his friend's demeanour, but he was unwilling to say anything that could upset his best friend further. He instead took Patrick's hand in his own and gave it an affectionate squeeze.
Patrick managed a feeble squeeze in response as August began to play his bagpipes.
Then, Mindy began to sing;
"Money's gone, best friend's gone,
All is lost, August!
O, you dear August,
All is lost!
Coat is gone, hat is gone,
August lies in the sand.
O, you dear August,
All is lost!
Even that rich town Bikini Bottom,
Broke is like August;
Shed tears with thoughts alike,
All is lost!
Every day was a feast,
Now we just have fish tuberculosis!
Just a corpse's feast,
That is the tragedy.
August, August,
Lie down in Sally's grave!
O, you dear August,
All is lost!"
In between verses, August played a rousing melody on his bagpipes, and although they were an odd duo, they somehow complimented each other in their performance- Mindy's soft, sweet voice was a stark contrast in comparison to the bagpipes.
Everyone was impressed by the performance, and at the end, they clapped and cheered loudly- even Patrick, despite his broken heart.
...
"Mindy, my dear sister you were outstanding!" Neptuna exclaimed perkily.
"Thank you." Mindy blushed.
"And August, I was blown away by your performance!" Queen Amphitrite added, with a large smile on her face "You and Mindy did a marvellous performance!" She smiled lovingly at Mindy, who smiled bashfully.
"Wow, you were great, Mindy- Pat and I enjoyed hearing you sing!" SpongeBob gushed.
"Why, thanks, guys," Mindy replied.
"S-so I guess I-I best b-b-be go-go-going then." August said nervously. "I s-s-s-see my boyfriend o-over there,"
"Well, thank you again for letting me join you, August- I had a lot of fun." The princess said earnestly.
"Wh-what are friends for, Princess?" Mackerel asked, relieved that his stammering was getting under control. "Well, see you guys later."
"Bye, August!" The sponge and the princess chorused, but Patrick said nothing. Wait...the musician fish had a...a boyfriend? That meant...
"Hey, uh, Mindy, Patrick here has something he'd like to say to you!" SpongeBob added, leaving Patrick to flush. "I'll leave you two alone," He added, smirking, and he started to head over to talk to Princess Neptuna- but Patrick grabbed his arm.
"SpongeBob, please, don't leave me!" Patrick begged, pulling on his best friend's arm so tightly, it fell off. Embarrassed, he offered it back to his friend.
"Aw, you got this, buddy- just tell her what's in your heart." The poriferan encouraged.
"How can I do that, if I can't see it, SpongeBob SciencePants?" Patrick demanded, causing SpongeBob to face palm.
"No, Patrick, just tell her how you feel about her." He replied, impatience starting to roll in, but he tried to keep calm and not snap.
"Um, is everything okay?"
Patrick jumped at the sound of Mindy's voice, and blurted out in a panic. "MINDYIREALLYLIKEYOU WILLYOUGOOUTWITHME?"
"I beg your pardon?" Mindy just looked confused. "I'm not sure what you just said. Please could you repeat that- and calm down." She added, concerned for her friend.
"Yeah- just take a deep breath - and another one- and another...there we go, you're doing great, buddy." SpongeBob encouraged, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder and rubbing it gently, all thoughts of leaving the two alone out of the window. It was obvious that his best friend needed him now, and by Neptune he'll be there all right!
"Okay, thanks SpongeBob- I'm...I'm fine." Patrick said- then his face went blank. "Um, what was I gonna say again?"
"PATRICK!" SpongeBob shouted.
"What, I forget." The sea star shrugged, prompting SpongeBob to whisper in his ear. "Oh, that's what I was going to say...thanks, buddy! Sorry, I'll try again." He cleared his throat. "Mindy, I just want to say...I like you- a lot, and...Will you go out with me?"
Silence...
Suddenly, Mindy's face developed the biggest smile that anyone had ever seen, and her eyes sparkled behind the lens of her glasses.
"Of course I will, Patrick- I like you too." she answered.