Chapter 14: The Red Tide:
Pearl's POV:
Slippery and I were taking a look at a strange square item.
"It's so soft," I said.
"Yeah, but what is it," asks Slippery.
"I don't know," I said, "but I think the sponges like it... wait... I think this is a sponge!"
"But it doesn't look anything like the sponges," says Slippery.
"It does have holes like them," I said, "maybe I can leave it with the sponges."
"You will do no such thing," says Porcus.
"How long were you hiding behind that jellyfish," I asked.
"I... jellyfish?" It then stings Porcus. "That human sponge could contaminate these sponges!"
"I think you're being paranoid," I said, "what could happen?"
. . .
SpongeBob: And so, my ancestors met thanks to one mermaid. One was a kitchen sponge, and the other was a sea sponge.
Fred: I just asked for a Krabby Paddy.
. . .
"You need to use your head," says Porcus, "like I always do."
"I guess," I said as I left the sponge in that town I founded.
"Now, back to Lemuria," says Porcus, "since Atlantis has that bubble that never pops, we got our own tourist attraction."
. . .
"How did we lose the only singing Dogfish in the entire seven seas," asks my Father.
"I want to know who's responsible for this," says Porcus.
"Well... didn't you open the door to feed him," asks Avalon.
"Yes, but..." Porcus then has a realization. "I must've forgotten to close the door! I'm a failure!"
"Porcus, there's no need..." My Father starts.
"No, I can't risk making another mistake like this. I quit!" Porcus then swims away.
Contaminus' POV:
Remember me? I'm Contaminus, the Master of Water Pollution and I see something I must harness! The Red Tide! I then took control of it and I know what I'm going to use it for... to poison the people of Lemuria. Soon, they will all be dead meat!
Pearl's POV:
Porcus tried other jobs, but there was one problem, he was too much of a perfectionist.
"It's two minutes too early," says Porcus, "you old merfolk can't go to bed yet?"
"It's just two minutes," says one old merman, "and if I don't get to bed, then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you Man and Wife!"
"What's going on," asks the boss.
"You may kiss the bride!"
. . .
"At least you're married," I said.
. . .
Porcus tried working at that whale ride.
"This whale is too fast," says Porcus. The whale slows down. "Now it's too slow. It needs to be the right amount of speed."
. . .
He even tried working as Mad Eye Duke's cabin boy.
"I made sure the ship is clean enough to eat off of," says Porcus.
"Ye simple minded fool, I did nay want the ship clean, ye was supposed to make it even dirtier! It be bad enough that there stupid giant starfish be blockin' people out, but now I 'ave to be stuck with a clean ship too? Ye be fired!"
. . .
"Let's face it," says Porcus, "I can't do anything right."
"You shouldn't give up," I said.
Pearl: You're the spark that sets in motion
All the music of the ocean
You're the fuel that feeds the fire
Inspiration, you inspire
It's your style to win affection
When you smile, it's pure perfection
It shines through everything you do
That something special, something you
Never give up
Face the music with a smile (Porcus: I'm trying)
Never give up
And in a little while (Porcus: How long is that)
When the world's knock-knocking on your shell
When opportunity rings your bell
Give up the thought of ever giving up
I'm never giving up on you
You can do it
Porcus: No doubt about that
Pearl: Nothing to it
Porcus: This is a true fact
Pearl: Give it your best
Porcus: Oh, that is my quest
I'm still in my glory
I'll write my own story
Pearl/Porcus: Oh, never give up
Face the music with a smile
Never give up
And in a little while
Porcus: When the world's knock-knocking on my shell
When opportunity rings my bell
I'm giving up the thought of ever giving up
Pearl: I'm never giving up on you
Porcus: I can do it
Pearl: I knew it
Porcus: There's nothing to it
Pearl: Go pursue it
Porcus: I'm giving up the thought of ever giving up
Pearl: I'm never giving up on you
Porcus: Me, too
Pearl: I'm never, never ever ever never ever giving up!
"Guys, I like where you're going with this," says Slippery, "but Lemuria is in danger!"
. . .
There was a red tide, and it was killing living things.
"Who could be behind this contamination," asks Porcus.
"Contaminus," we all said.
"Guilty as charge," says Contaminus.
"Why do you like contaminating the ocean," I asked.
"Well, my parents didn't exactly name me Cleanimus," says Contaminus.
"Good point," I said.
"I have to save the King," says Porcus as he swims to save my Father.
Porcus' POV:
The King was trapped under a big rock as the tide was coming towards him. I arrived.
"Porcus, swim away!"
"Never, your Majesty!" I was then facing the tide. I then took a closer look. "Wait, you're just a bunch of little red bugs."
"Microbes, actually. Plant like flageolets to be precise."
"Don't you guys realize you're poisonous to fish," I asked.
"No kidding. Nobody's ever alive long enough to tell us. Explains why everybody swims away. But Contaminus didn't tell us when he gave us the job to swim to Lemuria."
"Contaminus is obsessed with polluting the ocean," I said, "of course he wouldn't have told you!"
"Oh, we're sorry."
"It's okay, just stay away from all living things," I said.
"Hey, no problem." The Microbes then left.
Pearl's POV:
The tide was leaving.
"Those mindless microbes were supposed to poison Lemuria," says Contaminus.
"Believe it or not, there are some creatures that don't like pollution," I said.
"Next time you see me, you will suffer!" Contaminus then leaves. He really needs a hobby.
. . .
Porcus got his job back and we found the singing dogfish... but what we didn't realize is that it's a terrible singer.
"Maybe it was good you let it out," says my Father.
"I could do it again," says Porcus, "it's worst then Contaminus!"
In the next chapter, Thessanora and Mad Eye Duke team up to get revenge on Pearl.