Hi, everyone! I have chapter 18 ready! This chapter, I will introduce another show, but it'll be the last show I introduce; but don't worry, for there'll be a big surprise during the climax of the story! This chapter, I'm very excited to write this! I have waited a long time to write this chapter, especially the big fight between the corrupt SpongeBob and Patrick! This is so exciting! What are we waiting for? Enjoy, and don't forget to comment and review!
NOTE: This chapter contains some material and violence that can be a little intense to younger readers; parental guidance is recommended.
Chapter 18: Fight of the Friends
The hand sticks out of the portal, and out come two people; the first has orange skin with a green hat, and socks and shoes. The second is a blue-horse like creature with a saddle on its back.
Orange-skinned Creature: Whoa, Sylvia, where are we? This place is unusual, but as I always say, what's new is great.
Sylvia: Wander, buddy, I know you say that, but sometimes, not everyone is who they appear to be.
Wander: Wow! (runs to the others) Whoa, this place is going up, and I like it! I like you guys as well. My name is Wander, and that's my best friend, Sylvia. We go on adventures together throughout the galaxy.
Patrick: Oh, you do?
Wander: Yes, it's amazing. I'm also great at playing banjo. (takes it out, strums a few notes, then puts it back in his hat)
Austin: You play an instrument, too? That's great! If only I had my guitar, I could show you.
Dez: Yeah, but what's with the orange skin?
Wander: I don't know; it's just "on me." But that's not the point; what cool, new place are we at?
Ravi: This place you are at, orange creature, is another universe, and this floor is moving up.
The building floor stops moving up when it's at a great height above the city.
Parker: Whoa! Above this high, you can really see everything here.
Liv: Yeah, and it's so beautiful. It's like one of those cool events where they light up the buildings.
Ally: But, wait, if the box was taken out, then why are we up here?
A mysterious figure flies through the air with his rocket boots, before landing on the giant platform, later revealed to be Dark-SB, who takes off his mask to reveal his identity, much to the shock of everyone, especially Patrick. Gary, scared at what had happened to his owner, hides behind Wander, with Spot hiding behind the shell.
Patrick: (outright horrified) SpongeBob? What...? What happened?
Dark-SB: You did this to me, and now, I want to finish the job.
Avery: (shocked) Is that your friend?
Future Patrick: That's not him. He is, but... that's not him. (to Patrick) Let me reason with him; what still remains of his personality may be inside. I have to help him. (walks towards him as the two of them face each other)
Meanwhile, back on the ground, Plankton and his group are running down the hallways, trying to find the others.
Plankton: They have to be somewhere. Just keeping moving... (something hits him, a tentacle) What the...? (pushes it away) Ew!
Squidward: Well, excuse me! Some people keep their tentacles clean! (Mr. Krabs and the others arrive)
Barry: Hey, look, it's the others! See, Renaldo, I said that running down the hallways was a good idea.
Naldo: No, you said that running down the hallways was a bad idea, but I like your idea better.
Mr. Krabs: Well, that was crazy. At least we found help. Now, where is everyone else?
Lucas: I'm gonna go out on a hunch here, but maybe they're on that giant platform on the top of that building.
Karen: My sensors indicate that most of them are up there, including someone surprising; I can't figure out who the heck that guy in the black suit with the metal gloves is.
Farkle: Maybe it's another one of Anti-SB's outfits.
Karen: Not Anti-SB. Rather instead, one of our own.
Paige: (arrives with Frankie) Hey, guys. Wow, those hallways were very long. It was like a maze in there.
Frankie: And for some very weird reason, they kept rotating; it was like trying to stop us.
Farkle: Well, that's... ominous. But for now, we need to find everyone else. (the entire group races towards the platform that's in the sky)
Back on the lifted floor, Future Patrick and Dark-SB stare at each other, being serious about the darkening outcomes happening.
Dark-SB: I see you're still aiding and abetting him, the pink menace.
Future Patrick: You know Anti-SB is only using you. You're nothing but a pawn to his chessboard. With you, he's cheating, trying to win this game.
Dark-SB: At least he did right. My former friend... used me. He led me out on a lie... (Patrick looks guilty and remorseful) and he ruined my life. (sighs) I want him to pay for what he has done.
Future Patrick: But you kill him, you become no better than him. The old SpongeBob was a warm, generous soul. A loyal friend who'd risk his life for everyone else. That mask only hides your feelings. Can't you see? Patrick wants to make things right. So, please, give him the chance to save you. (Dark-SB has a moment of realization) So let go of your weapon, and take his hand.
Dark-SB takes out his weapon, and Future Patrick puts his hand on it. At the same time, the yellow particles arrive and they transport everyone onto the platform. Future Patrick tries to take it, but Dark-SB isn't letting go.
Dark-SB: (with a look of regret) As much as I want to give him the chance, I can't forget all the trouble he put me through over the years. And he must know his place in all of this. I know this may be extreme, but he must know his place. I'm sorry...
Future Patrick has a look of horror right as Dark-SB activates his laser sword (lightsaber), piercing Future Patrick in the chest, though what is only seen is his reaction. Everyone gasps in horror.
Patrick: No!
The lightsaber draws back as Future Patrick looks at his younger self. He weakly tosses him his metallic mask, then looks at Dark-SB.
Dark-SB: You're done. Can't you see that all of this is broken? At last, your time is over.
Future Patrick: No. (holds up a flare gun) Here I am... (sheds a tear) ...here I remain. (fires it in the air, then looks at his younger self one last time just before he falls on the ground and dies, with his eyes closed and no blood drawing out from his pierced chest; the others on the ground notice the flare, knowing that's exactly where everyone else is)
Dark-SB: Not anymore. (grabs his body and throws it out of the platform; the others on the ground witness as the body falls directly into the river and is lost into the depths)
Sofia: You monster!
Sandy: (horrified) SpongeBob... (a tear sheds down her face) what have you become?
Dark-SB: (pointing to Patrick) You! You did this to me! (punches him in the face, knocking him down) You turned me into this! (punches him a few more times)
Patrick: I... I didn't know... (is thrown into the ground)
Dark-SB: The time for talk is over. Now's the time... for battle. (tosses Patrick a lightsaber, who turns it on, with the color being blue; Dark-SB activates his own, with the color being red)
Patrick: (scared) I can't...
Dark-SB: You can, and you will... (flies into the air, then files back and presses the ground with his palms; the tiles alter position as they go into a big enough circle between the two, and that piece of the platform moves further up into the air) What will you do? Run away, like the coward you are? Or will you fight for him?
Patrick notices his friend's reflection inside Dark-SB, with his soul trapped inside. He looks at the lightsaber, and recalls Wizard Krabs' words: "You can't run away forever." Newfound confidence set in, he grabs the lightsaber, and he also puts on and activates the mask of his future version, which encases in a black suit with green and pink stripes all over the sides.
Patrick: (now determined) SpongeBob, this is for you. (now willing to fight, he looks at Dark-SB) You want a fight? I'll give you one. (picks up the blue lightsaber and activates it)
Dark-SB: Very well, then. (activates his red lightsaber)
The two friends begin circling, with their weapons being dragged menacingly through the ground. They eye each other, anger swirling all around them, as everyone else prepares to watch in anticipation. Patrick yells as he races into the battlefield; Dark-SB does the same, as they run towards each other. They begin to fight intensely and brutally, with their swords colliding with each other several times. Dark-SB punches Patrick in the face and tries to strike him with the sword, but the sea star ducks out of the way and lunges at him, hitting the walls. Dark-SB launches his gauntlet at the star, but he swings out of the way.
Dark-SB: Well done; I'm impressed, but let's make this better. (activates his rocket boots, and activates a claw that pulls Patrick into the air and then slings him onto the ground where everyone else is)
Patrick: Well... (seethes) that was crazy.
Justin: Hey, are you okay?
Patrick: I'm fine. (the claw grabs him again and pulls him back into the air) Not now!
Parker: He'll be fine.
Max: Let's go down there, just in case.
Avery: Good idea.
Back on the air, Patrick, swung by the claw currently attached to his leg, is slammed into the sides of buildings, with the glass shattering off occasionally. He grabs something from his suit, a fog-ball, and throws it at his enemy, temporarily blinding him. The star falls, but he surfs down the building and falls onto the ground perfectly. His enemy flies towards him and they fight across the building with their swords, and eventually going inside, causing severe property damage. They smash out of the building and go into free fall, where they punch each other a few times. They bounce off a slanted trampoline, where they resume fighting before landing on the ground, near where Squidward, Mr. Krabs, and the others are.
Squidward: Oh, man, this is too great! SpongeBob and Patrick are fighting... again! (laughs hysterically, but Dark-SB punches him in the face and then throws him into a reflective mirror and then a store of mirrors, shattering noises heard, before being swung back out) Ok, I take it back.
Mr. Krabs: SpongeBob SquarePants, have you no shame?! (the sponge launches a rocket at him; Krabs screams as he ducks, with the rocket hitting and damaging a nearby wall of a glow-stick factory)
Patrick attacks Dark-SB with his lightsaber, but he grabs his leg and slams him into a tree. Patrick grabs a stick and smashes Dark-SB with it; the sea star flies away, activating the suit's jetpack ability.
Dark-SB: You want to go aerial? Fine. (reactivates the rocket boots and chases after him)
Buford: Did you see the way that sponge fights? I want to be like him.
Baljeet: Really? That's what you're focused on? Now about them fighting.
Buford: What? I like how he fights. (everyone looks at him, confused) Alright, let's go get 'em.
As the two friends continue fighting, Patrick grabs the sponge and they both fall onto the top of two moving trains, both of them moving at the same pace at the same time, simultaneously. The two continue slashing their swords at each other, with the weapons hitting each other. Dark-SB activates a Krabby Patty exploding disc and throws it at Patrick, who dodges, with the disc blowing up an empty office building. Another exploding disc activated swings back after Patrick dodges it, which blows part of the trains and tracks up, and the two of them fall into a room full of mirrors, some shattered from their fall, with the shattered parts falling with them.
Patrick: (trying to get up) Please... think of the man you once were. The kid who has a free spirit.
Dark-SB: The one you loved is gone. You enabled his self-destruction, and I will make suffer you die for breaking him. (the claws from his gauntlet stretch out and he runs to him, attempting to kill him, but he slides out of the way; Dark-SB activates his gauntlet's rocket boosters, attempting to shoot at the sea star, instead hitting and shattering the mirrors, with broken glass flying everywhere) Stop running!
Patrick: Then stop trying to kill me!
Dark-SB: You're so frustrating!
Patrick grabs the sponge and they fly out of the shattered glass area, with them still fighting. They crash and fly up on-top a high building as the rest of their friends witness this. The two friends battle each other with swords, intensely, as rain and lightning strike; resembling the darker mood happening, resembling the vision from earlier. Dark-SB throws grenades at Patrick, who dodges the explosions, and Patrick bounces towards Dark-SB, making them both fall, as they crash onto a moving platform, with everyone watching, shocked at what they're seeing. The two of them stand their grounds as they prepare to fight back.
Patrick: Please, you don't have to do this! I was trying to do the right thing! I didn't mean to ruin your life! I just didn't want to lose you!
Dark-SB: So, what you did was an excuse to what've you done?! Was it worth ruining your friendship?! Endangering all our friends, numerous kids who are entangled in this?! No. This time, you've gone too far! (yells a war cry as he lunges his sword at Patrick, who dodges as the friends engage in a brutal fight, with their swords hitting each other; Patrick holds his position, and he suddenly notices his friend's soul trapped inside the body of the enemy who has possessed it; this causes the star to lose concentration and be punched down by Dark-SB, who grabs him and files them both high up into the air and flying down towards Anti-SB's ship, slamming down towards it and crashing into an area where the molten lava is there. Some vitals and tubes are shattered, causing some river-flow of lava near them, as all their friends arrive, clearly startled and frightened at this. Both lightsabers are spread across the area)
Wander: That's enough! (looks at them both with anger and annoyance) You two are best friends! (becomes more cheerful) So, isn't there a better way to fix this?
Dark-SB: (has an epiphany, but later hardens) I'm sorry, but this has gone too far. (tries to shoot him, but Sylvia pushes him out of the way; in the process, Wander's hat flies and lands near Phineas)
Wander: Find something in the hat; remember, it doesn't give you what you want, but instead gives you what you need!
Phineas: (searching through the hat) What does that even mean?!
Sylvia: Just trust the hat! (notices a section that says: "In case of emergency, break glass to use laser gun"; she then smashes the glass with a hammer and tries to shoot at Dark-SB, but he uses his fingers to levitate the beams away) Whoa, this guy is like magic!
As the lava continues spewing, Dark-SB throws a rock at Patrick, but he throws it directly at a water-plant, causing it to spill water all over the lava, temporarily stopping it. Dark-SB throws a rock of lava at Patrick, who dodges it,
Sandy: Stop this! This isn't you, SpongeBob!
Riley: What happened to the kind, funny, caring, generous kid you once were?
Mr. Krabs: I know that you'd help us if we were lost.
Squidward: I'd never thought I say this, but... please come back.
SpongeBob's soul, trapped inside, runs towards the eyes and sees his friends, and views Patrick, very injured from his fight. He has a moment, not knowing what the right thing he must do.
Miley: Don't lose who you are; you know who you are, and you know what to do with yourself.
Alex: You're great, and you know what to do.
Dark-SB: I know, but... I cannot escape everything he put me through.
Jessie: I know he messed up, but... but this isn't the right way.
Phineas: There must be another way.
Candace: A more reasonable way to try and calm things down.
Dark-SB: I know, but... (looks at Patrick with guilt) I'm sorry. (activates his gauntlets and the two friends resume fighting; Patrick tries hard and does have the upper hand, but Dark-SB brutally attacks and fights him, and he is left severely injured)
Everyone tries to get near, but the lava makes the gap too wide for them to safely cross over. Dark-SB continues punching Patrick and ultimately weakens him. With pure anger in his eyes, he grabs his red lightsaber and activates it, preparing to strike him down for good. Patrick closes his eyes, anticipating the inevitable, as everyone else watches in horror. The sword strikes him down, but... something grabs the sword with its hand, saving his life, by pushing it away from him. It's revealed to be a hand... a blue one. The rest flies out of Dark-SB, revealing it to be SpongeBob's soul, who looks ready to fight.
SpongeBob: My friend deserves true justice; what he did was wrong, but this is the wrong way.
Everyone cheers in amazement. SpongeBob grabs the blue lightsaber, with confidence swirling around himself. Dark-SB attacks, but SpongeBob grabs him by the shoulder and throws him into a cabinet of lava vitals. SpongeBob does some karate poses, and he gives his corrupted body the spin-punch: a move that when he spins, he punches people. Patrick aids SpongeBob and after an intense fight with the metal gauntlets, Dark-SB is knocked out. After getting across the lava gap, both the sponge and star look at each other.
SpongeBob: You didn't deserve this, for you to die, but this still doesn't change anything between us. (Patrick has a look of regret)
Patrick: I know, and I'm sorry. But I didn't know what would happen.
SpongeBob: So all you did was play me? Believe that I'm an idiot? I worked hard to reach my dream! Every time you get me in trouble, you always make things worse when you try to fix it!
Patrick: What? What are you saying? (getting angry) What does that even mean? You're saying that I'm dumb?!
SpongeBob: That's exactly what you are! All the trouble that we go through all the time, much of it happens on your watch!
Patrick: That's ridiculous!
SpongeBob: The Patty Pal, the Kelpy G concert, the golf game, the hooks, Sandy's experiment, the wringer, the ghosts, Glove World!... you put me through so much trouble all the time!
Patrick: I thought I was doing the right thing!
SpongeBob: And what, exactly, were you doing when you made that fake letter for me?
Phineas: Wait a minute. You didn't even think about what would happen?
Patrick: (growing nervous) I... believed it was a small gesture.
Candace: (angrily) A small gesture?! Are you kidding me?!
Patrick: (angry) I didn't know what would happen! I also wanted to be with my friend!
Ally: This is not how friendship works! You should've been supportive or said something to him!
Emma: Why didn't you tell him before this all happened?!
Patrick: I didn't know that we were recreating the Portal Box! I didn't know that Anti-SB would come into existence!
Plankton: So, because of you, you created a monster who is conspiring against all of us?! And I thought I was evil.
Squidward: I hate you two, but that was wrong.
Mr. Krabs: My employee deserved better than this.
SpongeBob: You could've told me sooner!
Patrick: I would've, but I saw you as too stupid, selfish, and too good-looking to care! You are nothing to me! We never should've been friends in the first place! You don't deserve friends!
SpongeBob is left shocked and heartbroken, as is everyone else. SpongeBob grows from sad to outright furious and he grabs one of Dark-SB's gauntlets and he attacks Patrick, leading to a big fight happening.
Sandy: SpongeBob, stop!
The two friends continue fighting, as SpongeBob continues kicking Patrick down. Everyone tries to separate the gauntlet and stop the fighting, with hands on shoulders, pulling as hard as possible. Patrick throws a lightning ball at SpongeBob, electrocuting him, who retaliates by throwing a lava vital at the sea star, blowing everyone back. The former friends continue fighting as Sofia, Elena, and their friends try to separate them. The friends engage in a fistfight, with both of them landing some heavy hits on each other. In the midst of the fight, SpongeBob tries to punch Patrick, but he dodges, resulting in someone else being hit. Everyone stops and they see Isabel hit, with her holding her cheek, with tears in her eyes.
Elena: (gasps) Isa!
SpongeBob looks in horror, and then looks at the gauntlets, knowing full well what kind of monster he is becoming. Patrick looks even more guilty, knowing that someone innocent got injured because of his role in the mess.
Luisa: Are you okay?
Isabel: (feeling her face) It kind of hurts really bad, Abuela, but I'll be fine.
Francisco: That's good. You'll be okay.
Everyone hears a whoosh, and they notice the gauntlets on the floor, and SpongeBob gone. His soul reenters his body, extracting all the dark energy out of his body, which floats away. The energy smiles monstrously at Patrick, successful at its goal. The uniform also vanishes, restoring his normal clothes. The heartbroken sponge runs away, as everyone watches, saddened, with some having tears in their eyes. Patrick, most guilty, runs after him.
Patrick: SpongeBob! Wait!
The sponge activates his hydrodynamic spatula and flies away, as Patrick kneels to the ground, slamming his fist in sheer frustration, overwhelmed with guilt over his reckless actions and saddened over his and SpongeBob's relationship being more strained. Overwhelmed with grief, he powers down the suit, as it rolls back into the helmet. Patrick takes off said helmet and puts it away. Everyone looks at him, with a mix of shock, anger, and sadness.
Patrick: I'm sorry...
Doofenshmirtz: That was uncool.
Lucas: What you said to him about not being friends... that was hurtful.
Paige: What were you thinking?
Patrick: I know... it's was wrong... and now, it's too late. Our friendship... (on the verge of tears) is beyond saving.
Sofia: No, it's not. I should be... angry, but I'm not. You messed up, but it's never too late to apologize. To do the right thing.
Amber: She's right. He won't forgive you, but it's no reason not to try.
Lilly: So, you messed up. But, even if it's bad, you have to save him.
Maya: So, go find him, and fix this.
Patrick feels motivated now.
Patrick: You're right. I have to find him. (reactivates the helmet and flies off)
Squidward: Should we follow him?
Plankton: Let's should. Besides, there's no one out here who can possibly destroy us.
As everyone heads after Patrick, Anti-SB watches them via monitor back on his base. He furiously activates his laser sword, and smashes a nearby room containing computers, coffee mugs, and candle sticks, among other stuff; his screams of frustration frighten some of the guards, who flee in shock. Anti-Sandy notices, becoming concerned with his behavior.
Anti-Sandy: Um, are you okay?
Anti-SB: Does it look like I'm okay?! Divide and conquer, that's what I'm trying to do to them! Their friendship cracks, and I build my empire! But that stupid sea star doesn't know when to quit!
Soldier: Sir, sir! We got a breach alert! The Portal Box was stolen, and they have it.
Anti-SB: Are you kidding me?! (grabs him by the neck) Get that box back here, or I won't hesitate to tear you apart. Understand?!
Soldier: (choking) Yes, sir... (is dropped onto the ground) We also have located where the sponge has went. It's a castle, in good condition, but abandoned; no one has used it for a while now.
Anti-SB: And if he's there, Patrick must be going there, too. I give command orders for Plan 96-B-Squared.
Anti-Sandy: (scared) Wait, you mean...
Anti-SB: I mean it. Have all the drones ready. They will plan a massive attack on the castle. Have it destroyed until nothing remains but smoke and ashes. With them dead, everything returns to normal.
Soldier: Are you sure? (is lifted by the neck again)
Anti-SB: Yes, I'm sure. (drops him)
Soldier: Okay, then. (runs off) Listen up, we have command orders...
Anti-Sandy: Um, are you sure that's a good idea? That castle's sacred property of the city. It's been left alone for a reason.
Anti-SB: Whatever. They built that castle a long time ago; I'm sure they can rebuilt it again.
Anti-Sandy: But is all this worth it? For you to get what you want? To destroy those who wronged you?
Anti-SB: He reactivated that box, and it ruined my chances at getting my dreams, so he will pay. And I want you to keep yourself in line, lest you end up like them. Got it?
Anti-Sandy: Yes, SpongeBob.
Anti-SB: Good. Get the Box back. It's crucial to the machine, which will be activated at the highest peak of the moon when the first powerful light strikes. I'm overseeing the drone attacks. (walks away, as Anti-Sandy has a look of conflict, not knowing whether if what he's doing is the right thing)
Meanwhile, with the moon soaring high in the night sky, Patrick continues chasing after SpongeBob when he sees a giant castle with black walls and very high structures. He heads through the doors and runs through the corridor, and he overhears a noise. He runs towards it, making his way towards the top when he hears and sees SpongeBob on the roof, crying silently, with his hands in his teary eyes. The yellow critter looks at his former friend, and he moves to another part of the castle, in a higher position on one of the towers. Patrick follows him.
Patrick: SpongeBob, I... (sighs) I... I didn't mean...
SpongeBob: (scowls angrily) What didn't you mean, you jerk?
Patrick: I didn't mean for you to become a villain. I just wanted to go with you together.
SpongeBob: And we got ourselves into this mess in the first place because of you. You tore me apart. Someone innocent got hurt because of me.
Patrick: It wasn't your fault. It was mine. She got injured because of what I did. You were right, our friendship is broken. And I'm sorry. I never should've said that. I just... (sighs) I was afraid, of losing you.
SpongeBob: What? (suddenly, the two of them are transported into a realm of candles and bright lights) What is this place?
Wizard Krabs: The afterlife. A place where great souls go. (he and Futures SpongeBob and Patrick appears)
SpongeBob: Future Patrick. (realizing with regret) I... I killed you.
Future Patrick: I forgive you. It wasn't your fault.
Patrick: What are we doing here?
Future SpongeBob: To help fix what was broken. Come with us. (the five of them walk into the ever-spiraling realm)
Across the city, the rest of their friends are trying to locate them.
Mr. Krabs: Okay, so where could they be?
Sandy: They must be... (checks the device) right near a black castle that's not too far from us.
Suddenly, everyone sees a drone shaped like Gary, (black with Gary's shell and red eyes), fly past them.
Plankton: Is that a drone shaped like Gary? (Gary meows in concern)
Cyd: Wouldn't that be called a Gary-Drone?
Shelby: Gary-Drone? That's a great name.
Cyd: Thanks, Shelbs; it is catchy. (more drones fly past them) Where are they going?
Sandy: Based on the map, they're heading for the castle... (realization kicks in) Oh, no...
Phineas: What's wrong?
Sandy: SpongeBob and Patrick are in that castle. Anti-SB tricked them both there so they can die. Those drones are about to destroy the castle that they are in!
Everyone: What?!
K.C.: Everyone, we need to move now and get there before they get blown to pieces!
Buford: Whoa, let's not jump to conclusions. It's not like those drones have high-tech missiles or something. (almost immediately afterwards, a Gary-Drone shoots a missile directly at a tree, which explodes, and the remains crash down near the others)
Baljeet: (smugly smiles) Apparently, you are wrong.
Marisa: Let's just move. I don't want them to be like... that tree.
Harley: You're telling me.
Everyone begins running, trying to reach the castle and save SpongeBob and Patrick before the drones destroy it.
Well, that's chapter 18! Sorry if it ends a little weird, I didn't have much good ideas. Anyways, the next chapter will be in-depth and will feature perilous moments, but it should be amazing! I introduced Wander Over Yonder as the final show for this story, but there will be a big surprise coming up soon, so get excited! Enjoy your day, and I'll see you next time! Let the fresh air breeze through your cool faces! Until then, keep it cool!