SpongeBob rushed into his room. He held himself back until he came to his bedroom. He collapsed into his bed and cried into his pillow. Gary slithered next to him and started purring. SpongeBob sniffled as he held his beloved pat close.

SpongeBob whimpered, "Oh Gary, I really messed up this time!"

Gary asked, "Meow?"

SpongeBob said, "I doomed everyone in the world! I shouldn't have come here! I shouldn't have agreed to help Bill. I've become a monster!"

He went right back to crying. His mind was racing on what he could do. He closed his eyes to fall asleep. Not that he needs to. He started dreaming and started having a nightmare. He felt that he was lost in a maze of hate and fear. He rushed around, trying to find his way out. Suddenly, he was stopped by Krytos, who was surprised to see him.

"SpongBud," Kryptos asked, "What are you doing here?"

SpongeBob took a deep breath and said, "Oh, hello, Kryptos. Um, well, I'm not sure. I just popped in, and now I'm lost!"

Kryptos sighed and said, "Alright, follow me. I can help you back to your mind."

SpongBob followed Kryptos and did his best to put on a brave face. It was so quiet, except for the sounds of their footsteps.

Kryptos broke the quiet, asking, "So, uh, you have a pet snail. What's that like?"

SpongeBob answered, "Well, for one thing, Gary is very demanding. But that's kind of me because I do cater to him. But he's very loyal to me, most of the time. Gary's my oldest friend."

Kryptos said, "It does seem like you love him."

SpongeBob asked, "Have you had any pets, Kryptos?"

Kryptos scoffed, "Naw, I'm not an animal person. I did have a spiker that lived in the walls at my old place. I used to sneak snacks behind my old roommate's back. But I don't think that counts."

SpongeBob asked, "What's a spiker?"

Kryptos answered, "Well, it's kind of like a sea urchin, except it's four spike balls connected. It also has two big pinchers on its head. It's so cool! But I left it behind when I became part of Bill's crew. I really did feel a bond to it. They're usually incredibly aggressive, but somehow, I think I earned its trust."

SpongeBob asked, "How can you tell?"

Kryptos answered, "Prickles would not only let me hold him without stinging me; he would also sometimes even crawl up my body just to hang out."

SpongeBob smiled at the thought.

Kryptos scoffed, "But that's all in the past now!"

They came to the exit of the maze.

Kryptos said, "Here you are. Have a good night, SpongeBud!"

SpongeBob went out the exit, turned to Kryptos, and said, "Thanks, Kryptos! I hope you'll be able to reunite with your spiker one day!"

Kryptos said, "You're welcome, and don't worry about me! I've made plenty of new friends since."

SpongeBob then walked away. Kryptos sighed to himself and went back to the maze. Then Kryptos heard broken and distorted chirping in the waking world. He woke up in his bed, a bit startled. Then he looked around and saw a little spiker on the ground. It chirped again in that same distorted way.

Kryptos asked, "Prickles?"

The spiker crawled towards Kryptos and raised its front. It waved two of its pin-like appendages, chirping excitedly.

Kryptos excitedly, "Prickles!"

He hopped out of bed and rushed to lift the spiker from the ground very gently. The creature crawled up his arm and onto his head and gurgled playfully.

SpongeBob opened his eyes away from this scene with a smile. He gave his pet a loving stroke. Suddenly, Keyhole barged into SpongeBob's room, knocking down SpongeBob's door. He looked to be quite pleased with himself.

Keyhole shouted, "Wooo! Yeah! Bill's gone! Time to get wild!"

SpongeBob said, "Woah, Woah, Woah! Keyhole, turn it down a notch. I know you're excited, but this is my room, and it's supposed to be a calm space."

Keyhole said with a chuckle, "Oh, Sorry."

Keyhole then left and fixed SpongeBob's door on his way out. SpongeBob pinned Bubbles' pendant onto his tie. He then closed the door, went out to the dance floor, and gasped in horror—most of the Hench-Maniacs were trashing the place. Breaking furniture, throwing things, and generally breaking any object they could get their claws on.

SpongeBob muttered, "This is bad."

Kryptos came to SpongeBob's side; he seemed to be in a good mood.

Kryptos said, "Yeah, they only mind their manners around Bill. Just let them get it out of their system."

SpongeBob said with a smile, "You seem chipper today."

Kryptos chuckled, "Yeah, I had quite a pleasant morning."

SpongeBob then bites his bottom lip and whistles sharply through the gap in his teeth. The other Hench-Maniacs stopped and turned to SpongeBob and Kryptos.

SpongeBob said, "Look, I know you guys like to have fun and experience new things, but all this destruction is not a healthy way of doing it."

Pyronica said, holding a flaming baseball bat, "But what else are we to going to do while Bill is gone?"

SpongeBob went quiet in thought. Kryptos looked at SpongeBob in curiosity.

SpongeBob said, "Well, I don't know. I haven't been in this place for very long, but there has to be a way we can help this place rather than harm it."

Kryptos was surprised and asked, "We can help the Nightmare Realm?'

SpongeBob chirped, "Of course! I believe Bill has gathered us all for a reason beyond just being by his side when the world ends. If we work together, maybe we can try making the Nightmare Realm a more welcoming place for everybody!"

Hectorgon asked, "But how?"

SpongeBob began thinking, and so did Kryptos.

SpongeBob asked, "What if we start by cleaning up this mess we made of our shared house?"

The Hench-Maniacs sighed, but they acquiesced. 8-Ball, Hectorgon, and Pyronica tidied up high. Keyhole and Pasci-fire did what they could to clean down on the ground. Teeth and other Hench-Maniacs were putting things away in their proper place. Kryptos, with consent, used SpongeBob to scrub any stubborn stains. They stumbled across a big window that wrapped around the whole of the edges of the dance floor. It was the first time anyone could see the Nightmare Realm. They wrapped up their jobs and admired the crazy view.

SpongeBob cleaned himself off. He also went to the window to look around and said, "Wow, look at all of that!"

Kryptos said, pointing, "Look, SpongeBud! It's an ocean, like where you're from! It's made out of the blood of livestock, but it's an ocean regardless!"

SpongeBob said, trying to hide how uncomfortable he was, "Huh, Neat!"

Pyronica whimpered as she looked up, "Aw, I guess I burnt out all the stars in the sky."

SpongeBob cooed, "You can always make new ones with your flames!"

Pyronica said excitedly, "Oh my gosh, You're right!"

Xanthar boomed, "I CAN SEE WHERE THOSE PATHETIC REFUGES HAVE BEEN HIDING FROM HERE!"

Kryptos, catching on to SpongeBob's plan, said, "Hey, we can help them find their way Home! If they still have one to go back to anyway."

Pasci-fire said, "Look at all that junk just lying around. I bet we can recycle it to something, 8-Ball."

8-Ball noted, "Let's just make sure no creatures are using it as shelter."

All the Hench-Maniacs were making similar plans the more of the Nightmare Realm they saw. SpongeBob smiled sweetly.

Kryptos said, "I think your sweetness is rubbing off on them, but I don't know if this is what Bill would want."

SpongeBob gestures to his pendant and says, "He can see everything! If he disapproves, He'll come back and stop us."

Keyhole added, "Besides, Bill said we could do whatever we wanted to. So, if we want to be kind and helpful, we can!"

Kryptos was still unsure but resolved to watch and wait.

SpongeBob said, "It sounds like we all have a better idea of what we can do while Bill is gone! Let's get started!"

The Hench-Maniacs left the Scara-myriad and started working on their plans.

SpongeBob sang a little song, "Let's build a better Nightmare Realm!

We already have everything we could need! We've been brought together under Bill Cipher!

So, let's work together and build a better Nightmare Realm!"

Kryptos, confused, asked, "Why are you singing?"

SpongeBob retorted, "Why not? It's fun!"

Kryptos smiled and sang also, "Let's build a better Nightmare Realm!

I'll help those lost to find their way again!

Bill brought me here for my navigation.

Ever since I can remember, I could never be lost in a maze.

With my gift, I'll help build a better Nightmare Realm!"

SpongeBob chirped, "That's the spirit!"

Kyptos flew off.

Pyronica sang, "Let's build a better Nightmare Realm!

I'll bring the lights back to the sky with my fire!

Bill brought me here for my burning passion!

So I'll set new stars ablaze.

With my gift, I'll help build a better Nightmare Realm!"

She whizzed through the warped sky and scattered fireballs everywhere as she went.

8-Ball sang, "Let's build a better Nightmare Realm!

I'll wrangle all the wild animals and creatures.

Bill brought me here to help tame the Eye-bats!

So I'll help these crazy creatures find a new home for their particular features!

With my gift, I'll help build a better Nightmare realm!"

He very gently moved all the odd animal-like beings out of piles of trash and rubble. He made them new burrows and nests they could roost and rest in.

Pasci-Fire sang, "Let's build a better Nightmare Realm!

Bill brought me here because of my mechanical prowess!

With my technological know-how, I can use this garbage for something more practical, like brand-new vehicles and houses!

I'll use my gift to help build a better Nightmare Realm!"

He cleaned up the trash and recycled the metal into new appliances, motor vehicles, and other gadgets.

Hectorgon sang, "Let's build a better Nightmare Realm.

I can shape the dust and stone back into mountains and islands!

Bill brought me here to help grind the planets, but who's to say it can't work the other way?

I'll use my gift to help build a better nightmare, Realm!"

The world was filled with floating islands with a few flicks of Hectorgon's hands.

Teeth sang, "Let's build a better nightmare Realm.

I don't remember why Bill brought me here.

But I'll keep watch for his return!

I don't really have any valuable gifts, but I'll support your dream SpongeBud to build a better Nightmare Realm!"

Teeth rushed off back to the dancefloor.

SpongeBob sang, "Back home, every creature had a purpose in a diverse ecosystem underwater.

I don't see why this place would be any different!

I'll use my soapy bubbles to wash out the blood in this ocean, leaving only saltwater!

Bill brought me here to help him somehow.

So, I'll use my gift to help build a better Nightmare Realm!"

SpongeBob dumped his bottle onto the ocean, and as the soap washed over it, it transmuted into water. The soap then returned to the bottle with a flick of his wrist.

All the Hench-Maniacs sang, "We'll use our gifts to help build a better Nightmare Realm!

Bill brought us together!

Hench-Maniacs forever!

This party will never end!

Our host will never die!

Let's work in harmony together and build a better Nightmare Realm!"

SpongeBob sang by himself, smiling down at the pendant, "Look, Bill, they're working together in harmony to help build a better Nightmare Realm."

Later,

Bill popped back in, and Teeth greeted him, saying, "Bill's back! Everyone, Bill's back!"

He rushed off, and Bill followed him in curiosity. He followed him out of the Scara-myriad, and his eye widened. The Nightmare Realm had changed in his absence. The striped, warping sky looked more ethereal with the new stars dotting it. The new islands of ground also floated along peacefully above a saltwater ocean, each populated by different plants and creatures. Bill noted how the Bubbles of Madness had clustered around the Scara-myid in a ring-like path. His attention turned back to Teeth rushing across the water.

Teeth kept shouting, "Bill's back! Bill's back! Bill's back!"

He saw the Hench-Maniacs were all on an island, working in an outdoor kitchen of sorts. Teeth went up to SpongeBob, practically fit to bursting with excitement.

Teeth said, "SpongeBud, Bill Cipher has come back!"

SpongeBob gasped excitedly, took off his pendant, put it in his pocket, and then rushed towards Bill excitedly.

SpongeBob chirped, "Bill, look at it all! Isn't it great? The Hench-Maniacs came through for you even before you conquered the world!"

Bill turned to the others, and they were quickly wrapping up whatever cooking they were doing. They set up a few tables with dishes and chairs. It was like a fancy dining room outside. They began to set up all kinds of food to display on the tables. Then they all came up behind SpongeBob and smiled as if proud of themselves.

Bill asked, "What is all this?"

Kryptos replied, "It's a feast! It was SpongeBud's idea to share a little part of our old worlds, and I figured out what better way to do that than with food? We were waiting for you so you could enjoy it too!"

SpongeBob said, offering his hand, "Come on, you have the seat of honor!"

Bill shirked back and said, "Just lead me there."

SpongeBob put his hand away and led Bill to a throne-like seat made of carved wood at a table with no other chairs. Bill sat on it, and the dinner party started. All the Hench-Maniacs got a bit of everything. SpongeBob noticed that Bill didn't serve himself anything. So, while everyone else sat at their seats, SpongeBob gave Bill the plate he had with a sweet smile. Then SpongeBob went back around for another one for himself.

Bill looked at the plate, then at SpongeBob. SpongeBob was sitting with Hectorgon and Pyronica. Kryptos dumped his plate into his mouth and approached Bill to stand beside him. They both started watching SpongeBob. SpongeBob ate something, and his face turned red, and he burped fire. Pyronica was startled and gasped worriedly. SpongeBob guzzled his drink, and the red faded. He then gave a weak thumbs-up to her. Pyronica chuckled gleefully.

Kryptos asked, side-eyeing Bill, "Enjoying the party?'

Bill answered, "Not as much as the Sponge, it would seem."

Kryptos asked, "Doesn't that bother you?"

Bill snapped at Kryptos quietly, "Don't take that tone with me. Of course, I'm bothered. He seems to still be under the impression that we might change our plans."

Kryptos growled, "Perhaps somebody needs to put him in his place and assert his authority."

Bill chuckled, "Perhaps I should."

Kryptos then said, "But then again, his sweet little ways seemed to have swayed the others."

Bill asked, "Why did you play along if your loyalty is indeed with me?"

Kryptos sighed, "Let's just say I owed him one."

Bill turned away from Kryptos and said, "We'll discuss this more in private."

Kryptos then dismissed himself from Bill's side.