The Witch and The Sponge

Princess Miranda Enchilada Oceania the Third, better known by her friends as Mindy. Princess Mindy was on her way to becoming Queen of the Ocean, but in her free time, she studied magic. She knew about the forces at play around Bikini Bottom. Malum was trying to destroy Aquarius; The reason was beyond Mindy's expertise. She noticed that there was a lot of activity around Bikini Bottom.

She took Mystery and rode into Bikini Bottom at night. She stayed in a hotel so she could sleep.

She was dreaming about having an imaginary tea party with her father. Her father happily played with her when he suddenly fell over like a rag doll. Upon further inspection, she saw that he had transmuted into a plush toy! She started crying over him; a deep sorrow had wedged into her heart, and she couldn't help it. Then, a comforting presence surrounded her. Then, a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Spongebob with a sympathetic look on his face.

"I'm sorry," SpongeBob apologized, "I'm still learning to control my magic. He'll be back to normal once I leave."

Mindy asked, "You did this? Why?"

"I was just trying to knock him out," Spongebob squeaked rather desperately, "Not turn him into fabric! I don't know how that could even happen."

Mindy said, "Oh, I see. "

Spongebob muttered, "Why am I losing control so fast?"

Mindy answered, "Maybe because you haven't used much of your power for long?"

"I guess," Spongebob said, "I don't want to end up doing something I definitely shouldn't."

Spongebob dried Mindy's tears and said, "Especially to you, your majesty."

Mindy sniffled, "You are too kind; magic as potent as yours shouldn't be suppressed."

Spongebob tried to protest, "But..."

Mindy shushed him and said, "I admire your resolve to stay humble even as your potential looms over you like a shadow. But there's no need to worry, and I trust your heart is in the right place."

Spongebob asked, "So it's okay if I bend a few rules to improve our world?"

Mindy nodded, "Just don't hurt anyone unnecessarily."

Spongebob said with a bow, "Of course, your highness."

Mindy woke up the next day, heart full of compassion. She knew what she had to do. Mindy looked for Spongebob; it wasn't long before she stumbled across him in the city.

"Hiya, Mindy," Spongebob said, "Good morning!"

"Morning, SpongeBob," Mindy greeted and said, "There's something I should tell you."

"Oh, for sure," SpongeBob said. Then, he leads Mindy to a cafe.

A server greeted them, and SpongeBob said, "Tea for two, light on the sugar."

The server nodded and left their side.

SpongeBob said, "We have a few minutes; what do you want to tell me?"

Mindy said, "So I wanted to tell you that a great evil is coming; its name is Malum, and he has a subservient witch named Natalie. I suspect he may be planning on attacking you, whether directly or indirectly."

SpongeBob said, "Oh yeah, That's already happened."

Mindy was shocked, "What? You mean you've already suffered by the hand of this witch?"

SpongeBob said, "I have; I figured you would be too busy to care."

Mindy said, empathetic, "SpongeBob, I'm never too busy to care about you."

SpongeBob said, "Aw, thanks Mindy."

Mindy asked, "Has anything else happened to you I should know about?"

SpongeBob said, "Well."

He explained the NickToons Unite and all their adventures, his time-traveling adventures, and, of course, all the friends he's made on these adventures.

SpongeBob said, "All in all, a pretty eventful summer!"

Mindy was in awe, "Oh my, you met all of the Element Immortals and befriended them?"

SpongeBob said, "Yep!"

Mindy said, "You met a giant space booger created at the beginning of the universe and converted him to good. This is incredible!"

SpongeBob said, "Aw sucks, don't make me blush."

Mindy said, "What I don't understand is, why do you stick around Bikini Bottom? If you have earned so much respect and love across the multiverse, wouldn't you want to continue pursuing something greater than yourself?"

SpongeBob thought for a moment. He felt someone watching him in a sort of quiet curiosity. SpongeBob recognized this as his friend, Bill.

SpongeBob thought to himself, "Oh, hello. It would seem that this moment is an important one. If I may ask, what sort of path do you suppose I should pursue?"

SpongeBob heard Bill murmur, "KCEHC OT FLAHEB RUOY NO SDLROW REHTO OTNI KEEP A EKAT NAC I TUB, YAS OT ECALP YM TON S'IT, EGNOPS YRROS!

SpongeBob thought, "Oh, certainly!"

There was a moment of silence, and then SpongeBob felt his mind filled with dream-like memories of different versions of himself. SpongeBob could remember meeting and falling in love with a human girl, and he could remember being gifted a magical amulet to harness Aquarius' power. He could remember meeting Bill in a dream rather than the Ghost Zone. He could remember befriending Bill's toxic Hench-Maniac friends. Then, all at once, these memories vanished as suddenly as they appeared.

Bill whispered, "LLEW YREV GNIOG TI EES I! FLESRUOY NEHT RETAERG GNIHTEMOS EUSRUP DLOUHS UOY, HOOOO!"

SpongeBob said, "You know you have a point; I should pursue something greater than myself. I'm just not sure what that is yet!"

Mindy smiled and said, "Keep your eyes and ears open. There's no telling what opportunity will come your way."

The server came back to give them a tea set and a batch of sandwiches.

SpongeBob said, "Thank you!"

They bowed and dismissed themselves.

SpongeBob asked, pouring Mindy and himself a cup of tea, "So what's Natalie's deal anyway?"

Mindy then explained, "Well, long ago, she was one of my attendants. A handmaiden, if you will. She was such a beautiful mermaid. We were so close, I could name her favorite books like they wher my own. She used to sing me a lullaby that would silence my mind so I could sleep. But then, I guess she grew jealous. She was jealous of my title and the power that came with it. So, she turned down a dark path and began to pursue the path of the Blood Lake. She enchanted a mirror to give her whatever power she needed, and then, before I could stop her, she used it. She disappeared for a long time. What she did at that time, I can't say. But now she's back, and it seems she has cut herself free of Aquarius' power for her power. Except it isn't hers; she has to answer to a Titan of Destruction, Malum. And his master, in turn, The ever-consuming and never-satisfied Void."

SpongeBob gasped, "Oh my."

Natalie was watching this from her castle with her orb. There were heavy bags under her eyes. Scrawled across the wall in the orb room were phrases like "I CAN'T SLEEP. HE IS WATCHING ME. THE NIGHTMARES WON'T STOP. HE IS TORTURING ME. DON'T FALL ASLEEP."

Malum grumbled, faking concern, "Aw, is my little sorceress suffering at the hands of the Nightmare Demon? You poor thing."

Natalie snarled, "Just let me heal with the mirror and spare me your condescension!"

Malum growled in turn, "Not until you have learned your lesson thoroughly. I'm the only help you will ever need."

Natalie sighed, rubbing her eyes, "This triangle is going to drive me to the brink of madness if I don't. Then you'll be down your best sorceress!"

Malum said, "Well, maybe next time you'll know better."

Natalie stopped rubbing and said, "It's days like this I miss being in the palace. I used to have access to all the sleeping potions I could drink. But, now I'm left with the worst headache of my life as a Dorito in a tuxedo torments me!"

Malum chuckled, "He-he that kinda rhymed."

Natalie grumbled, "But it will be worth it; one day, I'll rule the ocean! And no one has to hold onto false hope ever again!"

Malum scoffed, "You're just still upset you were by yourself at the ball."

Natalie snapped, "I don't need to be reminded of the pain of that night, Malum! I know what I saw, and I won't let love hurt me like that ever again!"

(Flashback)

Natalie and Mindy were getting excited about the royal ball. Natalie was a bit more nervous, it would be the night she confessed something really importatant to her friend. At the ball, it was like the room was warm from all the love in the air. When Natalie left Mindy's side to get some punch, mentally preparing for the confession when she turned back to her friend, her heart sank when she saw a boy holding Mindy by the collar and kissing her. Natalie gasped in horror and sadness. She couldn't even register what Mindy was saying; her heart had already been shattered into a million pieces. The cup slipped from her hands. About a thousand questions filled her head, but she swam away before she could ask any of them. Natalie made a vow that night that she would never love anyone as she had Princess Mindy.

(End of Flaskback)