Author's Notes: Surprise! I've finally updated! Sorry it took so long, but summer has been running me wild recently, so I'm thankful to have this timeout to update this story. I also decided to update because of the sad news that because of construction at the Palace Theatre, they're closing down the SpongeBob musical. However, the musical is gonna have a US tour next year, so look forward to that.

So, to make up the amount of time I've been away, I decided to have TWO songs for the price of ONE chapter! If you know the entire routine of the show, you know the two songs I'm talking about, so let's continue the musical/story!

"All citizens of Bikini Bottom! Report to the Town Square!"

The mayor announced, as all of the inhabitants of the underwater city gathered around the large, square area outside of City Hall. The mayor, herself, appeared behind a podium, and faced the townsfolk.

"Ladies and gentle-fish, we only have until sundown tomorrow to save our fins. But, rest assured, that I will lead us in this time of crisis, by setting meetings, to encourage the young, about drafting proposals for individual action."

"...So we're doomed." Squidward said.

"I'm scared!" one citizen yelped.

"Me too!" Another yelled.

"We need someone to save us!" A third chimed.

"Don't give up now, y'all! We jus' need to put our heads together, and figure us a way out of this mess!" Sandy encouraged.

"What we need is a task force!" Mrs. Puff exclaimed.

"A task force? Yer right, Mrs. Puff! We'll build a giant forcefield around Bikini Bottom!" Mr. Krabs said.

"Yeah...but, forcefields don't exist." Sandy replied.

"Aw, bummer!" Larry the Lobster exclaimed.

"I say, we find and blame who's responsible for all this, and offer them to the volcano as a sacrifice!" Old Man Jenkins exclaimed.

Squidward, in response, grabbed SpongeBob. "Ooh! I've got just the guy!"

Mr. Krabs sighed, frustratingly. "Does anyone have an idea that'll WORK?!"

"Ooh, ooh! Pick me, pick me!" Patrick exclaimed, raising his hand.

"Yes, tall pink one?" The mayor said.

"Maybe if we all close our eyes, it'll all just go away!"

...

...

...

"...How deep..." Two sardines quietly mused.

"NO, IT'S NOT! That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Squidward exclaimed.

"Hooray! Wait..." said Patrick.

Sandy chimed in. "I got it! We can find a way to halt the exponential increase of power-crusting pressure in the subterranean magma chamber!"

"Yeah! What she said!" SpongeBob beamed.

"Science, y'all! That's the answer!"

Suddenly, it seemed that time stopped for a moment, as we focus to Plankton and Karen, who have stayed quiet for most of this.

"I have a new scheme, Karen...and it's my best one yet! But for it to work, I must need them to stay scared." Plankton said.

"What are you talking about? The end is coming! This isn't the time for one of your 'schemes!'" Karen exclaimed.

"Oh yes, it is! It's true, hypnotizing the whole town one at a time would take too long. But when fish are scared, they swarm together. If I can get them all in one place, TRAPPED WHERE THERE'S NO WAY OUT, I can hypnotize them all at ONCE! But first, I need to shut down that squirrel..."

Then, time seemed to resume as Plankton jumped around, trying to get everyone's attention. "Excuse me!"

"Yes...who said that?" The mayor questioned, as everyone looked around for that tiny voice.

"I did! The tiny guy, jumping around and waving my arms around!"

"Oh, there you are, tiny citizen!" The mayor said, as everyone looked down at Plankton.

Plankton, now having the whole town's attention, cleared his throat. "Do any of you actually believe science can save us?"

The town started to question themselves, as Plankton continued. "Ah, come on! Next thing, she'll tell us 'tidal-warming' is real!"

"I've been studyin' Bikini Bottom fer years now! With a lil' time an' research-"

Plankton interrupted the squirrel. "We only have until sundown tomorrow."

Sandy scoffed. "Well, if you'll just trust me-"

Plankton interrupted again. "Why should we? You're not even from here."

"Yeah! You're a land-mammal!" Old Man Jenkins exclaimed.

"Since when did that matter?!" Sandy asked.

"Well, things are different now! Our town is under attack!"

"You know what they say, folks, when the going gets tough..." Plankton said.

"The tough gets going!" One citizen responded.

"NO! They get lost." Plankton finished.

Plankton struck a pose, that seemed to make time stop temporarily again.

"I need to sell them on my plan Karen. But it won't be easy. I'm gonna need to do it...

...in SONG. A more...hip-hop feeling song. Give me a beat, Karen!"

...

...

...

Karen laughed at this notion. "Ha, ha, ha! You're kidding, right?! You couldn't rap even if your life depended on it!"

"Oh yeah?" Plankton said, as he trudged ever-so closely towards his computer wife. "Watch."

"When The Going Gets Tough"

Written by: T.I.

This task force is for losers!

I've got the perfect plan!

Right now, the getting's good

So let's get out while we can!

Look, lava's pretty hot!

Let's give in to our fear!

Disaster's on it's way,

That means we can't spend no more time in here!

You all know who I am!

Evil genius, giant brain!

You can't stop a volcano!

I mean, are you all insane?!

The ones who stay will all be vaporized without a doubt!

Before that sucker blows, we gotta get the fish out!
(Fish out, fish out, fish out!)

Oh, let go!
(Oh, let go!)

And begone!
(And begone!)

Oh, let go!
(Oh, let go!)

And begone!
(And begone!)

Oh, let go!
(Oh, let go!)

And begone!
(And begone!)

Oh, let go!
(Oh, let go!)

And we gone!
(And we gone!)

'Cause when the going gets tough...
(When the going gets tough...)

That means it's time to get lost!
(That means it's time to get lost!)

When the going gets tough...
(When the going gets tough...)

That means it's time to get lost!
(That means it's time to get lost!)

So let go!

And begone!

Let's be gone!

SpongeBob, flabbergasted about this situation, tries to intercept.

Hold on, Plankton!

I am simply shocked!

Bikini Bottom is our home!

I can't believe you talk about

Just walking out!

Let's figure out

A way to stay today, tomorrow!

I feel sorrow, I feel fear,

But I'm not leaving here!

Who's with me?!-

Having heard enough, Plankton pushes SpongeBob to the side, as he continues.

The simple sponge is talking?

How fascinating, do go on!

The fry cook has a plan?

Good luck with that, 'cause I'll be gone!

You don't just wait around when you're under attack, no!

Karen joins in.

You run like crazy!

Out the back!

Y'got one day left!

Go home and pack!

Oh, let go!
(Oh, let go!)

And begone!
(And begone!)

Oh, let go!
(Oh, let go!)

And begone!
(And begone!)

Oh, let go!
(Oh, let go!)

And begone!
(And begone!)

Oh, let go!
(Oh, let go!)

And we gone!
(And we gone!)

'Cause when the going gets tough...
(When the going gets tough...)

That means it's time to get lost!
(That means it's time to get lost!)

When the going gets tough...
(When the going gets tough...)

That means it's time to get lost!
(That means it's time to get lost!)

So let go!

And begone!

Let's be gone!

"Now, of course, mass evacuation is not an easy feat! We'll need something bigger, a vessel that'll trap us all-I MEAN, fit us all. A giant escape pod!"

On cue, one of Plankton's assistants presented a catalog from Giant Escape Pods 'R Us.

"This pod will take us far away from here, and to a brand new home for us all!"

"Ooh, to Bikini Top?!" One citizen said.

"Or to Bikini Wax?!" Larry added.

"Ooh, or Brazillian-" Mrs. Puff nearly said before being interrupted.

"NO! To Chumville!" Plankton announced.

The townsfolk did a double take on what he just said.

"Uhm...because we're chums!"

"Hold on a second there, Plankton!" Mr. Krabs exclaimed. "I wasn't born yesterday, ya know! This is soundin' like another one of yer schemes!"

"Aw Krabs, at a time like this? Why would you think something like that?" Plankton playfully questioned, trying his hardest to not laugh.

"Ya've got somethin' up yer sleeve, I just know it!" Mr. Krabs said.

"I'm a one-celled organism.

...

...

...

I don't even HAVE sleeves!"

While Karen and all the others reacted crazily to Plankton's sick burn, he proceeded to conclude his plea for world domination-I mean, 'song.'

Oh, let go!
(Oh, let go!)

And begone!
(And begone!)

Oh, let go!
(Oh, let go!)

And begone!
(And begone!)

Oh, let go!
(Oh, let go!)

And begone!
(And begone!)

Oh, let go!
(Oh, let go!)

And we gone!
(And we gone!)

'Cause when the going gets tough...
(When the going gets tough...)

That means it's time to get lost!
(That means it's time to get lost!)

When the going gets tough...
(When the going gets tough...)

That means it's time to get lost!
(That means it's time to get lost!)

So let go!

And begone!

Let's be gone!

Let's be gone!

So let go!

The entire town applauded Plankton's performance, all of them speaking in agreement to his plan.

"...They listened to me, Karen! They treated me like I was their size!" Plankton giddily said to his wife.

"Wait, everyone! We can't just leave!" SpongeBob adamantly objected.

The mayor ignored the sponge as she announced, "We'll order the escape pods, cash on delivery!" She then proceeded to pick up the catalog, and looked through the details. "Expedited shipping by 6:00 PM, next business day! Just enough time to get out before sundown tomorrow!" She proceeded to look at the price. "And it only costs...AAGH! There isn't enough clams in Bikini Bottom to pay for that!" She exclaimed as she threw the catalog away.

"Welp, guess we'll just have to stay!" SpongeBob beamed.

"NO, WAIT! Uhm...we could raise the funds to pay for it!" Plankton exclaimed.

"By sundown tomorrow? Heh, not a chance in kelp." Squidward dully said.

"Psh, yeah. The only time I ever 'give money' is when some celebrity shows up." Larry added.

"I know, we could have a benefit concert!" Pearl suggested.

"I have an idea, we'll put on a benefit concert! One of those jamboree shell-athons, that we'll broadcast far and wide!" Plankton said.

"We shall have the concert tomorrow afternoon!" The mayor announced.

Squidward beamed, enthusiastically. "And I have just the piece for it! I call it, 'Tentacle Spectacle: The Musical!' Allow me to give you a piece of it!"

He began to dance and sing.

Look out world!

'Cause here I come!

However, Larry interrupted. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, dude! You are NOT a celebrity!"

Pearl gasped. "But the Electric Skates are! We'll get them to perform!"

The mayor decided to hold a vote. "Who wants the Electric Skates...?"

Pearl raised her hand.

"...And is old enough to vote?"

Everyone else, minus Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Sandy and SpongeBob, raised their hand.

"The Electric Skates it shall be!" The mayor announced, as everyone who raised their hand cheered.

The townsfolk felt a slight tremor as Pearl jumped up and down like a little kid. "I'm gonna meet the Electric Skates!" She squealed.

"You are not meetin' anyone, young lady! You are staying inside!" Mr. Krabs said, as he takes his whale daughter to his anchor house.

The mayor spotted Squidward, pouting. "Oh, and Squidward? Don't worry, we won't leave you out."

Squidward started to beam up, thinking, 'They're actually letting me perform?!'

"You can be an official concert organizer, and cater to the band's every crazy whim and unreasonable demands!" The mayor finished.

"Actually, that doesn't sound-"

The mayor interrupted the squid. "Yes! At tomorrow afternoon's concert, we will raise the money, to pay for the pod, then we'll leave our old home to Chumville! Start packing, it won't be long until we kiss our Bikini Bottom goodbye!"

"Guys, wait! We can't abandon our home!" SpongeBob exclaimed.

"They've made up their minds, SpongeBob. And I have, too." Sandy said.

"But, Sandy! Just tell them about the science stuff again!"

"They're NOT gonna listen to a land-mammal, SpongeBob!" Sandy exclaimed, making SpongeBob quiet, as she stormed off.

A tear starts to run through SpongeBob's eye. "...But...it can't end like this..."

"Jus' let it go, boy. There's nothin' ye can do. I've told ya before, yer just a simple sponge." Mr. Krabs told the poor sponge.

'Simple sponge...'

'Simple sponge...'

'Simple sponge...'

SpongeBob just kept replaying this in his head and zones out.

"(Just a) Simple Sponge"

Written by: Panic! At the Disco

Sure I spend my days,

Floating around...

Head in the bubbles,

And my feet on the ground...

But there is more to me than just my name...

Give me a chance, and I could change the game...

And maybe one day, Mr. Krabs will say,

"The Krusty Krab's your's, it's yer lucky day!"

That is what I've always wanted...

Then I can finally say I've done it...

Let me have adventure,

Be a contender and more...

A gang of floating, sentient sponges started to circle around SpongeBob, and joined in.

('Cause you're not a simple sponge!)

I wish he'd see,

I'm not just the sponge next door...

(No, you're not a simple sponge!)

There's got to be a better way,

A way to save this town I love...

But how can I stop the end of the world...?

...Am I just a simple sponge...?

(No, you're not a simple sponge!)

(No, you're not a simple sponge!)

SpongeBob somehow found the courage to continue, with more enthusiasm.

So what if I'm a sponge?

It's what I want to be!

There isn't anyone who stretches like me!

Employee of the month, two years in a row!

The sponges took the form of a spatula.

Undisputed master of my own dojo!

And everyone here knows that they can depend,

On this expert jellyfisher who's a trusted friend!

The sponges took the form of a jellyfish.

I can eat a lot of ice cream!

The sponges took the form of an ice cream cone.

I can even play my nose like...

SpongeBob plays his nose like a flute to a familiar jingle, before continuing.

Let me have adventure,

Be a contender, and more..!

('Cause you're not a simple sponge!)

Can't he see,

I'm not just the sponge next door?!

(No, you're not a simple...)

A spotlight shines on SpongeBob, as the song gets softer.

I wish that I could turn back time...

I never thought my world could end...

I only wanna hang out with my friends...

The sponges took the form of a starfish and a squirrel, possibly resembling Patrick and Sandy.

But fear, I fear, is dragging us down...

And now there's,

Panic that's run amok
(Panic that's run amok!)

In my simple town!

(No, no, no, no, no...)

NO!

The sponges form a cape around, and behind, SpongeBob.

Just give me adventure!

I'm a contender, and more!

('Cause you're not a simple sponge!)

I'm real sure,

I'm not just the sponge next door!

(No, you're not a simple sponge!)

I'm gonna find a better way,

A way to save the life I love!

And I am gonna stop,
(And I am gonna stop,)

The end of the-
(The end of the-)

"NO!" The subconscious voice of Mr. Krabs boomed, scaring all the sponges away. "You're just a simple sponge...!"

"You're wrong, Mr. Krabs! I'll find a way to stop that volcano from erupting!" SpongeBob exclaimed.

"You are still a simple sponge..."

"I'll use science, like Sandy said. I'm gonna need her on the team..."

"'Cause you're just a simple sponge..."

"And Patrick, too! He's super strong! We'll be the best team ever! Sandy's brains, plus Patrick's brawn, plus my..."

SpongeBob paused. What did he bring to this team?! Sandy has the smarts, Patrick has the muscles...or flab, but what about him?

"Yes, a very simple sponge!" The subconscious Mr. Krabs taunted.

SpongeBob starts to feel something inside his chest, as the sentient sponges return and circle around him again. "I'm not sure what my thing is...

But that won't stop me! When the going gets tough, THIS SPONGE GET'S GOING!" SpongeBob exclaimed.

No, I'm not a simple sponge!
(Let me have adventure, be a contender, and more!)

I am not a simple sponge!
(They will see you're not just the sponge next door!)

Yeah, yeah, yeah!

Now, at last, I have found a way!

A way to save this town I love!

I am NOT,

A simple...

Sponge!

To be continued...