Chapter Five

Gary

"Gary," Mr. Doodles started telling me. "I love you very much. You're a good snail and pet. I'm sure you'll make your owner proud, but what you just said right now, your plan to save your owner and his friends, is insane!" I sighed. "We can't go on land, they're eat us alive, maybe literally!"

"Look, I know it's nuts." I said to him. "But he's my owner, I have to do this."

"You literally don't."

"I do, look, I had a dream ten years ago that I'll rescue my owner." Mr. Doodles was shocked.

"You did?"

"Yes, I did. Anyways, I dreamed that the mayor awarded me with a medal. I was a hero, and it felt great. If I do this, that dream will become real."

"Okay, then, I support you. But why bring me into this? I wasn't in your dream, was I?"

"No, but I can't do this by myself. I need help."

"You will. You'll have Potty and his friends. That's plenty of help. You don't need me. I'll be overkill. You don't want that."

"Yeah, but, don't you want to be a hero as well? We have lots of help already, and we may not need extra, but we might. It won't hurt."

"I want to be a hero, but..."

"Then be a hero, give it you all. The mayor might award you as well. Mr. Krabs and Pearl will love you more than ever, as well as my owner for me if you do this."

"I don't know. I'm kind of nervous."

"I am too, but this is something you will fully regret if you don't do this for the rest of your life."

"Really?" I nodded.

"Trust me."

"Well, okay. I'll do this. I can't believe I'm doing this, but let's go save your owner and his friends." I cheered.

"That's the spirit, Mr. Doodles!"

"There's just a couple problems."

"Like what?"

"Like Pearl stopping us, and how are we going to breathe on land?"

"We're a snail and worm. We can breathe on land, as well as in the ocean."

"We can?" Again I nodded.

"Indeed we can. Now as for Pearl, we're going to have to run as fast we can...NOW!" And with that, I took off as fast as I could. Pearl was shocked.

"Gary!" She shouted. Mr. Doodles ran by my side. "Mr. Doodles; no, come back!" We ran and ran.

"I can't believe I just did that." Mr. Doodles said when we were on shore.

"You did." I just responded. "Now, let's go talk to Potty before it's too late. We turned around, and went to the parrot skipping pebbles. He saw us, and stopped.

"What are you two doing up here?" He wanted to know.

"We want to help." I replied. He was confused.

"Help?"

"SpongeBob's my owner, and I'm not going to let anything bad happen to him. I want him back home safe and sound." Potty sighed.

"Look, that's good and dandy, but we have a lot of help as it is. We've got this. We'll bring him back home safe and sound; him and his friends, I promise."

"We know you have a lot of help." Mr. Doodles said. "But a little extra might help. You just don't know. It won't hurt. Plus, it was Gary's dream ten years ago. In his dream, the mayor awarded him for saving SpongeBob."

"Really? Well, that changes everything then."

"It does?"

"No, just being curious here, but, was I in your dream ten years ago?"

"No," I answered. "but that doesn't mean you can't be a part of that dream. Please, I beg you, let me help. He's my owner. You'd do the same for yours, right?" Potty sighed again.

"Yeah, I guess. Alright, you two can help. It won't hurt. And like you said, we just might need you, maybe not, but maybe we do." I smiled.

"Thanks. You won't regret it."

"I hope not."

As soon as all of Potty's seagull friends all came, I let them in on the plan.

"Were we in your dream?" A seagull asked me. I rolled my eyes.

"No! I didn't know you ten years ago, so how in the heck can you all be in my dream? Plus, as I think about it, it was a vision from an enchanted mirror that shows you stuff you want to see in your wildest dreams."

"A vision from the future." Mr. Doodles said. I looked at him. "Don't you get it, Gary? The mirror knew what was going down ten years later. It predicted it, and looks like it predicted right. It all makes sense now."

"Whatever. Let's get this over with."

"Right." Potty agreed. "We'll tell you the plan in the sky. Come on. Crawl on my back." I crawled on his back, and we took off in the sky. Tim took Mr. Doodles in his talons, and he and the other seagulls all flew after us.

Chris

"They're back!" Steve piped up. I looked at the window, and smiled. Sure enough, Potty returned with the seagulls. And it looked like Potty brought Gary, and a seagull brought a worm. My brother and I got on our pile of boxes, and opened it a crack.

"Gary, you came to help!" Steve said to him.

"Well, of course, kid I never met before." Gary began. "He's my owner. I want to be sure that he and his friends are saved, and in order to do that, I have to take part."

"Plus, it was a vision he saw ten years ago." The worm added. "And you two probably weren't in it." We were confused, but didn't have time to ask.

"You kids still in this closet?" Potty wanted to know. "I'd thought by now you two would escape, and call for help."

"Steve had to go to the bathroom after you left." I told Potty. "So Norman did let Steve out of the closet."

"But when I was done, I was forced back here." Steve put in.

"I tried calling the police." I put in. "But the reception won't work in here."

"Aw, that stinks." Potty observed.

"It is." I agreed.

"So, will you and your friends help us out of here?" Steve questioned. Potty smiled.

"That's the plan." He thought of something, and looked at Steve. "Say kid, when you were brought out of here to go to the bathroom, what was by here? Something near the closet your boys are in, so that I can help you out of here when we storm the house." Steve thought of this.

"A coatrack." He said. "In the shape of an anchor." Potty sighed.

"Of course it is. Anyways, stay by the door. I'll have you and your brother out soon enough." I was confused.

"How?" I wanted to know. "The door's locked. You can't pick the lock, can you?" Potty looked at me.

"There's a lot of stuff you don't know about me, kid. Okay, get to the door. See you two on the other side." He and the others flew off. My brother and I went to the closet door.

"Think he can really get us out of here, Chris?" My brother wanted to know.

"Well, considering he can unlock windows with his beak, I have a safe bet that he can." Steve nodded in agreement.

"I have a safe bet he can too."

"You're just saying that so you can agree with me."

"Yeah, that and I know he can too." I rolled my eyes.

Potty

"Okay, everyone ready?" I asked the seagulls as we all gathered in front of the door. We storm the house as soon as he opens the door." All the seagulls nodded. I rang the doorbell with my beak, and we waited for the door to open. "Any moment now, guys." The door opened.

"Hello?" Norman asked.

"NOW!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. All of us then flew in as fast as we could. Norman screamed, trying to swat us away. He tripped inside, falling to the floor. Gary and the worm went to the room where SpongeBob and friends were after I told them the directions.

"This is my childhood nightmare; I knew watching The Birds as my parents went to bed when I was five was going to haunt me one day!" Tim, the worm, and Gary, plus some birds flew off to get SpongeBob and friends, some of them still were attacking Norman. I saw the anchor coatrack, and flew to the closet as I promised the boys. I began picking the lock with my beak.

A minute later, I unlocked the lock. The door opened, and the boys came out.

"I knew you'd come through for us." Steve said to me.

"No, you didn't." Chris pointed out. "You asked me, 'Is he going to do it?' Even after you said that you had a safe bet on him."

"Well, I just wanted to confirm it. Now I know, because he did it, and we're free." Chris groaned.

"You boys, go get SpongeBob and friends." I ordered them. "I'll stay here with the others and Norman if he tries anything shady." The boys agreed, and ran off.

SpongeBob

I saw Tim and the seagulls fly in. Immediately, I got excited, and touched the glass.

"Tim!" I cried. "You came back!" He nodded.

"And I brought my friends and family." He said. "Together, we're going to bust your guys out of here." My friends all cheered.

"Even Flip?"

"I'm afraid not." The sea turtle said. "I stay here." I frowned, as I turned to him.

"This is really goodbye then, isn't it?" He nodded.

"Gosh, I'm really going to miss you."

"Me too, but at least you get to go back home with your friends. That's something to be excited about, right?"

"Yeah, I guess. Still it would be awesome if you came with us."

"I belong here in this tank that's not meant for a sea turtle, but it's home to me."

"Whatever makes you happy." I smiled as I held up my hand.

"Well, goodbye, Flip. It's been really nice knowing you." He shook my hand with his flipper.

"Goodbye, SpongeBob. May you and your friends have many more amazing adventures in Bikini Bottom for years to come."

"You know we will." The two human boys from before then raced in.

"Hey!" I piped up. "You guys escaped from wherever Norman sent you."

"We were in the closet." Steve explained. Patrick was confused.

"Norman trapped two innocent kids in a closet?" Steve nodded. "That monster! You two must be very happy to come out of there." Again, Steve nodded.

"Meow." I recognized that meow, and grew excited once more. It was Gary, as well as Mr. Krab's pet worm, Mr. Doodles!

"Gary, you came to rescue me!" I said. My snail meowed in agreement. "Aw, you are such a good snail, and a sponge's best friend." He smiled.

"And Mr. Doodles, you're here too!" Mr. Krabs added. He grew teary-eyed. "I think I'm going to cry." Mr. Doodles smiled as well.

"Uh, I don't want to sound rude," Tim began. "But my friends and fam can't attack Norman forever, so if we go now, I think it'll please everyone." We all agreed, and my friends and I got out of the bowl with the boys' help. After waving to Flip one last time, and Mr. Krabs and I hugged our pets, we all made our getaway.

"Potty!" Tim announced when we went to a marionette parrot. I saw him before, but this was the first time that I noticed that he wasn't just a parrot. He was a puppet. Where were those strings coming from? I looked to see the puppet master, but didn't see anyone. Also, his name was Potty? What an odd name. Then again, I suppose SpongeBob is an odd name to some people and sea critters. "I have everyone. We can go now." Tim nodded, and called for the other seagulls attacking Norman.

"We can pack it up, guys!" He called. He looked at the screaming and frightened Norman. "I think that poor human had has enough of our torment. He deserves it in every possible way, but let's go now. We got what we came here for." The seagulls flew off all at once.

"My owner, Patchy is obsessed over you." Potty told me on the way to the door.

"Aw!" I marveled, blushing. "I have another crazed fan. I'm flattered." I then grew concerned. "He's not going to kidnap me, is he?"

"I hope not." Potty told me. "I wouldn't be surprised." I was so conflicted about this. "But don't worry. Crazy as he may be, he won't stoop that low, hopefully not. I'm conflicting you, aren't I? I'll shut up now. Oh, and before you say it, I know my name is silly. But, hey, your name is SpongeBob. Sorry, I'll shut my yak." We continued on.

But before that, Norman chased after us. We know he did because he screamed as he did. We all gasped. Gary then slithered as fast as he could to him. I grew wide-eyed, panicking.

"GARY!" I screamed. Oh, what is that snail of mine, doing?! And what will Norman do to him?! Gary then came back. This got me confused. Huh? My snail's coming back? I'm glad he is, but why did he go to him in the first place? Norman then slipped from Gary's slime trail that he left behind, and fell face-first on the floor. This made Steve chuckle and me smile. Now I knew why he went back. I hugged him again.

"Good going, Gary!" I complimented him. "I love you, boy!"

"Okay," Potty said. "Now let's.."

"Mr. Doodles!" Mr. Krabs called when the worm crawled towards Norman who was struggling to get up, but failing, and fell down each time he tried. This made both of us, along with most of us chuckle. "What in King Neptune are you doing?! He's down. Come on, don't overdo it. You don't have to be a hero; Mr. Doodles!"

"Oh, boy!" Said a sarcastic Potty. The worm went behind Norman, and bit him in the butt. Norman's eyes grew huge, and screamed. This made us laugh even harder, even Mr. Krabs laughed.

"You showed him!" He said as the worm came back to him. "That was completely unnecessary, but I'm glad you did it. You're a hero in my eyes." Mr. Doodles smiled.

"Okay, can we go now before anything else complexly unnecessary happens?" Potty asked. We all agreed, and left the house.

"Well, this is where we leave you." Potty announced when we were in front of the Pacific Ocean on the beach. I turned to them.

"Thanks for this everyone." I thanked them. "If it weren't for all of you, I'd still be trapped in that bowl. Although I really liked Flip, I don't belong there. I belong with my friends in the best place that I know, Bikini Bottom." Everyone marveled at that. I looked at Potty.

"Oh, before we go," I told him. "Where's the guy pulling your strings? I know you're a puppet. Real parrots aren't like you, or at least, you're not what Sandy described you as."

"That's not important." Patrick butted in. "The important thing is you're home with your friends, safe and sound." He looked at Potty. "But seriously, who's controlling you?" Potty sighed.

"You really want to know?" He questioned. Patrick and I both nodded. "I'll show you next we meet." This got Patrick really confused.

"We're going to meet up again?" Potty did his best shrug.

"Who knows? Anything can happen." Patrick smiled.

"Then I can't wait. How about tomorrow?"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

"Okay, see you whenever then!"

"See you whenever."

"Chris." Steve said to him, Chris looked at him. "Remember that Mystery episode? If what Squidward said was true, we might be seeing new episodes of this show until 2039." Chris was confused at first, but seem to figure out what he was talking about. I brightened up when I heard my seahorse friend's name.

"Hey, I remember Mystery!" I said. "What a good seahorse. It's a shame I had to let her go. Wonder what she's up too these days." I was then confused. "What did Squidward say?" Steve turned to me.

"He didn't say the show will go on up front, but he said you and him will be working for 40 years, then you guys will die. It's 2019 right now, so in twenty more years from now, or from when that episode aired.."

"I hope we don't die in twenty more years, but that'll be awesome if I work there forever, won't it, Squidward?" Squidward sighed.

"If I knew we were being filmed, I would've kept my mouth shut." He said.

"But you didn't, did ye Mr. Squidward?" Mr. Krabs said to him. "Yay for twenty more years, or better yet, beyond!" We all cheered. Squidward didn't sound so thrilled, but I knew he was deep down.

We all said our farewells, then my friends and I all went back into the ocean.

"Mr. Doodles did that?" Pearl questioned when we were in front of Mr. Krab's house.

"Yup!" My boss replied. "He sure did." Pearl was impressed.

"Wow!" She took out her phone. "I got to text the girls about this!" She looked at Mr. Doodles and I, and smiled. "Good to see you guys back. When you two left, I was worried with fright. Didn't know what to do. After a while, I decided to text my friends to help me search on land. Now, I don't have to worry anymore. And I'm glad."

Gary

As my owners and his friends talked amongst each other, I slithered over to Mr. Doodles.

"Your owner was right." I told him. "What you did back there with that crazy diver guy was completely unnecessary. It was overkill. There's no point in beating a dead seahorse." I then smiled. "But it was funny."

"Thanks." He thanked me. "It was funny, wasn't it? I felt like I needed to do something though, to prove that I did something instead of going with you if you know what I mean."

"I know exactly what you mean. That's why I went back to`o and slipped him up with my slime."

"Guess we both beat a dead seahorse."

"I guess we did." Mr. Doodles then changed the subject.

"So, are you bummed out that your vision of the mayor honoring you with a medal didn't come true?"

"That would of been nice."

"That can still come true! To be a hero, that's anybody's best dream come true!"

"My best dream already came true."

"Really, what?" I looked back at my owner, and smiled.

"To have a truly awesome owner." Mr. Doodles awed at this. He then changed the subject again.

"Why would you want to beat a dead seahorse?" I looked back at him. "It sounds wrong, and if it's dead, why beat it some more? There's no need. I don't understand." I sighed with an eye roll, but told him anyway.

Potty

Later, Patchy and I were heading home from Norman's house. Patchy was disappointed.

"I can't believe Norman tricked us into thinking SpongeBob and friends were at his house." Patchy said. "I have a special place in my heart for SpongeBob, how could he do this to me?!"

"What a jerk." I agreed. I could have told him that I met SpongeBob and friends, but I didn't. Yup, I'm a stinker, what are you going to do about it?

"But, hey, this doesn't mean I won't meet him! Who knows? Maybe one day will be my chance. Maybe for a special occasion, like his birthday! I can already feel it in my bones, Just you wait, SpongeBob Squarepants, I, Patchy the Pirate, your biggest fan, will one day next you!" I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, boy!"

SpongeBob

We were in front of my house, when I had the urge to hug Gary again. He was confused.

"Meow?" He asked. I withdrew from him.

"Sorry." I apologized. "It's just that I'm so happy. I can't believe what all went down these past few days. I'm so lucky. I don't ever want to leave Bikini Bottom, well unless it's for fun, ever again. Here's for twenty more years, and beyond of me!" Gary meowed. After a while, he smiled.