33. The Ocean’s Bane

Resume "Requiem for the Lost Ones" from Bleach.

Minerva's Cathedral

Dillon stood firm and locked his S.C.A.M.P.P. on the woman. While all the shadows felt solemn and cold around her, Dillon showed emotion in his brown eyes. Determination to get Mario back. Daphne looked at him with her cold dark eyes, which, if one looked closely enough, could see a shred of humor. "I was wondering who had walked in during my monologue." Daphne said with the same depressed tone. "What else did I expect… another wayward soul."

"Mario, get away from that woman!" Dillon demanded. "Come back to me!"

"Why should he." Daphne softly hugged Mario to her chest. "After all, you are his… reality. Shadows suffer so much… living in the light of their masters. Their emotions become the shadows. The shadows despair and decay in what the masters feel. No… a shadow… knows peace." She rested her head on Mario's, closing her eyes. "A shadow suffers in peace. All they should need… is quiet… blindness… bliss… but their masters ruin such tranquility." She reached for a black petal on the white stem. She plucked.

Dillon hated the Zoni for wanting to take away Vanellope's glitch, that which made her great.

"A true shadowbender… knows bliss like the shadows. They must become still… silent… soft…" She plucked another petal.

Dillon woke up with embarrassment on the Sunny Day, cuddling with Mason on that cold winter night.

"But the only way a person can know such tranquility… is through death. There's no more wonderful embrace. A Gray Shadow is a shadow whose master has faced death, in the most gentle way." She plucked another.

Five-year-old Dillon hugged his dad lovingly after he got home.

"Void of all emotion… all feeling… that is the beauty in my power." Daphne slowly reached for the last petal. "Enter that void… and sleep."

Dillon clutched Daphne's arm before it reached. She looked down at him. "A real shadowbender… knows how to let their shadow feel these things. A real shadowbender… takes their shadow away from that boring tranquility and shows them what it really means to have emotions. Instead of being just a shadow under their master… they get to be a friend to their master. They're able to stop being shy and interact… like a real human. If a Gray Shadow comes from a dead master… why are you so gray? Why am I feeling your flesh…"

Daphne closed her eyes. The memory brought no feeling to her heart.

Daphne was five years old, Isabelle Anderson was seven. They were two sisters living in Twilight Town. Although they were human born, their skin was pale, in the process of becoming Twili. Daphne loved to hide in the shade, Isabelle was a ray of sunshine. She always grabbed her little sister's arm and ran around the village, around the forest, playing games with their shadows. Isabelle ran too far, Daphne worriedly chased after her. Although young and full of energy, Daphne never expressed much emotion, only subtle hints.

Then the demons captured them. The demons that served Malladus and Hell's Royal Family. Malladus's son was married to Queen of Shadows, Malevolous. Shadows and shadowbenders alike were subject through experiments. Shadows were transformed into ravenous monsters, so why not do the same to shadowbenders? Give them a feeling of being demon. Isabelle and Daphne were in prison for years, before the demons decided to experiment on them.

Daphne's shadow, Shaydes was extremely agro, she bit and scratched the monsters, desperate to protect her master and sister. The demons injected the shadow with their dark magic, Daphne cried for her shadow, the girl had finally shown emotion in the form of tears. She hugged Shaydes closely. Let the tears soak her. It was unbearable, but the young shadow withstood, fought the pain. …But at a price. Shaydes had faded into a soulless gray color. Her previous pitch-black form possessed the vibrance and joy Daphne lacked, but that color was sapped from her form now. The dyed shadow crept back behind her master, and in the weakest, most hopeless voice possible, Shaydes promised that she would always be with her.

And then the Kids Next Door appeared, tearing the factories to pieces, Malladus and Grandfather were destroyed, the demons were cowering back to the Underworld, light had returned to the planet. Isabelle met a handsome boy in raggedy clothing called Daniel. His parents died of illness when he was a baby, he lived in his own secret sewer hideout with nary a home or a surname. But Isabelle loved him, he became her best friend and soon-to-be-lover. Daphne was not left alone, however… That handsome, chubby boy with sunglasses, Numbuh Zero, grinned at Daphne and reached a hand down.

Monty Uno, the traitor to the Uno Family, comforted Daphne for what happened to her shadow. Daphne, whose soul was dried like Shaydes' color, found light and warmth next to this boy. She thought Monty could help repair the color that was lost. Then… he disappeared. No one knew where he went. No one on the planet.

In the years that came, Daphne became a teenager. She met a handsome, older boy called Reggie Johnson. He took Daphne to where he lived. A beautiful mountain in eternal sunlight. Daphne met other people, some close, some far from her age. They became friends… then, they became rulers. They had the power to decide, to run this world. They had the power to bring and restore the peace they desired. Daphne knew… the very peace everyone deserved.

Daphne reopened her eyes. "If, for even the tiniest bit, I am allowed to desire… it is to serve the people who saved me, and destroy all the evils in this world. But all evils… stem from feeling. With no feeling… there would be no evils. My shadow… all shadows… I will be the mother they have longed for. I will show them what my shadow has shown me…. Solace." She reached for the petal again. (End song.)

"EEEH!" Midna smacked the flower away from Daphne's hand with her huge ponytail hand. She clutched the woman's arm tight and tried to pull her away. "SHADOWS, stop LISTENING to this woman!" she yelled to them. "You all need to be with your masters. Alive or dead, both of you need each other. This woman is poisoning you. Only your masters should be able to give you any kind of solace!"

"Hmmmm…" Daphne rubbed Midna's cheek with her other hand. "Even the Firstborn… after spending so long in the mortal world… has let the masters ruin her mind."

"Uuuuu…" Midna's grip on her arm faltered. The Firstborn's areas were fading to gray. She was growing sleepy…

"DILLON!" The cathedral doors flew open. The Sector V members burst in, holding weapons or powers ready. "Are you Daphne Anderson?!" Haylee questioned.

"She looks more dead than I am." Django remarked.

"How much did she hurt you?!" Chris yelled.

"Now I'm being judged again." Daphne closed her eyes, smiling somewhat. "'Hurt', he says. 'Dead.' Kids really know nothing. I am a mother to every shadow you see here. A mother's job… is to give their children warmth and comfort. A home. Every Gray Shadow you see here… belonged to a master who I had introduced to Death. Death is a terrifying thing to wait for… so I take them in safe, easy steps. I pluck one petal at a time. Then… on the last pluck, the heart stops. They never feel more peaceful. Just ask the latest one to my collection."

She gestured to a tall, thin shadow with a football-shaped head. Chris and Aurora's eyes widened. "Dad…" The former glared at Daphne, "So it was YOU who killed him!!"

"Why are you angry? It was your father that attacked us. We felt horrible for what we did. But we couldn't let him wreck everything. So I killed him with my Gray Shade. You should have seen him when he died… he was beautiful."

"AAAAHH!" Chris punched a flame at the woman, Shaydes jumped in the way and defended her master, then reformed from the flame. Chris kicked on his rockets and flew, but all of the shadows piled on and held the boy back. He desperately tried to fly at Daphne, but the shadows were surprisingly strong. They redirected him at the ceiling, causing the firebender to fly and break through. "WAAAaaah!"

"Django, the skeletons!" Aurora whispered at him. "We need to get Daphne outside for our plan!"

"That's mah jam." Django strummed his guitar, forcing skeletons to pop out from each seat in the church.

Daphne made a chuckle that sounded like a simple, toneless breath. She waved an arm, and all of the shadows flew under those of the skeletons. The corpses began shaking of their own accord, directing at the operatives. "What?!" Django furrowed.

"Thank you for helping us test our experiment." Daphne smiled. "Shadows can be added to the bodies of corpses, bringing them to life. Those corpses will have the physical abilities and personalities of their shadow's master."

"Does this sombrero make my head look fat?" a fat skeleton asked with a woman's voice.

"'Ey, yo, what's the dillio??" an Italian skeleton questioned.

"Kah…kids?…" a skeleton coughed.

Aurora gaped. "Dad?…"

"Kids… Thah… The King… his name is…"

Daphne clutched her hand. The skeletons stood upright and silenced, ready to attack her enemies. "Well-p, we tried, it failed." Django turned a dial on his guitar to force the skeletons back into the earth. The shadows floated back in the air.

"Mario, just snap out of it!" Dillon yelled. "I know I act like a jerk, but is that really worse than having the life sapped out of you??"

"You're only so indifferent, because you do not know the everlasting serenity." Daphne reached down to pick up the one-petal rose. "I will happily… give it to you."

Mario touched her arm. Daphne looked at him curiously. He spoke to her telepathically. Dillon could tell, though he couldn't hear. Daphne's eyelids and brows inched up in a way that she agreed. "Oh… yes. Perhaps we should. After all… they are making this last far too long. If you would… Mario… you may."

Mario nodded. He flew around to all of Sector V's shadows, and to their utter astonishment, they flew out from their positions. Mario flew to the center of the room, and spoke to all of the shadows. They flew together in a swarm, and soared directly into Daphne's body. "Uuu-uuh!" The woman choked, her skinny ghostly body began pumping. Black and gray aura surrounded her body, her eyes glowed white. The kids stared with the greatest terror as she grew larger.

"Uhhhhh maybe we should go." They agreed with Aurora and bolted out of the church, through the trees, as fast as they could. Since they didn't have shadows, they had to keep within the shade of trees. After they ran a safe distance, and hearing the crumbling of a building, they turned around—gaping at the colossus.

Daphne was a hundred times fatter, and a hundred times bigger. She towered like a short mountain over the shadowy forest. One half of her ghost-white body was dark, but the other half facing the sunset mixed with orange. The colossus turned and looked down at the kids with blank white eyes. "Was her growing into a giant part of your plan, Kirie?" Haylee questioned. The mute shook her head frightfully.

"It's the Shadow Absorption…" Midna spoke, still ill from Daphne's touch earlier. "The strength of every person those shadows belonged to… is hers. Including you guys."

"Any chance you could do what you did to Big Mom, Sheila?" Aurora asked.

"Lightbending ain't as easy with no shadow, Mate."

Daphne took a few minutes to let the shadows settle. Let the incredible power flow within her. The power of a single World Leader. She would now show them, what the World Government possesses.

Then Daphne hunched over slightly. The kids looked extremely curious… the woman was bulging… like she were about to throw up. "Mm-mm… mm-mm…" Her mouth threatened to burst. Her blank white eyes would be wide and bulging if they had any life to them. But the sensation was all the same. "UUUUUUUEEEEEEEEHHHHHH!" A stream of black and gray came spewing from her mouth like vomit.

The stream struck Dillon, showering him. He felt the shadows endlessly pounding upon him, he couldn't move away or stand straight. It wasn't just the immense weight. Dillon felt an unbearable sensation. Incredible pressure was building inside him. Growing greater by the minute.

Daphne shrunk back to her regular human size, collapsing on the ground. The ghostly woman felt a shadow over her. …A spark of emotion was hinted on her gaping face.

His friends never expected this turn of events: Dillon York had grown over 50 feet high, brimming with black aura, his eyes blank white and furrowed. Parts of his clothing were ripped, the muscles underneath were pumping. The colossus raised his right hand and stared at it. "Wha-a-a-a-at's thi-i-i-i-i-is?" His voice was vibrating from the power.

Your body isn't strong enough to withstand this power for long, Master. Mario spoke. Attack her while you have the chance!

Snapping to attention, Dillon looked down at the little ghost woman, and slammed his fist down. A crater was created, but Daphne had flown several meters in a Shadow Veil. Daphne was caught in a Shadow Possess suddenly, by Midna from behind. Dillon expanded a tremendous Shockwave Zone, sending the storm of shadows to fly out and gnash furiously around Daphne's form. After the shadows returned to the giant, Daphne flew away, hovering at height with the giant's chest using a cyclone of Gray Shadow. All of the shadows from the trees spiraled into her center, and she made them take the form of a spear that stabbed the giant in the chest.

Dillon cried like the Hulk-like monster he was, stumbling backward and feeling the need to explode. The shadows scattered away from the beast, across the distant sky, back to their normal masters, and Dillon shrunk down to normal. Sector V hurried around the trees, jumped over the fallen ones, to find their friend panting on the ground, his clothes torn. Dillon couldn't feel any sense or muscle in his body, he couldn't stand. The friends looked ahead, glaring as Daphne Anderson walked softly through the trees.

"So, his shadow led me into a trap." She spoke with the same depressed tone. "How sad. His master would've been much happier, if I had plucked the last petal. His death would be painless. Peaceful. He never would've known greater warmth… than such an embrace. Look at him as he suffers. Begging for peace. I will grant his—"

Aurora grabbed Dillon, flew backwards with Rocket Boost, and when a cloud of green and purple gas flowed into the area, it was immediately set aflame. Daphne slid away with her shadow—the forest in front of her exploded. Chris hovered in the sky on jetshoes, sucking in forceful whiffs through his nose and puffing Combustion Beams at every area around Daphne, destroying every last tree. Daphne was totally surrounded by fire—Sheila Frantic bolted through a spot Aurora had cooled open, the wereraccoon forming a Light Sphere in both hands that was bulging in many areas. Quickly, she ran around Daphne, chucked the distorted Light Sphere above, and it popped into a storm of droplet-sized beams that rained around Daphne, sizzling her and her shadow.

Aurora froze and dispersed a huge chunk of the flame wall, forcing the remaining half to stretch Shaydes the other way. Chris dashed forward, flipped, and waved his arm like a karate-chop to send a Flame Slice, severing the stem between shadow and master. Before it could reform, Sheila lit her foot solid gold, zipped up by Daphne's head, and kicked her with enough force to send her flying like a kickball, against a distant tree. Shaydes tried to return—Chris and Aurora ignited a wall of flames in its wake. "IN YOU GO!" Artie whipped out a mechanical thermos, blasted a blue laser, and struck the shadow. Shaydes unleashed an echoing cry of despair as it was sucked into the thermos, and Artie clamped the lid. "Wow! It actually DOES work on shadows!"

Daphne hid in the shadow of the tree from the sunlight. "Way to go, Kirie!" Aurora praised. "Your plan worked like a charm!"

"Keh… plan?" Dillon spoke hoarsely.

Kirie held up a finger gesturing 'Wait', then showed them her sketchbook. Many colorful, crayon drawings, of Chris going 'pop pop' with the trees, making fire go burrrrr around Daphne, Sheila going 'crackle crackle' with her Light Sphere, Chris going 'hot slice' on Daphne's shadow, then Artie going sluuuuurrrrp with his Phantom Thermos. Well, that's what Dillon made from it, since it just happened. Kirie put the book away, and bowed.

"You think you've won." Daphne said with humor in her tonelessness. "You forget… I'm a mother to all shadows. Every tree has-"

Sheila kicked her off her feet, she and Chris got on either side. The others shut their eyes—a ballad of cartoon punching and beating sound-effects rang across the air. When it made it to the 'rrrrRINK, DONK, PSH-SH-SH-sh-sh-sh!' sounds, it stopped. The kids opened their eyes.

Daphne Anderson had blood and bruises all over. Parts of her face were swollen. Teeth were knocked out. She was totally unconscious. Kirie pulled out a pair of chi-cuffs—the ones Haruka found in Dressrosa—and locked them over Daphne's wrists. Aurora didn't blink. Her wide blue eyes tried to process what happened. She didn't tear away as she held her wristwatch to her face. "Hi, Francis. Uhhh, send a couple S.P.R.A.Y.S.H.I.P.s to our coordinates? Long story, but I'll try to make it short."

Minutes later, Aaron and Rhilliane Doblemitz arrived to take Daphne onto their S.P.R.A.Y.S.H.I.P.. Francis was there on his own ship, to take the Phantom Thermos from Artie. "Excellent work, Sector V." Francis said with a slight hint of confusion. "I'll have this locked in a secure place, then we'll attempt to interrogate this woman." He boarded back on, and both ships took off.

". . . ." Aurora's stunned expression went unchanged. "We…We beat her." She stretched a psychotic grin. "We beat her! WE DEFEATED ONE OF THE WORLD LEADERS!!!"

"Uh-huh! There's just one problem." Harry pointed that direction. "The whole town saw."

The people of Twilight Town stared blankly. Mayor Dour, Virginia who was smoking, Victoria, Lola and Terry. "Mother Daphne was our hero…" Freddy spoke with concealed emotions. "She made us feel so happy. Why… would you do this?"

"Because Mother Daphne did THIS!" Haruka showed them Midna, still pale with sickness.

The town gasped. "Midna, the Twilight Princess?!" a purple Twili exclaimed.

Midna coughed. "Yes. Mother Daphne tried to drain my power. She tried to drain all of your energy through your shadows, but these kids saved me. They're your heroes, not your enemies. Daphne Anderson may have provided funding for your town, but she wasn't a good person."

"It's all… so hard to believe…" Mayor Dour spoke hoarsely. "She was making our shadows feel so… happy."

"That happiness was all her shade, it wasn't true. A shadowbender shouldn't be separated from their shadow at all. Since she won't be taking them anymore, you have to make your shadows happy yourselves. In the event that Mother Daphne comes back, you shouldn't let her take them."

"Hmmm…" Dour's head sunk down. "Mother Daphne… we could never repay you for saving our town… I don't want to accept what these children say… Still… if you really did save us, you children should be rewarded. Please, rest in our town as long as you need to."

"That's great, because the Twilight Princess really needs some potion." Midna spoke up. "Oh, and someone oughta fix Dillon, too."

Shady Inn

Dillon was lain on bed as Aunt Victoria brought him a bowl of black potion, the Drink of Shadows. "Guff, huff…" Dillon drank the substance, and felt the pain in his veins going down. Midna also had a drink, and her color returned. "Shadow Absorption." Victoria repeated, shaking her head. "Wow, Dillon. You have one heck of a shadow."

"Man, I wish I coulda seen that up close." Lola said. "That giant Dillon monster looked wicked!"

"Yeah, Tael, were you really in Dillon's body?" Terry asked his shadow. Tael nodded.

"I'll just explain it." Dillon said. "Mario apparently convinced Daphne to let him persuade all the shadows to enter her body to give her power. But while she was embracing them, he persuaded all the shadows to abandon her and enter my body. I don't actually… understand how or why."

Your desire to get me back was stronger than Aunt Daphne's 'love.' Mario explained. That internal strength spread to me, Master. And I let Sector V's shadows in on my plan, and together we were able to lead the other shadows away from Daphne's teachings. Mr. Uno's shadow still cared for his kids, especially… I think a lot of them wanted to be away from her, they just couldn't find the strength.

"Wait… so was all this 'abandoning me' stuff part of your plan to sneak-attack a World Leader?" Dillon questioned.

Actually… it wasn't. I really was angry at you, Dillon, so I wanted to socialize with my own kind. I learned about Aunt Daphne, and against all odds, I attempted this sneak attack. …It was pretty gutsy, to be sure, and I had to rely on you for part of it. I risked giving you Chi Overload so we could have a shot, but I guess the others had it handled.

Dillon smiled. "Thanks, Mario. You are my buddy, after all."

Don't feel too flattered. I'll stay under your body so you don't combust, but I'm still mad at you. I wouldn't say our issue's resolved.

"Oh, come on! After all of that, you're still mad??"

Well, right now, I'm tired. Let's go to sleep, Master. We can discuss this in the… evening.

"Sigh, you're right. …Good evening, Mario."

Good evening, Dillon.

Dillon was under the covers and fast asleep. "I second that." Harry agreed, going to get his pajamas.

"Isn't anyone else a little weirded out that this was our EASIEST mission ever??" Aurora said.

"I'm not keeping my spirits up." Mason replied, going to change clothes. "I'm holding out that a giant mutant turkey will attack us because someone stole its Nintendo DS."

The boys and girls in separate rooms (excluding Sheila), the teammates got in sleeping bags and went to sleep. Victoria shut the curtains to make the rooms totally dark, sporting a bright smile at how cute Dillon's friends looked. She shut the doors to their rooms quietly. After the first hour of their twilight vacation, they were exhausted. They let slumber consume them, and would wake up under an orange sky.

Sector L Treehouse

"Bai-yai-yai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai!" Spongebob laughed. Team Emily and Sector L watched blankly.

"DUH-HUH-HUH-HUH-HUH-HUH!" Patrick laughed.

"Bai-yai-yai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai!"

"DUH-HUH-HUH-HUH-HUH-HUH!"

"This is ridiculous." Sheldon stated simply. "I hardly believe this child's brain is worth saving at the expense of ours."

"No one's telling you to watch, go someplace else." Danny retorted, sitting on the floor. "So I can sit on the couch."

"No you can't, this is my spot."

"You must be crazy." Melody said.

"I'm not crazy. My mother had me tested. And I can promise you, the second this boy awakens to this garbage, he will say something insane."

"Nnnnnuu…" Jessie moaned awake.

"Jessie!" Sandy beamed excitedly.

"Holy cow, it actually worked!" Emily perked.

"Thank you so much for healing him!" Sandy told Melody with tears in her eyes.

"It's what I do." Mel smiled and shrugged.

"Jessie, are you okay?" Sandy asked. "Are you sore anywhere?"

"Sandy… we…!" Jessie's eyes widened. He pointed forward, "We have to go to the bottom of the ocean!!"

They formed sweatdrops. "Yep, I knew this would happen." Sheldon put on a doctor's mask. "Say the word and I'll begin the brain extraction."

"Um, Jessie, we were just in the bottom of the ocean." Sandy spoke with worry.

"Then we have to go back!! Spongebob is waiting for me down there!"

"Okay, Uncle Sheldon, you're right." Gary flipped the TV off.

"Wait!" Emily perked. "I suddenly remember… the series. HOLY COW, his recent seasons are terrible!!"

"Oh my GOD, yes!" Melody smacked her forehead. "Why are they still AIRING this series, can't we play the old ones?! ….Why are we suddenly remembering Spongebob?"

"Doesn't this kinda feel like what happened with Cheren?" Danny questioned.

"You mean Spongebob was turned into a toy?"

"Spongebob was turned into a nutcracker by some girl, yes." Jessie confirmed.

"WHAT?!?" They screamed.

"Yes, he told me so in a dream. He got added to a group called 'Sector DR'. He didn't mind, but he felt awfully stiff."

"So that girl who turned Cheren into a toy got to Spongebob." Melody summarized. "That's why we barely remembered his show. But… that means… Spongebob is real? And he's in Oceana?"

"Ocean-whona?" Jessie asked.

"The Sea Kingdom." Danny answered. "If you really wanted to go, I think our mom could take us. It wouldn't hurt to visit Grandpa, would it?"

"Grandpa?" Sandy questioned.

"Yep! We're the Prince and Princess of the Sea!" Danny and Melody posed. "Our grandpa is Ocean King, Kyogre!"

"I'm leaving." Sheldon walked away from this nonsense.

"Get back here, young man." Emily grabbed his pants. "Assuming Spongebob IS real, how the heck were you talking to him through dreams? Are you a psychicbender or something?"

"How the fuck should I know?" Jessie stated angrily.

"SAY WHAT?!" they panicked.

"He has a point." Sandy had adorable eyes.

"TRUE THAT."

"Going to Oceana wouldn't hurt." Melody figured. "We could even meet Uncle Manaphy while we're down there!"

"Sounds fun." Emily shrugged. "You guys up for it?"

Sheldon stumbled on his words, "Now- before I go sailing on an undersea voyage, I would like to address some concerns: 1) being eaten by Krakens, 2) the level of stability of our vessel, and 3) how do you expect me to breathe in a fantasy kingdom of fish-people?"

"I know someone who can answer all of those." Melody smirked.

Samiyan Sea; Mother & Child Isles

The group sailed here on a 4x4 ship. Eva Roberts-Jackson stood on the front in her red top and blue dress of ocean designs, feeling the ocean air on her skin. The stars were pretty in the sky. "It's a beautiful night for sailing, isn't it?"

"HMMMMMUUUUUEEE!" Sheldon barfed over the edge. He stood up and faced them, "See this is why I require indigestion pills everywhere I—HUUUEEEEEEEE!"

"Melody, can you… remind me why you wanted this trip, again?" Eva requested.

"That kid wants to meet Spongebob. I didn't get it either, but I thought a trip to meet Grandpa would be nice."

"Melody, I keep telling you not to call him Grandpa." Eva stated hotly. "Eric is your grandfather. Kyogre is Blood-Grandpa."

"That just sounds gross. Why can't I call him Grandpa, Manaphy is our uncle."

"It's for moral reasons!"

The ship sailed into the island surrounded by a stone wall. Little fairies inhabited this beautiful garden. Eva drew and raised the Phantom Sword, pointing at the full moon above. The sword brimmed blue, and a light emerged from the central fountain. A child spirit of glossy, shiny, cyan skin, blank eyes, and a dress appeared. "Hehehehehe! Why, if it isn't Princess Eva! My goodness, how much you've grown! Are these your children?"

"Queen of Ocean Fairies, Danny and Melody." Eva introduced. Her kids bowed. "Danny and Melody, Queen Cerulea, of the Ocean Fairies."

"Pleasure to grace your presence." Cerulea bowed. "You've arrived with wonderful timing. Oceana is-"

"HUUUUUEEEE." Sheldon barfed. Cerulea flew in front of the man, flicked his stomach, and sparked blue glitters. Sheldon stared at his stomach. "Astonishing… What genius could invent a hologram with electrons that shock an upset stomach into submission?"

Cerulea flew above her fountain, frowning sadly. "I'm really glad you're here. Oceana is in danger. A terrible maniac that had long been missing has returned. The citizens are in an uproar. Some are even calling him worse than Davy Jones."

"Worse than Davy Jones?!" Eva exclaimed.

"Well, maybe he isn't THAT bad! But still… you guys better go quickly. I'll send you through the tunnel." A whirlpool spun the ship around and submerged them underneath. They sailed through a speeding current thousands of meters under the sea, where they could gaze at the wonder of millions of fishies. Of course, since Team Emily was already under the sea moments ago, they weren't too awestruck. Besides, this same scene was in Firstborn, they can see it there.

Still, it was safe to say Oceana was one of Earth's wonders. A towering city of corals, shells, and seafloor rock, all encased within an enormous, everlasting air bubble. In the distance was Samiya, the Sea Temple, built with the shiniest and reflective marble. And everywhere were merpeople, Fishmen, or general fish floating about with bubble floaties.

They already heard screaming and shouting coming from downtown. "Cerulea was right, it sounds like." Eva noticed, holding her Phantom Sword ready. "Don't let your guard down."

They rushed to a deep part of town where merpeople were fleeing from. "He's turning down Wailord Road! STOP HIM!" Rows of streetlights and seahorse carriages were ruined ahead. A team of merman guards in golden armor were chasing a familiar yellow sponge with an eager expression.

"Sheesh, fellas, hold the welcome party for later, some of us are overdue on JELLYFISHING!" Spongebob excitedly raised his net.

"CATCH THAT NET AND HAVE IT THROWN IN A VOLCANO!" a guard cried.

"Okay, I'm not big on Spongebob either, but THIS is overreacting." Danny commented.

The guards chased Spongebob into a dead-end alley, cornering him. "I've got bubbles." Spongebob said nervously, pulling out his bottle and wand. "Fun at parties!" He dipped the wand in and blew some.

They hit a guard's eyes. "MY EYES!!" He furiously swung his trident around, knocking the other guards into nearby Fishmen.

"My leg!"

The remaining mermen growled with anger and lit their tridents, slowly approaching to disintegrate the sponge. "Now HANG ON!" Sheldon Cooper jumped in the way. The guards lowered their weapons, seeing this man intended to defend him. "Before you commence with this… I need to see a dry-cleaner ASAP, where is it?"

"…?" The guards pointed to his left. There was a laundry mat with a tailfin logo. "Thank you!" Sheldon smiled gratefully and jogged in there. That's when Eva, Melody, Danny, and Jessie ran in the way.

"But this is as far as you're going!" Eva declared, her arms morphed into water. "What would Kyogre say if his guards were wasting energy over an innocent sponge?"

"THERE he is!" The God of the Sea, the great blue and white whale, Kyogre Neptune, hovered over the area with desperate eyes, and a fleet of swordfish. "ARREST that monster, NOW!"

"HOLD on, Sire!" Sebastian the Crab spoke up. He dropped to the floor, skittered under the guards, and approached the tall, slim, redheaded woman. "Could it be… Princess Eva??"

"Princess?" The guards began murmuring amongst their selves. Eva smiled with pride.

"Yep! Princess of the Sea, Eva Jackson at your service!" She bowed. "And my children, Melody and Danny."

"Holy sea cow!" Sebastian beamed. "Look how much you've grown, Princess! You aren't, um… are you still with that fat human?"

"Ahem." Danny glared.

"Ay guess so."

"Blood-Dad, what is the meaning of this? Why are you calling a Code Red attack on Spongebob?"

"Eva, you've been away for a while, so of course you wouldn't know, but this sponge is an incredible nuisance. So please stand aside so we may have him taken far away."

"Heck no!" Eva absorbed the moist air around her and grew into a colossal water body; though only half as tall as the buildings. "This kid came a long way to meet this sponge, and I can't imagine it's done anything to warrant this much treatment. You better explain what's going on or I'm grilling fish for dinner." Even the kids were terrified at her appearance.

"Very well, Eva." Kyogre spoke. "At least allow us to apprehend and secure him in the palace dungeon. Then I shall explain."

Eva shrunk down to normal. "Fair enough." And she splashed water over to freeze Spongebob in ice.

Sea Palace, Samiya

Eva stayed close to the guards as they carried the unfrozen, handcuffed sponge up the shiny, slippery palace stairs. "Dang, Melody, your mom's a Logia?" Sarah said with amazement.

"She sure is. No matter how she morally words it, she's Queen of the Sea."

"I'm not surprised." Emily said. ". . . . I JUST REALIZED SOMETHING!!" She freaked out. "Sarah, Gary, are you related to Davy Jones?!?"

"Yep." Gary spoke casually. "He's our great-great-great-great-great-great-great uncle. Thrice removed."

Sarah approached a team of mermen with an honest, yet sarcastic smile. "We are terribly sorry for everything he did to you."

"We forgive you." They smiled.

"Well-p, that conflict is taken care of." Emily blushed. "What were we doing? Oh yeah, something to do with Spongebob."

After Eva helped lock Spongebob in the palace dungeon, everyone gathered in the throne room where Kyogre floated. "Ahem… excusing that… chaos a moment ago… welcome to Oceana, children. I would like to believe none of you secretly signaled a fleet of warships this time."

"Humorous as that may be-" Team Emily snickered at Dr. Cooper's garb: golden straps over his top area (mainly covering his breasts), and a metal armored skirt over his underwear. He still wore his shoes and socks, "but I have quite a few complaints about the lack of variety of emergency clothing in your laundry mat. Putting THAT aside, however, I tried to question the manager if the machines were made to clean salt from my garments, but as I don't understand Mermish, I suppose a higher, English-speaking authority will suffice. Also, while I do not understand Oceanic customs, we are guests in your home, and in America, we provide our guests with hot beverages."

"Hurrrrr." Kyogre face-palmed using his right fin of oversized fingers. "Sebastian, bring our guests some drinks."

The little crab scuttled away, mumbling something about 'Humans being allowed in their palace every decade.' "While I wait for that, I believe I'll ask the residents for any, um, less-revealing clothing. At the very least an Aquaman suit…" Sheldon walked away.

"Now, the matter regarding Spongebob." Kyogre changed the subject. "First, I feel I should ask: Why did you come all this way to see him?"

"Because we're fans of his show." Sandy answered. "My brother especially, he-"

"I talk to Spongebob through my dreams and he wanted me to come and meet him." Jessie stated firmly. "So why the *** are you locking him in prison?"

"You talk to him through dreams?"

"Yes, and we go jellyfishing, we bother Shelly and Squidward, we eat Krabby Patties, and don't get me started on my Sabaody Bubbles." Jessie held up his bubble bottle and wand.

"Jessie is really great at blowing bubbles." Sandy spoke brightly. "It's like his superpower or something! …Mr. Kyogre, I was wondering, is there a thing called… bubblebending?"

"Bubblebending, you say? Well, waterbenders have an attack called Bubble Beam, and can rapidly shoot bullet-like bubbles from their mouths. And controlling average bubbles in the air is a child's task. Yet… I do sense an unusual power from this child." He looked at Jessie. "He and Spongebob both possess it. I believe that the two of them are… Bubble Dreamers. Which, in a way, is sort of 'dreambending'."

"Dreambending?" Eva questioned. "Like fearbending can create nightmares?"

"Um; sort of. I am not an expert in the area… but based on Chronicler's knowledge, Bubble Dreamers are incarnations of the Dream Spirit, Polokus. A very powerful non-god entity who could put Bad Dreams to sleep with his power. I am not talking about Darkrai's everyday Nightmares. I am speaking of Dream Spirits who step beyond their boundaries and terrorize the peaceful dreams of mortals. Bubble Dreamers can seal away those spirits. I know of one certain spirit who even the gods feared, that Polokus put to sleep. His name was Bill Cipher. Tell me, Jessie, are your own dreams… peculiar in any way?"

The others looked at him curiously. "Well, I talk to Spongebob a lot, and… he takes me to his friends' dreams. Sometimes I go to my sister's dream, and Joey's. Timmy and Hikari. Oh- hah ha, and Shelly!"

"Very interesting. I heard that Bubble Dreamers were able to enter other peoples' dreams. Without the aid of Dream Spirits as outside assistance. This way, they could find the Bad Dreams and put them to sleep. The people of Oceana can tell you of Spongebob's constant messing with our dreams. Ugh…"

"It sounds like a really interesting power." Eva mentioned. "If Spongebob can do it… maybe it would be worth the while to let him teach Jessie."

"Absolutely not!" Kyogre shouted. "Spongebob is royally a nuisance! HE is the reason that Manaphy is no longer here!"

"WHAT?!"

The Ocean King sighed. "A terrible story, really… You must have met the Queen of Ocean Fairies, Cerulea coming in. She is not the only fairy our people renown. There is also a Fairy Princess—a very beautiful spirit that Cerulea allowed to be one of her own. Majestic and graceful… Princess Lapis. We loved watching her dance at regular parties or gatherings. Then one day—ugh—it feels stupid to talk about it. Spongebob purchased a 'jumbo-sized' jellyfish net and chased a large jellyfish into an outdoor party. He caught Lapis by accident, but he didn't notice, so he mindlessly swung his net around to catch the darn creature. Lapis kept getting hit against the ground. You see, a fairy's ultimate weakness is any kind of net, they're powerless under the things, I don't know why. Eventually, Spongebob broke the core of Lapis's power, her Lazuli Gem. Lapis's mind and energy were distorted, and she fell into an incredible rage. She would have destroyed Oceana, if… Manaphy had not intervened. He used his wonderful voice to soothe Lapis's soul, then led her far away from Oceana. None of our healers could fix Lapis's gem, so he sought to find one that could. Sigh… no one knows where he is now. The least we could do was banish that ungodly sponge."

"Why couldn't YOU do something about Lapis, O Mighty King?" Jessie questioned sarcastically.

"I am not the Mighty King I used to be. Gods sacrifice terrific amounts of power when they bear children—especially Firstborn. I cannot protect my people from powerful invaders… Not too long ago, we entrusted our safety to a band of Candy Pirates, but even they are long gone now. Manaphy and Princess Lapis used to be our primary means of defense, but now… Regardless, I cannot let that sponge roam the streets. He won't find many people in Oceana willing to show him kindness."

"But how else can Jessie learn about this 'Bubble Dreaming'?" Sandy questioned.

"What if we found Manaphy and Lapis and brought them back?" Melody inquired. "If we fixed Lapis somehow?"

"I would be eternally grateful, but it would not change my mind about Spongebob. Still… Jessie's Bubble Dreaming ability is a very important gift. If I recall… there is a forest called the Boggly Woods in Kochi, Japan. The tribe there studies rare and unique abilities such as Bubble Dreaming, and they could teach Jessie what they know. I will allow you to visit Spongebob's dungeon, but he cannot-"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" Sebastian skittered into the room. "The four prisoners we captured earlier escaped, and dey've taken Spongebob with them!"

"What?!"

Everyone rushed outside, seeing a blonde-haired teenager in a brown vest throwing exploding pellets at the merman soldiers, carrying Spongebob in his other arm. Augustus Fizzuras flashed the group a grin and wink behind his sunglasses, making his arm Armament to punch through some guards. A football-headed baby flew overhead with jetpacks and blasted missiles to clear the path, and a spike-haired baby blasted bullets at floating swordfish. "Hold on!!" Sandy shouted. "Those babies worked for the pirates who kidnapped us!"

"Those are members of the Big Mom Pirates!" Kyogre exclaimed. "We caught them breaking into the Candy Factory earlier."

"They're escaping on a submarine!" Eva pointed, noticing the vehicle rise up beyond the bubble barrier. "I'll stop them!" The woman spun into a watery cyclone and flew to the barrier, her Logia body dispersed into bubbles.

The Marzipan Pirates suddenly felt their submarine stop, wrapped around a tentacle-current while Eva's water-made face glared into their front window. Augustus dove out of the bottom hatch, swimming to Eva's head and swinging Armament punches against her. "A-a-a-ah!" Eva shrunk back into human form, her chi blocked as she was forced to hold breath. Two mermen grabbed and carried her back in the bubble, while Augustus returned to the submarine and flew to the surface.

"We can still catch them, let's go!" Melody spoke quickly, leading the others back to their boat.

They sailed through the undersea current again and popped out at Mother & Child Isles. They hurriedly sailed in the direction of Oceana, finding a team of mermen surfing along the sea, chasing an airplane high above. "That must be them!" Emily narrowed her eyes, grabbing her slingshot. "Lock on and we can take 'em down!"

Suddenly, a tiny blue cube landed in Eva's cleavage. "What the-?!" Almost instantly, it grew into the lovable yellow sponge they were trying to rescue.

"Wow, this feels softer than my pillow! Bai-yai-yai-ai-ai!"

"AAAAAAHH!" Eva punched the sponge away from her, grabbing her ripped red top and covering herself. "THE FUCK DID HE COME FROM?!"

"Hey, there's a note on his forehead." Emily took the little paper off. You twerps owe me one. Signed with the Marzipan Jolly Roger. "Um… should we thank them?"

"JESSIIIIEEE!" Spongebob's eyes glittered.

"SPONGEBOOOOOB!" Jessie never looked so happy.

The two hugged lovingly. It was so heartwarming, to finally meet each other in the flesh. …Just how long did these two f**king know each other in Dream Land? That was the question weighing on everyone's minds. They pulled away. "Bai-ai-ai-ai-ai! I'm sorry I haven't seen you in awhile, Jessie. But this scary guy in a dark cloak captured and locked me on that tower! And Neptune knows my real body wasn't anymore mobile than a nutcracker."

"Mister Spongebob, it's a real honor to meet you!" Sandy spoke happily. "We're big fans of your show! So, um, where's Sandy?"

"YOU'RE Sandy! Bai-ai-ai-ai! Ahem, actually, I haven't seen her since I was kidnapped, so um, heheh."

"Well, since we have a moment's peace, maybe you could… tell us about that." Melody requested.

"Hmmm…" Spongebob sat down and scratched his head, "It happened eight years ago, so it's kinda hard to remember… I was kidnapped by some Water Pokémon, and they brought me to a guy with a pink feathery coat. He said a woman named Morgan put him up to it, 'in exchange she doesn't reveal his secret'. Next thing I know, a little girl turns me into a nutcracker. Not like I wasn't doin' that enough already, bai-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah!"

"So Kyogre told us you were a Bubble Dreamer like Jessie." Sandy spoke. "Do you, um, think you could, teach him anything?"

"Well, I dream a lot, and blow bubbles! But that's about it." Spongebob shrugged. "Except for jellyfishing, and fry-cooking! And karatay."

"Either way, we should bring you back to Oceana and have you arrested." Eva came out of the cabin with a black top wrapped around her chest. "But I guess that wouldn't be ethical, would it?"

"What was that place in Japan Kyogre mentioned?" Emily asked. "I was thinking we could go there and see if Sector JP is being attacked by apes. Um… are we missing anybody?"

Sarah's cellphone rang. She wore a moping stare and slowly pulled it out to answer. "Hello."

"SAAAARAAAAAH! Emilyyyyyyy!" Sheldon Cooper sounded like a whining, abandoned child. "You left me all ALONE! With a bunch of scary human-fish experiments! And a laundry mat that made my clothes even soggier! Wah-ah-ah-aaaaahhhh!"

Sarah and Gary had looks that said 'Please let's just leave him.' But Emily glared otherwise. "…I'll wait for my bending to come back and pick him up." Eva said.

KND Arctic Prison

The 45 Twins brought Daphne Anderson to the darkest available corridor, keeping her in chi-cuffs as they pushed her into a cell with a metal door. "Why does Marcus want even more extra security now?" Aaron whispered as they walked away.

"Duh, because this lady's a big deal. She's with the Illuminati or somethin'."

"Those guys are real?"

"I don't know. Either way, they said she had wicked shadowbending, so let's bring a few more blocks."

Daphne sat on the floor, cuffed arms over her legs. Even the dark and cold of this room didn't compare to her. In her mind, however, there was someone she thought about. The thought gave her warmth. "I will save him. Then… you'll save us, won't you. I know you'll always come back for us…" The great, armored figure on the throne. "My King."