Beauty and the Squid

Chapter Twelve: Beauty and the Squid

Meanwhile, back at the castle, Squidward was getting ready for tonight. He had asked a question that had changed everything. He was having a bath, explaining everything to Spongebob, Mrs. Puff, Mr. Krabs, and Sandy.

"Well, I saw her in the ballroom and said, 'You're making everything look so beautiful. We should have a dance tonight'. I never imagined she'd actually say yes! What was I thinking?"

"No, Master. It's perfect!" Spongebob said, "The rose has only four petals left which means tonight you can tell her how you feel."

Squidward stood up from behind the curtain, "I feel like a fool. She will never love me."

"Do not be discouraged. She is the one."

"I wish you'd stop saying that!" Squidward put on his dressing gown and sat in front of his dressing table, "There is no one."

"You care for her, don't you?" Squidward nodded at Spongebob's question, "Well, then, woo her with beautiful music and romantic candlelight."

"Yes, and when the moment's just right..." Sandy giggled and flapped her tail a little

"Well, how will I know?" Squidward asked

"You will feel slightly nauseous," Mr. Krabs told him

"Don't worry, Master. You'll do fine," Spongebob assured Squidward

"Just stop being so nervous and tell (Y/N) how you feel," Mrs. Puff told him, "Because if you don't, I promise you'll be drinking cold tea for the rest of your days!"

"In the dark," Spongebob added

"Covered in dust," Sandy also added

"Dark and very, very dusty.

Spongebob clapped his hands together, telling everyone it was time to prepare Squidward for his dance with (Y/N). They shined Squidward's head while Mrs. Puff helped to clean off Squidward's slimy tentacles. And a coathanger brushed Squidward's teeth just to be sure. As they worked, Sandy put on some powdered paint and put a white, powered wing on his head. They turned Squidward to the mirror to see his new look. But it didn't look right at all. Seeing how this idea didn't work out too well, Spongebob was ready to try and fix it.

Meanwhile, in the East Wing, Karen had been dressing (Y/N) in a big, yellow ballgown with a golden necklace, vine earrings that wrapped around her ear, and some gold leaves to keep her hair in a bun. But, even so, Karen felt as if something was still missing. So, she had the golden vines hanging around the room turn into flakes and put themselves onto (Y/N)'s dress as some final, shining details.

Now that she was ready, (Y/N) stood at the stairs of the East Wing, waiting for Squidward. When Squidward arrived, he wore a long, red tailcoat. As he saw (Y/N), he was starting to feel his nervousness go away. Besides, he was about to dance with the most beautiful girl he had ever met in years. They both made their way down the stairs to meet each other. When they did, the two held hands as Squidward led them down the final set of stairs.

'Tale as old as time. True as it can be. Barely even friends, then somebody bends unexpectedly.'

The two made it to the ballroom. Everything had been cleaned and shined for the two and every candle in the room had been lit.

'Just a little change. Small to say the least. Both a little scared. Neither one prepared. Beauty and the Squid.'

As they made their way into the center of the ballroom, (Y/N) curtsied to Squidward while he bowed to her. Standing upright, (Y/N) offered her hands to Squidward. He looked at her rather surprised that (Y/N) was the one wanting to make the first move. Yet he didn't argue. He took (Y/N)'s hands and they began to dance.

'Ever just the same. Ever a surprise. Ever as before. Ever just as sure as the sun will rise! Tale as old as time. Tune as old as song. Bittersweet and strange. Finding you can change. Learning you were wrong.'

As they danced, the lights suddenly dimmed as Squidward pulled (Y/N) close to him, slowly putting her in a dip before bringing her back up and lifting her, spinning her around.

'Certain as the sun. Rising in the east. Tale as old as time. Song as old as rhyme. Beauty and the Squid.'

As their dance ended, Squidward and (Y/N) held hands as they made their way to the balcony.

'Tale as old as time. Song as old as rhyme. Beauty and the Squid.'

With arms linked, they both walked out onto the balcony where they looked out into the night sky. Squidward let out a breath as he finally took in the dance the two just shared

"I haven't danced in years," Squidward said out of breath as (Y/N) laughed a little, "I'd almost forgotten the feeling."

Squidward caught his breath as he tried to think on what to say next.

"It's foolish, I suppose... for a creature like me to hope... that one day he might earn your affection," Squidward said, turning to (Y/N)

(Y/N) turned to him, "I don't know."

"Really? You think you could be happy here?"

(Y/N) hesitated for a moment, making Squidward slightly worried as to what (Y/N) might say.

"Can anybody be happy if they aren't free?" (Y/N) asked Squidward.

Squidward didn't know how to respond, knowing that the only thing in the way of them loving each other may be (Y/N)'s lack of freedom. Perhaps even his too. Both were trapped in this castle for two different reasons. Both reasons were just as bad. But Erik knew he made a mistake by trying to trap (Y/N) here. The two stayed quiet, looking out to the night sky.

"My mother taught me to dance," (Y/N) broke the silence, "I used to step on her toes a lot."

"You must miss her," Squidward commented, no longer feeling hate towards her father.

"Very much."

Squidward then got an idea, "Would you like to see her?"

Taking her to the West Wing, Squidward showed her the mirror he would use to see anything he wanted. This would also show (Y/N) her motther at this very moment. Giving her the mirror, (Y/N) asked it to see her mother. Only to see a sight she never expected to see. Maddie was being thrown around by the three men Squilliam had called forward. But they seemed to be dragging him somewhere as they weren't in the tavern

"Mama! What are they doing to her? She... She's in trouble!"

Seeing the scene, Squidward knew what choice he had to make, "Then you must go to her."

(Y/N) looked at him in surprise, "What did you say?"

"You must go to her. No time to waste."

Squidward didn't know if this was the right or wrong choice, but he didn't want to be responsible for forcing (Y/N) to stay in the castle while her mother was being hurt or worse. While he wouldn't do it for his own father, he knew how much (Y/N) cared for her mother. And it would be cruel of him not to let (Y/N) go to help her mother. Realising that he was letting her go, (Y/N) tried to hand the mirror back. But Squidward stopped her.

"No... you keep it with you. Then you'll always have a way to look back on me," Squidward told her

"Thank you."

(Y/N) started to walk away. But she was still unsure that Squidward was letting her leave. But, when he showed no signs of stopping her, she started to rush off, knowing that her father needed her now. Squidward watched her leave with pain in his eyes. He didn't want to let her go. But he also knew that this was the best choice. And he wasn't going to force himself to change his mind.