Cartoon Universe

More Explanations

The loud burst of Fanboy kicking open the doors to the lobby interrupted any conversation currently going on. Taking a moment to catch his breath and reclaim himself, he pointed to the sponge he was holding up by his arm.

"Ladies and gentlemen! I have an announcement to make!" Fanboy shouted, even though everyone was already paying attention to him. "Spongebob knows about the Orb of Power!"

Whispers spread around the room as Fanboy set Spongebob down. Spongebob felt every eye turn to him once his feet touched the floor. Looks of shock and confusion filled the room. He shrunk back, but Chum Chum pushed him forward, getting a "woah!" out of him.

Chum Chum motioned forward with his hand. "Go on, tell them!" he said cheerfully.

Spongebob gulped, then looked toward the crowd.

Clearing his throat, he laughed nervously. He tried to speak, but not a single word came out of his mouth. Pull yourself together, he thought. It'll be quick.

"Um... hey, guys." Another nervous laugh.

One scrawny dog thing (who went by the name of Ren) in the crowd was not impressed. "Get on with it, you lazy sack!" He shouted.

Spongebob turned to Chum Chum for guidance. But all he did was motion him forward again.

"So, this Orb of Power. I... think I saw it. I was looking for my friend, Patrick, when all of a sudden this light appeared out of the orb. Then I saw another light, and it made me feel really calm, so I touched it and it disappeared. But it came up again, then I blacked out."

Spongebob could feel everyone still focused on him, waiting for him to continue.

"That's all I remember." A moment of silence.

That's when the shouting started. Characters were shouting at each other, at Spongebob, probably to nobody in particular. Things like "I can't believe this!" to "Why didn't you tell us?" erupted in the room. Spongebob unsuccessfully tried to calm them down, but a door slamming open caught everyone's attention, and the shouting stopped.

It was Viacom.

Everyone knew not to talk to Viacom. Especially when he was dressed in his suit and tie, unlike earlier.

Instead of anger, a look of interest crossed his face. He walked over to where Spongebob was, then gave him a good, hard look.

"So," he said, his voice steady and calm. "You've seen the Orb of Power."

Spongebob nodded. "Yes, sir."

More staring. Spongebob shifted nervously.

Viacom turned towards the crowd. "Do you know what all of this means?" Frida raised her hand, although Viacom ignored her.

"It means that Spongebob will be the one to help us find the gemstones. You all should of tried harder."

He turned back to Spongebob, then shook his hand firmly. "Welcome aboard, captain."

Viacom turned back, then left the room.

Spongebob blinked. Everyone in the crowd was scowling at him, no doubt feeling like he was hogging all the glory.

Spongebob turned away and went back to his room, but he could still feel the angry eyes of everyone in the lobby.

How could he have known?

Why was everyone acting like this?

~~~

While Spongebob was thinking to himself on the way to his room, something was amiss in one of the empty rooms. Inside the room, a small purple imp watched a screen on his handheld device. He was an ugly little creature, his nose long and pointy, his ears too big for his small head. He let out a scratchy laugh as he closed his device.

"Ooooh, this is just perfect!" He said triumphantly, clenching a fist towards the sky. "Wait till Phantom hears about this! He'll be so happy! Why, I might even get a promotion!"

Tucking his device into his brown knapsack, he climbed on the ledge of the window. Jumping forward, he let his wings out and flew towards the sky. Waiting for him was an opening black portal, which he flapped to before it closed on him.

Suffice to say, nobody in the Cartoon Inn was safe anymore.