//------------------------------// // Returning to Bikini Bottom/The Story of the Four Ocean Spirits // Story: G5 Adventures in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run // by ponydog127 //------------------------------// All was still in the midst of the ocean... at least, until a large amount of bubbles exploded through the water, just before a swirling portal opened. Out from this portal swam the Mane 6 and Sparky, now in their underwater forms (sea-ponies and a tropical fish), causing them to look around. “Aww yeah!” Hitch said as he looked at his tail. “We’re sea-ponies again!” “And that means one thing and one thing only!” Sunny smiled. “We’re back near Bikini Bottom!” “Do you think SpongeBob and the others need our help with Plankton again?” Misty wondered. “I mean… I don’t think Plankton is ALL bad.” “Maybe,” Zipp said. “We better get to the Krusty Krab and find out, though.” “Hey, look!” Pipp pointed down the hill to see the Krusty Krab not too far away. “There it is, just down that hill! And it looks busy, like always.” The group swam down to the building and looked inside through the windows. While the customers seemed normal, there was something kind of different in the restaurant. Queen Skygrace, the famed queen of the hippogriffs/sea-ponies, was sitting in a corner of the restaurant, reading to several sea-pony foals and some fish kids, and all were very interested... ...until one of the foals, SpongeBob's little sea-unicorn companion Tropic Dancer saw them and burst out the door. “PONIES!!!” The ponies groaned as they tumbled to the ground at the impact of Tropic’s hug, but hugged her back nonetheless. “I can’t believe you’re really here!” she squealed. “I was worried you were never gonna come back!” “Of course we would come back,” Zipp said as they got up. “We just weren’t sure when yet.” “Tropic!” SpongeBob cried as he and Arctic Pearl, Tropic’s twin sister, came to the door. “Are you okay? I… oh, hi, Sunny! Hi, everypony!” “SpongeBob! Oh, it’s so good to see you again! You too, Arctic!” Sunny said as she gave them a hug. “We’re back for another Unity Quest, and we thought we would come by and see you.” “You came on the perfect day! Queen Skygrace and Princess Riverstream are getting ready to tell us a story!” Arctic spoke. “Come and sit with us! SpongeBob’s gonna make us all some lunch later.” “Hey, I’m always down for a story if it means I get to rest my hooves and fins,” Hitch said. “And if Sparky is occupied.” “We could learn a few things as to what our Unity Quest is,” Zipp shrugged, “so yeah-- we’d love to.” The twins and SpongeBob led their friends inside, where Skygrace and Riverstream swam over upon seeing their friends. “My, it’s good to see you ponies again!” Skygrace smiled. “A Unity Quest brought you, I assume?” “You bet your glitter it did!” Izzy chirped. “But we wanted to come see you and listen to your story!” “And even better,” said Arctic, pushing two more foals over to them, “you can meet our new best friends!” Sunny and the the Mane 6 looked at one another in surprise before glancing down at the foals that were brought before them. The first was a purple filly, a few shades darker than Izzy, with green eyes, a light and dark pink mane and tail with blue streaks,, pink fins, darker purple hooves and a cutie mark of a storm cloud on her back fin.  And the other young sea-pony was a colt with a short orange and blue mane, the same colors on his fin, blue eyes, darker red hooves and a cutie mark of a volcano on his back fin. After the ponies looked at the two for a minute, SpongeBob stepped in to make introductions. “Guys, this is India Stormchaser and Volcano Spark. They’re staying with Sandy and Mr. Krabs for a little while, cause… well…” “We were taken from our homes,” Volcano scoffed with a sneer. “It isn’t that hard to say.” “Volcano!” India whispered scoldingly. “You don’t need to be rude!” “...sorry…” Volcano apologized. “I just… I hate being in foster care! Ponies look at you in different ways when the truth comes out!” “Hey… it’s okay,” Sunny said gently. “We won’t judge. We promise.” “...wow, thanks,” India smiled. “Your Highness, are you and Riverstream gonna start the story now?” “We certainly are,” Skygrace smiled. “Come on, ponies!” Riverstream said, tugging Izzy and Misty forward. “You can sit next to me!” The ponies followed their friends to the circle and sat down on the floor while SpongeBob got ready to serve the Krabby Patties he was fixing.  At the same time, Skygrace sat down in her makeshift throne before she cleared her throat and began the story. “Back when I was little, my mother would tell me the story of the fabled ocean spirits-- mystical beings who had the power of the elements; plants, ice, storms and fire. These spirits would need to choose their new host every 50 years or so, cause no mortal can hold the power of the spirits forever. The spirits would choose those who are worthy, and kind at heart, to take command of their powers and protect their homes if they would need to, because if someone had malevolent intentions and used the spirits’ powers, bad things would happen.” India gulped nervously at this. “So… no pressure or anything, choosing a random stranger who seems worthy.” “So… has anyone from Bikini Bottom ever been chosen?” Tropic asked curiously. “Not that I’ve ever heard of, no,” Skygrace shook her head. “But… there is always a chance that it could happen someday.” “Wow…” “Uh… sis?” Riverstream whispered. “I hate to put a damper on the party, but we gotta go-- we have to head to the Sea-Pony Summit before sundown!” “Oh… you’re right!” Skygrace looked at the clock. “Sorry, my little ones. We have to be on our way now.” Needless to say… no one was really happy. “Aww, no fair!” “You just got here!” “We wanna hear more of the story!” That’s when Zipp and Sunny swam forward to calm the kids down. “Hey, don’t worry, kiddos,” said Zipp. “Me and my friends can always tell you about one of our adventures up in the surface world. I’m sure it can be just as fun as Queen Skygrace’s story about the spirits.” “Trust me, they’re really cool!” Tropic vouched for the ponies. “They’re literal heroes!” Slowly, the other kids began to agree, and Skygrace sighed and looked at the Mane 6 with a smile. “Thank you all so much. I hope to see you again soon, but we have to get to the summit and make sure all the sea-ponies in the ocean colonies aren’t going to go to war.” “You girls go on ahead,” said Sunny. “Have a safe trip!” The royal sea-pony sisters took their leave, leaving Sunny to sit on the throne while SpongeBob served everybody some Krabby Patties. “Now… I think a good story to start is with how we met SpongeBob and the others. It all started one day in Equestria, trying to figure out a way to defeat an evil fire alicorn…” XXXXXXXX Needless to say, all the kids loved the story that Sunny and her friends told, and after storytime was over, the parents and Sandy came to pick up Volcano and the other kids, leaving India looking after the Krusty Krab for a while. That left SpongeBob to take Arctic home, and Tropic and the Mane 6 decided to accompany them. “Thanks for taking me home, guys,” Arctic smiled. “I hope you guys find your Unity Quest… and I really hope it isn’t anything dangerous like last time.” “You and us both, sister,” Pipp spoke up. “I am NOT in the mood for anything dangerous right now.” “Arctic! You’re home!” Patrick said, running to hug her, but quickly changing direction once he saw the Mane 6. “SUNNY!!” Sunny squeaked as Patrick enveloped her in a bone-crushing hug, and chuckled after catching her breath. “Those hugs are never gonna change, are they, Patrick?” she asked with a chuckle. “Anyway, it’s good to see you too.” “Can you guys come stay at my house?” Patrick asked. “There’s plenty of room aside from Arctic and me!” “Uh… Patrick, sweetie? I love you dearly, but I am not staying underneath a rock,” Pipp spoke gently. “Living under rocks and being a pop-star princess just don’t mix.” “But don’t worry!” Hitch reassured. “We’ll be here for a little while, so we can definitely come over one time.” “Great!” Arctic chirped before yawning. “We better get inside for bedtime, Patrick… I spent all day helping set up for Queen Skygrace’s visit, and I am absolutely beat! Will we see you guys tomorrow?” “Sure,” Tropic nodded. “Surprisingly, Mr. Krabs is giving us the day off for his ‘money counting day’, so we’ll have plenty of time to hang out and catch up.” “Well, then I guess we’ll see you both tomorrow!” Misty waved goodbye before the groups set off to their homes/temporary resting places.  XXXXXXXX Soon, night was falling, and SpongeBob and Tropic were getting ready for bed, as well as setting up some sleeping bags for the ponies. “So, Tropic, you seem to have really come out of your shell since we last saw you,” Zipp smiled. “What changed?” “Well, after you guys left from helping us get King Neptune’s crown back,” said Tropic, “I realized that the past was the past, and I couldn’t change anything about Grandpa’s abuse. So… I decided to embrace this new life to the fullest, and me and Arctic and the rest of our friends are really happy being together.” “We’re glad things are turning out well for you,” Sunny smiled. “Things just keep getting crazier and crazier for us… even leading us to the Dragon Lands and defeating an evil snow leopard.” “Whoa… that sounds a little crazy, even for me,” SpongeBob commented. “Hey… has anyone seen Gary?” “Here he is!” Izzy swam up the stairs with Gary in her hooves. “Little guy was sleeping downstairs, and I thought he should be up with SpongeBob for the night.” Gary meowed as he was sat down before he crawled up to SpongeBob and laid on the bed with him, while Tropic got in her little bed right beside SpongeBob's. “Well… we’ll see you ponies in the morning,” SpongeBob yawned. “Then we can help you find whatever your Unity Quest is about…” “Good night…” “Sleep tight, SpongeBob!” “Night, Tropic!” “Night, everypony.” And so, everyone settled down for a pleasant night's rest and an upcoming day of fun... unaware of the dangers and tasks they would have to face within a few days' time.