Plankton's Hardest Lesson by AndyIsConfused As Spongebob fell to the Krusty Krab floor, Plankton knew he'd gone too far. Many of his schemes before were tricking the sponge into trusting him, but never had he caused physical harm to. Plankton felt his heart sink and tears fill his eye as Spongebob spoke, "But… We were supposed to be… friends forever…" He said before his legs gave in and he landed on his side. All at once, Sheldon was hit with memories. Memories of times the optimistic Sponge had been kind and friendly with him, despite all his schemes. Hugs, cookies, smiles, even being lifted higher to see what was happening. All the times Plankton was greeted happily, despite how the entire town treated him in contrast. And all the times Spongebob has swallowed his food, smiling pretending to enjoy it, even if it was a lie. No. This wasn't what he wanted. He wanted a popular restaurant, to be respected, revenge on Krabs. But Spongebob hadn't done anything wrong, he wasn't his target. He felt sick to his stomach as he heard a cry from a familiar friend of the delightful sponge, Patrick, had come to visit his friend, only to see him on the floor, and could only freeze as he watched the events unfold, Patrick running to Spongebob. He was sure that the star was screaming, but Plankton couldn't focus, only the way it sounded, shaking him to his very core. That sound… the pain in his cry. It was horrific. He never heard anything like it. Squidward ran in, followed by Mr. Krabs, Squidward frantically calling an ambulance as Eugene picked plankton up. "Krabs, I can explain! I never meant-... I didn't know he was-" "I see what you're willing to lose for your revenge, now." Eugene's voice was monotone as he popped Sheldon into a glass bottle. Patrick fell to his hands and knees, shaking and crying. After collecting themselves as best as they could, they all walked to the hospital. Plankton being forced to confront what he'd done by Eugene Krabs, himself. In a glass bottle on a lamp table in a hospital waiting room. He looked around before he glanced up to see his nemesis glaring daggers into him, "So… uh… Pretty cloudy today, huh, Krabs?" "I want you to explain yourself. Revenge against me didn't need to involve the kid." He knocked the bottle to its side, making Sheldon fall over with it. Sheldon sighed, "My intention wasn't ever to hurt the boy, Krabs. He's a dumb little angel. My intention was to… I-... I was trying to break into your safe and he got in the way. I panicked! That little idiot was gonna call the cops again and I just wanted him to stop, forever!" He realized what he'd said as he said it. What in this blue ocean had he become? When did the life of a young adult become less of a priority than his revenge? He ran his hands along his antennae, "I… never wanted to hurt that sweet idiot, Krabs…" "You're so full of it!" Sandy, trudging over to Plankton, lifting his container to her face so she could look him in the eye, "You got caught and your first instinct is to hurt the nicest creature in the ocean? After all the love he gives you?" She was tearing up, "Spongebob had plans for your birthday! He has your christmas gifts for the next six years in his closet the same as everyone else in Bikini Bottom!" She turned to the nearest wall and brought her arm back. Plankton knew he was about to be thrown, but a tentacle on her wrist stopped her from throwing. "Sandy… What would he say if he could see you, right now?" Squidward's voice was calm, but also tight, like it was stuck in his throat so he wouldn't cry. "When's Spongebob coming out?" Asked the pink starfish, "We… We have to see Mermaid Man tonight. He promised." He looked to squidward who sighed and sat next to him, patting his back, wordlessly. Patrick curled his legs into his chair to hug them before burying his face, "I miss Spongebob!" He cried as his two friends did their best to comfort him. Plankton stayed seated in his confinement, this time, looking to Mr. Krabs, "I… Don't know how to fix this, Krabs." Eugene looked at him with a shocked expression, "Fix? You can't fix this… But you can stay here and watch how much this action of yours hurts the folks around him. Feel bad. Be ashamed. Maybe then I'll know you're not a complete monster." Plankton nodded before looking away from everyone. He… wanted to apologize to spongebob. But he wasn't sure if he'd ever get the chance. Plankton felt sick. His stomach flipped and turned before he remembered, something, "Hey… Psst! Hey, Squid! HEY!" Squidward lifted his head from Patrick's shoulder, wiping drool from the Starfish's mouth and making a disgusted face as he ran his tentacle along the back of a nearby lamp. He turned to Plankton, "What?" He whispered with a hiss, "If you wake this pink idiot, I'm shaking you until you stop moving!" Hostility. Fair, given what Plankton had done to Spongebob. "Uh… The sponge. He has a pet, right?" Plankton cleared his throat and gulped, "I don't remember what it is, but I know he has one. He's constantly gushing about it." "Gary, a snail." Squidward sighed and lifted the bottle to eye level, "Why do you care?" Plankton was a little stumped at the question, "I… Um… I don't kn-" "Yes, you do!" Squid interrupted, "Just spit it out." "Fine!...." Sheldon rubbed his face and groaned, "The kid… He's a good guy. He never hurts anyone. Maybe he's misunderstandings, but… He's good… And I made some stupid robot… do what it did. And I didn't even understand what I meant when I said destroy until I saw… It lasted too long and then he… was on the floor…" Plankton covered his mouth, his body was quivering. He took a deep breath before he touched his cheek. When… When had he started crying? "So it really was just an accident." Squid seemed to be less shocked about this than he should be, "Because I'll rip off your antennae, squish you until my leg is tired, and Spongebob is the only bright part of my life. That little idiot is my sunshine. Do you understand?" Plankton nodded at this before Squidward placed him back on the table. He watched him lay his head back, cross his arms, and go back to sleep. He felt strange that he was less worried about his own demise and more worried about the kid. He hoped Spongebob survived… He hoped he could apologize, to be there during his recovery to take care of him… Only Spongebob would have enough heart to give him another chance. He didn't deserve one. He knew that, but… Spongebob deserves a long life, only ending in old age. Plankton needed to stay awake until the doctor returned with news. Sheldon wasn't sure when it was that he finally fell asleep like the others, but his dream was riddled with guilt. He wasn't replaying the event over and over. That wasn't really how dreams even worked. No. It had himself and Spongebob, but that was about the only similarity to real life. He seemed to be running to the boy, in his nightmare. Attempting to catch up to him and stop him. The young man was over the edge of a cliff and looking down. He tried to scream to catch his attention, but not only was he too far and not gaining any momentum, he was too small for the young man to even hear. This seemed like a hopeless scenario. It only ended when the dream Spongebob turned to face Plankton. "Wake up." Said the voice. But… it didn't belong to Spongebob. That sounded like… Krabs? He awoke with a start, heart pounding in his chest and hands shaking, "Wh-What's going on." He asked before he noticed the man in the white coat and stethoscope, "Oh... " There were only two possible answers to expect, "Is he-...?" "He's alive. He should make a full recovery." Interrupted the deep voiced man. Plankton sighed with relief, "However… None of this is going to be cheap." For the first time since knowing the red crab, Plankton was shocked at what his nemesis said next, "Talk to me about the money issues. The boy ain't got enough to survive on, much less afford medical care." Sheldon blinked his eye in disbelief, "You… You're serious? No! No way! This is my fault, I should-" "You have a failing business, Plankton." Eugene interrupted, "You ain't gonna afford squat." "I'll sell machines. Devices!" Sheldon insisted, standing in his bottle, "I can't do nothing! I did this!" His volume rose, voice cracking. Eugene sighed, "Fine… Fine. You can help if the kid doesn't press charges." Sandy cleared her throat, "He won't. We all know that." The group nodded. Spongebob was far too kind. Mr. Krabs pulled back the curtain to reveal a very pale Spongebob. Plankton felt his gut twist again, "The Squid stole your house keys, Squarepants." Plankton said before really even realizing he was speaking. A very soft and raspy laugh escaped the sponge, "I gave them to him. He's going to take Gary to his house until I'm better again." That smile. Even after all this, the kid was smiling. How can he be so optimistic? He watched the sponge look to Krabs, "Hi, Mr. Krabs. S-Sorry I can't work for a bit." It was at those words when the stoic crab began to lose his composure, Krabs sat on the bed, "Don't be blaming yourself, you hear? Just focus on being my frycook, again… okay?" His voice wavered as he gently touched the boy's shoulder. "Okay, Mr. Krabs. I'll do my best." He promised. "I know you will, lad. I know." Eugene said as he stood back up, setting Plankton down on Spongebob's bedside table. Cartoons » SpongeBob SquarePants English, Angst & Drama, Words: 2k+ Sep 27 2020

TRUTH AND NAIL v Finally, the car pulled into the driveway, and Karen turned off the engine. She looked back at Plankton, his chest rising and falling with each snore. "We're home," she said, her voice a gentle nudge. His eye flickered open, his gaze still unfocused. Karen stepped out of the car, opened the door and unbuckled his seatbelt, his body still limp. "Wha..." Plankton mumbled as she gently nudged him awake. His eye blinked slowly, the world coming back into focus. "Home?" he asked, his voice a hoarse whisper. Karen nodded, a soft smile playing on her screen. "Yes, darling, we're home," she said, her voice like a warm embrace. "Let's get you inside." But then Sponge Bob shows up at their door. “Hi guys! Where have you been?” Karen's smile was bright despite her exhaustion. "Plankton just had his wisdom teeth out," she explained, her voice a gentle whisper as Plankton noticed Sponge Bob. Sponge Bob's face lit up. "Oh no, buddy!" he exclaimed, his voice full of concern and empathy. "How ya feeling?" Plankton blinked at him, his gaze unfocused, his mouth half open in a sleepy smile. "Wis...dom...teef?" he slurred. Karen couldn't help but laugh at the sight, her heart swelling with love for her goofy husband. "Yeah, buddy," she said, helping him to his feet. He swayed a bit, his legs still wobbly from the anesthesia. "Let's get you to the couch." Plankton leaned heavily on her, his steps exaggerated and unsteady. Everything was a blur, but the warmth of Karen's body was a comforting constant. Sponge Bob goes in with them. "Let's get you comfortable," she murmured, guiding him to the couch. His eye closed, his head lolling back. "No, no," she laughed gently, pushing him forward. "Just a bit more." Plankton's snores grew softer as she maneuvered his body, his weight sagging against her. "Karen?" he mumbled, his voice a sleepy whisper as SpongeBob sat by him. Her smile grew, her screen twinkling. "Yeah, honey?" Plankton's eye rolled back, his words slurred but earnest. "I love you." It was a declaration so out of place and so unexpected that Karen froze for a moment, her heart swelling. Sponge Bob's smile grew wider, his eyes sparkling. "Aw, Plankton," he said, his voice full of warmth. "You're feeling the love of the anesthesia, aren't ya?" Karen couldn't help but laugh, the tension of the day lifting slightly. "I guess he's feeling extra affectionate," she said, her voice a playful tease. Sponge Bob chuckled, his laughter bubbly and infectious. "Looks like it," he said, patting Plankton's shoulder. "You take it easy, buddy." But Plankton's mind was stuck in a loop, his words a jumble of slurred affection. "Spongey...Spongey..." he murmured, his eye half- closed and his smile lopsided. Sponge Bob leaned in, his face a mask of concern. "You okay, Plankton?" Plankton's eye rolled to meet his, a sleepy smile spreading across his swollen face. "You...Spongey... youw my besht...besht...buddy," he slurred, his voice a thick, sloppy mess of words. His arm flopped over, slapping Sponge Bob on the side with a half-hearted pat. Sponge Bob's laughter filled the room, bubbly and genuine. "Aw, Plankton, you're too much," he said, his voice full of affection. Plankton's smile grew slower, his head lolling to one side. "Yew...yew are...are my besht...buddy," he managed, his arm flopping around like a ragdoll's. Sponge Bob took his hand, holding it tight. "And you're mine too, buddy," he said, his voice warm. "Besh...buddy...Spongey," Plankton murmured, his voice like a sleepy child's. He tried to focus, his eye blinking in the bright living room light. Sponge Bob's smile was a beacon in the fog. "You had a big day." Plankton's head nodded slowly, his eye half-closed. "Big...day," he echoed, his voice a slur. His hand found its way to Sponge Bob's arm, gripping it with surprising strength. "You...you...were there." Sponge Bob looked at Karen, his expression a mix of confusion and amusement. "Yeah, I'm here for ya," he said, his voice gentle. Plankton's grip tightened, his eye still half-closed. "No, no," he murmured, his words thick and slow. "You...you were...were...were there...always." His voice trailed off, a hint of emotion in the slurred sentence. Sponge Bob's confusion deepened, his gaze flicking to Karen for guidance. Her laugh was a soft chime, her screen alight with joy. "It's just the meds, Sponge Bob," she said, her voice a gentle reminder. "He's still pretty out of it." Plankton's head lolled back. "They took...my...teefth," he slurred dramatically, his voice a theatrical whine. "All four of them!" His arms flailed in the air like he was recounting a battle with a sea monster. Sponge Bob's eyes went wide. "All at once?" he gasped, his sponge-like form leaning forward with curiosity. "How'd you manage that?" Plankton's hand waved dramatically. "They...they...they put me in a chair," he slurred, his voice rising with each word. "And then...then they...took...my...TEefth!" He pronounced it with the gravity of a Shakespearean actor, drawing out the 'f' for maximum impact. Sponge Bob's eyes grew rounder, his smile still plastered on his face. "Wow, Plankton, sounds like you had quite the adventure!" Plankton's chuckle was a strange sound. He threw his hands up, his body swaying with the motion. "They...they had these...these...things!" He paused dramatically, his eye squinting as if trying to remember. "Needleth?" Sponge Bob's eyes went wider, his curiosity piqued. "Needles??" Plankton's head nodded exaggeratedly, his smile now a full-on grin. "Yes, yes needleths!" Sponge Bob leaned in, his eyes wide with fascination. "How’d they you to sleep with needles?" he asked, his voice filled with wonder. Plankton's eye closed, his face a mask of dramatic remembrance. "They...they put this...this...tube," he said, his fingers tracing an invisible line on his arm, "and then... whoosh!" His arm fell lifelessly to his side, his head lolling back. "I was in... space... then...the I was...gone." His smile was serene, his mind lost in the fog of the anesthesia. Sponge Bob's eyes sparkled with laughter. "Then what happened as you woke up?" Plankton's head jerked up, his gaze wild. "Woke up?" he murmured, his voice dreamy. "They...they had these lights..." He waved his hand in the air, describing a constellation that only he could see. "Bright lights...so bright... like stars...stars in my veins!" Sponge Bob leaned back, his laughter bubbling up. "Stars in your veins?" he repeated, his voice full of delight. Plankton nodded, his expression earnest. "Yes, yes stars," he murmured, his eye half-closed. "They shone so brightly, and then..." He paused, his fingers twitching. "They...they...took my teefth!" His voice grew loud with accusation. Sponge Bob couldn't help but laugh, his giggles filling the room. Karen just watched, her heart full. Plankton was rarely this affectionate, especially with Sponge Bob. It was a side of him she hadn't seen in ages, and she found it strangely charming. Plankton leaned into his newfound friendliness, his arm sliding over Sponge Bob's shoulder. "You...you make me...happy," he slurred, his eye half-closed. Sponge Bob's smile grew even wider, his laughter now a full-on chuckle. "Well, that's what friends are for," he said, his voice warm and gentle. Karen watched, her heart swelling with joy at the sight of her husband, usually so stern and focused, being this tender and open. "You're so funny when you're like this," she said, her voice a soft laugh. Plankton's smile grew slower, his hand reaching out to poke at Sponge Bob's side. Plankton's face lit up with glee. "So...squishy," he murmured, his voice full of wonder as he gave him a gentle pat. Sponge Bob's laughter was a delighted squeak. "What's gotten into you, Plankton?" he asked, his eyes twinkling. Plankton's grin was silly and wide, his head lolling to one side. "The...stars...Spongey," he murmured, his voice a sleepy whisper. "They're still in me." His hand reached out again, poking Sponge Bob's side with a gentle touch. "So squishy..." Sponge Bob giggled, his laughter like bubbles in the ocean. "You're a funny guy, Plankton," he said, his voice full of amusement. Plankton's hand paused, his finger hovering over Sponge Bob's side. "Am...am I?" he asked, his voice a slurred question. "I feel... funny." His head tilted, his eye looking at his finger with curiosity. Sponge Bob nodded, his laughter bubbling up. "You sure are, buddy," he said, his voice filled with warmth.

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ᴸⁱᵃʳ ᴸⁱᵃʳ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏ'ˢ ᵒⁿ ᶠⁱʳᵉ ⁽ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᴮᵒᵇ ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜ⁾ "ᴾᵉʳʰᵃᵖˢ ᵍᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ʲᵉˡˡʸ ʷⁱˡˡ ᵈʳⁱᵛᵉ ᶜᵘˢᵗᵒᵐᵉʳˢ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ᵇᵘᶜᵏᵉᵗ!" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʰᵉᵃʳˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷʰⁱˡˢᵗ ⁱⁿ ʲᵉˡˡʸᶠⁱˢʰ ᶠⁱᵉˡᵈˢ⸴ ʷʰᵉⁿ ˢᵘᵈᵈᵉⁿˡʸ⸴ ᵃ ˢᵗᵒʳᵐ ᶜˡᵒᵘᵈ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ‧ ᴸⁱᵍʰᵗⁿⁱⁿᵍ ˢᵘᵈᵈᵉⁿˡʸ ˢᵗʳⁱᵏᵉˢ ᵃ ᵈʸⁱⁿᵍ ᶜᵒʳᵃˡ ᵗʳᵉᵉ⸴ ᶜᵃᵗᶜʰⁱⁿᵍ ⁱᵗ ᵒⁿ ᶠⁱʳᵉ‧ ᴵᵗ ˢᵖʳᵉᵃᵈ ʳᵃᵖⁱᵈˡʸ ⁿᵒʷ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ⁿᵒʷ ˢᵘʳʳᵒᵘⁿᵈᵉᵈ ᵇʸ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠˡᵃᵐᵉˢ⸴ ʰᵉ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗᵉᵈ ᵍᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ʰᵒᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ʷⁱˡᵈ ᶠⁱʳᵉ ᶜᵃᵘˢᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ᵗᵒ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵈⁱᶠᶠⁱᶜᵘˡᵗʸ ᵇʳᵉᵃᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵖʳᵒᵖᵉʳˡʸ‧ ᵁⁿᵃᵇˡᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵉˢᶜᵃᵖᵉ ᶠˡᵃᵐᵉˢ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ⁿᵒʷ ᵒᵛᵉʳʷʰᵉˡᵐᵉᵈ⸴ ˢᵒ ʰᵉ'ˢ ᶠᵃⁱⁿᵗᵉᵈ/ᵖᵃˢˢᵉᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ‧ ᴸᵘᶜᵏⁱˡʸ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠⁱʳᵉ ᵈⁱᵉᵈ ᵈᵒʷⁿ ᵇᵘᵗ ᵘⁿᶠᵒʳᵗᵘⁿᵃᵗᵉˡʸ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ʳᵉⁿᵈᵉʳᵉᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵘⁿᶜᵒⁿˢᶜⁱᵒᵘˢ‧ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʳᵃⁿ ᵗʰʳᵒᵘᵍʰ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠˡᵃᵐᵉˢ ᵇʸ ʲᵘᵐᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᵒᵛᵉʳ ᵗᵒ ˢᵉᵉ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢᶜᵒᵒᵖ ʰⁱᵐ ᵘᵖ ⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ʰᵃⁿᵈˢ‧ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʳᵘⁿˢ⸴ ᵖᵘˡˡⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱᵐ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠⁱʳᵉ‧ ᴰᵉˢᵖⁱᵗᵉ ᵇᵉⁱⁿᵍ ᵃᵇˡᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵇʳᵉᵃᵗʰᵉ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʳᵉᵐᵃⁱⁿᵉᵈ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ᵃⁿᵈ ˡⁱᵐᵖˡʸ‧ "ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ᵇᵘʳⁿⁱⁿᵍ ᵘᵖ‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ˢᵃʸˢ‧ ᴴᵉ ʳᵉᵃˡⁱˢᵉᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷᵒⁿ'ᵗ ʷᵃᵏᵉ ᵘᵖ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ʰⁱˢ ᵇᵒᵈʸ ᶜᵃⁿ ᶜᵒᵒˡ ᵈᵒʷⁿ‧ "ᴵ⁻ᴵ⁻ᴵ'ᵐ ˢ⁻ˢᵒʳʳʸ!" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ˢᵃʸˢ‧ ᴺᵒʷ ᵃᵗ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ'ˢ ᵖⁱⁿᵉᵃᵖᵖˡᵉ ʳᵉˢⁱᵈᵉⁿᶜᵉ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᶠⁱˡˡᵉᵈ ᵃ ᵇᵒʷˡ ᵒᶠ ᶜᵒˡᵈ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ ᵗᵒ ᶜᵒᵒˡ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵈᵒʷⁿ‧ ᵂʰᵉⁿ ʰⁱˢ ᵇᵒᵈʸ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗˢ ᵗᵒ ˢⁱⁿᵏ ᵘⁿᵈᵉʳ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᶜᵃᵘᵍʰᵗ ʰⁱᵐ ˢᵒ ᵃˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵗᵒ ˢˡⁱᵖ ᵘⁿᵈᵉʳ‧ ᴬᶠᵗᵉʳ ʳⁱⁿˢⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱᵐ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ˡⁱᵍʰᵗˡʸ ᵈʳⁱᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ᵒᶠᶠ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵃ ᵗʰⁱⁿ ᵗᵒʷᵉˡ ᵃⁿᵈ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ʰⁱˢ ᶠᵒʳᵉʰᵉᵃᵈ ᵃˢ ᵗᵉᵐᵖᵉʳᵃᵗᵘʳᵉ‧ ᔆᵗⁱˡˡ ᵗᵒ ʷᵃʳᵐ ᵇᵘᵗ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵃˢ ʰᵒᵗ ᵃˢ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ ˢᵘᶠᶠᵉʳ ˢʰᵒᶜᵏ ˢᵒ ᵈᵉᶜⁱᵈᵉᵈ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿˢᵗ ᵈⁱʳᵉᶜᵗˡʸ ᵖᵘᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ⁱᶜᵉ‧ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵐᵃᵈᵉ ᵃ ⁿⁱᶜᵉ ˡⁱᵗᵗˡᵉ ᵖˡᵃᶜᵉ ᶠᵒʳ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʰⁱˢ ᵖⁱˡˡᵒʷ ᵗᵒ ᵇᵉ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᶜᵒᵐᶠᵒʳᵗᵃᵇˡᵉ‧ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵗᵘʳⁿᵉᵈ ᵒⁿ ʰⁱˢ ᶠᵃⁿ ᵒⁿ‧ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵈᵉᶜⁱᵈᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵗᵒ ʷᵒʳᵏ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᴿᵘᵇⁱᵏ'ˢ ᶜᵘᵇᵉ⸴ ʷᵒʳᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᵃᵗ ⁱᵗ ᶠᵒʳ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ ᵘᵖ ᵗᵒ ʷʰᵉⁿ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᶠⁱⁿᵃˡˡʸ ʳᵉᵍᵃⁱⁿ ᶜᵒⁿˢᶜⁱᵒᵘˢⁿᵉˢˢ‧ "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‽" "ᵁᵍʰʰʰ‧‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᵉʸᵉ ᶠˡᵘᵗᵗᵉʳˢ ᵒᵖᵉⁿ‧ "ᵂᵘʰ? ᵂʰᵃᵃ⁻ ʷʰᵃ’ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ᵃᵐ ᴵ?" ᴴᵉ ˢᵃⁱᵈ‧ "ʸᵒᵘ'ᵛᵉ ᵇᵉᵉⁿ ᵒᵛᵉʳ ᶜᵒᵐᵉ ᵃˢ ʰᵉᵃᵗ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵐᵒᵏᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢᵒ ᴵ ᵇʳᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵃᶠᵉ‧" "ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᴮ⁻⁻ ʷʰ⁻ʷʰᵃ⁻ʰᵘʰ?" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ᵍʳᵒᵍᵍʸ‧ "ᴵ'ᵛᵉ ᵇᵉᵉⁿ ʷᵒʳᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᵒⁿ ᵐʸ ᴿᵘᵇⁱᵏ'ˢ ᶜᵘᵇᵉ‧ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃᵇˡᵉ ᵗᵒ ˢⁱᵗ ᵘᵖ?" ᴴᵉ ᵏⁿᵉʷ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵏᵉᵉⁿ ᵒⁿ ᵗᵒᵘᶜʰ‧ "ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ˡᵉᵃⁿ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿˢᵗ‧‧‧" "ᶠⁱⁿᵉ‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵖᵘᵗ ᵃⁿᵒᵗʰᵉʳ ᵖⁱˡˡᵒʷ ᵇᵉʰⁱⁿᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ ˢᵘᵖᵖᵒʳᵗ ʰⁱˢ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵗᵒ ˡᵉᵃⁿ‧ "ᴿᵉᵃᵈʸ?" ᴴᵉ ˢᶜᵒᵒᵗˢ ʰⁱᵐ ᵒᵛᵉʳ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢⁱᵗˢ ʰⁱᵐ ᵘᵖ ᵇʸ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ʷʰᵃᵗ ʷᵃʳᵐ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ; ᴵ'ˡˡ ᵍᵉᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʳᵉᵗᵘʳⁿˢ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᶠʳᵉˢʰ ᵈʳⁱⁿᵏ‧ "ᴵ ᵖᵘᵗ ⁱᶜᵉ ⁱⁿ ⁱᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵍᵒᵗᵗᵃ ˢᵗʳᵃʷ‧" ᴴᵉ ˢᵉᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ ᵈᵒʷⁿ‧ "ᵀᵃˢᵗᵉˢ ʳᵉᶠʳᵉˢʰⁱⁿᵍ‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ˢᵐⁱˡᵉᵈ‧ "ᴵ'ᵛᵉ ᵇᵉᵉⁿ ᵗʳʸⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ˢᵒˡᵛᵉ ᵃ ᴿᵘᵇⁱᵏ'ˢ ᶜᵘᵇᵉ ⁱᶠ ʸᵒᵘ'ᵈ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵗᵃᵏᵉ ᵃ ˡᵒᵒᵏ ᵒʳ ᵍᵒ ᵃᵗ ⁱᵗ‧" "ᴵ'ᵐ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵘᵖ ᵗᵒ ⁱᵗ ʳⁱᵍʰᵗ ⁿᵒʷ‧‧" "ᴵ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ˢᵗᵒʳᵐⁱⁿᵍ ᵒᵘᵗ ˢᵒ ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ᵍᵒⁿⁿᵃ ᵇᵉ ˢᵗᵃʸⁱⁿᵍ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵐᵉ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴵ'ˡˡ ᵗᵃᵏᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ᵇᵘᶜᵏᵉᵗ ᵗᵒᵐᵒʳʳᵒʷ‧" "ᵂʰʸ ᵈᵒ ᴵ ᶠᵉᵉˡ ˢʷᵉᵃᵗʸ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵉᵃᵏ?" "ᵂᵉˡˡ ʸᵒᵘ'ᵛᵉ ᵇᵉᵉⁿ ⁱⁿ ᵃ ᶠⁱʳᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵒⁿˡʸ ʲᵘˢᵗ ⁿᵒʷ ᶜᵒᵒˡᵉᵈ ᵒᶠᶠ ᵉⁿᵒᵘᵍʰ ᵗᵒ ʷᵃᵏᵉ‧‧" "ᴵ ʷᵃˢ ⁱⁿ ʲᵉˡˡʸᶠⁱˢʰ ᶠⁱᵉˡᵈˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵃ ᶜᵒʳᵃˡ ᵗʳᵉᵉ ᶜᵃᵘᵍʰᵗ ᶠⁱʳᵉ⸴ ʷʰⁱᶜʰ ˢᵘʳʳᵒᵘⁿᵈᵉᵈ ᵐᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴵ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᴵ'ᵈ ᵐᵉˡᵗ‧‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵃʸˢ‧ "ᴮᵘᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵘˢᵗ'ᵛᵉ ˢᵃᵛᵉᵈ ᵐᵉ ᴵ ᵃˢˢᵘᵐᵉ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ⁿᵒʷ ᴵ'ᵐ ᵃᵗ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵖˡᵃᶜᵉ ˢᵒ⸴ ᵗʰᵃ⁻ ᵘʰ⸴ ᵗʰᵃⁿᵏ ʸ⁻ʸᵒᵘ‧‧‧" "ᴵ'ᵐ ᵍˡᵃᵈ ᵇᵘᵗ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ᴵ ᵃᵖᵒˡᵒᵍⁱˢᵉ ᶠᵒʳ‧‧‧" "ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉ ᵇᵒᵇ⸴ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᶠᵃᵘˡᵗ‧ ᴵ ʲᵘˢᵗ ʰᵃᵛᵉⁿ'ᵗ ᵉⁿᵉʳᵍʸ‧" "ᵂᵉˡˡ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ᵍᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ˡᵃᵗᵉ‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵍᵉᵗˢ ᵃ ʷᵃˢʰ ᶜˡᵒᵗʰ ᵗᵒ ᵖᵘᵗ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵗᵃᵇˡᵉ ᵇʸ ʰⁱˢ ᵇᵉᵈ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵗᵘʳⁿˢ ʰⁱˢ ᵃˡᵃʳᵐ ᵒᶠᶠ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵐᵒᵛᵉˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ ᵒᵛᵉʳ‧ "ᴵ ᵖᵘᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜˡᵒᵗʰ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠʳᵉᵉᶻᵉʳ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ᶜᵒˡᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢᵒ ʸᵒᵘ ʷᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᵇᵉ‧‧‧" "ᴵ'ᵐ ⁿᵒᵗ ˢᵘʳᵉ ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵇʸ ᵐʸˢᵉˡᶠ‧‧" "ᶜᵃⁿ ᴵ ˡⁱᶠᵗ ʸᵒᵘ?" "ᴶᵘˢᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵃˢʰ ᶜˡᵒᵗʰ ᴵ ᵍᵘᵉˢˢ ˢᵘʳᵉ‧" ᴴᵉ ˢᵉᵗ ʰⁱᵐ ᵈᵒʷⁿ ˢᵘᵖⁱⁿᵉ‧ "ᶠᵉᵉˡˢ ˢᵒ ⁿⁱᶜᵉ ᵏⁱᵈ‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᶜᵃⁿ ʷᵃᵏᵉ ᵐᵉ ⁱᶠ ʸᵒᵘ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ‧" ᴴᵉ ᵗᵘʳⁿᵉᵈ ᵒᶠᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ˡⁱᵍʰᵗ ᵒᶠᶠ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᵉʸᵉ'ˢ ⁿᵒ ˡᵒⁿᵍᵉʳ ᵒᵖᵉⁿ‧ "ᴳᵒᵒᵈ ⁿⁱᵍʰᵗ‧‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʰᵒᵖᵉˢ ʰᵉ'ᵈ ᶠᵉᵉˡ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ ᵇʸ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵐᵒʳⁿⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒᵐᵒʳʳᵒʷ‧ "ᴬˡˡ ᵍᵒᵒᵈ?" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʷʰⁱˢᵖᵉʳˢ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ᶜᵒᵐᶠᵒʳᵗᵃᵇˡᵉ ᵉⁿᵒᵘᵍʰ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜˡᵒᵗʰ⸴ ᵉⁿᵒᵘᵍʰ ᶠᵒʳ ʰⁱᵐ ᵗᵒ ˢˡᵉᵉᵖ ʳᵉˢᵗᶠᵘˡ‧ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ˡᵘʳᶜʰᵉᵈ ʰⁱˢ ʰᵉᵃᵈ ᵘᵖ ᵗᵒ ˢᵉᵉ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʷʰᵒ ⁿᵒʷ ˢⁿᵒʳᵉᵈ‧ 'ᴿᵃⁱⁿⁱⁿᵍ⸴ ᵖᵒᵘʳⁱⁿᵍ⸴ ˢⁿᵒʳⁱⁿᵍ‧‧' ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵃ ˢᵐⁱˡᵉ‧ 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬: 𝟔𝟓𝟎

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ᶠᵃᵏᵉˢ ⁱᵗ ˢᵒ ʰᵉ ᵐᵃᵏᵉˢ ⁱᵗ ⁽ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᴮᵒᵇ ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜ⁾ ᵂʰⁱˡˢᵗ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᶜᵒᵐᵖᵘᵗᵉʳ ʷⁱᶠᵉ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ'ˢ ᵒⁿ ᵃ ᵗʳⁱᵖ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʰᵉʳ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈ ᴴᵃⁿⁿᵃ⸴ ʰᵉ ᵈᵉᶜⁱᵈᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵉⁿᵃᶜᵗ ᵃ ᵖˡᵃⁿ‧ 'ᴵᶠ ᴵ ᶠᵃᵏᵉ ᵐʸ ᵈᵉᵃᵗʰ⸴ ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ⁱⁿᵍʳᵉᵈⁱᵉⁿᵗˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷⁱˡˡ ᵃˡˢᵒ ˢᵉᵉ ʰᵒʷ ᵖᵉᵒᵖˡᵉ ʳᵉᵃᶜᵗ!' ᔆᵒ ⁿᵒʷ ʰᵉ ʲᵘˢᵗ ᵍᵒᵗᵗᵃ ᶠⁱᵍᵘʳᵉ ᵒᵘᵗ ʰᵒʷ ᵗᵒ ᵖᵘˡˡ ⁱᵗ ᵃˡˡ ᵒᶠᶠ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵐᵃᵈᵉ ᵃ ʳᵒᵇᵒᵗ ʷⁱᵗʰᵒᵘᵗ ᵐᵉᵗᵃˡ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʳᵘᵇᵇᵉʳ ᵖᵃʳᵗˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ˡⁱᑫᵘⁱᵈ ᵗʸᵖᵉ ᵃˡˡᵒⁱᵈ‧ ᴴᵉ ᶜᵒⁿᵗʳᵒˡˢ ᵗʰᵉ ʳᵒᵇᵒᵗ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ʰⁱˢ ᵒʷⁿ ᵖˡᵃᶜᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʳᵉᵐᵒᵗᵉ ˢᵉⁿᵈˢ ⁱᵗ ᵒᶠᶠ‧ "ᴵ'ᵈ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᵗᵒ ˢᵖᵉᵃᵏ ᵗᵒ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵐᵃⁿᵃᵍᵉʳ!" ᔆᵃʸˢ ᵗʰᵉ ʳᵒᵇᵒᵗ ᵗᵒ ᔆᑫᵘⁱᵈʷᵃʳᵈ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵍᵉᵗˢ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ‧ "ᴼʰ!" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵐᵃᵏᵉˢ ʰⁱˢ ʳᵒᵇᵒᵗ ʳᵘⁿ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵃᶠᵉᵗʸ ᵛᵃᵘˡᵗ ʰᵒˢᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ˡⁱˢᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵏʳᵃᵇᵇʸ ᵖᵃᵗᵗʸ ⁱⁿᵍʳᵉᵈⁱᵉⁿᵗˢ‧ ᵀʳʸⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵃᵏᵉ ʰⁱˢ ᵉⁿᵉᵐʸ ᵃⁿᵍʳʸ⸴ ʰᵉ ˢʰʳᵉᵈᵈᵉᵈ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵒᶠ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵐᵒⁿᵉʸ‧ "ʸᵒᵘ ᵃʳᵉ ˢᵒ ᵈᵒⁿᵉ!" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ˢᵉᵉˢ ʰⁱˢ ᵇᵒˢˢ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵃ ᵏⁱᵗᶜʰᵉⁿ ᵏⁿⁱᶠᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵖʳᵒᶜᵉᵉᵈˢ ᵗᵒ ᵘˢᵉ ⁱᵗ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵃᵏᵉ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʳᵒᵇᵒᵗ‧ ᴬˢ ᵉˣᵖᵉᶜᵗᵉᵈ⸴ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠⁱᵍᵘʳᵉ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ 'ᵇˡᵉᵉᵈ' ᵇᵘᵗ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʳᵉᵈ ᵈʸᵉ‧ ᵀʰᵉ ᶜʰᵘᵐ⸴ ᵘˢᵉᵈ ᶠᵒʳ ᵐᵘˢᶜˡᵉˢ⸴ ˢʰᵒʷᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ⁱᶠ ᵃᶜᵗᵘᵃˡ ᶠˡᵉˢʰ‧ ᴬⁿᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵐᵃᵈᵉ ʰⁱˢ ʳᵒᵇᵒᵗ ˢᵃʸ ˡᵃˢᵗ ʷᵒʳᵈˢ‧ "ᵀʰᵉ ᵏⁿⁱᶠᵉ⸴ ᵗᵃᵏᵉ ⁱᵗ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵐᵉ‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ʳᵒᵇᵒᵗ ᵐᵃⁿᵃᵍᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵈⁱˢˡᵒᵈᵍᵉ ⁱᵗ⸴ ᶜᵃᵘˢⁱⁿᵍ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ᵈᵃᵐᵃᵍᵉ‧ ᵀʰᵉ ˢʰᵃʳᵖ ᵏⁿⁱᶠᵉ ᵐᵃᵈᵉ ᵈᵉᵉᵖᵉʳ ⁱⁿ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʳᵒᵇᵒᵗ‧ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ˢᵖⁱˡᵗ ᵃˢ ʰⁱˢ ʳᵒᵇᵒᵗ ˡᵒˢᵗ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ᶠᵒᵒᵈ ᶜᵒˡᵒᵘʳⁱⁿᵍ ʳᵉᵈ ˡⁱᑫᵘⁱᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ᶜᵘᵗ ⁱⁿ ʰᵃˡᶠ ᵗᵒ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ᵒᵇᵛⁱᵒᵘˢˡʸ ᵏⁱˡˡᵉᵈ‧ ᴴᵉ ᶜᵒᵛᵉʳᵉᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵒᵘⁿᵈ ʳᵉᶜᵉᵖᵗᵒʳ ⁱⁿ ⁿᵒᵒᵈˡᵉˢ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ʰᵉᵃᵈ ᵃˢ ᵃ ᵇʳᵃⁱⁿ⸴ ˢᵒ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ʰᵉᵃʳⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉᵐ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃʸˢ ⁿᵒᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ‧ "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ; ʰᵉ'ˢ ᵍᵒⁿᵉ!" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᶠⁱⁿᵃˡˡʸ ˢᵃⁱᵈ‧ "ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʰᵒʷ ᶜᵃⁿ ʸᵒᵘ‧‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵏⁿᵉʷ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ ᵗʰᵃⁿ ᵗᵒ ᶜᵉˡᵉᵇʳᵃᵗᵉ ᵖʳᵉᵐᵃᵗᵘʳᵉˡʸ⸴ ᵃˢ ᵒⁿᵉ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ ʰᵉ ᵖʳᵉᵗᵉⁿᵈᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʳᵉᵗⁱʳᵉ ʸᵉᵗ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵃ ˢᵗᵉᵖ ᵃʰᵉᵃᵈ ᵒᶠ ʰⁱᵐ ⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ʳᵉᵗⁱʳᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ ᵖˡᵃⁿ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ⁿᵒʷ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵃⁱʳ ᵈᵘᶜᵗ ᵛᵉⁿᵗ ᵖⁱᵖᵉˢ ᵗᵒ ᵒᵛᵉʳ ˢᵉᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢᵗᵃʸ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵃʸ ᵒᶠ ˢⁱᵍʰᵗ‧ ᔆᵘʳᵉ ᵉⁿᵒᵘᵍʰ⸴ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ʳᵘⁿⁿⁱⁿᵍ ⁱⁿ‧ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵉᵉᵐᵉᵈ ᶜᵃˡᵐ⸴ ᵒʳ ᵃᵗ ˡᵉᵃˢᵗ ᶜᵒᵐᵖᵃʳᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ‧ "ᵂʰʸ ᵃʳᵉ ʸᵉ ˢᵒ ᵘᵖˢᵉᵗ ᵇᵒʸ?" "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ᵏⁿᵉʷ ˢᵘᶜᶜᵉˢˢ ⁿᵒʳ ʰᵃᵖᵖⁱⁿᵉˢˢ ⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ˡⁱᶠᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ʰᵉ'ˢ ᵇᵉᵉⁿ ˢᵗᵉᵖᵖᵉᵈ ᵒⁿ ʷʰⁱᶜʰ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵐᵃᵏᵉ ᵃⁿʸ ᵖᵉʳˢᵒⁿ ⁱʳʳⁱᵗᵃᵗᵉᵈ‧ ᴬⁿᵈ ⁿᵒʷ⸴ ʰᵉ'ˢ ᵈᵉᵃᵈ‧ ᴴᵉ ᴰⁱᵉᵈ! ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʲᵘˢᵗ⸴ ʰᵉ ᵈᵒᵉˢⁿ'ᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʰᵒʷ ᵐᵘᶜʰ ᴵ ᶜᵃʳᵉ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ʰⁱᵐ⸴ ᵈᵉˢᵖⁱᵗᵉ ᵇᵉⁱⁿᵍ‧‧‧" "ᑫᵘⁱᵉᵗ! ᴴᵉ'ˢ ᵍᵒⁿᵉ ⁿᵒʷ⸴ ʷʰⁱᶜʰ ⁱˢ ᵍᵒᵒᵈ ᶠᵒʳ ᵘˢ‧‧‧" "ᶠᵒʳ ᵘˢ? ᵂʰᵃᵗ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᶠᵒʳ ʰⁱᵐ!" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵖᵘᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ʳᵒᵇᵒᵗ ᵈᵒʷⁿ‧ "ᴵ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʸᵒᵘ ᶜᵃⁿ'ᵗ ʰᵉᵃʳ ᵐᵉ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ᵐʸ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈ‧ ᴵ'ᵈ ᵈᵒ ᵃⁿʸ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ᵖᵘᵗ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵃʸ‧‧‧" "ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ!" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ⁱⁿᵗᵉʳʳᵘᵖᵗˢ‧ "ᵂᵉ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᶜᵃʳᵉ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ʰⁱᵐ! ᴴᵉ ᵈᵒᵉˢⁿ'ᵗ ᵈᵉˢᵉʳᵛᵉ ᵗᵒ‧‧‧" "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ᵈᵉˢᵉʳᵛᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵏⁱˡˡᵉᵈ! ᴴᵉ ᵘˢᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵇᵉ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈ ʳⁱᵍʰᵗ? ᴮᵘᵗ ⁿᵒʷ⸴ ᵍʳᵉᵉᵈ ᶜᵒⁿˢᵘᵐᵉᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃˢ ᵖᵒʷᵉʳ ᵈⁱᵈ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᴴᵉ ˢᵘᶠᶠᵉʳᵉᵈ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵏⁿᵉʷ ʰᵒʷ ᵒᵗʰᵉʳˢ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ʰⁱᵐ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵍᵉᵗˢ ˢᵗᵒᵐᵖᵉᵈ ᵒⁿ ʷʰᵉⁿ ᵖᵉᵒᵖˡᵉ ᶠᵉᵉˡ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ⁱᵗ‧ ᴮᵘᵗ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵉᵉⁿ ʰᵒʷ ᵐᵘᶜʰ ʰᵉ ᶜᵃʳᵉˢ? ᴴᵉ ⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ˢʰᵒʷˢ ⁱᵗ‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᶜʳⁱᵉˢ‧ "ᴴᵉ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ʷᵉᵃᵏ⸴ ᵇᵘˡˡⁱᵉᵈ ᵇʸ ᵖᵉᵉʳˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗʰᵉⁿ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃᵇᵃⁿᵈᵒⁿᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ᵃᶠᵗᵉʳ ᴼˡᵈ ᴹᵃⁿ ᴶᵉⁿᵏⁱⁿˢ ᵖᵒⁱˢᵒⁿᵉᵈ‧ ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵉⁿᵗⁱᵒⁿᵉᵈ ᵇᵉⁱⁿᵍ ᵖᵒᵒʳ ᵃⁿᵈ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ˡᵒⁿᵉˡʸ⸴ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵗᵃʸᵉᵈ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈ ⁱⁿ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ ᵒᶠ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ‧ ᔆᵒ ⁿᵒʷ⸴ ⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ ᵒᶠ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᵗᵘʳⁿᵉᵈ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵒⁿ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᴺᵒʷ ᴵ'ᵐ ᵗᵉᵃᵐ ᴷʳᵘˢᵗʸ ᴷʳᵃᵇ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴵ ⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ʷⁱˢʰ ʰⁱᵐ ʰᵃʳᵐ‧ ᴰᵉˢᵖⁱᵗᵉ ᵉᵛᵉʳʸ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ʰᵉ'ˢ ᵖᵃʸⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖʳⁱᶜᵉ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᵒᶠ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵉᵍᵒ‧ ᔆᵒ ᵃᵗ ˡᵉᵃˢᵗ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ʳᵘᵇ ⁱᵗ ⁱⁿ‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵗᵒᵒᵏ ʰⁱˢ ʰᵃᵗ ᵒᶠᶠ ᵉᵃʳˡⁱᵉʳ ʰᵒˡᵈⁱⁿᵍ ⁱᵗ ⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ʰᵃⁿᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ʳᵉˢᵖᵉᶜᵗ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ʰᵉ ⁿᵒʷ ᵖᵘᵗ ⁱᵗ ⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ᵖᵒᶜᵏᵉᵗ‧ "ʸᵒᵘ ᵃʳᵉ ˢᵒ ˡᵒᵛᵉᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴵ ʷⁱˡˡ ᵐⁱˢˢ ʸᵒᵘ‧ ᴹʸ ʲᵒᵇ'ˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ʷᵒʳᵗʰ ʸᵒᵘʳ ˡⁱᶠᵉ‧" ᴳᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱˢ ʰᵃᵗ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ⸴ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʰᵉˡᵈ ⁱᵗ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱˢ ᵇᵒˢˢ‧ "ᵀᵃᵏᵉ ⁱᵗ‧" "ᵂʰᵃᵗ‧‧‧" "ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ⸴ ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿⁿᵒᵗ ⁱⁿ ᵍᵒᵒᵈ ᶜᵒⁿˢᶜⁱᵉⁿᶜᵉ ʷᵉᵃʳ ⁱᵗ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ᵗʰᵉ ˡᵉᵃˢᵗ ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵈᵒ ᶠᵒʳ ᵐʸ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧ ᴾᵉʳʰᵃᵖˢ ʸᵒᵘ ᵈᵒ ⁿᵒᵗ ᶜᵒᵐᵖʳᵉʰᵉⁿᵈ ʷʰᵃᵗ ʰᵉ ᵐᵘˢᵗ'ᵛᵉ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ᵇᵘᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵃᵈᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ᵈⁱˢᵗʳᵘˢᵗᶠᵘˡ‧ ᴵᵗ'ˢ ᵗᵒ ˡᵃᵗᵉ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴵ'ᵈ ᵍⁱᵛᵉ ᵐʸ ˡⁱᶠᵉ ⁱᶠ ⁱᵗ ᵐᵉᵃⁿˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶜᵃⁿ ˡⁱᵛᵉ ᵃ ʰᵃᵖᵖʸ ˡⁱᶠᵉ ʷⁱᵗʰᵒᵘᵗ ʰᵃᵛⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ʰᵘʳᵗ‧ ᴵ'ᵈ ⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ᵃᵇᵃⁿᵈᵒⁿ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᴵ'ᵈ ⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ᵍⁱᵛᵉ ᵘᵖ ᵒⁿ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᴵᶠ ᵒⁿˡʸ ʰᵉ ᵏⁿᵉʷ ʰᵒʷ ʰᵃᵖᵖʸ ʰᵉ ᵐᵃᵈᵉ ᵐᵉ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵈᵉˢᵉʳᵛᵉˢ ᵗᵒ ᶠᵉᵉˡ ˢᵘᶜʰ ʰᵃᵖᵖⁱⁿᵉˢˢ‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʲᵘˢᵗ ˢᶜᵒᶠᶠᵉᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ˡᵉᵃᵛᵉˢ‧ "ᴵ'ˡˡ ᵍᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᶠˡᵒʷᵉʳˢ‧‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ˢᵃʸˢ⸴ ᵃˡˢᵒ ˡᵉᵃᵛⁱⁿᵍ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵏⁿᵉʷ ⁱᶠ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃʸˢ ˢᵘᶜʰ ⁱᵗ'ᵈ ᵇᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵃᵏᵉ ʰⁱᵐ ᵖᵒᵖ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ʰⁱᵈⁱⁿᵍ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵃᵈᵐⁱᵗ ᵈᵉᶠᵉᵃᵗ; ᵇᵘᵗ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ‧‧‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ᵗᵉᵃʳˢ ⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ᵉʸᵉ⸴ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ ʰᵒʷ ˡᵒⁿᵍ ʰᵉ'ˢ ʷᵃⁱᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʰᵉᵃʳ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵒʳᵈˢ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ˢᵖᵒᵏᵉ ᶠᵒʳ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ'ˢ ˢᵒ ⁿⁱᶜᵉ⸴ ᵃⁿᵈ ʰᵉ ᵈᵉˢᵉʳᵛᵉˢ ᵗᵒ ᵏⁿᵒʷ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʳⁱᵈ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʳᵒᵇᵒᵗⁱᶜ ʳᵉᵐᵃⁱⁿˢ ᵃˢ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʳᵉᵗᵘʳⁿˢ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᶠˡᵒʷᵉʳˢ‧ "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‽" "ᴵ ᵐᵃᵈᵉ ᵃ ʳᵒᵇᵒᵗ ᵗᵒ ˢᵉᵉ⸴ ʷᵉˡˡ ⁱᵗ⸴ ⁱᵗ ᵈᵒᵉˢⁿ'ᵗ ᵐᵃᵗᵗᵉʳ ⁿᵒʷ‧ ᴰᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᵇᵉ ᵘᵖˢᵉᵗ‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏ ᴵ'ᵈ ᵇᵉ ᶠᵘʳⁱᵒᵘˢ? ᴺᵒ ᴵ ᵃᵐ ᵗʰʳⁱˡˡᵉᵈ! ʸᵒᵘ ᵃʳᵉ ˢᵒ ᶜˡᵉᵛᵉʳ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢᵐᵃʳᵗ‧ ᴬⁿᵈ ᴵ ᵐᵉᵃⁿᵗ ʷʰᵃᵗ ᴵ ˢᵃⁱᵈ‧‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ⁿᵒʷ ᵍᵒᵗᵗᵃ ʰᵘᵍ ᵃⁿᵈ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ʳᵉˡⁱᵉᶠ⸴ ᵇᵉᵗᵗᵉʳ ᵗʰᵃⁿ ʰᵉ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ˢⁱⁿᶜᵉ ᶜʰⁱˡᵈʰᵒᵒᵈ‧ » 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 | 𝟖𝟎𝟐

He felt his eyelid grow heavy to anesthesia. "Alright, Mr. Plankton, you're gonna start feeling sleepy," the doctor's voice echoed. The world around him grew fuzzy, sounds becoming muffled and indistinct. His head lolled, body slack. The nurse's grew blurry, darkness before not even nothingness. Karen, his wife, sat by him. Finally, the doctor stepped back, turned and gave her a thumbs up. The nurse began to clean Plankton's face, wiping away the excess saliva and bleeding with gentle touch. Karen follows as they wheel him out. His bed was pushed into a small cubicle, his breathing slow and even. In stumbled SpongeBob. Karen smiles. "The surgery went well, he's just sleeping it off," she assured. SpongeBob's taking in the beeping monitors. "What's all this for?" he asks, curiosity piqued. "To make sure he's ok while he's asleep," Karen explained. "The doctor said he'd be out for a little while." The yellow sponge nodded, his gaze lingering on the small wads of gauze peeking out from the sides of Plankton's mouth. "What's that?" he asks. "It's to help absorb.." Sponge Bob took in the sight of Plankton, who had begun to drool slightly onto the pillow beneath his head. The saliva pooled. "Oh no, Plankton. You're drooling!" Sponge Bob watched as drool continued to form like a thin string connecting Plankton's mouth to the pillow. Karen chuckled softly. "It's normal, Sponge Bob. He won't feel it as he's asleep." SpongeBob nodded, but curiosity remained. "Can I... I mean, should I... wipe it up?" he asks. Karen laughs. "It's ok, they'd take care of it. Just let him rest." "I promise to be super gentle" Karen nodded, a small smile playing. "Alright. Just be careful." His movements were deliberate, eyes never leaving Plankton's mouth as he approached. The drool strand grew longer, a tiny bridge between his friend and the pillow. The droplet fell away, landing on the pillow with a soft splat. Plankton stirred slightly but didn't wake. "It's fine. He's going to be a bit out of it when he wakes up anyway. Why don't you try talking to him while we wait for him to wake? It might help him feel more at ease." "Hey it's Sponge Bob. You're ok, just having a little nap. No Krabby Patties to steal right now," he added with a chuckle. Plankton's eye began to flutter, a sure sign that he was slowly coming back to consciousness. His body twitched, the anesthesia wearing off. "Looks like he's waking up," she said. Karen leaned closer, her hand reaching out to gently squeeze his. "Honey, it's me," she whispered. "You're ok." Plankton's unfocused and glazed. "Where... what... happened?" he mumbled. "You had wisdom teeth removed. You're in recovery," she said, voice soothing. Plankton blinked. "Wis...wis...what?" "You had a little...uh...dental appointment," SpongeBob said. "Teeth...gone?" he mumbled, still groggy. "You're fine," she assured. "I feel... funny," he giggled, voice silly. "Just relax, Plankton," Karen said. "But...but I wanna...see!" Plankton protested, arms flailing weakly. "Plankton, you need rest." "But I'm not tired!" he exclaimed, as his head lolled back onto the pillow. "I... I want to dance," he said, voice still slurred, which only resulted in more drool escaping. "First, you gotta get better," she said, voice earnest. Plankton's giggles grew, his eye half-closed. "But I'm already the best... at... at... at... " he mumbled, trailing off. "It's anesthesia," the nurse chimed in. "It can make people say some funny things. You're just feeling a bit loopy, Plankton. You'll be back to your usual self soon." Plankton's giggles grew softer, his eye struggling to stay open. "But... but... I'm not tired," he protested weakly, his voice a mere whisper. His eyelid began to droop once more. Sponge Bob leaned in. "You just had surgery, Plankton. You need to rest," he said firmly. Plankton's giggles turned into snores, his tiny body giving in despite his protests. "He's going to be out for a while," the nurse said. "Anesthesia can take time to wear off completely." Karen nodded, watching his chest rise and fall with each snore. Sponge Bob reached out and lightly patted Plankton's arm. Plankton's snores grew quieter and stirred, eye cracking. "Wha... SpongeBob?" he mumbled, groggy. Sponge Bob's heart swelled at the sight of his confused expression. "Just keeping you company as you wake." Plankton's eye rolled to the side. "Wha... what are you doing?" he slurred, his voice barely above a whisper. He tried to lift his hand to his mouth, but it flopped back down onto the bed with a limp thud. "Drool? I...I can't stop," he mumbled, his drool pooling around the fresh gauze. Sponge Bob chuckles. "It's ok, Plankton," he said. Plankton's eye narrows. "Not funny," he mumbled, words barely intelligible. Yet as he said it, another string of drool began to form, stretching from his mouth to the pillow. Sponge Bob's chuckles grew. "I know, I know. It's just... you're so... so... " he couldn't find words, laughter took over. Plankton's unable to control his drool. "I'm so...so...so..." he tried to form a coherent thought. "So what, Plankton?" "I'm...I'm not...not...drooling," he managed to say, words barely coherent. But even as he spoke, a new droplet formed at the corner of his mouth. "You sure?" "St...stop," Plankton managed to mumble, his mouth open and drooling again. "It's...it's...embarrassing." Sponge Bob smiled. "I know, you're ok. The surgery went well," he said. "Alright, we can get him ready to go home now," says nurse. They carefully lift Plankton from the bed, body still limp from the anesthesia. "You ok?" "Mm-hmm," Plankton mumbled, head lolling to one side. He struggled to keep his eye open, but the medication was too strong. Plankton's eye drooped shut once more, his snores echoing through the hall. "Whoa, there he goes again…" "He's still pretty out of it," she said. Plankton's head lolled to the side, his mouth hanging open. "Whoa, Plankton, wake up," Sponge Bob said, gently shaking his shoulder. "Mmph," Plankton mumbled, his eye cracking open. "Where...are we?" "Almost to the car," Karen said. "Just a bit longer." But Plankton's eyelid grew heavier. The nurse disappeared through the doors, leaving Karen and Sponge Bob to maneuver Plankton into a more upright position. His head kept flopping to one side, his snores grew louder. "Come on, Plankton, stay with us," Karen urged. Sponge Bob leaned close. "You ok?" he asked, patting Plankton's shoulder. Plankton's head lolled to the side, eye half- open. "Mmph...tired," he mumbled. Karen managed to get him in, his body collapsing into the seat like a ragdoll. She buckled him in. "You're gonna be ok," she whispered. Sponge Bob climbed into the backseat. Karen started the engine. "Let's get him home." The car ride was a blur of Plankton's snores and occasional mumble. Sponge Bob sat in the back, his hand on Plankton's shoulder, keeping his friend from lolling too far to the side. Each time Plankton nodded off, his mouth would droop, and gauze would slip out. "Plankton, gotta keep it in." Plankton mumbled something incoherent, his mouth still open and drooling. Sponge Bob leaned in closer, his hand ready to catch the gauze if it fell out again. Plankton's eye fluttered open, looking around the car. "Just stay with us, ok?" Sponge Bob nodded, hand on Plankton's shoulder. He watched as Plankton's eye drooped, the gauze slipping again. He leaned over and gently pushed it back. "We're almost there." Karen chuckled from the driver's seat. Sponge Bob’s grip on Plankton's shoulder tightening slightly. "Want to play a game?" "Mmph...game?" he mumbled. "I spy with my little eye, something..." But Plankton's head had already dropped back, snores echoing. Karen glanced in the mirror. "I think he's out for the count," she said. Sponge Bob was still vigilant, making sure Plankton didn't tumble out of the car. With Karen's help, they managed to get him to the couch. Sponge Bob helped prop Plankton up, careful not to jostle him too much. Everything’s just fine.

He slurred his words, a side effect of his wisdom tooth surgery. "W-wha...wha' happened?" he mumbled. Karen held his hand, her thumb tracing comforting circles on his palm. "You're ok, just had wisdom teeth removed." Plankton blinked, trying to make sense of the world. "Teeth?" He says through thickness of his mouth. "What teeth?" The nurse then tells "Looks good. Just rest for a bit. The anesthesia can feel loopy." A trickle of drool slid down the side of his mouth. He tried to lift his hand. "H-here," Karen said, gently dabbing at the corner of his mouth. "You're ok. It's normal." Plankton's eye closed, and he leaned into her touch, the world fading to comforting haze. "Don't worry," she whispered, stroking him. "I'm here." Within moments, his breathing grew even, chest rising and falling in gentle rhythm that told her he had succumbed to sleep. His breathing deepened, mouth slightly agape. Karen watched the rise and fall of his chest, the soft snores that punctuated the silence. The steady beep of the heart monitor was an assuring metronome as she waited. A droplet of drool had formed and was slowly making its way to the pillow. The nurse told it might happen. It clung to the edge of his mouth before splattering onto the pillow. His mouth twitched in his sleep, and she wondered if he’s dreaming. The nurse returns with water and ice chips, placing them on the tray. "He'll need these when he wakes," she instructed. "They'd help with the swelling and keep him hydrated." Karen nodded. "How long til he's fully awake?" she asked. "Could be an hour." The only sounds the occasional snore from Plankton. Drool continued to escape, forming a puddle on the pillow. She wiped it. She saw the gauze pads tucked in his cheeks. They looked out of place, despite the sleep medication lulled him to. The door creaked open, and in stumbled SpongeBob. "Plankton! You ok?" he exclaimed. "Shh, he's sleeping," Karen whispers. "They took his wisdom teeth." SpongeBob's eyes widened further. "Wisdom teeth? Gosh, Plankton, sounds painful!" Karen nodded solemnly. "But he's tough. He'll be ok." Plankton stirred in his sleep, a low groan escaping his throat. "Shh," Karen soothed, her voice gentle. "You're ok. Just rest." SpongeBob tiptoed over. "How's he?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Sleeping it off. The anesthesia wearing off." SpongeBob nods, eyes not leaving Plankton. "What's with gauze?" "Helps with bleeding," Karen explained. "It's normal." SpongeBob's concern palpable. "B-bleeding?" "It's ok," Karen assured him. "Just a precaution. He'll be fine." SpongeBob’s gaze lingers. He gently took Plankton's hand, his own fingers wrapping around his. His grip was firm but gentle, a silent promise to be there. The nurse removes the gauze, leaving his mouth open and vulnerable. Finally, Plankton's eye flutters open, still clouded by the anesthesia. "What...wha's goin' on?" he slurred, voice thick and groggy in confusion. "You had your wisdom teeth out," Karen said. "Mmph," he managed. SpongeBob leans in with concern. "You had a little operation. We’re in the recovery room." Plankton's eye widened slightly, and he tried to sit up, only to be met with dizziness that sent him back. "Mm...Krabby Patty...?" he mumbled. Karen chuckled. "No, aren’t at the Krusty Krab." The reality of the situation slowly dawned on him. His mouth felt like it was filled with cotton. He reached for the cup of water, but his hand trembled, spilling the contents onto the tray. "Oops," SpongeBob said getting napkins. "Let me help you." But Plankton's eye had already rolled back into his head, his hand dropping limply to the side, slipping back into the abyss of his drug-induced haze. The nurse returned, checked his vitals again, expression unchanged by his state. "It's normal as it can take awhile." SpongeBob fidgeted, eyes never leaving Plankton's face. "Is he...drooling?" Karen nodded holding tissue ready. "Just be careful not to wake him up." "Oh, right. I just wanted to make sure he was ok." Karen gave his hand a comforting squeeze. "He is. Just let him rest, we're here for him when he wakes." They sat in companionable silence, only sound the soft snores and occasional dribble. "Is that...normal?" he asked, voice a mix of fascination and horror. "It's a side effect of the surgery," Karen explained gently, using a fresh tissue to wipe Plankton's mouth. "It can stop when he's fully awake." The nurse checked on him again. "Almost ready to go?" Karen nods. "Yes, let's get him home. He might be a bit out of it." SpongeBob nods, eager. "I'll help too!" "Thanks, SpongeBob," Karen said. "But remember, he's going to need lots of rest and quiet. Now, let's get him into the wheelchair." With Karen's help, they managed to get Plankton into the chair, body limply compliant. His eye remained closed, his breathing even. As they wheeled him out, his snores grew quieter. In the car, Karen adjusted the seat so Plankton could lean back, his mouth still a little slack, drool pooling on the gauze she had placed. His mouth remained slightly open, gauze in his cheeks bulging with each inhale. "Look at the drool," SpongeBob whispered. "It's just a side effect of the surgery," she said, handing SpongeBob a fresh tissue. "Make sure to keep his mouth clean. We don't want to get too messy." SpongeBob nodded, expression earnest as he took the tissue and began to dab at Plankton's mouth. Plankton's head lolled to the side again, and he let out a snort. "It's okay, Plankton. We're almost home." she whispered, her voice gentle. Sponge Bob whispered, "I never knew Plankton to be so...so drooly." Karen's eyes remained on the road. "It's a side effect of the surgery," she reminded him. "It's nothing to be too concerned about." Sponge Bob nodded, his gaze lingering on Plankton's slack jaw. "We're home," Karen whispered, her voice barely audible. Sponge Bob nodded, eyes glued to Plankton's still form. "Must we wake him?" "Wait til we get him inside," Karen said, her voice soft. "He'd be more comfortable in his own bed." They carefully maneuvered Plankton out of the car, his body still limp with sleep. Karen settled him into his bed, pulling the blankets up. "Leave him be," she said. "He needs his rest. He'll be ok," Karen assured him. "Just let him sleep it off." "I'll keep an eye on him," Sponge Bob offered, pulling up a chair. "Thanks," she said with gratitude. "I'll just be in the next room." Sponge Bob nodded solemnly, taking his post by Plankton's bedside. He knew Plankton’s surgery had to have been tough on him. He reached out and touched Plankton's arm. "Rest up, Plankton," he whispered. "I'll be here when you wake.." Plankton stirred slightly, a soft groan escaping. His eye remained closed, but his hand twitched. SpongeBob leaned in closer, his heart racing. "You ok, buddy?" he asked. Plankton's eye opens, tongue thick and unresponsive. He tried to speak, but all that came out was slurred mumble. "Wha...wha's...goin' on?" The words were barely discernible, muffled by the gauze in his mouth and the thickness of his own drool. Plankton's trying to make sense of the shadows that surrounded him. "You're home, Plankton," Sponge Bob said softly. "You had your wisdom teeth removed." Plankton's mind raced as the fog of anesthesia slowly lifted. "T-teeth?" he slurred barely above a whisper. SpongeBob nods. "You had your wisdom teeth out. It's ok, you're going to be fine." He sat in the chair by the bed, watching the steady rise and fall of Plankton's chest. The gauze in his mouth was still soaked with drool. As the light outside began to fade, Plankton stirred again, his eye fluttering. The pain in his mouth was a dull throb now, and the drugs had left him feeling groggy and disoriented. He tried to sit up, but the effort was too much. SpongeBob jumped to his side, his hands gentle as he put Plankton back down onto the pillow. "Easy," he said. Plankton's eye searched, the fog of anesthesia still clouding his thoughts. "Sponge...Bob?" he managed to croak out. "I'm here, Plankton," SpongeBob said, his voice filled with gentle concern. Plankton's eye searched SpongeBob's face. "Why...are you...here?" "I'm here to take care of you got wisdom teeth out, remember?" Plankton's mouth felt like it was filled with soggy seaweed, thoughts jumbled. "Wisdom teeth?" he mumbled, his voice barely audible. SpongeBob nods. "The surgery went well." Plankton's gaze grew distant as he tried to piece together the events of the day. "What...what happened?" Sponge Bob took a deep breath, preparing to explain it again. "You had to have your wisdom teeth out. Remember? You've been out of it all day." "My...my teeth?" Plankton repeated, still slurred. Sponge Bob nods solemnly. "They had to take them out." Plankton's eye grew even wider. "My...my...precious..." Sponge Bob gently pushed him back. "It's ok. You don't have to worry. They're gone." Plankton filled with panic. "Gone? How could I forget?" SpongeBob looked at him with a mix of confusion and concern. "It's the medicine," he said, his voice calm. "It messes with your memory a bit." Plankton's eye searched the room again, desperation growing with each passing second. "But...but I can't forget!" he slurred. "I can't forget about the...the...what was it again?" SpongeBob leaned in closer, his voice filled with patience. "Your wisdom teeth. You had them removed." Plankton's mind a jumble of half-formed thoughts. "Wisdom teeth," he murmured, words tasting foreign on his tongue. "Why would I forget something so...so..." His voice trailed off, and he frowned, his tiny brow furrowing. Sponge Bob's gaze was steady and reassuring. "It's normal. I never knew you could be so... drool-y." Plankton shot up. "Drooly?" "Don't worry," SpongeBob said. "It's a temporary side effect." Plankton's eye narrowed, and he managed to slur out, "You better not tell, I'd hate for my reputation to be ruined.." "Don't worry," Sponge Bob promised. "Your secret's safe."

NEUROBEHAVIORAL PLANKTON viii (Autistic author) The room grew quiet as they all digested the information. Sponge Bob's gaze never left Plankton's, his expression filled with a fierce loyalty. He knew his friend was different, but that didn't change the love he had for the tiny creature. Sensing the tension, Sponge Bob took a deep breath and smiled his wide, welcoming smile. "You know what, Plankton?" he said, his voice a gentle rumble. "You're still my best buddy, no matter what." Plankton's antennae perked up, his eye focusing on Sponge Bob's earnest expression. The sponge's words were a comforting lullaby, a gentle reminder of their unbreakable bond. He felt the warmth of their friendship wash over him, a comforting blanket against the coldness of Hanna's accusations. Sponge Bob's hand found its way to his shoulder, the touch a familiar comfort that his overstimulated senses craved. Plankton leaned into the warmth, his body responding to the soothing pressure. "Best buddies," he echoed, his voice a soft affirmation. The room grew quiet as Sponge Bob's hand remained steady on his shoulder, his presence a calming force in the storm of his emotions. Plankton closed his eye, his body relaxing into the gentle embrace. "We're gonna get through this," Sponge Bob said, his voice a soothing lullaby. "We'll figure it out, buddy. I'm here for you." Plankton's antennae twitched slightly, the warmth of his friend's words seeping into his soul. Sponge Bob had always had a way of making him feel safe, but now, with this new knowledge, their friendship felt even more vital. "Thank you," Plankton murmured, his voice a soft echo of gratitude. Sponge Bob's thumb rubbed circles on his back. The two friends sat in silence, the warmth of their companionship a stark contrast to the chill of Hanna's words. Plankton felt the tension in his body slowly melt away, his breaths evening out. The steady beat of Sponge Bob's heart was a comforting lullaby that helped him find peace. Sponge Bob's thumb continued its circular dance on his back, a wordless communication of his love and support. Plankton sighed, his body growing heavier with each comforting pressure point. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice a gentle whisper. Sponge Bob's eyes searched his face, a flicker of understanding dawning. "It's okay, Plankton," he said. "We'll get through this together." His hand didn't move, his touch a silent promise of his unwavering support. Plankton's antennae twitched slightly, the comfort of his friend's presence a warmth against the coldness of his fear. He knew Sponge Bob would always be there for him, even if he didn't fully understand his condition. The sponge's love was a constant, a beacon of light in his otherwise confusing world. Sponge Bob's eyes never left his friend's, his smile a gentle reminder of the joy they shared. "You know, Plankton," he began, his voice a soft caress. "You're still the same little guy I've always known." Plankton's antennae twitched, his body leaning into the warmth of Sponge Bob's embrace. The steady beat of the sponge's heart was a comforting metronome that helped him find his rhythm again. He felt the tension in his body slowly melt away, each breath growing deeper and more even. The room, once a battlefield of accusations and misunderstandings, was now a haven of quiet comfort. The rustling of pages grew softer, the candle's glow dimming as the minutes ticked by. Karen and Hanna watched from afar, heavy with regret and hope. They saw the change in Plankton, the way he leaned into Sponge Bob's touch, the way his body slowly relaxed. Sponge Bob, ever the comforting presence, began to hum a gentle tune, a melody that Plankton had heard a thousand times. The familiar notes were a lullaby that soothed his frazzled nerves, his antennae dropping to rest against the sponge's shoulder. The tune was a bridge to his past, a time before the accident, before the world had shifted on its axis. Plankton's breaths grew deeper, his body swaying slightly with the rhythm. His eye closed. Sponge Bob's humming grew softer, his hand never leaving Plankton's back. The warmth of his companion's embrace was a soothing balm. The room, once a prison of accusations, was now a sanctuary of friendship. The candle's flame danced, casting shadows that played across the walls, their flickering a gentle reminder of the warmth in their hearts. Sponge Bob's hum grew softer, his melody a gentle whisper that lulled Plankton into a peaceful reverie. His body molded into the sponge's embrace, his antennae drooping with the weight of his eyelid. The world outside faded away, replaced by the safety of Sponge Bob's arms. Karen watched from the distance, shimmering with unshed tears. She knew the importance of this moment, the power of a friend who understood without words. Her heart swelled with gratitude for Sponge Bob's unwavering support. Hanna, too, felt the weight of her own words, the realization of her ignorance heavy on her shoulders. She longed to reach out, to be part of this healing embrace, but felt the boundary that she had unwittingly created. Her screen followed the tender scene, her thoughts racing with a desire to apologize, to explain. But she knew that now was not the time for words. Instead, she sat quietly, watching the dance of friendship unfold. The steady beat of Sponge Bob's heart, the gentle rustle of his body against Plankton's, the soothing hum that filled the air—it was a symphony of care. Hanna's gaze drifted to the candle, its flame a flickering reminder of the warmth that was slowly seeping into the room. She watched as Plankton's body grew heavier, his breaths deepening. The anger and fear that had once dominated the space were now replaced with a comforting quietude. Karen's hand found Hanna's, squeezing gently. "He's ok," she whispered. "We're going to be ok." Her voice was a calm sea, offering a gentle buoyancy to the storm of emotions that had ravaged them all. Hanna's screen searched hers, uncertainty warring with hope. "I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice a soft apology. "I just didn't know." Karen nodded, her gaze compassionate. "It's a journey," she said. "We're all just trying to understand." The humming grew softer, until it was only a faint echo in the room. Plankton's antennae twitched with the last remnants of his anxiety, before they too stilled. His body grew heavy, his breaths deep and even. The gentle sway of Sponge Bob's embrace was a lullaby that rocked him into a peaceful slumber. Sponge Bob felt the change in Plankton's tension, his friend's body becoming a soft weight against his. He smiled, his heart swelling with love and relief. Carefully, he adjusted his hold, cradling the tiny creature against his chest. His thumb continued its comforting strokes, his eyes never leaving the closed eye. Karen stepped forward, her movements graceful and silent. Her hand rested on Sponge Bob's arm, her screen a gentle thank you. Hanna quietly left. The room was now bathed in the soft glow of the candle, its flicker the only sound. Plankton's antennae twitched slightly in his sleep, his breaths deep and even. Sponge Bob held him tight, his heartbeat a gentle rhythm that soothed the tiny creature's slumber. Karen watched the two, aching with love and gratitude. She knew that Sponge Bob's simple act of comfort was a powerful statement of friendship and support. It was moments like this that reminded her of the strength in their bond. The candle's flame danced gently, casting shadows that played across Plankton's sleeping face. His antennae, once a whirlwind of anxiety, were now still, resting against Sponge Bob's chest. His breaths were even and deep, a testament to the peace he had found in his friend's embrace. Sponge Bob looked down at his sleeping companion, his face a picture of quiet contentment. He knew that Plankton was safe here, that his slumber was a reprieve from the storm of emotions that had ravaged his day. The room was a sanctuary of calm, the candle's warmth a gentle guardian. The sponge's heart swelled with love as he watched his friend's tiny chest rise and fall, each breath a whispered promise of support. He knew that Plankton's world was now different, that the ASD had brought with it challenges that neither of them could have foreseen. But in this moment, their bond was stronger than ever, a beacon of understanding in a sea of uncertainty. Karen's eyes searched Sponge Bob's, her own heart heavy with the weight of what Plankton had endured. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice a soft wave of appreciation. "For being there for him." Sponge Bob's gaze never left Plankton's sleeping form, his thumb still tracing comforting patterns. "Always," he said, his voice a gentle promise. "No matter what."

A JOURNEY TO AUTISM ix (Autistic author) The silence in the room was suffocating, the echo of Mr. Krabs' footsteps the only sound as he retreated to his home, his heart feeling heavier than his treasure chest. Sponge Bob's heart torn between pity and frustration. He looked at Plankton, his friend's gaze still locked on the chessboard, his body a portrait of rejection. "Plankton," he whispered, his voice full of pain. But Plankton didn't move, his antennas twitching slightly. Sponge Bob felt a lump form in his throat, his eyes brimming with tears. He didn't know what to do, what to say, to make things right. He glanced at Karen, her lights dimming slightly with sadness. "I'll leave you two to talk." With a nod to Sponge Bob, she left the room, leaving them alone in the stifling silence. Sponge Bob approached Plankton cautiously, his heart pounding. "What can I do?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. Plankton's antennas twitched slightly, but he didn't look up. "Nothing," he murmured, his voice flat. "Cannot change." Sponge Bob's eyes welled with tears. "I mean right now, I can do what you want me to," he pleaded. "You're my best friend, Plankton." Plankton's antennas lifted, his single eye meeting Sponge Bob's gaze. "We can talk, we can play a game, we can watch some thing..." Plankton's antennas remained still, his expression unreadable. "Watch," he said finally, his voice devoid of enthusiasm. Sponge Bob nodded, his heart heavy with disappointment. He knew his friend needed space, and he would give it to him. The screen flickered to life. Sponge Bob felt a pang of despair, his hand hovering over the remote. "Is this okay?" he asked, his voice trembling. Plankton nodded, his gaze unfocused. "Okay," he murmured. Sponge Bob selected a nature documentary, knowing Plankton. They sat in silence as the soothing sounds of the ocean filled the room, the TV's blue light washing over them. Plankton's body relaxed slightly, his antennas still as he watched. Sponge Bob felt a tiny spark of hope when Plankton scoots up next to him. The documentary played on, the narrator's soothing voice detailing the lives of jellyfish. Sponge Bob watched Plankton from the corner of his eye, his heart aching at the sight of his friend's vacant gaze. He reached over and gently placed his hand on Plankton's shoulder, his touch tentative. Plankton didn't flinch, his eye never leaving the screen. Sponge Bob swallowed the lump in his throat and whispered, "I'm here for you." Plankton's antenna twitched slightly, a barely perceptible acknowledgment. The silence stretched on, the only sound the rhythmic pulse of the jellyfish through the speakers. Sponge Bob's hand remained on Plankton's shoulder, his thumb making small, comforting circles. As the documentary droned on, Plankton's antennas gradually lost their rigidity, drooping slightly with each passing moment. The rhythmic pulse of the jellyfish on the screen seemed to lull him into a state of quiet contemplation. His gaze grew unfocused, his eyelid fluttered once, then twice, before finally settling shut. Plankton's tiny frame relaxed into SpongeBob's side, breathing evening out. His hand remained on Plankton's shoulder, his thumb continuing to make small circles as his friend slipped into slumber. When SpongeBob turned off the tv, he noticed Plankton's head drooped to the side with a soft snore, his body gone slack. Plankton was asleep, his chest rising and falling in a gentle rhythm. The yellow sponge felt a wave of relief wash over him as he realized that his friend had finally found some peace. He carefully scooted Plankton closer. He knew Plankton needed his rest, especially with his brain trying to adjust to this new reality. Karen came back in to see Plankton's antennas limp and Sponge Bob's hand on his shoulder. She nodded gently at the sponge, who looked up and sighed. "It's ok to let him rest. He's been through a lot." She says. Sponge Bob nods, his grip on Plankton's shoulder tightening slightly. "I know. I just want to help," he replies, his voice barely audible over Plankton's soft snores. Karen's lights flicker gently. "You are helping by being here, Sponge Bob. Just give him time and space to adjust." Sponge Bob nods, his eyes never leaving Plankton's sleeping face. "I'll do anything for him." Karen's light blips. "I know you will. But for now, let's get him to his bed." Sponge Bob nods, carefully scooping up Plankton, cradling him like a fragile shell. He carries him to the bedroom. He lays him down, tucking the blanket under his chin with extra care. Plankton's snores soften into a gentle purr, his antennas twitching slightly in his sleep. Sponge Bob pulls up a chair beside the bed, his eyes never leaving his friend's face. He feels a heavy responsibility, a desire to be there for Plankton in ways he's never had to before. As the minutes tick by, Sponge Bob begins to feel the weight of the day's events. His eyes grow heavy, his body swaying with exhaustion. Despite his resolve, he can't keep his lids open any longer. With a yawn, he collapses into the chair beside Plankton's bed, his head lolling to the side. His eyes close. Plankton opens his eye to find Sponge Bob asleep next to him. Plankton's gaze lingers on the sponge, his expression unreadable. He moves his antennas slightly, testing the boundaries of his new reality. The weight of Mr. Krabs' apology and his own words hang heavy on him. With a deep sigh, he knew that his relationship with Mr. Krabs was irrevocably changed, but he hadn't expected the sadness that accompanied the realization. He watched as Sponge Bob's chest lifted and fell in a steady rhythm, his grip on the blanket tight. A strange warmth spread through Plankton's heart, something he hadn't felt in a long time. Sponge Bob had always been his friend, even when he was at his worst. But this... This was different. This was someone sticking by him, not because they had to, but because they wanted to. The warmth grew, spreading through Plankton like a gentle current. It was unfamiliar, but not unpleasant. He had felt it before, with Karen. Yet this was a different kind of warmth. This was friendship, pure and untainted by the greed that usually consumed him before... He studied Sponge Bob's peaceful face, his mind racing. This sponge, his enemy's best worker, had shown more kindness and understanding in the past few hours than anyone else in his life, other than Karen. And for what? A chance at the Krabby formula? No, for him. For Plankton. The warmth grew stronger, pushing out the coldness that usually dominated his thoughts. He felt a strange urge to reciprocate, to be... nicer. Sponge Bob stirred, his eyes fluttering open. "Plankton?" he mumbles, his voice thick with sleep. Plankton's antennas lift slightly, his single eye focusing on the yellow form beside him. "Yes, Sponge Bob," he replies, his voice gentler than before. Sponge Bob sits up with a start. "How long have you been up?" he asks, his eyes searching Plankton's face for any sign of pain or distress. Plankton's antennas twitch slightly. "Not long," he murmurs, his gaze lingering on Sponge Bob. Sponge Bob's expression is a mixture of relief and concern. "Do you want to talk?" he asks, his voice gentle. Plankton's antennas wave slightly, a tiny nod of his head. "Talk," he echoes, his voice soft. Sponge Bob takes a deep breath, trying to form the words he desperately wants to say. "I just... I want you to know that I'm here for you, Plankton," he says, his voice shaking. Plankton's antennas wave slightly, and his eye narrows. "Here for Plankton," he echoes, his voice flat. Sponge Bob's eyes fill with tears. "Yes, Plankton," he whispers. "Always." Plankton's antennas twitch again, the word "always" echoing in his mind. "Always," he murmurs.

SWEET CWEAM pt. 7 “So SpongeBob heard all of it?” He demands. Karen nods, her amusement obvious. "Everything. Even your snoring..” Plankton's face goes from flushed to beet-red. "I… what?" he asks, his voice tiny and ashamed. "You don't remember snoring?" Karen asks, barely keeping a straight face. "It was quite the symphony." Plankton's eye widened in horror. "Snoring?" he repeats, not wanting to believe it. "And in front of Sponge Bob?" Karen nods, her laughter bubbling over. "Oh, Plankton," she says, her voice full of affection. "It was the cutest..." "Cute? This isn't cute, Karen!" He interrupts, his voice rising in disbelief. The embarrassment is palpable in his tone. “And besides, I don’t snore!” Her laughter dies down to a chuckle. "Well, you did yesterday," she says, her eyes dancing with mirth. "Whether or not you do, you did." Plankton's face contorts in a mixture of denial and embarrassment. He can't believe what he's hearing, his mind reeling from the revelation. "But... I... snore?" he stammers, his voice a feeble protest. Karen nods, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "You sure did, Plankton," she says, her tone teasing. The color in his cheeks deepens to a crimson red, his eye wide with disbelief. "But... but I don't snore!" Karen's laughter rolls out like a wave, filling the room with warmth. "Maybe not usually," she says, her smile playful. "But yesterday, oh…" Plankton's mind races, trying to grasp the concept. "But how could I not know?" he asks, his voice a mix of indignation and confusion, a desperate whisper. "But I didn't really mean what’s been supposedly said, right?" His eye darts between her and the now-dark TV screen. "I was just... you know, saying things?" Karen's laughter softens into a warm smile. "You did mean it, Plankton," she says, her tone gentle. "At least your subconscious did. It's just the anesthesia that made it come out so... clearly." His face falls, his eye drooping. "So, it's true?" he whispers. The humiliation washes over him like a cold shower, his pride dampened by the knowledge that his deepest thoughts were laid bare for all to see, even if it was just Sponge Bob and his wife. Karen nods, her screen sparkling with amusement. "But it's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's just part of the anesthesia. And besides, you looked so cute and happy, not to mention snoring away.." Just then, SpongeBob comes back to check and visit. "Hi Plankton!" he says cheerfully, his voice like a trumpet in the quiet room. Plankton's head snaps up, his heart racing at the sight of his friend. "Thponge Bob," he slurs, his voice barely audible. "How uh, how are ya?" Sponge Bob's smile is warm and welcoming. "I'm great, Plankton! How are you feeling?" Plankton's eye darts to Karen, who's still smiling, before returning to his friend. "I'm... I'm ok," he mumbles, his voice barely above a whisper. The embarrassment of his earlier admission weighs heavily on his shoulders. Sponge Bob notices the change in his demeanor. "You don't seem like it," he says gently. "Is everything okay?" Plankton's throat is tight with nerves. He swallows hard, his eye darting to Karen and back. "I... I had a bit of a... a misunderstanding," he says, his words stumbling over each other like a tangled mess of seaweed. Sponge Bob's face is a canvas of curiosity. "A misunderstanding?" he repeats, his voice innocent. "What kind of misunderstanding?" Plankton's eye narrows slightly, his cheeks still flushed. "Well, I... I don't really remember much from after the surgery," he says, his voice a mix of apology and hope. "But Karen says I... I talked a lot." Sponge Bob's grin doesn't waver. "Oh, you sure did, Plankton!" he says, his voice filled with warmth. "You had some pretty interesting stories to tell." Plankton's eye darts to the floor, his cheeks blazing with embarrassment. "I'm sorry if I... if I said anything weird," he mumbles, his voice tiny and unsure. He's never been one to show his vulnerable side, especially to Sponge Bob, whose good nature he often finds infectious. Sponge Bob's face lights up like a jellyfish in the night. "Weird?" he repeats, his voice filled with innocence. "What do you mean, weird?" Plankton's eye darts around the room, anywhere but at Sponge Bob's gazing eyes. "I... I just meant, you know, things that might not make sense," he says, his voice trailing off. Sponge Bob nods slowly, his smile remaining in place. "Oh, I remember," he says, his voice soft and understanding. "You talked about flying and being a dolphin. It was like listening to a fairy tale!" Plankton's eye flutters shut with relief. "Oh," he breathes. "So I didn't say..." Sponge Bob's smile doesn't fade. "Well, you said you loved to see me," he says, his voice innocent. "But I knew if you meant it, Plankton. You're my best friend too!" Plankton's face is a whirlwind of emotions: embarrassment, relief, and a strange kind of warmth that spreads through his chest. He swallows hard, his throat thick with unspoken words. He's not one to be so open, but the medicine has clearly stripped him of his usual reserve. Karen watches the exchange with love. The rare moment of vulnerability and friendship was something she never knew Plankton was capable of showing. It was a side of him she had never seen before, and it was beautiful. "So, Plankton," Sponge Bob says, his grin as wide as his face, "You're a dolphin, huh? I never knew dolphins snored..” Plankton's face is a mask of horror. "You…" he croaks. Sponge Bob nods, his eyes twinkling. "It's okay, Plankton," he says, his voice soothing. "But it was really sweet to hear you s..." "Snoring?" Plankton interrupts, his voice higher than usual. "You heard me… snoring?" Karen nods, her screen shining with amusement. "But don't worry, it's all part of the recovery process. You needed that rest." Sponge Bob chuckles, his body wobbling with laughter. "It's okay, Plankton," he says, his voice a comfort. "Many people snore sometimes." Plankton's eye narrows slightly, his pride stinging. "But not me," he mumbles, his voice barely a murmur. "I'm not a snorer." Sponge Bob's laughter fills the room, his body wobbling with mirth. "Oh, but you were, Plankton! It was adorable!" Karen's smile is like a beam of sunlight cutting through the embarrassment. "It was, wasn't it?" she says, her voice chiming in with Sponge Bob's laughter. Plankton's face is a map of humiliation, but his mind is racing. He's not one to let his guard down, especially in front of Sponge Bob. "But...but... I'm not one to snore!" he protests weakly, his voice barely above a whisper. Karen's eyes crinkle with laughter. "Well, you did," she says, her voice teasing. "But don't worry, it's nothing to be ashamed of." Sponge Bob nods in agreement. "You looked so peaceful," he adds, his voice warm. Plankton's curiosity gets the better of him, yet not sure if he's ready for the answer. "Can I... can I see the video?" he asks, his voice tentative. Karen's laughter fades into a smile, and she nods, pulling out her phone. "But only if you promise not to get too embarrassed," she warns, her thumbs quickly navigating to the saved clip. The screen lights up with a sleeping Plankton, his snores like the gentle lapping of waves against the shore. Sponge Bob smiles quietly beside him, his body shaking in silent amusement. Plankton watches in horror, his eye wide as his snores echo through the room, his mouth hanging open. Karen hits pause, her smile still in place. "See?" she says, her voice soft. Plankton's cheeks burn with mortification. "I... I can't believe it," he stammers. "I... I snore?" Sponge Bob's laugh softens into a chuckle. "It's okay, Plankton," he says, his voice gentle. "We all have our moments." Plankton nods slowly, his face still flushed with embarrassment. He takes a deep breath, trying to reclaim some of his usual composure. "I... I guess you're right," he says, his voice a little stronger. Karen's smile doesn't waver. "Of course," she says, placing a hand on his. "Now, let's get some more ice cream.."

ᴸᵒᵒᵏˢ ᴸⁱᵏᵉ ᵂᵉ ᴴᵃᵛᵉ ᴬ ᵂⁱⁿⁿᵉʳ ⁽ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᴮᵒᵇ ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜ⁾ Part 3 "ᴵ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ᵘᵖˢᵉᵗ‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ˢᵃʸˢ⸴ ᵃˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ʰᵒˡᵈⁱⁿᵍ ᵇˡᵘᵉ ᵇˡᵃⁿᵏᵉᵗ ʷʰⁱˡˢᵗ ᵗʳʸⁱⁿᵍ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵗᵒ ʷʰⁱᵐᵖᵉʳ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵏⁿᵉʷ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ⁿᵒʳᵐᵃˡˡʸ ᵍᵒⁿⁿᵃ ᵗᵃᵏᵉ ⁱᵗ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵒⁿ ᵒᵗʰᵉʳˢ ᵇᵘᵗ ʰᵉ'ˢ ʲᵘˢᵗ ˢᵗᵃʸⁱⁿᵍ ˢⁱˡᵉⁿᵗ ⁿᵒʷ‧ "ᵀᵃˡᵏ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵉ; ʸᵉˡˡ ᵃᵗ ᵐᵉ; ᴵ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᶜᵃʳᵉ! ᴵ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ⁿᵒᵗ ʰᵃᵖᵖʸ‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ᵃ ᵍᵒᵒᵈ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵉ ᵏⁱᵈ‧ ᴵᵗ'ˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ʸᵒᵘ‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ'ˢ ˢʰᵒᶜᵏᵉᵈ‧ "ᵂᵃⁱᵗ ᵇᵘᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ⁿᵒʳᵐᵃˡˡʸ‧‧‧" "ᴵ'ᵐ ⁿᵒᵗ ʰᵃᵖᵖʸ ᵃᶠᵗᵉʳ ʰᵉᵃʳⁱⁿᵍ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵏⁿᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ ᵒᶠ ᶜᵒᵘʳˢᵉ ᵇᵘᵗ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿˢᵗ ʸᵒᵘ‧ ᴷⁿᵒʷⁱⁿᵍ ʸᵒᵘ⸴ ᴵ'ᵐ ˢᵘʳᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ʲᵘˢᵗ ˡᵒᵒᵏᵉᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ ᶠᵒʳ ᵐᵉ⸴ ˢᵒ ᵗʰᵃⁿᵏ ʸᵒᵘ‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵃʸˢ‧ 'ᴵ ᵉˣᵖᵉᶜᵗᵉᵈ ᵃⁿ ᵃᵗᵗᵃᶜᵏ ᵇᵘᵗ ʰᵉ ᵗʰᵃⁿᵏᵉᵈ ᵐᵉ‧‧‧' "ᴵ'ᵐ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ˢᵒʳʳʸ ᶠᵒʳ ⁱᵗ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴵ ᵈⁱᵈ ᵗᵉˡˡ ᵗʰᵉ ᵗʳᵘᵗʰ⸴ ʷᵉ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵃᶠᵗᵉʳ‧ ʸᵒᵘ ᵈⁱᵈ ᶠᵃˡˡ ᵃˢˡᵉᵉᵖ‧ ᴮᵘᵗ ᵃˡˢᵒ ʷʰᵃᵗ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵖᵃʳᵃᵖʰʳᵃˢᵉ ʷʰᵃᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ᵈⁱᵈ ˢᵃʸ‧‧‧" "ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵈⁱᵈ ᵗʰᵉʸ ᶠⁱⁿᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᵐʸ ᵇˡᵘᵉ ᵇˡᵃⁿᵏⁱᵉ?" "ᴺᵒ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵐʸ ᵏⁿᵒʷˡᵉᵈᵍᵉ‧ ᴰᵒ ʸᵒᵘ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ᵐᵉ ᵗᵒ ˢᵗᵃʸ ᵒʳ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ ˢᵖᵃᶜᵉ?" "ᴵᶠ ᴵ ᵈⁱᵈ ˢᵃʸ ᵘˢ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈˢ ᴵ ᵈᵒ ʰᵒᵖᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵉᵉ ᵐᵉ ᵃˢ ˢᵘᶜʰ‧ ᴵᶠ ᴵ'ᵛᵉ ᵃⁿʸ ᵖᵉʳˢᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ ᶜᵃˡˡ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈ ᴵ'ᵈ ˢᵃʸ ʸᵒᵘ ᵏⁱᵈ‧‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵖᵃᵗˢ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ'ˢ ʰᵃⁿᵈ ᵃʷᵏʷᵃʳᵈˡʸ‧ ᴺᵉˣᵗ ʷᵉᵉᵏ ᵃᶠᵗᵉʳ ᵗʰᵉ ᵗʳⁱᵖ ᔆᑫᵘⁱᵈʷᵃʳᵈ ᵐᵃᵈᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢᵉⁿᵗ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵃ ᵇᵒᵒᵏ ᵒᶠ ᵉᵃᶜʰ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖʰᵒᵗᵒᵍʳᵃᵖʰˢ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᵗʰᵉ ᵗʳⁱᵖ‧ "ᵀʰᵃⁿᵏˢ ᶠᵒʳ ⁱⁿᵛⁱᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵐᵉ‧‧‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ˢᵃʸˢ⸴ ᵗʳᵃⁱˡⁱⁿᵍ ᵒᶠᶠ ᵃˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵒᵖᵉⁿˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᵒᵒʳ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱˢ ᶜᵒᵐᵖᵘᵗᵉʳ ʷⁱᶠᵉ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˡᵃᵘᵍʰⁱⁿᵍ‧ "ᴵ ᵍᵒᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵃˡᵇᵘᵐ ᵒᶠ ᵖʰᵒᵗᵒˢ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵗʳⁱᵖ!" ᵀʰᵉʸ ᵇᵒᵗʰ ʳᵃⁿ ᵗᵒ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵒˡᵈⁱⁿᵍ ⁱᵗ‧ "ᔆᑫᵘⁱᵈʷᵃʳᵈ ˢᵉⁿᵗ ⁱᵗ‧‧‧" "ᴸᵒᵒᵏ ᵃᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ᵇᵒᵗʰ ˢˡᵉᵉᵖⁱⁿᵍ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜᵃʳ! ᴮᵘᵗ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵃᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵍᵒᵒᶠʸ ᵍᵒᵒᵇᵉʳ'ˢ ᵐʸ ᶠᵃᵛᵒᵘʳⁱᵗᵉ!" 'ᴺᵒᵗ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿ' ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ ˢᵉᵉⁱⁿᵍ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᶜʳⁱⁿᵍᵉ‧ "ᴰʳᵒᵒˡ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ‽ ᵂʰʸ ʸᵒᵘ ˡᵃᵘᵍʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵃᵗ‧‧‧" "ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ‧‧‧" "ᴵ'ᵐ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵍᵒⁿⁿᵃ ᵍᵒ ᵒⁿ ᵃ ʳᵃᵐᵖᵃᵍᵉ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ‧ ᴵ ᵉⁿʲᵒʸᵉᵈ ᵇᵉⁱⁿᵍ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ˢᵒ ᴵ'ˡˡ ˡᵉᵗ ⁱᵗ ˢˡⁱᵈᵉ ⁿᵒʷ‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵘʳᵉ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ?" "ᴰᵒⁿ'ᵗ ʷᵃⁿⁿᵃ ᵖᵘˢʰ ⁱᵗ‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʳᵒˡˡˢ ʰⁱˢ ᵉʸᵉ⸴ ᵗʳʸⁱⁿᵍ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵗᵒ ˢᵐⁱˡᵉ‧ End Finale

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TRUTH AND NAIL vi Karen couldn't believe the transformation. This was not the Plankton she knew, not the one who was always scheming or complaining. This was a Plankton who was loose, free from his usual inhibitions, and it was both endearing and a little unnerving. But mostly, it was just funny. He poked Sponge Bob's side again, his giggle a strange sound in the quiet living room. "Still squishy," he murmured. Sponge Bob's laughter was like a bubble bursting. "Plankton, you're loopy!" he exclaimed. Plankton's eye fluttered open, his gaze unfocused. "Loopy?" he repeated, his voice slurred. "I'm not a loop, I'm a...a...a...sea creature!" He giggled, the sound like a leaky faucet. Sponge Bob couldn't help but laugh harder, his eyes watering with mirth. "You're right, Plankton," he said, his voice shaking with amusement. "You're a sea creature. A very loopy one." Plankton giggled, his body jerking with each laugh. "Loopy, loopy," he murmured, his hand still on Sponge Bob's side. His eye lit up with an idea. "Peekaboo!" he exclaimed, hiding his eye behind his hand. Sponge Bob's laughter was like a symphony of bubbles, filling the room with joy. "Oh, Plankton, you're a riot," he said, his voice a delighted chuckle. He played along, covering his eyes. "Where did you go?" Plankton's giggle was a strange, wobbly sound. "I'm still here," he slurred, his voice muffled by his hand. "I'm...I'm right here." He peeked through his fingers, his eye twinkling with mischief. Sponge Bob chuckled, his voice warm and welcoming. "Where'd you go, Plankton?" he asked, playing along. Plankton's eye peeked out from behind his hand, his grin wide and goofy. "Boo!" he exclaimed, his voice a sloppy whisper. Sponge Bob's laughter was a delightful sound, echoing in the quiet room. "You got me, Plankton!" he said, his voice filled with surprise. Encouraged by the reaction, Plankton's hand dropped to his lap, his gaze turning to Karen. "Wanna...wanna play?" he asked, his voice still thick with anesthesia. Her eyes danced with laughter. "What game, love?" Plankton's smile grew, his voice a sleepy whine. "Pat-a-cake?" Karen's laugh was a gentle surprise. "Pat-a-cake?" she echoed, her hand moving to his. "Okay, darling." Their palms met with a slap, Plankton's movements slow and awkward. "Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake," he murmured, his voice slurred. They played the game, their hands moving in a clumsy dance, a silent reminder of his groggy state. Sponge Bob watched, his laughter a gentle wave in the background. "Looks like someone had a bit too much fun at the dentist," he teased, his voice a soft caress. Plankton's gaze found his, his smile a sleepy grin. "Dentith?" he slurred, his hand waving vaguely. "No, no, not dentith...." Sponge Bob nodded, his laughter subsiding to a gentle chuckle. "Alright, not the dentist," he said, his voice understanding. "What game do you want to play then?" Plankton's head lolled to the side, his eye half-closed. "You know...the one with... the animals," he murmured, his words thick and slow. But Plankton's head was already lolling back, his snores a soft rumble in the quiet room. Sponge Bob looked at Karen, his expression a mix of concern and amusement. "Should we...?" he began, his voice trailing off. Plankton's snore was his only reply, his mouth open wide and drool spilling onto the couch. Karen chuckled, patting his hand. "He's just tired," she said, her voice a gentle excuse. Karen covered him with a soft blanket, his snores growing louder as he sank deeper into sleep. “You can sleep on the other couch across by him,” Karen told Sponge Bob. The anesthesia worn off over night, and Plankton only woke up the next morning on the couch at the same time as SpongeBob. Plankton sat up with a start, his eye wide. "Wha... where...what...?" his words tangled in a slurry mess. Sponge Bob stirred on the couch across from him, his eyes blinking sleepily. "Morning, Plankton," he said. Plankton's eye focused on his friend, his mind racing. "Sponge Bob?" he said, his voice sharp and clear. "Wath...what's going on here?!" Sponge Bob stretches his limbs. "Well, good morning to you too, Plankton," he said, his voice filled with cheerful energy. "You had your wisdom teeth out, remember?" “I know I went to the dentist but, what happened after I came home?” He said, mostly to himself. Sponge Bob sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Well, you were pretty out of it," he said, his voice still a bit groggy from sleep. "But you were also pretty funny." Plankton's gaze darted around the room, his mind spinning. "What...what do you mean?" His voice was sharp, his usual snappiness creeping back in. Sponge Bob chuckled, his body still relaxed from his nap. "You don't remember?" he asked, his voice a tease. "You were so affectionate, calling me your best buddy and all." Plankton's eye narrowed, his confusion morphing into suspicion. "I did no such thing," he said, his voice a firm rebuttal. "I'm not that...that..." Karen stepped in, her laugh light. "You don't remember?" she asked, her voice a gentle tease. "You were so lovely and affectionate last night." Plankton's face scrunched up in disbelief. "Affectionate?" he repeated, his voice rising. "To him?" His thumb jerked towards Sponge Bob, who was now watching him with a knowing smile. "I...I can't have said that." Sponge Bob shrugged, his laugh bubbly. "You sure did, Plankton. You were poking me and calling me your best buddy." Plankton's disbelief grew, his eye wide with shock. "I...I did not!" he protested, his voice a high-pitched squeak. "That's...that's not me!" Karen couldn't hold back her laughter, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "Oh, it was definitely you, darling," she said, her voice a sweet contrast to his indignation. Plankton's expression shifted from shock to outrage. "But...but why?" he sputtered, his face flushing a deep shade of red. "I don't...I don't do that sort of...that sort of thing!" Karen's laugh was like a melody, light and playful. "You did, love," she said, her voice a soft reminder. "You were just a little...loopy." Plankton's hand flew to his mouth, his eye wide with horror. "No, no, no," he murmured, his voice muffled by his palm. "That can't be right." He looked at Sponge Bob with an accusatory glare. "Who put me up to this?" Sponge Bob's laugh was like a burst of bubbles. "You don't remember?" he asked, his voice full of delight. "It was all you, buddy. You were feeling the med..." "The medicine!" Plankton exclaimed, his face paling as realization hit him. "The anesthesia made me say those things.." His voice was a mix of relief and horror. Sponge Bob's chuckle was infectious. "Don't worry, Plankton," he said, his voice warm. "We all have our moments." But Plankton was not to be swayed. "That's not like me," he insisted, his voice a mix of dismay and irritation. "I'm not...I'm not like that!" Sponge Bob's chuckles turned into a full-blown laugh. "Well, you were last night," he said, his voice a gentle ribbing. "You were all warm and fuzzy. But you did eventually fall asleep and started snoring.." Plankton's face was a picture of disgust. "Snoring?!" he said, his voice a mix of outrage and embarrassment. Karen's laugh was like a small wave on the shore. "It's okay, honey," she said, patting his leg. "You were just really tired." "I...I don't snore," he asks, his voice firm. Sponge Bob couldn't help but chuckle, his laugh bubbly. "Well, you did last night," he said, his voice a gentle reminder. Plankton's eye narrowed, his usual snappiness returning with full force. "I...I snored?" he asked, his voice skeptical. Karen's smile was sympathetic. "You did, darling," she said, her voice soothing. "But it's all right. It's just what happens when you're tired." Plankton's eye shot to hers, his expression a mix of disbelief and irritation. "But I...I never snored," he insisted, his voice a protest. “Right, Karen?” Her laugh was a gentle tide, washing over his protests. "You do snore, Plankton," she said, her voice a warm caress. "But it's nothing to be embarrassed about." Plankton's face was a mask of disbelief, his voice a tight knot of denial. "I snore?" he repeated, as if the word was foreign to his vocabulary. Sponge Bob's laughter was a delightful sound, his body shaking with mirth. "Yes, Plankton," he said, his voice full of affection. "But don't worry, it's not so bad. I mean, you're not as loud as Patrick." Karen's giggle joined his, the two of them laughing gently at Plankton's expense. But their laughter wasn't cruel, it was the kind that comes from knowing someone so well that their quirks become endearing. "I...I do?" Plankton asked, his voice barely above a murmur. Sponge Bob nodded, his laughter subsiding into a knowing smile. "But hey, we all have our little quirks, right?" Karen's eyes sparkled with amusement. "It's part of who we are, love," she said, her voice a gentle reminder of the truth.

Wisdoms i i/i Sponge Bob leaned in close. "What you say, Planky?" Plankton's head lolled to the side, eye half-closed. "Bubbles?" "You're gonna have to stay still." "Kay," Plankton mumbled, eye shut again. Karen chuckled. "You're a riot, you know that?" she said. Plankton's head lolled back on the chair. "Don't worry, Plankton. You're going to be just fine. It's all over now." Plankton nodded, trying to keep up. "Th-thank you," he slurred. "I think I need... need a nap." "You've already had nap, Plankton, we can go now." The nurse handed her gauze. "Keep this with you as needed," she instructed. Karen nodded. They helped Plankton into the car. Karen buckled him in, his head lolling to the side. "You're gonna be ok," she said, her voice a comforting hum. "Mm-hmm," Plankton murmured, head lolling to the side. "Mmm, ch...ch...chew some...some ch...ch...chum," Plankton mumbled, eye half-closed. Karen chuckled. "No chum for you, Plankton. You need your mouth heal." Sponge Bob nods. "I can make you a chum-free smoothie without chewing!" Plankton's eye rolled back in his head. "Mm...no...no chewing..." Karen laughed softly. "You're gonna be fine," she said. Plankton nodded, eyelid fluttering open and closed. "Mmm...Karen...my hero," he slurred, speech still thick and wobbly. "Mmm...no...more...tweef...," Plankton mumbled, eyelid drooping again. "Don't worry, Plankton," Karen said. "You're all done." Plankton nodded, eye still half-closed. "Mmm...no more tweef," he murmured, voice distant. Sponge Bob giggled. "That's right, Planky," he said, patting Plankton's arm. Plankton began to snore gently. Karen laughed, shaking her head. "Bet he's going to be so surprised when he wakes up home without tweef!" "Home...," Plankton's voice trails off as he snored. "We're almost," Karen said smiling at his loopy state. Plankton's eye fluttered open, speech still thick. "Tweef...tweef..." Sponge Bob looked with amusement. "Planky, no more tweef for you," he said. Plankton nodded slowly, his mind still in anesthesia. "Mm-hmm," he murmured. Karen pulled the car in their driveway. "Plankton, we're home," she said, her voice gentle. "Come on, Plankton," she said, her voice a gentle coax. "Let's get you in." Plankton leaned heavily on her, eye half-closed. "Mm'kay," he mumbled, his voice a slow drawl. "Home...no tweef." They managed in. "Sit down, Plankton," she instructed. "Mmm...sit," Plankton mumbled, his head lolling as he plopped on the couch. "Planky, I'm going to make you the best chum-free smoothie!" Plankton nodded, his head rolling to the side. "Mm'kay," he murmured, tongue thick in his mouth. "Mmm...no...no chewing," he slurred. Karen laughed softly, stroking his arm. "Voilà!" he exclaimed. "The Chum Bucket's finest, no-chew-required smoothie!" Plankton's eye flickered. "Fru...fruit?" "Yep, Planky's favorite!" Plankton's eye squinted. "Mm...no...no chum?" "Nope, no chum! It's all fruity goodness for you, Planky!" Karen took the glass with a smile, taking a spoon after removing gauze. "Mm...tastes...tastes..." His eye widened as the sweetness hit. "Goooood," he mumbled. Karen chuckled, carefully feeding him another spoonful. "You see, Plankton? No more troublesome tweef." "Mm-hmm," he murmured, eyelid fluttering as he tasted the cool, fruity blend. "M'good." "Just keep sipping," she said, her voice a soothing wave. "It'll help." Plankton nodded, his eyelid drooping. "Mm...good," he took another spoonful, the fruit blend cool and comforting. "You're doing great, Plankton!" "Mm...thanks. Fruit...tastes...tastes like...like...a vacation." Plankton managed to convey his appreciation. "Mm...fank...fank you," he slurred, eye drifting shut. Sponge Bob giggled. Plankton took another spoonful. "Mm...so...so good," he murmured, words still as wobbly as his legs had been. Sponge Bob nods. "See, Planky, I told you no more tweef would be a good thing!" Plankton's eye remained half-closed as he slurred his words. "Mm...good...no...no more tweef." Karen and Sponge Bob exchanged glances, smiles growing wider at the sight of him. "That's right, Plankton," Karen said, her voice a gentle tide. "No more pesky wisdom teeth." Plankton nodded, eyelid still drooping. "Mm...so...so happy," he mumbled. "No...more...owies." Karen chuckled. "You're going to be just fine," she assured. "Mm...fine," Plankton murmured, his head lolling back. "M'glad...glad it's...it's over." Karen chuckled, stroking his arm. "You're gonna need rest, Plankton," she said. "The anesthesia will wear off soon." "Mmm...rest," Plankton mumbled, eye struggling to stay open. "No...no more tweef." "That's right, Plankton." Plankton's eye rolled back in his head. "M'tired," he mumbled. "Wis...wisdom...wis...wis...wis..." Karen laughed. "It's ok, Plankton," she said. "Wis...wis...wis...wis...," Plankton's voice trailed off as his head lolled to the side. Karen laughed softly. "You don't have to say it anymore." Plankton nods. "M'tired," he murmured. "M'going...going to...to..." His sentence trailed off as his eye closed completely, snoring gently as his head slips onto Sponge Bob's shoulder. "Looks like he's out," he said, patting Plankton's back. Karen couldn't help but smile at the sight of Plankton's peaceful slumber. "Let's get you cleaned up, Plankton," she said. Sponge Bob carefully lifted Plankton's head, the tiny villain's snores becoming more pronounced. "We need to keep his mouth clean and get him to bed." Karen stood up. "Like this," she demonstrated, placing one hand under Plankton's back and the other under his knees. They shuffled him into the bathroom, his snores echoing down the hall. Karen wet a washcloth with warm water. "Open up, Plankton," she instructed, her voice a gentle wave. Plankton's eye flickered open with effort. He leaned his head back, allowing her to clean his mouth. The warm water felt like a kiss from the ocean, soothing his dull feeling gums. "Good job," Karen praised. "Almost done." Sponge Bob hovered nearby. "You're doing great, Planky," he said, eyes shining with kindness. "Mm...tanks," Plankton mumbled, eyelid fluttering. "M'tired." Karen nodded. "I know, sweetie. Let's get you some gauze." She unwrapped a piece of gauze. "Bite down on this," she instructed gently. Plankton's tiny mouth opened, and he took the gauze between his teeth, his eye fluttering shut as he felt the softness against his swollen gums. The warmth of the water and the gentle pressure of the cloth brought him a semblance of comfort. "Mm...better," he murmured, his voice a sleepy whisper. With Plankton's mouth now clean and gauzed, they carefully guided him to the bedroom. They managed to get Plankton into bed. Karen arranged the blankets around him, her movements careful and tender. Plankton's single eyelid fluttered open. "M'good," he slurred, his voice barely above a whisper. Karen chuckled. "Rest now," she said, her voice a gentle tide. "Spongey will stay with you." "M'kay," Plankton murmured, his eyelid slipping shut. Sponge Bob settled into the chair beside the bed, his eyes never leaving his friend. "You just sleep, Planky," he whispered, his voice like the soft lapping of waves. Plankton's snores grew deeper, the sound of his breathing rhythmic and soothing. Karen leaned down to kiss him on the forehead. "Rest well, my love," she said, her voice a gentle murmur. Sponge Bob's eyes grew wide as he took in the quiet room. He sat up straight in the chair, his eyes darting to the sleeping Plankton. "Okay, Planky," he murmured, his voice a soft rumble of the ocean floor. "I'm here. No more tweef for you." Plankton's snores grew softer, his body relaxing into the embrace of the bed. In the quiet room, Plankton stirred, his snoreless breathing the only sound. Plankton's single eyelid eventually flickered open. "Mm...wha?" he mumbled, his voice still thick. Sponge Bob's eyes grew wide. "It's ok, Planky," he whispered, his voice a soft ripple. Plankton's eye blinked rapidly, trying to focus on his surroundings. "What...what happen'd?" he mumbled, his speech still wobbly like jelly on a plate. Sponge Bob leaned closer. "You had your wisdom teeth removed," he whispered, his voice a gentle nudge. "Remember?" Plankton's eye squinted, his brain working to piece together the fragments of the day. "Mm...teef?" he murmured, his voice a foggy memory. Sponge Bob nodded solemnly. "Yes, Planky, no more tweef," he whispered, his voice a gentle echo in the quiet room. Plankton's eye widened, his mind racing. "I...I don't remember anything," he said, his voice still thick. Sponge Bob nods. "Don't worry, Planky," he whispered, his voice a warm current. "You're all fixed up now. No more tweef to worry about." "But...but how?" he mumbled, his voice a distant echo. Sponge Bob chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You were sleeping like a rock," he whispered, his voice a playful bubble. Plankton's curiosity piqued despite his grogginess. "But...but how did I get here?" he slurred, a slow, meandering stream. "Karen brought you home after the surgery," he explained, his eyes as bright as the moon's reflection on the water. Plankton's eye fluttered as he tried to process the information. "Sur...surgery?" Sponge Bob nodded, his grin as wide as the ocean. "Yeah, Planky," he whispered. "You were out like a light!" Plankton's eye wandered around the room, his mind racing. "But, why'd I agwee to something like that? Nevermind; what are you doin’ here?" "I'm here to take care of you, Planky," he whispered. "And as for the surgery, well, your teeth were causing you a lot of trouble. You were pretty out of it. But Dr. Bubblefish said it's all over now, and you're going to be fine." Plankton's trying to remember. "Dr. Bubblefish? I remember the x-ray.." he mumbled, his voice like a distant echo. "That's right, Planky," he said. "But everything went well. You're all fixed up now."

WISDOMS i Plankton had an appointment at the dentist and Karen promised to take him. SpongeBob, an ever-cheerful neighbor, had offered to come along. The trio stepped out of the car, the door of dentist's office chiming a tune that seemed like the 'Jolly Roger' theme. Sponge Bob bounced in place. The door to the room opened, and in waddled Dr. Bubblefish. "Ah, Mr. Plankton, right on time for x-rays!" The room was a stark contrast to the playful tune. It smelled faintly of mint and antiseptic, with the metallic instruments glinting in bright lights. Dr. Bubblefish waddled over, his flippers moving swiftly as he gestured to the chair. Plankton's eye darts around. "Now, Mr. Plankton if you could just open wide," Dr. Bubblefish instructed holding up a contraption. Karen gave a gentle pat on his shoulder. "It's ok, Plankton. It'll be over before you know it," she assured with a comforting smile. Plankton took a deep breath and opened his mouth. Sponge Bob stood by his side. Dr. Bubblefish slid the x-ray plate in to place and positioned the contraption. "Here we go," he announced, as he stepped back and pressed the button. Sponge Bob watched in fascination. "Alright, all done!" The plate was removed, and Dr. Bubblefish took a moment to examine the results. "Hmm," he murmured, holding the film up to the light. "It seems we have a situation with your wisdom teeth." Plankton's eye bulged with alarm. "Wisdom teeth?" he squeaked. "But I'm a microscopic creature! I don't have room for those!" Dr. Bubblefish nodded solemnly. "Which is why we need to remove now them to prevent any issues." Karen's grip tightened on Plankton's shoulder. "Removal?" Dr. Bubblefish nodded. "It's the best course of action, a common procedure." The doctor led them into his office, walls lined with diplomas. Dr. Bubblefish noticed apprehension and offered a smile. "Now, Mr. Plankton, I know this might be a bit daunting, but I assure you, I'm quite skilled at working. Let's go over details of the procedure, shall we?" Karen's grip tightened more. "You're going to be ok," she whispered. Sponge Bob, the optimist, patted Plankton's arm. "Don't worry, buddy!" Plankton swallowed hard as he sat down in the chair. It was like sitting in a moon crater compared to his usual chair at the Chum Bucket. He gripped the chair's armrests. "But how does it work?" Plankton's voice tight with anxiety. "It's quite simple really. We use anesthesia," he explained, "which will drift off to sleep. You won't feel a thing." "It's like a little nap," Karen offered trying to ease his fears. Dr. Bubblefish nodded. "The anesthesia will make you unconscious for duration of the procedure. It's safe painless way to ensure you don't experience discomfort during extraction." The doctor began preparing. Sponge Bob looks through the window, mix of curiosity and concern. He had never seen anything like this. Plankton's eye pleaded with him for assurance, and Sponge Bob gave him a thumbs up. The chair reclined, and Karen held Plankton's hand tightly. "Ready?" Dr. Bubblefish asked, voice a gentle rumble. Plankton nodded, though his eye shut. Karen squeezed his hand. "You can do this, Plankton," she whispered. The doctor approached with what looked like a pair of tiny tongs. "This will help keep your mouth open," he said, inserting the device into Plankton's mouth. The nurse came over. "This is the anesthesia," she said cheerfully, tentacles flicking the air. "It'll make every thing nice and relaxing." Plankton nodded, his grip tightening. He felt the room spin. "Just breathe," Karen said, the only steady thing in the spinning room. "You're great." Sponge Bob watched as Plankton's eye lid grew heavy, his grip on chair armrests loosening. Dr. Bubblefish nods to the nurse. Plankton took a deep breath, eye shut, body went slack. His grip on the chair arm rests loosened and his breaths grew even. Karen felt a mix of relief and anxiety as the doctor nodded in satisfaction. "And he's out," he murmured. The room was silent except for the occasional blip of medical equipment and sound of Dr. Bubblefish preparing for the extraction. Karen's gaze fixed on Plankton, watching his chest rise and fall with each breath. Sponge Bob leaned in closer, his curiosity piqued. Plankton remained still, lost in his anesthesia-induced slumber. "Sponge Bob, you can wait out side now," Karen said gently never leaving her husband. After surgery, Karen calls Sponge Bob from the waiting room. "He's in recovery now," she says. "You can come see him." Sponge Bob bounces in, eyes wide with excitement. He goes in the room, his curiosity piqued by the sight of Plankton lying peacefully on the chair, his mouth slightly open but without the prop anymore. Plankton's hand lies limp on his own lap. The room remained silent except for the steady beep of the heart monitor and occasional snore from Plankton. "The surgery went well. He'll wake in a bit." Sponge Bob peers closer at Plankton, noticing drool formed at the corner of his mouth. He reaches out and gently strokes Plankton's forehead. "You're ok," he whispers. But Plankton was deep in the abyss of sleep, breathing even and calm. "What's that?" he pointed to a beeping machine. Karen looked over. "That's a monitor," she said softly. "It makes sure everything's ok with Plankton while he's out." The nurse comes in checking vitals. "He's doing great," she says with a nod. "He'll wake up soon." "Wakey, wakey, Plankton," Sponge Bob whispers, a hint of excitement in his voice. He reaches out a finger, gently poking Plankton's arm. No response. Plankton's chest continues to rise and fall rhythmically. Plankton didn't react. "Wow, he's really out," Sponge Bob murmured. "Just don't startle him. He'll wake up groggy." The nurse gently wiped Plankton's mouth with a damp cloth, cleaning away the drool. Plankton's head lolled to the side. "Alright, let's get some gauze," Dr. Bubblefish said, voice interrupting the quiet. Sponge Bob's eyes grew even wider as he watched the nurse carefully fold a piece of white gauze in to a minuscule square. It looked like a tiny cloud in her tentacle. She approached Plankton with the utmost care, as if handling some thing incredibly delicate. With a gentle touch, she inserted gauze into Plankton's mouth, pressing it against his gums. Plankton didn't flinch or stir, his breathing deep and even. The nurse stepped back and gave a satisfied nod. "Alright, he's all set," Dr. Bubblefish said, his voice a comforting rumble. "The gauze will help with any bleeding and keep the area clean." Karen nodded. "Thank you, doctor," she murmured. The room remained silent, except for the steady beep of the heart monitor and the occasional snore from Plankton. "Let's get you sitting up, Mr. Plankton," Dr. Bubblefish instructed as he lifted Plankton's head back up. The chair whirred in to an upright position. After a few moments, Plankton's eye lid began to flutter. He blinked, his vision blurry from anesthesia. He groaned, mouth feeling strange and full. "You're all done!" "Plankton," Karen says, voice soft and warm. Sponge Bob nods eagerly, his eyes never leaving Plankton's face. "How do you feel?" he asks. "Wha..." Plankton mumbles, voice muffled by the gauze. "Wh-where am I?" Karen chuckles. "You're in the dentist's office, Plankton. You had wisdom teeth removed." Sponge Bob's face lights up. "Yeah, buddy, you're all fixed up!" Karen gently helps Plankton sit up, supporting him with an arm around his back. "You're going to feel a bit woozy," she warns. Plankton spots Sponge Bob's grinning face. "Hey, Spongey," he says, his voice still slurred. "Hey, Planky!" Sponge Bob says, smile growing wide. "You're done! No more teeth woes for you!" "W-who's Planky?" Plankton mumbles, voice thick from anesthesia. Sponge Bob laughs, his laugh echoing. "That's you, buddy! Planky, Plankton!" "I survived the tooth monster.." Sponge Bob nods. "Yep, the pesky things in your mouth supposed to make smarter were just causing trouble!" "Troub...troub...tweef?" "Yes, Plankton. Your wisdom teeth are gone." "Miwwow, miwwow, on the wawl," he slurred, wobbly. "Do I wook smarter wi’out my tweef?" Patrick Star was waiting outside the dentist office, his large, star-shaped body leaning against the wall. Patrick Star was waiting outside the dentist's office, his large, star-shaped body leaning against the wall. He had heard that Sponge Bob was escorting Plankton and Karen to the appointment. Once Plankton was discharged, the four crammed into the car. Plankton sat in between Sponge Bob and Patrick, but was too groggy to care. Karen took the wheel, her grip firm. "Alright, let's get you home," she said, starting the engine.