Beard howled. He jumped down into the truck just in time to see his precious book burst into flames on the grill. âNOOOOOOO!â
SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, and Mr. Krabsstrode up to the pirate. âAll right, Burger Beard,â SpongeBob warned. âPrepare to be teamworked. GET HIM, THE RODENT!â
Sandy filled her cheeks with nuts from a handy bin and fired them at Burger Beard. But the wily pirate batted the nuts away with his spatula until she ran out of them. âAw, nuts!â Sandy said. âIâm all out of nuts!â
Burger Beard used a rope to hoist himself up into the crowâs nest. Patrick summoned dozens of ice cream cones to fly at him, pointy end first.
âPatrick, I should NEVER have doubted your powers!â SpongeBob said admiringly.
Burger Beard jumped out of the crowâs nest and swung around on a rope. The ice cream cones followed him. But when he swerved back up, the ice cream cones all headed straight for Patrick! He fell to the ground, covered in ice cream.
âI canât think of a sweeter way to go,â he moaned.
Burger Beard dangled the secret formula in his hand. âItâs ALL MINE!â
âNot so fast,
Booger
Beard!â Mr. Krabs said. He shot his claws at the mast, cutting it into three pieces. The pirate fell to the deck and dropped the formula, which rolled into the street. Mr. Krabsâs claws flew back to his arms.
âMe formuler!â Mr. Krabs shouted. But before he could grab it, Burger Beard shot him away with a blast of melted butter!
SpongeBob reached for the formula, but Burger Beard saw him. The pirate pulled on a lever. Hatches opened on the Burgermobile and REAL CANNONS popped out!
âVoilà !â Burger Beard said proudly.
âUh-oh,â SpongeBob said. A cannonball was rocketing towards him!
U sing his incredible flexibility, SpongeBob managed to dodge all of Burger Beardâs cannonballs. One flew right through SpongeBobâs bubble wand and came out trapped in a bubble. He watched the cannonball float away.
âHuh?â he said. Then he got an idea!
While Burger Beard continued to fire cannonballs at him, SpongeBob used his bubble wand to catch every single one in a bubble, rendering each cannonball harmless!
âTheyâre beautiful!â Patrick said. He reached up to touch one floating over his head.
POP! WHAM!
The bubble popped, and the cannonball fell on Patrick, knocking him out cold.
âPatrick!â SpongeBob called to his friend.
BLAM!
Distracted, SpongeBob failed to dodge Burger Beardâs last cannonball, which sent him flying. The pirate laughed a long, loud, evil laugh.
SpongeBob lay on the ground with cannonballs falling from bubbles all around him.
Still laughing his evil laugh, Burger Beard grabbed the secret formula and ran back to his Burgermobile.
Covered in ice cream, Patrick crawled over to SpongeBob and cradled his best buddyâs head. âSpongeBob!â
âPatrick?â
âYeah, buddy. Talk to me.â
âIâm ⦠Iâm seeing a bright light.â
Patrick moved his head to block the sun, which was shining right in SpongeBobâs eyes. âIs that better?â he asked.
âMuch. Thank you,â SpongeBob said. âBut the discomfort I feel in my eyes is nothing compared to the shame I feel for letting down the Patty. For letting down Bikini Bottom.â
âYeah, SpongeBob,â Patrick said, nodding. âYou really blew it.â
âNo, Patrick. WE blew it ⦠as a team.â
âNope. This oneâs on you.â
Inside the Burgermobile, Burger Beard hummed happily as he started the engine. âHmm-hmmm, tiddly hmmm â¦â
Suddenly, a loud voice boomed through the foodtruck. âWhere do you think YOUâRE going?â
Burger Beard looked around and saw ⦠Plankton!
The mean old pirate laughed hysterically. âWhy donât you get goinâ, little fellow,
Joseph Lance Tonlet, Louis Stevens