Chapter Four: When the going gets tough

                                    

                                          
Everyone heard a wailing siren and Ross telling all citizens to report to the town square. All the citizens gathered in front of Ross who was standing on a tall platform.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we only have until sundown tomorrow. But I will lead us through this crisis by setting meetings to encourage dialogue about drafting proposals for eventual action."
"So... we're doomed," Stephen summed up.
"I'm scared! We need someone to save us," a sardine said making weird hand gestures.
"We need to find whoever's to blame for all this," Stan Lee said.
"Does anyone have an actual plan to propose?" Ross asked.
"Ooh, ooh, I do!" Thor said raising his hand enthusiastically, "call on me! Me, me, me, me!"
"Yes, enthusiastic God of Thunder?"
"If we all close our eyes, maybe nothing will happen."
"So... deep!" Two sardines said before walking away excitedly.
"No, it's not! It's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Stephen said.
"Hooray! Wait..."
"I've got it! We can find a way to halt the exponential increase of pyroclastic flow in the subterranean magma chamber," Nat said.
"Yeah, what she said! La-la-la-laaa!" (Y/N) paused for a second, "what did she say?"
(Y/N) chuckled, "science, Y'all. That's the answer!"
Time froze except for Loki and Mobius.
"I have a new scheme, Mobius, my best one yet. But, for it to work, I need them to stay scared," Loki told his husband.
"What are you talking about? The end is coming! This is no time for one of your schemes."
"Oh, yes, it is. What you said was true; it would take too long to hypnotize each of them into loving my Chum Burgers. But when fish are scared, they school together. If I can get them all in one place where there's nowhere to run, I can hypnotize them in bulk. First, though, I need to shut down that squirrel," Loki cleared his throat and unfroze time, "excuse me."
"Yes? Oh, speak up tiny citizen," Ross said.
Loki grumbled in anger while the people of Bikini Bottom chuckled, "do any of you actually believe that science can save us?" Everyone agreed among themselves, "oh, come on! Next, she'll tell us tidal warming is real."
"I've been studying Bikini Bottom for years now. If you just trust me-"
"Why should we trust you? You're not even from here."
"Yeah, you're a spy," Stan Lee said.
"Since when does that matter?" Nat asked Stan Lee
"Things are different now. Our town is under attack."
"You know what they say, folks: when the going gets tough..." Loki was going to continue but he was interrupted.
"The tough..." Fred twirled around and ended with a flourish, "...get going!"
Everyone applauded but Loki was having none of it, "no! The tough get lost."
Everyone looked at each other confused and Loki froze time again.
"I need to sell them on my plan, Mobius, but it won't be easy. I'm going to need to do it in song," Loki told him, "gimme some music, please, Mobius."
Mobius gave him a country beat