hello Readers...first off I'm sorry it took so long for this chapter...but yes it is the final one...and it sure is longer than my others...but I couldn't bring myself to break it apart
I got some comments that had me seriously thinking about making the ending a happy one...after all I hate to disappoint my readers...so yeah I tried...and after reading it I sighed and then started over...I'm sorry but it just didn't feel right
I hope once you read this chapter you'll understand some key reasons why Zim and Dib...well...I don't want to give anything away so...just go ahead and read for yourself)
Once they arrived at the lodge the rest of the class was less than thrilled to see them.
"Awe man," one kid whined.
"Losers," a girl mumbled.
"Why couldn't they stay lost?" another asked.
Dib kept his eyes on the floor as he and Zim made their way to the resting room. The doctor had already looked Dib over and said that food and plenty of sleep should have him back to his old self in no time. 'can't wait' he thought sarcastically.
He sighed and pretended not to hear his classmates comments as they walked by, after all, he hadn't expected anything else from them. For whatever reason, the others had chosen to hate him, they certainly didn't try to hide it.
'I guess everyone needs someone to hate'
With that thought in mind Dib looked over at Zim.
Zim didn't allow the doctor to examine him but he was given the same advice; only adding to the assumption that the so called 'doctor' had no idea what he was talking about.
Zim also heard the comments from the other students, but unlike Dib, Zims head was held high as he glared down at the others in disgust.
He returned Dibs gaze as they neared the door.
"Stand up straight," Zim suddenly demanded.
"Huh" Dib questioned, just realizing that he was slouching.
Zim glanced back at their classmates and then to Dib.
"Who are they to make you feel inferior" Zim stated firmly.
Dib blinked a moment in thought and then straightened his posture. Zim narrowed his eyes slightly before turning and opening the door to the 'Resting Room'.
Shutting the door firmly behind them, Dib inwardly sighed as the voices of his classmates faded into obscurity. He then looked up at Zim who was staring out a window, arms crossed, and eyes narrowed.
'maybe he's still upset about the chip' Dib thought his mind wandering in the silence, reminding him of the sleep he had lost.
"Dib," Zim addressed him, not bothering to turn around.
Dib jumped slightly "Yeah?" he asked.
Zim shifted his feet slightly, but continued to examine the window as if it were the most fascinating thing he had ever seen.
"Could we...," Zim paused and his expression became thoughtful and relaxed, "Might we extend our truce?"
Dib blinked, surprised at Zims sudden offer "You mean...become friends?"
Zims shoulders tensed at the word and he gritted his teeth.
"Zim has no need for Human friendships," he stated firmly, his eyes darting to Dib and then back outside the window.
"However," He continue his voice more calm "I do believe we could be allies."
"Allies?" Dib questioned.
Zim glanced over at Dib from the corner of his eyes "Yes," he replied, "I suppose it would be considered an Irken friendship, though I wouldn't take it so far."
"Are you asking me to...join you?" Dib asked, eyes wide.
"Do you accept?" Zim asked facing Dib with a raised eye.
Dib stared for a moment, eyes wide, before he found his voice.
"ARE YOU CRAZY," Dib yelled taking a step back, "There's no way I'm helping you destroy Earth"
"Why?" Zim asked as if the answer wasn't obvious.
"WHY!" Dib yelled 'what kind of question is that?'
"This place is my home," Dib said in a serious and even tone.
"I can give you a new home, a better home" Zim answered.
Dib looked strangely at Zim; he was serious about this. Dib shook his head.
"But all the people," He replied, "They're..."
"Not worth protecting" Zim finished.
"I can't just..."
"Yes you can"
"STOP IT," Dib yelled his body tensing, "You don't get it. I can't just sit back and watch you destroy Earth, and I certainly won't help you. I can't let you kill all those people...I can't!"
"Why!" Zim yelled back, "What has this pitiful planet ever done for you? And it's people,...heh, they hate you more than I ever have; yet you keep trying"
"That's because one day they will know," Dib yelled, eyes closed and hands balled into fists "One day I'll make them see the truth, then everyone will know that I'm not crazy and they'll finally accept me."
Zim stared at Dib long and hard, the glasses on his face were cracked slightly and his clothes were worn out and dirty. His jacket seemed faded, his hands shook slightly with anger, and the sound of his breathing suggested that he was holding back a sob.
Seeing the human and even hearing the humans name would have at one time filled him with anger, but now as he looked at Dib another feeling stirred in him that he simply didn't understand. Dib was strong, he was smart, and there was no doubt in Zims mind that he wouldn't give his life for another; even him. Zim couldn't quiet understand why Dib was not valued; though it was true he was no expert on humans.
By Irken standards Dib was fairly tall or at least taller than Zim (who during his time on earth had managed to grow a few inches)...but again Zim had to remind himself that Humans did not take much value upon height.
Then what did they value?...and why did the Human care so much that he wasn't accepted?
Dib was a fighter and a dreamer, but no one on this pathetic planet would ever understand that. They would never know Dib the way he did. They weren't worthy of him.
"Why try so hard to win their acceptance when you already have mine?" Zim asked.
Dibs body relaxed at the comment and he looked up at Zim.
"Zim...I ...I wish there was another way," Dib admitted, "But as long as we're fighting for different sides...we can never be..." he paused not sure of what he was going to say "...anything other than enemies"
Zim stopped his expression going blank as he looked down at the ground, thinking over Dibs words.
"We are ...the same," he said quietly, more to himself than to Dib
Dib heard him though and he looked up.
"What...did you say?" he asked slowly.
Zim looked up, his face serious "We both want the same thing," he stated, suddenly glaring "But only one of us can have it"
"You don't have to do this," Dib finally said, hoping for an alternative, "You don't have to destroy Earth."
"Of course I do," Zim snapped, "It's my duty...to the empire and to my tallests"
"MY GOD Zim, could you just think for yourself for one minute" Dib yelled exasperated "You might be able to win their respect but they'll never care about you"
"And your saying that you do?" Zim snapped.
"I..." Dib hesitated which caused Zims expression to relax some.
"I..I care enough to let you know when your about to make a big mistake" Dib finished strongly.
"MISTAKE!" Zim yelled his expression hardening again, "HA!...I'd be doing mankind a favor"
"By destroying it" Dib yelled.
"Precisely," Zim replied, "Your people are nothing but brainless meat bags"
Dib glared...hands clenched.
"And you know whats really sad" Zim said, glaring, though his voice was now soft "What's really pathetic ..." he went on.
"What?" Dib asked behind clenched teeth.
"You're so much better than all this" Zim said motioning around him with his hands "Yet you choose to protect it, protect them, and for what?...A thank you?"
Zim stepped closer to Dib, only a few inches from his face.
"You can earn their respect, but they'll never care about you" Zim smirked using Dibs words against him.
"There is a difference" Dib stated rather calmly as Zim backed away from his face "It's not the same"
"Of course it is," Zim said rather smugly, "Stop trying to rise your self above it..."
"No," Dib stated firmly, "We may both be trying to earn respect, but there is a line that clearly separates us"
"We are of different species" Zim answered dismissively.
"That's not what I'm talking about," Dib said looking up at Zim, "I'm trying to save something...and your trying to destroy it"
Zim stopped "So?" he asked not really seeing the point.
"Is that really the best way to earn their respect?" Dib asked almost disgusted, "you'd willingly destroy the lives of millions of people just to get what you want"
"And why not?" Zim asked, "we Irkens are far more superior than them"
"But I'm. Not. Irken" Dib stated firmly "I am one of them"
"You are obviously the one exception," Zim concluded, "And you would be spared"
"You'd destroy everything just to gain the respect of your people" Dib said.
"Of course I would," Zim stated, "There is nothing and no one more important"
Dib felt Zims words sting into his mind...'nothing and no ones more important' he thought 'I'm not more important'... Dib closed his eyes tightly forcing the pain down as he looked up at Zim.
"Looks like you made your decision," Dib said surprisingly calm "...and mine"
"Good," Zim snapped, "I grow tired of your talking, filthy Human"
"Fine," Dib replied stomping towards the door.
"FINE," Zim yelled crossing his arms and turning his back to Dib
Zim jumped as Dib slammed the door behind him. He looked worriedly at the door and quickly ran towards it grabbing the handle...
he stopped...his hand shook some as he hesitantly withdrew it.
'what was he doing'
Zim sighed as he leaned his head on the door, his arms laying limply at his sides; things hadn't gone as he had hoped they would. He did not care for this planet or it's people, but he could not deny that inside he had felt for Dib,But what was the human asking of him; To abandon his duties,to betray his people. Then again, it was the same thing Zim had been asking of Dib.
It had been a choice...Dib or his mission...and he had made the logical decision.
Zim knew nothing about the emotions he was feeling and even less about expressing them...and as far as he was concerned choosing to continue with his mission was a wise and safe choice.
still...
He clenched his hands tightly, if he had made the right choice then why did it feel so wrong, why did his heart sink down into his squeedly spooch when he heard the door slam. He had been afraid, and in that moment he had wanted to erase it all, to run to Dib and ask him to stay.
He silently cursed himself for even considering showing such weakness. Had he truly become that pathetic? His mission...Dib...His mission...the two choices tossed and turned in his head.
He groaned
Torture...it was the only way Zim could describe his new emotions. It was no wonder his people had designed the override chip. At first the emotion had been pleasant...almost scary and exciting...but now there was only hurt and confusion and that he could do without.
Outside the door as Dib slammed it shut, he stopped, feeling like a part of him was torn.A part of him wanted to turn back but he couldn't.
Even with all logical reason against it, not to mention how much Dib himself wanted to deny it, the truth was that he had felt something for Zim. He had enjoyed the kiss, and even after trying to convince himself that his feeling didn't go beyond that, the fact that Zims words had hurt so much only reassured Dib that he actually...really...felt for him...and the realization of this hurt more than any physical pain Dib had ever faced before because he knew that it could never be.
The only person on this entire planet that had actually accepted him for who he was...and yet...he was the very one who stood in the way of Dibs own 'mission'...to protect this planet and gain the recognition that he so deserved.
It wasn't even the recognition that he cared about anymore...he truly felt that Zim accepting him was enough, but he couldn't just let Zim destroy this planet even if he would be saved. He could never forgive himself if he let that happen, and Zim, he wanted the recognition more than anything...more than..
'WHY" his mind screamed...why did it have to be this way...why did he have to care...why did he have to hurt...just so others could live and be happy? I guess the answer was all the same...because he had taken on the role as hero...and because he was the only one that could save them.
Tears made there way down Dibs face...He wasn't weak...and he had to prove that to himself more than anyone else. He would leave here today, hold his head up high and continue doing what he had been destined to do; Stop ZIM.
He sighed as he thought about the kiss again, and the painful emotions that followed it. He would not let that weaken him, in fact he would use that pain to give him strength.
He shivered involuntarily as a cold sensation came over him and shaking his head quickly of the feeling, he walked on.
Zim who was still on the other side of the door began to get angry as he paced back and forth.
"Stupid Human...," he mumbled, "How dare he make a fool of Zim...how dare he.."
Tears began to stain Zim eyes as he tried to contain whatever emotion was fighting for a place in his throat.
He wiped the tears away angrily.
"Ggggrrrr...STOP IT!" Zim yelled at himself pulling at his fake hair "I am Zim... I am an Invader...and no disgusting human will change that"
A communicator popped out of his pak and he was pleased to find that it had started working again. While it was true that Dibs device hadn't disabled his communications, their seclusion in the cave had blocked all calls from being transmitted
"GIR!" Zim shouted.
"Yeeeessss" came Girs drawn out reply.
"Bring the voot," Zim demanded, "I can not stand to be in this filthy place any longer"
"Okey dokey" Gir said before the transmission ended.
'I will design a new chip' Zim thought to himself 'and I will finish my job'
Taking in a deep shuttering breath he glared up at the sky outside the window...
He shivered...as if having forgotten that it was so cold...
'Invaders need no one' he told himself ...
he frowned sadly as he watched the snow silently begin to fall outside.
"No one"
(HI...um...yeah...sorta disappointing...I'm certain you were hoping that they'd end up together...atleast most people were...
but hay...no one died...hehe...and it was emotional...
I also made the reference to it being cold...making it so that the feelings they had experienced in the cave had in some way kept them warm...
I REALLY HOPE everyone enjoyed my story and I'm looking forward to any and all comments...so please review...LUV YA ...and THANKS to everyone who read)