The Twelve Shall Unite

Prologue- A Normal Day

Dib rolled sleepily out of bed, scratching the back of his neck and yawning as he trudged out of his room and into the shower. The water was cold, as it always was at this time in the morning, since Gaz used up all the hot water. She didn't like having hot showers, but she did it simply to annoy him. He didn't mind anymore, however. He was used to it by now, and as the freezing droplets rolled over his pale, smooth skin, the sudden drop in body temperature woke his brain up, and allowed him to think straight. Shampoo, lather, rinse. Shower gel, lather, rinse. Out, towel and dress, before going downstairs for a nutritious breakfast of chocolate Pop-tarts and coffee. So far, a normal day.

He ate slowly, as he always did, savouring each mouthful of the sugary pastry and sipping the coffee. He hated coffee, but it made him look more adult, and that was what mattered. Well, actually, what mattered was making the Earth see that Zim was an alien, that he wasn't crazy. He was actually advancing on one of his goals, as he had stopped raving on about Zim and started using more subtle methods of exposing Zim, and this had greatly improved his social life. He had even been on a 'date' with Gretchen, though just the once. He had accepted her nervous suggestion of "grabbing a coffee, or something" out of pity, though he had to admit that it hadn't been as bad as he had expected.

He had gathered a few acquaintances now, not friends, but people that he would sit with during lunch breaks at Hi-Skool. Mainly outcasts, like himself, though he had found conversations cropping up with the popular kids during lessons. But whilst he had become slightly more popular, he still wasn't going to change. And he still wore his trench coat, though it was getting a little short in the arms now. He wore a blue shirt underneath, and, occasionally, black-and-blue striped arm warmers. He was wearing them now, as he clutched his steaming mug.

Finally having finished his breakfast, he glanced his watch. He only had fifteen minutes before he had to get to school. He double-checked his bag, as he always did, to make sure he had all his books. Satisfied, he slung the bag over his shoulder and started the trek to school, passing Zim's house as usual. He counted under his breath, and, sure enough, as he got to three, Zim's door burst open and the Irken strutted from the door, catching up with Dib and walking with him. The two had walked to Hi-Skool together since they had moved up from the Skool, always in silence. They shot glares to each other instead of talking, sending the same ugly look back and forth like a tennis match.

Zim hadn't changed a bit since Skool. He still wore his Invader uniform and he still shouted and raved, desperate to prove his 'normality'. However, he had had a growth-spurt over the past few years, and his height rivalled Dib's. Zim's glare seemed particularly hateful today, and Dib smirked. He could see the bruise on Zim's cheek, one that he had inflicted himself with a heavy book. It had earned him a four month suspension from the Hi-Skool library, but it had been worth it. They walked reluctantly up the steps to the entrance, finally going their separate ways as Dib went to his locker. He opened it and a note slipped out, not written, but comprised of letters cut and pasted from newspapers.

Beware, sea-goat, the battering ram, swifter than the arrow. Like a red rag, you shall tip the scales, better sidestep the twins. So innocent, but with a powerful roar and a sting in the tail, you shall sleep with the fishes in your watery grave.

Dib read the string of gibberish three times over, utterly baffled. What on Earth did it mean? He sighed and stuffed the paper into his pocket, deciding to read it again later. A muffled giggle from behind a locker door suggested that this was simply a prank. Somebody was trying to make him have an 'outburst', to make him appear crazy again. He forgot all about it when he entered the classroom and saw the teacher's crushed body pinned to the wall by his heavy desk. A thin trail of blood leaked from his mouth, and one of his legs stuck out from the side of the desk at a horrific angle. Dib looked around the classroom in horror. The room was not empty.

Zim sat alone at his desk, crimson eyes fixed determinedly on the teacher's body. He turned slowly to face Dib. He was smiling.

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I don't own Invader Zim. It is the property of Jhonen Vasquez.