"I left the plate here," Pinkie Pie said, pointing to the table in the bakery. Twilight Sparkle looked at the table. Not even so much as a crumb to show what happened. She'd only agreed to help Pinkie look for the cupcakes for two reasons:

In case something interesting actually happened. Things got kinda slow sometimes in Ponyville.

To make Pinkie Pie stop bugging her about it.

She wasn't convinced that the cupcakes just got up and left, though. Not even Spike, whom she'd brought along to take notes, was foolish enough to think that. There has to be a logical answer, she thought.

"You're absolutely sure?" Twilight asked Pinkie.

Pinkie frowned. "Of course. Like I said before-"

"You never forget, I know. It just makes absolutely no sense for your cupcakes to disappear without a trace. Was there anyone who stopped by the bakery while you were outside?"

"No, Twilight. I checked, I double-checked, I triple-checked, the whole shebang. No one could've taken them."

Twilight thought for a moment. "Why are you so concerned over a plate of cupcakes?" she asked.

"It's the principle of it, Twi! If one plate of cupcakes leaves, what's to stop the rest of the cupcakes from disappearing?"

Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes. "This is gonna be a long investigation…"

Dib walked back home, wiping the frosting off his face from where Zim had thrown one at him. He didn't even have his camera to show for this whole ordeal. So much for stopping Zim.

He opened the door to his house, surprised to see his dad, Professor Membrane, sitting on the couch. This was unusual, as his father was kept busy nearly night and day doing… sciency stuff.

"Another search for Bigfoot? Or was it a Unicorn this time?"

Dib sighed. "No, dad. It was the alien kid down the street. I nearly had him this time…"

His father walked over to him and got down on one knee, patting Dib on the head. "Son," he started. "There's no such thing as aliens. You should have chosen a real career like mine. Science is realer than any Chupacabra you'll ever claim to have seen."

Dib frowned. His dad didn't approve of his paranormal investigation interest. "Okay, dad. Can we finish this chat some other time? I'm tired." He climbed up the stairs to his bedroom.

However, he was far from tired. He logged onto his computer to access the microphones he'd snuck into Zim's base a couple weeks ago. It was static first, but all of a sudden, he heard a voice. Zim's voice.

"GIR, we're going to a magical land of ponies. Bring some muffins for the road. Yes, I know we were supposed to invade Earth and its filthy inhabitants. It's a change of plans."

Zim must be talking to GIR, Dib thought. But why was he leaving Earth? He felt a strange pang of disappointment. What would he do if he wasn't busy saving the world from Zim?

Meanwhile, on Equestria, Spike read through the investigation notes with Twilight Sparkle at the library. "Twilight, we don't have any leads, and this case, to be honest, isn't terribly interesting."

Twilight looked up from the book she was reading, titled Sherclop Pones."I know, Spike. But we have to take any excitement we can get right now. Nothing interesting is happening in town lately. But still…" she said, pausing. "I don't understand how they disappear like that. Perhaps it's interference from something - or someone - else." She yawned. "But I digress. It'll be solved eventually." Twilight went to bed.

Gaz was in the middle of a dream where she blew up Dib's head when something poked her. She woke up, immediately seeing Dib right next to her.

"Gaz, we're going to Zim's base to take pictures. I need you as a witness."

Gaz punched him in the gut. "You wake me up at 3 am for this?" she hissed, watching Dib fall down. "I wish I could blow up your head."

Dib got back up, feeling winded. "Gaz, just come with me. It's important."

"Okay, but only if you leave me alone for the rest of my life."

Twenty minutes later, Dib and Gaz poked their heads through the door of the laboratory. Zim was in the corner of the room, preparing his ship for the journey. "What's the point of taking pictures if he's leaving?" Gaz asked.

"So I can at least prove that I'm not crazy, and I was right about Zim," Dib answered. "I can show everyone I'm perfectly sane when I reveal the pictures." He snuck over to the voot cruiser, motioning for Gaz to follow. He pulled out his camera, ready to take a picture of it. All of a sudden, however, Dib heard footsteps. He jumped into the back of the ship and pulled Gaz in with him. He held his breath anxiously, praying he wouldn't be seen…

GIR walked into the laboratory. Zim jumped into the cockpit of the voot cruiser. "Get in, GIR. We're going now!" GIR jumped into the passenger seat, eager as a Chihuahua. "When we get there, master, can I have a pony?" he asked. Zim ignored him, starting the ship. The roof opened up, revealing the night sky, and the ship rose up. He initiated hyperdrive, and soon they were flying through the farthest reaches of space, with Dib and Gaz along for the ride.