Life is Change
Rated: T
Summary: Dib's miserable high school life takes a strange turn when his long-time arch nemesis Zim proposes a temporary truce. What could Zim be up to this time? Eventual ZADR.
Chapter 1
It was the best of times it was the worst of times. No wait. It was just the worst of times. It was always the worst of times for Dib, ever since he was born. Everyone he had ever known had either ignored him or outright hated him. Acquaintances, peers, even his own family neglected and abused him. His fascination with the paranormal became a lifeline for him. Even though most of his childhood was devoid any proof that things like big-foot, ghosts, or aliens existed, Dib clung to his hope that there was something out there, waiting to be found. He was finally proven right that fateful day in elementary school, when he met his arch nemesis, Zim, for the first time.
It was as if all his dreams had come true. Here it was, living proof that Dib had been right all along. He wasn't crazy; aliens really did exist. All he had to do was reveal the alien for what he was and he wouldn't just be sane – he'd be a hero. No more could people call him crazy, no, he'd be Dib, the boy who discovered hostile extraterrestrial life and saved the earth. Or so Dib thought. But he was wrong. No matter how many times he tried to point out the truth that was right in front of their faces, people could not believe that Zim was an alien. They'd rather believe that Dib was insane. After all, what kind of normal child thinks that Bigfoot was in his garage using the belt-sander?
However, Dib was only slightly disheartened. If no one could see through Zim's disguise, he would take it upon himself to expose Zim for what he really was. Zim became his mission. Yet time and time again Dib failed. Every time he managed to get his hands on evidence that would vindicate him it was somehow lost. And if Zim made a mistake and exposed himself for a few seconds, well, his classmates were too stupid to believe Dib's pointing out of the obvious. Unwilling to give in, Dib resolved that he just needed the right proof; then everyone would believe him. Zim would be dissected and he'd be a hero. Until then, he would just have to satisfy himself with the knowledge that he was the only one capable of protecting his fellow humans from the alien menace.
Time passed, and before he knew it, Dib was in high school. Little had changed in his life. Sure, he was 16. He'd gone through puberty. He'd gotten taller. He'd changed schools and teachers, but what else was new? Dib was still hated and ignored. He had no friends. His only social activity, if it could be called that, was interacting with Zim. The full scale battles were a fewer in number these days, but he and Zim were sure to exchange insults on a daily basis. Zim had grown a little over the years, but he was still much below the average human male. With the knowledge that Zim's society was largely height-based, Dib made sure to poke fun at Zim's tiny stature as frequently as he could. Zim was fairly unaffected by his taunts. Maybe he was short for a human, but he was tall for an Irken, and that was all that really mattered.
It started out as a normal day. Dib went to class. He tried to explain to everyone that Zim was an alien, but standing up in the middle of class and shouting about Zim's abnormal features just earned him a "Shut up Dib" from his teacher and jeers from his classmates. Dib ignored them, of course. They'd see, eventually. Things started to get weird at lunch.
Dib was trying down the disgusting goop that he had been served for his mid-day meal when a familiar voice sent him choking with surprise.
"Hello, Dib-monkey. Have you ever thought about giving up?"
Dib swallowed the mouthful and the nausea said mouthful caused.
"Never Zim, I'll never let you win. You think I'll just stand by and let you destroy all humankind?"
"You misunderstand, Dib-stink. I wasn't referring to letting me win, not that you need to; Zim will win either way. No earth-worm, I was referring to those other stink-beasts you call your classmates. Why do you continue to attempt to reason with them?"
Dib glared at the poorly disguised alien and replied with venom, "I see what you're up to Zim. Trying to get me to give up, huh? You're just afraid that you'll be revealed as the alien scum you really are. After all, it wouldn't be long before you'd be on the autopsy table."
Zim laughed quietly, "Dib-thing, do you really believe that your fellow humans will ever see anything other than what they want to see? We've been at this for years now. Zim could have revealed himself in all his Irken glory and your pitiful race would have most likely dismissed me as someone in a strange costume. "
Dib didn't reply to that right away. It was too close to home. Many a time Dib had wondered if his fellow humans would ever see the truth, but had suppressed the thought as irrelevant. He just needed better proof. No one believed him because he didn't have a convincing enough argument, he reasoned. Most people would find it hard to accept the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life, so of course he would need stronger evidence to prove it to them.
Dib sighed. This was not something he wanted to think about. His life was hard enough just dealing with Zim without questioning the worth his life's work.
"What do you want Zim?"
Zim smiled, "Easy enough stink beast. I am here to inform you that I will be taking a vacation from trying to destroy all humans. I propose a temporary truce."
