A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks for reading, hope you're enjoying it so far ^_^ Please leave a review and let me know how I'm doing, I'd really appreciate it. This story's gonna have lots and lots of Cheshire Cat in it, so for those of you who loved Jhonen V as the Cat in my last fic you're in for some nummy goodness.

Chapter 2- Through the Mirror

"N-no! No, you can't be here! It… It's not possible!"

Dib stood there in shock, staring up into the smiling, bespectacled eyes of none other than the Cheshire Cat. Right on cue, an ice-cold draft of air blew past him, sending a wave of goosebumps crawling up and down his flesh.

Once upon a time, not too long ago, Dib had met this very same cat after falling into a bizarre, alternate world, one populated by freakish, distorted versions of people and other creatures he'd encountered over the course of his life… only crazier. And given the mental stability of most people he knew, that was really saying something.

In this parallel world, his sister, Gaz, had been a blood-thirsty queen who ruled over an army of playing cards that resembled all the kids from skool. Ms. Bitters had appeared as a grotesque, multi-armed caterpillar, sitting atop a mushroom smoking a hookah. His dad had been a talking doorknob, of all things. And Zim… Oh man, Zim. He'd been dressed up as a white bunny rabbit, complete with stupid-looking nose and tail. With a gigantic axe in hand, he had served as the Queen's executioner, and nearly succeeded in chopping Dib in two before he'd managed to escape. Just barely.

For the past several months, Dib had tried time and time again to convince himself that it had all just been a horrible dream, only a product of his twisted subconscious. And even though on some level he knew he was just fooling himself, still, for awhile, it almost seemed to work.

At least until now.

"Oh, it be possible, kid." The Cat grinned at him, the same way he'd grinned at him the first time they'd met back in that shadowy purple wood. He leaned on a paw, clearly amused at Dib's distressed reaction. "So, whacha been up to?"

Dib opened his mouth to say something, but instead he turned around and started walking.

"Hey! Where're you going?" The Cat jumped down from the tree and followed after him. The trench-coated boy trudged along the sidewalk with his head down, face set in a determined scowl as he attempted to ignore his unwelcome companion. He began mumbling to himself, his voice coming out edgy and tense.

"No… It's not really there. I'm not really seeing the talking cat from my dream. I'm just… overtired, that's all. Heh heh. Yeah. Just seeing things. It happens right? People hallucinate all the time when they're overstressed, don't they?"

A little voice in his head answered: Yeah, right. And little, flying, rainbow-colored ponies control the weather.

C'mon, what kind of greeting is that?" the Cat persisted. "And after I came all this way to see you." He vanished and reappeared just inches away from Dib's startled face. Dib quickly composed himself, stepped around him, and continued walking.

"I'm not talking to you. You're… you're just some crazy, made-up thing I saw in a dream. You're not real. That place wasn't real. None of it was real!" he said, not sure if he was trying to convince the Cat or himself.

"Awfully closed minded for someone so preoccupied with the strange and unusual," the Cat said, that hint of mocking ever present in his voice. "I'd have thought that you more than anyone would realize that anything's possible."

Dib tried to come up with a good retaliation, but the Cat had a point; he really couldn't deny it. Aliens, ghosts, demons, monsters, K-pop… Dib knew some amazing and often terrifying things existed in the world. Hell, he'd even traveled to a different alternate dimension once before during Halloween, one based on his own imagination, filled with terrors even he couldn't believe he was capable of dreaming up. He knew for a fact that other worlds existed. Was this strange ambassador from yet another of those alternate worlds really so hard to believe in?

He stopped and crossed his arms, turning to face the lanky feline. "Okay, fine. Let's say that whole thing was real. So, what are you doing here?"

The Cat snapped his fingers and one of his beloved cherry ice-suckies appeared out of nowhere. He slurped on it for several minutes, barely hiding his amusement at Dib's growing impatience, before opening his mouth. "Actually, I…"

Without warning, a small green figure jumped out from behind a bush, and with a mighty battle cry, tossed a bag of potato chips at Dib's head. It bounced off unceremoniously and landed on the pavement.

"HA! Take that, you-! Eh?" Looking confused, Zim crept up and poked the bag with the tip of his boot. "What is this? That was supposed to explode! It says so right on the bag!"

Dib looked down at the bag, which had 'AN EXPLOSION OF FLAVOR IN EVERY BAG!" written on it in bold, screaming letters. He looked back up at Zim, a 'You gotta be kidding me' expression plastered across his face. Zim stuck out his lower lip, his cheeks flushing a dark, angry green.

"You may have outsmarted me this time, Dib! But rest assured, I will have my revenge, yet! You-!" He broke off when he noticed the Cheshire Cat staring at him. "What are you looking at?" he demanded.

The Cat circled around Zim slowly, his eyes wide with amused curiosity. "Wow, amazing… you look just like him- minus the ears, of course. Hey, what's with the funny wig? And those fakey contact lenses? Say, you gotta little fluffy tail under there by any chance?" he inquired, poking at Zim's bottom.

Zim cringed uncomfortably at the Cat's scrutiny and tried to back away. "What are you doing!? Stop that!" He turned to leave, but the Cat appeared right back in front of him, giving him a jolt. The Cat's body faded out of existence, and his floating, grinning head telescoped in to stare directly into Zim's eyes. He shifted his gaze uneasily towards Dib. "What is this… this disturbing creature?"

Dib wasn't sure if he was relieved or not that Zim could see the Cheshire Cat, too. On the one hand it meant he wasn't crazy. On the other it meant the Cat was undoubtedly real. He rubbed the back of his neck, not quite sure where to start. "Well, um… He's-"

"I am what you'd call a 'Cheshire Cat,'" the spiky-haired feline cut in. "And you are?"

"I AM ZIM!" the alien responded testily. "And I don't care for your insolent tone, you… you… waitaminute… Why does that name sound familiar?" Zim glanced at Dib again. "Haven't you mentioned something about a 'Cheshire' something-or-other before?"

"Well, I-"

"YOU'RE LYING!" Zim burst out, thrusting an accusing finger in Dib's direction. Dib and the Cat just stared at him blankly.

"What was that?" the Cat said finally.

"Never mind. He does that all the time," Dib replied, shaking his head.

There were a few seconds of awkward silence before Dib addressed the Cat again. "So anyway, why are you here? And what do you want with me?"

"Well, as I was about to say…" The Cat stole a sardonic glance at Zim before continuing, "I actually need your help." The Cheshire Cat leaned forward and stared straight into Dib's eyes, that playful, mischievous air which usually hung around him suddenly gone without a trace. You have to come back with me, Dib. Wonderland's been taken over and you're the only one who can save it."

"Wonderland?" Dib repeated. "You mean that's what that place was called? Huh… Funny. In all this time I never even thought about what the name of that place was. Wonderland… hmm. I seriously don't see what's so 'wonderful' about it, though…"

He paused, the Cat's words finally reaching his brain. "Wait a second… you need my help?"

"Indeed," nodded the Cat.

"And you want me to… go back there!? Back to that horrible place?" Dib sputtered.

"Yep."

"Are you insane!?"

The Cat shrugged matter-of-factly. "Yes."

"No! No way! Uh-uh, no! There's no way I'm going back there!" Dib took several shaky steps backward, his head spinning at the thought of having to relive all that insanity. He'd barely survived the first time, and now this deranged Cat was actually expecting him to go back for another round? Forget it!

Zim tilted his head curiously. "What's 'Wonderland?'"

Dib tugged at his hair, the memories of that day dredging up awful images in his mind. "It's that freaky, messed-up world I ended up in a little while back. I… I thought it was just a bad dream, but-"

"You mean that place you were babbling about for an entire month?"

Dib shuddered. "Yeah. That place. Evidentially it wasn't just a dream," he finished, gazing dolefully at the purple-striped proof right in front of him.

The Cat (now complete with Princess Leia buns) clasped his paws together and gave Dib a look that could melt frozen butter. "Please… help me, Dib. You're my only hope."

Dib fidgeted uncertainly. "But… why do you need my help?"

"Because the one who's taken over Wonderland also happens to be your greatest enemy."

Dib gasped. "You mean…?"

"That's right," the Cat replied, gravely. "I'm talking about the Queen's former executioner, the White Rabbit… or, as I believe you know him… Zim."

A cold wind stirred up a swirl of leaves dramatically as the three of them stood there in silence. The green one blinked and looked back and forth between Dib and the Cheshire Cat. "Eh? What about me?"

Dib gave him a sideways glance. "He's not talking about you. He means the Zim in Wonderland, or whatever-it's-called."

Zim spun towards the Cat, his eyes blazing indignantly. "What!? You LIE! There is only ONE Zim, and that is me! The one and only ZIM!"

The Cat examined his claws nonchalantly. "'Fraid not, shorty. Seems you're not all too familiar with the concept of alternate universes."

"Of course I am!" Zim said, sticking his non-existent nose in the air. "There is nothing that the great Zim does not know!"

The Cat shot a sly look in his direction. "Oh, so you know all about how there are an infinite number of 'yous' in an infinite number of realities, then?"

"Natrually! Zim declared. "But, uh… maybe you should explain it to the Dib-larva here," he added. Dib rolled his eyes, something he did a lot of in Zim's presence.

The Cat smirked. "Oh, well then, you should probably pay close attention to this, Dib." Grabbing a cord in that magical, reality-bending way of his, he pulled down a chart out of thin air. A pointer appeared in one paw, which he loudly snapped against the chart, affixing it to a crudely-drawn picture of Zim standing within a circle.

"Okay, basically, this is the world you live in here. And this is you," he explained, jabbing the pointer at Zim's scrawny chest. He then directed it to the multiple circles surrounding the first one, all of which contained more pictures of Zim with varying distinguishing features. "But these are all the worlds that lie outside of that, and each one has a version of you in it, all of them different to a certain degree, but fundamentally the same. In this one you're a highly respected attorney." He pointed to a little Zim in a suit with a briefcase. "In this one here, you're a female. In this world you have a goatee. Over here you exist as the creation of a disgruntled comic book artist. And in this crazy one here you wear a blue uniform."

"Eeyuh!" Zim flinched.

"I know, pretty unsettling, right? And the Zim in my world is known as the White Rabbit," the Cat finished, pointing to a picture of Zim dressed in a white furry, long-eared hood.

As Dib stared at the picture, a shiver involuntarily ran down his spine, flashing him back to all those months ago…

From the second he'd followed that freaky rabbit version of Zim down that cursed rabbit-hole, all the warped, crazy citizens of that world had done nothing except try to push him ever closer to the brink of insanity. Even though he hadn't done a thing except try and mind his own business, in the end, every single creature he'd come across had stood and accused him of various crimes against them. And finally, the Queen of Hearts had ordered him to be fed to the Jabberwocky, a ginormous, winged, reptilian beast that she kept as a pet.

"Wait a minute!" he exclaimed suddenly. "Why should I help? It's not as if anyone made me feel exactly welcome the last time I was there."

"Because," the Cheshire Cat said, "the White Rabbit has declared himself the new King and taken the Queen of Hearts prisoner."

"So?" Dib challenged.

"Isn't the Queen your sister?"

Dib felt an unexpected pang in his chest. "Gaz? Well, kind of, I guess. But she… I mean…"

He had no idea what to say to this. True, the Wonderland version of Gaz had tried to destroy him. But so had the real Gaz, on more than one occasion, and even then he still cared about her. She was his sister after all, and despite her less-than-adoring attitude towards him, he always looked out for her. Wasn't that just what good brothers did? Wouldn't she do the same for him? Well… maybe not. But, though she'd never admit it, Dib knew that in her own way Gaz cared about him, too. Didn't she always walk to and from skool with him? And sit by him in the lunchroom when no one else would? Just the other day she'd listened to him rant for an entire hour about haunted donuts, psychic lemmings. and the secret government Cyborg-Chicken Project. True, she was playing a video game the whole time, but still, points for being in the same room. And as for this alternate Gaz, the Cat had said it himself- she was essentially the same as his sister but with a few superficial differences. Could he really just turn his back on her?

And, okay, it may have been true that none of the other jerks there deserved his help, but Dib was a hero, after all, and heroes always helped those in need, even though it was often tiring and thankless work. Wasn't that why he devoted every waking moment to thwarting Zim's evil Earth-conquering aspirations, even though he never got the appreciation and respect he deserved?

The Cat continued in an off-hand tone. "True, your sister wasn't the most pleasant queen who ever existed, but still, things were relatively peaceful under her reign. When the White Rabbit took over, he spread darkness and doom over everything, and anyone who tries to resist him is met with a terrible fate. Everyone is miserable with him in charge."

Dib rubbed the back of his head nervously. "But I still don't understand. Why me? Is there some kind of ancient Wonderland prophecy or something that says I'm the one and only savior?"

The Cat eyed him strangely. "Where'd you get that from?"

"Isn't that how it always works in the movies?"

The Cat was quiet for a moment, then his mouth curled up in a wide grin. "Uh, Sure! Yeah… ancient prophecy. Alright, let's go with that." Before Dib could say anymore, the Cat spun him around and shoved him down the sidewalk. "Okay then, it's decided- let's go!"

"WAIT!"

The two of them halted and glanced back at Zim who was standing there with his hands on his hips. "I want to know more about this "other" Zim" of which you speak, feline."

"Sorry, no time. Gotta get moving," the Cat hurried on, turning to leave again.

"Hold it!" Zim screeched.

"Whaaaattt!?" the Cat grumbled. Zim sauntered up to the Cat with a look on his face that Dib couldn't quite read, but immediately sent up a dozen red flags in his mind.

"I'd like to propose a… proposal." Zim cleared his throat before announcing, "Allow me to accompany you on your mission."

"You?" the Cat and Dib said simultaneously, though Dib was the more shocked sounding of the two.

Zim gave a slight nod. "I must admit, you've intrigued me, furred-one. I desire to see this "White Rabbit" version of myself with my own eyes… and in addition, I just might help you defeat him," he added, producing a big, fake-looking smile.

"Oh please…" Dib mumbled, thinking Zim's little act couldn't possibly be anymore transparent. However, the Cheshire Cat raised an intrigued eyebrow at this idea.

"You know… maybe you could help," he said, lifting a paw to his mouth in consideration.

Dib couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What!? Are you serious!?

"Why shouldn't he be?" Zim countered, puffing out his little chest. "I am clearly more qualified than you to take on one so amazing and impressive as myself." He turned to the Cat. "The Dib-hyooman is just a pathetic, un-evolved little monkey that is no match for a superior being like Zim! The only one who could possibly defeat the Zim in your world is ME! This Zim, right here!" he finished, pointing his thumbs at his chest and showing off an arrogant set of teeth.

"No way!" Dib also whirled on the Cat. "You really think he's gonna help you? He's pure evil!"

"LIES!" Zim snarled.

"Even if he did defeat his other self, he'd probably just take Wonderland for himself! There's no way he'd ever help anyone unless there was something in it for him!"

Zim folded his arms smugly. "You think you know so much, Dib-monkey! But I have no interest in conquering this 'Wonderland.' The Tallest assigned me to this filthy planet, and it's this planet I will destroy. Soon. Probably sometime next week," he finished coolly.

"So then why would you even want to go there?"

"It just so happens I have a very good reason," Zim smirked, a devious glint in his eye. "For you see, once I defeat this "other" Zim I will prove that I am not only the best in this universe, but that I am the best Zim in ANY universe! AH HA HAHAHA!" he roared, tossing his head back and thrusting his fists triumphantly towards the sky in typical 'Zim' fashion.

"Sounds good to me," the Cheshire Cat said with a shrug.

Dib was aghast. "You're really going to trust him!?"

"Hey, I need all the help I can get, and if he's wants to tag along who am I to argue?" Under his breath he added, "Besides, it'll be way more fun this way."

Dib raised an eyebrow. "What was that?"

"Nuthin. Now, you promise to turn the crown back over to the Queen once we take back the kingdom, right? " he said wagging a finger at the Irken Invader.

"Of course," Zim answered, putting on a big, cheesy smile and folding his arms behind his back in an attempt to pass himself off as the picture of innocence. Dib almost expected a fake halo to appear over his head.

"See?" the Cat said to Dib as if this completely proved the point. "Now, let's go."

"But-! I-! He-!" Dib tried in vain to protest. "Oh, just… fine! Whatever!" he caved with a resentful frown. "But I'm telling you this is a big mistake." He thrust a finger at Zim, warning in an icy tone, "I'm gonna be watching you every minute, space-lizard, so watch your back!"

Zim mirrored the gesture. "And I'll be watching you, hyooman! So-!"

"Okay, okay, let's get moving already." The Cat shoved in between them and started down the sidewalk. Dib and Zim exchanged one last hostile glare, then followed behind him.

Dib jogged up beside the Cat. "So, how are we going to get back to this place? Do we have to go down that stupid rabbit-hole again?"

"Nope. There's a better way to get there. Just follow me."

After a few minutes, Dib realized they were taking the route he usually took to get home, and soon the three of them were standing in front his house. "What are we doing here?"

"You'll see." The Cat floated up to the front door, causing Dib to look around a little warily. He just hoped the neighbors weren't watching- a levitating, glasses-wearing cat would be a bit hard to explain, even for him.

As soon as Dib stepped inside, he instinctively stuck his arm out to keep Zim from coming through the door. Zim stuck his hands on his hips, glowering at him intensely, and it took every ounce of willpower Dib had to move aside and let his mortal foe enter his home. "Just don't touch anything," he warned.

"I'm hardly interested in your silly little doodads," Zim sniffed contemptibly.

Dib tossed his backpack on the couch. The house was silent; Gaz wasn't home yet (he vaguely remembered something about a new game going on sale), and his workaholic father was, of course, busy discovering the latest cures and fashioning groundbreaking devices to better mankind at his lab across town.

The Cheshire Cat floated over and eyed one of the many lamps shaped like the Professor. "Hey, nice house you got here. Interesting decor. Sorta reminds me of this doorknob I know."

Zim decided he'd better let his second-in-command know what was going on. The top spot on his PAK slid open and a small hanging monitor emerged. He pushed a few buttons, and a round, green face flickered into view on the screen. "Yes? Oh, hey Zim. What's up?"

"Skoodge, I'll be going away for a little while. I want you to keep an eye on things. There's some waffles in the fridge, and just make sure GIR doesn't destroy the place, got it?"

"Yes, Sir!" Skoodge saluted eagerly. "Have fun!" The sound of GIR and Minimoose cheering in the background could be heard just before the screen went black, and Zim dusted his hands off (cause that's just what you do when something gets done, I guess).

Meanwhile, Dib had run upstairs to get his camera, and now he reappeared in the living room. If he had to go back to this 'Wonderland' place he was sure as heck gonna get some pictures this time. He tucked it in his pocket and looked up at the Cat's hovering visage. "Okay, so what do we do now?"

The Cat peered around the room, as if searching for something. "You got a mirror around here somewhere?"

Dib looked puzzled. "There's one in the bathroom."

"Perfect." The Cat bounded up the stairs, Dib and Zim following close behind him. Levitating into the bathroom above the sink, he put a claw to the mirror's grimy surface. He tapped it twice, and on the second tap the glass rippled beneath his touch like a pool of water. Dib looked on, surprised as the Cat proceeded to slip right through the mirror and disappear beneath its reflective surface. He popped his head back out and motioned to the two boys. "Right this way."

Dib climbed up onto the sink and stared at his reflection before placing his hand against the mirror. It sank right through the mercury-like glass and he immediately yanked it back. He looked down at Zim distrustfully. "You first."

Zim rolled his eyes, letting out a disgusted huff before using his mechanical extension legs to lift himself up to the mirror. Placing a gloved hand against it, he hesitated for only a second to flash Dib a self-righteous sneer before stepping through.

He wouldn't be acting so tough if he knew what was on the other side of that thing, Dib thought with a tired sigh. I can't believe I'm doing this again. He looked at himself once more, then took a deep breath, and, setting his jaw in resolve, stuck his entire arm through the mirror's surface and pushed his way through to the other side.

A/N: All right! Zim's coming along this time! (you probably guessed that though, didn't you, being the bright young lad/lass that you are) Sorry it took two whole chapters to get to this point, but I promise we'll be diving right into Wonderland from here on in! ^-^ BTW, I don't actually have anything against K-pop, I just put that in to piss-off my sister :D