(A/N) I... am so late. I'm sorry. v.v But here's the dealio- I got about three-fourths through this chapter, said "Omg this is so OOC its a disgrace to the rest of the fic *tableflip*" and deleted the whole thing. Which I have been know to do but is never, in retrospect, entirely wise. ._.

But I'm far happier with how it now. ^_^

So... last offical chapter, guys! :D Nothing much to say in intro, so I'll keep it short and save the sentimentality for the epilogue. :3

A quick word of thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! Greath, xXMissFemkeXx, Wintress , coffeedragon, xXKatnissXx, Book Casanova, LookingForChange and Samsam1155... you guys make it all worthwhile! ;w;

I do not own Invader Zim or any of the characters that appear here.

Zim hadn't been the same since the final battle with the Tallest- certainly he had celebrated, as had everyone; certainly he had appeared normal, for perhaps an entire day, but he simply wasn't. GIR noticed, Skoodge noticed... everyone noticed.

Dib saw it, clear as day.

The Smallest took his responsibility to the limping empire very seriously- redirecting his energy, Skoodge, ever the analyst, had whispered furtively more than once. For a long while he tried to pretend as if nothing had changed- some days he was frantic to keep himself busy. But other days soon began popping up- days he couldn't be roused by anyone save for Dib. He had taken to sleeping, almost nightly- a habit Dib had shed; a habit an Irken didn't need.

"Hey," the human would say, his words familiar but his voice shockingly tender. "You stupid little green menace. World domination awaits, you ugly space monster."

The Smallest would give himself a shake, then, rising and making some half-hearted attempt at normalcy, seemingly exclusively for Dib's sake. But whatever he said or did fell horribly short of his old self, and eventually he stopped speaking English altogether, although he had seemed loath to part with the Earth language since the planet's destruction. He communicating largely through soft grunts, clicks and broken Irken- the few times he would utter a familiar word, it would be only to Dib- something strange and familiar that only the human would understand- "hamster" or "baloney" or "the lens cap."

Tak, who claimed she stuck around for lack of anything more entertaining to do, slapped him around more than once. But that all stopped- she began to avoid him, in fact -after she knocked him down and he stayed down. Frankly, as she had later confided in Dib, it frightened her.

The small Irken who wouldn't fight back didn't seem like Zim at all.

Still, with him there at its helm despite his deterioration, the Empire limped toward what seemed to be a far brighter future. A treaty with the Meekrob was struck up, and Vort was restored to its rightful owners, with Lard Narr assuming leadership. Several more of the Empire's conquests- those with enough of their own structure left to become autonomous with little fuss -were also cut loose, several of them taking the opportunity to create formal treaties with the new Irk. Skoodge did a lot of running around to planets like them, arguably becoming the public face of the Irken empire. Though the Smallest still retained puppet-master-like control of negotiations, his voice- hoarse, now, with disuse -was strictly reserved for those those closest to him- Dib, Skoodge, and scarcely a handful of others. As time went on, there were many duties that became Skoodge's alone- many duties that fell through the cracks, or that Zim's advisor didn't see fit to burden his failing mind with.

And then there came the day when even Dib failed to rouse him.

"Zim. Zim."

Shaking the Smallest gently, Dib furrowed his brow- he could see the rise and fall of the narrow chest, so didn't see fit to panic. He found himself reasoning that it was just one if the worse days- they did pop up, and were no reason for undue alarm. So he leaned down, kissing and then nipping roughly at the antennae.

"Rise and shine."

Still Zim didn't respond, and only then did apprehension bubble up in Dib's stomach. Crawling up beside the small form, he grabbed the Irken's shoulder and pulled him from the bed with more theatrics than were necessary, sending them both tumbling to the ground in a tangled heap. That at least got a reaction from the Smallest, who sprang to his feet, spluttering. Dib scrabbled, too, bracing himself for the retaliatory attack he anticipated.

But that attack never came; Zim just stared at him, blankly, his ruby eyes watery and pale. Concern instantly drowning the childish playfulness he had almost felt, Dib moved forward.

"Zim?" Hands out hesitantly, he reached for the Irken; the Smallest flinched away, taking a step back.

"Why should Zim?"

Not having expected the raspy words, Dib flinched. "What?"

"Why should Zim do such things?" the Irken demanded, his liquid eyes sparking with the manic objection. "Why should Zim kill himself like this? Why, when all I wanted was my Dib?!"

"Zim, I'm right here!" the hybrid said, wanting to move forward but nervous. "Zim, Dib is right here!"

But Zim shook his head. "No... no, they took Dib away from me..."

"Stop it, Zim!" the human's voice was a wail, fear and anger lighting his eyes from the inside out. "Stop it! Stop being such a... a jerk!"

Zim flinched at the familiar insult, antennae flattening as he looked up at the boy he no longer seemed to recognize. "No... you are not my Dib."

A brutal punch connected with the tender green skin, sending the Smallest stumbling backward and crashing to the ground. Tears- somewhere between terror and fury -flowed down the human's own face as he took a step forward.

"And you are not my Zim. If you were my Zim, you wouldn't even flinch," the human boy spat, seeming disgusted.

The tiny Irken stared uncomprehendingly up, tears welling in his own liquid eyes. But when his face twisted, it wasn't with sadness or pain, but with anger- anger and bitter regret.

"Tallest Red was right."

Dib jerked back, not having expected the hated name to pop up- no less with title intact. Whenever necessity demanded they speak of the long-dead figurehead, no one afforded him the respect of his title.

"Zim does not know what sacrifice is... nor will I ever."

Crouching down, the hybrid boy leaned forward. "What... do you mean...?"

"Zim will never give up his Dib-thing," the Irken said, his tears beginning to spill over. "But... Tallest Red... would not give up that which he held precious, either..."

The words were barely making sense to Dib- not present for the Tallest's dying moments -but he leaned forward anyway. "Zim... would you stop talking about me like I'm not here? It's getting annoying."

The Irken, though still crying, furrowed his brow. "Dib has no say over how Zim speaks."

Relief fluttering through him at what was at least a trace of familiarity, Dib put a pair of fingers to the Irken's forehead and shoved him off balance. "Shut up."

"Zim will not be silent!" the Irken objected, rising to his feet and glaring down at the human boy. "Zim is Zim!"

Dib stood too, confused but relieved by the sudden outburst. "Of course you are. And I'm Dib- you know that, right?"

The Irken boy scoffed, kicking at the ground. "Yes, Zim knows," he muttered, antenna flattening as he looked down. "A-And Zim will never allow the Dib to leave! Never!"

"If you can stop me," the hybrid boy teased- half fearful that it might set Zim off again, yet craving the normalcy of their banter.

"Zim will never give up his Dib- the little human he has fought for," the Smallest said, seeming apprehensive but confident.

The human's expression softened visibly as he stepped forward, pushing his face into Zim's and nuzzling his forehead against the Irken's. "I've missed you, Zim."

Zim stiffened, and the human let his cheek slide across the heated skin, then turned to kiss his soft green temple lightly. Only then did the Irken act, shoving the boy away from him and shaking his head furiously.

"How dare the Dib?!" he demanded, his voice and language beginning to normalize after his spell of silence. "How dare the stink-boy?!"

Dib laughed, spreading his hands. "Now, now, Zim- Zim. There's my Zim."

"Zim is not your Zim!" the Smallest raged, brushing himself off furiously. "Zim is Zim! I am Zim!"

"Exactly," Dib sighed, smiling warmly and confusing his poor Irken partner further.

Zim peered at him. "Is the Dib-thing feeling alright?"

"I'm sure Zim is feeling alright," the hybrid boy replied smartly, and the Irken stared at him uncomprehendingly for a moment. Then the Smallest gave himself a visible shake, turning away.

"If the Dib wishes to speak in riddles, Zim will not be bothered by such things," he said, rubbing unconsciously at his bruised face.

Dib's smile twitched wider, and he turned too. "Just... you don't have to give me up, Zim."

Zim huffed. "I will not- be sure of that, humanling. You are Zim's- any escape attempts will be severely punished."

Dib laughed softly, relief cracking his voice as he said, "I count on that."

But then the Irken's eyes darkened- that shadowed, haunted look paling them once again. "Even if... I must give up the Empire..." he muttered dreamily. "I will not sacrifice my Dib. Zim is not fit to lead... Zim was never..."

Shuddering, the human reached over, wrapping his arms around the Irken sideways; Zim didn't pull away. "Zim... I promise, you'll never have to choose."

"I will eventually," the Smallest sighed, turning his head away but not trying to break free of the embrace. "And then I will betray all else for my Dib. How must Zim... live with this knowledge...?"

That's... what's been driving him so mad...? the hybrid thought, wondering at the deep contemplation that he hadn't thought Zim was capable of. A moment later, however, he corrected the thought. It's not... surprising, actually. He focuses on one thing... with scarcely sane intensity- he always has. And that one thing, at least for now... is me. So you could even say this whole thing... is my fault.

"My dear Zim..." the human whispered, guilt and sorrow crashing over him. "You don't... have to-"

"Zim! Zim, Dib, you won't believe this!"

The pair looked up, transe of their discussion shattered by Skoodge's excited voice. Then the pudgy Irken was skidding wildly into the room, arms waving frantically.

"Zim, Dib, you have to come see this! Now, hurry!"

Glancing at each other nervously, the Almighty Smallest and his better half padded after their advisor; Dib's eyes were sparking with curiosity, though Zim still seemed unnaturally tired. Following Skoodge down the halls of Irk's capital, the Smallest finally spoke, irritated.

"What's this about, Skoodge?"

"Oh, you won't believe it!" the bubbly Irken exclaimed. "You've just... man, just wait 'til you see!"

"Give us a hint," Dib implored, though Zim rolled his eyes. The little advisor turned so that he was walking backwards, hands up and face split in a goofy smile.

"Okay, okay. So apparently the Tallest decided that there were a few things about Earth that were worth saving."

Zim's jaw dropped; Dib's eyes flew wide. And then all three were racing along, as fast as Skoodge could lead on stubby legs. Skidding into an underground chamber- not unlike or far from the Smeetery -the advisor reached up on his toes to fumble with a huge lock on a proportionally huge, metal door.

"It took us awhile to find it- and then even longer to figure out how to open it," he said, explaining the time lapse; there was a heavy clang as the lock fell, and the door swung abruptly open on oiled hinges. Skoodge dropped back to let the other two rush out onto a narrow shelf, plastering themselves to the railing and bending out over it like excited children, eyes taking in the scene with giddy, disbelieving hunger.

The great underground cavern extended for miles, filled to the brim with native earth life. Animals paced in cages and birds flew free; plants blanketed the ground in pots and whole groves of trees jutted up from transplanted soil, brown amid the native pink, reaching up toward the metal sky.

And the humans.

Some milled about; other sat, curled up or relaxed, calming others or being calmed. Some Irkens bobbed through the crowd, speaking to the refugees or handing out food, spreading news of the great rebellion, telling how those destined to be Irken slaves were now free.

Zim looked at Dib; saw the human's joy; smiled.

"I'm not the last one."

"Zim is happy for you, little stink-beast."

Suddenly, Dib's whole body went rigid; without a word of explanation he launched himself over the banister, using one if PAK's many extensions to control his fall. The Irken, after a moment of confused hesitation, began to chuckle and followed, trotting behind as the little human shoved and vaulted through the crowd, his breath coming in joyful, gasping laughter.

"Dad! Dad!"

Membrane turned, slowly, just as the small body plowed into his, and then he was on his knees.

"Dad...!"

"My... my son...! My dear son...!"

The two held each other tightly, terrified to let go, unable to bear their tears alone. But eventually Membrane pushed his son away, holding him at arm's length.

"I am so sorry, my son," he said, his voice thick. "I should have believed you! I should have...!"

"Dad, it's okay! I'm just... you're alive...!"

"My son!"

"Dad!"

Zim, watching the little reunion from a distance, was quick to piece together what Dib was too emotional to see- it wasn't out of mercy that the Tallest had spared this collection of organisms. They all that their uses- craftsmen and scholars and tradesmen. There wasn't one child among the crowd, and for some reason that plucked at Zim's insides- needles of grief he hadn't been expecting. Yet he found himself thanking something- Fate, perhaps -that his Dib's parental unit was the most useful of any human in existence- it would nearly have been a sin for the empire to not preserve his life and make use of him.

But even embroiled in such thoughts, Zim was only capable of maintaining a respectful silence for so long. Coming up behind Dib, he seized the human's shoulders and rocked him back and forth.

"The Dib has moved Zim to tears...!" he said dramatically- mockingly. "Eh? Is that the audience I heard sniff-sniffing? The Dib has moved us all to tears!"

"Z-Zim...!" the human objected indulgently, shoving uselessly at the alien. But the Irken wouldn't let go, wrapping his arms around Dib's neck and clinging there until they both tumbled backwards in a giggling heap.

"I-I see you've changed your mind about the little green boy...!" Membrane said, seeming surprised- understandably so. "I thought, especially now since..."

He continued, but neither boy was listening anymore, tumbling across the earth-like turf. Dib broke away first, sprinting around a tree with Zim in hot pursuit.

"I'll get you! You can't run from Zim!"

"I'll dissect you, you filthy alien!"

"Dissect yourself, earth-stink! You're more alien than Zim!"

The hybrid spun to face the other, his feet planted. "And who's to blame for that, eh Zim?"

"Who's to thank, you mean?" The Irken plowed into him, sending them both rolling. "Yes, yes, you have Zim to thank!"

"Oh you little- mmf!" Dib was cut off by a pair of lips mashed to his, smothering his words. As the shock wore off he melted, giving an awfully Irken-sounding purr as his eyes slid shut. Then he was holding fast to Zim, moaning the Irken's name softly as everything else fell away.

Professor Membrane fainted dead away.

"Thank you, Zim..." Dib whispered against his love's mouth, breath labored.

The Smallest grinned haughtily, purring. "The Dib should make a point of thanking me daily."

"Don't push it!" the human growled, shoving at the other playfully but hard. "Alien scum!"

"Earthanoid stinkbeast," Zim replied, then kissed him again sweetly. "This is a glorious victory for Zim!"

Dib drew back against the turf, eyes narrowing. "I'd call this a victory for Earth!"

"As I said," the Invader said haughtily, "a victory for Zim. You are only redundant, little monkey- a victory for Earth is a victory for Zim, and visa versa."

As that sunk in, the little human slowly began to smile, until his grin outgrew his face. Then, with a short cry, he flung himself upward and flipped their positions, kissing his alien love fiercely.

"I love you, Zim," he said, blocking the other's objection with his tongue. "Don't say I don't, please..."

After a momentary struggle, the Smallest managed to shove his assailant off and sit up, face flushed. "F-foolish Dib-thing! Love is far from the point of these things!" Grasping the earthling's hand, he brought them both to their feet. "Come! Let us ascend once more! Let us fly among the stars again, my fanciful little Diblet!"

Breathless with confusion and anticipation, the human unconsciously tightened his grip on the other's hand. "W-where are we going?"

"Zim!"

The shout interrupted anything the Irken was about to say, a round little shape shoving it's way through the crowd until it stood, panting, beside the pair of refugees.

"Zim, what's going on?" Skoodge demanded, looking worriedly from his Smallest to Dib and back again. "What are you talking about, leaving?"

Zim spun, a grin painted across his face. "The Diblet and Zim shall leave this planet!"

The advisor's eyes flew wide. "You're leaving Irk?!" he demanded, taking a step forward. "You're our Smallest! The... the whole empire follows Smallest Zim- no one else could have rallied loyal and Defective Irkens alike, Zim! We still need you!"

But Zim only smiled, albeit a bit sadistically; stepping forward, he made a show of bringing himself up to his full height.

"Zim thinks I am no longer Smallest, Skoogemious."

The stout Invader jumped as Zim, still grinning, moved his hand between their foreheads- indeed, he seemed to be perhaps half a centimeter taller than his smeethood friend, much to Skoodge's surprise.

Invader Zim's smile softened as he said, "Hail, my Smallest."

"I-I... b-but I... and you...!" Skoodge stammered, and then gave a shrill little squeak as Zim knelt; Dib followed suit, though they both were rather enjoying the new Smallest's wild squirming as he gave a strangled shriek of, "I can't run the empire!"

"Skoodgemious has been running the empire," Zim said, glancing up with the sadism in his smile renewed. "Therefore, who else when Zim returns to Earth?"

A shiver passed through Dib at the sound of it- not lost on the still-kneeling Zim. The Irken Invader stood briskly, brushing himself off and looking around.

"Yes..." he continued, half to Skoodge and half to himself. "We shall have this lot loaded aboard the Massive; Zim will take supplies and a group of Irkens to assist me. We will rebuild the planet called Earth, with these things."

"Zim, you can't be serious?" Skoodge tried once more, stepping forward with his palms up in an imploring motion, but was met only with a hand in his face.

"Skoodge will look after the great Irken Empire; Zim knows she will not fall apart under your care."

And with those words, Zim patted his friend on the shoulder; turned, took Dib by the arm; vanished into the sea of Earth life, chatting animatedly about the future as they walked, soon all but lost in the crowd.

(A/N) I actually knew where the story was going to end from the beginning... but life's in the journey, hmm? Tell me what you guys thought! I'll give you a hint as to the epilogue! I promise it'll be a quicker update this time, although I'll be sad when it comes to an end...

Don't forget to check my dA for the Defective-themed contest, along with my profile poll for upcoming projects~