DISCLAIMER: I own no invader zim characters, scenes, etc.. SONG OF THE CHAPTER:: Can't Help Falling In Love With You- Ingrid Michaelson
**Last chapter, please review and tell me what your opinion is**
Era still lay on the bed, not being able to do much because of her low energy and wounds. The entirety of the ship celebrated the coming-to of their beloved next member of the Tallest. Her voice was weak and she could only manage a whisper.
"My...brothers. I feel.."
"Shhh, don't speak Era. Everything will be okay." Purple said, placing a finger over her lips. Era nodded and closed her mouth.
"We were so worried about you." Red said as tears rolled down his face.
"Dont cry...brother. I will be...fine." Era managed to say without interruption.
The brothers smiled at their sister. She was so brave. She had been so strong, they both knew neither of them, nor anyone else, could pull off what she did. She was just like her mother, and everyone but her knew it.
"You will bring greatness to this empire." Purple said as he held her hand.
Era smiled weakly and looked out the window. Her blue eyes were red-rimmed and sad. Yet, in her eyes the two still saw that strength and happiness that always lingered deep inside them.
She picked up a keyboard and began to type a message. Her two brothers, along with anyone within sight distance, stared up at the screen.
If I die, I want my wishes to be fulfilled just as Mother would have wanted her's done. Everyone gasped. How could she even talk like this?
"Oh Era please..." Red was cut off by one of her slender fingers.
I want my body wrapped in purple material and buried with my mother's pendant-Irz has it. I would also like for Zim to be the one to carry my body out to the stars and release me. If I were to die, I would like to be dead in a place where everything is never certain. That is why I choose deep into the stars. That is all I have to say, you may continue, brother.
Everyone stared at the screen. The room fell silent. How could anyone respond to that? It was as if she wasn't feeling like the nurses had explained she felt. What would provoke such pessimistic thoughts in the always optimistic Irken? Something was wrong, and everyone in the room could feel it.
Zim drove the ship straight to the Massive's loading dock. Two Irkens assisted the two out and led them to Era.
As soon as Zim saw Era's frail figure. He went straight to her and grasped her hand. "Oh Era, oh Era." Was all Zim could manage to say through his short breaths and stream of tears.
She smiled and placed her other hand on his. "Zim...I love you.." Era said. Their eyes met, and for a moment it felt like it had many years ago-when nothing else seemed to matter but the two of them.
He smiled through his tears and kissed her softly. "I love you too Era." Zim replied.
Era quickly saved her message on the screen unnoticed. She felt wrong, as if something wasn't like it should be. She shook off the feeling for a moment and looked over to Irz.
Irz looked at Era and smiled. She brought out a cupcake and held it out to Era. "I know you don't wanna eat it, but I just wanted to show you that I made one special for you." She said and the cupcake disappeared again. Era smiled and looked back to Zim.
Lyra Nori felt nothing but anger as The Massive pulled into view. She disguised herself as an Irken-hiding her Vortian self. She packed her weapons away and stepped out of the ship-feeling very Irken-like.
She passed everyone unsuspected. She drifted like nothing was out of the ordinary. But everything was out of the ordinary, which was why they acted like this. "I shall get revenge for you, my brother." She muttered as she entered the hall that was crowded with Irkens. In the center she saw her prize-weak and helpless.
Her eyes glazed over and she swiftly made her way to the front. Neither Red nor Purple looked up from their unsuspecting sister. Era glanced at her once and smiled faintly. How dare she smile like that? Because of her my brother is dead! Lyra Nori thought as she fiddled with the hidden gun.
"Thank you...so much.." Era said, and that was her way in. Everyone looked at her, and at that moment Lyra pulled out her weapon and aimed it at her.
"You! You killed my brother!" She shouted, her true self being exposed by her rising anger.
Era looked up to her. She was terrified. In her eyes Lyra Nori saw fear and pleading.
"Please..don't do this.." Era begged. Lyra Nori wouldn't hear any more of it.
Before the shots to her could be fired, Lyra Nori fired the gun into Era-the shock ripping her old wounds and tearing the Pak from her back.
A loud cry filled the room before it all went silent. Lyra Nori went down too, in a pool of blood. But she wasn't the center of attention anymore.
Era lay there in a pool of her own blood. Her eyes dripping crimson tears.
"No!" Red, Zim, and Purple shouted in unison. Tears fell from everyone's faces as they watched a death of someone they all loved.
"Carry...on...my wishes... And be the best Tallest you can be....my brothers..." Era began. She coughed, a spatter of blood fell from her lips.
"Zim...don't ever forget how much....I love...you." And with that, Era's eyes closed and the final breath escaped her body.
The room now was filled with squalls and sobs. Most of all-Zim's.
"I love you Era!" Zim yelled through his tears, trying to bring her back.
He rested his head on her chest and sobbed. "Please don't leave. Era, don't die." He sobbed, her blue dress-which was slowly turning into a deep crimson- mixed with his tears.
And so it was. Era's final wishes she had cleverly saved were carried out. Zim looked at her body and kissed her cold lips for his final goodbye-although she managed hers days before.
"No one knew or expected this to happen." Red began. The funeral platform couldn't be silent. There was always a soft, constant lulls of sobs. "But if she was here, I know that she would want us to continue our reign. I remember she told us to be the best we can be, and I know that she did not only mean her brothers, but Irkens as a civilization. To live long and be forever in memory of our loss."
Zim stepped up and wiped a tear away from his face. "Era meant everything to me. She taught me how to care for someone and how to be better and stronger. We could all learn from her ways, as she was the best she could have been. She tried very hard at everything she did and she did it with dignity." He said, unable to continue.
Purple now stood beside the other two. "My sister was a great Irken. Nothing could ever alter that fact. In the face of danger she stood strong, even on her death bed she remained strong and told us to be the best we could be. We solemnly promise that we will carry out any wishes that she ever mentioned to us and to continue being a strong race and remember her for all of eternity."
With those words, Zim carried her body off the platform and set her adrift into space. "May you forever travel among the stars." He whispered and turned away.
The Irkens were silent until they could no longer see the frail body of her. With a boom the Irkens burst into a torrent of wails and tears. No one could get over the great loss. No one could stand to part with someone they all cared for so deeply.
-Epilogue-
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It had been 103 years since Era's death. Zim was now a fully grown Irken. Every day he still thought of her, but now he had moved on, in a way, just as Era would have.
Eileen-his future wife- stepped up and kissed him on the cheek.
"How are you Zim?" She asked, knowing deep inside that she could never replace Era in his heart.
"How I have been." He replied simply and turned to kiss her-staring deep into her ocean blue eyes.