My first Invader Zim story! :D
Content Warning: It's kind of creepy... so skip it if you think it will scare or trigger you. There is death. It gets graphic and descriptive, so beware. I rated this T for a reason. I don't think it needs to be M though. I've read WAY more horrifying stories rated T, so eh.
Also, the Irkens may seem kind 4of wimpy or fragile in this, but this is before they even connected with other planets. Basically, how they became the way they are in the series. In other words, this is before they were a warrior race. You see, I got to thinking about why Irkens have the system they do and wondered what could have led to it. And so, this story was born. That being said, it probably deviates a bit from cannon, but I tried...
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Deep in the dredges of Irken history, one can find small mentions of a time called The Hallowed Day. Though it is not taught about or spoken of (especially to outsiders), nearly every Irken knows about it and regards that point in history with anger, fear, and some, even with sadness. For after that day, Irk was changed forever. Countless centuries of peace ended, as the entire planet was plunged into a horrible age of empty darkness. After that awful, terrifying day, the Irkens were forced to change.
Irk was once a very beautiful planet. The grass was a soft, cotton candy-colored pink. The Irkens built homes out of their sacred purple-wooded Zillow trees, which gave them sweet and delicious fruit. They used the wood to create cozy cabins with flowing roofs. Closely knit communities shared so much together- not a single Irken was left out of anything.
*Warning, Death and Descriptive Gore*
On The Hallowed Day however, the entire sky which was usually a soft, radiant red, became an ominous black. The sun disappeared from the sky and was replaced by a clear liquid that rained downwards. Never before had such a thing happened on Irk. Confused, tiny green beings came out of their homes, wondering what was happening. The glassy droplets burned everything it touched; people, grass, and even trees. It burned and melted everything held dear- but that wasn't the worst of it.
Not only was so much lost physically but so were many Irkens; lost in their grief and terror. They did not see what was to come. They saw what was. What had happened. What worse could possibly occur? At this critical moment, the rain stopped. The sky opened, shining down a bright and shifting light. Small, short beings, looked up in weary relief. Worn and smoking bodies pushed themselves to their feet to look up at the bright cascading light, but what they saw was not the sun; it was not even the moon.
What they saw was a large, cylinder-shaped object. Its surface was a smooth shining silver, with bolted panels lining its every crevice. They would later learn that this device was called a "spaceship". It fell out of the sky and crashed into what remained of the Zillow forest. The Irkens huddled together in terror for a moment; they had never seen such a thing before. On the ship, a door opened, letting out some smoke.
Before anyone could even move, an inky black creature clawed its way outward, crackling all the way. It was completely smooth, except for its rough and protruding rib cage. The animal stood at a height they had never even seen before. Taking a gasp of air, it turned towards them. A couple ran, while others stood stock still. It attacked, tearing many of the remaining Irkens apart. Its multitude of sharp teeth easily snapped through bone. The monster revelled at having a new meal- and many more to come.
One Irken was able to run faster than the others. While they weren't as big as the alien creature, they were the tallest of the remaining Irkens. The "tallest" was able to grab one of the broken branches from the ground to use as a weapon. They ran back towards the monster, desperate to protect those who were smaller. The attack took the hunger weekend predator off guard. Though food had put it into a frenzy, the adrenaline was starting to wear off. It hissed as the pointed branch speared through its thin and protruding rib cage. Arms shaking with strain, the Irken let go of the branch and backed away. Finally, it was over. The shorter Irkens had been saved...
By the tallest.
*Warning End*
This event triggered many new traditions and changed the very way Irkens lived. The loss of their Zillow trees, which provided them their only food and shelter gave them a need to explore other planets. Irk was never the same, but the inhabitants eventually managed to rebuild by using materials from other planets. Short Irkens practically worshipped their savior, so height started to determine one's rank and standing in life. They used technology from all over the galaxy to build PAKS. These not only helped them live longer but also made it possible to defend themselves wherever they went.
Warning, end of story.
Haha, I wrote this at 1 am in 2020 back when I was lurking on Amino. If you use this idea at all, please credit me and tag me! Just a "this is based off of the story Cryptid by SpaceandInfinity from fanfiction" would do. I would love to see what you come up with :D
#Zimtober2020