Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim

Author's Notes: Okay everyone the last chapter is finally here! Thanks for reading and please review!

(Back With the Tallest!)

It had taken them a lot longer to get to Earth than they'd have like, but what they saw only made matters worse.

Earth, their precious jewel had just about been consumed by the Florpus. To make matters worse instead of actively trying to fix this problem not one, but three Irken Invaders were too busy fighting each other.

Not to mention that the identity of said Irkens made them feel more than a little enraged.

"My Tallest, I can confirmed that the defect Tak is on the Earth's surface." The Comms officer reported from her controls. "As well as Invader Skoodge."

"Skoodge?" Purple looks adamant. "Didn't we throw him out of the air lock?"

"Mt readings are picking up a third PAK ID." The female Comms Officer cut in. She looks hopeful, but also confused and rightfully so. "My Tallest, it's Taller Zim!"

"ZIM!" Red jumps up and shoves her aside to check for himself, and yes, Zim's ID number greeted him. "It's him, thank Irk."

"I don't know whether to hug him or strangle him." Purple admitted as an image of the situation appeared on the large holo screen before them.

Zim appears to have the upper hand of the situation; Tak can be seen submissively subdued by their future successor. However, what was troubling was the number of obvious enemy soldiers standing by his side.

Hey, isn't that the large headed boy Tak told us about?" Purple asked.

It was, and worse they appeared to be helping each other.

"Teleport them here!" Red's voice was barely a whispered.

"Sir-?" The first Comms Officer asked.

"TELEPORT THEM HERE NOW!" Red screamed.

"Yes, My Tallest!" The officer shakenly pressed the teleportation button.

(Back with Membrane)

Professor Membrane watched in horror was the Massive vessel of the enemy got closer sit.

"You're going to get it now." Tak snickered, she shrugs out of Clembrane's hold, which has loosened due to the approaching doom.

"Zim..." Dib moves closer to him on instinct."

"Get out of her Dib!" Zim warned, too late!

Gaz watched as 4 purple laser blast shoot out, the first hits Tak, then the second hits Skoodge!

"ZIM!" Dib runs to him, trying to close the gap between them, fearing him to be next, but to Zim's horror Dib gets hit instead.

"Dib!"

Zim turns to see Anabel and the other's helping the AIs as they transport the weapon closer.

"Zim!" Lard Nar yells, and the next second he is gone! "NO!" Lard Nar tries to grab for the former invader, but he's too late.

"What's happening? Dibson, why have thy taken Dib!" Annabel cries.

"I don't know, but we have to do something." Prof. Membrane pints to Tuff. "You fire your weapon now!"

"We cannot." Siri answered. "We must wait for the signal."

"What? What signal?" Prof. Membrane asked.

"Zim, he has to give it." Annabel is shaking, she tried to remind herself that Dib was with Zim, and that he would be okay, but it didn't help. How many times had he stab them in the back, could she really believe it would be different now?

"Have faith." Siri said, as if sensing her fear. "Brother is ready."

"For Dib's sake as well as our own." Dark Booty spoke gravely. "I hope your right."

(Back with Zim)

[Aboard the Massive]

He wish he could say he was prepared for this moment, and yet.

Zim looked around, as the chaos unfolded around him as Tak, Skoodge and Dib were being forced to their knees by the royal guard.

"Unhand me!" Tak screams.

"Quiet, defective scum!" a soldier kicks her in her side hard.

Tak doubles over in pain.

"You should have just taken a hint and died." Purple yelled.

"My Tallest, I don't understand!" Tak wheezed. "I did this for you, Zim was going to-"

"That's Taller Zim!" Red screamed, delivering a kick to Tak's head.

Tak saw stars, why...why couldn't they see it! Why couldn't they see that Zim was the problem, not her!

As for you." Purple moves to Skoodge. "We dumped you on that planet to die, but instead we get a report from Hobo 13 that you lead your team exceptionally well. It even had the audacity to call you a natural born leader!"

Skoodge would usually look down in shame, such words would imply that he was better than his Tallest. Now however, Skoodge held his head up high, because he knew the truth, a truth he learned on Hobo 13. He was a natural born leader, and he was better than them.

Dib struggles to get free, but his human strength is nothing compared to the soldiers holding him down. All he can do is watch as the Tallest let out their anger violently on two of their own people.

Red looks up, disgusted, his eyes locking on Zim, who still looks dazed and confused. "Where have you been!?"

"My Tallest-I." Zim tried to explain, tries to find the words, but they won't come.

"Forget it!" Red hissed, tossing him a blaster from one a hoister from one of the nearby soldiers. "Just get rid of these defectives."

Zim catches the weapon out of reflex. "What."

"Kill them!" Red hissed. "And be snappy about it we have a valuable assets that's about to be consumed by that!" He gestures to the Florpus that is getting dangerously closer still.

Zim stands frozen to the spot, he knows he has to do something, but just like Vort he is unable to break free of the inevitable outcome.

"Do it now Zim!" Red screams. "I won't ask again."

Purple watches as Zim walks almost robotically in front of their three captives. Somethings off, he can't place it, but something has changed in their friend. He almost wants to call out to make him aware as well.

Red however, is too enraged to notice anything! Besides this was obviously pre-Taller jitters, Zim was preoccupied with his new role as Taller, why Red himself remembered mind numbing it all was at first.

He just needed to get this last mission behind him and then Zim would be fine.

Zim draws his weapon, but he's not aiming, his handshakes slightly as tears well up in his eyes. This couldn't be happening again! Why? Why did things like this always happen to him? Why was he always forced to choose between what he felt and who others expected him to be?

"Zim." Zim blinks through the tears and searches for the source of his name desperately.

Their eyes meet, and Dib can see it, it's just like that night in the woods so long ago. Zim stood over him, poised for the kill, but just like before he was fighting it. Last time Dib tried to talk him out of it, and ultimately failed, but this time, this time was going to be different.

Why? Because, Zim never thought he had any other option. He thought conforming was his only choice to have a chance at a normal life. Now, however, Zim knew differently, he saw a future without the Tallest. A future where he not only survived but thrived! All Zim needed was to be reminded that he wasn't alone.

"It's okay." Dib whispers, the next thing he says sounds like a bunch of clicks and chirps.

It's strange, Purple knows it's the Irken tongue the boy is speaking, and yet he can't translate the phrase that just came out of his mouth.

But Zim can, in fact he remembers the meaning all you well.

'You are my forever.'

Zim's had stops shaking, and now even Red senses the change.

Zim?" Red huffs. "Look, we get it, you got overwhelmed and left your post." He tries to gloss over the situation which has helped in the past. "You're not in trouble, this assignment has taken its toll on all of us. Now just clean up this mess and we can move-"

"No..." Zim cut in coldly.

"What?" Red snapped.

"I SAID NO!" Zim throws down his weapon.

Purple just stairs at him stunned. What was going on? Was Zim actually telling Red, no? Heck Purple didn't even tell Red that, and he was supposed to be his was so strange, the Irken before them looked like Zim, but it was like he was a completely different person.

Tak looks up at Zim, confused. Was he choosing not to shoot them? Was he insane? What kind of defective gets all the way up to the top only to self-destruct?

Skoodge however couldn't help but smile, Zim was doing something that he himself had fantasized about doing since they were all back in the academy. He was standing up to their tormentors for the first time, and he wasn't backing down.

"I am sick and tired of sucking up to you RED!" Zim spat venomously. "You are nothing but an overgrown smeet who stomps around throwing tantrums where you see fit."

Purple jumps into action, it's obvious Zim has gone off the deep in, an angry Zim was dangerous, but add that to an enraged Red and no one on this ship would be safe. "He doesn't mean it Red, he's just forgotten his place." He assured him. "His new status has him all big headed, that's it." He gives Zim a look, as if to say. 'What the heck is wrong with you?' While begging him to agree with him at the same time.

The old Zim would have submitted, and played along, but that Zim, that Zim was dead and gone!

"No, I haven't." Zim hissed. "You throw Irkens out airlocks because they don't fit your ideals and now you want me to kill two of our own who have done nothing but try to please you!"

Tak can't believe it, was Zim, protecting her? After all she put him through, he was sticking out his neck for her.

"You have no right to speak to me this way." Red hissed.

"Actually, I do." Zim growled.

"I am your Tallest!" Red screamed.

Oh, that was interesting, Red said I'm not we!?

Purple pics up on it too, but decides that it's just the anger talking, Red wouldn't purposely cut him out.

"And I am Taller!" Zim spat. "And I am not bound by your authority any longer!"

Oh no, suddenly Purple begins to understand what is going on...It is what he and Red have always feared would happen. Zim was known to knock down any Irken that got in his way, he did it with Spleen he did it with Tak and he did it with the small rebel cell on Vort. Yes, it was obvious to the Tallest that crossing Zim was dangerous.

That was why they started paying him back for all the times the mooched off of him. That was why they kept him as a close friend and showered him with praise. They were trying to avoid such a fate befalling them, but somehow, they had failed miserably.

"I invoke The Right of Krum-Hai!" Zim declared.

(Back with Siri)

"Siri that's the signal!" Sue tells her, but she didn't need to.

Siri aims the weapon and with the press a ray of blue energy blast out of the weapon and straight at the Massive.

Back on the massive gasp have filled the bridge, had they heard correctly? Had Zim just challenge the Tallest's right to lead Irk!?

Muka couldn't believe his own hearing, no one had ever invoke the right since the rise of Tallest Myuki! Heck, he could barely recall the proper protocol, but he knew enough to act swiftly.

Tallest Red looks ready to pounce, but Muka steps in his path. "Get out of my way!" Red growls. Something is strange, he feels off. A shock wave rips through the Ship, and the controls struggle to stay online. Red however doesn't miss a beat.

Muka is not as unmoved. "I can't do that my Tallest." The captain for the royal guard raises his weapon at his own Tallest.

"You fool, your job is to protect us!" Purple groans, he too fees off, but he tries to make it look like he's fine. He's more convincing than Muka, but nowhere nears the same level as Red.

Skoodge feels the change as well, and he feels, liberated! Like he had just been freed from some invisible shackles he didn't know where there.

Tak blinks as the current embraces her with a power she had never knew could exist. She's not sure what it is, but she likes it.

"I'm sorry my Tallest, but my Job I to protect both the Tallest and their successor." Muka points out, "And since Krum-Hai has been spoken Taller Zim has the right to challenge you when he sees fit."

"Why do we need to fight?" Purple asked, still trying to do damage control. "Come on Zim this isn't necessary, we can talk through this. We're all friends, right Red?"

Red however is seeing the real Zim for the first time. "This was your plan all along, wasn't it?" He realized. "That Vort scientist didn't survive by accident, you let him live!"

"Of course not!" Purple argues before Zim can speak up. "Zim would never-"

"I'm afraid he's right Purple." Zim said, coldly. "The truth is I've been using you two from the start."

"Zim..."

Dib winces, Purple actually looks hurt.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because Tak is not the defect I am!" Zim declares proudly as more gasp filed the air. "That's right, Irk's most useful weapon is a defect!"

The confession hits both Tallests like a bucket of cold water, and it's just as lethal. This whole time they had been harboring the very thing they hated the most.

"You deceptive, miserable-" Purple has lost all trace of kindness. "Muka kill these traitors now!"

"I'm sorry my Tallest, but I cannot." Muka hates this; now that the right has been invoked only the Tallest could lay hands on Zim. However, not even they were allowed to, not until Zim had decided if he wished to fight or withdrawal.

"If he fought now, the Tallest would be allowed to kill him, however if Zim chose to withdraw than the Tallest would have no choice but to respect his request. Zim would leave the collective and all those who wished to join him could. Which means a possible divided in their race, in other words the start of a civil war!

"You are useless." Purple hissed. "Computer, eliminate the defective trash."

"I am sorry, but I cannot." The computer speaks up.

"And why not!" Red hissed.

"Because, the program." The computer tried to explain.

"What?" Purple can barely find his voice.

"In order to obey I would have to eliminate everyone on board." The computers answers.

That's when understanding floods through them all in waves.

"You! You Did this!" Red screams at Zim, "That shock just now, you caused it!"

Purple looks at Zim in horror as the former invader snickers.

"How does it feel Red? How does it feel to be the very thing you despise most?" Zim hissed. "How does it feel to be like the rest of us?"

"You have doomed us all!" Purple screeched.

"No, you have, you and your purging of planets has us struggling to stay on top. We are picking fights with worlds when we barely have the fire power to back it up. We are a disease that's been slowly self-destructing for hundreds of years. We kill everything we touch and if it doesn't stop, we will starve the universe of what little it has left. We will cause the end of the universe as we know it, we cannot afford to keep going down this path!" Zim stated the obvious. "Your lust for power consumes you."

"Your hands ae just as bloody!" Red spat. "You are no better than us!"

"Yes, he is!" Dib yelled as he forced himself out of the hold of the other soldiers. "Because Zim is willing to fix it!"

"You are nothing but a useless speck!" Purple hissed.

"Dib is a saint." Zim growled. "And you are nothing in comparison!"

"You really think you can challenge us on your own?" Red actually laughed. "You'll be dead in seconds."

"You're the one who's poised to die!" Skoodge said as he too got to his feet. "The AIs already blasted you with their weapon. You're cut off from the collective, alone, thousands of miles from Irk with no army to back you up."

It was true, Zim could easily take them out now, but he knows better. He kills them now and takes over, nothing will change. He would just became the new world order, everyone would follow him because they had to; he'd be no different from the Tallest.

"My Taller, what are your demands." The Computer asked. "Do you wish to challenge the Tallest now or Withdraw?"

"We will withdraw." Zim answered simply.

"Running like a coward, are we?" Red jeered.

"No, I'm giving you a chance to see the error of your ways." Zim states. "You were programed to be hateful and destructive. Now you have the chance to be more."

"You think you can get us to give in to your defective ways?" Purple spat in disgust.

"All who wish to leave with me are welcomed." Zim said simply as he moves over the Comms systems.

"Like anyone would..." Red begins but stops as Skoodge, walks over to Zim along with the earth Monkey Dib! To make matters worse several of the service drones on the ship actually take a step forward, even Jim the Tallest Table drone moves to join them

"Jim, don't you dare!" Purple warned.

"I'm done serving a crybaby like you!" Jim says. "All you do is throw donuts at me and use me as a foot stool."

"Tak!" Red suddenly notices the Irken female is still on the floor. She's staring at her hands in a daze.

She was defective now, 'Strange...' Tak thought. 'I don't feel defective...' No, she felt empowered, she felt liberated; she felt free. Was this was Zim felt? Was this what it really meant to be defective? She looks to Red as he says her name.

"How would you like to be our new top invader?" Red says smugly.

"Yes, we can even make you the new Taller when Zim kicks the bucket." Purple openly offers a promise he can't possibly for fill.

"Tak." Zim reaches a handout to her. "They never appreciated you, and they certainty do not deserve you now."

Of course, he was right, the two had just gotten done beating her! They treated her like trash because they saw her a threat. Zim however, always saw her as an equal, even when they were at odds he at least treated her like a fellow Irken.

"Sorry my Tallest." She spat with as much venom as she could muster, getting to her feet as she does so. "But I think I like my chances else were."

"You fools." Purple hissed. "You will suffer for your treachery!"

"With Taller Zim's track record?" Skoodge shrugs. "I think you're the ones who should be worried." He has a point, one that makes the other Irkens wonder if they are making the right call. Zim wasn't just known as the Conquer of Worlds. He was known for conquering whole galaxies, Zim was a force feared across the stars and he never lost a battle.

Was it really wise to oppose him now?

No, but no one dare move, for the reputation of the Irken Empire was just as legendary.

"Very well, but know that the door is open, to everyone." Zim said. "Whether it be Irken or slave to the empire. If you wish to leave you have the permission of your Taller to join us where equality and stainable living is promised to all." He smiled at the disgust openly displayed on both Purple's and Red's faces.

"You disgust me." Red growled. "You never meant anything to me!"

"Or me!" Purple added.

"Like I care, I don't need your status anymore." Zim brushed their hateful words aside. "I am done pretending just to please leaders who don't even deserve to lead!"

"Take that back!" Red demanded.

"I will." Zim promised. "If you consider my offer. I am giving you a chance to change your ways my Tallest. Leave the world you have wrongfully conquered and return home."

"And if we don't?" Purple dared to ask.

"Then you will learn what it means to be on the receiving end of a war you cannot possibly win." Zim warned. "Your enemies are no longer scattered and lost, we are one and we are many and we will take back what is ours one way or another."

He paused looking at the remaining Irkens against him. "You have been warned." And with a press of a button, he teleported the off the massive.

"Charge forward cannons at full power!" Red ordered.

"My Tallest we have to give them a chance to withdraw!" Muka exclaimed.

"As far as I see it." Purple hissed. "They just did!"

Meanwhile, Dib and the others appear back with the others.

"Zim!" Dib throws his arms around him.

"Dib!" Anabel and Membrane embrace them both.

"Uh not to ruin the moment but their charging their weapons!" Bangy shots pointing at the massive.

"Tak! Order Mimi to jump the planet now!" Zim ordered.

Tak reaches out to her Mimi, for a moment she can't find her.

"Tak hurry!" Dib screamed as he looks to his left. "We're entering the Florpus!"

At the same moment the cannons of the Massive are menacingly powering up.

"Fire!" Purple orders.

"MIMI!" Tak Screams. "Do it NOW!"

Back at the Membrane home everyone stops singing as they feel the change.

"It's happening!" A little girl calls. Humans around the world cheers as the Earth is teleported away.

"My Tallest, the Earth... It's gone." Comms Officer reported fearfully.

Red and Purple are seething as a hated they have never felt before consumes the, a hatred for the one they once called friend.

"ZIM!"

(Back with Earth...)

[Months Later...]

Rebuilding the planet took a lot longer than he though, but then again, a lot more took place then the rebuilding of damaged cities.

For one thing Mr. President Man was forced to step down from office for is direct involvement in the Earth's unpreparedness for the disaster.

Secondly, an international pole was taken, and all remaining world leaders chose to grant all aliens on earth sanctuary on Earth in exchange for protection against Irk and other potential threats beyond the stars.

And Thirdly, Professor Membrane had been nominated for presidency! An opportunity that he is seriously flirting with. "Just think of the things we can do for the planet with that kind of power!" Pr. Membrane exclaimed. "Why we could unite the world under one cause: The insurance of the survival of Man and their allies!"

Dib, Gaz, and Peg in the meantime had returned to school, along with Luna and Moon. However, one big change had occurred. Human disguises were no longer needed, in fact even Mrs. Bitters and the refugees embraced their true forms.

The AIs were free to roam the earth and its surrounding planets as needed. In fact they were already making several visits to Mars in the hopes to terraform it into the first of many new homes for the growing refugee population.

That was another new thing, refugees arrived to Earth almost every day and the swollen Eyeball and the world leaders soon had their hands full. So, a new organization was put in to play, The Alien Refugee Relocation Corporation or ARRC for short was created to get refugees settled with life on Earth While relieving the government of the burden.

Additionally, a board of representative were created to ensure that refugees were treated fairly on their adopted world. The board included many members of the Swollen Eyeballs refugees including Mrs. Bitters, Lard Nar, Trawl and finally Luna herself. Other members included Uma, Bangy and perhaps the most surprising Skoodge!

A lot had happened in six months, but there was still much to do.

SGT Hobo 678 was helping Earth's Military become more equipped for the inevitable space war against Irk and Tak had surprised him by following his lead. Now, the newly formed Space force now had a very new purpose! New recruits signed up every for the chance to live out Star Trek in real life. While others like Dib simply wanted to do their part in protecting the planet and those who now called it home.

However, not all humans feel the alien's refugees should be embraced. They blame Zim for brining war to the Earth and fear that harboring Refugees will encourage an attack from Irk. And while many Aliens are great full for a place to hide from the Empire not all of them are thrilled of the idea of sharing a planet with "Irken scum"

Yes, they all still had a lot more work to do before the utopia they were trying to build became that perfect future paradise that Dib had once witness. Still, knowing how great it all turns out sure made it worth it.

"Kid's Dinner!" Annabel called from downstairs.

"In a minute mom!" Dib said not looking up from his homework.

"I can't believe you talked me into going back." Zim growled.

"Hey what I kind of example are we setting for our children if you don't finish high school?" Dib argued.

Zim growled again. "I'm nearly 200 years old." He argued. "Besides, you just want me to hang out with you because school takes up too much of your schedule."

Dib laughed, he knew Zim was right, but they had started senior year together and he would like to finish it that way too.

"Dib DINNER!" Gaz screamed. "You and your stupid boyfriend better get down here!"

Boyfriend, oh yes, they were officially back together, though as Peg pointed out they never really weren't. "We should go before she comes up here again." Dib pointed out.

Zim gets up and Gives Dib a quick kiss. "You are my forever." He says in Irken.

"Awe I love you too Mini Moose." Dib teased and raced down the stairs.

"You little!" Zim is hot on his heels.

"Prepare your eating faces for incalculable nutrition!" Pro. Membrane declares presenting food for a table full to capacity. "It looks great Hun." Annabel praises him.

"A husband that can cook and save the world man I am so jealous." Peg's mother joked.

"So am I." Her father agreed.

Peg laughed; it was great not to have to keep secrets from her parents anymore.

"I think we need a new table." Richard voiced for at least the ten thousandth time as Lard Nar and Trawl joined them.

"Yes, I'd like the elbow room." Trawl admitted.

"Wait for us!" Dib shouts as he makes it to the safety of the table, sticking his tongue out at Zim as he sits down.

"Gloat now Dib, but once we clear our plates and leave the safety of mealtime vengeance shall be mine!" Zim declared.

"I love Tacos." Gir squeals gesturing to the meal that has been prepared.

"Not just tacos." Pro. Membrane declares. "Super Tacos."

"Is this anything like the Supper toast we tried?" Moon asked. "No offense but it was very dry."

Dib stiffens a laugh.

"No, it gives you all the nutrition you need in a food that all beings love!" Pro. Membrane went one. "This is the first field test."

"So once again we're lab rats." Lard Nar mused. "I better not turn a new shade a purple."

"Just one final ingredient." Clembrane says as he splatters pudding all over the food. "Family and pudding and science and robots and stuff."

The good news was the clone had improved in making pudding and had even stated learning to cook other foods. The bad news was he still put the pudding on everything!

"He's still learning." Luna tells everyone. She and Gaz had been teaching him how to be a helpful member of the household. Allowing their parents, a break every now and then.

Dib smiles, yes, everything was chaotic, and it would only get more as time went on, but it was his, no-he grabs Zim's hand from under the table. It was their life, and they were ready to face its never-ending twist and turns together.

Zim couldn't agree more he knew any uncertainties still lied ahead of them, but together he knew that nothing could stand in their way.

-THE END!

Coming Soon this October!

Help My Husband is an Alien- In the year 2030 much has changed, the Resistance has grown, Earth and the rest of the solar system is surrounded by a familiar force field, and several Irkens have joined the fight against the Tallest. However, after 10 years of peace the Tallest have launch an attack; one that forces them back into War! Can Zim finally end their needless bloodshed? Only Time Will Tell...

Thanks again for all your support and as always I ask that you please review.