Chapter Three: Dib as Miyuki, Zim as...um...Zim

"Okay. The first thing you need to know is Miyuki's family. He has a mother named Myu, a father named Ryu, and a sister named Mei. He also had a brother that died, called Hyu. Don't talk about him, though. And also..." the session continued for a few more hours, until they saw Mel up.

"Ohayou, Invader Zim, ohayou, Tallest Miyuki!"

"Good morning, Invader Mel. How are things?"

"Oh, just wonderful! Wait...what am I doing in these weird clothes? Invader Zim, could you go and get me my clothing trunk? Tallest Miyuki, I'd like for you to pick out which outfit of my wardrobe would look best on me today."

"Sure." Zim dragged in a clothing trunk, and Mel neatly laid out the three choices she'd selected: A green dress with long blue pants, a blue striped shirt with black pants, and a red shirt with two horizontal stripes and black pants. With the green dress was a blue windbreaker, with the blue shirt a purple windbreaker, and with the red shirt was a burgundy windbreaker. He chose the outfit with the blue shirt, and she exclaimed that it was a wonderful choice. Within minutes she was out, and no longer had her human disguise on. Dib hadn't ever seen her without it, and if he hadn't known it was she, he wouldn't have recognized her at all.

Since the clothes had been purchased while she was in her Irken form, he figured that they probably looked better on her that way anyway. She twirled around a bit, showing the two of them how she looked. They admired her, especially Zim. Mel reminded him of his old girlfriend back on Irk. The two looked like they could've been twins. Zim mused about this, but then shook it off. It had to be mere coincidence. If only he could remember her first name. Taline was her last name, he knew that.

"Tallest Miyuki...thank you so much."

"For what, Invader Mel?"

"For everything. For being a friend. Tallest Miyuki?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for saving my life. I owe my happiness and my life to you. I suppose I shouldn't draw this out long - Tallest Miyuki, I love you. Do you love me?"

"I...I don't know." Dib had no idea how to respond. "I guess I do love you. But I'm not Tallest Miyuki."

"What...?" She fell backward, passing out.

"Nice move, pointy hair," Zim said sarcastically.

"Shut up, Zim. What was I supposed to say? She'll have to come out of this sometime, and I can't let her think that Tallest Miyuki loves her, when I have no idea. I can't lie to her."

"Looks like she's already lying. On the ground, at least."

"This isn't a time for jokes, Zim. We have to see why this is happening. We'll try hypnosis." Zim picked her up and set her on the couch next to Dib. He then sat next to her. "Invader Mel? Invader Mel? Don't wake up. Just tell me what traumatized you."

"That's no way to do it, pathetic human!" Zim looked at Mel for a second. With her eyes closed, he could place a name on his old girlfriend. Mel. Mel Taline. This was she. With a much softer, sadder voice, he said, "Mel?" Her eyes opened in a blank stare. "Invader Mel, I think I love you." Just as he was about to kiss her, Dib stopped him.

"Hey! You're supposed to find out what's wrong, not romance my friend!"

"I'm getting to that part, I'm getting to it!"

"Now, Zim."

"Oh, okay. Mel, why do you mourn the death of Tallest Miyuki so much? What has gone undone?"

"I wanted to ask him to marry me. Then he got killed. I never got to know what he'd reply." Mel came out of her trance.

"I bet you killed Miyuki, Zim. That's just the kind of sick thing you'd do!"

"Me? I swear, I never killed him. I swear, I didn't do it. I didn't! Why would I kill the one she loves?!"

"So, Zim," Dib began, "That sounds like a motive right there. You love her, right? Maybe you figured that if he were out of the way, you'd gain Mel's affection."

"No! I swear! It was an accident! I'm so sorry, Mel! I was just trying to - you don't believe me, do you?"

"Of course not, Zim. That's just the kind of story you'd make up."

"Tallest Miyuki? Why are you fighting with Zim? You two always got along so well together..."

"He's a murderer. He plans to kill me. Please, Invader Mel, if there is anything you need to tell me before the day of my death, just as a precaution, what would it be?"

"Miyuki...don't die. I love you, and...I want to marry you. Do you accept?"

"Yes." They kissed, but as Mel's mind went back to normal, she saw whom she was really kissing.

"Yech! Dib, what on Irk are you doing?!" She jumped back a few feet. The events of the day quickly erased themselves out of existence. The invader looked herself over and saw that she was out of her human disguise. A high-pitched yelp escaped from her as she covered her face from him.

"It's okay...I know you're an Irken."

"You do? How?"

"Yes. Here. Let me help you up." Dib took her hand and assisted her in standing.

"Why did you kiss me?"

"I wanted to let you know that Miyuki loves you. He must, after everything he did for you."

"Miyuki? How do you know about Miyuki?"

"Zim told me. You were unconscious, and when you awoke, you thought you were back on Irk, before Miyuki died. You thought I was Miyuki. You told me you loved me, thinking I was Miyuki, and I figured I had to agree to your proposal in order to get you back to normal. But I think I know someone who really does love you."

"Who? Zim?"

"Yes. Zim. But he also killed Miyuki."

"I know. I saw it. For years I couldn't forgive him. I cringed at his sight. But it was an accident. I know that. It's only now I can accept it."

"You accept Tallest Miyuki's death?"

"Yes. But thank you, so much. It sounds like you went through a lot, though I can't remember any of it. I know Zim loves me, but now the question is, do I love him?"

"Make sure your decision isn't too hasty. Where will you go from here?"

"Well, either way I'll be going back to Irk. After all, coming here was just because before Tallest Miyuki died, he told me to go to a planet named Earth. It didn't appear on any maps until Operation Impending Doom II. I couldn't exactly book a space flight to such an obscure planet, so I traveled here in my Voot. But I've crash-landed. I don't know how I'll get back..."

"You can use my Cruiser," Zim volunteered.

"Thank you, Zim. And thank you also, Dib. The both of you are so important to me. Try not to kill each other. It's nice to see my old friend doing so well and my new friend being so happy. I remember that the first time I encountered you, Dib, I sensed sorrow, but now happiness. When I met Zim again, I remember he was angry, frustrated, and now he is also happy. It is nice to know I've made a positive impact upon your lives."

"Invader Mel," Dib began, "Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Invader Mel," Zim chimed in.

"Who said anything about you staying?"

"I have a mission here on Earth."

"The Tallest don't care about that anymore. They made a change in plans. Come on. Enjoy life while you have it." She extended her hand, and he took it. "What about you Dib? Are you staying here or are you coming?"

"I want to go...but my family's here, and I..."

"Just tell them you're taking a little vacation. We all need a vacation every once in a while, don't we?"

"Okay. I'll be right back."

"Just call from here. It'll be fine, I'm sure." Mel handed Dib her communications watch, and he left a message for his family.

"Um...Dad, Gaz, goodbye. I'm going to be gone for a while. I'm going with a couple aliens to another planet...um...I hope we leave the robot behind. Well, bye! Greetings from Mars! I have to go, Invader Mel is waiting! Bye!" He clicked the watch off after sending it, and turned to his friend and his enemy.

"Let's get our things packed, shall we?" Mel suggested as she led the two others to the Voot Runner. When they were through, Dib saw the two Irkens holding hands and looking adoringly at each other.

"Looks like this time you're the one who's jelly, Dib!"

"One, it's jealous, and two, I'm not. I'm just a little lonely because -"

Mel interjected, "Oh, come off it, I'm sure you'll meet an Irken girl you'll like just as much as me or more - Paranormal Investigator Dib." He grinned a grin as wide as the Mississippi, and knew what it must have felt like for her when Miyuki had first called her Invader Mel. Knowing your dreams were in sight with the encouragement of pursuing them gave a surge of confidence that could pull anybody out of a slump. Including him.