Help My Husband's an…ALIEN!?
Summary: in the year 2030 much has changed, the resistance has grown, Earth and her sister planets are surrounded by a familiar force field, and several have joined the fight against Irk. However, after 10 years of peace the Tallest have launched an attack that forces them back into war! Can Zim finally end their needless bloodshed? Find out now!
Disclaimers: I do not own Invader Zim
Author's Notes:
Emily: HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Ha! I bet you all thought I was going to be late on this new story! But here I am, and I am not alone! I am excited to announce that my good friend and fellow fanfiction writer RoxieDivine will be joining me in writing this story! For those of you who don't know Roxie is the first person I pitched this AU to back in 2016 and many of my OC characters were created by her. She has been a great support in getting this story where it is today so please go checkout her page at: u/5332912/RoxieDivine
Roxie, I can't tell you how honored I am, that you have decided to join me in giving this AU a proper send-off.
Roxie: Thanks Emily, I am happy to be here and I'm looking forward to the conclusion of this epic series. Readers, please be mindful, just like Parts 1 and 2 of Help My Boyfriend's an Alien there will be some skipping around in the timeline. And For those of you who were wondering about the Invader Zim comics, a lot of them will be adapted into this sequel. All references will be included at the Chapter End Notes.
Thank you all for reading and please review.
Graduation Day
[10 years Ago: 8 Months after The Florpus]
He was never one to think much about the future, that was until he accidentally got slingshot into it! Dib Membrane smiled as he looked down at the piece of Note-book paper before him. Several dates and events filled the page, it's title read: The Zim and Dib Timeline. It had been his little secret project ever since things had gotten back to normal. Of course, normal was a relative way of putting things. The truth was nothing was the same anymore. Alien refugees and mankind were now living side by side, and unfortunately not everyone was on board with the idea.
8 Months, it had been 8 months since Zim invoked the right of Krum-Hai! And in that time much had changed. For starters, a new world order was under construction: The Galactic Alliance- which was once the name of the Rebel cell against Irk. Was now the name of not just Earth's government, but all her sister planets as well. And needless to say, their leaders; the newly formed Board of Ambassadors, had their work cut out for them.
Earth was overcrowded with refugees and would remain so until the AI's finished terraforming the moons and other planets of the solar system. Tensions were high and Dib's hometown was now a hotspot for "Wars between the Species" forcing the new leaders to put the city under martial law! With constant fighting in the streets and the ever-rising food shortage, today was hardly the time to be celebrating.
'And yet here we are.' Dib smiled as he added a new event to his timeline: Graduation Day. It had been the longest school year of his life, but he did it! Once he walked across that stage he would be a senior no longer! He allowed his eyes to wonder further down the page, where he was met with several events that had no dates beside them. Events like Wedding Day, Zid's and Zib's B-day, Zii's B-day, and several more greeted him. He was currently having a hard time placing them. He knew their order but trying to decipher how they all took place in ten years' time was a headache to say the least.
Worst still, there was no guarantee on whether or not the future events would play out the same way, in the current timeline. This fact caused him more than a little bit of anxiety, the fate of his future children hung into balance. Children he already loved, who had yet to be born. The possibility that he may never see them again had robbed him of more than one night's sleep.
Dib shook his head and took a deep breath. His actions, no-all their actions could affect the future. Heck, when he thought about it, His and Zim's time in the future could have already changed everything drastically. Still, he couldn't help but want to figure it out, yes it would appear some things never change.
"Dib, are you ready yet?" Zim poked his head in the room quizzically. Most of their fellow seniors were already lined up to take their seats. The football field had been filled with rows of chairs to accommodate their graduating class. "We are starting soon."
Dib snatched up the timeline he was working on and stuffed it into his graduation gown. Not even Zim knew about his pet project. Mostly because Dib knew his boyfriend would tell him he was over analyzing everything. He jumps up quickly to face the former invader, wearing a nervous smile. "Coming."
Zim smiles slyly as he takes him in. Dib has grown taller in the past eight months; however, he was nowhere close to catching up. 'And he never will.' Zim thought proudly. He knew it was petty, but he was glad that he had finally reached his true height potential. "Someday you're going to show me what you're working on." He added.
"Someday." Dib agreed as he looked up at him defiantly. The teen's hair was longer now, and his facial hair was filling out since he stopped shaving it. Yes, future Dib was coming in nicely minus the glasses which he still wears on his face. He wraps his arms around Zim's neck as he spoke.
Zim was still a stickler about public affection, but Lard Nar had informed him that such things couldn't be helped. Irkens had always been a proud race, even in the old days. Open acts of affection were a sign of weakness and were usually avoided. However, being alone, the now Taller leans in and kisses Dib deeply before whispering in the Irken tongue. "I am yours forever."
Even after hearing it a thousand times, Dib's stomach still did somersaults every time. "And I am yours." He says before going in for another kiss.
Zim sighs into it, if he could he'd stay in this moment forever, but unfortunately duty called.
"Would all graduates please lineup, you will be taking your seats shortly." A voice over the intercom spoke. "I repeat: Would all graduates please lineup, you will be taking your seats shortly. Thank you."
Dib chuckles softly and pulls away. "Guess that means us."
"You think?" Zim mused. "I mean what kind of valedictorian misses his own graduation?"
Valedictorian, Dib still couldn't believe he managed to pull that off. With how crazy things had been there was more than one instance where his grades almost slip beyond redemption. Thankfully, he managed to scrape by with his 4.0 GPA intact. Dib shoves Zim playfully, before leading him out of the classroom and into the hall where several seniors have lined up at the back double doors.
Many of their fellow students give them open looks of distain, but Zim hardly notices them. This is Dib's day, and he wasn't going to let anything ruin it. "And to think, I could have missed out on all this fun."
Dib snorts, he knows Zim didn't need to graduate high school, in fact he was over a century old in Irken years. However, he was grateful that he had, Dib could hardly see himself getting through the rest of the year without him. After all, they had started it together, it was only fitting that they finished it.
Luckily, they weren't alone. Dib's sisters were there, waiting for them.
"Took you long enough." Gaz growled; she was without her GameSlave at the moment; a rare sight to behold. She wasn't allowed to have it during the ceremony and the fact that everyone was sitting in alphabetic order also made her angry. Sure, she didn't mind sitting with her siblings and Zim, but it meant her fiancée Peg was sitting in the H's all alone while she was smack dab in the middle with all the M's.
"It's not so bad." Their adopted sister, Luna was trying to reason with her. Luna was a member of nobility and the current Queen of her people the Magladies. A race of blue humanoids with long white hair, pointy ears, and tails. Gaz's and Dib's mother, Annabel had become a surrogate mother for her and her sister Moon ever since their home world; Rhapsodize was conquered by Irk. However, now that things had settled down and the necessary paperwork had been completed; Luna and her sister were now officially apart of the Membrane family. It felt so good to be a part of one again, and even more so that she could be herself while doing it.
Now that everyone knew aliens existed, Luna and the other refugees did not have to hide their true forms. This of course was more of a curse than a blessing for most of them. Many Earthlings felt that the rebels had brought the war to Earth and were just as much to blame as Zim. However, Luna as always had no problem getting along with anyone. Of course, being known for their charisma, Magladies had no trouble winning over a crowd. In her spare time Luna devoted her efforts to the homeless and other humanitarian efforts. Her growing influence had rallied others to build shelters for the needy and motivated both Humans and Alien refugees to do what they could to help one another. Her good nature and uplifting spirt was making the world a better place. She was proof to mankind that not all Aliens were out to get them.
"She's all by herself up there." Gaz stated the obvious.
Dib looks up the long line to see his future sister in-law Peg smiling. He smiles as well; he still couldn't believe Gaz was now engaged. His sister who growled at any open affection would soon be married! The engagement had been a reality for a little over four months, and he still couldn't wrap his mind around it.
Peg sees Dib and waves; he waves back. "She seems fine to me." He told Gaz.
Gaz gives him a murderous look; a silent promise to end him.
"I mean oh no she looks absolutely devastated." Dib jokes, knowing all too well that Gaz would have no problem with ending him right then and there.
Gaz goes to make good on her wordless promise, but it would appear luck was on her brother's side today. The line begins to move forward as they are led out of the school and onto the football field. "Afterwards you are so dead." Gaz hissed as they made their way to their seats.
"There they are!" Annabel points them out from the stands.
Moon, the Magladie princess jumps for joy as she sees her sister walk out. Being only 10 years old it would be several more years before she even entered high school. However, she was becoming quite the child prodigy under her adopted father's tutelage and was already lightyears ahead of her current peers. Of course, this caused her to be at a crossroads, she felt like her sister and her new siblings were starting a new chapter of their lives without her. It would be so easy to join the SKIP program at school. She could get ahead and catch up faster, but Luna told her she'd be robbing herself of the experience.
"This is your chance to be a kid." Luna had told her. "To make your own friends and have your own experiences. To make your own place and find your calling."
Moon knew she was right, she just hated being left out.
"I told you we have the best seats." Prof. Membrane, the newly elected leader boasted proudly to his wife. Of course, he was not surprised that the votes turned in his favor. Professor Membrane was the most influential person of the human race. He was there to defend the Earth of a near invasion and his inventions were making life easier not just for humans but for all the inhabitants on Earth. He was without a doubt the obvious choice for the job. As the newly elected ambassador of Earth, Prof. Membrane was one of twelve elected individuals who over saw the growing Alliance.
Richard, his father in-law, and Annabel's father shook his head. At the moment, they were sitting in the VIP section cheering their graduates on. "I can't believe you insisted on getting it made." He scolded. "Seriously a VIP section just to watch a graduation."
"Not just any graduation." Lard Nar reminded him. "The first of many." The former Vort Scientist and leader of the rebellion; smiles at Moon knowingly. He too was one of the newly appointed ambassadors along with his cousin Trawl.
Moon puffed out her chest proudly. Yes, soon she would be walking down the field at her own graduation, and it would be worth the wait.
"I'm not sure I grasp the point of tonight's cause for celebration." Trawl admitted. He didn't want to kill the mood, or seem unsupportive, but Vorts didn't partake in graduations of any kind. In their minds doing so meant you had nothing left to learn which was unheard of in their culture.
"It's a right of passage." Dark Booty explained. The senior agent of the Swollen Eyeball was beaming proudly down at his young partner. He knew Dib and the others had worked to get here. The year hadn't been easy on them, and the future still had many more challenges instore. He knew they deserved this moment to celebrate more than most. "Today Dib and the others transition out of their adolescence and into adulthood. No longer seen as children they will strive to find their niche in the community and work on being a positive contribute to the masses."
"Way to go DIB!" Clembrane exclaimed happily. "We is so proud of you."
Someone to their left gives him a weird stare, being a poorly made clone of Prof. Membrane he looked like a fish man who was stung by a hundred bees. Still, he had a heart of gold, and thankfully he was getting much better at fitting into society…well mostly.
"He is my brother!" Clembrane yelled pointing at Dib. "Hi Dib!"
Dib, who is as red as a fire hydrant, gives a shy wave.
Zim chuckles, thank Irk Gir was being far better behaved. The crazy Sir unit was enough to handle on his own, but paired with Clembrane it was far worse.
Which is why Gir was sitting on the other side of the field with former Invaders Skoodge and Tak.
"Hi Master!" Gir waves happily!
Zim gives him a small wave, as planned everyone is more focused on Clembrane, thus making this small exchange go unnoticed.
"Cheater." Dib whined.
"Why Dib, I have no idea what you're talking about." He teased as they took their seats. Not having a last name to speak of he had the luxury of sitting wherever he wanted. So naturally he sat with Dib, he makes a note of looking around him as he does. It's a tactic his old mentor taught him long ago, he counts every entry point and exit. He also looks to his fellow Irken's making sure they are just as alert. All of this happens in the seconds it takes him to sit down.
"I can't believe he's actually doing this." Tak hissed from their spot, everyone else was giving them a wide birth and for that she was grateful. She may be free of her programing, but she was still oblivious to what her Taller actually saw in their allies. "He's the future leader of the most powerful race and he's still playing high school."
"He wants to finish what he started." Skoodge argued. "Besides, at least this has allowed him to be a part of society, unlike someone."
Tak knew he meant her; she was the only one out of them who didn't have an active role in their new lives. Skoodge being one of the ambassadors was currently working to create a new military front. Armies and soldiers of past world powers were banding together to create some sort of Space Force that could match the Armada. Many of the rebels had already joined the cause, meanwhile Tak was still on the sidelines.
It wasn't that she didn't want to be of use. She was simply weighing her options. If she joined them she would most likely be a part of a team, which was never her strong suit. But more so, this was her first act of pursuing a future that didn't involve being an invader. She had never thought of doing anything else. Never even imagined that doing something else was even an option, now with no programing her future was an endless selection of possibilities. Choosing just one was overwhelming to say the least.
"What's the point?" She snapped, as deflective as always. "It's obvious none of them want us here." Yes, that was the main thing stopping her. What was the point if there new allies would never trust them or accept them as members of society.
"Sure isn't stopping him." Skoodge pointed out. "Besides I didn't take you for someone who cared about popular opinion."
He had her there, Tak never cared what others thought before, but before she had the programing, and as toxic as it was it had its benefits. She was now plagued with emotions she never felt before, and her once unshakable confidence was faltering. Still, she brushes it off as the ceremony goes underway.
One by one the students were called, and as it got closer to her turn Peg feared the possibility that she would trip or do something else to make a huge fool of herself. She had a lot on her mind, tomorrow would mark the beginning of the rest of her life and she still didn't know what she wanted to do with it. Gaz and the others had decided to continue having active roles in the rebellion against Irk while she was currently on the fence. Her time in space prison and the near destruction of Earth had made her realize just how dangerous this war could get. It wasn't that she didn't want to fight with them, there was simply just so much in life they had still yet to do.
Already this war had pretty much robbed them of their senior year, and as selfish as it sounded she didn't want to miss out on anything else. However, if Gaz got hurt out there without her, she'd blame herself. Her always understanding and supporting parents had told her they would back her up no matter what she decided. It was a sentiment she was grateful for, one that Gaz didn't hesitate to make clear.
"I want you to do this with me." She told Peg. "But I want you to do it your way. Weather it's by myside in battle or protecting the home front. As long as it's what you want I will support you."
Tears filled Peg's eyes as her name is called, She wasn't sure what she had done to be so lucky. To have such a supportive partner and such amazing friends and family, but she wanted to live up to it. She knows it's silly to compare herself to them, but she does. She wants to show the world what she can do.
She steps on the stage and walks across without tripping, much to her relief.
"Congratulations." Mr. Prickled says as he hands over her diploma. Now free of Program Purple, he had continued his role as the Principle. Personally, he was grateful for how uneventful the rest of the year had gone. Sure, there had been the occasional fights between students of different species. Some that his former master, Zim had been at the forefront of. Still, he was confident in his abilities to adapt and overcome these new challenges.
"Thanks." Peg says as she takes it and shakes his hand before walking off stage.
Her parents cheer loudly, and for a moment she feels like a normal teen.
Gaz smiles, more than anything she wants Peg to be happy. Even if it means the future leads them down different career paths.
More students follow her up and across the stage as they take their turn but it all flies by in a blur for Dib. Usually the valedictorian would sit up front with the honor students, but he had been adamant that he wanted to share this moment with the people he loved. Not bullies who did nothing but make his life miserable, heck most of them owed him for their good grades to begin with. He sure wasn't going to miss any of them.
"Dibson Membrane."
Dib gets up as his name is called and he practically runs on stage.
"Congratulations." Mr. Prickled gave him his diploma and he took it graciously.
"Thank you Sir." Dib poses for a picture before taking his seat by Ms. Bitters. He had a closing speech to give so it was just easier this way.
"Your last moments of childhood." Ms. Bitters spoke ominously. "Enjoy it while you can, adulthood is as wonderful as the plague." She looks dead serious and Dib nods vigorously.
Zim stifles a laugh as his name is called, his classmates don't even try to hide their distain, and many of the audience follow their example.
"Why even bother?" Zita asked. "Aren't you like a thousand years old?"
He tunes her out, he was doing this because Dib wanted them to finish together, and nothing more. He walks up the stage and takes his diploma from Mr. Prickled, things between them are more or less just as unpleasant. The principal had every right for wanting his former 'Master' to be locked up for good, but in the end the ambassadors decided against it. Locking up the Irken would do little to further their cause, and many thought Zim owed it to the refugees to make amends for all he had done.
Zim didn't mind the idea, after being the cause of so much destruction it was nice to be wanted for the opposite. Already he had drafted several plans to terraform Venus, Mars, and the moons of Saturn and even though it can never erase what he's done many agree that this was a more prosperous option. Many individuals, humans and other wise have already signed up to be apart of the effort. And with an asteroid belt full of raw materials waiting to be mined there was no shortage of jobs or resources. As hated as he was no one could deny that Zim was earning his keep.
This fact alone was probably why everyone was so civil about him being there at all.
"Congratulations Zim." Mr. Prickled told him. "Though I must admit I do not see the point."
Zim shrugs he could care less, only one person's opinion truly matter to him.
Dib gives him a thumbs up as he walks past, a proud smile as clear as day on his face. It's this moment that makes it all worth wild. Not just finishing school, but all the near misses with the enemy as well. It had been easily the most stressful year of his long life, but he'd do it over and over again for him.
YAH Master!" Gir shouts.
It's Gaz's turn next, and she wastes no time getting it over with. She was never one to enjoy the spotlight and while she is happy to be here she would rather have skipped the whole event. If not for Peg's attendance and the threat of losing her diploma all together she would have.
Peg cheers loudly for her and Gaz smiles openly as she takes her diploma. This stupid piece of paper was her ticket to freedom. No more boring classes with people she couldn't stand or never bothered to understand her. Now she was free to go after her own ambitions, free to decide what was important. It was also the only thing keeping her from getting married, Peg's parents insisted they wait until after High School. She supposed she could understand the request to a degree. After all high school sweethearts rarely made it in this day in age. Still, it made her think they doubted the strength of their love, which felt like a sucker punch to the gut.
Regardless she respected their wishes knowing the wait was worth it.
"Congratulations Mrs. Membrane." The principal congratulated her. "Hopefully-"
"Yeah cool whatever." Gaz takes the paper and hurries along, knowing he was probably going to comment her addiction to her GameSlave. Like how she was now an adult and that she should put childish things away and maybe he was right. Her game was an escape from the reality of a broken family and a lost childhood. However, that family was no longer broken, in fact it had not only mended but grown. Maybe it was time to but the distraction away for good and focus on the way ahead.
Finally, Luna takes the stage, with a mixture of emotions filling her gut. She knows that many saw high school as unnecessary for her. Like Zim, they wondered why she bothered, though they were less cruel about it. Many of the refugees felt like it took up most of her time, and that she had other obligations that were more important. However, Luna felt she needed this, for it gave her something she had lost. A chance to be a child, something that was stolen from her long ago. Also on a less selfish note, it gave her an opportunity to connect with the humans of her generation. These were people who were just as much her peers in society as they were in the classroom. By already having that repour they all gained to benefit far more.
"Congratulations your highness." Mr. Prickled hands over her diploma. His voice carries no distaste and for that she is grateful. Not that it was surprising, as the youngest member of the board of ambassadors everyone was looking to her and the others to lead them into the future. Yes, as selfish as it was, she needed this last chance to be a teenager. "Good luck out there, we're all expecting great things."
Luna smiled graciously, she hoped she wouldn't let them down, it was still overwhelming at times that everyone looked to her. A seventeen-year-old girl was not supposed to have all the answers, but she now realized that neither did people twice her age. It was okay, and she wasn't alone, she had a family and eleven other ambassadors to back her up.
She didn't need all the answers, she just needed faith.
More names are spoken and one by one all of the graduates cross the stage and take their diplomas.
"Let's give it up for the class of 2020!" Mr. Prickled said and those in the stands and on the field clapped and cheered. "It has been a tough year, but I have a good feeling about this bunch. I know we can rest easy knowing the future is in their hands!"
Dib stands as the principal ushers him forward to give the closing speech.
"Good evening parents, friends, teachers, mentors, administrators, attending leaders of the Alliance and of course, the graduating class of 2020. Today, we have reached another milestone, we are Seniors no longer."
Many of his classmates cheered at that, and he was grateful, he knows he's not the most popular kid in school. Still, it gave him hope that in time things would change for the better. "However, I hope that as we leave today for the last time that we never stop learning and growing. It's a whole new world out there, we are not alone, a lot has changed, but we stand here today united."
More cheers can be heard throughout the crowd.
"We all come from different walks of life, some of us even come from other worlds. However none of that matters. Right now we are here to celebrate our achievements, our accomplishments, and our victories. Tomorrow we embark on a new journey, as we discover not only our place in this world, but in the universe as a whole." He looked to Zim as he continued. "I look forward to joining you in this next part of our life journey where we have new challenges to overcome and new triumphs to celebrate."
Zim smiled, if he were being honest he'd admit that the future terrified him. They had heard nothing from the enemy since they left them stranded in space. Still, Zim knew the Tallest would be back and they would stop at nothing to end him. They wouldn't stop there either, no they wouldn't stop until they destroyed everything he loved. Plans were already underway to wrap the solar system in a protective force field, but Zim knew it would only prolong the final battle. Sooner or later, he'd have to face them, and when he won, he'd have to take his place as Tallest.
He still wasn't sure how he felt about the impending role, or where it would leave him and Dib. However, those fears would have to wait; for today was a day of celebration.
"The road before us will be long and rough." Dib continued. "We will be forever known as the first generation of the new world. What we do will set the tone for all who come after us, it is a huge responsibility, but I have no doubt that we have what it takes. Thank you parents for being our coaches; thank you friends for being our teammates; and thank you teachers and administrators for being our mentors. We would not be here today without your devotion and guidance. Once again, congratulations to the graduating class of 2020! Let us all leave this ceremony tonight ready to show the world and the greater universe what we are made of."
Dib smiles as the end of his speech is met with cheers and he leads his class in the tossing of their caps. He still can't believe how much has change, to think he once argued with his dad about skipping high school all together.
The rest of the night is a blur of a thousand pictures and congratulations so much so that he barely feels like he's keeping up. It isn't until they're leaving that the full reality hits him like a sledgehammer as he stops beside the gate. There are no words to describe what he was feeling as he realizes in an instant; this is it! One more little, tiny step, and he would leap from life as a high school student to adulthood.
It was funny to have such normal anxieties, and somewhat embarrassing too. He faced aliens bent on universal conquest only to be stopped by something as trivial as a life after high school. Luckily, Zim sees the struggle and comes to his rescue.
"Ready Earth monkey?" He asked knowingly.
"Not even close." Dib admitted.
"Me either." Zim confessed. "Thank Irk you're around. Compared to your cluelessness I'll look like the leading expert."
Dib smiles as the fear deep in his stomach goes out like a dying flame. It's exactly what he needed; an extra boost of confidence and a reminder that he's not alone.
"Come on guys!" Peg exclaims. "We'll be late for our reservations." She teased poking Gaz.
"It's Bloaty's Pizza, they don't do reservations." Dib pointed out the obvious.
"If I miss their new "Out of this world" pizza you won't live long to worry about the future." Gaz warned.
"I'm really gonna miss this place." Luna admitted. "Think we'll ever come back?"
"Not if I can help it." Zim scoffed grabbing Dib by the hand as he led them out.
Dib's smile grows as he, Zim, Peg, Gaz, and Luna take a step forward into a whole new adventure.
None of them bothered to look back…
-To Be Continued
