Gaz is Spirited Away
By: Cartman's Girl

Notes: Do forgive me, but the Chihiro/Haku thing is hard to work around in this chapter. Plus – another chapter that's hard to work into a Zimmy way.

The hallway was lined with people, pushing big carts of food. Ms. Bitters had managed to move Purple into a room that was out of the way, and away from eating more workers. Sarah rushed from the room, up to other girls.

"He just keeps getting bigger!" she cried.

"Well I don't wanna be eaten!!" cried another.

"Look - it's her." said a voice. Everyone turned and stared as Gaz made her way down the hallway, avoiding glares. Bob's replacement named Spleen; hurried up.

"Gemmae, thank goodness!" he grabbed her arm and hauled her away towards the room. From the sliding doors you could hear things being thrown around, food splattering and such.

"Now calm down sir, I'm SURE they'll find Gemmae eventually." Ms. Bitters' strained voice said from behind the walls.

"Where's Gemmae?! I want Gemmae!" came the angry voice of Bob, but we all know Bob's been eaten. So like Frog's, Purple is using the voice to speak.

"As I said, she couldn't have gotten far!" Spleen leant against the door, and called through gently.

"Madam, Gemmae is here now!"

"FINALLY." Ms. Bitters shoved the door open; she turned and spoke to Purple who was hidden from view. "Just one minute sir!" she slammed the door, and hissed violently at Gaz; the snake-like appearance flashing back across her face for a second. "Gemmae! Thanks to you he's eaten three people now, and destroyed the main suite room! I don't care how you do it but you better mooch off EVERY SINGLE LAST PIECE OF GOLD he has or ELSE!" she then paused. Gaz wasn't alone, a mouse and a little bird was on her shoulder.

"Chuu!" declared the mouse happily.

"What's that disgustingly filthy mouse doing in here?!" Ms. Bitters asked angrily.

"Uh, he doesn't look familiar?" Gaz asked cautiously.

"Of course not! Why would a filthy disgusting disease ridden rodent look familiar?!" GIR looked very upset at this, but then frowned angrily. Ms. Bitters then opened the door and shoved Gaz through, "Here's Gemmae!" she declared in her chirpy voice; and slammed the door shut.

"…is Gemmae going to be all right in there by herself?" Spleen asked. Sure he was angry at her, but he didn't want their last chance of money to be eaten!

"You want to replace her?" Ms. Bitters snarled.

~*~

Inside the room, it looked like a tornado had run through. Nothing was upright, or clean. Food scattered the room, slop against the walls… and sat in the very middle was Purple. He was humongous now, and he stared silently at Gaz who remained on the floor. He staggered over to a platter and picked it up. It had a bizarre dish on it, even I can't explain what it looked like.

"Here, try some. It's delicious!" Bob's voice declared.

"No thanks." Gaz replied. The platter was dropped, and the large body turned to face her again.

"You wanting some gold? I'm not giving it to anybody else!" Frog's voice asked. Gaz rolled her eyes.

"Look, I don't have time for this. I have a… uh… friend who is in trouble and I need to help him. Look, maybe it's time you went back to where you came from?" Gaz asked. The mask looked blank for a minute, then turned to an upset face. "Don't you have a home or family?"

"No…" came a voice Gaz hadn't heard before. It was gentle and quiet. Purple's real voice? The mask began sinking into the rolls of fat. "I'm lonely… so lonely…" but he was over taken by anger and leapt at her; one hand extended. "Take the gold, TAKE IT! TAKE IT OR I BLOW YOU UP!!" Bob's voice screamed. His hand was now practically in Gaz's face, and the gold piled up.

"…you're not going to eat me are you?" Gaz asked lowly. She saw some fingers shoot out from the hand and was about to wrap around her head.

"Find out." Bob's voice said coldly. GIR then leapt up and bit into Purple's hand. "ARGH!" he pulled his hand back and stared at GIR, "A mouse!" he moved to squash it; but the black hummingbird grabbed GIR by the scruff of the neck and hovered away with him. Gaz paused for a while, and then stood up.

"Look, I was saving this for my family but I think you need this more then anyone here. You're too depressing, it's pathetic." Gaz threw the moss ball straight into Purple's mouth before he could even answer. It rolled down his throat, and dissolved in his stomach. Purple stood there, but then coughed. He coughed again, more violently then before. He staggered backwards, then slammed up against the wall and heaved dryly. Gaz stood back slowly until she was against the wall. Then Purple vomited. Brown muck erupted from his mouth, splattering all over the floor and walls. He turned around, vomit clinging to the corners of his mouth.

"Gemmae!" cried Bob's, Frog's, and Zita's voice cried at once, "What have you done to me?!" he vomited again, this time green muck overlapping onto the brown. He then snarled viciously and leapt at Gaz. That's when she ran. Throwing the door open she ran past some workers who had been listening in. They were flattened under the weight of Purple as he shoved the doors down on them, and ran after her. It was also now we see that his… uh… ass was kind of turning into melting rubber and leaving pieces of it after him. Like how snails leave a trail where they walk, Purple was leaving ooze and body fat. EW! People screamed and ran out of their way as the two raced down the hallway. Ms. Bitters then leapt out from a corner.

"That's it! I don't care if he's King of the Spirits!" Ms. Bitters called up an energy ball and blasted it at full force at Purple as Gaz ran past her. It smacked him in the mask, which did no good. He then gave her a bath in his projectile vomit. It smothered Ms. Bitters, and he leapt over her. Now Gaz was on the stairs, running down them as the humming bird carried the mouse GIR along with her. Purple stretched out at her, trying to reach. But no use. He kept on vomiting as he ran, and leaving a trail of muck behind him. But by now, he was thinning. He wasn't so fat and squishy. Gaz suddenly slammed into an elevator, but turned and ran out through a servant's door. Purple ran into the elevator too, and then vomited up Zita and Bob. Both slid across the floor, covered in spit, vomit and food. Bob sat up in shock,

"…now THAT'S an oesophagus!" he declared. By now, Purple was his thin self again, with the shape of Frog still bobbing around inside his transparent body. Gaz lead him through the kitchen.

"I'll get you for this Gemmae…!" Frog's voice called out, until he spewed again. "Ugh, excuse me." The two were outside now, and Gaz was hurrying down another ladder. It was old too, and snapped off once she gotten to safety. Then she saw Skoodge waiting in a makeshift boat. It was once a washing tub, but now a little boat.

"Gemmae, get in!" he called out. Gaz grinned and leapt in besides him, and Skoodge began working the boat towards the train stop. Gaz then pulled her uniform off, to reveal her usual black dress, purple and black stockings underneath. She was holding her shoes if you were wondering, nosy readers! Gaz glanced up, and saw Purple making his way along a giant pipe. He stared down at the two.

"Hey! Over here!" Gaz called out.

"Gemmae! Don't call him over!" Skoodge cried, he glanced over his shoulder as Purple leapt off the pipe. "Huh great, now your fan club's following us… probably to eat us too."

"I doubt it." Gaz said, "I think… maybe whoever he's around, affects how he acts. I mean, all the workers there want money to get away so maybe that's why he gave money out… and since I let him in, he wanted to thank me… I dunno. I'm just stabbing in the night at this." Gaz shrugged. Purple was now walking along the tracks; and spat up Frog finally. Frog woke up, and swam away back to the Bathhouse.

"This is as far as I go…" Skoodge said as he stopped the boat. Gaz climbed over and onto the tracks, still covered in water. GIR and the little bird joined her too, on her shoulders. "Look Gemmae," he began, but Gaz had already begun to walk away. Skoodge looked slightly hurt, but then called out. "Gemmae!" I'm sorry I called you a dope before, and a stupid human! I take it all back now!" his only response was Gaz waving her shoes. Skoodge sighed and turned back, passing Purple. "Hey Purple! You hurt her and you're in big trouble." Skoodge made a fist at Purple, who gulped.

~*~

The station was more or less a raised piece of stone, and Gaz stood there waiting. GIR was engrossed in all the water, and a bug that was skittering along the ground. Gaz looked up, and there was the train arriving.

"There it is. If only public transport was that reliable in my world…" Gaz murmured. Purple hurried up, trying not to be run over by the train. He wasn't. The doors slid open and the conductor stood there. He was a spirit too, but had no face. He was just a human shaped black spirit in clothes. His hand held out. "Oh right." Gaz handed him the tickets. He opened them, and then counted Gaz, GIR, the bird and… he pointed past Gaz. She stared at Purple who was waiting. "Uh… you want to come too…?" she asked. Purple nodded happily. "Fine, all right. Come on."

The group clambered onto the train, and found their seats. GIR sat on the window ledge and watched the scenery flash by. He'd never seen the world, and this was thrilling to such a young animal. He jumped up and down as they passed towns, railway stops, and trees that weren't flooded in water. Gaz watched the other passengers get off at their own stops, counting as they went. Purple just kept to himself, staring out the window that was across from them. He'd seen this all before, because he'd been wondering this plain all his existence. He couldn't say life; since he wasn't technically born. Sucks to be him, eh?

~*~

Meanwhile at the bathhouse...

Zim's eyes flashed open. He slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes. Glancing around he eventually got his bearings. The boiler room? He then saw Red fast asleep across from him, snoring loudly. Zim scooted over and shook Red's hand.

"Hey! Hey! Wake up!" Red snorted somehow through his non-existent nose, and stared at Zim for a while.

"Heeeyyy… you're all right…!" he declared.

"Um, yes I am. Obviously." Zim said. "But what am I doing here anyway?"

"You were in a coma of sorts I guess. After coughing up the pendant you just blanked out on us."

"Us?"

"Gemmae was here too. But now she's gone." Red shrugged as he began clearing the bed.

"Gemmae… wait, where is she now?" Zim asked.

"She's gone to Tak's to return the pendant, and apologise for you." Red replied as he shoved the mattress away.

"…I do remember kinda…" Zim narrowed an eye, "I mean, hearing her voice was pretty freaky but I guess wherever she was, it wasn't in darkness. So I just followed it, and here I am." He stood up, dusting off his clothes.

"I'd say it's love-" Red shrugged, but shied back as Zim glared at him. "But I guess friendship works too! Yup, friendship!" he grinned nervously, rubbing his hands together.

"I see…" Zim grinned slowly to himself. "And now… I have some work to do!" he hurried off through the doorway, and was gone.

Upstairs, Ms. Bitters sat near the fire, wrapped up snugly. A towel kept her wet hair out of her face, and a towelling dressing gown wrapped around her body. Next to her was a table with a box full of gold. Bob, Spleen and Frog were there too, bowing before her as one is meant to do when in the company of highly refined folks. 'GIR' was there too, shoving his face full of chocolates and food.

"Huh! This isn't NEARLY enough to cover all the damages that stupid Purple caused!" Ms. Bitters growled, "Gemmae did an awful job! She is to be punished!"

"Madam…" Frog spoke up, "But she's the one who saved us…"

"I don't care about that! Why should I?! And her father and brother should be fat enough to be cooked!" she grinned maliciously, "Turn them into bacon!"

"Wait." All four turned, and Zim entered the room gracefully. Well not really, he tripped over a rug, but that doesn't matter.

"Master Zim!" the trio called out.

"You're still alive? Will wonders never cease?" Ms. Bitters smirked. Zim walked up to her, narrowing his eyes slowly.

"You know what's a wonder? That you haven't realised something precious to you has been taken." Zim pointed out, "Or something along those lines."

"Don't get fresh with me!" Ms. Bitters snapped, "And who are you to speak to your master like that, hmm?" she stared down at Zim, but he did not avert his gaze as usual. She then blinked, and looked at the gold besides her. Checking one piece, she felt relieved to see it was real gold after all. The room was totally silent. Silent, that is, unless you don't count the sounds of 'GIR' stuffing his face. Ms. Bitters glanced at him, and then snapped her fingers. Before her eyes, 'GIR' transformed back into the three heads. Knowing they were in trouble, the three retreated as fast as they could out of the room. Ms. Bitters stared in wide-eyed horror.

"My… baby!" she cried, and as she cried out the gold turned into dirt! Oh my God! Who didn't see this coming? "MY BABY!" Ms. Bitters' snake form seemed to take over and she slid at lightning fast speeds from the room and into GIR's room. She threw pillows everywhere, the toys and upturned the bed. "Come out! COME OUT! Where are you!?" she looked around the curtains, "SWEETIE PIE?!" she screeched. Zim walked casually into the room, kicking a stuffed doll to the side. Ms. Bitters then whipped around, her snake form clicking back into place. "YOU!" she hissed, fire burning from within her mouth. The towel over her head fell off and her long grey hair shot up into the air due to her powerful magic. Oo, Super Saijin! Before Zim could blink Ms. Bitters had wrapped her snake body around him, fire still burning from her mouth. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY BABY?!" she ordered.

"He's at your sister's." Zim said calmly, as if Ms. Bitters couldn't squeeze him to death there and then. The fire burned out within Ms. Bitters' mouth, and smoke bellowed out and her long hair slid down her head.

"Tak…?" her human form returned, and she turned away from Zim and staggered away, collapsing onto a chair. "I see Zim… very clever… you'll get my baby back but at a price…" she smirked back at him. "So, what is your price?"

"Release Gemmae and her family." Zim replied, "And return them to the human world."

"Ah, I see. But Zim, I get to give Gemmae one more final test. If she wins, she goes free. But if she doesn't, she's mine."

~*~

Sixth stop, MiMi Main.

The sign read it clearly enough as Gaz stared up at it. But it was now dark, and the stars twinkled high above their heads. Gaz looked at the darkened forest before the group. It was dark, and sort of intimidating. She took a deep breath and began to walk, and Purple followed like a good little puppy. The group were at the fringe of the forest now, when they heard a noise. It sounded like footsteps, but if someone only had one leg. Out of the darkness hopped a streetlamp, one of those old ones you light with a match. Except it had a hand at its base, which it used to bounce along.

"You don't see that every day." Gaz said. Purple made an agreeing sound. The streetlamp stopped before them, then began bouncing back but stopped after a while. "Oh. Our guide, I guess?" she asked. GIR squeaked happily, and the group followed. It was a good walk through the forest, but with the streetlamp lighting their way they had no worries. Eventually they came to a nice little cottage on the other end of the forest. It was humble and cosy. Totally different to Ms. Bitters' house. The streetlamp took up its post again, hanging from above the door. Purple stared at it in a nervous way. Before they could knock the door opened itself.

"Come on in, I don't have all day." came a familiar voice. Gaz walked in, and Purple remained outside. "Come on now!" Purple hurried in as the door shut. There stood Tak, with a black cat with red eyes sat across her shoulders. "I see you made it. Go on, I'm going to make us some tea or coffee. Whichever you want." Tak walked over to the stove and put the kettle on. Gaz walked up to her, and held out the pendant.

"Tak, uh, Ma'am, this is your pendant; right?" Tak glanced at it,

"Yes it is."

"Well Zim stole it from you as you said; but here." Gaz handed it to Tak, "I'm here to apologise for Zim. He's just had it rough, I guess."

"Hmm." Tak observed her pendant, "Wait. The protective spell's gone! What'd you do to it?" Tak asked.

"Uh… was it a slug? If it was, I squashed it." Tak stared at Gaz blankly, and then erupted into hysterics.

"You squashed it!" Gaz didn't expect her to react like that. If someone had killed a spell she'd made, she would have been angry. "No no no, that wasn't my spell! My sister put that slug into Zim so she'd be able to control him!" Tak giggled, "Squished slugs!"

"Oh." Gaz said.

"Heh. Now come on, tea time!"

~*~

GIR was delighted. He'd found himself running on a spinning wheel. You know, one of those threaders that Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger on and fell asleep. Never in his life had he thought he'd find joy in just running! But he did. Purple was enjoying his tea and a slice of tea cake, while Tak was reading a book.

"It seems to me you have a big problem." Tak said. "Having to recognise your family from a herd of pigs…"

"I know, I know…" Gaz watched GIR snatch a cookie and chew on it quickly and hungrily. "But what's really weird is that I get the feeling I've met Zim before… a long time ago."

"That's a good a start as any!" Tak grinned as she pushed her seat back, "You never really forget someone if you met them. Now, you sit and think s'more about your problems while I and the boys make you a present."

"A present…?" Gaz asked slowly.

"Well I don't get visitors that often, I like to give them a little token of thanks."

~*~

Gaz sat by the door, arms around her folded legs thinking deeply. She knew she had met Zim, but where and when was lost to her. For all she knew, he could be dead by now and this could be for a big fat waste of time! Tak's cat had also taken a liking to her, sat curled in her lap. Even if the lap was kind of squished.

"That's it… Purple, where'd you learn to spin thread like that? You aren't some spinning spirit are you?" Tak asked as she was sanding down a white object in her hands. Gaz got up, holding onto the cat and walked up to the group.

"I still can't remember anything." Gaz stated, "Don't you have a memory booster around here?"

"Not really." Tak shrugged as she took the black thread from Purple and did some quick handy work. "But here." She held up the necklace. It had a strong thick black thread, and hanging from it was a wooden skull. It was pure white, and eyes were squinting angrily.

"…for me?" Gaz blinked.

"Yep! Since your friends helped make it, it'll help you get through anything you encounter." Tak explained as Gaz took it and tied it around her neck.

"Neat… uh, thanks I guess." Gaz shrugged. She wasn't used to getting presents that often, even her father missed Christmas and birthdays now and then. The wind suddenly picked up outside, and the rushing sound pushed itself against the door, as if it was knocking.

"Wonderful! More guests!" Tak declared, "Go get it Gemmae, will ya?" she asked.

"Uh, fine." Gaz walked over to the door and pulled it open. She came face to snout with Zim, who was once again his dragon-form. "Holy Tuesday, Zim!" Gaz cried out, and her feet rushed her forward and she actually found herself with her arms around Zim's head. "You're actually all right! You don't have rejuvenation powers and didn't tell me, do you??"

"Awww!" Tak declared as she hopped through the door, "That's so cute!"

"Shut up Tak." Gaz muttered.

"Kidding, kidding." Tak walked up to Zim, who was now released from Gaz's arms. "All right Zim, I do forgive you for stealing my pendant… I guess even I can't hold a grudge forever. Except against my sister. But in return you have to look after this one, all right?" she thumbed at Gaz. Zim seemed to purr slightly, but nodded. "And goodbye you two…" Tak turned to see the little hummingbird supporting GIR again. "Come and visit soon, all right?"

"Chuuu!" GIR declared, planting a smooch on Tak's forehead before being carried off. Purple walked up, but seemed to hang back slightly.

"Hm. Purple, if you want you can stay here. I could always use an extra pair of hands around the place." Tak offered. The mask perked up slightly and he nodded. By now Gaz was just about to get on Zim's long neck, but looked back at Tak.

"Hey Tak?" she called out.

"Yeah?" Tak answered,

"I want you to know my real name. It's Gaz. Gaz Membrane." Tak smiled,

"Gaz, now that's unique! You take care of it." Tak called out as Zim began to take to flight.

"I will!" Gaz called back. If you were wondering, GIR is clinging to her shoulders as Zim bursts up into the night sky and heads back in the direction of Ms. Bitters' bathhouse. They have a good journey ahead of them, so it's best if we skip to a while later.

Later…

Gaz was still hanging onto Zim's horns as the sun was now beginning to peek in over the hills in the distance. GIR was asleep in her dress pocket, as was the bird. She looked troubled, but was thinking deeply. In her mind the memory was playing over and over. The small river… a shoe falling in, then Gaz fell in after it… her eyes open widely.

"Hey Zim, guess what's just happened?" she asked. Zim tilted his head slightly to show he was listening. "I've just remembered where we've met. Years ago, there was this river Dib and me were checking out. He'd heard there was an alien landing there or something stupid – but I remember my shoe falling in. I tried to grab it, but I fell in too. I thought I'd drown, but the currents carried me back to the shore."

Zim sounded confused, since he didn't know what she was getting at, well he did sort of.

"It was the Zamitmara; and I think that's your real name! Zamitmara!"

The reaction wasn't what she'd expected. Zim froze in mid air. He began to shake, as if in pain as the metallic scales all over his body took to flight and vanishes into the air. Gaz found herself not riding on a dragon, but that of Zim's body again. But he didn't have antennae this time, or green skin.

They began to fall, but neither was that afraid. Zim held onto Gaz's hands as they plummeted towards the water below. Gaz came face to face with Zim, but it was the human-form Red had spoken of. Black hair, which seemed unkempt at the moment, and clear blue eyes.

"I can't believe it but you did it!" Zim called out, "That was me! I was the river spirit of the Zamitmara! I do remember you!"

"That river's long gone now – they built apartments over it!" Gaz's mind was piecing together now.

"That's why I can't go home again!" Zim declared, "I can't believe it…"

"I so knew you weren't bad." Gaz grinned. Zim grinned back happily at her, and just before they were about to smack into the water they hovered across it, and flew across the water until they could see the Bathhouse begin to emerge in the distance…

[To be concluded!]