Zim blinked again, then sat up. A wash of color greeted his eyes. He slowly shook his head, and tried opening his eyes. The color came from a little light source sitting on his chin, poking his nose.

"Zim! Zim Pan, you fool, wake up! We're here for a reason, you know!"

Zim squinted at the little being. "What the-Gaeldrisan?"

The little person stood up and glared. "Don't pretend you don't know who I am! It's me, Gallybelle! Now sit up, we have to find your shadow!" She spread what looked like gossamer wings and flew away from Zim's face, shedding her light on the rest of the room.

It seemed like a child's nursery, with toys and bright colors all over the place. A bunk bed was in the corner opposite Zim, and he seemed to be slumped against another, smaller bed. Groggily he stood up and followed Gallybelle. The little fairy was rummaging through a drawer, casting wild shadows on the walls. Frowning in confusion, Zim approached the drawer, and happened to glance at the mirror over the dresser.

He gasped, and nearly swallowed his tongue.

Instead of his usual Invader attire, he wore green spandex tights and a little toga made of leaves. He was so engrossed in his reflection, he didn't notice Gallybelle until she threw something at his forehead. Something black and translucent bounced off his face and fell into his hands.

"What is this?!"

Gallybelle sighed and planted her fists on her waist. "That would be your shadow, O Ye of Little Brains. The dragon-nanny stole it from you, remember?"

Zim really didn't, but he nodded his head anyway. "So...how do I put it back on, anyway?"

"I don't know," Gallybelle snapped. "Soap? Figure it out."

Scowling ferociously and wishing he had some bug spray, Zim slouched into the bathroom to find some soap. "I don't even think you CAN glue things on with soap...stupid fairy-dragon..." He leaned back against the wall and rubbed the bar against the soles of his pointy leather feet. As soon as he put the soap down, though, his shadow started jerking and jumping about, trying desperately to get out of his hands.

"Silence, you stupid shadow!" hissed Zim. "If you wake the humans you'll be sorry you ever made a noise!" The shadow gave one tremendous jerk and went sailing into the bedroom.

Zim growled and heaved himself to his feet. He grumbled under his breath as he ducked silently into the room after the shadow.

Something jumped on his back from behind, sending them both rolling into the foot of the small bed with a loud thump. Zim bit down on his shadow's arm, and the apparition fell still. Zim gave a small sniffle and checked his wounds.

There was a rustling sound behind him, and he spun around.

A young girl, very slim with black curly hair stared defiantly back at him.

"Boy, why are you crying?"

"Kitiara?" he gasped incredulously. The girl scowled at him and jumped off the bed.

"My name isn't Kitiara, fool, my name is Wendiara. Wendiara Moira Angela Darling. And what's yours?" She folded her arms over her lace nightie and waited expectantly.

Zim drew himself up to his full height. "I am Zim! Eh, Zim Pan, I mean. This-" and he gestured to the ball of light sitting in a jug-"This is Gallybelle."

Wendiara smiled, and seemed to relax. "Wonderful. And anyhow, why were you crying when I woke up?"

Zim snorted. "I wasn't crying! I was trying to put my shadow back on, although I have no idea why it's so important, but it wouldn't stick."

Wendiara looked at the bar of soap on the floor and the shadow sitting on the ceiling. "Well of course it didn't work, fool. Soap doesn't make things sticky. You need to sew it on." She pulled a needle and thread out of the drawer and grabbed the shadow's foot. It complacently slid to the floor and let her sew it back onto Zim's foot, while he scowled threateningly at it.

When Wendiara finished, she looked up at Zim with a skeptical expression on her face. "What exactly were you doing in our room anyway? It seems pretty suspicious."

Zim scoffed. "I was...that is, I...Gallybelle and I were....oh, I don't know! I just woke up here!"

Gallybelle flew to his shoulder. "Zim! You know that the Lost Boys are expecting us back in Never Neverland after you heard the rest of the story!"

Zim stared blankly at the distraught creature. "Story?"

Gallybelle stared at him in dismay. Even her silver wings seemed to die down to a dull gray shine. "Zim, you came to hear the ending to the story of the Cataclysm, and the dragons! Not to mention your shadow, fool."

Wendiara smiled brightly. "You want to hear the rest of the Cataclysm?"

Zim nodded slowly. "I guess.."

Suddenly, a roar sounded from downstairs. Wendiara's face clouded with indecision. "Oh...that's our nanny-dragon, Skie. If he finds you here.." She let the sentence remain unfinished. Gallybelle took the hint. She pulled on Zim's sleeve, urging him towards the window.

"Let's come back later, Zim Pan."

"Wait!" Wendiara stepped between them and the window. "Let me come with you. I can teach you and the Lost Boys many useful things-like how to fight with your fists, and how to cook. Plus I'll beat your heads in if you don't let me come."

Zim glanced at Gallybelle. She nodded slightly.

"Come on," Zim said. "But hurry up."

Wendiara beamed. "Let me get my brothers up."

Zim growled and dug his claws into his palm.

Wendiara ran to the bunk and slammed her fist into the middle of each mattress. Two startled 'Ooofs!' escaped from the thick blankets. Two more familiar faces sat up, glaring at Wendiara. One of them brightened immediately, on seeing Gallybelle.

Zim rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "Malik? Tasslehoff?! What on Irk is going on here?"

Tas grinned at Zim. "No, I'm not Tasslehoff. That's a funny name. My name is Johnnyhoff. Maybe Tasslehoff is a cousin of mine though? We have the same last part of our name-" Wendiara jabbed him hard in the gut. "That's Johnnyhoff, like he said," she explained. "But you just call him John. My other brother, the bigger disgrace, is Mikael. We, uh, we think someone dropped him."

The little human in PJs smiled and waved cutely. Zim looked away in mild disgust. "Too sweet.."

There was a rustle of movement from downstairs. Wendiara ran to the door and peered out. She quickly shut it and turned to the rest of the group. "How are we even going to get to this magical Neverland?" she demanded. Zim stared blankly back at her.

Gallybelle snorted in disgust and tossed a handful of pixie dust over the children. "Now think happy thoughts, and try not to hit the ceiling."

Wendiara squinted her eyes. "Mmm..world domination!"

John chimed in, "Shiny rocks!"

Mikael smiled again. "Boys!"

Ignoring Mikael, Wendiara tried again. "Getting out of this sorry house! Skie!"

"Adventures!" cried John. "And lots of danger!"

"Boys!" Mikael began to hover, and a moment after, his siblings followed. Gallybelle shoved the windows open and gestured for everyone to fly out.

Just at that moment, the door exploded inwards, knocked in by a six foot long blue dragon. It's cold yellow eyes focused on Wendiara trying to depart, and it let out a howl of despair. Too late though, she escaped out the window.

Zim hovered just outside the window and tried to figure out where he had seen this particular dragon before. Then it hit him.

"Skie?"

The dragon barked at him. Behind it two adults, presumably Mr. and Mrs. Darling, stepped into view. Zim gasped again and nearly fell to the street below. Dressed in formal eveningwear, stood Tygra and AJ.

Zim just gagged and flew upwards, muttering how wrong that was.

Down below, Tygra looked up at her retreating children, shrugged, and winked at AJ. AJ, Mr. Darling, blushed.
XD my gods, this is nuts. Drop me a letter if you need any explaining. By the way, the reason Zim gagged is that..well, AJ is Tygra's son. Yeah. Nasty, I know.