Ten Years On and the Cycle Starts Again

Dib pulled on the black robes and pressed the armour to his chest. Sometimes it still felt strange, dressing in the Irken clothing, but after a decade, he was used to it. He was twenty eight, although officially he was only twenty five. He had been pumped with anti-aging drugs and hormones, because Red had insisted that if Dib was going to die so many years before he was, they might as well have got a hamster or a cat all those years ago.

Irk was now a prosperous, efficient planet, where homelessness was at an all time low, jobs were plentiful, and the surrounding Empire had profitable trade links with all kinds of planets. All down to Dib's input in the decisions, according to Purple. Red agreed. In fact, there was only one Irken who thought that Dib's position was a terrible idea. No prizes for guessing who.

And yet, Zim had invited the Tallest to Earth for a ten-year reunion. Irk no longer took part in the karaoke party, since it was a 'trivial and unimportant event that was of no benefit to the Empire' (though Dib had a feeling that Red simply didn't want to lose again), but Flo had been adamant that she saw Dib again, other than their daily chats over the communications screen. Dib was getting ready for the reunion now, and was also ensuring that as well as clothes he had packed the gifts that they were bringing for the smeets and Flo. There were to be spending the weekend at Zim's palace, with Gem, the head government official, looking after the Empire.

And so it was that, with the usual rush of happiness that accompanied seeing Flo, Dib came to stepping out of the teleporter into Zim's palace once more. He wondered what the smeets would look like, being baby smeets no longer, as they had rarely shown up on the screens during his conversations with Flo. Red gave a little groan as he exited the teleporter; he still detested Zim with a passion, but Purple seemed pretty bouncy and happy to be back. The two hadn't changed a bit over the past decade, except maybe they took more responsibilities with the Empire, and made sure that they were nice to the servants. Just in case. The first thing that Dib noticed was that there was a large dish of water in the corner of the room. Strange,

They walked through to the throne room, where they knew that Zim would be. The origins of the water dish were made clear instantly by the deep, booming bark that echoed from inside. Purple opened the door, and was bowled over instantly by a Rottweiler that was the approximate size of a lion. It pinned Purple to the floor and licked his face thoroughly, before bounding back into the throne room. Red looked down at Purple, bewildered, and Purple stood up, spluttering, a look of disgust on his face. He slicked off the drool with his fingers.

"Ugh! Don't flick that at me!" Red laughed, and Dib walked into the room curiously. Flo threw a ball as far as she could, and the dog ran after it, catching it in mid-air and bringing it back to her. She laughed as it licked her hand, and called Dib over.

"Dib! My Tallest! It's so great to see you again!" she smiled, hugging him. "Hey, guess what?"

"You got a dog?" Dib asked dryly, and she grinned.

"Yeah! You see, Rory wanted to get a pet a while ago, and I thought that we could call you guys and ask for something small from Irk, like a Hirckle or something, but Violet wanted an animal from here."

Dib patted the dog's head. It panted appreciatively, drooling everywhere.

"What's he called?" he asked.

"Violet named him. He's called Deefur," Flo said, with a twinkle in her eye, and Purple started to laugh. Flo smiled, but Dib and Red looked puzzled.

"What? What's the joke?" Red asked.

"Don't you get it?" Purple sounded very pleased with himself for having worked it out first. "Deefur. Deefur Dog!"

Dib groaned, and Flo smirked. Deefur jumped up at the sound of his name, knocking over Purple again, and Dib looked up to the thrones, where he could hear a loud rumbling noise. Zim was lounging, as he always did, on his throne. A fat black cat occupied his lap, and he was absentmindedly scratching it behind the ear. It purred like an engine, and Dib finally agreed with the saying that pets take after their owners. Flo was laughing and playing with the bouncy, energetic dog, and Zim sat lazily on his cushy throne, the cat comfortable and complacent in his lap.

"Hey, Zim! I never thought you'd get a pet," Dib called, "Especially a cat. Kinda girly, don't you think?"

Zim glared at him. He sank his claws into the thick black fur, listening to the contented purring.

"The feline species that resides on this filthy scum-ball is anything but girly," Zim sneered, "Lamia is a cold-blooded killer that rends down any animal foolish enough to get in her way."

"Apart, of course, from Deefur," Dib noted, looking admiringly at the enormous dog.

"Hmm. But Flo's pathetic dog-monster lacks the cold, calculating intelligence that makes Lamia so superior to the other creatures this planet has to offer. Humans included," Zim smirked.

"All humans?" Dib asked dangerously, stepping back to stand closer to the Tallest so that Zim could remember who he was insulting. Sure enough, Zim paled and settled with glaring at Flo's dog instead. Dib becoming a Tallest was the worst thing to happen to him, period. Even worse than finding out the truth about his mission. Which had, of course been the cause of all of this; he would never have sent Dib off had he not found out the truth. And he would never have become the Emperor either. A rainbow for every thundercloud, as Flo often said.

"So… where's Ror?" Red asked, slightly nervously, "You know they still haven't finished rebuilding Hobo 13? Our armies have had to find a temporary training planet, Zim. And I don't think the Hogulus will ever be the same."

Zim simply laughed.

"Ror and the twins will be in their room. You might need to cover your antennas," he added as the three left the room, Dib carrying the presents. He often carried the bags, as Red still sometimes ordered him around like a servant, but he didn't complain. If Red were to change, things wouldn't really be the same. They soon found out why they needed to protect their ears, as once they stepped out of the elevator they felt the floor vibrating, the sound of the drums and electric guitar blasting out from under the poster-covered door with no respect for other people's ear-drums/hearing nodes. Dib recognised the song as one that Gaz used to play, by a band called Nightwish. He couldn't remember the name of the song.

Red opened the door, and they were instantly hit by the wall of sound. Purple walked in, face lit up in wonder. The three 'smeets', now the Irken equivalent of teenagers (though just referred to as 'older smeets') were in the corner of the room, so caught up in playing the song as loudly as possible that they hadn't noticed their audience.

Violet and Scarlet wore matching black corset dresses, cut short to half way up their skinny thighs. Scarlet's corset was laced with red ribbon, Violet's with purple. They wore knee-high boots, and plenty of liner around their heavily-lidded eyes. They were Dib's height; a head shorter than the Tallest. Ror wore black pants and an orange Invader-style shirt, with orange arm warmers and, to Dib's surprise, an extremely familiar black trench coat. Ror was about a head shorter than his sisters, and yet seemed strangely dominant over them despite this. He had, like Zim, a very commanding air about him.

Violet was playing a cordless electric guitar, standing with her legs splayed apart and the instrument held high. Purple's eyes watched the strings and he smiled slightly. Ror was singing in a gravely voice, and Violet sang clear and high. Red's eyes were fixed on Scarlet as she pounded the drums violently, sweat trickling down her forehead. She span the sticks expertly between her fingers, and Red counted the beats with an impressed, slanted grin on his face. Dib looked at the set of drums. Emblazoned on the largest drum was a lighting logo and the words 'THE INVADERS'.

Ror looked up and saw them, stopping at once. Violet glanced at him, caught his gaze and straightened slightly when she saw them. Only Scarlet didn't stop, thrashing the drums malevolently. She finally noticed the lack of music and glanced up. She raised an eyebrow and finished off by pounding the drums one last time and throwing the sticks in the air, catching them expertly. Red raised an eyebrow as well, possibly admiringly, but said nothing.

"My Tallest," Ror said, bowing his head curtly. Violet flashed a smile to Purple with sparkling white teeth, which he returned, and Scarlet simply nodded, breathless from drumming.

"Wow, Violet. Look at you, all grown up," Purple grinned, and she blushed slightly and glanced down at her feet. Dib eyed Ror's coat for a while before Ror said anything.

"It was yours, my Tallest. I was helping Gaz work in the gardens…"

"God, Ror, why don't you just propose to her," Scarlet scoffed, and Ror flushed furiously and narrowed his eyes.

"Shut up, Scar. Anyway, I was helping Gaz, and she said that she had an old trench coat… that you'd grown out of it years ago and wouldn't need it, and it would suit me. I hope you don't mind, my Tallest," he said, in a voice that suggested that he didn't care what Dib thought about the coat; he's wear it either way.

"Eh, whatever," Dib said with a grin, "You look good, Ror."

"Shut up Dib-St…" Ror gulped. "I mean, thanks, my Tallest."

Scarlet sniggered at Ror's face, but Violet seemed dumbstruck and continued to stare at her feet. Dib placed the bag of gifts on a chair and left the room, and Red and Purple followed.

"I have been waiting to say that for ten years," Dib laughed. "What was up with Violet?"

"Eh, who knows?" Red shrugged, "Females can be very temperamental. Dunno about you, but I'm starved."

They had reached their room, and as Dib unpacked the bags, Purple pushed the button that was next to his bed. Zim had, rather pointedly, supplied them with a room between them, but three single beds, which Red set about pushing together at once.

"Hey, is that room-service? Yeah, we'll have bread, cheese, anything that goes well in sandwiches, curly fries, nachos, pizza, tacos, wedges, doughnuts, popcorn…"

Purple continued with his list of food and Dib lay on a bed as Red dragged it across the room. A maid turned up with the trolley of food, which Purple took over to the bed. Dib eyed the junk food with disgust. He had eaten nothing but junk for the past decade, as it seemed to be all the Tallest ate, and he was sick of it. He started to make a sandwich with the bread and cheese whilst Red experimented by making a pizza sandwich, simply shoving a slice of pizza between two slices of bread. He was about to squirt ketchup on it when Purple grabbed the bottle, emptying it onto his curly fries. A squabble quickly broke out, and Dib was dragged in.

Ror walked up to the Tallest's room and knocked on the door. There was no answer, so he knocked again, and that was when he heard laughing, scuffling and bed springs. His eyes widened, and he turned, about to run when Dib opened the door. His hair was tousled.

"Hey, Ror. What do you want?" Dib asked, wondering why Ror looked so pale.

"I just remembered that I was supposed to say that we'll be dining in two hours. I… hope I wasn't interrupting anything." Ror stuttered weakly, and Dib grinned.

"Oh, no, don't worry. We were just making a sandwich."

Ror blanched and his antennas drooped.

"O…Okay. In that case, my Tallest, you got some, uh… mayonnaise on your armour."

Dib looked down at the creamy smear on his breastplate, dipped his finger in it and, to Ror's horror licked it off. From inside the room there was a loud moan, and Purple's voice could be heard.

"Stop it, Red, you're hurting me!"

Ror groaned. His cheeks swelled, as though he were about to be sick, and he turned and fled down the corridor, to Dib's confusion. Dib went back into the room, where Red was bending Purple's fingers back, trying to prise a doughnut from his grip. Purple's eyes watered as Red pulled harder on his fingers, but he didn't relinquish his grip on the doughnut. Sure enough, the mayonnaise had been knocked over and spilt on the bedcovers. Dib sighed and called for the maid.

---

Ror staggered back into the twin's room, with an expression that suggested that he had been force-fed soap. He had his own room, but he spent a lot of time in their room, practising their music. Flo had insisted that they were educated in music and the arts, as well as reading them many Earth children's stories about wolves that blew down houses and giants that lived at the top of beanstalks. Zim insisted that they were educated in killing, destruction and piloting ships. There weren't many teenagers on this planet that were as knowledgeable about Beethoven and Botticelli as they were about calculated killing and blowing things up. All they wanted to do was to have fun. Scarlet glanced up when he entered.

"What's up with you?" she asked indifferently, and he sank into a chair.

"Dib, Red, Purple… making a sandwich…" he muttered. She raised an eyebrow, so he tried again. "The Tallest were mating… all three of them. Together."

Scarlet spluttered in disgust, and Violet looked distraught.

"But… was Purple? Was Purple definitely involved?" she asked, and Ror nodded fervently. Scarlet's jaw had dropped.

"Oh, gods above… D'you fancy Purple?" she gasped, and Violet blushed.

"So what if I do? He's nice, and funny, and gorgeous…"

"He's also your UNCLE!!!" Ror spluttered, and she shook her head.

"Not by blood! He's not related at all."

Scarlet hit her over the head with a pillow.

"You sicko! He's still 'Uncle Purple'! And there's the age gap. And by the sound of it he's got enough on his plate without some stupid, lovesick smeet lusting after him as well!"

"He might not love Red and Dib. He might…"

"Love you instead?" Ror sneered cruelly, "You're so naïve, Vi. He thinks of you as a friend. A daughter, even. You embarrass me sometimes."

Violet sniffed and turned away from her brother. Scarlet touched her shoulder lightly, but she pushed her away and fled from the room. She collided with Purple and burst into tears.

"Hey, hey, hey, little Violet! What's wrong?" Purple asked, his brow furrowed. She looked into his calm indigo eyes and began to explain.

---

Dib walked to the throne room, sticking his head around the door. He was about to say something, but he forgot all about it, watching Zim and Flo instead. Zim held a strawberry between his teeth, and leant in towards Flo, who gently took it in her own mouth and chewed it slowly, eyes closed. She slid across the armrest of the throne onto Zim's lap as the cat leapt off and stalked away, affronted. She kissed him gently, and he ran his hands over her body with a hungry gleam in his eyes.

"Sickening, isn't it?" said a low voice behind him, and Dib turned quickly to see Gaz. He smiled at her, and she twitched the corners of her mouth in return. Since Professor Membrane had died in an explosion in the laboratory three years ago, she had grown more withdrawn, more scathing, her hatred for love and compassion almost overwhelming. Dib was the only person she still had a shred of compassion for, her brother, her only family. Ror's constant attention only served to make her even bitterer.

"I don't know. I mean, yeah, it's Zim, but Flo seems happy."

"Wow, it's taken ten years, but you've finally got over it," Gaz said dryly, and Dib sighed.

"Yeah, well. As a Tallest," he began, drawing himself up to his full height, "I've had a lot of other stuff to think about. Oh, before I forget, what's this I hear about Ror?"

Gaz's expression could slice diamonds.

"He's been sniffing around like that dopey dog, but I've told him where to shove it. He doesn't seem to get the message. But I gave him your coat. I don't give a damn if you mind or not."

"Neither does he," Dib laughed, "But I don't mind. How're you doing? Without dad, I mean."

"Just as well as when he was alive and I was without him, Dib."

Dib nodded, and she turned and trudged off down the corridor. He sighed; she looked so small, so alone. But whilst Dib felt sorry for her, he knew she would be alright. In fact, he had a feeling that she cared more about Ror than she was letting on. He could hear Purple down the corridor, and a crying girl. He decided to listen in.

---

Purple swept his claw under Violet's eyes, gently wiping away her tears.

"How long have you felt this way?" he asked quietly.

"Years and years. I'm sorry. You probably think I'm so stupid," she sniffed, and he smiled.

"I don't think you're stupid."

"Really?" Violet sounded surprised. "Everyone else does. See, this is what I mean about you being so nice to me."

"Everyone think's I'm stupid, and they're probably right. But you are definitely not stupid, Violet. Come here," he said, pulling her close and hugging her. "If there's anyone who knows about falling in love with the wrong person, it's me. First I fell in love with Red. Then with Dib. There's only one difference. It turns out I was meant to be with them. You and me, we're not meant to be. You're my niece, my little one, my cute, girly twin. I love you, but not in that way."

Violet's eyes welled up, and once again he swabbed at the tears gently before continuing in a soothing tone.

"If there's one thing I've learnt, it's to take the bad with the good. Thing will sort themselves out in time; even if you need to let things go a full circle before starting again. And when the cycle starts over, your time will come. We're not that different, you and me, Violet, and I know you'll find someone."

Violet nodded.

"I love you, Uncle Purple," she whispered, and he nodded back and kissed her cheek.

"How about we go get you some curly-fries?" he asked gently, and she grinned. They stood up. It was at that moment that there was a clicking noise, and two laser beams came from the ceiling, hitting both Purple and Violet in the eye. They fell to the floor with gasps of pain, and Red and Scarlet came round the corner, laughing hysterically.

"Ha-ha! Awesome," they said in unison, slapping hands in a high-five. Dib rolled his eyes, but was unable to keep the smile from forming on his face.

He had come to the Massive as a slave, forced there with no choice. There he had found love, and friendship, but it had been taken from him after they were found out. Sent away, then summoned back, love had prevailed once more. Now he stood in front of Irk as a ruler, having conquered emotions that had nearly destroyed all three of them.

Zim had come to Earth as an outcast, banished and hated by his race, scorned and despaired over by his love. There he had triumphed, and ruled over all, though alcohol ruled over him. He sent for Flo as a mother to the heir that he so desperately desired, and, though by chance and by accident, love blossomed under the rain clouds of Earth. His desire for an heir and his desire for a family combined, and finally, like a lifted curse, he rediscovered the emotions that he had once destroyed. Now he stood in front of Earth as a father, his rekindled love by his side.

Things had started out terribly for everyone. Things had got worse. But just as there had been three figures in the mirror ten years ago, the red and purple clones and the shorter, black odd-one-out, there were three here now, scarlet and violet twins and a trench-coat-clad brother. Purple had been right. They weren't that different. And it looked like the cycle had come right around at last.

AN

Is this the end? Yes. Yes it is. Please review, especially if you've put it off for the past twenty nine chapters, though I can no longer promise an update…

BumbleBees BabyGurl, I hope I didn't screw up your idea too much.

Many, many thanks to the reviewers that have cheered me up and kept me writing. A special thanks to LoneHowler, Sasha Marie, Nights in a City and Lemony Leafe, whose regular reviews really helped me to keep the faith in my work…

I don't own Invader Zim; all of that belongs to Jhonen Vasquez. However, I do own:

Flo

Ror

Scarlet

Violet

Gem

Helio

Strawberry

Platinum

Yasmine

Gort

Mal

Jif

Kikon

Joa

Tenby

Emory

Prince Gair and Princess Giaré

Thanks for sticking with this to the end. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please check out my other work, as I don't want this to be goodbye…

Goodbye!