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So… It's been a while sense I've tried working my hand with an Invader Zim story.

I did another Invader Zim story before this called 'Who Will You Believe' and yeah- That story doesn't matter with this one. Randomly this came into my head when I was listening to a song, so yes, lyrics will be placed inside this story. This is just going to about Purple and his thoughts- So if emotion and thoughts aren't your kind of thing, get outta here. :P

Some Zim loving is in here, not romance, but something you might enjoy. Can't explain it- Oh yeah, Purple might be out of character a bit, but eh, get over it. I'll try to keep him in character but that's kinda hard for these certain types of topics.

Song: Karma

Artist: Kamelot

And let me begin.

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Title: To Take A Stand

"-And he was killed, right on the spot for his actions!"

"Haha- Can you believe that Red? Huh, huh, huh?"

"You know Pur, I think it was a good idea that we agreed to letting that sucker get executed!"

"We should have thrown him out of an airlock instead!"

All the Irkens inside the dinning chamber laughed and mocked away at the news of a short Irken that had been executed all because he had tripped on his two feet and spilt soda on a taller Irken. The glorious Tallests Red and Purple were throwing another one of their 'important meetings' or rather in other terms a party filled with all sorts of tall Irkens, of course including the Tallests at the front of the room, and much food. These parties usually consisted of gossip and stories of mockery cruelness, though it was all in fun for all the taller Irkens.

Tallest Purple and Tallest Red were sitting on what seemed to be floating metallic chairs- But in the eyes of every Irken below them they seemed to have been sitting on thrones made of gold. Purple tossed a donut piece into his mouth, cocking his head sideways when he noticed an Irken by his chair open his mouth. The Irken about to talk was Advisor Vix, a pink eyed Irken who had been close friends with the Tallests for years.

"Okay, okay- Let's get back to our game we had been doing before our squeedily spooches explode from laughter. Tallest Purple, truth or dare?"

Ah yes- They had been playing Truth or Dare before Mango, yes his name was Mango, had told all of them that hilarious story! It was a silly game that Zim had told them about, something actually useful from Earth. Other than their snacks, of course. Purple laughed once more as Red nudged him, winking at his co-partner with a smirk.

"I'm not doing dare, I just watched as you made Zina bow down to a random short Irken like that stupid shorty deserved it-"

"Which made me vomit a little after I had done it!"

"-So I'm taking truth!"

"Okay, but you know the rules, now you have to answer two questions sense this is the second dare you've skipped!"

"Ugh, fine!"

Purple whined like a smeet instead of the Tallest that he was, throwing another chip into his mouth as everyone turned their gazes to Advisor Vix. He tapped his chin in thought until he grinned, pointing one of his three fingers at his Tallest. The purple eyed Tallest caught the gesture and gave a laugh, the other red eyed Tallest smirking at their friend, both leaning over towards their advisor to see what his question was- The entire audience following their Tallests movements.

"I got my first question! What's the nicest thing you've ever done for an Irken-"

"That's easy! It had to been the time when Red-"

"-That was shorter than you by a lot and you had done it just to be kind, not for something to be returned to you?"

Purple looked caught off guard as he finished his question, Red passing his companion an annoyed look at his question. Lazily the red eyed Tallest waved his hand in the air, his other hand holding his head up with his elbow positioned on his armrest.

"That's a dirty question Vix, who cares about really short Irkens?"

"Come I, I just wanna see his answer is all, we all do! Besides, you can back up on Purple if he's telling the truth or not with his answer sense you two tell each other everything!"

"Huh- Yeah, okay, that sounds fair."

"So what's the answer, my Tallest?"

"Give him time to think- Jeez!"

Red snapped as the others turned their heads and gazed at Purple, though the Tallest himself was just gazing downwards into his bag of donuts. The question had, like I placed before, caught him off guard, but he was thinking about the answer. He really, really was trying hard to think of a good answer to give them but the problem was…

Well; nothing came up.

'I am a king of honor
gold and glory
but every king must also die
have I been just and righteous
what is glory
I know I've torn and taken life
and here I stand
a small and simple man'

This was stupid! There must be something that he could think of!

He was Tallest Purple, co-partner of Tallest Red, he ruled all over Irk and his people loved him! So kay, he might be a bit obnoxious, loud, maybe ate a little too much… But that didn't mean that he didn't help out his own citizens! He had to have done something nice for an Irken that was smaller than him by a lot, an Irken like…

Invader Tenn, he had assigned her to Planet Meekrob to take over it!

No, that wouldn't work… Red knew that he had only sent her away because of another taller invader at the time was going to go. Purple perfered this taller invader instead of Tenn because, well duh, he was taller than her! So he had sent Tenn instead of the other invader, they hadn't heard from her in years. Purple didn't even know if she as alive or not…

Wait- What about the time he had given Invader Grapa the honor of taking over planet Blorch? Yeah, that would be a great-

No… Both Red and him had picked Grapa out of a crowd of Irkens and lied to his own people that Grapa had taken over planet Blorch. He didn't want his citizens to know that a short and ugly, don't forget smelly, loser like Invader Skoodge had taken over the planet. He didn't do that out of kindness, he had only done it because both him and Red didn't want anyone to know a short little Irken like that took over a planet.

What about that time when his assistant- No, he threw her out of an airlock afterwards…

"My Tallest?"

There was the time when that Frylock- No, he was thrown out of an airlock too… Jeez- How many Irkens had he killed just because he had been displeased or simply annoyed at them? Why couldn't he time of just one single time that he helped out a smaller Irken just because he could? He cared about his all his people more than this!

…Didn't he?

"Purple?"

No matter how much he sat there and thought nothing came up, until his Pak brought up a memory from deep within his self conscious. The memory almost seemed faded in his own mind, the memory repeating like an old fairy tale that had been left for the dust bunnies. This memory had been from years ago and maybe this wasn't really a good answer, it would have to work, if they didn't like it he would throw them out of an airlock!

Stupid Zim for being the only thing he could think of at the time!

'Who will trade his karma for my kingdom
a sacrificial rite to render truth
the fire in my soul rejects my wisdom
cause all you do in life comes back to you'

"I've done so many nice things that I just can't say one, but I guess I'll only use one example sense you only wanted one time. There was that time when Zim was sent on his- Hehe, 'mission'- That Red and I both made him that stupid Sir Unit of his. Well, that stupid calls itself Gir, but whatever."

"Hey, that was pretty nice of us!"

"It was nice of us, wasn't it, Red? We could have told him no sense he's so short and stoopid, but we gave him that stupid little robot out of the kidness of our Paks!"

The others in the room both nodded and murmured their agreements, they could see where their Tallest was coming from- Zim was short and stupid! Red gave a laugh as Vix smirked himself, thinking of another question to ask. On the outside Purple gave a smug look, throwing another donut in his mouth like he knew he was righteous.

The inside though was trembling and shaking, squeedily spooch twisting and knotting at his very own thoughts. He hadn't given Zim his stupid robot out of kindness, he only did it to get Zim off Irk and far away from him! Why had he said that memory? Why? Could he really not come up with a single time that he had helped a shorter Irken out just out of kindness? Yeah okay, they were short so they weren't important anyway, but still.

But still.

This only meant that, no, he…

…Had he only been greedy and selfish all of his years of not only being Tallest, but of his life?

"Okay, next question! You listening, Tallest Purple?"

"Yeah, sure, what?"

"This one is going to be a lot more difficult for you to answer-"

Great, like the last stupid question hadn't been hard to answer. Purple was already getting a headache from all this useless thinking, that's why he had Red, for Red could think, not him.

"I might be, eh… Stepping out of my limits with this question, my Tallest…"

"By the past Tallests Spork and Miyuki, just ask the question, Vix!"

Purple noticed how his friend's muscles tightened and flexed at his angered cry, slightly bowing his head, antennas falling backwards. The purple eyed Tallest winced when he noticed this and frowned deeply at the satisified expression on Red's face- Was this how a Tallest was supposed to be? Was a Tallest supposed to take joy and pleasure out of seeing a shorter Irken fear them? Vix was their friend and yet they were enjoying such… Power.

Such cruel power.

"…Just ask the question, both Red and I have known you for years, not like we're keeping secrets here. Besides, we wanna finish off these questions for someone can pick dare, right?"

His friend grinned back at his Tallest, though weakly, he still grinned back. Purple kicked himself on the inside at taking sick joy in seeing the weak look on his face- Had being Tallest for so long changed both Red and him? Had being Tallest made them both take sick and twisted joy in other's pain and had they found out a way to lock out their own conscious?

Why did he care about this all the sudden?

"Out of the entire Irken Empire, who would you want to become Tallest when you and Red- Ahem, you know… Who would you pick out of all the Irkens on Irk to become Tallest?"

'I am a king in crisis
counting minutes
there is an ending to my reign
my sins have come to face me
I can feel it
that I have lived my life in vain
and now I know I'll reap
the seeds I've sown'

"…Let me think about that."

Purple spoke up before Red could snap at Vix for such a stupid question, how dare he imply such a question on a Tallest! The red eyed Tallest passed the purple eye Tallest a look of annoyance, though the look was gone in a wink of eye as he finally noticed his best friend- Actually looked at him. Tallest Purple was hunched over in his chair, shoulders slumped with a thoughtful expression on his green features. He seemed… Upset, like something was bothering him.

Where was his happy and go-lucky co-partner that he was used to seeing?

Red sent a cold glare at Vix who bowed his head once more though shrugged his shoulders, also noticing how Purple was acting. The Tallest put his attention back on his upsettling friend, the room's air thick with both sadness and… And what was that other freaky feeling? Red couldn't think of it, but it was a weird emotion, maybe it was just weird seeing Purple think so hard- Who knew?

"Who would I want to take over as Tallest when we're gone… Uhh… He's gotta be smart, you know, have to have a smart Tallest. Doesn't need to be some nerd, just, you know… Knows what he's doing, knows how to take power…"

Yeah, Red agreed with Purple on that, the next Tallest needed to be smart and know how to take charge.

"Master in combat, both physically and when using machines- Wouldn't want the Tallest dying any time because he couldn't defend himself, right?"

Oh yeah, that was totally correct- Wouldn't want the Tallest dying on his first week of the job because he couldn't knock a laser blaster out of someone's hands.

"-And he can't be like Spork! No way! That guy only had like no emotions, was only serious and never had any fun, you know? The new Tallest needs to know how to be serious but then also fun, and he needs to know what he wants! He has to know what he wants and chase after it with all he's got!"

Determination was something that was needed in a Tallest, eh- Emotion wasn't really that much wanted in Red's point-of-view, but he understood where Purple was coming from. Don't want the next Tallest to be boring now, do you? He sure didn't.

"Most of all, he needs to be loyal to Irk a hundred and twnety percent, he needs to do anything for Irk if his planet or people get in danger. I want him to have been a loyal citizen before he becomes Tallest, I want him to be the kind of Irken that would get in a Voot Cruiser and fight a whole army of Glekashores even if he doesn't have arms just for his current Tallests. That kind of loyalty shows that he would do anything for his planet."

Red let out a sigh of relief at the happy grin on Purple's face as he told everyone what he was seeking in a Tallest, this was just- Oh, what just happened? One second Purple was grinning then the next second the grin was gone, replaced by a thin line made by his mouth. It was only known to Red that his eyes were filled with horror, like he realized something that he hadn't want to.

Was it only him that realized Purple's fingers were flexing and unflexing?

"AND he has to be tall, of course, really tall, like so tall that it hurts my neck to look up at him tall."

'Who will trade his karma for my kingdom
a sacrificial rite to render truth
the fire in my soul rejects my wisdom
cause all you do in life comes back to you'

Purple almost felt like his entire world shattered when he realized something he never ever wanted too.

"AND he has to be tall, of course, really tall, like so tall that it hurts my neck to look up at him tall."

He quickly added, not noticing the worried expression on Red's face or the taller Irkens in the room all agreeing with him. He could care less about them right now, he was having a crisis here! He… He… Oh, how his Pak felt like it had some sort of sick virus right now. He had thought that… That… His squeedily spooch was knotting from the thought he once had only a few seconds ago, muscles flexed and head beating rapidly. Had he really? No, no… Not… Not…

Zim.

Everything he had said about what he wanted in a Tallest made his mind think of… Oh, oh by the past Tallests he really was sick. This wasn't right, these thoughts weren't right… Zim was completely and utterly insane! He was the biggets defect Irk had ever seen, he was the kind of idiot that had quit banishment! He had quit banishment! Who did that? Not someone who should ever be Tallest, that's who!

Okay, yeah- So maybe he was great at combat, fantastic actually, and knew how to be both serious and funny. Sure, he was also really determinded, that stupid short Irken just never gave up. That didn't mean he should be Tallest though. And yeah, okay, he did everything he could for Irken, he was one of the most loyal Irkens Purple had ever laid his eyes on. He was very loyal, he could have been-

No, he was the most loyal Irken known to Irk itself.

"Pur? You okay?"

Red questioned when he saw Purple, who didn't even notice what he was doing to himself, as one of his hands gripped the front of his robes. The other hand went across his face as misery took over his features, like he suddenly realized something awful. Jeez- Pur looked like he had just killed someone!

What had Red and him done? Zim had been the most loyal Irken known to Irk and they had sent him off the planet, what an awful idea they had done. He could have been the best invader known to Irk, he would have thrown himself in any position to protect his Tallests! Deep inside Purple knew that many Irkens, both tall and short, would have never done such a thing! Why had they sent him on his stupid fake-

"My Tallest?"

They had done good as Tallests, they had tried to protect their people! Zim had ruined Impending Doom and he destroyed more than half the planet! He deserved to sent off to that stupid water planet! And those other short Irkens he hadn't helped out and didn't care about, they deserved it too, for being so short! None of this was his, uh- Their fault! They did this to protect their citizens and for Irk, all of it! He was innocent, he-

"Purple!"

Red snapped finally, purple eyes gazing into the pair of red eyes, a single thing flashing through Purple's mind. This thought would have made not only Red and every single Irken gasp, but even the planet Irk itself would shake in fear by this thought. He would never admit such a thought out loud, he still didn't want to admit to himself right now. For a single second he allowed himself to let this thought pass, not knowing how much more wiser and mature he became by the single though-

'No. I was wrong.'

'Am I mad
I feel so void and cold
who can tell
who holds the stories untold
tired and trembling
I am descending
will I have to stay here
and live this life again'

"I'm fine, sorry, sugar was getting to my squeeily spooch is all."

"Well… Okay. You never answered Vix's question."

"Huh, who would I pick to be Tallest out of all the Irkens on Irk? Easy, the tallest Irken on Irk."

Purple stuck his tongue out playfully when Red passed him a smirk, the Tallest pushing himself out of his seat, hovering in mid-air. He hadn't lied- The question had been who would he pick to be Tallest out of all the Irkens on Irk, he answered with the truth. Just with the truth they wanted, how could he say that he thought Zim was fit to be…

Ugh, that knotting in his squeedily spooch was happening again!

"Okay Pur, it's your turn to-"

"Truth or dare, Riki?"

"Me? Uhh- Dare, my Tallest!"

"Great! I dare you to go and kiss the feet of a short Irken!"

"Ew, you want him to do what? Wait, Purple! Where are you going?"

"Feeling sick, I need to leave, be back later!"

He quickly said and before he could hear Red's objection he swiftly hovered out of the room, metallic sliding door closing behind his back. Silently he hovered down the hallways towards his chamber, ignoring the salutes and bows he was receiving from every Irken he passed, too deep in thought. Why is that all of the sudden he was realizing how…

Wrong Red and him had been after all these years, why did he just realize it now? And why did he feel so dang guilty for Zim? Zim of all Irkens, blah! He was feeling bad for that defect, it was Zim who ruined everything and all of Irk's plans, he was just an useless defect! He was a nothing! No matter how loyal he was he still was still a nothing!

"Stupid defect, this is his fault- Everything is his fault."

The Tallest bitterly hissed to himself, not realizing to himself that he was already in his chamber, placing a certain code within his computer. He was contacting someone right now, with his bedroom door clearly locked away and no eyes to see what he was doing. Maybe it was out of his raging emotions and uncertain thoughts that he was doing this or maybe it was guilt that was tugging at his mind, but…

'Who will trade his karma for my kingdom
a sacrificial rite to render truth'

He knew that he had done wrong.

So Irkens were short and that made them dumb and ugly, they were still his people though, the citizens that worked under both him and Red. Throwing a lot of them out of airlocks was wrong, throwing out a short Irken out of an airlock once a week was fine, but not like four or five or twelve of them! What would the Irken Empire be built upon if it did not have short Irkens taking up the jobs taller Irkens never would?

Irk needed smaller Irkens like Zim!

Wait- What?

"I'm thinking insane thoughts, I just need to get some snacks and- No. I need to make this call."

Purple spoke out-loud to himself, which was a bit crazy, but he needed to tell himself what to do to begin this task. He was tired of never thinking, of always eating and always agreeing, he agreed to everything Red did and said. He never took charge, he would just make a sarcastic comment or give a smug look then go back to his donuts when a situation was happening. He was tired of both Red and himself just laughing at the misery of others and the bad that was happening.

It was time to actually do something about the bad and that started with fixing the misery where it began.

But Purple couldn't do this alone, he couldn't be alone when he took a stand- He wasn't stupid, okay well, maybe a little… But he knew when something was going to go wrong! It was that feeling when he would ignore his antennas twitching when he had mocked a short Irken or the sickness rising in his squeedily spooch when he ate to ignore issues- No more. He needed to make a stand even though he knew that every tall, even slightly tall, Irken would hate him for this.

Red- His own best friend, co-partner, and even his own right antenna would probably hate him too.

Something needed to be done though, he wasn't going to die as a Tallest that was hated by most of his people, the Irkens, and who suffered from his own guilt.

No more hiding in ignorant bliss even if he would be hated for it.

'The fire in my soul rejects my wisdom…'

"Ah, my almighty Tallest, it's nice to see your face! It is I, the almighty Zim! What can Zim you with his almighty glory?"

"You say 'almighty' a lot, you know? Kinda ruins the word, makes it not as... Almighty. Nevermind that though, Zim, I need you to do something for your Tallest! I… Are you busy or something? You're holding some sort of…"

"Err- No sir, Zim is never to busy for his Tallest! Let me put this beaver down! ...Ah, yes! Now, what is it you seek from Zim, my Tallest?"

"I need your… Your… Eh- Ineedyourhelptotakeastand."

"Eh? What was that?"

"Can't you understand anything? I said I… I need your help to… To... Take a... Stand."

Yes, it was time to take a stand.

'Cause all you do in life comes back to you'

The End?

To Be Continued?

Eh?

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Whoa it's like five in the morning, I feel like this story/chapter or whatever was really crappy. Oh well; I might continue if anyone wants me too, but eh.

So, please review! Tell me what was liked/disliked, all that jazz!

Have a fantastic day! :D

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