AFTER THE FLORPUS

Nightmare Dream

(It's late at night. Dib is sound asleep, having drifted off while watching Zim's house through the window. Gaz is about to finish the latest big video game, Big Pig Redemption II,  and Membrane's craving to do science must immediately be filled)

Membrane: Honey, I think you need to do something more than play video games all night, come with me, I need your help.

Gaz: This better be good Dad.

Membrane: It's nothing less than the best! I have developed a highly-advanced technology which allows one to enter another's dreams. However I haven't tested it yet and I don't know if it's actually safe to enter altered states of reality especially those that are as conceptual as dreams, so we're using your brother.

Gaz: That's kind of cool.

(and with an eye-burning-ly bright light, they enter a dream )

Dream Dib: Dad? Gaz? You look different than your usual dream versions.

Membrane: That's because we are the real versions, we came here using the PM Mini!

Dream-Dib: Cool, well, lemme show you around.    

(along this way, Dream-Dib is lucid dreaming and able to bend the dream-reality around him, during this part I think a lot about  the opening scene of Paprika directed by Satoshi Kon)

Dream-Dib: My dreams are my one escape from reality, so I make the best of it, it makes my real life dreams come true.     Kids at school don't make fun of me, Zim is exposed for the world to see and science and paranormal investigation aren't seen as polar opposites

Membrane: This is insane yet fascinating. Why don't you introduce us to the dream versions of Gaz and I.

Dream-Dib: That would be awesome! We just have to make it through- oh no do you hear that? (( I thinkg of the Parade theme from the aforementioned film) )this isn't good.

Gaz: What the heck is that!?

Dream-Dib: I'm the good dream half of Dib's dreams but that there, is his nightmare half.

Nightmare: Hey there, Dream, look how soft and fragile you are. You want everyone to believe these fantasies, look around you THEY'RE FANTASIES!  Face it, just join me because you were doomed from the start.

Dream Dib: Go away, every night host Dib enjoys a good dream until you come in and ruin everything.

Nightmare: I'm simply a manifestation of the subconscious, I'm just as important as you are though, let's face it, I'm closer to reality.

(Nightmare Membrane and Gaz lurk behind him)

Dream-Dib: Well, there's your nightmare versions incase you were curious

Membrane: Son, you don't need to listen. We're you're family and we love you, but you're the only one who can take control of your fears.

Dream: You're right real Dad, I don't need to let the nightmares take over

(he uses his lucidity of dreaming to twist nightmare into a stand of dna and dissolves him into molecules he uses to spread the dissenagration to the rest of the nightmare army.)

Dream: Awesome, to think it was so easy. (creates PM Minis) I guess it's time for you guys to go.

Membrane: That's too bad, we were having fun.

Dream: Ya know, I haven't done anything to impress Gaz yet and we do have a few more hours before host Dib wakes up so....

(creates an irl video game for Gaz, lets them meet their dream counterparts, which are nearly identical, save a few details best left to illustration)

Gaz: Okay, so that was pretty cool, thanks bro.

Dream: I guess now I have to say goodbye, but I'm still part of Dib! Hey, come back anytime.

Membrane: See you in five minutes I guess

(they fist bump goodbye)

***

Dib: (yawwwwwwwwwwwn) Good Morning Family!!

(they look at him as if he's mutated)

Dib: Everything alright, you two look exhausted.

Membrane: Morning son did you, have any weird dreams last night?

Dib: I don't usually remember my dreams but I did wake up like I had the best sleep ever last night! I feel great!

Membrane: Just know if you ever need to talk about anything, I am here for you. Also, you don't need to be afraid of me.

Dib: What do you mean? I'm fine.

Membrane: I know I've used you before to test out inventions and such, but if anything ever hurts you, just tell me and I'll stop from now on.

Dib: That was actually something I did want to talk about. I don't mind helping you with things, I just don't like feeling like a guinea pig.

Membrane: I knew there was something wrong. When were in the lab, I want you to be as much a scientist as I am! Perhaps one day I'll let you test something on me!

Dib: Okay, will do, but... why pile all this questioning on me now?

Gaz: Ah, that's just Dad being a Dad, he said the same thing to me earlier

Membrane: No I-

Gaz: Dad you need to play along.

Membrane: Riiight... Just making sure. Afterall, I need to be a parent who is there for their children atleast half-the time.

Dib: What's those things in your ears?

Membrane: New device, the PM Mini, allows us to enter dreams.

Dib: Cool, what about you try it on me!

Gaz and Membrane: I think I'll pass on that for now. 

(So if this chapter feels it lacks description, I want to illustrate parts of it in the future, as I can draw things better than I can describe it)