A Bug's Life

Reconcile

An Anthology Story

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Chapter 1

It wasn't until Hopper's screams stopped and all that could be heard was the contentful chirping of infant birds that Flik and Atta finally opened their eyes.

"Is it over?" Princess Atta asked with a slight tremor in her voice, still having her head turned, not daring to look.

Flik lifted his head, very slowly, and saw to his relief, the mother bird nestled among her babies, covering them with her wings as the rain fell.

"Yes," Flik whispered. "It's over."

He placed a gentle hand on the Princess' shoulder and he realized she was shaking. "We need to go, before the bird sees us."

Atta did not turn her head but she nodded. "Yes."

"Ok," Flik rasped, his throat a bit raw from Hopper's attempt to strangle him earlier. "We walk away slowly."

"Wouldn't it be better to fly?" Atta asked.

Flik shook his head. "The bird might see us. Once we're far enough, we can fly back to the Colony."

And with that, Flik took hold of the Princess' hand and very carefully, made their way through the long grass and away from the nest.

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"It's...it's over," Atta whispered.

"Yes...finally," Flik said in relief.

"It would seem your bird trick worked after all," Atta said smiling.

Flik chuckled nervously. "Well...it was...improvised really."

"All the more to be admired."

Flik laughed bashfully until it turned into a faint gasp and his legs buckled underneath him.

"Flik!" Atta cried as she caught him before he hit the ground. She gently laid him down.

"Flik, are you ok?"

"Y-Yes," Flik stammered, seemingly out of breath. "Just...need to...catch my breath."

Atta covered her mouth as she finally saw just how terrible the bruises on Flik's body looked. The same bruises he got after receiving the beating of his life from that deranged grasshopper Thumper on Hopper's orders. And with the danger passed, Flik's adrenaline naturally depleted and now the full extent of his injuries were taking their toll.

"It's...not...as bad as it looks," Flik whispered woozily.

Atta knew better than to take Flik's word for it. Judging by the fact that he wasn't even looking at her, Flik was not quite alright.

"Flik, how many antennae can you see?" Atta asked.

"Y-Yours?"

"Yes mine!"

"Uh…" Flik said, struggling with the answer. "Six?"

Atta gave Flik a look of bewilderment at the answer.

"We need to find you someplace for you to rest," Atta said caringly. "Clear your head."

"That...might be a good idea."

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It took time and a certain amount of effort, especially with the increase of rainfall, but Atta managed to find a decent leaf to shelter herself and her friend.

Her best friend even.

And because of the increased rainfall, it was now too risky to fly back to the Colony. The safest thing to do was to wait it out.

"Here, drink this."

Atta lifted Flik's aching head as she held a small leafy bowl containing water to his lips. He drank from it gladly.

"Thank you," he said, his lips no longer dry. "Thank you...P-Princess."

"Please," Atta said softly. "When it's just us, call me Atta."

"Ok Prin-I mean...Atta." Flik coughed a bit before speaking again. "I'm...sorry."

The Princess recoiled in shock. "What on earth are you apologizing for?!" Atta exclaimed. .

"Because...I lied...to you, I lied to everyone."

"No no no," Atta cooed. "None of that matters now Flik. I'm sure you had your reasons."

"I wanted to tell you," Flik said. "Many times I wanted to tell you as soon as I found out but I was afraid of how you would react."

Atta blinked. "Found out? What are you talking about?" Flik averted his eyes, afraid to look the Princess in the eye. As the information sunk in, it clicked in Atta's mind.

Atta's heart sank. "You didn't know they were circus bugs?"

"No, not at first. I thought they were warrior bugs, they said it themselves."

Atta's mind was a tempest. Flik didn't know? He truly thought he brought actual warriors to the Colony? And he was completely unaware that they were circus bugs? But if that's true, why didn't he tell the truth as soon as he found out?

"I don't understand," Atta whispered.

"It's a very long story."

"We got time," Atta said, motioning to the great rain.

Flik took a deep breath. "Alright...when I made it to the city, there was this bar. I thought I might find tough bugs there…"

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Atta listened and as Flik continued in his story, her heart sank. The bar. The supposed bar fight. The supposed victory of the 'warrior bugs.' Flik's recruiting of them and the bugs' misconception of Flik being a talent scout.

Flik chuckled ironically. "Apparently they thought I was hiring them as entertainers for 'dinner theater.'"

Atta did not laugh.

And then Flik came to it. The arrival at the Colony. And the welcoming ceremony, including the graphic mural presented by the elementary school and the following performance. And then the circus bugs revealing their true profession.

"I couldn't believe it," Flik said. "But I had to know if it was true, so I arranged a private emergency meeting right on the spot."

Atta blinked. The way he seemed to be in a panic. And he mentioned circus and a...trapeze?

Flik laughed but there was no humor in it. "And you know how that turned out."

Atta bit her lip.

Flik's story continued on to the concocting of the plan to bring reparation to this turn of events. The bird trick. The Colony's construction of the bird. The party in celebration of its completion. P.T. Flea's untimely arrival. Flik's banishment. Dot coming after them and convincing Flik to come back.

And the rest was history.

This time Flik really did laugh, even though it hurt to do so. "Ow. Guess the bird worked after all, it was just a real one this time."

Amidst his pained laughter and the rainfall, which seemed to have died down a bit, Flik heard something he didn't expect.

Deep wounded sobs.

Flik sat upright to see the Princess with her head down, her eyes hidden. But the droplets of water falling onto her lap…

"Princess Atta? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"Oh Flik," Atta sobbed bitterly. "I've been so awful to you."

"No no," Flik protested. "Atta, it's ok."

"No it's not!" Atta snapped. "I've said horrible things! I did not give you a chance to explain yourself! And I banished you! Banished you!"

"I lied Princess," Flik said meekly. "After I destroyed the offering, you gave me a second chance."

Atta gasped inwardly as a memory she had blocked had forced its way into the forefront of her mind.

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Great idea, Princess. It's perfect!

Exactly.

Wait a minute. What did we just decide here?

To let Flik leave.

While we keep harvesting to meet Hopper's demands.

You see, with Flik gone, he can't-

He can't mess anything up!

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Atta flinched painfully as the memory mercifully ended.

Flik didn't seem to notice.

"After all my nonsense, you gave me an opportunity to make everything right. Of all the ants you could've sent, you put your trust in me...and I violated that trust."

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You lied Flik. You lied to her. You lied to the Colony. You lied to me! And like an idiot, I believed you.

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Atta was shaking now. She couldn't take it.

"And I'm so sorry that I deceived you and the Colony Princess."

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I want you to leave Flik. And this time, don't come back.

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Atta burst into tears. "Stop! Stop it Flik! I can't stand it!"

Flik was aghast. Why was Princess Atta so upset? "Atta, I-I...I don't understand."

"Flik, you lied, yes! But I...I lied first!"

"What?" Flik said, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Flik…" Atta began but she gave pause. Fear rose up inside her and her words died in her throat.

if I tell him the truth, he may never want to talk to me again. Or worse, he might leave and never come back this time.

Despite Atta's fears, she found herself calming down, as though she had found morbid acceptance of this being the possibility.

I wouldn't blame him if he did, after everything I put him through.

"Flik…" Atta said sorrowfully. "When we...when I sent you on that mission to find help...I...I did not do it because I thought you'd actually find help…"

Flik looked stricken, a look which cut Atta to the heart.

"...I did it so that with you gone, you couldn't mess anything up."

"Oh," Flik said, almost at a loss for words. "I see."

At this point, Atta felt like the worst person in the world. "Oh Flik," she said with tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry."

"No. I understand. I know I have made a terrible mess of things, worse than any ant in the history of the Colony, in the history of the world, in the history of mess making."

Atta smiled grimly. "I know a thing or two about making a mess of things Flik."

"What are you talking about?" Flik asked. "You've been doing a great job."

Atta grit her teeth. "Flik," she said. "You're-"

"FLIK!"

Flik and Atta jumped at what sounded like a high-pitched shrill shriek.

They both knew that voice better than most.

Flik because he had heard it enough times to know and Atta because, well, who wouldn't know what their sister sounded like when they screamed?

And the sound of small wings buzzing made it perfectly clear who was coming.

"Dot?" Atta said in a whisper.

"FLIK! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

It was closer now.

"Atta, show her in quick," Flik said, slightly alarmed. "Her screaming might bring the bird here."

Atta nodded. "Right."

Atta took to the skies. It was difficult to see due to the cover of darkness but in the near distance and in the pale moonlight, she could make out the little speck of light purple that was her little sister. She was flying about the grass forest, calling out.

"Flik!"

"Dot!" Atta called out as she flew to meet her sister.

"Atta? Atta!" Dot cried as she recognized her eldest sibling. "Where's Flik? Have you seen him? Is he ok?"

"He's fine," Atta said, assuring her. "But keep your voice down," she said, putting a finger to her lips. "The bird will hear you."

Dot covered her mouth as though to keep herself from even gasping aloud.

And then she spoke again, this time with a soft voice. "Ok. Where is he?"

Without speaking, Atta motioned for the young princess to follow her. They landed on the ground and taking Dot by the hand, Atta lead her to the massive leaf which she made into a makeshift tent.

Dot broke away from her sister and ran inside. Atta made no attempt to hold her back.

"Flik!" Dot cried in tearful joy as she rushed to her friend's side.

"Hey Dot," Flik said happily as he reached out as Dot crashed into his arms. He winced from the impact but showed no sign of lain, not wanting to spoil the reunion.

"I was so worried about you," Dot sobbed. "When Hopper grabbed you, I was so scared."

"Hey hey, it's ok," Flik said gently as he comfortingly stroked the little princess' back. "I'm alright, Hopper didn't get the chance to hurt me, not really."

"Where is Hopper now?"

Flik inwardly gasped. And Princess Atta who had just reentered the tent, placed a hand over her mouth.

"Uh…" Flik said, at a loss for words. "Well, uh."

"He's gone," Atta said quickly. "Hopper's gone Dot, you don't have to worry about him anymore."

Dot stared at her sister and then back at Flik, who was smiling nervously. "You mean...he's dead?"

Flik and Atta gasped, not expecting Dot to draw that conclusion from such a delicate amount of context.

Dot noticed their looks and frowned. "I know I'm little but I'm not dumb."

"We never said you were," Flik said. "We just didn't want to frighten you."

"How did it happen?" Dot asked. Her eyes opened when a thought came to her. She turned to Flik with a look of eager admiration. "Did you…?"

"No!" Flik exclaimed. "Well...not exactly."

Dot smiled widely. "How'd you do it Flik?!" She asked ecstatically.

"It was a bird," Atta said smiling grimly. "Flik here led Hopper to it."

Flik chuckled. "Well, it wouldn't have worked if you hadn't flown me to its nest. Heck, I wouldn't have come up with the idea if you didn't save me."

"I wouldn't have found the courage to do anything if you hadn't stood up to Hopper like you did."

Flik rubbed the back of his neck bashfully. "Well...I couldn't stay down and let Hopper win. It's not like me somehow."

With a gleeful squeal, Dot hugged Flik around the neck. "You're my hero Flik."

Flik's heart melted and he almost wept. But instead of a whimper, what came out was a slight groan of pain.

Dot gasped as she quickly let go. "Did I hurt you?"

"It's ok Dot, just a bit tender but it's not bad."

As Dot's eyes adjusted in the darkness, she gasped as she looked over the bruises on Flik's face and torso. "Oh Flik," she sobbed.

"It's ok Dot," Flik said as he placed his hands on the young Princess' shoulders. "I'm ok, it wasn't even that bad."

Dot stared at Flik. "Then why are your pupils getting bigger and smaller like that?"

"Huh?" Before Flik could give a definite answer, his vision blurred and his head swam. "Oh," he said woozily. "Nothing...for you...to worry about...sweetie pie."

Suddenly dazed, Flik fell on his back and then it all went black.

The last thing he heard was the sound of both the princesses crying out in unison.

"FLIK!"

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It seemed like only a minute after Flik lost consciousness did the blackness in his vision start to fade.

Blurs of color burst in his line of sight and a light crept in as his eyelids started to slowly open.

And then his head started aching.

Oh man, my head feels like the offering stone fell on it.

"Hey look, he's waking up!"

Flik opened his eyes but his vision did not quite clear up. He felt something wrapped about his head and his torso. He touched them and realized they were leaf bandages. He found that he was lying on something soft and he tried to sit up.

But a gentle pair of hands gripped his shoulders.

"Easy Flik my boy, pace yourself." The voice sounded clipped and respectable, like that of an aged scholar.

"Mr. Soil?" Flik rasped. His lips and throat were dry.

"Yes, now please lie back down, or Dr. Flora may get cross with you."

Flik still couldn't see straight but he heard quite well. He laughed as he obeyed and laid back down.

And then he remembered and had to force himself to stay put when he exclaimed, "The princesses?"

"They're quite safe and sound Flik, don't worry," Mr. Soil said. "And they have been very eager to see you awake, they hardly left your side."

"And the circus bugs?"

"Quite safe and quite well. The Queen has graciously given them shelter during the rainfall." Mr. Soil chuckled. "After all, they were instrumental in seeing her to safety from the hideous thrall of that terrible assassin Hopper."

The sound of leaves rustling was heard, which could only be that of the doorway. Someone had just come in.

"But none of that would've been possible without you Flik dear," a new voice said.

Dr. Flora.

"Indeed," Mr. Soil said. "The Colony is very much indebted to you Flik."

Flik suddenly felt very warm but it faded at once. "I...I can't take the credit Mr. Soil-"

"Oh yes, you can!"

Flik was slightly taken aback by the sudden aggression.

Mr. Soil composed himself at once. "Forgive me Flik but it's time you took credit where credit is due. The circus bugs certainly deserve congratulations but it was you who lead them. Dr. Flora, I will leave you to your patient, I have some rebuilding and repairs to oversee. Good day to you both."

"Bye bye now Mr. Soil. Now then, Flik, how are you feeling?"

"Sore," Flik answered. It was an understatement. "And a bit thirsty."

"Here you are," she said as she offered a drop of water to Flik. His vision was blurred but he could still the water droplet. He drank it happily.

"Why can't I see?" Flik asked finally.

"It's the elixir I prepared to help with the pain," Dr. Flora said. "The blurriness should pass any minute now."

"Are the others ok? The rain…?"

"Yes dear, we managed to get everyone into the Anthill on time. There were a few minor injuries but you needn't worry. Yours is the worst out of all of them."

Flik sighed relieved. "Good."

"Good?!" Dr. Flora said. "You're bruised like a bludgeoned berry."

"I know but it couldn't be helped. It was either me or Atta, and I chose Atta."

Flik could see a lot better now. He could see that Dr. Flora was smiling brightly at him.

As his vision was clearing, he could see that she was...crestfallen?

"Are you alright Doctor?" Flik asked with concern.

"Oh yes yes, I'm fine," Dr. Flora said. The quiver in her voice indicated otherwise.

"Are you sure?"

Dr. Flora waved her hand dismissively. "Oh don't worry about me dear, you just focus on getting well again."

Flik thought to protest further and decided that if the good doctor did not wish to talk about something, then she's not going to budge.

"Why did I need an elixir? My injuries aren't that serious are they?"

"Quite serious actually. You have three broken ribs and some internal bleeding."

Horrified, Flik gasped, which caused some minor pain in his abdomen. "That bad?"

"That maniac really laid into you dear," said grimly.

"You mean Hopper or Thumper?"

"Why Thumper of course."

Flik shuddered. It would be some time before he could get over the awful screech that lunatic made and the senseless thrashing he endured at his claws.

I swear he must've escaped a psycho ward or something like it.

"And when Hopper took you, the flight must've worn you out. And once the danger had passed, so must've the adrenaline rush that kept you on your feet."

"Makes sense," Filk said. "When do you think I'll be...you know able to…?"

"I'd say you can leave in a few days. But it will be a few weeks before your exoskeleton fully heals."

"So...I just need to stay in this room…and don't move?" Flik, being the energetic thinker and inventor he was, naturally did not like this policy.

Dr. Flora's tone became severe. "Yes and as your physician, I strongly urge you to stay put. Or I'll have to prepare something quite uncomfortable in order to keep you bedridden."

Flik gulped. "Yes ma'am," he stammered.

"Excellent," Dr. Flora said sweetly. She stood up and packed her medical kit. "Now you just rest up." The good doctor turned her head a fraction to the right as she stood up and made her way to the door. "You will help Flik change his bandages won't you, your highness?"

"Be glad to, Doctor."

Flik jumped at the familiar sound, which caused a slight twinge of agony along his thorax. He turned and saw someone he hadn't noticed until now. Even blurred, he could make out who it was sitting on a leaf chair as plain as the back of his hand.

"Princess Atta?"

"Yes Flik." Her voice sounded tired yet filled with a joy that Flik didn't recognize. Not even at the party in celebration of the bird's completion did she sound so happy.

"H-H-How long have you been there?" Flik asked.

Atta smiled and Flik could just make it out, even with his vision inhibited. "I've been here since I've brought you here."

How long has that been I wonder.

"Soooooo, you heard all that?" Flik asked sheepishly.

Atta beamed at him. "Every word."

Flik felt his body temperature rising. He laughed nervously. "So...how long was I out?" He asked, a bit anxious of what the answer would be.

"Two days," Atta said darkly.

Flik gaped at her. He placed a hand on his head. "I was out for that long?"

Atta nodded. "With Dr. Flora's help. She said that in order to help your recovery, you needed a good long rest. And in order to mend your wounds without causing further stress to your body, she had to introduce that special elixir. Dr. Flora said you would make a full recovery but she was not sure of when you would regain consciousness."

Flik's mouth was still open and seemed to drop further as he listened to Atta's account.

"We were so worried about you Flik," Atta said sadly. "Dot was…" Atta paused as she looked down.

"Is she ok?"

"She...was especially scared for you. When she saw you in the shape you were in when you were bedridden, she...broke down."

Flik sighed wearily. "Where is she now?"

"She's with mother. She's probably asleep by now. Needed all of her help too. I thought she'd never doze off. Francis has been keeping me informed of her condition."

Flik laid down on the flower bud that acted as his bed. "Don't you have a Colony to attend to?" He asked.

"I do," Atta said. "But mother insisted I rest as well. Said I earned it after putting Hopper in his place as she put it."

Flik chuckled. "You were incredible. The way you got in his face and you even made him flinch."

Atta smiled meekly. "None of it would've been possible if you hadn't stood up to him Flik. You were so brave."

"Actually I was terrified. I just wanted to look brave in front of yo-the Colony," Flik sputtered, correcting himself.

Flik has thought that he disguised his words but Atta was a difficult person to fool. She smiled brightly at Flik's sweet words.

Just then, Flik's vision finally came into being and the entire room became clear as crystal. He sighed in great relief. "Oh that's so much better."

Overjoyed, Atta sprung up from her seat. "You can see again?!"

"Yeah!" Flik said. But then he put a hand to his head which started to ache. "Ow."

Wincing upon seeing her dearest friend in so much discomfort, Atta went to Flik's side and very soothingly and gingerly, she rubbed his aching, bandaged head. "Oh Flik," she cooed. "Is it painful?"

"Nah Nah," Flik said assuredly. "Just need to settle down and over exert myself."

"Good idea," Atta said, her eyes glistening.

And then she knelt down and very gently, she wrapped his arms around Flik's neck.

Flik froze. His cheeks suddenly felt very hot and it stung the bruises on his face, but only a little so he didn't even flinch.

"Atta?" Flik said. He noticed she was trembling a bit. "Are you ok?"

"Am I ok?!" She almost snapped but kept her voice down. "Am I ok?! Can't you think about yourself for once Flik and let me take care of you?!"

"But you're a princess, I'm a lowly worker. I'm supposed to take care of you."

Atta was tempted to slap him. But she held back, not desiring to see him hurt worse.

"Flik, you are so much more than that," Atta said, still having Flik in her embrace. "You're many things but lowly is not one of them. Yes, I am a princess and next in line to be Queen but my responsibility is the heaviest of all and I have not conducted myself in a way towards as I should have. I should have been willing to listen to you. I should have urged my councilors to listen to you. But we were too comfortable in our traditions, of doing things the way we always did to listen to a word you said. And because I did not give you a chance to explain yourself before I…" Atta choked, "...sent you away, the Colony was in danger. I was a fool to think that we could meet the quota in time. But it wouldn't have mattered, there was not enough food on the island. And if we had given up anymore, the Colony would starve." Atta let out a gasping sob. "You saved us Flik, you're a hero."

Now it was Flik's turn to cry. And he returned Atta's embrace very happily. "I don't...really feel like a hero Princess."

"But you are," Atta insisted. "And it's just Atta when we're alone Flik."

The two stayed in that embrace for a good long while. Never had they felt so much peace. Never had they felt so safe.

And being so close to each other, they could feel each other's heartbeats keeping a perfect track of time.

"You have a lovely heartbeat," Flik said softly.

"You too."

"Hey Princess, how's Fl...well, hey hey hey."

Flik and Atta gasped. They looked and saw Francis the ladybug leaning against the doorway with a cheeky look on his face.

"H-H-How long have you been there?" Flik stammered.

Francis shrugged. "Long enough. Glad to see you're awake Flik."

"Uh...thanks."

"Um Francis?" Atta squeaked. "Why don't you fetch my sister. Tell her that Flik's awake."

"She's asleep Princess," Francis protested before smiling. "But I get it. I'll just leave you two to have some alone time. Ta-ta." And the ladybug swept out the room.

Flik covered his eyes. "I think I just got it."

"Got what?" Atta asked, still a bit flustered.

"Why the guys were giving me that look at the party...right after our antennae got tangled up."

"Oh," Atta said, feeling her cheeks heat up. "And I forgot which way the bird was."

Flik laughed. "Yeah you did."

Atta laughed with him and they both shared a nice long hearty laugh.

That is until Flik grabbed his side as a sharp pain went through it. "Ow." He chuckled grimly. "It hurts when I laugh."

Atta bit her lip. "Then you should rest."

"No no, I'm not even…" Flik yawned. "Actually that sounds good."

End of Chapter 1