Title subject to change. Inspired by a piece of concept art that depicts the final scene of A Bug's Life a little differently than the way we know it. Enjoy :)

~FBW

The ground below was in utter chaos. Ants and circus bugs ran about, smashing berries onto their bodies and screaming in pretend fear. Grasshoppers dove this way and that, avoiding the "bloody" bugs and screaming in genuine terror as they ducked for cover. Flik even spotted Hopper among them, hiding behind Molt as though willing to sacrifice his younger brother in order to spare his own life from the bird swooping over their heads.

Flik let out a triumphant laugh as he watched them cower. Why hadn't they thought of this idea long ago?

He was so busy reveling in his glory that he didn't notice what was happening behind him; didn't realize that the Blueberries' cries were ones of fear, not excitement.

"Flik, help us!"

Flik turned around at the sound of Dot's plea. Red and yellow light engulfed his vision, nearly blinding him. His mouth dropped open and quickly filled with smoke, causing him to choke. Tears swam in his eyes.

His beautiful creation, the only invention of his that seemed like it was actually going to work, was on fire.

How did this happen? was his first thought, but he couldn't dwell on it for long. The little ants' safety was his first priority. They weren't even supposed to be here in the first place, but plans had changed when the grasshoppers invaded.

He leaped from his seat and pushed past Dot to reach the emergency lever Rosie had insisted they install while he was drawing up the bird's framework. "Better safe than sorry," the black widow had said to the skeptical ant. Flik sure as hell was thankful he had listened to her now as he pulled down as hard as he could, the Blueberries crowding around him like a terrified cluster of grapes.

"Grab onto something!" he ordered them, and then he heard a snap.

The world lurched and Flik's feet left the floor. Strong gusts of air whistled past his antennae as the bird began its descent. Gripping the lever for dear life, he looked around to see the girls hugging the branches that controlled the wings. He couldn't help thinking that even if they survived the crash, they might not survive the grasshoppers' wrath once they knew the truth.

"Flik!"

He looked up just in time to see Dot lose her grip on the chair she was holding. A second later the wind was knocked from his body as the tiny ant crashed into his chest.

Flik struggled to breathe as he wrapped his arm around Dot to keep her from flying into the flames behind them. He was reminded of another time he had held her like this, when they were being chased by a real bird instead of falling inside a fake one.

"It's gonna be okay, Dot," he managed to say between gasps, and then they hit ground.

The impact sent them flying. Flik did his best to shield Dot's head as they collided with the chair he had been steering from moments before. Pain sliced through his skull and his vision went blurry. His antennae roared with the crackle of flames as he tried unsuccessfully to catch his breath.

Suddenly he felt small arms pushing against his.

"Let me go, Flik!" Dot cried.

He dazedly obeyed and the princess scrambled to her feet. Her fellow Blueberries were scattered around the floor, coughing and crying out for their parents. Dot ran to the nearest one and yanked her to her feet, her blue eyes blazing with a fire that had nothing to do with the inferno around her.

"Pull yourselves together, girls!" she barked, moving on to the next one. "Remember our training! This is no time to lose your heads!"

Flik watched in amazement as Dot flitted to each of her friends, shouting commands and offering a hand to the ones that needed it. In less than a minute all of the little ants were on their feet, blinking away tears and covering their mouths to keep from inhaling the smoke like Dot had instructed them to do.

"Alright Blueberries, let's move it!" she cried, waving her hand like a starting flag. "Single file line, out of the bird. Go go go!"

For a second Flik forgot it was Dot who was speaking, her tone of authority reminded him so much of Atta's when she was ordering the colony into the anthill before the grasshoppers arrived. It wasn't until all the Blueberries had evacuated and her freckled face was a centimeter from his that he remembered it was Atta's little sister giving the orders.

"Come on Flik, we have to go!" Dot's fingers were tugging on his and her voice sounded much more small and afraid now that she no longer had to be the leader.

Flik squeezed his eyes shut and allowed Dot to help him to his feet. As soon as he was upright a surge of dizziness overcame him and he stumbled forward, nearly falling over the princess. He clutched his throbbing head and opened his eyes to see two purple ants in front of him, their eyes wide with worry.

"You go, Dot!" he said, pointing in what he hoped was the direction of the beak. "I'll be right behind you!"

She hesitated only a moment before nodding. "Hurry, Flik," she whispered, then scampered away.

Alone inside the fiery ruins of his masterpiece, Flik grabbed his antennae and attempted to focus his eyes while brainstorming ways to deal with the fury of the grasshoppers that surely awaited him outside. Maybe most of them had flown away already, or maybe Hopper would be so relieved it wasn't a real bird he would be able to laugh off the whole thing as a cruel practical joke. Maybe the circus bugs could pass it off as the dramatic finale of their show. Maybe…

His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar scream from outside. His eyes widened with horror.

Dot.