a Bug's Life © Disney/Pixar
Ant-Man © Marvel
In Flik's Workshop, the chief inventor of the Ant Colony was hard at work
performing some repairs to his Grain Harvesters that needed some maintenance.
The worker ant glanced over at Henry every so often.
The human was in a more sour mood than usual. Tolva's threat had left the whole colony reeling,
and unlike with Hopper's Gang, they couldn't just luck out like Flik did ten years ago.
Tolva was ten times more dangerous that Hopper was,
and when she returned by Spring's end..she will bring an ARMY, not a Gang.
Everyone felt it..WAR was approaching.
..and, all because a single Locus hated humans, and wanted ONE dead.
"I should leave." said Henry, finally.
"Oh, you're not bothering me." said Flik, not understanding what Henry meant.
"No, I mean I should LEAVE." repeated Henry. "Tolva is going to kill every ant here just to get to me.
I am putting all of your in danger by just staying here, so I should just leave."
Flik was about to say something..BUT, someone else did. "You're not going anywhere, Henry."
Henry and Flik looked, and saw Dot enter the workshop and approach Henry.
"It doesn't matter that you aren't an Ant..You are part of this colony now." continued Dot,
who took Henry's hands, and held them. "and, we don't sacrifice one of our own."
"Well, I'd rather not have the deaths of hundreds on my hands." said Henry, turning away.
"You can word this however you want..but, I am bringing this on you all."
Dot just stared at Henry. She wasn't sure what to say to cheer him up.
"hmmm.." Henry held his head as he started groaning.
"henry?, what-"
"nghh..URRRRK!" Henry suddenly collapsed, gripping his chest in pain.
"HENRY!" Dot shrieked as she dropped down to the fallen human.
"Goodness!" Flik rushed over, and both him and Dot helped Henry back up.
Henry groaned, gasping for air as Flik and Dot helped him onto a mushroom chair.
Dot was fidgeting, worried to death for Henry. he looked like he was suffocating.
"okay..You alright?" began Flik. "just..BREATHE, and clear your mind."
Flik obviously thought Henry was simply stressed, and had a panic attack.
DOT, however, had socialized with Henry enough to know that this happened before.
Numerous times, in fact. It wasn't because of stress.
"Henry, what's wrong with you?" asked Dot. "This is the Sixth time this has happened!"
Henry struggled to look at the Ants who had become his closest friends.
Finally, the human relented, and swiped something on his glove.
He showed them what looked like a meter with lights indicating the gauge.
The meter was nearly blank, only showing orange and red lights.
Flik may not understand human technology too much..BUT, he wasn't an idiot.
He could recognize a nearly depleted storage when he saw one.
"I'm running out of time.." spoke Henry. "As I already explained, it is Pym Particles
that enabled me to shrink like a bug, OR grow into a Giant."
"Yeah, and it gives you enhanced abilities." said Flik.
"That was just a bonus." said Henry. "It's true purpose was to keep my mass stable.
Without them, my frail human body is vulnerable to the natural elements that only Bugs can withstand."
Henry slumped against a wall, breathing out. "the particles..act as a fuel for my suit. and, it's running low."
Dot covered her mouth, finally understanding what Henry was saying.
Flik also understood, and looked at his partner with a serious expression. "what will happen once it's depleted."
"I'll DIE." said Henry. I'll either freeze to death due to my body being unable
to generate enough heat. OR, I'll suffocate due to lack of enough breathable oxygen."
Dot teared up, unable to handle this news. "Can't your suit protect you?, It's LIKE an exoskeleton!" said Flik.
"It can only sustain me for so long.." replied Henry.
"With it, I'll die slowly..Painfully. Without it, my death will be a fast one."
"What can we do to stop this?" asked Flik.
"I need to return to my normal size..for MORE than five minutes." said Henry.
"crap." cursed Flik, who was still no closer to fixing that part of Henry's device. "What else?"
"Harvest more Pym Particles..But, we don't have the tools to do that."
"Flik can make some!" said Dot, getting hysterical. "Flik can do ANYTHING!, Right Flik!?"
"uhh.." Flik stuttered, having no idea where to even begin.
Harvesting grain was one thing. but, this was WAY over his head.
"We can do it." said Dot, trying to convince herself. "We're ANTS, Harvesting is what we do!"
Dot looked at Henry. "you're..g-going to be Okay, Henry. I promise. We won't let you die..You'll be alright."
Henry didn't look convinced. BUT, he smiled at her never-the-less.
Dot did her best to smiled..but, wanted to cry instead.
She finally leaned down, and gave Henry a tender kiss on his cheek.
Henry blushed..as did she. the Ant then stepped away..and, flew off.
She didn't wish for her favorite males to see her cry.
Flik turned back to Henry. "Do you need anything?"
Henry looked straight up at the inventor. "FOOD. I'm really hungry."
*****
Queen Atta was sitting on the throne in the Council Chamber, an annoyed expression on her face
as she listened to the members of the council argue amongst themselves.
Tolva's threat earlier today had left the whole colony on edge.
This wasn't a simple matter of bigotry that could be brushed aside.
And, Tolva was NOT like Hopper. so, her threat was very real, and couldn't be ignored.
"We can't fight Locusts!" exclaimed Cornelius, the oldest Ant in the colony.
"We defeated Hopper, didn't we?!" argued Thorny.
"NO!, a BIRD ate him!, We didn't do SQUAT!" retorted Cornelius.
"Henry is HUMAN, I am sure he can defend himself." said Mr. Soil.
"Not according to my medical reports!" snapped Dr. Flora.
"His health keeps declining, and I don't know why. The Locusts will rip him apart!"
"I understand, BUT we have to put the well being of our own kind first." argue Mr. Soil.
"YEAH!" agreed Cornelius.
"ENOUGH!" snapped Atta, her tone stern and aggressive.
Everyone became silent as they looked to their queen. "You are all arguing in circles.
If you wish for a decision to be made, then make your statements in an orderly manner."
Mr. Soil was the first to speak. "Your highness. We must think about what is best for the Colony.
Now, I don't want to cast out Henry, either. But, we are measuring the well being of ONE human,
against thousands of Ants. Tolva will return with an Army that we are not prepared to defend against."
"Noted. Thorny?"
Mr. Thorny cleared his throat. "While I agree with Mr. Soil that we are not prepared..NOW.
Summer is still many months away, and we might be armed enough to fight off Tolva by then."
"We won't HAVE to fight if we just give the human to them!" argued Cornelius.
"Even if we are armed with all we need, we will still lose many Ants!"
"And, what about the Ants that were saved BECAUSE of Henry?!" retorted Thorny.
"Need I remind this council that in the past few months since we found Henry,
This colony has endured THREE bird attacks, and TWO severe storms.
In all cases we might've lost many of our own..had Henry not saved us."
"Which brings MY point." spoke Dr. Flora. "Henry is in very poor health.
According to Flik, He can only use his "size changing" gadget to grow to his normal size for five minutes.
And, EVERY time he does..his health gets worse, and worse.
Exiling him from the Colony may just be a death sentence!"
Atta touched the bridge of her facial structure, deep in thought.
She didn't know of these health problems that Henry apparently had.
She knew he sometimes felt cold, and had trouble breathing.
But, she didn't think much of it, and left Dr. Flora to tend to him.
Was Henry's device REALLY killing him?!
"WELL, Your highness?!" spoke Cornelius. "What do is your final decision!?"
Atta eyed the old ant. "You know I can't pass my final judgement without a full vote from the council.
and, we are short ONE ant. The Princess."
It was then that Dot entered the chamber. Her eyes were red from crying,
and looked even worse than when Aphie died when she was ten years old.
"DOT..you're late." said Atta.
Dot looked at her sister. "I'm sorry. I was checking up on Henry at Flik's workshop."
"How is he, dear?" asked Dr. Flora.
Dot froze. "He's..he's-" Dot then gripped her face as she began to cry.
"dot..What's wrong?" said Atta, who flew over to her younger sister.
"he's dying..Henry is DYING!" exclaimed Dot, hysterical.
"Dying?!, from what!?" The Council listened in, wanting to hear every word of this.
"Henry's suit. the thing that made him small like us..It's some kind of Life Support." explained Dot.
"It runs on a fuel that is difficult to harvest, and it is nearly depleted. Unless he gets big for good,
or we harvest more particles for his suit..he's going to die."
*I knew it.* muttered Flora.
Atta frowned. "Dot..I didn't know. I'm so sorry."
"We can't let him die!, Atta!" said Dot. "He needs us to save him."
Atta was about to respond..when her antennae picked up a faint, distant noise.
It sounded like wings flapping. Many, MANY wings flapping.
Like Motors.
"JIMINY H. CRICKET!" exclaimed Cornelius. "It's TOLVA!, SHE'S RETURNED!"
"No, it can't be!" said Atta, in disbelief. "She gave us until SUMMER!"
"NEVER TRUST A FILTHY LOCUST!" exclaimed Cornelius, angrily.
Atta trembled, feeling like she was having a panic attack.
She wasn't prepared to go to war with anyone (much less TONIGHT!)
She had guards, but they were only Worker Ants who only knew how to "defend" the Colony.
Sadly, the only Soldier Ants she had right now were merely young children
(with her own son, Glint, being the eldest at Eight years of age.)
The buzzing became louder, rumbling the ground in it's wake.
THEN..all fell silent as the grave.
Atta breathed harshly, feeling tension as she waited for an attack.
Then-
((*KER-CRASH!*))
a blunt object pieced through the ceiling, causing dirt and soil to rain down.
Another did the same..and, then another. and, Another!
Atta looked up..they looked like black abdomens with golden-yellow stripes.
and..Stingers?
*oh, no.* gasped Atta.
In that moment, figured dropped down from the holes that were created.
The Ants present looked on in horror at the numerous bugs that stood before them.
Bugs from their ancient past that only existed in stories told to their children.
WASPS.
The Wasps flew around the chamber, some even crawling along the ceiling.
Atta held Dot close, both frozen in fear at the invaders that quickly filled the chamber.
Then, one last Wasp dropped down..and, all the other Wasps fell silent.
Atta looked, and saw what seemed to be the only female Wasp in the group.
She had a look on her face that reminded her of Hopper..when HE invaded this very chamber.
And, like Hopper, she put her hands behind her back as she walked forward.
The other Wasps backed away with each step she took. CLEARLY this Wasp was their leader.
The female Wasp grinned as she approached the Ants.
Atta froze, unable to move as the Wasp stared into her very soul.
The Wasp stopped short, facing the Royal Ants, and the Council members.
She smirked..then, at least spoke: "Evening. Did we arrive LATE to the Banquet?"
"who are you?" said Atta, trying to maintain her regal composure.
"Oh, yes. How rude of me.." began the Wasp. "Allow me to introduce myself: My name is ZING."
"Why are you here?" asked Atta.
"Who CARES why they are here!" snapped Cornelius. "They are NOT welcome, and should LEAVE!"
"If anyone is going to leave this place, It is YOU, Dirt Muncher!" exclaimed a male Wasp.
Zing glared at the Wasp that spoke..making him cringe as he backed away.
she then returned her attention to Atta, and smiled a fake friendly smile.
"What my underling MEANS to say..is that this island DOESN'T belong to you ants." began Zing.
"See, our ancestors lived within the great tree of this island LONG before yours built this ant hill.
It was only because of those infernal Grasshoppers that we lost that old war, and were driven from our home.
Zing then smiled. "BUT..now that Hopper is dead, and his gang disbanded.
We have united, and returned..(darkly) to TAKE BACK what was stolen from us."
Atta swallowed hard, realizing how serious this was.
First the Locusts threatened the Colony, now WASPS are invading?!
How mush worse could this get?!
"p-perhaps we can come to a..compromise." stuttered Atta, trying to keep the situation from getting worse.
"ABSURD!" yelled Cornelius. "This is ANT Island, not "Wasp Island."
Their kind was banished years ago, We don't have to-"
"SILENCE, Cornelius!" snapped Atta.
"BUT-!"
"Yes, Cornelius..LISTEN to your Queen. and, SHUT. YOUR. MANDIBLE." said Zing, scorn in her voice.
Atta turned back to the Wasp. "Zing..I am sorry for what our ancestors did to yours.
If what you say is true, then you have as much right to live here as we do."
"We have MORE rights to this place than you do, INVADER." snapped Shreve.
Zing glared at the male Wasp yet again. "Shreve, so help me GOD,
If you say one more word out of turn. I am going to HURT you."
"sorry."
Zing turned back to Atta. "Now..where was I?, OH, YES..the matter of "Reclaiming OUR Island."
"Zing, please..we have a Springtime Truce."
"Your meager laws mean little to us, ANT." said Zing.
"Can't we live in peace with one another?" asked Atta, hoping to reach out to the Wasp.
Zing stroked her chin, pretending to be deep in thought. "Well..We were looking forward to having a War.
BUT, I've always been up for making a bargain. ESPECIALLY when I set the terms."
Zing then paced around. "We..MIGHT allow you Ants to remain on our island.
But, ONLY if you recognize us as your superiors..AND, pay us tribute every season."
"WHAT!?" exclaimed Dot, who finally spoke out. "There is NO WAY we are doing that again!"
"DOT!" exclaimed Atta.
"I still remember what it was like before. Living in fear, NEVER having enough food." continued Dot.
"I don't care if this is your home, or not! We are NOT going to be slaves to ANY bug anymore!"
Zing grinned. "Then..I guess it's WAR."
"HEY!" shouted a voice.
Everyone looked to see two figures enter the Council Chamber.
One was a male Worker Ant..and, the other was a Human in a black-and-red suit.
Zing didn't even flinch as she stared at the human. "I'm sorry, are you talking to ME?"
Flik ran over to his wife, and embraced her.
Dot just stared as Henry approached Zing, fire in his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm talking to you!, It's bad enough this colony has to worry about Locusts attacking them,
Now a hoard of WASPS are infesting the tunnels!?, I have had just about ENOUGH of this crap!"
*Flik!, what's wrong with Henry?!* asked Atta. *I've never seen him so..ANGRY.*
*I don't know. I think it has to do with his particle depletion.* said Flik.
*we heard what sounded like an invasion, and he just..flipped out.*
"Pretty tough talk..for a HUMAN." said Zing. "But, your angry words mean nothing to us.
Even full grown humans tremble at the very sight of us."
Zing then lowered her abdomen, poking the tip between her legs.
Henry stepped back, eyeing the black stinger as it jutted out.
"Still feeling BRAVE, little human?" smirked Zing.
Zing got a response.
((*POW!*)) Henry swiftly threw a strong punch across the Wasp's face.
Unprepared for this, Zing was knocked flat on her back. The other Wasps all gasped, stunned to silence.
Zing looked up at Henry..who glared down at her. "no..I'm not brave. In fact, I am terrified.
But, do you know what I did when I was stung by Wasps when I was a kid?
After I stopped crying..I got a can of RAID, and "nuked" the whole Nest."
Zing only smirked at this.
"I don't know why you are here, harassing these ants that gave me a home.
But, they are under MY protection. and, if you want to hurt them..you have to go through ME!"
Atta and Flik just stared, stunned at Henry's dedication and loyalty.
the human was dying, yet was willing to lay his life down for them.
Even Cornelius and Mr. Soil (who were most vocal against Henry) felt awkward.
Henry may've just been delirious..But, Dot felt proud of him, anyway.
Zing smiled as she stood back up. "Buzz."
There was a low rumbling..followed a wall caving in.
Henry turned, and saw a hug Wasp-like insect towering over him.
"Meet Buzz..he is a Hornet." began Zing, as Buzz grabbed Henry by his neck.
"We found him about a year ago. He doesn't say much..but, ACTIONS speak much louder than words."
Buzz then threw Henry across the chamber. the human then impacted a wall with a crash, denting the earth.
"HENRY!" shrieked Dot.
a pair of Wasps then grabbed Henry, lifting him up by his arms.
"Handle him gently, now." commanded Zing. "Our leader will want to have a word with this one."
"NO!" shouted Dot, who flew after Henry. But the Princess was intercepted by Buzz,
who pounced upon the Ant like the predator that he was.
"DOT!" shrieked Atta, terrified.
Dot groaned as the Hornet pinned her down. Her wings buzzed, but it was no use.
Zing then smirked as she knelt down to look at the Ant.
"your dedication is noble..but, don't push your luck." Dot glared at the Wasp.
"Unless you want war tomorrow, I suggest you stay put. You'll get him back..EVENTUALLY."
Zing then fluttered her wings, and lifted up. She looked back to Atta, and smirked at her. "We'll pick this up later, ANT.
But, mark my words: Things on this island are going to change. HOW they change is up to you."
Zing then flew out from one of the many holes the Wasps made in the ceiling.
The other Wasps followed her, with Buzz the Hornet being the last one.
Dot then stood up, staring out at the night sky above.
"Dot..DON'T." pleaded Atta.
Dot didn't even look at her sister. She just took flight, and flew out after the Wasps.
Once outside, Dot searched around for any trace of the Wasps. But, they appeared to had just disappeared out of thin air.
Dot panicked, unsure of what to do.
But, then she remembered..the Wasps mentioned they used to live in the great tree!
she then looked up at the knothole at the highest point of the Tree.
(the very same knothole where they kept the fake bird ten years ago.)
Dot fluttered her wings, and flew up to the tree as fast as her wings could take her.
She stopped just below the knothole, and slowly rose her head up to look inside.
Sure enough, there were dozens of Wasps all gather there.
..and, as Dot scanned around..she saw Henry. His body looked limp, and was being held up by his arms.
He was clearly disoriented. Probably wasn't even aware of where he was.
"DOT!" Dot looked to see her sister approach. "What are you-?!"
*SHH!* shushed Dot. *they're here..and, they've got Henry.*
Atta silently flew over to her sister. Not wanting to get caught, she too peered into the Knothole.
The two royal ants watched as Zing spoke to another Wasp.
"Keep the human here, but don't rough him up. HE will want him in one piece."
"Yes, Commander Zing." said a male Wasp.
Zing flew deeper into the Knothole, disappearing into the darkness.
"I'm not sure this is a good idea." spoke one Wasp.
"I mean, you know how he gets when we even mention this human."
"Well..This whole thing was Commander Zing's idea." said another Wasp.
"So, if he doesn't like it..we can pin all the blame on her."
Atta and Dot were confused. they thought Zing was their leader.
Who exactly was their true leader?, and why would he even care about Henry?
Perhaps he was just another bug who hated humans, Just like Tolva.
*SIS!, we gotta do something!* spoke Dot.
*Like what?!, we're outnumbered.* spoke Atta. *There is no way we can save Henry
without getting into a fight. and, just the two of us isn't enough!*
*We can't just stay here, and do nothing!*
*I know..I just-* Atta had little time to worry, as she and Dot saw Zing return.
"Bring the human to us." ordered Zing.
the two Wasps keeping Henry restrained dragged him over to Zing.
By this point, Henry was regaining consciousness, and groaned in agony.
Dot fluttered her wings, ready to take action. but, Atta gripped her sister's wrist *no..not yet.* whispered Atta.
Dot growled as she stopped fluttering.
"Prepare yourself human.." began Zing. "and, PRAY for mercy from our glorious leader: The YELLOWJACKET."
Henry looked to see a figure approach from the shadows.
He could make out something armored, that looked Black-and-Yellow.
He then widened his eyes upon seeing a humanoid figure with glowing yellow lens on it's helmet.
The helmet retracted..revealing the face of a human male.
"d-Derek?!"
Atta and Dot froze, both staring at the OTHER minuscule human that stood before Henry.
Derek then smirked as he looked down upon his prisoner.
He finally spoke, his voice cold and chilling. "It's good to see you again..BROTHER."
[End of Part 3]
This didn't turn out QUITE the way I planned out..But, I am happy with it, regardless.
With this chapter, I adapt a fan theory regarding the history of Ant Island.
That long before the first ants colonized on the, and built their Ant Hill..Wasps lived in the island's tree.
I imply the Ants and Wasps fought in a war for the island
a war that the Wasps ONLY lost when Grasshoppers got involved.
(Hopper DID imply the food offerings in the film was payment for "protecting them" from something.)
So, in this chapter, I introduce the true villains of the story: Wasps (and, a Hornet) name, Zing.
a female Wasp who I intend to be Dot's nemesis in the greater story.
I also set further stakes by revealing that without the Pym Particles that powers the Ant-Man Suit,
Henry will not only lose his powers, BUT will slowly die due to teh very real issues that comes with being a minuscule human.
Henry is living on borrowed time, and will die unless his suit his refueled.
I also end this chapter on a cliffhanger. Revealing a character we all knew was coming,
BUT also leaving you with a twist reveal that leave you all wanting more.
[NOTE: That line Henry made about getting stung by Wasps, and then spraying their nest
is a reference to a personal experience of mine when I was a kid.]
