Chapter 3: Finding The Warrior Bugs

Three days had passed since I had left Ant Island to go find bugs to help fend off the grasshoppers. I was now approaching the City. As I got nearer to the entrance I paused.

'Try not to look like a country bug. Blend; blend in!'

I walked through the City entrance. I could see all sorts of varying bugs. Suddenly one of them said 'What you'd expect? The guy's a tick!' Suddenly, a huge daddy-long-legs spider in question passed over me. Looking at it as it walked away, I saw the City in full for the first time; it was huge and crowded with bugs. As I walked forwards, I saw all the varying sights.

Suddenly traffic (of bugs) appeared on all sides. Somehow, I made way to the path on the side without getting hurt. As I look around, I accidentally walked into a slug.

'Ow! Watch where you're going!'

'I'm sorry, I didn't really mean to...' I turned around and saw a wingless cockroach on the ground, with a sign next to him reading "kid pulled off my wings". He was fiddling his two legs against each other, clearly hoping for some money for his "music."

'Oh! I'm really, really sorry. It was an accident. An accid...' There was a six-armed mime next to me, and I was a little confused.

Suddenly I heard a yell in the distance. Looking around, I saw a small bar entrance (a tin can). One wasp just kicked out two bugs and said 'I'll show you who tough! And stay out!' he flew back inside.

That place would be perfect!

'Tough bugs!' I cried out, running to the bar.

When I went in I looked around at the various bugs. Suddenly a fly pushed pass me and went to some other flies on the wall. Looking around I saw various sights.

A fly and a grasshopper at the bar touched their beads of drink together; the grasshopper said 'Hair of the dog you bit!' and they drank in one go.

A waiter cried out 'Hey! Who ordered the poo-poo platter!' only for several small flies to suddenly buzz around it.

A mosquito waitress dropped a small cake next to a slug, saying 'Here you go Slick; enjoy!' The slug took a bite and his mouth started to froth.

'Ow! Hey, I said no salt!'

I put down my rucksack equipment and then followed a tough-looking bug that happened walked in at that moment.

'Pardon me, sir, but I was wondering if I could talk to you for a moment. I represent a colony; of-of ants, and I'm looking for tough bugs, you know, mean bugs, the sort of bugs that...'

He didn't listen to me. Eventually I gave up on him. I didn't expect to find tough bugs that easily. I then approached a mosquito by the bar.

'Excuse me. Hi, I represent an ant colony, and I'm...' He then cut across me.

'Hey bartender! Blood Mary; O positive.' The bartender put a blood bead in front of him; the mosquito drank it in one go and then slumped down. He seemed to have fallen out cold. 'Uh, sir?'

I then tried a bunch of roaches gathered around a table.

'...I'm looking for tough warrior bugs...'

'Stand back, ye flies!' I turned around and saw a ladybug with a cool-looking leaf (as a hat) facing three flies, one of them a hunk. 'We are the greatest warriors in all bugdom!'

'Warrior bugs!' I said, turning around. He was possible!

'My sword, cried the ladybug, grabbing a stick insect out-of-nowhere, which said 'Swish swish; flang flang.' The ladybug cried out 'Little John!'

'What-ho, Robin!' cried a caterpillar, winging a small stick. 'Justice is my sword and truth shall be my quiver!'

The flies stepped backwards. So did the crowd. I got pushed back out the entrance to the bar. I could not see anything. I heard yells, scraping and then the can-that was the bar-tipped over, and began rolling to the side. Eventually it hit the City wall and stopped. I ran up to it and looked inside.

Everything was a mess, but all of the warriors were still standing; the ladybug, the stick insect, the caterpillar, as well as a moth, a praying mantis, a black widow spider, a rhino beetle and two pill bugs.

'Wow,' was all I could say. I waited a few seconds before speaking.

'You're perfect!' I went down on my knees. 'Oh, great ones! I have been scouting for bugs with your exact talents!'

They all leaned closer to hear what I was saying more clearly.

'My colony is in trouble! Grasshoppers are coming; we've been forced to prepare all this food. Please! Will you help us?'

They glanced behind them for about three seconds and then whipped around. The stick insect cried out 'We'll take the job!'

'Really?' They all came down and swept me outside with them. The stick insect placed me on the rhino beetle and said 'You can explain the details on the way!' The two pill bugs jumped on next to me and said some sort of gibberish. Then the black widow spider jumped on behind. 'Come on everyone; break a leg!' I was amazed.

'Wow! You're vicious.'

'Hold on, Mr. Ant,' said the rhino beetle. He took off, carrying the caterpillar with his legs. The moth and praying mantis flew along with the ladybug, who carried the stick insect.

'Amazing! This is too good to be true!' Ha ha!'

I found it hard to believe that I had found tough bugs that quickly. Princess Atta might start to like me now!'

As we flew back to Ant Island, I learned the names of all of them; the pill bugs were Tuck and Roll, the rhino beetle was Dim, the black widow spider was Rosie, the praying mantis was Manny, the moth was Gypsy, the stick insect was Slim, the ladybug was Francis and the caterpillar was Heimlich. I was now explaining about Hopper to Tuck and Roll.

'...So, you see, it was my fault that Hopper was coming back. But then princess Atta - boy is she one in a million - she let me go out and find you! And after seeing you fight off those flies, boy, are those grasshoppers in for a big surprise!' I laughed and so did Tuck and Roll.

As we got closer to Ant Island, I had the thought that I had succeeded in my task very quickly to comfort me.

All too soon, Ant Island was in sight. When we saw it, lent over the edge and pointed, yelling to Tuck and Roll 'This is it. This is Ant Island!'

As we flew over the leaves I saw Dot jumping up and down on one of them waving at me. I waved back and yelled out 'Hey!'

As we approached the clearing near the anthill, we all came down on our feet. Gypsy and Manny landed next to each other; Francis dropped Slim on the ground and then stood on one of his arms. Dim dropped Heimlich down and then landed on the ground, with Rosie, Tuck, Roll and me still on him.

They all adopted a thrilling pose and Francis yelled out 'Ta Da!'

There was nothing in sight. Nobody moved for a few seconds. Finally, Manny said, rather gloomily, 'Once again, our reputation precedes us.' I jumped off Dim and began yelling out.

'Hey, everybody! I'm back! Hey guys! Hey! Loo-loo-Look who's here with me!'

Suddenly Dot came running up to me 'Flik! Flik, you're back! I knew you could do it!'

I picked her up and laughed. Gradually, more ants came along. Within about 20 seconds, there was a circle around us. I showed off the warriors to the ants.

'Oh, look at this; this is great, look.' Gypsy opened her wings in a flash; the crowd gasped, and Cornelius jumped backwards, clutching his heart. 'Oh, my dicker!'

Slim, Francis and Heimlich talked to a couple of kids; I didn't see what they were doing. Tuck and Roll rolled up to Dr. Flora, saying 'Hey!' and wringing her wrists.

Several kids crept under Dim. Rosie warned them that he was ticklish, and, sure enough, Dim began laughing and stamping, scaring the kids into the crowd.

The Queen, holding Aphie as usual came up to me, laughing.

'Well, my boy; you came through! Aphie and I are very impressed.'

That pleased me greatly, but I was even happier to see Princess Atta emerge from the crowd.

Princess Atta! Hey, hey guys' – I ran over to Atta – 'this is Princess Atta. She's the one who sent me to find you!' The warrior bugs bowed in her direction. Dot came bouncing up to Atta.

Atta, Atta! Did you see that really big bug over there?' She pointed at Dim.

'He looks absolutely ferocious!' exclaimed Mr. Soil.

'They're out ticket out of this mess!' said Thorny happily.

'They came just in time.' said Dr. Flora.

'That's right!' added Cornelius.

It was great that they thought that, but Atta's opinion was more important to me then the rest of the colony put together.

'So Princess Atta; Wha-What do you think?'

She didn't move for about a second. Then she whipped around and began whispering something frantically to the council ants. I waited for a response. After about fifteen seconds, I heard Francis say something behind me. Looking around, I saw him on Dim's nose. The chatter of the crowd died away and everyone looked at him.

'Your majesty! Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages. Out troupe here guarantees a performance like no other; why, when your grasshopper friends get here, we are gonna KNOCK THEM DEAD!'

The whole crowd started cheering rapidly. I clapped along with everyone. Looking at Atta, her expression was something between curiosity and suspicion; to be honest, I didn't blame her!

Approximate Movie Running Time: 00:26-00:31; 00:32-00:34