As Hopper's screams faded, and the mother bird settled into its nest with its three chicks, Flik and Atta looked up. Atta was in disbelief.
"Hopper... He's... he's dead..." Atta said to herself. "He's dead! It's finally over!" She celebrated, before turning to her side. "Flik, it's... Flik?" Atta's grin faded slightly as she saw Flik leaving. "Flik, where're you going?" Atta called over.
"I'm leaving." Flik called back over the sound of the rain, barely turning his head as he walked.
Atta then jogged up to him. "Flik..." Atta said softly as she put a hand on his shoulder, prompting Flik to jolt around and face her.
"Unhand me!" Flik hissed at her. "Did you forget that you banished me from the colony?!" He shouted. Atta opened her mouth to respond, but her eyes saddened as she closed her mouth again, not knowing what to say.
"Got nothin' to say, Your Highness?" Flik added a particularly bitter tone when he addressed her. "How about starting with the fact that you're the one who lied to ME." He coldly suggested, making Atta perk up in bemusement. "YOU and the Colony Council only sent me to find warrior bugs so that you could get rid of me! I don't know why it took so long to figure out - I didn't think much of it at the time, but I saw your face when I returned, and I realised earlier that you'd wished I'd just died instead!" Flik monologued, infuriated. "Shame THAT didn't go to plan, huh?"
Atta just stared at Flik, dumbfounded and horrified. "No, Flik... I..." Atta began. "That was when I saw how brave and willing you were to protect the colony, Flik... especially when you stood up to Hopper and Thumper. I came to realise that the colony and I had mistreated you, and that you really did want to just help us-"
"That's what I've been SAYING, you moron!" Flik cut her off. "So, what, all those times that I spent hours - even days perfecting a gadget that everyone could benefit from, meant NOTHING?! Yet it takes me to almost DIE for you to actually see my intentions?!" Flik shouted. "Am I really such a lowly little bug, Atta?" He asked with deep sorrow.
"What? No! No, no, no, you're not lowly, Flik!" Atta argued, becoming more desperate. "You don't understand- you don't have the faintest idea of how grateful we are! How grateful I am. I'm so SORRY, Flik! I was just... I was panicking when the grasshoppers were arriving - it clouded my judgement and... I just didn't listen to you because, I was busy being afraid... afraid of the grasshoppers... I didn't wanna take a chance on your inventions in case it slowed us down... I thought it was too risky..." Atta admitted as she hung her head, tears now welling in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Flik."
"Sorry? Princess, please - don't pretend you wouldn't have banished me anyway if I'd told you that I'd accidentially recruited a circus act when I thought they were fighters." Flik said in a rather callous tone.
Atta thought for a second. "Then... why did you do it? Why did you persist with the fake bird to rid the grasshoppers?"
"Don't worry, PRINCESS. I didn't do it for the colony, or for YOU." He responded coldly. "I did it for Dot. She's the only other bug who's ever been nice to me, without expecting anything in return, and I didn't want her home to be destroyed and her family killed." He explained, making Atta's eyes widen slightly as she blinked a few times. "So, if that's all, then I'll be on my way." Flik then turned around and walked off, leaving a heartbroken Atta behind.
"Don't go, Flik... I love you..." Atta called out softly, making Flik stop in his tracks for only a second, before he pressed on.
Using the blades of grass as protection from the large raindrops, Flik walked to the edge of Ant Island and waited for the rain to stop. Meanwhile, Atta glumly walked back towards the colony, with tears in her eyes as she sobbed heavily, unable to get Flik and his blunt words off her mind. Some time later, Atta was back at the area of the anthill - she had stopped crying now, and her tears had dried on her cheeks. Atta bucked up and made a dash for the anthill, leaving the safety of the grass from the rain, and flying down the entrance.
As she descended the colony's tunnels, she made it into the inner sanctum, where everybody else was hiding out, except for the circus bugs, who were still in the middle of untying themselves from the tree in which they'd become tangled.
"Hey, look! Princess Atta's back!" Some of the ants pointed out to each other as they saw Atta return. Everybody else turned to look at her as she approached her mother and little sister, whose faces gleamed with relieved grins.
"Atta!" Dot shouted as she flew over to her sister and hugged her tightly.
"Atta!" Said the Queen. "Oh, thank goodness you're okay." She said as she hugged her daughter. The two then released Atta from their embrace. "What happened? Are you hurt? Did Hopper finally leave?" The Queen asked somewhat frantically.
Atta shifted her eyes from the ground to look into her mother's eyes. The Queen then immediately saw the hurt on Atta's face. "Hopper's..." Atta began wearily. "He won't be coming back."
"Well, where's Flik?" Dot questioned Atta. Atta didn't say anything - she instead scrunched her face in anguish as tears once again began to stream down her face.
The Queens's face became serious. "Atta. Where is Flik?" She asked sincerely, when Atta immediately brought her hands up to her damp face and sobbed lightly.
"He left." She whimpered.
"What?" Dot asked as her face fell.
Atta removed her hands from her face and looked at her mother. "He left the colony, Mom." Atta cried. "He didn't even want to have his wounds tended to! He just left!" Dot and the Queen were in disbelief, when Dot's attitude on the matter quickly changed.
"You exiled him, Atta! What'd you expect?" Dot asked angrily.
"Dot, hush." Said the Queen, before she set Aphie down and hugged Atta.
"He... he was angry at me because I lied to him about wanting him to find warrior bugs." Atta confessed.
"Sorry, Hun?" The Queen asked.
"I only agreed to let him leave so that he'd be outta the way for the offering..." Atta answered. "I didn't expect him to actually return. I'm sorry, Mother." Atta cried.
"Atta!" Dot shouted, not believing what she was hearing.
"Atta, is this true?" The Queen asked as she pulled away from Atta to look at her. "You essentially banished him and hoped he'd die out there, just so he wasn't a nuisance anymore?" The Queen asked further, earning herself an ashamed nod from her eldest daughter.
The Queen's expression then became one of bitterness, before she shifted her gaze to the members of the Colony Council; Mr. Soil, Dr. Flora, Cornelius, and Thorny. "Did any of you have something to do wth this, by any chance?" The Queen asked.
The four ants looked down in shame, and Thorny sighed in defeat. "Yes, Your Highness. In fact, it was our idea - Princess Atta just went along with it." He admitted.
Dot then piped up. "Mom, we have to find Flik! It's raining out there!" She boomed in desperation as she hovered.
Meanwhile
High up in the now-leafless tree branches, Francis had finally found Slim and untangled him from the branches, and the two helped Dim get out of the branches also. Wanting to get out of the rain, Francis carried Slim towards P.T. Flea's cart, with Dim in hot persuit. As Dim carried Heimlich with his feet, Rosie rode on Dim's back with Tuck and Roll, who were still laughing at Hopper's amputated antenna.
As they flew back to the cart, Slim saw Flik on an open patch, alone. "Francis! Look, it's Flik!"
"What?" Francis looked down. "Oh yeah! Hey, guys!" He called to Dim, but he didn't hear due to the rain. Rosie did, however.
"Dim, stop - they need something, Honey." Said Rosie.
"Flik's down there on his own - we gotta help him!" Francis called over, before descending. The bugs then landed by Flik's side, now realising that he was crumpled on the floor in a small puddle of blood as he quivered.
"Oh my, Flik honey? Are you okay?" Rosie asked compassionately. Flik was awake, but unresponsive.
"Of course he's not - he just got wrecked by that grasshopper earlier! Help me put him on Dim's back." Said Francis.
Not a minute later, the circus bugs were back at the cart, where they were greeted by P.T. Flea, Manny, and Gypsy. After seeing Flik's critical condition, they had no choice but to take him to Dr. Flora, so they went down the anthill while Dim stayed in the cart with P.T. Flea.
Meanwhile
"Mom, we have to find Flik! It's raining out there!" Dot said desperately, when the ants saw the circus bugs carrying Flik into the chamber.
Atta gasped in disbelief. "Flik!" Atta and Dot shouted in unison. As Dot and Atta ran to Flik, Dr. Flora also approached.
"Okay now, just bring him over to the medical chamber and I'll take a look at him." Said Dr. Flora.
A few moments later, Flik had been carried to the bed where Francis had previously rested with a broken leg. Once Flik was fully resting on the bed, with Dr. Flora by his side, the circus bugs had gone back into the colony's main chamber to wait the rain out. Atta, Dot, and the Queen waited as Dr. Flora examined Flik, when she spoke up.
"Well, poor Flik here has had quite a nasty beating. His body and face are bruised and I detect some internal bleeding." Dr. Flora informed. "Now, I managed to clean his wounds, but unfortunately, he must've caught an infection that gave him a fever. Flik will have to stay here for at least a few days, maybe even a week or two, and I doubt that he'll wake up for some time."
At this information, Atta fell to her knees by Flik's bedside and rested her arms on his. "Oh, Flik... What've I done..." She said in despair.
The Queen approached Atta from behind and put a hand on her shoulder to try and soothe her. "It's not your fault, Sweetheart. These things just... have to happen, regrettably."
"Mom, it IS my fault." Atta sobbed. "It's my fault that Flik's in a friggin' coma! I'm so sorry, Flik..."
At this point, Dot began to feel heavy with guilt, knowing that her beloved sister was in great pain - probably more so than any ant in the colony, or maybe any bug alive. "Atta...?" Dot said softly as she came from behind Atta. "Atta, you don't have to blame yourself. When Flik wakes up, he'll be good as new, and he'll be willing to forgive you - he'll be back to his old silly self!" She said optimistically.
Atta lifted her head to look at her little sister. "Thanks, Dot. But that's IF he wakes up... And if he doesn't-"
"He WILL, Atta." The Queen perked up. "In the mean time, you should get some rest - as should all of us. It's been a long day, and an even longer night."
The Next Day
Flik was still on his bed in the medical chamber, when Atta came to see him. "Oh, Flik..." Atta murmured as she sat beside him. "I dunno if you can hear me, Flik, but... I really am sorry for what's happened... and what I did... everything... I truly hope you wake up soon, so that I can show you how sorry I am..." Atta said to Flik as a tear rolled down her cheek. Atta looked at Flik for a few seconds, and found herself slowly getting closer to him, when she eventually, delicately pressed her lips onto his, and gave him a gentle kiss. It lasted for what felt like an eternity before Atta pulled back. "I love you, Flik." She whispered as she stroked his cheek.
Two Days Later
A couple days after that, Dot and her friends were playing and chatting in Flik's chamber, when he suddenly awoke. This brought great excitement to the girls, but excitement quickly turned to alarm when Flik began wheezing and breathing heavily.
"Dr. Flora!" Dot called out, summoning said doctor to check on Flik. "He's- I think he's convulsing or something!"
Dr. Flora gave Flik some herbs and some water, and he soon fell back asleep. "Nothing to worry about, girls. He's just still having a hard time getting better." She said reassuringly to the children.
Later
A few days later, Atta and Dr. Flora were seated by Flik when Dot came into the room.
"Atta, you gotta have a drink or something - Flik's fine with Dr. Flora." Said Dot.
Atta sighed. "I know, I know... I guess I'm still always acting like the sky is falling." She joked half-heartedly, and smiled at Dot, who returned the favour by giving her a hug.
"Um, so... What's gonna happen when everything's back to normal after Flik wakes up?" Dot asked Atta. However, before Atta could even conjur a response, as if on cue, Flik began to stir, and his eyes slowly fluttered open.
"Ugh..." Flik mumbled wearily.
"Flik?!" Dot exclaimed with glee.
"Flik...?" Atta said in a bewildered state.
Dot then ran out of the room and down the hallway. "Flik's alive, he's alive!" She shouted as she ran.
"Hold your horses there, Flik dear." Said Dr. Flora, before turning to Atta. "I wouldn't get my hopes up just yet, Princess. He's still very weak, and the infection may have damaged his brain, from what I've gathered so far." She told Atta, before taking a tiny glowing chunk of fungus and shining it into Flik's eyeballs. "Okay, a bit of damage still in the left eye, but nothing too major." She noted as she conducted her diagnosis. "Now Flik, can you hear me, deary?"
"Uh. Uhh..." Flik murmured as his eyes slowly shifted around. "D... Doc?" He asked quietly.
"Yes, Flik - it's me, Dr. Flora." She confirmed. "Can you see me at all?" She asked, to which Flik nodded lightly. "Well, Princess Atta, Flik seems better off than I would've expected, so he should be walking by tomorrow!"
"Princ... ess... Atta..." Flik mumbled.
"Yes, Flik?" Atta responded as she took Flik's hand into her own.
Just then, Dot came rushing back into the room with her friends. "See, I told you he'd make it!" She said happily.
"Now, Princess Dot, you have to pipe down in here, remember?" Said Dr. Flora. "Besides, Flik still hasn't quite made a full recovery just yet. He needs more time to rest yet."
"Awww!" Said the girls in unison.
"You heard the doc, kids. Let's all give Flik some space." Atta said to the girls as she gently ushered them out of the room, just when the Queen walked past them towards Flik.
"Atta, I heard that Flik's awake!" Said the Queen. They looked over to find that Flik was unconscious once more.
Atta grunted. "Well, he was."
The Queen chuckled. "Well, at least he's alive, right?"
Several hours after that, Flik awoke more fully, and only Atta was sat beside him.
"Princess Atta?" He said groggily.
Atta's gaze immediately shifted over to Flik. "Flik, you're awake!" She said with a smile, which faded as soon as it appeared. "Listen, Flik, I... I really am sorry for what happened, Flik. I swear, I didn't mean for any of this to happen to you. If nothing else, I just want you to know how grateful we all are, and how much we care about you. How much... I care about you." Atta then looked down awkwardly and twiddled her thumbs, when Flik spoke up.
"Princess?" Flik wheezed, making Atta look up at him expectantly. "Do you remember the... night Hopper died?" He asked, earning him a nod from Atta. "I don't really remember, since I was... so drained... but I think we argued a bit, and... I think I said some things... that weren't entirely true."
Atta blinked. "Oh? Such as?" She asked curiously.
"Well... I think I said that I only cared about Dot..." Flik answered. "I mean, I love Dot... but, I mean... I really do care about you, Princess Atta - that was mostly why I helped the colony. I'm sorry if I was being harsh - I was angry at you." This confession made Atta almost immediately well up, and she pulled Flik into a tight hug as he lay on his bed. After a very long, warm embrace, Flik spoke up. "Princess Atta?"
"Please, Flik, just call me Atta." Said Atta as she silently sobbed with a smile.
"Atta... is it true?" Flik asked vaguely.
Atta tilted her head slightly to the side in confusion. "Is what true, Flik?"
"Do... Well... I heard you, oddly enough, when I was asleep here..." Flik began. "Do you really have... feelings for me?"
"Feelings for you?" Atta repeated. "Flik, I'm completely in love with you!" She said with a grin as tears began streaming down her face. "I mean, you're the bravest, most considerate bug I've ever had the privilege of meeting. You're one of a kind, Flik. I'm just... sorry that I messed it up..." She added with a frown as she looked down at herself. Seeing Atta's pain, Flik gently lifted her chin up to gaze into her beautiful, teary eyes, and brought his face closer to hers, and she did the same. They kissed, and slowly closed their eyes, not ever wanting it to end. However, it eventually did, and Atta looked on in astonishment. "Flik...?"
Flik sighed. "I've loved you for years, Atta. But why would I ever have had a chance with such a beautiful, intelligent... perfect Princess of Ant Island?"
Atta was at a loss for words, to say the least, and she just looked at Flik with her mouth hanging open for a few seconds, before smacking her lips onto his, pulling him into a deep, infinitely passionate kiss. After several minutes of this, they eventually pulled apart and gazed into each other's eyes. "I love you so much, Flik." Atta whispered.
"I love you too, Atta." Flik said back. Just then, Dr. Flora entered the room, making Atta and Flik snap their heads towards the door. Dr. Flora saw Atta sat on the bed with Flik, and their arms wrapped around each other.
"Flik, you're awake!" Dr. Flora approached the bed. "How're ya feelin', dear?"
"Just fine." Flik answered. "A little sore, but I should heal up, right?"
"Well, considering the savage beating endured by your organs and limbs, it's good that you feel okay for the most part!" Dr. Flora chirped. "And I managed to bandage your cuts and bruises with some herbal band-aids, and the herbal waters that I gave you boosted the healing of your internal wounds, so you should be back to normal soon. You will probably have several scars, however. No biggie, right?"
Atta breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Oh my god, THANK you, Dr. Flora! I'm so happy that Flik's recovered so well."
"Now, Flik, would you like to try walking?" Dr. Flora asked.
"Well... okay." Flik responded after a brief thought.
"Here, Flik - I'll help you." Atta offered as she sat on the edge of the bed and put Flik's arm around her.
After a few mintues, Flik's trembling knees were gradually improving, but he decided to sit back on the bed for a while, when the Queen and Dot entered the room to check on Atta, only to find that Flik was now fully conscious.
"Flik, you're okay!" Dot shouted happily as she flew over to Flik. "I knew that you'd make it!" She said as she hugged him tightly, with Flik returning the favour and kissing her on the head.
"I'm fine, Dot. I hope everything's been okay lately." Said Flik.
A few minutes later, word got out that Flik was awake, and everybody had gathered around the infirmary's door to see him. The circus bugs explained that they'd made trips to the city to get some food for the colony to make up for the grasshoppers' offerings.
The next day, the circus bugs bid the ant colony farewell, and the Queen had bestowed Atta her crown, and named her the new Queen of Ant Island, so Atta gave Dot her Princess crown. After waving the circus bugs goodbye, Flik and Atta walked hand-in-hand to their private chamber. "So... I guess this makes you King of Ant Island, huh?" Atta said with a smirk.
Flik's eyes widened, and he smiled slightly. "Huh... yeah, I guess it does, huh. Not only is my lifelong mate the most stunning, amazing ant in the world, but I'm actually King of the colony..." Flik said to himself in disbelief, unwittingly making Atta stop dead in her tracks, making Flik turn to face her, where he was immediately greeted with a passionate kiss that lasted for several seconds.
"I can't take this anymore - I need you NOW." Atta said in a desperately hurried manner.
"What do you- Whoa!" Flik began, before being interrupted as Atta lifted him up and flew him into their chamber.
"I'm gonna show you exactly the kind of treatment that my King deserves." Atta vaguely explained with a cheeky smirk on her face.