Flik and Atta slowly woke up the next morning to find Jr. nestled in their arms fast asleep. The two ants sadly glanced at each other. Neither of them wanted Jr. to leave Ant Island but they had to for his own safety and they couldn't take their chances if the grasshoppers were to strike. Then the small ant began to squirm and whimper.

"Jr….Jr. sweetie pie ...It's time to wake up…" Atta whispered, shaking her son out of the soon-to-be nightmare. Flik Jr. moaned a little and rubbed his eyes.

"Hi, Mommy and Daddy…" Jr. yawned.

"Good morning son…." Flik and Atta glanced at each other and back down at their son.

"Sweetheart...Remember when we said you're leaving with the circus bugs…" Atta told her son. Jr. nodded his head. "Well...um...You're leaving today…"

Jr. had a worried look on his face. "What…"

"You're supposed to leave with them this morning, Daddy and I promise to have breakfast with you before you leave…"

"But...I don't wanna go…" Jr whimpered, shrinking a little.

"We talked about this sweetie...and the decision was already made-"

"Can I please bring Buddy with me?" Jr asked, holding the stick figure.

"I…" Atta glances at Flik who nods his head. "Sure you can sweetie...Now come on…" Atta took an upset Jr.'s hand and led him away from their room with Flik following after them. Then Jr released himself from his mother's grip and ran to his room. Atta and Flik heard sobs and sniffles in his room.

Both ants felt terrible for him. Everything was happening and changing before his eyes and suddenly he has to leave home. Then Flik slowly opened the leave door to find his son curled in a corner, holding onto Buddy. Tears rushed down his pudgy face and some of the tears landed on Buddy to make it look like he's crying too.

"Jr...I know that this is hard but I promise you everything will be okay…" Flik said, breaking the silence. He picked up his son and placed him on his lap, sitting on the floor.

"How do you know…" Jr asked.

"Well...We're gonna teach those grasshoppers a lesson and you'll be home in no time...In the meantime, you get to see a new place...The city this time of the year is really nice...You get to see the pretty lights…"

"Pretty lights…" Jr repeated.

"Yeah...I know it's going to be rough for a while but over time you'll come to like the city…"

"B-B-But I don't wanna leave you guys…" Jr whimpered. Atta then came over to the father and son.

"Oh, Sweetie...We don't want you to leave us either...But Daddy and I want you to be safe...Come to Mommy…" Atta scooped Jr. from Flik's arms and embraced her son in her arms. Flik watched the mother and son embrace each other and smile. He knew that Atta wanted to protect their son, ever since his birth, and having him leave the island is tearing her apart into shreds. Flik too had a share of heartbreak that his son was leaving him but neither of them had a choice.

Flik noticed Atta clutching onto Jr tightly in her arms, planting kisses on his head with tears rolling down her heartbroken face. Flik then placed a hand on Atta's shoulder and they both began to embrace their child, holding him one last time.

By the time the hour passed, it was time for Jr. to leave. Jr's new friends Skeeter, Skipper, and Bucky were there to say goodbye.

"Hey...Don't you worry about it...We'll take care of those grasshoppers…" Skipper reassured the little boy.

"Yeah...I think you're gonna love the city...Plus I think you'll find a good friend in Filia…" Skeeter added.

"I think she hates me…" Jr. sighed sadly. Then Bucky crouched to Jr's level.

"Between you and me...Most women are snobs…" that statement earned him a kick from both Skeeter and Skipper, making Jr. giggle.

"Jr. Honey...It's time…" Rosie called out, pointed to the animal cracker box. Jr then looked back at the ants and then he slowly walked toward Dim. He held onto Buddy so tight in his arms and he began to hang on to the large bug

"Hold on little ant," Dim told Flik Jr. Flik held onto dim as he began to take off. All the small ant could do was look down at Ant Island and at his parents. He saw his mother crying for him and he felt horrible for her.

The farther The circus bugs flew away from Ant Island. It started to get smaller and smaller from the boy's perspective and Jr sighed sadly, now realizing he's not going to be home anymore. Then he felt Tuck and Roll, patting him on the back, giving him their sympathy.

"Oh, sweetheart...I know it's hard but We promise that you'll be home in no time…" Rosie told him. Jr just looked down at the green below them. He wasn't too sure about that.

They were flying for a while until P.T spotted lights nearby a rusty trailer

"Never pout when there's a circus and a city about…" P.T pointed out

Jr looked up and saw the lights and was in awe.

"Look at that Buddy…" Jr. told his stick figure and then he pointed at the trailer up ahead. "Rosie...Does anyone live in that gigantic metal tree…"

"Oh..um...That's called a trailer sweetie and I haven't seen anybody that has lived there...I wouldn't want to find out either…" Rosie answered.

When they all landed at the circus tent a few more bugs came out and Jr. recognized them as ants.

"Hey P.T...Who's the new kid?" one of the ants asked.

"Hi, My name is Flik Jr." Jr announced himself

"Jr...Are you Flik and Princess Atta's child…" Another ant asked

"Uh-huh, that's me…" then the few numbers of the ants applauded and came to admire Jr.

"Aww He has his mother's eyes…" one ant said.

"He looks just like Flik…" another ant added.

"What's that in your hand kid?" One of them asked.

"I made him, His name is Buddy…" Jr. held out the stick figure before cuddling it close to him.

The ants awwed at him and Jr felt a little bit less of a stranger to the circus now that there were a few ants there that can make him feel at home. Then something came out at him that scared him to death

"Aww a baby, he's so sweet can I hold him…oh he's so cute " a voice came out. Flik Jr. was then being held tightly by a fat gold grasshopper. He panicked and ran towards Rosie and hid behind her.

"Tiny...you can't just come out like that you'll scare somebody…" Rosie lectured

"Ooh I'm sorry little buddy...the names Molt by the way...I like your stick figure there…" Molt said, pointed to Buddy in Jr's arms

"Thank you…" Jr started to slowly peek out from behind the black widow

"Wait why is the queen's son here and not Ant island?" One of the ants asked

"The grasshoppers are back...He wasn't safe there so we took him here with us…" Francis said.

"And...and The Madam killed my gramma…" Flik Jr. whimpered

The ants and Molt were in shock to hear this.

"How dare she…" the ants murmured

"Wait wait wait say that name again…" Molt said.

"Her name is The Madam...I don't know her real name…" Jr mewled, burying himself on one of Rosie's 8 legs

"Ooh I heard of her...she's worse than Hopper...She was under his wing and taught her how to be a ruthless leader like him...She was going to take over the gang even though I was Vice President of the gang since I'm hopper's brother…" Molt rambled.

"So you know hopper?" Jr asked

"Yeah, he's my brother...what happened to him…"

Jr shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know...all I heard was a story that a...a grasshopper got eaten by a birdie and his antenna was left…" the boy explained.

"Oh...Ooh, that reminds me, If you ever need a bedtime story I'll tell you of the time that Hopper nearly got eaten by a blue Jay…" then Molt proceeded to ramble on about the story.

Then Flik Jr began to clamp onto his head and moan gently. His eyes were closed shut and Rosie began to pick up on his slight distress

"Honey, what's wrong?" Rosie asked him

"I don't feel so good...my head hurts…" Jr moaned.

Later on, Rosie and Francis showed Jr where he was going to stay. It was a small space for him with a candy wrapper as a hammock and a small torn cloth as a blanket and the whole area was covered with a small tent.

"Alright kid...this is your new bed...for now...luckily it's spring and summer season so you won't get hit by wind…" Francis said. Then the headache began to slowly come back to Flik Jr. and he began to slowly crouch down, holding Buddy in his right hand while the other was on his head.

"Sweetie are you okay…" Rosie questioned, rubbing the little boy's back. then one of the spotlight bugs came in.

"Hey is everything okay over here?" He asked

"It's the new kid...he doesn't feel so good…" Francis told him. Rosie scooped him up and placed him on his new bed and rocked him slowly, humming a lullaby. It soothed Jr. a little and he began to drift off little by little

"Miss Rosie...Can we please see the city tomorrow?" Jr asked tiredly

"Sure we can Jr...You get some sleep now…" Rosie assured him. Jr then fell fast asleep sucking his thumb and holding Buddy. The black widow tucked him in and She and Francis left the young ant to get some sleep.

In the middle of the night, Jr bolted awake from a nightmare and was sweating profusely. He clutched into his stick figure Buddy, pulling him close to his face. Then he felt a sudden urge. He glanced outside the tent and saw the small outhouse and he squirmed his legs. He looked around to see if the coast was clear and he ran towards the outhouse

When he was finished, Jr. peeked out of the outhouse and quickly went back inside as he heard a rustle in the tall grass.

It was only Molt, coming out of the bushes, picking up grain for his midnight snack. Jr. peeked out a little and waited for him to disappear in the large red and white tent and he slowly closed the door to the small outhouse and raced to his tent and closed it behind him. He breathed a sigh of relief and went back to bed

The next morning, the circus was busy trying to get everything ready. Jr walked in on the process and was amazed at how the circus looked

"Good Morning everyone…" Jr called.

"Good Morning Flik Jr...Can you help us out over here…" Gypsy called him over. Jr ran over to Gyspy, Filia, and Many and helped them clean up some of the seats. Jr grinned and waved at Filia who mimicked his smile and just ignored him.

"Why does she hate me so much?" Jr thought.

"Breakfast time...Come and get it…" P.T yelled from across the stage. The circus bugs ran over to get their breakfast along with Jr.

When Jr saw what was for breakfast he was in a state of shock. It was just grain and berries. When the small ant looked at the berries, it reminded him too much of his grandmother and he wanted to shove them away from him but he didn't want to go hungry later on.

Jr. took slow bites of the berry in front of him and memories of him and his grandmother kept flooding in his mind with every bite. Tears began to sting his eyes but he tried his best to ignore them.

"Jr. Are you okay…" Gypsy noticed the tears. Jr didn't answer but he nodded his head. The moth gently wiped his tears from his small blue pudgy face. As he finished, More tears came down his face.

"These berries remind me of my gramma…" then Jr. began to weep as he ate more of the berries with Gypsy and Rosie comforting him.

"Hey hey Jr. Wanna see the city...That'll cheer ya up...Ooh ooh you're gonna love it…" Molt came in.

Everyone stared at him as he rambled on and Jr wiped his tears from his face. His rambling stopped once Francis threw a berry at him.

"Shutting up…" Molt said. Jr giggled, feeling a little bit better.

I think seeing the city is a wonderful idea...IF we hurry now the lights would be on…" Slim pitched in.

"Okay...I'll go get Buddy…" As Jr ran off to his tent, P.T began to grin

"Maybe the kid could be an addition to an act...Maybe the clowns…" P.T thought out loud

"Now you hold on a second P.T, the kid's never performed before…" Francis confronted the flea

"Yeah...I don't think that it's a good idea…" Rosie added. "He's already upset enough as it is…"

"Well we can make him useful while he's here and make me some money…" the flea bounced away humming to himself. The other bugs shook their heads

"Oh, I already know how this is going to go…"

Molt and a few of the ants took Jr. to see the city. The bugs were passing by and the small ant was in awe of what he was seeing in front of him.

"Look at that Buddy...It's the city…" then he began to walk up front and look at the cardboard buildings all around him. "Wow…"

Then one of the ants saw the light about to be green

"Jr...Watch out of the-" then the car bugs began to zoom in the street where Jr was

"Aaah…" Jr panicked as he tried to run off of the street. He got on the crosswalk when he saw a large bug come in and pick up the waiting insects on the sidewalk

"Making all stops to the septic tank, including standing water, empty bean can, and dead rat. Watch your stingers. All aboard!" a long bug said, letting his passengers on him

"Woah…" then a bunch of people began to bump into him, making the boy stumble and bump into a slug

"Hey watch where you're goin' kid…"

"I'm sorry sir…" Jr cuddled Buddy as he backed away from the mean slug. He saw a bunch of bugs staring at him.

"Why is he carrying a stick…" one bug said

"What a weirdo...I feel bad for the parents…" He heard another bug say.

"Buddy... We're not on Ant Island anymore…" He told his stick figure.

"Jr. are you okay?" one of the ants cried

"Protect the prince…" Molt called, trying to shield Flik Jr.

"I'm okay guys...Really I am…that was really scary back there...those rushing buggies…"

"It's traffic...Welcome to the city life Prince Flik Jr…." Another ant told him.

When they got back to the circus, P.T. bounced his way to the small ant.

"Good News Kid, since you're gonna be here with us for a while...I decided to put you in an act…"

"An act...what does that mean?" Jr asked him

"It means...You're gonna perform with us…"

"But I don't have any performing talents…"

"Nonsense kid, I'll have you perform with the clowns tonight…"

"But I…"

"Make sure you go see Francis, Heimlich, and Slim about the act…I'm gonna be rich rich rich tonight…" P.T. Flea sang on the way out

"Okay…" Flik Jr said feeling uneasy.

Flik Jr then visited the trio of bugs.

"Well kid, You've never performed before so it's best to follow our lead…" Francis told him

"Okay.."

"Well since you're here now...We should do your makeup…" Heimlich added, munching on candy corn.

"My what-" Jr was interrupted by Slim putting on a flower around his neck and Heimlich placing a little bit of berry juice on the kid's face

"What do you think little one…" Slim asked. They took Flik Jr. to the mirror and the boy tilted his head. He's never seen himself with makeup before and it wasn't like him to wear it either.

"I...I look good…" Flik Jr hesitated.

"Oh and the stick has to stay in the tent…" Francis reminded the boy

"But what if I need him…" Jr asked.

"Our performance is usually quick...So you and Buddy will be together in no time...okay kid."

Jr had a look of reluctance but he eventually nodded his head. Then he heard murmuring

"Oh, the people are starting to come in…Come along Jr. Slim grabbed the boy's hand and led him near the stage. Flik Jr. peeked out to see the people coming until Francis pulled him back in

"Don't do that...the audience will see you…" Francis lightly scolded

"Remember, if you see the audience, they see you...and don't spoil the show by having the audience see you…" Slim added.

"I'm sorry guys…" Flik Jr whimpered looking down.

"Don't worry about it, sweetheart…" Rosie came in with Dim and a small rope. "It's your first time...Good luck and break a leg"

"What does that mean?" Flik Jr. asked the clowns again.

"It's another phrase for good luck...It's for the performers…"

"Oh…" then the lights suddenly shut off and Jr clamped onto Slim's leg.

"S-Sorry I don't like the dark…" Jr mewled.

"Hang on kid, it's gonna be for a minute…"

"AND NOW LADIES AND GENTLEBUGS, WELCOME TO P.T. FLEA'S CIRCUS...TO START US OFF WE HAVE ROSIE AND DIM…" P.T. Flea announced as everyone was getting ready.

Rosie and Dim began the performance when the black widow cracked the whip and Dim ran around her, roaring

"Get back you beast…" Rosie called, getting her whip ready.

"Wow...Rosie and Dim and great…" Jr beamed.

"You should get ready kid, we're about to be on…" Francis warned.

Jr then felt his stomach drop and churn. He suddenly felt nervous to go on.

"NEXT UP WE HAVE OUR FOUR CLOWNS AND THEIR NEWEST ADDITION, LITTLE SAPLING…" then Jr, Francis, and Slim came on

"Tra la la la la I'm a flower in the springtime…" Slim sang while Francis swayed along. They glanced at Jr who was just standing, looking at the audience

"So many people...I don't know what to do…" Jr said quietly.

"Sing my little sapling…" Francis urged.

"Uh...La la la la I'm a sapling, ready to sprout-" Jr was interrupted by Heimlich coming in as a bee.

"I'm a cute little bumblebee...ready to get some pollen yah…" Heimlich gloated.

"Aah...a bee...Run…" Slim, Francis, and Jr ran from Heimlich. Jr then tripped on a nearby stick, making him fall on his face. A few of the flies in the audience laughed at him.

"Ow ow ow ow…" Jr held onto his knee.

"Hey clown, Get on with the show…" a fly yelled as his friend threw a large berry at the little boy, getting the juice all over his face.

"What a clown…" then more berries were being thrown at Jr as well as more flies laughing at him

"Leave the boy alone you poo poo heads…" Heimlich called out. Then out of nowhere a small grain was being thrown at Jr, hurting him and making the small ant cry.

Sensing the small ant's distress, an angry Dim ran out and roared at the audience, shielding Jr in his wings, making the frightened Jr cry even more. Rosie rushed in and tried to calm him but he ran off the stage before he could. Filia, Gypsy, and Manny saw the boy run and Filia felt awful, she wanted to go after him but she was on next.

Then after the show was over, P.T. went towards Jr.

"What were you doing kid, You're supposed to perform, not make a fool out of yourself…" P.T. yelled at him

"I'm-I'm sorry…" Flik cried, lower lip quivering.

"Hey, pal...We warned you that it was a bad idea for him to perform like that…" Francis confronted, with Slim nodded.

"Yah...It wasn't his fault…" Heimlich agreed.

"And I thought Filia was bad…" P.T. murmured.

"Now don't you bring our Filia into this…" Manny pointed at the flea.

"Because if the kid, we lost at least half of our profits…" P.T. glared at Jr.

"Is money all you care about...Not even the safety of children…" Gypsy said shocked.

In the middle of the argument, Jr ran off to be alone. Filia then thought about what to do.

Flik Jr. was sitting on a leaf, sniffling. He didn't mean to ruin the show. It was his first time after all.

"Flik Jr…" a faint voice called. He turned and saw Filia.

"Hello, Filia…" Jr. wiped his tears, seeing her.

"I brought Buddy for you…" Filia brought the stick figure over to Jr who took it and clutched it close to his face

"Thank you...But...But I thought you hated me…" Flik Jr perked up

"Well at first I thought you were a clown like these guys...But I see now that you're different

"A clown...But I'm an ant…" Jr spoke in bewilderment, making Filia giggle.

"I'm sorry about tonight…" then Jr looked down sadly.

"I'm sorry too...I didn't mean for the performance to go so wrong…"

"Trust me Jr...You're not the only one...He was like this when it was my first time.."

"Really…"

"Yes...I was so scared I didn't come out of the box for the magic act and P.T was furious at me...It took Father a long time to chew him out but he never got angry with me again...He lost his temper a few times but I was able to stand him…"

"That's awful"

"Jr...I want to say sorry to you…"

"For what…"

"I haven't been too nice to you lately and I'm sorry...I bet your friends at home think I'm a jerk…"

"Bucky thinks your a snob but I think your beautiful" Jr smiled

"If there was a way I could-Beautiful…"

"Mhm...Your the most beautiful bug I've ever seen…" Filia smiled at Jr's compliment.

"I think I know a way to make it up to you...You wanna stay in my tent tonight...then tomorrow we can explore the city, and have some of our own fun…"

"Okay...I'd like that...Does this mean we're friends now…"

"Yes...I'd like that we are friends…" Filia and Jr glanced at each other, smiling warmly and the two sat on the leaf together until it was time for bed.