A/N: Warning, disturbing dream sequence/flashback!


The fire was burning around him. It was quickly closing in, slowly suffocating him. Suddenly the orange flames morphed into bodies. Tall, gangly bodies painted with twisted smirks.

The bodies pressed in closer, closing off any form of escape. Then, dozens of hands were on him. They held him and pushed him down, fully encompassing him. Then the hands quickly dissipated, and in their place, was Hopper.

"What's the matter? You scared of grasshoppers?" Hopper cackled.

Hopper's weight pressed him into the ground. He couldn't breathe. He desperately needed air!

He tried to scream, to get away, but the large grasshopper remained on top of him. He was on his stomach now. All around him stood dozens of trembling bodies. He saw feet walking toward him. He looked up at the face of the Princess. She wore a disgusted, contemptuous expression.

"Don't come back."


Flik jolted awake, shaking heavily. He was on his back, his hands clinging to the bed beneath him. After a few moments, once he regained his breath, he looked over to his left and saw that Dot was asleep in the crook of his arm. His left eye had become less swollen and he was finally able to open it. On the other side of Dot was Princess Atta.

Is this real?

Flik closed his eyes and tried to slow his breathing. He'd had the same dream for months ever since the grasshoppers took him. It had gotten worse over the last few days. This was one of several times he had woken up in the presence of the Princesses, but he still had trouble believing that he was back. His nightmares had intensified despite the tender care he was receiving.

Princess Atta began to stir awake. She always seemed to wake when he did.

"Hi, are you thirsty?" asked Atta, blinking away the sleep from her eyes.

Flik lifted his head slightly and nodded slowly in response.

Atta got up and went to fetch some hot tea and water for Flik. The whole situation was surreal and Flik was still in disbelief. He was in bed with Dot and Princess Atta, and she was getting him something to drink. Just days ago he was being held by Hopper and his gang.

Flik shuddered at the thought. The nightmare was still vivid in his mind. Maybe all of this was just a fever dream.

The Princess returned with a hot cup of tea and a dew drop. Flik did his best to sit up. He was still very weak. Dot yawned, still half asleep, and rested her head on his lap. Flik carefully took the cup from the Princess and brought it to his lips. The tea made him tired, but it made the pain bearable. It also caused his memories to be fuzzy, but he thought he remembered drinking the same tea several times.

Atta stood by while Flik drank. She was happy to see that he had gotten a little strength back. He still seemed very weak and timid. After he finished, Atta replaced the tea with the dew drop.

Atta had spent nearly every second with Flik since he returned and was reluctant to leave him. At some point, she would have to return to her royal duties. She knew there was talk among the colony about what she was doing. One rumor was that she had taken ill and had retired to her bed chamber until the end of spring. That was preferable to any rumor involving Flik.

As far as the rest of the colony knew, he was in a private room in the infirmary. It wouldn't do well for them to know that she was caring for him privately, especially since most didn't care for Flik. Jealousy was bound to be a product of that news, especially since she had a number of suitors that were vying for her attention. She had yet to choose a consort and it made the council and the colony anxious. Her mother assured her that she had plenty of time, and since Atta was reluctant to choose, she could wait until after her coronation.

Now was not the time to think of marriage and suitors, however.

After Flik had finished drinking, Atta grabbed the bowl of dinner from the night before. It was a medley of grain and fruit. She knew he must be hungry.

In truth, Flik was starving. He couldn't remember the last time he had eaten anything. Perhaps it had been last week when Axel had thrown some grain porridge on the ground for him.

She held the bowl up for Flik so he could use his good hand to eat. Flik's hand shook as he tried to bring the utensil to his mouth. Atta reached up and helped him steady it. He ate slowly and cautiously. Despite how hungry he was, he stopped eating after a few bites when a nauseous feeling hit him. He groaned and leaned his head back against the wall.

Atta took the bowl and set it down. When she saw that his breathing was labored again, she retrieved a cloth and dampened it with some dew and brought it to Flik's forehead.

He sighed in relief and slowly opened his eyes. The Princess gazed at him with a warm look in her eyes. He quickly averted his gaze, unable to look her in the eyes. She was the Princess, and after all that had happened, he couldn't bear to look at her.

Atta removed the cloth and reached up to stroke Flik's face. She caressed his cheek and asked, "Are you feeling better?"

Suddenly nervous, Flik began to tremble. This was the most lucid he had been in days, and the weight of reality was pressing in on him.

Wasn't she angry with him? Shouldn't he be punished?

The Princess removed her hand when she noticed him growing more uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you," she said.

Not a moment later, Dot's eyes fluttered open and she slowly took in her surroundings. She looked up at Flik and immediately threw her arms around him. She buried her face in his neck and began to cry.

Initially, he winced from the pain, but then slowly he wrapped his arms around Dot.

"I-I'm so glad you're ba-back," said Dot between sobs. " I-I thought, I thought they . . ." Dot blubbered, unable to finish her sentence.

Tears began to form in Flik's own eyes and his embrace around her tightened. He loved Dot like a little sister or even a daughter. She was the only one who believed in him even when he didn't believe in himself. Despite the way he felt, her presence offered him a tremendous amount of comfort.

The Princess watched her little sister and Flik's sweet reunion in silence. She was glad that she had let Dot stay.

A sudden knock at the door startled all three of them.

"Your Highness, you're needed in the council chamber," a male voice called.

Flik recoiled while continuing to hold Dot in his arms.

Puzzled, Atta looked back reluctantly at Flik and Dot before saying, "I have to go, but I'll be back soon." She got up and made her way to the door.

When she slid the door open, it was revealed that the voice belonged to Mr. Soil. Atta followed him out through the hall leaving Flik and Dot behind.


Once Atta and Mr. Soil entered the chamber, the Queen, Dr. Flora, Thorny, and Cornelius were already in deep conversation.

The council got right down to business without the usual niceties. Thorny was the first to speak.

"The colony has noticed your absence and they are beginning to talk," he said.

Atta stopped in her tracks, stunned.

"I-I've been caring for Flik," stammered Atta.

"Yes, we know, in your personal rooms," replied Mr. Soil.

"Well, yes. There wasn't much privacy in the infirmary, and his condition is delicate. Wouldn't you agree, Dr. Flora?" Atta prompted.

"His condition is very delicate, yes. Which is what I was just explaining to the rest of the council," responded Dr. Flora.

"So, what seems to be the problem?" asked Atta, her voice on edge.

"It's just unusual for a member of the royal family to offer medical care to a worker," said Mr. Soil, attempting to placate the situation.

"I understand, but this is an unusual circumstance," said Atta.

"Look, the fact is, we can't devote all of our resources to one ant!" cried Thorny.

Atta jumped, startled at the sudden outburst.

It had only been a few days. How could things have escalated so quickly?

"He's using up valuable medical supplies and not to mention your time!" he continued.

Atta gasped, appalled at what Thorny was saying.

"How can you say that? You've seen the state he's in!" Atta shouted.

"Yes, I have and that's what Dr. Flora is for," said Thorny as he crossed his arms.

"I have to agree with Thorny, Your Highness," chimed in Mr. Soil. "In the past when other ants have been sick or injured, they have remained under the care of Dr. Flora in the Medical Wing."

"I understand, but like I said, this is an unusual circumstance," the Princess said through gritted teeth,"and we're the ones that sent him on that suicide mission in the first place!"

She had been under a tremendous amount of stress for months and this confrontation was something she just couldn't handle calmly.

"He had caused enough trouble and we needed him out of the way! Listen, there's talk among the colony that you're playing favorites," said Thorny.

Atta froze at Thorny's words. Her mother hadn't known that they had sent Flik on his search for warrior bugs to get him out of the way.

The Queen looked stricken and then looked over at Atta, saddened by the news.

This couldn't have gone any worse. Not only had her mother found out that they'd sent Flik on a fool's errand, the knowledge that the heir apparent was caring for the least popular member of the colony had sparked more than jealousy. It had sparked outrage.

"How does anyone even know that I'm caring for him?" questioned Atta.

"One of the nurses saw you leave with Flik," replied Cornelius.

And she thought that she was being careful.

"Now, now," the Queen chimed in, "I truly don't see what all the fuss is about. If Atta wants to continue caring for Flik until he's well, I see no harm in it. Furthermore, I can't believe any of you would risk the safety of the colony by sending a lone worker off the island."

Atta couldn't believe what was happening. There hadn't been this much discord among the council in quite some time.

"Your Highness, we've been over this. There is dissent among the colony and it could affect Princess Atta's standing," said Mr. Soil.

"She hasn't officially chosen a suitor, and no one wants to think of Flik as a prospect," Thorny added. "Not to mention Flik is the reason we owed Hopper double quota."

At this, Atta's face grew red.

"This isn't about me choosing a suitor. This is about me taking care of an ant who was taken from us and severely injured, and if they can't understand that then . . ." she was so angry she couldn't finish her sentence. She took a deep breath and began again, "Ultimately, the colony will just have to accept whoever I choose as a suitor and be happy with it."

"Are you saying you're seriously considering Flik as a prospect?" cried Thorny, astonished.

"Like I've said, this isn't about me choosing a suitor. This is about me taking care of one of our own," replied Atta matter of factly.

With that, Atta turned on her heel and exited the chamber.


Once Atta made it back to her room, she ate the dinner she had neglected from the night before. She was famished and she couldn't remember the last time she had eaten. Afterwards, she got back into bed with Flik and Dot who had fallen back to sleep. Despite it being midmorning, Atta was drained from the council meeting. She wasn't sure if she could go back to sleep, but she just wanted to lie in bed and forget about this awful day.

With careful movements, Atta reached over and put her arm around Flik and her little sister. She thought about what Thorny had said, and her anger flared up again.

How could he think this was about her choosing a consort? That was the farthest thing from her mind. All she wanted to do right now was see Flik well. And Mother. She must be so disappointed in me.

She continued to think on the morning meeting until Flik began to whimper in his sleep. Atta sat up and placed a hand on his forehead. She had to stop thinking about herself and take care of Flik. When he began to writhe and moan she continued to stroke his forehead and gently shook his shoulder.

Flik's eyes slowly fluttered open, his breathing heavy. He was having another nightmare. It was the same nightmare that had plagued him for months.

"Shhh, you're okay. It was just a bad dream," Atta soothed while resting her hand on his head.

She slowly laid back down and pulled Flik close to her. He stiffened in her arms and whimpered again, but slowly calmed when she put her arms around him and cradled the back of his head. After several moments, he relaxed in her embrace and tucked his head under her chin.

Flik wasn't used to this kind of treatment. It was unsettling at first, but he relaxed when he realized she wasn't going to hurt him. Being held actually made him feel safe, although it still felt strange to be touched, especially in this manner. He let out a small sigh and closed his eyes again. It was painful to be awake, but his nightmares haunted him in his sleep. The tea had helped ease some of the pain and made him groggy. The Princess began humming a gentle tune, and he decided to let it lull him back to the comforts of sleep.