The next winter came around and the promise of rain hung in the air. As
well as a tingle of excitement.
"YAY! They're coming! Finally!" Dot ran down the corridor skipping every other step dancing into the arms of her "brother" Flik.
He lifted her up into the air laughing. "Yeup!" he said brightly "They should be here in a few days."
They were of course talking about the arrival of the "warriors". Better known as "Flik's best mistake."
After being known as the ant who messed everything up he had certainly gotten a better outlook on life. With the help of Atta and Dot that is.
Atta stepped in their playtime. "Dot time for you to go to school, and Flik it's time for your ceremony."
"Awwwwwwwww." They both said.
Atta rolled her eyes. They could be such little kids at certain times, especially Flik. "Come on!"
"Can't I please come?" begged Dot
"No, you need your education. Even Flik went through school."
"That's rig.. HEY!"
Atta laughed and walked out the door. Dot giggling followed her and Flik sighing followed the troupe out the door.
~~~~~
After both of the older ants had said goodbye to their young charge they turned around and headed down the hallway to the grand council room.
"Ready." Atta whispered
Flik just gulped in reply as his antennae twanged uncomfortably.
Atta giggled and grabbed Flik's hand pulling him into the room. There stood the queen and her four council members. This would be her last official act as queen before she completely handed over the reigns to her daughter.
"So Flik, it's time to decide what to do with you." She said in her formidable voice.
Flik's only response was to once again gulp.
"Now it seems that you can't do anything that requires work without messing it up somehow."
Flik winced at these harsh words.
"Except you have an amazing ability to invent things. But I daresay you can't do that all the time. Every ant contributes in this colony. And even though your inventions help you success rate," the Queen paused, choosing her words carefully "Leaves something to be desired."
Flik laughed nervously. Of course he only had 4 true successes. The megaphone, the telescope, the harvester and the bird. But the Queen was right, out of his 43 "inventions" only having 4 that worked was not a very good ratio.
"Ahem" the Queen's harsh voice snapped him out of his daydream. "So the council and I have been watching you for some time now Flik, and we have decided on a job for you."
Here is comes..
"We wish you to be Atta's official aid."
"I...what?"
"You heard me."
Atta looked at her mom and the council dumbfounded.
The Queen noticed the two young ant's apparent shock. "Yes I know this position does not exist. But like I said we have been watching you for awhile. I notice when you help Atta she seems to make the smaller decisions quicker and not get stressed out as much."
"Not to mention it keeps Flik out of trouble." Muttered Mr. Soil
"So all in favor of creating this position say 'aye'."
"AYE!" Four hands shot up.
"Well there you have it." Said the Queen. She stepped off of the podium and handed over her Flower crown for the last time.
"I wish both of you the best of luck." She said quietly
Atta who had gotten over her shock nodded. Flik just continued to stare. "Congratulations, dear," Said Dr. Flora coming off the podium.
"Th-thanks.." Said Flik distantly.
Atta grabbed Flik's hand and pulled him out the door. "Come on, 'aid'"
Flik unfroze and followed her happily.
"Ahh, young love." Said Dr. Flora
"Heh, well that was a good 'kill two birds with one stone' feat we just did." Said Mr. Soil
The other three council members nodded. ~~~~~~~~~
"Put it on!" Atta held out the yellow flower crown to Flik.
"But I'll look stupid."
"Nonsense! You are in a position of royalty and you need to act like it."
Flik took the yellow crown reluctantly and put it on wincing as it went over his antennae. Atta noticed this.
"What's wrong now?"
"It just kinda hurts that's all."
Atta noticed the petals of the crown were pushing his antennae into a 'curl' position. Only his antennae didn't curl.
Atta laughed and started to mess with the silly looking hat trying to make it more comfortable. At least untill they heard a loud buzzing outside.
~~~~~~~~~
The loud buzzing noise got louder and louder. Flik and Atta ran, or rather flew outside to see the commotion.
The circus bugs had landed outside and were being greeted with joyous applause.
Only this time there was one more member.
"I-I am so glad to have come here. I really wish.."
Flik laughed as he recognized Molt's stutter and felt a long hand on his shoulder.
"Hello, my boy." Manny looked down on the small ant.
"Oooh, got a promotion I see." Said Rosie
Flik looked at the crown on his head and laughed nervously. The other ants not knowing what was going on looked at him too. Flik at that point started to wish the ground would just swallow him up.
Atta flew over and smiled taking up an amplifier. "I will explain all at the feast tonight welcoming our guests and welcoming out newest royal helper!"
All the ants cheered loudly and Flik barely felt the pats on his back or heard the congratulations. All he could feel was the heat from his own face.
~~~~~~~~~
"Royalty!" said Gypsy with astonishment.
"I didn't find out untill this morning." Said Flik quickly.
The party was in full swing and Atta had just finished explaining why Flik was wearing the crown. This had been greeted with tremendous applause and Flik once again wishing for the ability to disappear.
Atta giggled. "I thought you would like everyone clapping for you."
"I didn't think that I really meant that much." He replied honestly.
"Now that's not true." Said Slim
"Ja! You hav much reason to make zeez ants like jo." Himelich added.
"I.." Flik wasn't given time to answer because Dot came bounding in.
"Flik, Flik! That's so cool!" she bounded over to the table and jumped in his lap.
"Hey!" Flik relaxed for the first time that day. "What are you doing up. You still have school tomorrow."
"I need help to study for a test." Said Dot. "Pleeeeeeeeeese!"
Dr. Flora heard the girl. "Ummm, Flik dear, you might want to retire early. I'll study with her highness for you!"
"Awwwww!" said Dot "Flik is really good at helping me study. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!" "I don't see why not. I always have time for you Dot." Said Flik
Dr. Flora shifted nervously.
"Come on Dot. Let's go find a quieter place to study!" said Flick, thankful for the excuse to leave the party.
"What's the test on?" asked Molt
"The Grasshopper wars!" said Dot happily.
"Oh!" Molt was genuinely interested. "Can I listen in?"
"Why on earth would you need to do that?" asked Manny.
"I wasn't here when it started. I was nursing mom after she got sick."
Flik looked at Dot. "Well?"
Dot nodded. "I don't care. You can all come if you want!"
"Oh, dear." Said Dr. Flora
As all the guests of honor left the noisy party and went into the almost empty anthill the other four council members quietly followed.
They came to the council room and sat on the seats. Then the four council bugs came in and went over in the corner, not missed by anyone. Atta ducked in. "Oh I'm sorry. I was just trying to get away."
"It's ok Atta." Said Flik "We're just studying."
"Oh! Why didn't you ask me?" said Atta
"Because Flik is smarter than you." Said Dot sticking out her tongue
This got a chuckle from everyone except Atta and Dot
Flik sensing another sister battle took the notes from Dot's hands and started to ask questions.
"Ok, how long did the Grasshopper Wars last?"
"19 years!" said Dot
"Yeup, ok, how did they start?"
"Ummmmmm, didn't a bunch of locusts eat all our food and Hopper gave us some grain so we could survive?"
"There's more than that." Said Flik
"Uhhhhh, I don't remember."
Dr. Flora came over. "Hopper told us that he would give us the food if we paid him back the next year. But when he came back he said it wasn't enough. So he told us to pay the rest back. So then he came back the next year. And it kept on going year after year."
"Oh." Said Dot.
"Flik, dear. Are you sure you don't want me to take over?"
"I'm positive Dr. Flora. I can handle it."
"Next question!" said Dot
"Ok, let's see!" Flik looked at the notes. Then he paled. "Oh.." He said softly
Dr. Flora winced
"What?" asked Dot
"Nothing. Ok, when was the first revolt against Hopper...and..how did it end?" he finished softly.
The circus bugs turned to see the other ants in the room take off their hats and close their eyes.
"There was an ant named Push who led a bunch of ants against Hopper. He gathered a bunch of weapons and tried to make him leave. But they were not very big and Hopper beat them."
"And the outcome?" asked Flik
"Hopper beat them all and squished their leader." Said Dot quietly
Flik nodded his antennae sinking.
Molt looked at the subdued ants. "I had no idea Hoppy did something like that."
"It's ok..." said Flik "You couldn't have stopped him if you wanted to. No one could."
Dot looked at Flik. "It ends happy though!"
Flik nodded. "Yeup, how did the wars end?"
"We made a big bird and you helped the Blueberries scare off Hopper's gang! Then you led him to a birds nest!"
Molt winced at these last words.
Dot saw "Oh, I'm sorry!"
"I-It's ok!" said Molt in a fake cheerful voice.
"Ok Dot, time for bed." Said Flik
"Awwww, night" she kissed Flik on the cheek and ran over to her mother who was standing in the doorway. "Night mom!" Then she stuck her tongue at her sister "Night At-ta!"
Then she scampered down the hall. Flik took off his crown and set it on the rocks. "I'm going to bed too." He said quietly "Good night." He quietly walked out the door and turned left.
"Something more than studying went on here tonight." Said Slim
The Queen walked over to Atta and the council members. "Poor boy. That must have been hard."
"I tried to warn him." Said Dr. Flora.
"Is this about Push?" asked Gypsy
Atta nodded. "We were all shocked at what happened to him. Hopper did it in front of the whole colony to teach us a lesson."
"Oh my.." Said Molt
"Why was Flik so upset?" asked Rosie
Atta picked up Flik's crown which had hole in the petals for his antennae. She sighed and looked at the circus bugs.
"Because. Push was Flik's dad."
"YAY! They're coming! Finally!" Dot ran down the corridor skipping every other step dancing into the arms of her "brother" Flik.
He lifted her up into the air laughing. "Yeup!" he said brightly "They should be here in a few days."
They were of course talking about the arrival of the "warriors". Better known as "Flik's best mistake."
After being known as the ant who messed everything up he had certainly gotten a better outlook on life. With the help of Atta and Dot that is.
Atta stepped in their playtime. "Dot time for you to go to school, and Flik it's time for your ceremony."
"Awwwwwwwww." They both said.
Atta rolled her eyes. They could be such little kids at certain times, especially Flik. "Come on!"
"Can't I please come?" begged Dot
"No, you need your education. Even Flik went through school."
"That's rig.. HEY!"
Atta laughed and walked out the door. Dot giggling followed her and Flik sighing followed the troupe out the door.
~~~~~
After both of the older ants had said goodbye to their young charge they turned around and headed down the hallway to the grand council room.
"Ready." Atta whispered
Flik just gulped in reply as his antennae twanged uncomfortably.
Atta giggled and grabbed Flik's hand pulling him into the room. There stood the queen and her four council members. This would be her last official act as queen before she completely handed over the reigns to her daughter.
"So Flik, it's time to decide what to do with you." She said in her formidable voice.
Flik's only response was to once again gulp.
"Now it seems that you can't do anything that requires work without messing it up somehow."
Flik winced at these harsh words.
"Except you have an amazing ability to invent things. But I daresay you can't do that all the time. Every ant contributes in this colony. And even though your inventions help you success rate," the Queen paused, choosing her words carefully "Leaves something to be desired."
Flik laughed nervously. Of course he only had 4 true successes. The megaphone, the telescope, the harvester and the bird. But the Queen was right, out of his 43 "inventions" only having 4 that worked was not a very good ratio.
"Ahem" the Queen's harsh voice snapped him out of his daydream. "So the council and I have been watching you for some time now Flik, and we have decided on a job for you."
Here is comes..
"We wish you to be Atta's official aid."
"I...what?"
"You heard me."
Atta looked at her mom and the council dumbfounded.
The Queen noticed the two young ant's apparent shock. "Yes I know this position does not exist. But like I said we have been watching you for awhile. I notice when you help Atta she seems to make the smaller decisions quicker and not get stressed out as much."
"Not to mention it keeps Flik out of trouble." Muttered Mr. Soil
"So all in favor of creating this position say 'aye'."
"AYE!" Four hands shot up.
"Well there you have it." Said the Queen. She stepped off of the podium and handed over her Flower crown for the last time.
"I wish both of you the best of luck." She said quietly
Atta who had gotten over her shock nodded. Flik just continued to stare. "Congratulations, dear," Said Dr. Flora coming off the podium.
"Th-thanks.." Said Flik distantly.
Atta grabbed Flik's hand and pulled him out the door. "Come on, 'aid'"
Flik unfroze and followed her happily.
"Ahh, young love." Said Dr. Flora
"Heh, well that was a good 'kill two birds with one stone' feat we just did." Said Mr. Soil
The other three council members nodded. ~~~~~~~~~
"Put it on!" Atta held out the yellow flower crown to Flik.
"But I'll look stupid."
"Nonsense! You are in a position of royalty and you need to act like it."
Flik took the yellow crown reluctantly and put it on wincing as it went over his antennae. Atta noticed this.
"What's wrong now?"
"It just kinda hurts that's all."
Atta noticed the petals of the crown were pushing his antennae into a 'curl' position. Only his antennae didn't curl.
Atta laughed and started to mess with the silly looking hat trying to make it more comfortable. At least untill they heard a loud buzzing outside.
~~~~~~~~~
The loud buzzing noise got louder and louder. Flik and Atta ran, or rather flew outside to see the commotion.
The circus bugs had landed outside and were being greeted with joyous applause.
Only this time there was one more member.
"I-I am so glad to have come here. I really wish.."
Flik laughed as he recognized Molt's stutter and felt a long hand on his shoulder.
"Hello, my boy." Manny looked down on the small ant.
"Oooh, got a promotion I see." Said Rosie
Flik looked at the crown on his head and laughed nervously. The other ants not knowing what was going on looked at him too. Flik at that point started to wish the ground would just swallow him up.
Atta flew over and smiled taking up an amplifier. "I will explain all at the feast tonight welcoming our guests and welcoming out newest royal helper!"
All the ants cheered loudly and Flik barely felt the pats on his back or heard the congratulations. All he could feel was the heat from his own face.
~~~~~~~~~
"Royalty!" said Gypsy with astonishment.
"I didn't find out untill this morning." Said Flik quickly.
The party was in full swing and Atta had just finished explaining why Flik was wearing the crown. This had been greeted with tremendous applause and Flik once again wishing for the ability to disappear.
Atta giggled. "I thought you would like everyone clapping for you."
"I didn't think that I really meant that much." He replied honestly.
"Now that's not true." Said Slim
"Ja! You hav much reason to make zeez ants like jo." Himelich added.
"I.." Flik wasn't given time to answer because Dot came bounding in.
"Flik, Flik! That's so cool!" she bounded over to the table and jumped in his lap.
"Hey!" Flik relaxed for the first time that day. "What are you doing up. You still have school tomorrow."
"I need help to study for a test." Said Dot. "Pleeeeeeeeeese!"
Dr. Flora heard the girl. "Ummm, Flik dear, you might want to retire early. I'll study with her highness for you!"
"Awwwww!" said Dot "Flik is really good at helping me study. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!" "I don't see why not. I always have time for you Dot." Said Flik
Dr. Flora shifted nervously.
"Come on Dot. Let's go find a quieter place to study!" said Flick, thankful for the excuse to leave the party.
"What's the test on?" asked Molt
"The Grasshopper wars!" said Dot happily.
"Oh!" Molt was genuinely interested. "Can I listen in?"
"Why on earth would you need to do that?" asked Manny.
"I wasn't here when it started. I was nursing mom after she got sick."
Flik looked at Dot. "Well?"
Dot nodded. "I don't care. You can all come if you want!"
"Oh, dear." Said Dr. Flora
As all the guests of honor left the noisy party and went into the almost empty anthill the other four council members quietly followed.
They came to the council room and sat on the seats. Then the four council bugs came in and went over in the corner, not missed by anyone. Atta ducked in. "Oh I'm sorry. I was just trying to get away."
"It's ok Atta." Said Flik "We're just studying."
"Oh! Why didn't you ask me?" said Atta
"Because Flik is smarter than you." Said Dot sticking out her tongue
This got a chuckle from everyone except Atta and Dot
Flik sensing another sister battle took the notes from Dot's hands and started to ask questions.
"Ok, how long did the Grasshopper Wars last?"
"19 years!" said Dot
"Yeup, ok, how did they start?"
"Ummmmmm, didn't a bunch of locusts eat all our food and Hopper gave us some grain so we could survive?"
"There's more than that." Said Flik
"Uhhhhh, I don't remember."
Dr. Flora came over. "Hopper told us that he would give us the food if we paid him back the next year. But when he came back he said it wasn't enough. So he told us to pay the rest back. So then he came back the next year. And it kept on going year after year."
"Oh." Said Dot.
"Flik, dear. Are you sure you don't want me to take over?"
"I'm positive Dr. Flora. I can handle it."
"Next question!" said Dot
"Ok, let's see!" Flik looked at the notes. Then he paled. "Oh.." He said softly
Dr. Flora winced
"What?" asked Dot
"Nothing. Ok, when was the first revolt against Hopper...and..how did it end?" he finished softly.
The circus bugs turned to see the other ants in the room take off their hats and close their eyes.
"There was an ant named Push who led a bunch of ants against Hopper. He gathered a bunch of weapons and tried to make him leave. But they were not very big and Hopper beat them."
"And the outcome?" asked Flik
"Hopper beat them all and squished their leader." Said Dot quietly
Flik nodded his antennae sinking.
Molt looked at the subdued ants. "I had no idea Hoppy did something like that."
"It's ok..." said Flik "You couldn't have stopped him if you wanted to. No one could."
Dot looked at Flik. "It ends happy though!"
Flik nodded. "Yeup, how did the wars end?"
"We made a big bird and you helped the Blueberries scare off Hopper's gang! Then you led him to a birds nest!"
Molt winced at these last words.
Dot saw "Oh, I'm sorry!"
"I-It's ok!" said Molt in a fake cheerful voice.
"Ok Dot, time for bed." Said Flik
"Awwww, night" she kissed Flik on the cheek and ran over to her mother who was standing in the doorway. "Night mom!" Then she stuck her tongue at her sister "Night At-ta!"
Then she scampered down the hall. Flik took off his crown and set it on the rocks. "I'm going to bed too." He said quietly "Good night." He quietly walked out the door and turned left.
"Something more than studying went on here tonight." Said Slim
The Queen walked over to Atta and the council members. "Poor boy. That must have been hard."
"I tried to warn him." Said Dr. Flora.
"Is this about Push?" asked Gypsy
Atta nodded. "We were all shocked at what happened to him. Hopper did it in front of the whole colony to teach us a lesson."
"Oh my.." Said Molt
"Why was Flik so upset?" asked Rosie
Atta picked up Flik's crown which had hole in the petals for his antennae. She sighed and looked at the circus bugs.
"Because. Push was Flik's dad."