"No, it wasn't me, it was...", Atta tried to explain with a half-attempted gesture. "First rule of leadership. Everything is your fault. It's a bug-eat-bug world out there, Princess, one of those circle-of-life kind of things.", Hopper said with a gesture as he sat Atta down firmly.
"Now, let me tell you how things are supposed to run around here. The sun grows the food, the ants pick the food, the grasshoppers eat the food...", Hopper explained slowly. "And the birds eat the grasshoppers, like the one that nearly ate you, you remember?", Molt said with a chuckle.
"Here comes that moment...", Chris whispered lowly. I nodded, almost pitying Molt for his stupid moment. I saw Hopper grab Molt by the antenna and drag him. I couldn't hear what they were saying, and then we all heard Molt shout, "Remember Ma!"
Hopper turned around and punched another grasshopper instead. "Hey, I'm a compassionate grasshopper. Now, there's still a few months till the rains come, so you can all just try again.", Hooper said with a growl. "But Hopper, since it's almost the rainy season, we need this time to gather food for ourselves.", The Queen said hastily.
"Listen, if you don't keep your end of the bargain, then I can't guarantee your safety. After all, there are insects out there that will take advantage of you.", Hopper said. I hugged my kids closer to me. "Someone could get hurt.", Hopper then snapped his fingers.
I gasped softly as I heard growling, knowing that it's the crazy, rabid Thumper, and sure enough, by a leash by two other grasshoppers, Thumper showed up, and I nearly went to save Dot, but she was already walking away in fright, and ran for cover, whimpering before Hopper caught her by the head. I let go of the twins, fury burning inside me as I hissed to Chris, "Keep close to the twins.", sprinting past the Queen and Atta just as Hopper was holding Dot right before Thumper, smirking.
I shouted, "Stop that! Let go of her!", stepping into one of the skylights, revealing myself to Hopper, seeing him freeze. "Angela, no!", Flik shouted as he ran up to me and tried to pull me back.
I glared at him, "Stay out of this, Flik. It's my choice to do this.", and Flik, seeing my serious face, backed out, hiding back inside the crowd before I turned my face around, looking at Hopper as he stared at me...
Hopper kept staring at me for a while, and then he started to approach me. "What? Have nothing to say, you big bully?", I glared lowly. Hopper breathed lowly before chuckling, "Never had a grasshopper, let alone a female sass back at me. You ain't part of any gang I know, especially with those eyes of yours. Ain't never seen blue eyes on a grasshopper before.".
I kept glaring at Hopper. "What are you doing here with these ants?", Hopper asked. I raised an eyebrow, "They gave me safety and protection for my twins. Unlike you, I am actually welcome here.".
"Twins? Heh...A single mother?", Hopper said as he then spotted them. "Don't you dare go near them.", I growled.
Hopper whistled lowly, "You have some spine...", chuckling, "Relax, I'd know better than get between a grasshopper mama and her kids. Ma taught me too well about that.". "Angela.", Dot whimpered in fright.
"Let Dot go right now!", I growled in anger. Hopper looked at me, and nodded, relaxing his hand, and letting go of Dot who ran to the Queen's side, shivering and whimpering as my twins moved to hug her in comfort.
"I'm impressed, Angela.", Chris said. Hopper blinked softly, "Angela is your name? Well, it suits you well with those eyes.".
"Don't try to flirt with me...You might end up losing your other eye.", I growled. Hopper laughed, "I'd like to see you try, but before you do, why don't you check this? I got a whole gang of grasshoppers here, and I could always tell the boys to let go of Thumper so he could have the little princess as a morsel, hmm?".
"We won't let you hurt Dot!", Alex and Ashley shouted as they hugged their friend, glaring at Hopper. "You got some brave kids.", Hopper said with a impressed chuckle.
I growled lowly, "I raised them by myself. If you promise not to hurt them with that crazy Thumper, I'll go with you, deal?". The rest of the ants gasped in horror and shock. "Mom, no!", The twins ran over to hug my legs.
"Angela, don't do it!", Chris shouted, flying up instantly. "You can't trust Hopper!", Atta said with a worried look. I patted my twins warmly as I hugged them, "I am backed up in a corner, kids. You stay with Uncle Chris and the others, hear?".
Ashley sniffed softly, "You'll come back, right?". I smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry, I promise I will come back.". Alex piped up, "Pinky swear?". I nodded, showed my pinky, "Pinky swear.", seeing the twins' pinkies tangle around me, and I squeezed my twins, kissing them on the forehead before I got up, looking at Chris, "I gotta do this. You remember what I said at the house, don't you?", referring to the moment that I have wondered on how to change Hopper's ways.
Chris sighed heavily, "Alright, Ang. Be careful.". I smirked softly, "Always will be, bff.". I pushed the twins softly, shooing them off to Chris, "I love you, rascals. Stay out of trouble for me.". The twins nodded, "Love you, Momma!".
I then looked back at Hopper, nodding, "Well?". "One sec...Atta...Flik...Chris...look after the twins and protect them.", I said with a glance at my friends. Atta nodded, "We will, Angela.", and I looked over at Filk, who nodded quietly. I took a deep breath, opened my wings, "Shall we?", looking at Hopper.
Hopper smirked wryly at me. "But just to make sure...you don't try anything.", Hopper said with a slight nod as he snapped his fingers. Two grasshoppers came over and tied my hands. I half-lidded my eyes at Hopper, "Fair's fair all around.".
"Also, it seems to me that you ants are forgetting your responsibility, so let's double the order of food.", Hopper said, and the ants gasped once more. "No, but...but..", Atta stuttered.
"We'll be back at the end of the season when the last leaf falls.", Hopper said with a sharp look, yanking a piece of molting skin from Molt. I blinked softly at his demand, and sighed mentally. Apparently, I can't change everything, just major points of the movie, it looks like...
"You ants have a nice summer.", Hopper said with a sly smile. "Let's ride!", Hopper shouted. Hopper grabbed my arm, but not that close to invade personal space, luckily, and I followed him up, the sound of buzzing wings echoing around me as the rest of his gang followed after.
(Chris' P.O.V.)
We all watched Hopper and his gang fly away with Angela in tow. "Mom!", Alex and Ashley cried out.
I sighed softly as I grabbed ahold of the twins' hands, giving them comfort as I saw the colony giving the crowd glares at Filk who is clearly ashamed and I knew that the council of Atta, Dr. Flora, and the others will commence about this sooner or later.
-Small time-skip-
Atta pounds her gavel on the rock table. "Flik..what do you have to say for yourself?", Atta asked sharply Flik sighed, "I am really sorry...I didn't mean for this to happen. It was a accident.".
The Queen frowned, "Angela as well? It was your fault the grasshoppers crashed into our place in the first place, and for Hopper to see Angela, I mean, the whole gang is males! How do you think about that?!". Atta growled lightly, "You are putting Angela in worse danger than you think...Heck, Hopper was attempting to flirt with her!".
Flik winced at that. "Will our mother be okay?", Alex asked softly. I smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry, dreamer boy. Your mom is tougher than she looks! She raised you two by herself until I and your grandpa came into the picture.".
Ashley looked hopeful, "You're always right, Uncle Chris. Mom is scary when she uses bad words at Grandma...She doesn't know that our rooms aren't that soundproof when Grandma comes over...". "Don't worry...we'll find a way to help get your mother back..", I said with a firm nod.
"Help?", Flik said with a half confused, half-curious look. "Flik, you are sentenced to one month digging in the tunnels.", Atta said sharply.
"Excuse me, Your Highness, do I need to remind you of Flik's tunnel within a tunnel project?", Thorny said to Atta with a weary look. I raised an eyebrow at that. I wished I knew what happened that time. I glanced at Filk, who's mumbling and muttering to himself, and I recognized that spark in his eyes, recognizing that a idea is forming right there in his mind.
"It's perfect!", Flik shouted. "Perfect? What's so perfect?", The Queen asked in confusion. "Your Highness, don't you see? We could send someone to get help!", Flik said as he ran up to her.
The rest of the council gasped in horror. "Leave the Island?", Atta asked, confounded. "Now, why didn't I think of that? Because it's suicide!", The Queen said with a scowl. I piped up, "You know, he's right about one thing. We need help to save Angela somehow.".
"But beyond this island, there are many dangers! Snakes, birds, and bigger bugs!", Thorny shouted in horror. "Exactly! Bigger bugs! We could find bigger bugs to come here and fight, forever rid us of Hopper and his gang! And also save Angela!", Flik said with a determined grin.
I nodded, "That sounds like a great plan. Right, kiddos?". Alex grinned, "Yeah! We want Momma back! Flik can do it!", and Ashley smiled, "Pretty please, with seeds on top?", looking at the council. I grinned at the spin of her trademark motto for the ants here don't know about ice cream or sprinkles.
"Royal huddle.", Thorny called out, and the council gathered up privately, whispering. I and the kids went over to Flik. "Flik, we have faith in you.", I said with a grin.
"Please find those bugs that will help us get our mother back.", Ashley said as she and Alex hugged Flik's legs. Filk smiled, "Don't you worry, you two, we will get Angela back. You will be in her arms soon!".
Alex smiled brightly, "Promise?". Filk nodded, "Promise on it, Alex.", before looking at me, "I heard Angela ask you to look after them. I don't blame her as she trusts you.".
I smiled, "I'm their uncle, so I have to take care of them for Angela's sake otherwise she'd kill me.", smirking lightly, "Just take care, alright? It's still scary out there for a lone ant.". Filk nodded, "I will be careful, Chris.", before looking up, waiting for the council's decision, hoping.
"Flik, after much deliberation, we have decided to grant you your request.", Atta said steadily. "Really?", Flik asked in excitement.
The Queen gasped, "Really?". Atta blinked, nodded, "Really.". The kids cheered up as Filk ran up to the council, thanking Atta and shaking her hand. I smiled as I knew what this would lead to.
-The next morning-
"Come on, Uncle Chris! Flik's leaving today!", Alex said, tugging my hand. "We want to see him before he leaves!", Ashley said with a smile, tugging my other hand.