There will probably be a delay with the last couple chapters. I admit I wasn't intending to work the circus bugs into the story, but since some folks are asking about them, I'mma see what I can do for you guys. I'm going to try to finagle another chapter with them in it without having it sound too contrived. Warnings and apologies in advance for what will most likely be a noticeable delay on the final chapters, but here's what was previously the second to last chapter in this story. :)

When It Rains
Chapter 7: Emptiness

"I... I love you, F-Flik..." Dot said in a broken voice and hugged the late blue ant. The young princess couldn't get over how far away Flik seemed when he was right there in her arms. Dot didn't want to let him go, nor could she accept that she'd never see him, talk to him or play with him ever again. The more Dot thought about this new-found emptiness in her life, the harder she cried. There was nothing either princess wouldn't give just to hear Flik's voice one more time. Atta knew how painful this had to be for her sister. In fact, she ventured a guess that it may have been more painful for Dot. Her little sister had adored Flik since the day she met him; he was her idol and, unlike most of the other ants, he never once gave her a hard time about being young and small. Though for different reasons, both Flik and Dot felt like outcasts in their own colony, and in spite of their age differences, they could still relate to one another. Dot was the only one who ever really believed in Flik and his inventions, and if anyone could make the little princess smile, it was Flik. Dot already felt terribly lost after learning that her guiding light had tragically been snuffed out.

Dot nestled her face against Flik's, wishing she could've told him how much he meant to her when he was still alive to hear it. Surely Flik knew that Dot cared about him, but she seemed to feel guilty that she took him for granted at any point, even if she couldn't quite put that remorse into words.

"I... I don't want you to go, Flik! Please, don't go!" Dot held his body tighter. Atta put her hand on her sister's shoulder. "Dot, I'm so sorry, but... he's gone. I... I watched him die." The older princess felt her eyes start watering again; the vision of that awful moment was burned into her memory forever, and the burning was only augmented by the knowledge that she had killed him, even if it was what he wanted. Atta was grateful that Dot hadn't asked where his chest wound had come from – it appeared that she'd assumed Hopper did it. This was fine with Atta because she didn't want to have to explain to her mourning sibling that she took Flik's life. Dot was a clever little ant, but she still didn't have a strong grasp of adult problems. All Atta knew was that Dot would never forgive her if she was completely honest with her sister.

Dot got up and joined Atta at her side to hug her. "I... I miss him already."

"I do too," Atta began crying again. She tried so hard not to break down; she wanted to try and be strong for her sister, but it was just too much to handle, and the two sisters cried together in one another's arms. Atta stroked the side of Flik's face one more time before covering him back up with the leaf. She lifted Dot up and held her close. "We need to tell the others what happened. Come on." Tasked with delivering the heartbreaking news of their loss to the rest of the colony, Atta and Dot flew back toward the anthill. Dot could only stare over Atta's shoulder at the fiery orange leaf that marked the spot where Flik had died. The tiny ant couldn't stop herself from crying as the image of the leaf grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared from sight completely. Painful as the sight of Flik's mauled body was to both princesses, neither one wanted to leave his side.

Atta and Dot reached the main part of the anthill – the wide, open space near their island tree. Things had calmed down by then; the grasshoppers had all fled and the royal council was tending to those who had sustained injuries in the scuffle earlier. The two sisters landed and walked over to where everyone had gathered, each step harder to take than the last from hearts, souls and bodies overwhelmed by sorrow. Dr. Flora was the first one to notice the princesses' presence.

"Princess Atta! And Dot! Oh, thank goodness you're both safe!" Safe as they may have been, the crestfallen expressions on their faces said otherwise. The queen became concerned immediately. "Atta? Atta, dear, what's the matter? Are you okay?" The circus bugs and some of the ants began to crowd around the royal family, wondering what was wrong. "What is it, Princess?" Rosie asked.

Atta tried to summon the resolve to tell them about Flik. "I... I don't know how to tell you all this, but..."

Author's notes: You know the way that sentence is going to end. To be continued! We're not out of the woods yet, folks!