Chapter 6: Flik's Trial
Later, Atta slammed her gavel as Flik and Harry's team were put on trial. Among the royal court, besides Atta herself, were Cornelius, Mr. Soil, Dr. Flora and Thorny. The Queen herself was also present for the trial. "Flik, what do you have to say for yourself?" Atta demanded. "Sorry. I…I'm sorry for the way I am. I didn't mean for things to go so wrong. And I especially didn't want to make you look bad, Princess." Flik explained. "Well, Flik, you did." Atta scolded. "I was just trying to help." Flik said. "Then help us. Don't help us." Mr. Soil demanded. "How dare you!" Hermione snapped. "Beg your pardon?" Dr. Flora asked in disbelief. "Flik's only trying his best to help this colony achieve a better future, but all you do is treat him like a common speed bump!" Hermione exclaimed. "Hermione's right. You lot should be encouraging and supporting Flik's intelligence instead of trying to force him to be like the rest of this colony!" Ron exclaimed as he and the rest of the team stepped forth. "Are you accusing us for standing by our laws against change?" Cornelius asked, feeling insulted. "As far as helping out our friend is concerned, yes. Instead of trying to force Flik into being something he's not, you all should be encouraging him to help!" Harry exclaimed. "Help? Help? Help?" Flik asked, hearing the word help. "Now we appreciate what you're trying to do, showing your support to Flik. But I'm afraid it's not your business." The Queen said. Harry's team glared at the Queen for saying that.
"Flik, you are sentenced to one month digging in the tunnels." Atta declared. But that got Thorny's attention. "Excuse me, your Highness. Need I remind you of Flik's tunnel-within-a-tunnel project?" He asked, remembering a similar situation. "Helpers help us. That's it. That's…we could…" Flik started saying, not paying attention. "It took the whole Engineering Department 2 days to dig him out. Send him to Health and Ant Services." Thorny said. "Heavens, no!" Dr. Flora exclaimed. "What's your plan, Flik?" Hermione asked. "We could leave the island. The riverbed's dry right now. We'd just walk right across the riverbed. We could get helpers. We could! We could leave. Sure, we could go find helpers to help us." Flik explained as the team nodded as they listened. "It's perfect!" Flik exclaimed, getting the court's attention. "Perfect? What's so perfect?" The Queen asked. "Your Highness, don't you see? We can send someone to get help!" Flik said, running up to the Queen. That made the court gasp in shock. "Leave the island?" Atta asked in shock. "Now why didn't I think of that? Oh! Because it's suicide!" The Queen exclaimed. "She's right. We never leave the island." Thorny said. "No, never leave!" Cornelius said. "There's snakes and birds and bigger bugs out there!" Thorny said. "Exactly! Bigger bugs! We can find bigger bugs to come here and fight and forever rid us of Hopper and his gang!" Flik exclaimed. "And with our unique skills, magic and powers, we'll do our sworn duty to rid you of those evil grasshoppers!" Harry exclaimed. "AYE!" The heroes cheered. "Ludicrous!" Mr. Soil exclaimed. "Who would do a crazy thing like that?" Dr. Flora asked. "I'll volunteer. I'd be very happy to volunteer." Flik said. "I volunteer too." Harry said. "And us too." Maxxor said. "Yeah, me too." Jemima said. The Queen laughed at that. "You got a lot of spunk, kid, but no one's gonna help a bunch of ants." She said. "At least we could try." Flik said. "But where would you think to start searching, Flik?" Angelina asked. "Oh, I could travel to the city. I could search there." Flik suggested. "If you went, you'd be on that silly search for weeks." Atta said. Thorny and Dr. Flora smiled at each other, getting an idea. "Royal huddle." Thorny said.
The court huddled up for a private session. "Great idea, Princess. It's perfect." Thorny whispered. "Exactly." Cornelius whispered. "Wait a minute. What did we just decide here?" Atta asked. "To let Flik leave." Mr. Soil whispered. "While we keep harvesting to meet Hopper's demands." Cornelius whispered. "You see? With Flik gone, he can't…" Dr. Flora started to say. "He can't mess anything up!" Atta realized. The court nodded in agreement before turning back to Flik and Harry's team. "Flik, after much deliberation, we have decided…" Atta started to say, making Flik brace himself. "…to grant you your request." Atta said. "Really?" Flik asked in surprise. "Really?" The Queen asked. "Really?" Harry asked suspiciously. "Uh, really." Atta said. "Oh, thank you, Princess. Thank you so much for this chance." Flik said as he ran up, shaking Atta's hand. "I won't let you down, I promise. I promise, I promise, I promise." "That's fine. No, forget it. Forget it." Atta said. "Oh! But I should probably help repair some of the damage before I go, don't you think?" Flik asked. "NO! No, no, no! Just go! Just go. Just leave!" The court exclaimed in protest.