Disclamer!: I DON'T OWN ANY OF A BUG'S LIFE CHARACTERS! ALL RIGHTS GO TO PIXAR AND DISNEY!

Chapter 3

Flik maneuvered skillfully through the tree roots that were strung as walkways for the ants. Briefly pausing, the bruised male-ant looked up at the quarters that belonged to the heir to the throne. Overwhelming sympathy flooded within him and the images of what he had seen crashed to the forefront of his mind. Before he would let it overtake him, Flik quickly started his trek back to the circus bugs' niche.

Right when Flik pushed back the leaf curtain, Rosie assaulted the blue ant's personal space. "Oh Flik honey! You're so beat up!" The black widow placed her hand under Flik's chin and turned his head from side to side to observe the bruises that were spotted all over his face. When Gypsy and Manny were standing behind Rosie, the mysterious moth gracefully replaced Rosie's hand on Flik's face.

"Manny is skilled in making an herbal medicine to soothe your pain and speed up the healing of your bruises," Gypsy spoke slowly and softly.

Smiling weakly of appreciation, Flik removed Gypsy's hand from his face. "Thank you Gypsy; I would appreciate that but I think the true ant that would need that herb right now would be Princess Atta."

At Flik's request, the moth gave him a small knowing smile. "Of course." And with that, Gypsy returned to Manny's side. Within a couple seconds, the mantis set to work in brewing a together some crushed leaves from a foreign land and the purple petals of an Echinacea flower.

For several minutes, no one thought of breaking Manny out of his concentration.

0o0o

Once Atta made it to the safety and privacy of her niche, she refused any company of the servants to enter and kept herself in a curled ball. This allowed her to think on certain matters of the colony and the future. As much as she tried to focus on what needed to be done, her mind would stray and she'd worry of Hopper's return. The moment Hopper would make it back, she was certain he'd go after Flik. Atta knew she'd need to protect Flik for it was her duty as the future queen.

Suddenly an idea blossomed within her mind for he simplest solution for Flik to be protected. Somehow, Atta had to convince Flik to leave with the circus bugs. Flik would certainly disapprove of leaving the colony and would surely find it cowardly to abandon them. 'However, it's what I decided would be best for his safety,' she thought darkly. 'I'll find some way to help the colony. However if Hopper knew that Flik had left, would Hopper do to the colony-!'

Abruptly, the sound of Flik's voice broke Atta out of her train of thought. Uncurling herself from her ball, she walked over to her entry way and parted the leaves to reveal Flik's smiling face. Quickly, she realized he brought the company of Manny and Gypsy along with him.

"Yes Flik, can I help you?" Atta inquired hesitantly.

"Princess," The blue-ant began as he delicately took hold of both Atta's hands. "Gypsy and Manny have created medicine to help you with your - um - problem."

Atta stared helplessly into Flik's bright blue eyes, seeing all the wonder and optimism he held in the world even though he was half beaten. For a brief moment she thought about crushing his spirits by saying something mean and cruel and depressing but quickly though against it.

Looking over at the married couple of the circus group, Atta smiled a weak but appreciative smile. "Thank you. Would you like to come in and sit?"

All three nodded before they entered. They found their seats on some mushrooms that were carved to fit the shape of chairs. Reluctantly, Atta joined them despite how uncomfortable the curve of the chair's back constantly reminded her of her missing appendages. The pray mantis brought out grounded herbs that were wrapped tightly in a leaf and then passed it to Flik to delicately give to Atta. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Atta averted her gaze downward to the item in her hands.

Giving a thin smile, the princess then proceeded to ask the two circus bugs, "How long do you and your crew plan on staying here with us?"

Gypsy, being the first to respond with a quiet 'oh!', replied, "We haven't really discussed it with one another yet. It's really up to P.T. where we go next."

"I understand. The colony welcomes you wholeheartedly so, do not feel as though you are intruding on us."

"Thank you, princess," Manny chimed in and stood up proudly before presenting a grand bow that was surprisingly gracefully for someone of his age. "Your hospitality has been far too gracious on us."

Laughing somewhat nervously, Atta fleetly tried to change to the focus of conversation away from herself; even though Atta had grown up with the entire colony constantly bow respectfully towards her, she could never get use to people just doing that action.

Conversation flowed for a short while before Gypsy declared it to be rather late, "And you, yourself, young lady need to get some rest but before you do take some of that medicine. You can either boil it in water or just plain chew it, whichever one you prefer." Then the moth ushered her husband toward the exit and only briefly did she glance at the young blue-ant who was strangely quiet during the entire conversation. Respectfully seeing her guest toward the exit and bidding them a good night's rest, Atta soon turn back around to find Flik standing but still stationary near his original spot. Sensing Flik's sudden awkwardness, his princess was steadfast in soothing his uneasiness.

"Flik is everything alright?" Atta asked as she took a couple step closer toward the worker-ant. "You should probably get some rest now." Her eyes darting all over his bruised body. She could practically taste the sickening guilt at the back of her neck with each horrible dark mark. "And you really shouldn't be walking around this much. Have you seen Dr. Flora yet?"

Advancing, Flik stop short of a foot from Atta. With a surprising sudden boldness, Flik cupped Atta's cheek before he inquired, "Have you?"

Atta thanked her lucky stars when a sudden knock was heard from the outside of her quarters. Slipping away from Flik's touch, Atta scurried to answer the knock and parted the leaves to reveal a young female-ant; she carried a lavender-colored flower, indicating that she worked in the medical section of the colony.

'What a coincidence,' Atta couldn't help but to muse.

"Your majesty," The medic dipped slightly in the required bow before straightening fully and looking Atta square in the eye. "I was informed that Flik was present here in your quarters. If so, I've been assigned to escort him to Dr. Flora's medical ward to be examined for his 'battle wounds'. Also by tomorrow morning, another assistant will arrive here for your own appointment with Dr. Flora."

Ignoring the stand-offish vibe Atta was suddenly receiving, she called for Flik. It didn't take long before Flik got convinced to follow the other female-ant; however before he left, he rained a million good-nights to Atta and planted a sly kiss upon her hand.

Once Atta returned to the privacy of her room, she picked the rolled up herbs off the mushroom chair and placed half a handful in her mouth.

A/N: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I really did not mean to have you all waiting this long for just this chapter. Life has really gotten in the way of this but I assure you that each night that I could not sleep I would work on this until I was too tired. At one point I even lost all inspiration for this until I watch Slumdog Millionaire (yeah I know). But look! It's longer than the other chapters and there's some Atta/Flik fluff. I hope you guys enjoyed it.

So I gotta question you people (if I still have my readers): What's your favorite movie's ost suite. Mine is the Suite of Mulan. Beautiful score and it gives off such a triumphant feeling!