Sole Memorial

Tastes of the Past

This chapter caused me so much trouble, lemme tell ya! I've renamed it so many times, I've rewritten many scenes countless times, and read other stories to get a feel for pacing and structure. I hope it all paid off, but most of all, I hope you all enjoy! Feel free to leave a review, too. Eager readers lead to an eager writer.

Random author thought: Slim is a stick bug and his first scene showed him being a bit of a stickler. *mind explodes*

The moon was a silent sentry over them as they sat together in the grass near the lake. Well, the Princess sat and Flik lay, his very core so painful that it was hard for him to keep breathing, much less sit up. He was grateful, however, that Princess Atta had decided to stay and watch over him until he got better. She could have easily left him and she would have been justified in doing so.

To think this all happened because he was testing his catapult. After hours of fiddling with the accursed assembly of wood, he had finally managed to get it to work on cue. Of course, no project was complete without a few tests, so he catapulted rocks of varying weights in random directions. He never thought that one of the rocks would be soaring towards the Princess herself, and that a project that finally worked perfectly would ruin something else.

Flik bit his bottom lip in remorse. "I really didn't mean to break your box."

"I told you it's fine. At least the knob works and I can still hear the music," she assured, though she remained cross. "I could probably glue some of it back together."

The clown managed to peek an eye open to look at the box, which was some distance away and drying. "I can fix it for you."

Princess Atta jolted slightly and turned her head to slightly towards him. "You s—you can fix it?"

"Yep. Good as new, too." He flashed her a confident grin.

There was silence as she went back to staring across the lake, most likely thinking about the offer. Moments became seconds became minutes, and Flik wondered why it took so long to decide. Maybe she didn't trust him? Perhaps she was scared of clowns, though he looked nothing like any clown right now.

Finally, a wry smile appeared on her face. "Fine, but I want to watch and learn how to fix it myself," she told him. "How much will I owe you?"

"Oh, it's nothing. It was my fault, anyway."

"Would you just quit it already? It's not the first time it broke." She was giggling, and mesmerizing with the moonlit halo in her hair. "Besides, I can't ask you to put your time into fixing it for free. Name your price."

"I really don't have a price."

"Then make one up."

Flik sighed. "I'll think of something, Your Highness." He had meant to be playful, but then he saw her grimace. "I'm sorry."

"No, don't be." Princess Atta recovered, but she now looked around him rather than at him. She put on a smile once again. "So, what do they call you?"

He was thankful for the change in topic. "My name's Flik."

Maybe his mind was playing tricks on him, but he could have sworn her face twitched. Her smile became strained as well. "Is it short for anything?" she asked, sounding awfully like she was trying to keep her voice steady.

He tried to ignore his observations and just shrugged. "Maybe. Manny said it was all he could find of my memory."

"Manny?"

"Our magician," he clarified. "I'd say he's my doctor, too. He's been treating me for as long as I can remember." Realizing what he had just said, he chuckled. He had to stop when he saw her discomfort, now more evident. "Did I say something wrong?