FANFIC Crushed

Crushed
Atticus

“Atticus, where are you headed off to?”

Arthur called out when he sensed a presence near the door. He figured it had to be him seeing as Petta was tending to the shop, and he didn’t recall having any guests over. He peered over the counter and saw the Leo holding a small pale filled with gardening supplies. Atticus set it down and toddled to his father.

“I wanna make sure my plants are okay,” He happily replied,

Of course, being the son of well known florist, Atticus greatly adopted Petta’s love for all plants and flowers. She suggested helping him make a garden of his own as it’ll help him get out of the house while doing something he enjoys. Arthur agreed to the idea and made a small bed near Kalmari Forest. The walk was only 10 or so minutes from their house, so Arthur usually lets him go by himself unless asked. The elder gave a small nod and walked over to the fridge to pull something out.

“Here, don’t forget these,” He said as he placed a few bottles of water and ice packs in a bag for him so he doesn’t overheat while he was out, “Stay cool and don’t wander too far. Oh, and remember- if you get tired, Grandfather Bate lives only a few minutes away from the area, alright?"

“I’ll be fine, don’t worry!” Atticus smiled and took it from his father’s hand. He raced to the door and waved goodbye, “I’ll be back soon!”

“Don’t have too much fun without me,” He chuckled and waved back.

——--

Atticus hummed a small tune as he made his way to the bed of flowers he and his mother planted. While the flowers weren’t too rare, Petta did inform him that many of these have been in the family since she was just a child. The little Leo promised he’d take good care of them for her, as he wanted to walk in her footsteps of being a florist when he grows up.

“Oh!” He smiled when he spotted the colorful patch of flowers. He ran to the large oak tree that was shading the bed and kneeled down.

“I’m back!” He greeted and shuffled around his pale before pulling out a watering can. He took one of his bottles of water and filled it up before lightly showering them. “I’m sure all of you are thirsty, huh?”

He set the watering can down and sat besides them since he was a bit tired from the walk. He finished off the remaining water that was left in the bottle and gave a relived sigh. “I…guess I was thirsty as well,” He giggled,

He waited a few minutes until he was fully rested again before rummaging through his bucket once more,

“Ah, here it is!” He said as he pulled out some hand pruners his mother gave him to help maintain his new plants. He carefully kneeled next to one of them and gently snipped the stem. Atticus picked up the fallen flower and set it to the side to save for his mother.

“I…I’m sure mom will like it,” He beamed at the thought, and continued to prune, “I bet when she sees how nice everything looks, she’ll ask me to help in the shop! I’ll look so cool, won’t I?"

“More like a wuss, if you ask me…..”

Atticus froze when he heard a voice from behind. His heart started to face when he couldn’t recognize who it was, and with much forced effort, he turned around to see who it belonged to. He locked eyes with the unknown figure, and quickly backed away. His eyes started to tear up when the bug like creature came closer.

It looked around the area before focusing his attention on the Leo, “Correct me if I’m wrong, but were you just having a conversation with a plant?”

Atticus didn’t speak nor move.

The figure sneered from his cowering, “I can’t believe it! I honestly can’t believe the Leader of the GSA has a son who's such a coward. How pathetic.”

Atticus remained frozen and tried to push himself farther away. His back hit the trunk of the tree he was under, and the Leo’s temperature started rise as he was growing more and more anxious and fearful. Who was he? How did he know his father, and why was he getting angry at him?

Atticus began to slightly tremble from his presence, and tried his best to call out to his dad.

The large beetle laughed when he heard him squeak in fear. “Ha! Look at you,“ His eyes narrowed in anger, “And here I thought his son was going to be prodigy like him. Guess the tables have turned, hm?”

Atticus had no idea what he was talking about, so he just shook his head and tried took around for an opening to escape.

“Ay- what do you mean you don’t?!!” He snapped, but reeled his anger back and shook his head, “No- of course you wouldn’t. The ‘great’ Arthur wouldn’t say anything that would tarnish his name, huh?”

The figures' pinchers snapped, creating a piercing echo that caused Atticus to flinch. He walked forward and began pressing his foot against the small frame of his body. The Leo gave a yelp, and tried to call once more when the bark of the tree started to dig into his wings

“D-daaaaad!” He cried but was quickly silenced when more pressure was put on him. Once he was immobilized, the figure spoke.

“Let me tell you something about your father, you pathetic little ingrate. I wanted to prove myself just like everyone else who was willing to give their life to fight in the war. I dedicated my whole adolescence practicing and training in the art of fighting demon beasts, but when the time came and I was interview and looked on by none other than the current leader of the GSA, what did he do?!!!”

He released his foot and grabbed Atticus before slamming him on the base of the tree. “Your father refused to accept me!! He rejected me as a solider right on the spot!! My dream was crushed and it’s. all. his. fault! Your dad was able to return home to glory and respect as a hero while I came home to dishonor and embarrassment!!! Every Bugzzy in my town saw me as a failure! They refused to talk or even acknowledge me once I returned because your idiot father couldn’t see the potential and determination I had as a fighter!!"

He dropped Atticus, and with tears now streaming down the Leo’s face, he quietly spoke, “S-sorry…..”

“Sorry? SORRY?” He snapped and clenched his fists. “I don’t want your damn apology!” He shouted in a fit of rage and stomped closer to him; though while doing so, his foot crushed the delicate flower on the floor he was saving for his mom.

“N-no!!!!” Atticus cried out,

“Hm?” He looked down and gave a pitiful laugh when he saw why the Leo started to cry, “It’s just a stupid flower,” He said and saw the bed next to him, “In fact….."

“W-wait!! S-STOP!!!!” Atticus watched as the Bugzzy made his way to the patch and started to smash and crush them. He dashed forward and stood in-between him and the remaining bits of what was still standing. Slightly panting in exhaustion, he looked up at the beast and shook his head, “P-please don’t hurt them! They didn’t do anything wrong!”

He shook in fear as the figure raised his arm and started to lightly tap his pinchers.

“Hmmm. Y’know……I think you’re right.” He agreed after thinking it over, much to Atticus’ surprise.

“R-really?” The Leo faintly smiled and was about to thank him, but gave a sharp cry when he received kick to the side of his head.

“Yeah- really. Instead of the flowers, how ‘bout I just take it out on you!” He said and picked him up by his wings.

Atticus clenched his teeth- fidgeting and fighting to break free. It was no use, however- was much too powerful for someone as weak and small as him. Physical strength was next to impossible. He never fought or even trained with his dad before, but maybe…..

Maybe there was another way…..

Using / it / was his last chance to fight back. He knew he’d get in trouble and possibly risk falling ill in the process, but there was no way he was ever going to let someone who hurt him and his plants get away without a painful reminder. This was only option…..

“I….I’m sorry….” He whispered to the figure and took a deep breath.

“Huh- what are you-“

Before he could finish, a large blaze of fire shot out from the Leo’s mouth. The figure quickly dropped him when one of his antennas caught fire and stumbled back a few feet. Atticus fell to the floor and began vigorously coughing when the fire burned his throat. He tried his best to hold back his tears- he knew he needed to be brave. He had to for the sake of saving what he promised to protect. He bit his tongue to fight the pain and shot a few more embers at the beetles feet. He continued to fire until finally his body could no longer handle the heat anymore. He seized his attack and tried his best to speak,

“G-go away!” He managed to say before panting and gasping for air. His whole body was starting to heat up, and the world around him was becoming blurry and dark by each passing second.

“Heh, I’ll admit- that fire of yours took me by surprise. Even managed to nick my antenna pretty good, but….. ” He looked on and took notice how tired he’s become, “It looks like you’re at your limit, little one. Shame, I thought this fight was going to be interesting, but….you’re nothing like your father. How weak and worthless you are- kinda those stupid, crushed shrubs of yours."

He raised his giant pinchers above the frail body, “No, I take that back. You're much more worthless than those flowers. You’re the son of Arthur, you can’t get any lower than that!"

Atticus closed his eyes and covered himself with his wings to protect himself. He cowered in fear and waited for the inevitable……but,

Nothing happened.

After a few more seconds of compete silence, he timidly opened his eyes and gasped in shock when he saw him pinned down to the ground. Three giant claws kept a firm grip on the figure, and with glowing orange eyes from the one who stopped him, spoke with absolute fury.

“Don’t you dare lay another hand on my Grandson!!"

“O-Oujii...” He faintly whispered before going into another coughing fit as his body was finally starting to give way.

“Atticus, don’t move- I’ll take you to your father once I’m through here.” He raised his wings and placed the figure in front of him, still keeping a tight grip. He slightly glanced at all the damaged flowers scattered on the floor, and then back at Atticus; his gem was already changing colors to a dark magenta to indicate his temperature is way past its limit. His grip tightened even more as his temper was starting to rise significantly.

“You have absolutely no right to harm someone that has nothing to do with your personal affairs! If you have a problem, seek the one you’re looking for, and not take it out on their child."

The figure didn’t respond and tried to bite back in return. Bate, who was now losing his patience, motioned his wings forward and threw him to the ground- cracking one of his pinchers as a result. This time, both wings were pinned on him.

“Don’t think I don’t know about your kind," He spoke, “Buggzy’s are quite powerful indeed, but when angered and pushed to a certain point, are incredibly hostile to anyone around them- friend, foe….and even comrade. I don’t know what Arthur has done, but he must have had good reasons for his decision."

He picked him up and mirrored his actions of what he did to Atticus. He forcefully slammed him to a tree and started to speak, “If you think the former leader of the GSA is strong, then you’ll be in for a surprise when you see the power of the one who raised him is capable of!” He threatened and threw him a few feet away from the pair. Without hesitating, Bate stretched both his wings as each appendage started to faintly shimmer and glow. The figure started to back away when he saw his massive wings, and the elder marched forward to intimidate him even more.

“Don’t you ever let me catch you near my family again!” He barked and raised his wings even higher, “No one has ever survived this attack in its full power and lived to tell the day. If you’re smart, you’d leave Kalmari and never return!"

--

“O-Oujii…."

Though his vision was starting to fade, Atticus saw the purple Buggzy run off. A dark, teal color started to take its place, and the Leo gave a small smile before passing out. His Grandfather was there to save him….

He knew everything would be okay…...

Artist Comment:

August 26, 2016

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I imagine since Arthur was the leader of the GSA, he'd always have a bit of a target on his back. I thought about a scenario where someone wanted revenge for whatever Arthur's done to make them so angry- it just so happens that this story was about a fighter who was rejected by him. He wanted payback for refusing to accept him as a solider and ended up taking it out on his son.

Poor little Atticus had no idea who he was, but tried his best to fight back. It...didn't turn out so well, and be glad a certain Warrior was there to protect him in time. u//u

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