One of the biggest music competitions has finally come to Rio, and approaching fast. Nico and Pedro are trying to prepare, but between relationship issues, revenge seeking birds and old friends it's turning out to be a lot harder than it should be. With personal lives getting in the way of professional lives, can they beat all odds and win one of the biggest competitions of the year?
Hello to all of you lovely people who took the time to click on the link to read my latest story (Or not latest, depending on when you clicked :P) :)
I welcome you all to 'The Secret of Chaos'. This story is a sequel to 'Flying Home', and while you can read it without having read that first, I would highly recommend you read that first, as there are characters and past events in here that were introduced there. It would just save a lot of confusion.
And so without further ado, I bid you happy reading and hope you all enjoy :)
The Secret of Chaos
Chaos.
By its very definition, chaos is confusion, panic, and ultimate disorder. It's unpredictable, totally random, and for any normal bird, completely and utterly stressful. But for some, Chaos is like a drug. They simply cannot get enough of the commotion and pandemonium when others are running around in a blind panic. To them it's a blast, both metaphorically, and on occasion, literally.
More often than not, they were the ones causing it.
"Director?"
"What is it?"
The already nervous bird shrank back a little at the cold voice of his superior. "I-Th-there's someone here to see you?"
"I'm sorry, was that a question or a statement?"
The bird chewed on his lower beak, "um, a statement sir."
"So stop making it sound like a question," he sighed deeply, "Send him in."
There was a long pause as the director heard shuffling, and then the clipping noise of talons on metal.
"The heat seems to be getting to you," came a deep voice laced with amusement.
"It's not the heat, it's the stupidity," the director sighed, taking a deep breath and looking up at the much larger bird, "what is it?"
"We have a problem."
"What do you mean 'problem'?" Despite the vast size difference between the two birds, the larger almost shivered at the ice in his voice.
"It's Vincent, he's...well, he's dead."
"What?" the smaller snapped, his expression torn between annoyance, anger and fear, "what do you mean dead?"
"There was an explosion, he was chasing this bird who had released all those he was keeping captive, all the way to Rio. After a chase around the city, the bird led him into a abandoned schoolhouse, but he had started a fire, and there was something explosive in the rooms downstairs. The whole building was destroyed. Vincent didn't make it out in time."
The director growled low.
"This is a problem indeed," the smaller turned around looking down from his office to the commotion below with a dark expression, "who else knows?"
"At the moment no one."
"Good, you keep it that way," he watched the panic of organisation beneath him with a grim smile, "he was the only thing keeping me in my position as director of this company. They," he spat out the word, "easily have the numbers to over throw me should they choose. No one must know."
"Understood sir," the larger bird nodded. While he could easily kill the smaller, should the need arise, while the director still had control of his workers he could without a doubt take him down without lifting a feather.
"Oh, by the way, this bird?" the director said, stopping the larger just as he was about to leave, "who and where is he?"
"He's a canary from Rio De Janeiro, I believe his name is Nico."
"Oh thank goodness you're here! I don't think I can take much more of this!"
The bright red and blue bird laughed, the bead and feather adornment on her head glittering in the multi-coloured lights.
"Aw, I knew you missed me," she giggled, drawing the bottle-capped canary in for a tight hug.
"Very funny Miyoko. Seriously though, hurry up and get your butt up there before Tony drives us all crazy with his moping," Nico laughed, pointing towards the stage, "you're already a week later than you said you would be," he scolded, pulling away with a wide grin.
"Alright, alright," Miyoko said, laughing, "but before I do, how're things with you?"
"You're seriously asking me this now? You have days to find out, get up there!" Nico just looked exasperated, rolling his eyes.
"Please, like I'm going to see you over the next few days, I'll probably be spending it-"
"Not interested!" Nico cut her off, not wanting to risk hearing something he probably didn't want to hear, "fine, life's been pretty good, I've got almost full use of my leg back, and we finally moved out of the sanctuary."
"Nice," Miyoko smirked, making Nico rather nervous all of a sudden, "how about you and Ali?"
Of course.
"Well," Nico couldn't help but grin, "you know how it is."
"Ohh," this just made the colourful bird smirk even wider, "good I take it?"
Nico sighed happily, "she's amazing," he said, "really really amazing."
"Aw, look at you, all grown up and in love," Miyoko cooed.
"Oh shut it!" the canary laughed, "She's a bit iffy about any form of PDA though," he said, pouting a little, "it's alright if it's you guys, but anyone else and I can barely get close to her."
"Ah, the public displays of affection," Miyoko nodded thoughtfully, "I wouldn't worry about it," she said, "it's still early days yet, she'll get there," she patted his shoulder sympathetically. Then they heard a high-pitched scream that made them both jump.
"Miyoko!"
"Oh my gosh Tia!"
Both girls practically jumped into each other's wings, talking at a pitch Nico was fairly sure only dogs should be able to hear and at a speed that not a single person could actually understand. He would never understand girls.
"Ladies, as much as I hate to break up your reunion, there's a performer up on stage that is very close to finishing and you two are up next," Nico said, crossing his wings and tapping his foot. He took a moment to thank whatever higher power was up there that Ali did not do this. Or if she did, she was sure not to do it around him.
"Let's get up there and give them a show!" Tia cheered, punching the air.
"Alright," Nico laughed, "I'll get up there and introduce you both."
The pair squealed happily, hugging tightly as Nico shook his head, flying up to the stage as the previous performer left. The bright lights hit him, and he had to blink a few times to let his eyes get used to it. Once able to see, he immediately sought out his brother, who was standing somewhere to the back, chatting with Pedro.
"Listen up everyone," the canary called, hovering somewhere above the stage for a better viewpoint, "the next up to sing is a very good friend of mine, very recently moved to Rio! She'll be doing a duet with Tia, and I can assure you they are both absolutely fantastic together!"
The crowd cheered as the lights dimmed, only one light behind the stage staying on, showing the silhouettes of two birds back to back.
Nico flew down to Tony, nudging him lightly, "Pay attention bro, I've got a big surprise for you." Tony just raised his eyebrows and turned to the stage as a fast beat started.
"Feel the beat of the rhythm of the night," Tia's voice sang out as the cheering quietened, "forget about the worries on your mind," Miyoko joined in at this point, and Nico saw how Tony's expression went from passive to slightly confused. Her voice was clear, but mixed with Tia's, it wasn't immediately obvious who it was. "Feel the beat of the rhythm of the night, forget about the worries on your mind."
The lights went up, and Miyoko sashayed forward, grinning so wide her face could have split in two. Tony's beak dropped open, his whole body frozen in shock.
"When it feels like the world is on your shoulders," she twirled her wings towards the sky, shaking her hips as she sang, "and all of the madness, has got you goin' crazy, it's time to get out, step out into the street, where all of the action, is right there at your feet."
"Well, I know a place where we can dance the whole night away," Tia sang, joining her centre stage, a spotlight coming to rest on them both as they danced, "and it's called the Moulin rouge. Just come with me and we can shake your blues right away, you'll be doin' fine once the music starts."
"Feel the beat of the rhythm of the night," they both sang, dancing together.
"Dance until the morning light," Miyoko continued on her own, the pair fluttering up to two taller boxes on either side of the stage, facing each other as they sang.
"Forget about the worries on your mind," Tia joined in, before singing on her own. "We can leave them all behind."
"Feel the beat of the rhythm of the night, forget about the worries on your mind, We can leave them all behind." They flew back to centre stage, twirling and swaying to the beat.
"We've got on the street now," Miyoko sang, her eyes searching out Tony in the crowd, "the party's just beginning," she grinned as she found him, bobbing to the beat somewhere near the back, "the music's playing, a celebration starting," Tia nodded to her and she flew down, laughing at his expression as she took his wing and began to dance, "and under the street lights, the scene is being set, a night for romance, a night you won't forget." She moved up closer as Tia took over, smiling seductively as she pulled him closer, wrapping her wings around his neck, swaying to the fast rhythm.
"So come join the fun this ain't no time to be stayin' home, we are going on, tonight is gonna be a night like you've never known, we're gonna have a good time the whole night long."
Miyoko looked into Tony's dark eyes, grinning wide as she kissed him, before letting go and fluttering back to the stage to join back with Tia on the chorus.
"Feel the beat of the rhythm of the night," they sang together, leaning against each other with one wing in the air, "Dance until the morning light, forget about the worries on your mind, we can leave them all behind. Feel the rhythm of the night, oh the rhythm of the night, forget about the worries of your mind, we can leave them all behind."
"Cuando sientes que el mundo esta encima de ti yla vida te tiene como locaconosco un lugar donde podemos bailar."
"Hey loser," Nico looked up at Ali's teasing voice from above him, seeing her grinning face looking down at him from where she was hovering, "worth it?" she asked, landing next to him and watching as Tony's face went from shell-shocked to amazed to over-the-moon happy.
"Oh you have no idea," Nico laughed, following her line of sight. But as the girls launched into the chorus once more Tony glanced at him, expression suddenly changed to a thoughtful frown, "apart from this bit," Nico muttered, eyes widening as his brother suddenly glared, pushing through the crowd to get to him, "I'm not looking forward to this bit."
"You complete and utter bastard," was the first thing that came out of the older siblings beak, "you knew! This entire bloody time you freaking knew!" his voice got higher and higher with every syllable, "how long?"
"Have I known?" Nico asked, smirking as Tony nodded, "remember when she called me over to say goodbye? Yeah, she wasn't saying goodbye," Nico chuckled as Tony growled. "What? She wanted it to be a surprise."
Tony sighed in frustration, "for over a month? So that's why you kept dragging me away every time a girl started flirting."
"Well it was meant to be just under a month, but she kept pushing the date, and yeah, pretty much."
"I hate you all," Tony muttered, pouting at the floor.
"Ah, you love us," Nico corrected, laughing, "I'm sure you're not exactly complaining that she's here?"
"Well, no," Tony said slowly, looking back to the stage, where the two girls looked to be having the time of their lives. He caught Miyoko's eye and she winked, sticking her tongue out a little, "but you could have told me, or at least hinted, rather than just leaving me in the dark."
"What, and miss that reaction?" Nico said, "I want a photo of that face, it was brilliant."
"Oh you know what? Screw it, I'm too happy to even care!" Tony threw his wings in the air, a smile appearing on his beak as the song came to the close, the cheers almost deafening them, making it almost impossible to have a conversation anyway.
The next thing they knew, Tony had been bowled over as a blur of red and blue tackle hugged him to the floor, apologizing and kissing him at the same time.
By the time Tia and Pedro wandered over Nico and Ali were in tears, leaning against each other for support as Tony tried to get up and actually get a word in edgeways.
"Looks about right," Tia commented with a smirk and one raised eyebrow. Pedro just snickered.
"Good show by the way," Nico commented once he had caught his breath. Tia curtsied comically, laughing.
"Thanks," she said, "trying to find time to practice was a right pain though, there were very few times where we were both actually awake," she chuckled, trying to ignore her brothers pleas for help.
"Know how that feels," Nico agreed, rolling his eyes.
Eventually Miyoko let Tony up, though she didn't exactly let go, both grinning as they joined the conversation, wings around each other tightly.
"Right, I hear it's good manners to find out how everyone's been doing after a long time away from them," Miyoko said, "how is everyone?"
"Busy busy busy," Tia said, "settling in mainly, nothing hugely interesting."
"We've all been pitching in on building Ali's new workshop," Nico added, smiling at Ali, who simply scoffed.
"Well, they've been helping," she said, gesturing to everyone but Nico, "the cripple here was more of prop."
"I helped!" Nico protested, pouting.
"Oh, sorry, yes, you were the shelf," this got confused looks from everyone, "all he did was hold stuff when it was waiting to be used."
"Well there's not a huge amount you can do with a broken leg," he muttered bitterly, glaring at the floor.
"Of course not sweetie," Miyoko cooed patronisingly, causing the glare to be aimed at her, "what about that competition coming up?" she asked, changing the subject, "I hear you two have entered on behalf of Rio."
"What's this?" Ali asked, looking to Nico with a confused, and ever so slightly betrayed expression. Nico and Pedro both sighed, glaring at Miyoko.
"Well, we were saving that for tomorrow, so we could tell everyone together," Pedro said, looking like a kid who's bubble had been popped. Nico looked a little more put out, crossing his wings and pouting.
"Well, I'm sure you've heard of that huge music competition, every three years? Prism Music?" Nico asked the group, and they all nodded, Tia with a 'well duh' face, "Well, they've finally come to Rio, and the club owners and higher ups finally put it to a vote as to who was going to represent Rio, and despite my extended absence-"
"They picked us!" Pedro finished, punching the air with a wide grin.
"Oh well done darling," Tia squealed, hugging Pedro tightly and pecking him on the cheek, "So proud of you both," she said, pulling Nico in for a hug too, Tony managing to extract himself from Miyoko so he could join. Then suddenly it was a huge group hug as Ali got pulled in, and Miyoko and Pedro joined as well.
"Haven't you got, like, a month to prepare for it though? That's not very long really," Tony asked as the group dispersed slightly. The duo just laughed, grinning knowingly at each other.
"You kiddin'?" Pedro asked, "we've been preparing for this our whole lives, the only thing we have to do is pick a set list and practice it to death."
"And then panic last minute that it's not good enough and make something up on the spot, like we usually do," Nico added with a laugh.
"Aw, well, hope it all goes fabulously," Miyoko smiled, taking Tony's wing, "now, I don't know about you, but I have someone- sorry, I mean, things to be doing, so we're going to take off, that alright?" she asked Tony, who simply raised his eyebrows in a 'in-what-universe-would-this-not-be-okay?' sort of way. "Great, see you guys later," the colourful bird grinned, dragging the rather pleased canary off through the crowd, said canary giving everyone a wave as he disappeared.
"Not enough bleach in the world," Nico muttered, his expression horrified, Tia just nodded, her expression matching his. Ali patted his shoulder sympathetically, smirking all the while.
"Hey Nico!"
The group turned at the sound of a high-pitched, giggly voice, seeing a group of honeycreepers, looking slightly nervous but giggling like little girls.
"Can I help you ladies?" The canary asked, putting on a smile.
"Well, we were just wondering if you were going to be singing tonight?"
Nico tried to hide his annoyance with a thoughtful expression, before shaking his head in what he hoped was a regretful way, "sorry girls, not really feeling up to it tonight," he said with a apologetic look. He almost felt bad when he saw their dejected faces. Then remembered how many times he'd been asked that the past week alone.
He waited until they had wandered off before turning to the group, sighing deeply, "I think they're trying to make up for the past few months, in like, one week," he said, rubbing his temples, "and honestly I'm really not up for it tonight," he frowned, rubbing his still sore leg.
"Is it hurting?" Ali asked, her voice laced with an all too rare hint of concern. His badly broken leg had taken a while to heal, and despite the lack of cast and the fact that he could now walk and move it without too many problems, it was still in the healing process, albeit close to the end. But that did mean every now and again it would get sore and stiff, sometimes with no real reason.
Nico stood up, a small smile on his beak, "only a little."
"But a little could get worse," Ali pointed out.
Since getting out of the sanctuary, Ali had been very protective over her still healing boyfriend. In that she didn't want him hurt again, she didn't want to see him in pain. She insisted that it was because it made him whine a lot, but pretty soon admitted to Nico, and Nico only, that it was because she had seen him in enough pain to last a lifetime, and she couldn't do anything about it then. It had been enough to give her nightmares.
"It could also get better, stop worrying so much," he laughed, smiling warmly at her as her expression went from concerned to exasperated. "But if it makes you feel any better, we can head home now."
This made her smile and she nodded, "done. Come on cripple, we can come back tomorrow."
"Mmm, maybe we should do the same," Tia commented, leaning against Pedro and looking up at him as he wrapped a wing around her waist, "I'm thinking we have some things to do too," she winked, smiling wide.
"Ohh, I'm liking the sound of that," the cardinal grinned, nuzzling her neck with his beak, making her giggle as she half-heartedly swatted at him.
"Note to self," Nico muttered, "pick up bleach on the way home." Ali snickered, taking his wing as they walked out into the cool night air.
"I'll keep that in mind," she said, "now come on oh crippled one, if you're a good boy and take your medicine like the doctor said, there may be a little something in store for you too." She smirked at the speed that he took to the air, grinning down at her.
"You got yourself a deal girl."
A/N: And there we have it. The prologue to the sequel :) Honestly I was going to wait a while before posting this, but I figured I would post the prologue, since it was done, hopefully see what you think, and take it from there. I'm going to try and keep one chapter ahead at all times in this story, so if I do go through a writers block, or simply don't have time to write, I have a backup to post during the dry spell.
This chapter was really just to set the scene, let you know basically what this story is going to be about, and introduce our villain for the story :)
I hope you enjoyed, please do leave a review/comment (Whatever it is they're calling it now :P) and let me know what you think, I'm always happy to hear from any one of you :) Whatever it is you have to say :P