A hard choice: rewritten

Hiya everyone. For anyone who's followed me, I published more first Rio fic over six years ago (I feel old) and wanted to celebrate with bringing it back with updated changes. Let's be honest, my first story was terrible in terms of spelling and grammar.

Big thank you to Kraft58 for taking the time to proof read and fix up my story. He's a great author, writer and I'd like to consider him a friend, too. Check out his stories, you won't be disappointed.

Happy reading, everyone.

Tyler Blu Gunderson or Blu for short shifted his head and admired the soft pale moonlight sweeping into the quiet motel room. Its pale face cast a soft glow upon the scratched and scarred laminate floor adjoining the small interior of the quiet hotel bedroom. The curtains swayed in the warm tropical breeze spreading the dim bluish light across the room, creating shadowy apparitions and ghostly figures upon the yellowy stained walls. Blu found himself thankful that he had spent very little time here throughout the course of his vacation away from Minnesota, he blinked trying hard to keep his attention upon his companion who spoke to him. She walked out of the bathroom carrying a toothbrush and smiled at him.

"You should count yourself lucky that you are a spix macaw." She mused, "You and Jewel are absolutely made for each other. It's not like us humans. There are billions of us so we never truly know if we have found the one."

Blu lowered his head, thinking about it for a moment. Linda had a point. Fluttering into the moonlight he watched as the light made his feathers sparkle like diamonds. He knew he was special… he after all was a spix macaw with bright blue feathers, soft brown eyes, dark grey talons and beak, there was not another bird like him anywhere else in the world, except for of course the beautiful female named Jewel. He shifted his attention back to Linda who cut a smile. "And that is why I am not so worried about leaving you here tomorrow."

Blu's smile faded from the end of his beak as shock set in. Her words did not lose itself from his mind. He squawked a groaned reply.

Linda straightened her glassed with a single hand, pushing the temple of the eyeglasses past her long red hair. Her bright green eyes shimmered with tears as she studied the macaw's reaction, his beak almost curled into a saddened frown as if heartbroken by her decision. She lowered her head and peered into his eyes. "I know it's sad, Blu, but you have to understand that I have to go back home."

Blu nodded, giving the only response he could. He cocked his head and peered at Linda with his peripheral vision.

"And I know you love Jewel too," Linda added through an almost forced smile. "Believe me, I wouldn't be doing this if I did not think it was the right thing to do. You and Jewel belong together and I know you will be happy."

Blu turned his head further and tried to put on a smile. Sure, he knew he belonged with Jewel however Linda also was his best friend.

The human tried hard to let her smile widen reassuringly for the young macaw. Her bright green eyes almost brightened with hope as she continued. "I have to go back home tomorrow, you can either come with me back to Moose Lake or stay and live your life with Jewel, the choice is yours and I will support you no matter what you decide to do."

Blu nodded and reached his talon out towards Linda, he tightened his talon like a fist. Linda knew immediately what Blu wanted to do, she followed the example and bumped her fist against his. Linda and Blu both moved their head back and made what sounds like an explosion with their mouths. She then placed her finger under Blu's neck and began to scratch. Blu trembled as his body filled with joy towards the feeling of being scratched in one of his favourite places. It swept a sharp chill down his spine and he almost gave off a soft purr.

"That's my big brave boy," Linda smiled as she shifted her blankets and settled herself in. "Good night, Blu," she said yawning as she drifted off into peaceful slumber.

"Good night, Linda," Blu whispered though deep down he knew she could not understand a single word he said.

Blu extended his wings and flew into the air, out the opened window. He needed to visit Jewel. Some inner voice deep within his mind told him of that face. He had not seen her since the day Tulio had taken her back to the Aviary to fix her broken wing. "I wonder if she'll be pleased to see me?" Blu asked aloud, "Or will she be upset that I spent the past few days with Linda. I guess I'll know once I see her."

After a long uneventful flight, mostly due to the fact that he still was inexperienced in both finding his way around the massive city and flying for longer periods of time, he finally made it to the aviary. Breathing a sigh of relief as he crawled in through the air vent, he slipped down into the artificial jungle where he knew Jewel waited… at least somewhere amongst the many trees. "Jewel?" Blu called out, hoping against hope that he did not wake her up.

As quickly as he had called out her name, Jewel emerged from the thick underbrush. She eyed him taken aback by his sudden visit. "Blu?" she replied in return unsure of what to think by the sudden change of events which had led to her loneliness for the past couple of days.

"Oh good," Blu breathed a sigh of relief, "I was not sure if I had awakened you, or if you wanted some company."

The feisty female's bright sapphire eyes burned amongst the darkness like twin fireflies. She cut a sly smile. "So you decided to shout through the jungle in the middle of the night? What part of that wouldn't awaken me?"

Blu joined Jewel and seated himself down next to her. His face went bright red as he realized the one fatal flaw in his plan. "Well…" Blu began lowering his head a bit sheepishly, "I… uh…. didn't really think of it that. But I thought I would come by and say hi, so uh, hi."

"Hi," Jewel shifted her eyes away. Privately she could not help but smile at the awkward moment which made Blu, Blu. She could not picture him any other way.

Blu leaned forward a little to get a better view of Jewel's wing. The female wore a heavy cast and splint which set her wing against her body. She could not move it despite her best efforts and it still looked to cause her pain as she tried to scratch the itch the plaster created as it rubbed upon her feathers and skin. As he leaned in, he stumbled forward landing in a small pond with a soft splash. Jewel once again stifled a giggle.

"Not funny," Blu groaned, spitting out water from his beak.

"Yes it is, Pet." Jewel grinned shoving him playfully with her one good wing. She leaned it, fluttering her eyes as she let herself speak a single word. "Lovehawk."

Blu jumped as a cold chill swept down his back, he swallowed hard, coughing as he found himself choking on his own saliva. Jewel's smile widened.

"You have got to admit, Blu, it is pretty funny."

"I know." Blu said chucking himself. "I just wanted to see how your wing was feeling?"

Jewel sighed, and looked at her bandaged-up wing. She turned back to Blu, who was still in the water. "It hurts a little. And it itches too."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Blu frowned.

"Don't be, what happened is not your fault." Jewel lowered her head as she peered at Blu, blushing as her head with a playful scheme. Jumping in the water, she splashed him with her good wing.

"Ewwww, germs," Blu groaned trying to stay away from Jewel.

Jewel smiled, and moved closer to Blu. "Are you trying to say I'm dirty?"

"Yes." Blu answered.

"Better be careful what you say. Unless you want me to kick your butt again." Jewel warned recalling when they first met.

"Kick my butt?" Blu scoffed. "I'm the one who can fly this time. And you only have one-good wing."

"True," Jewel admitted looking at her good wing. "That doesn't mean I can't beat you."

"Really?"

"Yep."

Jewel suddenly jumped on Blu and tied her good wing around the timid blue macaw's body. Laughing, the two birds rolled around in the water as they fought with each other playfully. In one speedy movement, Jewel managed to get behind Blu and tied both of her talons around Blu and then locked them in place. Blu found himself unable to spread his wings. Before he could move a muscle, Jewel smiled and placed her good wing around Blu's neck. "Told you I could beat you, flying or no flying."

"Well you have certainly proven me wrong," Blu smiled, lifting his legs up, and placing his toes on Jewel's legs. "Can you let me go, now?"

"Why should I?" Jewel smiled.

"Please." Blu begged turning his head and pouting like a puppy dog.

"Okay, okay." Jewel said, removing her legs from around his body. "Just please don't do that face again."

"I make no promises," Blu smirked triumphantly, "However it's getting late, I should probably be going home."

Blu and Jewel got out from the water and shock themselves dry. Blu was about to take flight but stopped when Jewel took one of his wings. "Blu, why don't you stay here with me for the night?"

Blu cocked his head to one side as if he not hearing her correctly, his heart skipped a beat as he tried to figure out just what he was going to say. "Me? Stay here?" he asked taken aback by the request.

"Yeah, why not?"

Blu pointed to the tree-hollow with a wingtip. "But, there is only one hollow and I am not sure if there is-"

"Then we'll share." Jewel said. "Now, get your clumsy butt over here and pick me up."

"Okay, your Majesty." Blu smirked. He flew behind Jewel and placed his toes around the side of her shoulders. Blu flew into the air and grunted a little. "Have you gotten heavier?"

"Are you trying to say I'm fat?" Jewel protested, arching a curious eye. "That's not very nice, Blu."

"No," Blu shook his head, "I would never say something like that."

Jewel snuggled against the macaw's feathery chest. She let loose a quick sigh of pure comfort. She rested her head, rubbing her face against him. "Good,"

Blu made it to the hollow and set Jewel down inside. Jewel walked towards a nest which was laid in the center of the hollow and laid down on her back. Blu however: merely watched her.

"Blu, are you coming or what?"

"I've never slept in a nest before." Blu said slightly embarrassed.

"Well, tonight's your first time, then." Jewel smiled tapping on the nest with her good wing. "Now, come on."

Blu walked over to Jewel with a slackened pace, his head hung low as he contemplated what he was about to do. Jewel rolled her eyes. "Come on, Blu, I'm not going to bite."

"I'm coming." Blu replied. Blu got inside the nest and laid down a couple of feet away from Jewel. "Hmm, this is quite cosy."

"See told ya." Jewel smiled.

Both macaws remained silent for a couple of moments. A cold chill crept down Jewel's spine and she began to shiver. Blu arched a curious eye. "Is it really that cold in here?" he asked, peering up at the ceiling fans and ventilation system. His beak curled as he contemplated the chill for a few moments. He drew closer to Jewel and wrapped his wings around her, careful to avoid her wing.

Jewel closed her eyes, relaxing in his wing. "You're wings are so warm." She sighed, "I love them."

Blu's eyes widened as he tried hard to focus upon his thoughts. "Jewel," he began, lowering his voice to a soft whisper.

"Yeah?" Jewel asked.

"When you… kissed me…."

Jewel pulled herself away from the macaw for a moment and peered into his soft brown eyes. "Go on?"

"Was… was… that just an accident?" Blu asked slightly nervous, "did you only do that because we were going to fall to our deaths?"

Jewel's beak curled into a wicked grin. She had been waiting a long time for Blu to ask that question. She kept her eyes glued as she continuously became lost in the moment. "No," she shook her head, "I did it because…"

"Because what?" Blu queried.

"Because I love you," Jewel finished.

"Y-Y-You love me?" Blu gasped, gulping as he tried to digest the words which sank through his mind and burned their way into his memory.

"Mmm-hmmm"

"Wow." Blu said taken aback by the female's openness towards her feelings to him. He had not really expected her to say those words.

Jewel yawned and grew comfortable in Blu's wings. She tucked her head into his feathery chest and peered into his soft brown eyes. Blu in return stared into her soft sapphire eyes. "Blu, listen, if you-"

Before she could finish, Blu leaned in and planted a kiss upon the end of Jewel's beak. Blu and Jewel closed their eyes and began to make-out. Blu kept his wings around Jewel onto her back. Jewel moved her god wing around the back of Blu's neck. Their tongues danced around as they continued to kiss. After what seemed like forever, the kiss ended. Jewel moved her good wing back to her side. "Wow."

"I'm sorry, Jewel." Blu said sheepishly, his face grew a bright red as he grew embarrassed by his actions. "I-I-It's just that...I love you too."

"Aw, Blu, you have no idea how much that means to me." Jewel said, as she closed her eyes and moved her head closer to Blu. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Jewel. Sleep well."

Blu lowered his head. Despite his calm and comfortable exterior, deep down inside he began to panic. "What do I do now? Do I say here with Jewel? Or do I go home with Linda? No matter what happens, I am going to lose somebody."

Blu shook his head and decided not to worry about it. He rested his head against Jewel's and closed his eyes. He just needed to hold her a little while longer.

The first few rays of the morning sunlight painted the horizon a soft rosy pink promising a bright summer day ahead. The light filtered in through the skylight like golden dust filling the artificial jungle with comfortable warmth. Blu came awake, blinking away the last few remnants of sleep from him. It had been a relatively peaceful night between him and Jewel. His heart skipped a beat as he remembered the final few words she had said to him before drifting off into peaceful slumber… I love you… he thought about it for a moment forming a pleasant smile.

"I love you too," he said for the second time, repeating himself from the previous evening. He peered down at the still sleeping macaw who snuggled upon his feathery chest and planted a kiss upon her forehead. He knew right away that she had felt it from the way an immediate smile appeared upon the end of her beak. He would have embraced her further but found himself hesitating. He still felt a bit uncomfortable with the whole thing, he thought back to a previous conversation they once shared together.

"Oh, c'mon amigo, she's not going to bite," Rafael had said before freezing in place, his eyes widened with fright as he turned to the female. "Are you?"

"We'll see," Jewel replied forming a devilish sideways grinned. She peered at Blu through her peripheral vision, arching a mischievous look.

Even though he knew she had only been joking, he could feel his wings tremble at the thought of what she could do under the circumstances of her anger growing out of control. Worst of all, he still did not know where he stood on the whole going back to Minnesota thing with Linda. There were so many possibilities.

Jewel stirred for a moment as she opened her eyes. Blu kept his wings around her as he watched her awaken. She smiled as she realized where she was.

"Good morning, Blu," she said with a soft whisper.

"Good morning to you too, Jewel," Blu replied.

Jewel shifted her good wing from her side and took hold of a single wing of her lover. Her bright smile widened as she peered right into his brown eyes, her voice rung out with a hint of innocence never before seen by the male macaw. "How was your first night in a nest, Blu?"

"It was actually quite cosy." Blu replied smiling.

"So, you liked sleeping in a nest?" Jewel's voice grew more hopeful.

Blu shook his head, lowering his gaze downwards. His wings twitched as he tried to control his anxiety and nervous behaviour while in her presence. "It was not the nest that I enjoyed," Blu replied after a couple of moments.

"No?" Jewel arched a suspicious and curious eye. "Then what was it?"

Blu's beak trembled as he tried to continue. His face went bright red. "Well, uh, if I had to choose the one thing that I enjoyed the most. It would be the beautiful girl I was keeping warm all night. I loved listening to her heartbeat as I drifted off, it made me feel more comfortable than I have felt during my entire trip here."

Jewel giggled in response and planted a kiss on Blu's cheek.

Blu cut a smile and refocused his attention back into Jewel's eyes. They were like two sapphire orbs which the clarity of the purest waterfalls. He became lost in them. "Wow." He sighed, drifting deeper into the beauty.

"What?" Jewel asked, pulling her head back a bit taken aback by the odd behaviour.

"You have really beautiful eyes," Blu said, pausing as he thought about the phrase for a second remembering the time he had told her that. Back then he made the foolish mistake of saying his eyes was beautiful much to the displeasure of everyone involved. He drummed his talon across his beak and contemplated whether he had gotten it right or not. "I did say it right this time, didn't I?" he asked, blushing a little more.

"Yes, you said it perfectly. Thank you so much." Jewel smiled, wrapping the macaw with her good wing. "But I thought you were the one who had beautiful eyes."

Blu lowered his head and peered away. "Yeah, about that, I always meant that your eyes are beautiful. Sometimes, I'm just stupid"

Jewel's smile softened. "You aren't stupid, Blu, I love you."

"I love you too," Blu choked out.

Jewel looked outside the artificial tree and began to daydream. While she was distracted, Blu leaned in and sniffed her head feathers. A sweet smell of mangoes and passion fruit drifted through his nostrils. He let out a sigh and forced a confident smile. "You smell so good," he grinned.

Jewel pulled herself away, eyeing him a little awkwardly. "Blu… did you just sniff me?"

Blu thought: there was no point denying that he did smell her. "Yeah...I-I did...I'm sorry, it's just that you smell really good."

"Really?" Jewel smiled. "What kind of smell?"

"You smell like a beautiful flower," Blu admitted, "There's also a hint of different fruits. It all blends together wonderfully."

Jewel let loose a peaceful smile, despite the weird nature of the comment, it seemed to fit perfectly for Blu. He really was trying hard to give her his most heartfelt compliments even if they did come off as slightly awkward and kind of creepy. Tucking her head into his feather chest she sighed and became lost in the moment. "Thank you, Blu; I'll take that as a nice compliment.

"Yes, yes it was," Blu smirked. He stared up at the ceiling past the canopy of trees. "I hope Linda had a nice sleep."

Jewel looked at Blu with a slightly mad and confused face. "Blu. Why do you love Linda that much? She's a human who took away your freedom."

"She's not just a human. She's my best friend." Blu replied.

"But, Blu. It was humans who took everything I had away from me."

"I know-but Linda's not like that. She's nice; if it wasn't for her: I could have died."

"She saved you?" Jewel said slightly shocked.

"Yeah. When I was a baby. I was trapped in a crate, scared, alone, and cold. But then: Linda found me. I was frightened of her at first-then I learned to trust her." Blu finished.

"But, didn't you miss the jungle? Did you like being a pet?" Jewel asked.

"I never knew the jungle that well. I'm not a pet. I'm a friend."

Jewel sighed and decided to give up on Blu; she laid her head back down on Blu's chest. Blu smiled and thought of an idea for Jewel to completely change her opinion on humans. "Jewel, why don't you let me prove that humans are not that bad?"

"And, how are you gonna do that?" Jewel inquired.

Blu replied by placing a wingtip on Jewel's forehead. "I want you to spend some time with Linda."

Fat chance. Jewel thought, rolling her eyeballs around. "I don't know about that, Blu."

"Please, Jewel."

Jewel did not reply, she glared out to at the artificial jungle outside of the hollow. She longed for the real thing, far away from any human. Blu however leaned in, fluttering his eyes which tugged at her heart strings/ "Come on, Jewel. Please do it for me, for your Lovehawk."

Jewel sighed and looked at her boyfriend. Blu wasn't going to take no for an answer; so, Jewel decided to give it a try. "Okay, Blu. You win. I'll spend so time with Linda."

"Yes," Blu celebrated swinging his wing through the air triumphantly.

"But… how am I going to get there?" Jewel asked, peering down at her broken wing.

"You're not," Blu explained, "I will bring Linda to you."

Blu slowly let go of Jewel, letting her out of his warmth and got up onto his talons. Jewel was now upset that: she couldn't feel Blu keeping her warm anymore. "Okay, Jewel. You stay here, while I get Linda." Blu instructed before taking off with his new flighty ability.

After he was gone; Jewel laid back down in the nest. Sure, she may have had a peaceful sleep, but it was early morning.