After a long time with this story in my mind finally I decided to write it. I'd like to thank Jixstun for his support, without him this story would never have existed.

Chapter 1

Rio de Janeiro, one of the most beautiful places in South America & the World. Music is a common element here that can be heard everywhere in the city or the jungle, everyone's hearts beat at the rhythm of Samba singing along with their catchy lyrics & the hot weather can melt the coldest ones making them join in the fun, a place where love can be found, even if you´re not looking for it. Anyone can enjoy the wonders of this wonderful place letting you feel free just like a bird, this can happen to everyone; for a Human or even a bird, a place where everyone can begin their fantasy.

It was a peaceful & normal day in Rio, birds flying around singing & dancing; making the observer feel the magic as everyone enjoyed the life only this place can give. Blu & his mate were enjoying the sunset perched on a tall tree that allowed them to see over the Jungle´s canopy to the sight of the Sun sinking behind the distant mountains. Blu, a Spix Macaw that arrived to Rio after living fifteen years away & known as the last male of his kind was musing about his new life.

Blu had gotten all any bird in the world would've wanted: living in a wonderful place, having great friends & sharing all with a beautiful mate: Jewel, the last female Spix Macaw known that was caught with the sole purpose that she could meet Blu, an idea she (in a less violent way to say it) didn't like. Fortunately for them both however, events had worked out in their favor & she had accepted him as her partner. At this thought, Blu started to swing over the branch they were perching on due to his happiness at the delighted look of Jewel.

Also, Blu continued musing, his best friend & former owner from all his life was there too: Linda, who decided to stay in Rio guided by her feelings towards Tulio the Ornithologist that brought Blu & Linda from icy Minnesota to the magical city. Soon she would be opening a Bookstore that would also be a home for her & the young Orphan boy called Fernando she had taken in. Blu & Jewel's first meeting with that boy hadn't been the best first impression, but he had proven himself a good friend in the end.

Blu was excited to visit Linda's new Bookstore when it was ready. He would get to see her & of course read some of his favourite books. The only thing he wished was that Linda could bring the books from the old Bookstore in Minnesota rather than only buying new ones because those books would be in Portuguese, a language Blu wasn't able to understand yet.

Blu also enjoyed the music of the area, especially Samba; something his two friends: Nico, the Canary, & Pedro, the Cardinal, had reintroduced him to after being away from it for so long. They had even given him some recordings of their best songs as a birthday gift so he could listen to them whenever he wanted, which was a nice gesture even though Blu didn't know where he could find an MP3 player in the middle of the jungle. Despite that, Blu thanked them for it & had asked his friends for an MP3 player for his next birthday.

Moving onto another of his new friends, Blu smiled reminiscently when he remembered about the first time he met Rafael, the Toco Toucan, who had helped him to impress Jewel, or at least try to. Since then they had become good friends, he had given Blu some advice about living in the Jungle & how everything worked there. Surprisingly for Blu the Jungle, more specifically the bird society in the Blu Bird Sanctuary (a name that shamed him a lot) in which they were living, was less wild than he imagined, everything had an order: they had meeting areas; flying routes; unbelievable they even had specific places meant for physiological needs, knowing what that meant.

For Blu his life was perfect & nothing could change that, at least that´s what he thought.

The Sunlight was fading, leaving only an orange color covering the Jungle; the sounds of the birds started to die down as they disappeared inside the trees getting ready for the night that was approaching. In this peace, Jewel noticed Blu was enjoying himself & thought that was her chance, suddenly she interrupted the silence.

"Blu." Jewel said with concern, clearly showing that she was struggling with something inside her mind, something that wasn't common with her seeing as she was usually a free spirit who didn't spend too much time thinking about her actions. "Did you ever notice something is missing here?" she finally decided to speak.

"Well..." Blu said as he was roused from out of his thoughts. "I guess it's all enough for us, our life is perfect." he answered pleasantly.

"I know we have happiness." Jewel said. "But something is missing for both of us." she said with confidence as Blu started to shiver, not because of the cold of the night but the sole thought of where Jewel´s words were heading to.

Is she thinking of…? No! I'm not ready yet! Blu thought & gulped when he suddenly felt Jewel´s hug.

Blu was about to panic & prayed for something that could take him out from that situation as he started to roll his eyes in many directions until they fixed on a sight up in the sky. "Oh look, that shouldn't be flying so low down!" he said trying to release himself from the hug as he pointed with his primary feather to a huge Plane that was flying over the Jungle's canopy, obviously trying to divert Jewel from the topic of the conversation.

The plane passed by making a lot of noise scaring some birds who had already settled on the trees for the night.

"Don't you know what is missing Blu?" Jewel persisted, once the noise had faded & ignoring Blu´s last comment. This time Blu was in panic, both because of the Plane & for Jewel´s question. He was sure he was about to have a heart attack.

Blu started to think on a plan that would take that issue out of the conversation. "Yes! I got it." he said as he had an idea. "I know what we need Jewel!" he said quickly.

"I´m glad you've realized by yourself Blu." Jewel said relieved that she hadn't had to be more direct to him to make him realize about what she was talking about. "So? Tell me." she pressed.

"What we need in our lives is…" Blu said stopping his breathing for some seconds. "A new friend!" Blu answered hoping that would help Jewel to change the topic but he realized it didn't work when he saw Jewel´s expression.

Blu´s answer disappointed Jewel, she never talked with him about that before but she was sure Blu knew it. That was the reason he was in Rio after all. Although, if he didn´t remember it; then she would need to remind him.

"That wasn't what I…" Jewel began when suddenly Blu interrupted her. "Look up there, someone is falling!" he said pointing his primary feather at a red silhouette falling from the sky. "We have to do something!" he shouted.

When Jewel turned around to see, Blu had already flown off as fast as he could in the direction he had pointed. She frowned at his retreating back. "Blu, this isn't over yet." she muttered with a faintly annoyed look on her face as she also took off following him.

While Blu was flying he thought he should thank that bird who unintentionally helped him to get out of that awkward situation with Jewel.

Who is he? Blu thought as he got closer & realized that it was a male red Macaw that he had never seen before, he was falling at a great speed & also he noticed the bird was unconscious. He's out cold! I must save him! Blu thought as he flapped his wings harder, trying to reach the Macaw faster.

Blu flew as fast as his wings would let him, trying to intercept the other bird. As he approached the red Macaw he tried to grab the other bird´s claws with his own. This was an extremely complicated maneuver due to the high speed they were falling & Blu's relative inexperience with flying. He hadn't been doing it that long after all. Despite that he managed to match his fall speed with the other bird´s & with some effort got a grip on his claws. Yes! I got him! Blu thought & started to flap his wings trying to stop the other bird´s fall. Blu felt they were slowing down, but before he could do anything more their downward trajectory had reached the Jungle´s canopy. Blu was forced to release his grip before they both collided with the trees, letting the other Macaw continue his fall & starting to hit & crack the branches one after other. Blu watched helplessly as this red Macaw continued falling until he fell into a creek with a splash. The other bird was then quickly dragged under by the current.

Jewel heard the sound of the splash & flew in its direction, once there she saw Blu that was hovering over the creek & looking for something in the water. He then spotted her as she arrived. "Jewel, he fell into the water I can´t see him!" Blu said in a panicked voice. Jewel hurried to join him in his search & after some seconds Blu saw the Macaw bobbing up again in the current. "We have to rescue him before he drowns!" Blu said, & Jewel nodded as they both flew after him.

Jewel tried to grab the Macaw when he emerged from the water but the current pulled him down again. "He´s too heavy! Don´t try to grab him or you will be dragged down too, leave it to me!" Blu shouted, she nodded again & flew away, some seconds passed & the red Macaw came up to the surface again. Blu seized his chance, flew in his direction & completely focused on saving the bird he managed to grab him with his claws, & then using all his strength he pulled the bird out of the water.

"I got him Jewel!" Blu said relieved. Breathing heavily, he flapped his wings to take him & his wet, dripping passenger out from over the creek & back to dry land. Once over the riverside Blu started to land but the heavy sodden mass of the other Macaw slipped out of his grip. "No!" Blu exclaimed turning his head to one side & closing his eyes as the Macaw fell again & hit his head against a rock. He then slumped to the ground & lay motionless.

Jewel landed next to the red Macaw & began examining him with concern. "Congratulations Blu, if he had a chance of surviving, I think you reduced it to zero. I´m almost sure he´s dead." Jewel scolded him.

Blu was stung by her words. He landed & approached the sodden red Macaw. "What have I done?" he exclaimed sorrowfully & as carefully as possible rolled the other bird over onto his back. Blu desperately pushed his chest with his wings trying to imitate the resuscitation maneuvers he had read about many times before, and then he blew air into the Macaw´s beak. After repeating this process a few times he checked to see if the other Macaw was still breathing. He was thrilled to find that he was.

"He´s unconscious but breathing, badly injured but alive." Blu reported with some relief as his eyes took in all the all wounds the other Macaw had got.

"Yes, but he needs help now or he will not last for long." Jewel pointed out.

"You´re right, we must take him to Tulio, he will know what to do." Blu said firmly as he hovered over the unconscious Macaw, grabbed him carefully in his claws & lifted him up.

"Careful Blu. Do not drop him again, he has had enough for a day." Jewel scolded him a second time, Blu nodded with a serious face & they both took off in the Center´s direction as fast as they could.

It was almost night at the Conservation Center, Tulio & Linda were walking along a corridor; since Linda had decided to settle in Rio Tulio was helping her with the details, he had got permission to let Linda stay in a room at the Center for as long as she needed, after all it was the Center´s fault that Blu & Jewel were kidnapped the first day Blu arrived, something Tulio had argued with his superiors & they had finally given permission as a kind of compensation for the problems. He was also helping her with the adoption process of Fernando who had to stay in a house managed by the Brazilian government before he was able to live with Linda.

Tulio opened a door & showed Linda into a huge room where all Linda´s belongings that had been moved from Moose Lake were. "Here you go Linda." Tulio said. "This is all your furniture & other objects that you asked for, including your books of course. They can be stored here until your new Bookstore & Home are ready for you to move in."

"Wow..." Linda breathed, looking around. "It´s amazing. Everything is here, how did you do it so fast?" she asked as she placed a box she was carrying on the floor & started checking some other boxes & opening some books. "This is Blu´s favorite." she murmured.

Tulio smiled. "Well, I have my contacts in the government" He said. "So once I talked to them everything went smoothly." he said a little pompously.

Closing the box she had been looking in, Linda suddenly threw her arms around him in a warm hug. "Thanks for everything." she said.

"Oh, It´s...it's nothing, really." Tulio said, blushing. Linda disengaged the hug & Tulio smoothed down his shirt a little self-consciously. "Can I ask you a question?" He asked, as much to cover his embarrassment as anything.

"Of course Tulio." Linda answered.

"What do you have inside that box?" Tulio asked.

Linda turned back to where the box was & opened it, beckoning Tulio over as she did so. Inside, Tulio saw some toys that confused him. "These are Blu's." she said holding up a toy car. "I brought them from Minnesota, he still played with them some weeks ago, he loves them & now he can fly he can enjoy them much more" she said.

"I understand." Tulio said "Macaws are known to play a lot & they need to be busy all the time." he said "But," he added. "I´m not sure why you wanted to bring Blu´s cage too?" he said pointing at the Wire Cage standing off to one side of the room.

Linda looked a little down. "Thanks again for all your help Tulio." she said as she adjusted her glasses & returned the toy to the box, closing it again. She took a deep breath before answering Tulio's question. "I asked for the cage because it brings back memories about my life with Blu. We used to be together all the time & now I barely see him. Oh, no! It's alright!" she added quickly as Tulio opened his mouth. "I knew this would happen & I´m not upset or anything. I know this is the best thing for him & I'm glad he's got the life he deserves." she sighed. "It's just...I feel like I've lost a valuable part of my own life. Do you see what I mean?"

Tulio looked sympathetic. "I understand Linda." He said. "It's always hard to let go of someone you love, even if you know it's for the best." He paused as Linda just nodded slowly, & then he went on: "I´m sorry for asking that, I didn't want to make you feel bad." Tulio apologized.

"Don´t worry about it." Linda reassured him. "I need to overcome that & I´m sure it's all for Blu´s well-being."

"I know you´ll feel better once you see the chicks, something that should happen soon." Tulio said, trying to cheer her up.

Sure enough, Linda's face brightened. "Oh yes, I'd really love to see them."

"Oh, by the way" Tulio said. "I have to tell you…" he was suddenly interrupted by a sound coming from outside the room. He & Linda exchanged glances. "Did you hear that? I think there´s someone else here." Tulio said as he exited the room back into the corridor. Linda followed him.

The Center was almost empty, there wasn't supposed to be anyone else there at that time other than Sylvio, The guard at the front entrance. Sometimes in the past Tulio had scolded a researcher for being at the Center during the night but he was sure everyone else had already left, so he was worried there could be a trespasser.

Tulio finally found where the sound was coming from, a window on the corridor that was being continuously knocked. "Linda, It´s coming from that window." Tulio said as he grabbed a stick. They both headed cautiously to the window & suddenly they heard a squawk making them exchange puzzled looks. Tulio then opened the window & through the dusk they saw it was Blu & Jewel right outside, looking up at them.

Linda quickly found her voice "Blu, Jewel, I´m very happy to see you, but what are you doing here so late? It´s almost night time."

Blu moved aside & pointed with his primary feather at the unconscious Macaw lying on the ground behind him.

"It´s a Macaw, a male one." Tulio exclaimed.

"Blu!" Linda said shocked. "What happened to him?" she asked as Tulio quickly hopped out of the window to come to the Macaws side.

Blu looked distressed, but Tulio spoke up before he could even attempt to explain. "Meu deus, this Macaw is in a terrible condition." He exclaimed as he examined him. "He's been injured, has weak breathing & is probably in great pain, but we can save him if we move quickly." He continued as he quickly but carefully scooped up the bird. He handed him off to Linda through the window, & upon he, Blu & Jewel then entering the Center through the window, he reclaimed the bird & then ran to the treatment room; Linda, Blu & Jewel following him.

Tulio placed the Macaw on a table & upon rapidly donning his coat & gloves he set to work, starting the treatment. He had to use many medicines to stabilize the bird, constantly checking his vital signs as he did so. "Come on, you can resist!" Tulio muttered as he began on the cleaning & patching of the birds wounds. He was putting in his all to save the Macaws life. Many times in the past he had to work under pressure to save a birds life, which was something that gave him great satisfaction & was one of the reasons he had gone into this line of work. But every time it was a new challenge & this case wasn't an exception, having a life on his hands was something he didn't enjoy but the results of most of the cases were successful & he would give his all make sure that this was no different.

After an hour of tense work, Tulio finally straightened up, his shoulders visibly relaxing. "The danger has passed." he said. He then sighed & finished up, carefully bandaging the Macaw's wings & legs & giving him some more medicine.

Tulio had asked Linda & the blue Macaws to stay on the side-lines since the procedure was quite delicate, so she was sitting on a chair watching Tulio working & the blue Macaws were perched on another chair doing the same. Linda turned address the pair. "So you found him, right Blu?" Linda asked & Blu nodded, clearly tired. "Did you carry him all the way here?" she said, looking concerned. He nodded again. "Oh, poor Blu. You must be exhausted." she said sympathetically & stroking his head. Blu looked like he enjoyed the affection, but Linda stopped when she noticed Jewel glaring at them disapprovingly.

"What happened to him?" Linda asked. Blu only shrugged. "I see, & do you know him?" she asked again & Blu shook his head. "So you haven´t seen him before." She said thoughtfully as she turned her gaze back to Tulio, still working over his patient. "It´s a red Macaw but he doesn't look like any of the others I've seen around." Linda continued.

"It´s because the red Macaws you commonly see are Ara Chloropterus or green-winged Macaws, but this one is an Ara Macao or Scarlet Macaw." Tulio interjected without looking up. "The main difference between them as you can see is the color on the middle of their wing feathers. While the green-winged Macaw has obviously a green color the scarlet Macaw has a yellow color instead." Tulio said as he pointed his finger to the unconscious Macaw´s wing, pointing out his coloration. Tulio suddenly stopped what he was doing & leaned in for a closer look. "Wow!" he exclaimed, startling all in the room.

"What? What is it Tulio?" Linda asked leaning forward.

"He´s not only a Scarlet Macaw" Tulio excitedly answered. "He's a subspecies, an Ara Macao Macao."

"And why is that so important?" Linda asked. She knew a fair bit about Macaws, but this was outside her sphere of knowledge.

Tulio pointed to the unconscious bird's wing again. "Look, in addition to his yellow feathers he has green ones just here." Tulio said. "In fact, this kind of Macaw is seldom seen around Rio. They typically live from extreme south-eastern Mexico to Amazonian Peru, Bolivia & north of Brazil. Even for me is very rare to see one of them frequently. At the Sanctuary we only have 2 Scarlet Macaws registered for this area but none like him."

"Yes, we know them. Ana & Juan." Blu spoke up, but of course Linda & Tulio just heard a squawk.

Jewel gave him an amused look. "Blu, they can´t understand us, remember?" she said, almost laughing.

"Oh, so you know them Blu?" Linda said. Blu nodded & gave Jewel a smug look. She huffed & turned her head away.

"Since Blu & Jewel don't know him; that means this is a new bird in the area." Tulio said. "That still leaves more questions, where did he come from? & what happened to him?" he mused & continued checking the Macaw´s wounds.

None of the others in the room had an answer for that, so they remained silent. After a few more moments of activity over the red Macaw, Tulio straightened up. "Well, I think that's all I can do." he said as he moved away from the table. "Fortunately, miraculously I'd say, he didn't get a single fracture. Apparently he only got many cuts & some sprains especially the one of his right leg, it's very swollen. Probably he got struck with a branch or hit something very hard in order to have this kind of injury." He paused briefly & glanced back at his patient with a furrowed brow. "Something that worries me more though is that blow he got to his head." he said.

Blu lowered his head & looked ashamed, something that Linda noticed.

"Do you know something about that Blu?" Linda asked him & Blu nodded sheepishly. "You hit his head when you rescued him. Am I right?" She said & Blu covered his head with his wings, a guilty gesture that Linda recognized immediately. He had looked much the same after the Park Incident.

"Don´t blame yourself Blu, I´m sure it was an accident, & if you hadn't been there he probably wouldn't be alive, I'm sure he´ll thank you when he wakes up." Linda said reassuringly.

"The medicine I used on him is in effect, all we can do is to wait & see if he wakes up…" Tulio stopped when he noticed Blu giving him a scared look. "…which I'm sure he will soon." he added & took off his gloves as Blu looked relieved.

Linda glanced up at the clock on the wall. "It's really late. I think it´s time to sleep." Linda said. "I´ll be staying in upstairs room again, right Tulio?"

"Of course Linda you can use it all the time you need." He answered. "I got authorization for that." He was interrupted by a large yawn. "I think I´ll turn in too, I´m exhausted."

Linda turned to the blue Macaws. "So, Blu, Jewel, are you staying here tonight? It is very dark outside." Linda said. Then Blu gave Jewel a pleading look.

"Noting it," she said. "Well...OK, but just for today." So Blu turned back to Linda & nodded.

"Excellent, would you like to stay upstairs with me?" Linda asked. Blu shook his head. "You're staying here to look after your new friend then?" Blu nodded & Linda looked pleased. "Oh, that's so sweet Blu. I'm sure he'll appreciate that." She got up off of the chair & gently stroked his head again. Blu looked happy, while Jewel just rolled her eyes. "If you need something I´ll be upstairs OK?" Linda said & Blu nodded. "Good night you 2. Take good care of your new friend." She added as she & Tulio exited the room.

As the footsteps of the 2 Humans faded, Blu & Jewel then flew across to the table where the Scarlet Macaw was lying. As they looked down at his peacefully sleeping form, Blu said. "Wow, it was hard to carry him all the way here; I wish he'd wake up soon, I´m curious to know what happened to him."

"If he wakes up, you mean." Jewel said looking at Blu sidelong.

Blu met her gaze but answered defensively. "Why do you say that?"

"Because of the blow you gave him on the head, I thought that would be the end of him." Jewel reminded him.

Blu groaned. "Thanks Jewel, now I won't be able to sleep for guilt". He turned his attention back to the red Macaw. "Come on guy you must wake up, you have to live." he urged to the Macaw, who was barely breathing.

"He's out of it Blu. We'll just have to leave him be for now." Jewel said, looking down at him. She then turned & gave Blu a sly look. "Guilty feelings aside for a moment however, you & I have other issues to talk about." she said.

Blu didn't like the sound of that. "What do you mean Jewel?" he asked, trying not look uncomfortable.

Jewel stared at Blu, not angrily, but in a way Blu hadn't seen her look at him before.

"Blu, would you mind having kids?" She asked suddenly.

Blu was stunned by her question. As he tried to get his mind & mouth working again, Jewel went on: "Just look at Rafael & his family." she said. "They're happy, maybe his kids are very naughty, but they're very happy." she said softly.

What should I do? What should I say? Blu thought. He knew that this would come up eventually, hey, it was one of the main reasons they had been introduced to one another. Somehow he had always thought he would be ready for when the subject came up. But he didn't feel ready. He was suddenly startled out of that thought when Jewel hugged him.

"Jewel, please not now, can we talk about it later, not in front of him." Blu said.

Still hugging him, Jewel gave him an amused look. "I don't think he'll complain Blu. He's unconscious." Jewel said.

"Well...um..." Blu cast his mind around for an excuse. "Maybe...maybe I should go find some food. You know, in case this guy wakes up? Is that OK?" Blu asked while he was trying to gently release himself from Jewel's hug.

"Not until you promise that we´ll have kids." She said firmly, holding onto him.

This time Blu had nowhere to run, but he had a sudden idea. He looked up over Jewel's head. "Oh Linda! Did you forget something?" He said brightly.

"What?" Jewel said as she released Blu from her hug & turned towards the door. There was no-one there.

Realizing she had been tricked, Jewel snapped her head back. "Blu!" she shouted as she saw him flying off from the table. "You shouldn't trick me like that!" she said as she began to chase after him.

"Sorry Jewel! I'm not ready yet!" Blu called as he flew around the room, harder & faster than Jewel until she finally gave up due to the fatigue.

"Fine...fine." She said, out of breath as she landed again on the table. "You...you do whatever...whatever you want." She panted as she tried to recover her composure. She gave Blu an irked look. "But mark my words, buster, I'll have the last laugh." She took a deep breath & then said in a calmer tone. "We´ll talk about that later, go on & get that food you were talking about."

From his safe perch across the room, Blu nodded & after recovering his breath (he was winded too, just not as much as Jewel) he flew towards the food storage area. I´m safe for now but I have to think on an emergency plan before she tries chasing me again. He thought to himself. When he reached the storage room he saw many crates with different types of fruit. Wow, this place is very well supplied; I could eat a different fruit every day for weeks. He thought. "I'm sure they won't miss two or three pieces." He said as grabbed some mangoes & flew back to the treatment room.

"Here's dinner!" Blu announced as he put the three mangoes on the table "Something new from our friend?" He asked.

"He´s breathing, that´s all I can say about him." Jewel answered. She gave Blu a searching look. "I think you can´t see how bad he really is, can you? I don't think he'll be awake for some time." she continued as she grabbed one mango & Blu did the same. The 2 dug into their food, finishing up rapidly as they were hungry. As she finished her mango Jewel eyed the 3rd one Blu had brought along. "I suppose you brought that for him?" she asked.

"Yes, just in the case he wakes up & is hungry." Blu said.

"Well, suit yourself, but I don´t believe he will wake up anytime soon." Jewel insisted. We should get some sleep too." She added as she flew off & perched on a railing. She looked back at him. "Are you coming? I won´t bite... today." she finished with a humorous tone.

"Yeah, sure." Blu said & carefully joined her.

"Good night Blu." she said & then stuck her head into her wing.

"Good night Jewel." Blu said. He glanced across at the sleeping red macaw on the table. "Good night new friend." he muttered as he closed his eyes.