Hello hello hello! Welcome everyone to my first ever Rio Fanfic. So, let me tell you all a little bit about myself, I am a TMNT Fanfic author; always have been since on this site, and I love what I do on here. Now I bet you all on this archive are wondering why would I even be writing a Rio story? To be honest with you guys I'll give you three reasons: 1) I love the movies, 2) I love Brazilian culture and music to death, and 3) I thought I would give this a shot.
So, I had posted this story on here a while back and to be honest I took it off because I had no clear direction on where to go with it, again, and to be honest it kind of got in the way of my other projects on here. However, since I am slowly getting back to the writing groove again I thought I would give this story one last try. Like I said originally, I don't want to hear any bullsh*t or start anything with anyone on here. If you can't say anything nice, then please keep it to yourself because I'm not interested in hearing it. Keep everything nice and clean.
Okay, I think I got that off my chest. Now then, let's get this ball rolling shall we? As it says on my summary, this is a NicoXOC fanfic (with PedroXOC later on). The whole story is going through both movies with the additions I'll be putting in. So, with that said I give you all "Love Birds of a Feather Flock Together". I do not own Rio, only my OCs. Please enjoy:)!
Chapter 1: Welcome Home
The sun is slowly rising over the horizon turning the sky from a dark purple to different shades of oranges and pinks until finally becoming blue. The sands of Copacabana beach shines near the shimmering blue ocean, and every single inch of the city is becoming vibrant in colors. Slowly the streets are filled with people heading to work in their cars or walking along the mosaic sidewalks, greeting each other in Portuguese, even the tourists are in a happy mood as they start their day in the warm sunshine. The sun's rays touch the deep green jungle and all of the animals awaken and come out of their homes to also begin their day. The many tropical birds bring out a display of bright colors to the very green atmosphere, flying in the air and singing their beautiful songs, and just being happy together surrounded by family and friends. Yes sir, there is no place in the world that can compare with the lively energy and friendliness then Rio de Janeiro.
As life begins in this wonderful paradise a small canary bird flies over Copacabana beach, her beautiful yellow feathers standing out in the sunshine.
Rosa's P.O.V.:
Finally, after three long years of being a performer in Bahia, I'm home. My beloved Rio shining like a gemstone in a treasure chest, so big and beautiful, the Samba music being played that brings me so much joy and the urge to dance. Oh how I've missed it. I missed all of my friends, my nest, the music and dancing, Carnival, everything and more. Don't get me wrong I loved Bahia, but Rio is all I have ever known; I lived and breathed the air that is Rio. Just thinking about it gets me more excited as I flap my wings faster so I can get to The Branch, the Samba club I've performed at before. While my group and I finished a show one night in Salvador, a giant Spoonbilled bird named Kipo came over and invited us to try out at The Branch. Of course we couldn't waste a perfect opportunity to come back home so we immediately agreed. The entire group has already arrived a day ahead so now they're just waiting for me at the club.
I fly pass Copacabana beach and reach the busy streets of the city, trying to find my way to the marketplace where the club is located. Passing through all the people and the large buildings I make it to the marketplace, watching the humans look at all the fresh produce, talking amongst each other either in conversation or asking for the cost in their items, and giant trucks bringing in the food in crates. Nothing hasn't changed in this area, and somehow I am having the hardest time trying to find the club. I mean I know I've been gone for a while, but come on; throw me a bone here. Forgetting where your favorite club is it's like forgetting how to fly. Who can forget that?! Now I have to find someone that can give me directions… so embarrassing.
"Yo, Rosie!" I hear someone yell out and my eyes look up towards the sky, seeing a very familiar red-crested cardinal flying at me.
"Pedro!" I scream out his name in excitement as he finally lands and we share a hug, a very tight hug, "Oh I've missed you!" I tell him, laughing as his hug is crushing me.
He let's go and sets me back down, "Where have you been, girl? You're gone for three years and you come back looking like a smoking hot wing." Pedro motions his wings up and down, pointing out my figure as he complimented me.
It made me blush, "Knock it off, Pedro! I don't see you guys for a long time and you still look as handsome as ever."
"What can I say, Rosie, I just get finer with age." Pedro says as he flexes his wings to imitate muscles and continues to make me laugh, "Seriously though, girl, why ain't you at The Branch yet? We've been dying to see you come back home."
"Yeah about that… I kind of can't remember where it is." I tell him feeling so embarrassed that I could bury my head in the sand, "Do you think you can help me out Pedro?"
He puts a wing around my shoulders and smiles, "Sure thing, Rosie. In fact I was heading back there right now. Come on!"
We take off and fly around the marketplace, passing through the people and the fruit stands. After a minute of flying Pedro leads us to an alleyway where no human goes to and at the very end there's nothing but tarps and crates stacked together. Both of us land at the entrance and Pedro has me follow him inside, and once we're in I let out a gasp. The Branch looks exactly as I remembered it, the crates stacked up for some dance levels and the stage, all of the instruments are still the same, and the lights are just as colorful as before. This is the place where my friends and I had our big debut, where the music comes to life, and more importantly this is the place we built for all birds to have fun and party all night long. I can still here the laughing, the music playing, and the roar of the crowd cheering for us; that's what I remember the most. What I can't understand is why is this place so empty? Where is everyone?
"Hey Nico!" Pedro shouts making me jump slightly, "Get out here man! I found something!"
Not even a moment later I hear familiar flapping and then our yellow canary friend appears, "What is it Pe-" He stops and stares at me with his beak wide open.
My smile grows as I look at Nico, and he hasn't changed one bit after all this time; the orange feathers around his eyes, white ones on his chest, his wing tips and tail a darker shade. He's still the same, especially with his signature bottle cap resting on his head as always. I swear he hardly takes it off. Nico flies down to us and lands right in front of me, staring at me in almost disbelief as if his eyes were deceiving him and his body is tense.
"…Rosa?" Nico's soothing rich voice comes out in a whisper.
I nod and my heart beats faster in my chest, "Ola Nico."
"You're back!" Nico pulls me into his wings and gives me a friendly hug.
I wrap my wings the best I can around his neck and bury my face in his chest, almost on the verge of tears. Seeing Nico and Pedro right now brings me this overwhelming joy in my heart as it has been far too long since I last saw them. All of these emotions are making my chest hurt a little from the tiny guilt that I have growing, feeling so bad to have left all those years ago and thinking about what they must of felt back then. The last bird I saw before I left to Bahia was Nico, and with that memory flowing through my mind I hug him tighter fearing it would come back to life. All of a sudden I begin to hear soft humming coming from Nico, his voice sounding so gentle and warm in my ear. I remembered all the times when I was angry or sad he would hug me and hum a song for comfort, and it worked every time. Those were great times… and very special memories. However, there was something different about his humming, it almost sounds familiar to me… like I've heard it before. Why can't I remember this song? Has he performed this to me before? I don't know. This is something that I need to figure out on my own, but right now I just want to take this in with one of my closest friends in the world.
A moment later Nico and I let go of each other and fix our feathers, smoothing them out to their rightful places to make sure we don't look like a giant mess. Pedro takes a couple of steps closer and puts his wings on our shoulders, causing us to smile as we realize that the trio is back together and this time we're staying together for good.
I wipe away a tear with my wing tip and smile, "This feels like old times, huh?"
"Yeah! The Rio Trio's back together again!" Pedro exclaims as I laugh.
"And this time we're going to make The Branch the hottest spot in Brazil." Nico says and pounds Pedro's wing in a fist bump.
"Just like we always dreamed of." I said completely agreeing with Nico and Pedro.
Then out of the corner of my eye I see a pair of black wings flapping down at the entrance of the club, and I get excited as I know who those wings belong to. The bird so happens to walk in and smiles big as his eyes face me like how Nico got when he saw me. Ugh, again I'm on the verge of tears! No wait… I'm actually crying. Oh meu deus I'm crying!
"Hi Rosa!" The toucan said and opens up his wings.
"Tio Rafi!" I flew over and hug him as much as my wings will let me.
Out of all the birds in Rio I missed the most, my Tio Rafi and Tia Eva were definitely them. My tio and tia practically raised me from the time I was still a chick, barely two years old living with them in their nest. They're the closest thing to a family I have since my parents were… never mind. Let's not talk about that right now, okay? All I want to do is enjoy this moment with my friends and family, and not think about my past. If you know what I've been through you would think the same thing, trust me.
"I've missed you so much." I tell him as I continue to cry into his feathers, no doubt becoming all damp from my tears.
"I've missed you too, Rosa." Tio Rafi releases me and stares, "Look at you, Sweetie. You've grown up into a beautiful young woman, just like your mom."
"Thank you, Tio." I said and look around for my tia, "Wait a minute, where's Tia Eva?"
"Oh she's taking care of the kids while I came over here to see you. Your tia really wants to see you too, Rosa, and we want you to meet our kids." He said as we walk back to Nico and Pedro.
"Hold up! You and Tia Eva have kids?" I ask almost in disbelief myself.
"We sure do, seventeen of them." He said proudly.
My beaks just drops, "Seventeen?! I'm gone for three years and you both decide to have seventeen chicks?" I ask and he nods, "Wow! I can't wait to meet them!"
"Yeah, they're good kids, but they tend to get a little rough when anyone comes over." Tio tells me as I can't even imagine his kids acting like that.
"I'm sure your kids are just fine, Tio. Can I see them and Tia Eva tomorrow?" I ask as I hug him again.
He pecks the top of my head and chuckles, "Of course you can, Rosa. You are more than welcome into our home anytime you like."
I fly up and kiss him on the cheek, "Obrigado Tio."
Just then one of my other friends in my group from Salvador pops us whistling the song we're going to perform today for the audition. He's a green parakeet named Raúl, and he's one spirited performer despite his age. Well, I can't really say that because he is the same age as Tio Rafi, maybe even older.
"There you are, Rosa! We were getting worried you wouldn't make it." Raúl said and hugs me.
"Are you kidding? I would never let you all down. Besides," I grin at my friend, "we've got a show to put on."
"You mean-" He starts to say then stops.
I nod, "It's show time!"
Pedro flies over to the entrance and takes a peak outside, and we can hear a lot of noise from so many birds. Must be a big crowd. "Okay people, we got a whole lotta birds waiting and I don't think they can hang any longer." He said as he gets pumped up.
Nico turns his head back to me, "Rosa?"
I smile and look to Raúl then back to Nico, "We're ready Nico, and I hope you won't mind us using our band."
"Not at all. Come on, I'll take you backstage while Rafi and Pedro let everyone outside in." Nico said and has me and Raúl follow him.
The three of us fly up to the stage and make our way to the back where the rest of our band was waiting, and they were so happy to see us as we get ourselves excited. As a performer I always love getting hyper before a performance, it makes me prepare more before I go on stage. I guess you can say it's my adrenaline talking. It is the rush that starts deep down in your heart and travels all over your body until you can't stop moving. I love it! I've always been like this since Tio and Tia taught me all about singing and dancing, that was a long time ago.
While my group is busy chatting away and figuring out their starting notes I decided to take a peak from my spot to see the sea of birds pouring in from the entrance. Pedro wasn't kidding when he said there was a lot of birds, and these birds look like they're ready to party. All these years I've dreamed of preforming back here at The Branch, and now that I'm back… it feels so unreal. I remember my first real performance on a big stage and how nervous I was, but that of course happens to any performer before they do their thing. When Pedro, Nico, and I used to perform together we always would give each other confidence and pep talks when our nerves would take over, and once we felt better we did our songs and laugh it off. Hopefully we will be able to be that again after my audition. I'm praying with all my might that I do good.
"Hey," I turn around and see Nico making his way towards me, "you ready to go back on stage?" He asks as he stands in front of me, my back facing away from the stage.
I nod slightly and give a small smile, "As ready as I'll ever be…" My smile vanishes and turns into a frown as the memories from a few years ago come back, almost sending me on the verge of breaking down while some tears flowed, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be-"
Before I can finish what I have to say Nico wraps his wings around me and gives me a comforting hug, and I take deep breaths and calm down, "Easy there Baby Bird, you'll do great. Just keep taking deep breaths and relax." I follow his advice and once I feel decent he lets me go, allowing me to fix my tear stained face. He looks to my band on the stage and back at me, "Your friends say you've become a big hit in Salvador."
I giggle from what my band has told Nico and the others before I got here, "I don't know about that…" Suddenly I felt my confidence grow as I look at the stage, "but I have gotten better, and stronger too. Now's a good a time as any to show you all what I can do." I face Nico again and give him a very determined smile, "I'm ready to give it all I got."
He smiles at me, "Now there's the Rosa I know. Just remember what you said and you'll kill it out there." Nico said and we see one of the club's band members tell him they're ready, "This is it. Pedro and I will introduce you guys and you all can do your song." He steps back a few steps away from me and gives me one of his confident looks, "Good luck, Rosa."
"Thanks Nico." I said and he flies to the stage next to Pedro as the crowd cheers for them. "Definitely like old times."
"Hey! How's everybody doin'?" Pedro asks and earns a round of cheers out of all the birds in the audience, "I know you all are excited for a great time, but we have a real treat before we do our thing!"
"Pedro and I are very proud to announce a very special performer returning from her stay in Bahia. Make some noise y'all for The Branch's very own Samba Queen and Rio native, Rosa!" Nico says and he and Pedro yell out my name together in unison.
I fly out to the stage and receive so many cheers and whistles from the crowd, a giant smile planted on my beak as I land and bow. The birds wave at me as I wave back and wiggle my hips a little for some fun, doing my best to loosen up and have an amazing time. This is something I will always do before I perform, you know like a routine to excite the audience.
"Hello Rio de Janeiro!" I cheer and the crowd goes nuts, "It feels so great to be back home where I belong. And let me tell you all something, being here at The Branch is really a dream come true for me. I'm going to give you all a quick story on why I decided to come back here. You see, I've been gone for a few years and during that time I was away, so much was going on in my life that no one really knew about. I was depressed, unhappy… not satisfied with my life… so I left to find my way back. In that time I did perform in Salvador with my band, and my inner voice would tell me that what I was doing wasn't the answer. I was so blind to see that what I needed all along was right in front of me. Being in Rio, at The Branch, with the people I love… and finding my own inner strength again. I can honestly say I'm back and better than ever." The crowd cheers and the lights dim, "I hope you all love this performance, my gift to you."
The music begins to play as I stand still at the center of the stage with everyone's eyes on me, wondering what I am going to do. I had decided to go with a slow song for the audition, so the crowd can see me in a vulnerable spot where I can't dance and receive little to no help. This song is all about having faith in yourself when the world is against you, and that's a message I want to share right here and now. My song, my message, is what I learned from my time away.
"Young girl, don't cry, I'll be right here when your world starts to fall. Ooh." I give them my best sympathetic look as I sing with that kind of emotion, "Young girl, it's alright, Your tears will dry, you'll soon be free to fly," I open my wings slightly and close my eyes for a moment, imagining my younger self in the crowd, "ooh." The crowd stares at me with wide eyes as I realize what I'm doing is working.
"When you're safe inside your room, you tend to dream," My eyes stare off into space as if I was actually dreaming on the stage, "Of a place where nothing's harder than it seems." I shake my head and narrow my eyes a bit, "No one ever wants or bothers to explain," I place my wings on my chest to act out the pain in my heart, "Of the heartache life can bring and what it means." I let my facial expression soften slightly as I go on to sing the chorus.
"When there's no one else, look inside yourself," I look into the eyes of all the birds in the crowd, "Like your oldest friend, just trust the voice within. Then you'll find the strength that will guide your way, You'll learn to begin to trust the voice within," I hear them all cheer for me as I give a tiny smile, "oh."
"Young girl, don't hide, You'll never change if you just run away." I almost choke up on that verse as I think back to my past and keep my sympathetic emotion strong, "Ooh, whoa, yeah. Young girl, just hold tight, Soon you're gonna see your brighter day, ooh." My smile disappears as I move to the right side of the stage.
"Now in a world where innocence is quickly claimed," I hug myself and look away from the crowd to the floor, "It's so hard to stand your ground when you're so afraid." I snap my head back up and move to the left side with a more serious look, "No one reaches out a hand for you to hold, When you look outside, look inside to you soul." I clench my chest with my wing for a second and let go.
"When there's no one else, look inside yourself, Like your oldest friend, just trust the voice within." I take a few steps back as my voice carries a strong emotion to the crowd as they stare in awe, "Then you'll find the strength that will guide your way, If you will earn to begin to trust the voice within."
Suddenly, all the lights turn off and I fly up to the green glass bottle while my band and I continue to sing. Once I balance on my right talon at the top of the bottle the lights flash on, and I let my emotions flow freely, "Life is a journey, It can take you anywhere you choose to go." I stare down at the crowd and my eyes meet Tio Rafi's as he's smiling at me from afar. That alone made my confidence grow as my band continues to sing backup, "As long as you're learning, You'll find all you'll ever need to know." My band can be heard from below me adding some more emotion to get the message across, "(Be strong), Break it (Hold on), You'll make it (Be strong), Just don't forsake it because (Hold on)," I raise my wings up and hear my voice echo the club as I close my eyes while my band sings, "(No one can tell you what you can't do)," I open my eyes and take over, "No can stop you, you know that I'm talking to you." I point out to whoever is in front of me and bring out my smile.
"When there's no one else, look inside yourself," I look over to where Nico and Pedro are and see their smiles all big and wide like mine, "Like your oldest friend, just trust the voice within." I flutter back down to the center of the stage as I still sing, "Then you'll find the strength that will guide your way, You'll learn to begin to trust the voice within." I once again place my wings on my chest as I sing the last note with an airy tone.
"Ooh, yea, young girl, don't cry, I'll be right here when your world starts to fall." I sing this last verse as gentle as I can, and it comes out perfect, "Yea… Aah… Yea…" I close my eyes and let my voice get softer as I hold it out as long as my breath will let me until the music stops and the lights dim to darkness. I hear the crowd cheer for us like crazy and I smile at my band for their hard work.
Soon Nico and Pedro fly back down to the stage and gave me a bone-crushing group hug causing me to laugh from their love and friendship. This was also another thing we would do after a song, and it seems like we're going to keep the tradition going. I look to Tio Rafi as he yells out my name in the sea of birds like a parent would to their child after they performed in a talent show. Honestly, I cannot be any more proud of my accomplishments and how far I've come.
Pedro wraps his wing around my shoulders and look at the crowd, "Wasn't Rosa great up here everyone?" He asks and receives so many cheers, "In fact she was so great that she gets to be back here from now on!"
I look at my friends, not believing what I just heard, "Really?!"
Nico nods, "Yeah! You more than earned your spot back at The Branch, Baby Bird." He holds my wing and raises it in the air, "Shout out your love one more time to the lovely Rosa!" He says to the crowd and they cheer for me.
"Now that we got that taken care of," Pedro starts off and then the music begins to play, "let's get this party started!" He says and does his crazy hawk.
Soon we all begin to dance to the Samba music that was being played by both bands, feeling so lively and loud in the energetic club. The sea of birds were dancing with one another as the lights would flicker and change colors, making the feathers of each bird look darker and lighter. Nico and Pedro would take turns being my dance partner on the stage as they both wanted to have a turn with me, and I didn't mind it one bit if it meant I could dance with my best friends. Even for one of the songs the bands played I got to do a dance solo, showing the club how I earned the title as the 'Samba Queen'. I had so much fun moving my body with the music again, especially rotating in a circle with my hips swinging in time with the beat. If anyone knows me, they know that's my favorite move. Throughout the time at the club all of us were laughing, smiling, and having a blast like it was old times again.
By the time we left The Branch it was almost midnight. Before I could fly away to find a place for the night Tio Rafi, Nico, and Pedro had one last surprise for me in the jungle. Apparently this can't wait until tomorrow so I follow them. Several minutes later of flying around we stop at a familiar sight to me as I gasp at where we are. Turns out their surprise for me was my old hallow, cleaned up and perfect just how it looked when I left. I walk inside and see my nest in the center with my turquoise beads circling around it, my old brush, the old toy mirror standing on the side of the hallow, my small leaf basket for food hanging on a vine, and my seashell for water. Everything is still here and just as clean as I left it.
"I can't thank you all enough for doing this for me." I said almost on the verge of tears, again.
Tio Rafi pecks my head and hugs me, "You don't have to, Sweetheart."
"Yeah, girl, we're family! We got your back no matter what!" Pedro said agreeing with my tio.
Nico smiles and hugs me, "Welcome home, Rosa. Welcome home."
Yes, I am home.
Ta da! So what do you all think of this first chapter? I am very eager to hear what you guys have to say, so as I tell everyone else you are my judges. Keep in mind that this story is a NO FLAME ZONE. However, if you guys want to make suggestions, say hi, and be nice for my first time writing this then leave your comment in the review.
The song that my OC sings is "The Voice Within" by Christina Aguilera. If any of you have never heard this powerful song, go on YouTube and check it out.
Please R&R, PM me, and any other stuff you can think of. Until next time:)!
