Chapter 1

They had always been a duo. Nothing could separate them. They were an odd little family duo, but the love was there. Bernard was a mocking bird, born and raised on the grounds of a bird sanctuary in Louisiana. For a time, he had a lovely mate, his sweet beloved Sarah. She was the love of his life, and just as passionate about music, song, and dance as he was. Music and performance were what they had lived for, besides of course each other.

Their lives were made happier when the pair started their way west. They found an abandoned little chick, a baby nightingale who had been left all alone. They couldn't leave her, and so she was adopted. They named the chick Cazana, but she liked the nickname Gale. Under their love and guidance, Gale grew into a loving and sweet natured songbird. She started to perform with her parents as soon as she started getting her more mature feathers. It was a good life, full of love and music.

But not all good things were meant to last. Sarah started to fall sick when Gale was just becoming an adult. Bernard feared for his love and they settled for a time, back in Louisiana. The sanctuary tried to save Sarah but the illness had progressed too much. She died shortly after they had come home. After his wife was buried, Bernard decided to take Gale far from the source of their pain. The father-daughter duo settled in the small town of Dirt, and quickly found their niche. Or so it seemed.

They still loved to sing and perform, but they weren't as passionate. Her mother's death had a significant effect on Gale. She felt she wasn't good enough to sing alone. She was never confident enough, unlike her father. She could sing sure, but she never performed solos, even when asked. Gale instead took a liking to reading and storytelling, and only usually to the children of the town.

Gale had very few actual friends in the town. Most of the people thought she and her father to be odd additions to the community, as most still feared birds. They were relieved to know the pair fed on insects. But even so...people would look at them like outsiders. It was a little lonely, but it was what it was. Gale at least had friends in Sheriff Rango and his fiancée, Miss Beans. He even let Gale watch the town from atop of the sherrif's office building.

She whistled a tune, watching the people go about their lives. Gale closed her eyes and let everything fall away. Whistling turned to soft little singing.

"Run away with my heart. Run away with my hope. Run away with my love. I know now, just quite how, my life and love might still go on. In your heart, in your mind, I'll stay with you for all time. If I could, then I would. I'd go wherever you will go. Way up high, or down low. I'll go wherever you will go. If I could turn back time. I'll go wherever you will go. If I could make you mine. I'll go wherever you will go. I'll go wherever you will go!"

She was cut off by clapping down below. Gale's eyes shot open as she looked down to spot the chameleon sheriff giving her a small round of applause. Gale looked away embarrassed.

"Awww c'mon miss Gale. You sounded fantastic. Good choice of song too".

" I… I'm not that good".

"Don't be like that, everyone likes your voice".

"Eh...I don't know Sheriff. I think I'm a bit...pitchy" she had to find the right word.

"I think you sound wonderful. Nightingales are known for their pretty voices after all".

"Don't flatter me, Sheriff"

"Ain't flattery if it's the truth, miss Gale. And please, just Rango".

"And I'm just Gale" she chuckled.

"Of course. Just uh...be careful gettin' down from there. Folks still laugh at me over that one time ya took the roof off"

It was one of her first times taking off from her usual perch on his office building. Gale had forgotten to loosen her grip when she took off, thus taking chunks out of the roof. It took months to repair, but she was happy to help fix the damage. She carefully climbed down.

"It was only a couple chunks" Gale said playfully, "And besides it needed repairs anyway".

" Hm...true. How's your dad?" Rango asked.

"He's good. He's gonna be gone for a few days. He's going to another town for supplies. Guess the nest needs repairs".

"You aren't going with him?"

Gale shook her head. "To be honest I don't like to travel much".

"Really?! I thought birds love to travel and explore".

"Well… I used to. Then mama died"

"Oh right. I'm sorry Gale".

"It's okay. I'm more worried for papa. I don't wanna leave him alone".

"Understandable. But...just don't let it get in the way of your own happiness, Gale. You deserve to live your own life".

"Thanks Rango. I won't forget, I promise. Well, I gotta go see my papa off. I'll talk to you later" she spread her soft brown wings, "tell miss Beans and Priscilla I said hi".

"Will do" the chameleon nodded and watched her take off.

Rango smiled to himself as she flew off. Gale was going to do good things, and she truly deserved to be happy.

Author's Note: First ever Rango fic! I loved this movie, and Rattlesnake Jake in particular. So yeah, I'm writing this and...its kinda gonna be a musical. I don't own ANY songs featured in this fic. If it's not your thing I'm sorry. I hope you'll support it anyway. Thanks for reading! Updates will be at random