Author's note: So, next chapter. I told you it would be longer :). Firstly, I would like to give recognition to KhallieGurl who came up with the name of the club 'The Branch', and let me use it in my first story. All rights go to her for the name. And secondly, the song in this chapter is loud by Stan Walker. That's all for now, so enjoy :).

Kipo paced nervously to and fro in the club. It was quite rare indeed to see the normally laid back, friendly spoonbill with his pink feathers in disarray and tripping over his long legs in anxiety. But no one could really blame him: he'd had a bad morning. Performers had been sick, things had been misplaced, the lights had been malfunctioning and just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, his headliners were late. Things just seemed to be going wrong. And to top it all off, there was a rumour going around that a talent scout was currently roaming Rio. In fact, he'd been sitting in the Branch all morning. Not that the bird had told anyone that, but Kipo had seen his fair share of talent scouts. He knew one when he saw one: there was something in their stance. The way they sat relaxed yet alert at the same time, and how their eyes held a certain analytical look to it. However, something about this particular talent scout just didn't sit right with Kipo. As beneficial as it was to have a talent scout seen in his club, he just hoped that the bird had nothing to do with his performers.

Speaking of performers, Nico and Pedro were on in a minute and they still hadn't arrived. As lazy as those two could be, they were rarely late or unable to perform. So then where were they?

As if in answer to his prayers, the two birds in question shot through the door only to trip and tumble into a conspicuous heap in the middle of the dance floor, laughing their heads off.

Kipo allowed himself a small sigh before he rushed over to them. "Come on, you guys are on next, let's go, let's go," he urged upon reaching them. He paused for a second to take in their sopping wet appearance in shock, "Why are you guys wet?"

They looked at each other, "Ahh."

Kipo just shook his head, "On second thought, I don't want to know. Besides, you need to get backstage, come on!" He pushed the two small birds forward with his wings.

Nico turned around with a frown, "Yo Kipo. Are you okay? You seem a little stressed."

Kipo stopped pushing them and sighed, letting some of the tension drop off him. "Yeah, I've just had a bit of a bad morning. But it's nothing to worry about." His gaze reached the stage and he realised the last performer had finished. Startled into action Kipo ushered them forward. "I'll tell you all about it after. Right now you're up."

With simultaneous nods Pedro and Nico flew up onto the darkened stage.

Kipo let out a relieved sigh: one less thing to worry about. Nico and Pedro could handle themselves once on the stage.

Slowly the music faded in along with Nico's voice, both increasing in volume, "Looouud, looouud, loud. We can make it looouud, looouud, loud."

When he reached full volume, the lights came up on the stage, revealing the duo as they started to sing, "We can make it looouud, looouud, loud. We can make it looouud, looouud, loud."

Nico took over the lyrics as Pedro launched into the dance routine, "When the lights go down and the stars come out. We can rock it, we-a, we-a, we can rock it."

Now Pedro stepped forward to sing accompanied by Nico's dancing, "Got me feeling right, I could dance all night till we drop it. Nobody tells us when to go."

They slid together with the music, "DJ turn it up, we're not coming down."

"And through all the noise, make them hear the sound."

"When two hearts as one light up the crowd."

"Through all the noise, we can make it,"

The launched into the chorus, the beat thumping through the club. "Looouud, looouud, loud."

The audience swelled with the music, dancing along with them. We can make it looouud, looouud, loud."

Lifting the dance moves into the air, Pedro sang, "We're so high right now, lifting off the ground. We can feel it, we-a, we-a, we need it."

On the ground, Nico took over, "Up to you and I, we command the night. We ain't leaving, nobody tells us when to go."

Nico flew up to join Pedro, "DJ turn it up, we're not coming down."

"And through all the noise, make them hear the sound."

"When two hearts as one, light up the crowd."

"Through all the noise, we can make it,"

"Looouud, looouud, loud. We can make it looouud, looouud, loud."

Flying over the crowd, they mingled with the audience. "Hey, ye-ah, yeah. Heyyy, yeah, yeah."

"We're going to make it loud."

"Hey, yeaah, yeeeaaahhhh."

With a thump they both landed on the stage, pausing for a second.

"DJ turn it up," Pedro sang while Nico accompanied over the top, "Turn it up."

"We're not coming down. And through all the noise, make them hear the sound."

"Make them hear the sound."

"When two hearts as one, light up the crowd."

"Light up the crowd."

"Through all the noise." Together they launched back into the routine. "We can make it looouud, looouud, loud."

"Till you make it loooouuud, loooouuud, yeeeeaah."

"We can make it looouud, looouud, loud. We can make it looouud, looouud, loud."

"We can make it loooouuud."

"Hey!"

"Heeey."

"Hey!"

"Yeeeaah."

"Hey!"

"Make it looooouuuud." And with that, the lights went out on the stage.

A huge round of applause sounded from the crowd and the audience swamped the pair as they flew off the stage. Kipo was making his way over to congratulate them when several of the backstage crew came to him with yet another problem. He sighed: looked like it just one of those days. And so it was that he didn't see the rumoured talent scout get up and make his way over to Nico and Pedro.

Pedro and Nico were basking in the praise of their several fans when a new bird came up to them. He was a Cockatiel by the looks of it: with a yellow head and orange cheeks that contrasted sharply to his grey body. His crest was groomed back and his feathers were sleek which immediately identified him as a pet. Yet here he was walking around like a free bird.

"What a marvellous job that was," he greeted them. He stuck his wing out to shake as he continued, "You may have noticed but I'm new around here. My name is Jarvis and my owner is currently here on a business trip."

They shook his wing.

"Nico."

"Pedro." They introduced themselves. "And we're locals here. Always have been."

"Yeah," Nico affirmed. "Grew up together here."

"Ah, childhood friends," Jarvis smiled.

"Brothers actually," Pedro corrected.

"Brothers? How is that possible?" Jarvis asked surprised.

He obviously touched a nerve, as both Pedro and Nico looked uncomfortable. "It's a long story," Pedro said briefly.

Jarvis dropped the subject and instead brought up the one he'd been meaning to bring up. "I must admit, congratulating you wasn't the only reason I came over. I actually have a proposition for you. Would you mind coming somewhere private to discuss it?" Curious, Pedro and Nico shrugged and followed the bird out the door.

One outside on a secluded crate, the Cockatiel turned to them. "Now: let me formally introduce myself," he turned to them with a slight bow, "My name is Jarvis Northwing, the talent scout of Winged International Music, or WIM. You may have heard of us."

Pedro and Nico's mouths dropped in surprise, their eyes wide. 'May have heard of' was an understatement: WIM was the biggest performance company for birds in the world. They traveled from city to city around the globe to live screen performances from some of the best singers and dancers worldwide. They were legendary, but because of the sheer number of places around the world they went, the WIM festival only came around once a generation. Last year Rio had had the honour of having them arrive at their city and for the whole week the hype had been phenomenal. And, just like every other bird, Nico and Pedro had been caught up in the hype too. After all, it was every performer's dream to be able to perform with WIM. It was seen as the pinnacle of success.

"Dude," Pedro said in awe, "seriously?"

Jarvis chuckled, "Seriously. And my proposition to you is the chance to become a part of the company and perform around the world. You two are good. Really good."

"Dude," Nico gaped, "seriously?"

"Seriously."

The two party birds exchanged excited grins before Pedro turned serious. Scrutinising the bird before them he asked, "So what exactly does your offer entail? Any catch?"

Jarvis smiled and shook his head. "If you choose to become a part of WIM you'll be asked to do a whole bunch of performances, which will be recorded to be seen around the world. In return, the whole time you're in the recording sessions you'll have access to food, water and other comforts."

"What about travel?" Nico asked. "We really don't have any desire to leave Rio."

"Not a problem. All performances are recorded in your city of residence, making the travel optional." Jarvis looked between the two of them. "Any other information you want?"

They glanced at each other before identical smiles lit their faces. "We're in."

"Excellent," Jarvis clapped. "If you really want to join, you can audition at 4:00 at the old school on the west side of the city."

"Audition?" Nico queried.

"Well yes," Jarvis explained. "I'm only the talent scout, my boss is the one who runs it all. He'll need to see what you can do, so that he can organise you into the program. Really audition is just a formal name. Almost all the birds I find get through – one of the reasons I'm so good at my job. Anyway, you can perform the song you did today or another one. It doesn't really matter, just as long as you do something. I hope that's not too much of an inconvenience for you?"

"Hey it's cool," Pedro replied. "We'll be there."

"That's absolutely marvellous," Jarvis replied shaking their wings vigorously. "I can't tell you how pleased I am to hear that." He paused, looking a bit sheepish, "May I ask a small favour of you however? Could you keep this on the down low? You see, WIM is a rather well known company and I do my best work inconspicuously. I always find that talent is so much more genuine when the performers are not trying to impress you."

"No problem," Nico shrugged.

"Oh thank you," Jarvis beamed. "Now, I must be off. I have a job to do after all." With a final wave the Cockatiel flew off.

Pedro turned to Nico, "This is so awesome! Let's go tell Rafi!"

"Woah," Nico stopped him, "What about the whole down low thing?"

Pedro rolled his eyes, "Rafi doesn't count, he's our friend. Now come on!"

With a shrug, Nico flew after him.

Just having gotten back from the beach, Rafael had landed outside his hollow when all of a sudden he was almost knocked from the branch by two overly excited red and yellow torpedoes. He'd only just recognised them as Nico and Pedro when they started talking excitedly over the top of each other to him.

"Woah, woah," Rafael stopped them, "Calm down. I can't understand anything you're saying."

Once they'd (relatively) calmed down, Rafael spoke again. "Okay, now what happened? Slowly."

"Rafi," Pedro started, "you'll never guess what happened!"

"We were performing at the Branch right!" Nico took over.

"And there was a talent scout there!"

"But not just any talent scout!"

"The one from Winged International Music!"

"And he wants us to perform for them!"

"Woah, woah guys," Rafael stopped them again. "Don't you think you're rushing things a bit? These things aren't always what they seem."

"Don't worry Rafi," Nico was undeterred.

"We scoped him out. Just like you taught us," Pedro added.

Rafael was about to say something else but Pedro cut him off, "Now, we've got to go practise. We've got an audition at four at the old school on the west side."

"We're going to do our new one," Nico told him, and with that they flew off.

Rafael sat stunned for a moment from the sudden appearance and disappearance of his friends.

As he was sitting there, Eva came out of the hollow. "Those two," she shook her head. "I told you to keep them away from the sugar." Upon not getting a reply, she hopped over next to Rafael, turning his beak towards her, "Hey, are you okay?"

He looked her, "Yeah I'm fine. I just…I have a bad feeling about this. I've heard rumours about WIM. Darker ones: underground performances, birds disappearing. That kind of thing. I'm just worried about them."

"Hey," Eva told him, "they're not the little birds you babysat for Gloria anymore. They're big birds now. They can handle themselves."

"Yeah I know," Rafael sighed looking down.

"However," Eva continued, "sometimes it doesn't hurt to help out. Go. Do what you have to do."

Rafael smiled at her before giving her a quick kiss, "Thanks my juicy mango."

"No problem my pudgy papaya," Eva replied. "Just hurry back!" She called as he flew off.

Please, reviews would be most appreciated :)