Rio: Journ3y to Hawaii
Chapter 7 (Another Surprise)
"Inner peace..." said Eduardo, who had his eyes closed while doing meditation.
"Inner p-"
"Yo, Eddie!"
Jewel's father groaned, and opened his eyes to see Luiz excitedly run up to him.
This dog needs to go back home somehow!
"So, when am I gonna learn all that cool survival stuff you taught Blu?"
Eduardo sighed, and he explained, "Look, um, I don't think my techniques were designed for... dogs with medical conditions, so maybe you should try looking for a boat or something to take you back home."
"But I don't even know where to look," cried Luiz, whimpering. "I miss my friends!"
"You're not the only one," grumbled Eduardo, before going into the air. "Okay, follow me, I'll take you to the boat yard."
"You will? Awesome!"
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Meanwhile, back in Rio, Carla had just reached Pedro and Nico's hangout, where she found them talking to her father and sister.
"Hey, honey," said Blu. "Feeling better?"
"Yeah, I just... ate something bad, I guess," replied Carla. "So, guys, talk to me, how is the audition stuff going?"
"Well, the second round of finalists is tonight," replied Nico. "And they're gonna go up against the 6 we picked yesterday tomorrow night."
Carla nodded, and said, "Perfect, cause I just hate long waits... By the way, when are we going to Hawaii, Dad?"
Blu groaned, and replied, "In a few days, sweetie, hopefully after your guys' show is over with."
Nico suddenly said, "Whoa, hold up a sec, Blu, we ain't havin the show till we come back from Hawaii."
"We aren't?" exclaimed Pedro and Carla.
"Well, duh, think of all the talented creatures we could find out there," explained the parakeet. "We could call it The Journ3y to Hawaii."
Pedro frowned in confusion. "Why the 3?"
Before Nico could give his answer, Roberto and Tiago suddenly came, as well. "Hey, Blu, I think you'd better go check on JuJu."
"Wait, what?" exclaimed Blu. "I-is she hurt, scared, crying?"
Roberto laughed, and shook his head. "No, nothing like that, just that before coming here, I wanted to pay her a visit but she was more interested in eating than talking."
"Really? Breakfast was over a while ago," said Blu. "Okay, I'll go... Keep an eye on the kids, though!"
Carla was about to roll her eyes when suddenly, he heard a voice say, "Hey, everyone!"
She turned around, and, to her surprise, saw Miguel landing nearby Nico and Pedro.
Looking at a nearby clock, Nico said, "Um, you're early, bro. No offense, but you don't gotta be back till tomorrow."
"I know, I was just passing through," replied Miguel. "My mom's down the street. Hey, Carla!"
Blu's musical-talented daughter let out a giggle, saying, "H-Hi there..."
Bia and Tiago looked at each other, and they both sighed. "Oh, great..."
Nico said, "Hey, Pedro, that red macaw is starting to look familiar to me. Have we seen him anywhere else before?"
"Beats me, buddy," shrugged Pedro. "I don't remember ever seeing a bird like him."
The parakeet looked back at Miguel, trying to remember why he looked similar to someone else he had met.
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"Jewel?" Blu said, concerned, as he headed into the kitchen, where he'd been with her last. "Are you oh... kay?"
He was surprised to see a few empty cans of Brazil Nuts, as well as some cans with sliced peaches inside.
"Feeling a little hungry, Jewel?"
After finishing her latest can of peaches, the beautiful bird said, "I'm sorry, Blu, I don"t know why I feel like this."
Trying to think of a possible answer, Blu simply shrugged his wings. "Maybe you're 'Amazon-homesick' or something?"
Jewel shook her head. "No, it isn't that, I just... (sigh) I wish I knew, Blu."
"Well, maybe you ate too much nuts, or probably a flu, or what if you-"
"Blu," growled Jewel, suddenly angry. "Have you not heard a word I said?"
The blue Macaw gulped, and said, "Uh, well... sorta, I was just... trying to help."
"Well, you can help by going somewhere else while I try figuring this out," exclaimed Jewel, turning back to open another can of peaches.
"Uh, Jewel, that's why I-" started Blu, but when she gave him a fierce look, he looked hurt. "Okay, I'll go..."
Blu was about to head out when, suddenly, Jewel began to sob.
"Honey?" Blu went to stand by her, wrapping a wing around his mate.
"Don't leave, please," said Jewel. "I didn't mean to yell. What's wrong with me?"
Blu sighed, and found himself looking at her fondly. "Maybe we have another, um, little one coming?"
When Blu had said that, Jewel gave him another look. "W-well, maybe I-I-I was..."
His sentence was cut short when Jewel laid against him affectionately. "This is better."
His mate chuckled, and said, "I think you may be right, Blu... you're happy with it, though, right?"
"Of course I am," replied Blu. "Jewel, I'd do any... I mean, as long as you're happy, I'll be happy."
Jewel smiled, and then, she said, "So, are we going to Hawaii anytime soon?"
Rolling his eyes, Blu said, "I promise you, honey, we will go once Linda tells us about their surprise, okay?
"Remember, they don't even know that we know about the map."
Jewel sighed, and said, "I just hope they tell us today, or tomorrow. I feel like we've been waiting forever."
As they looked out into the sanctuary, Blu replied, "Me too, honey... Me too."
##########
"She's having another kid?"
Blu warned the cardinal to keep it down. "Jewel and I haven't told anybody yet!"
"Hey, don't worry, Blu, we'll keep it a secret," assured Rafael.
The kid macaws were out playing with Roberto while Jewel was helping Fernando, and Blu had just revealed to the toucan, parakeet, and cardinal why Jewel had been acting strange.
"Wow, so four kids?" said Nico. "Or five? Maybe it'll be eight!"
Blu cried, "Guys, please! We barely found out today, okay? We'll know in time."
Looking back at Rafael, Blu asked, "Any advice on this one?"
The toucan smiled warmly, and said, "You did fine the last time, Blu, I'm sure you can do just as good when your next child or children come. You're a great dad, and the only one for Jewel."
Blu smiled back, and said, "Thanks, pal."
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Author's Note: I do hope everyone is still interested in this story after all this time.
I promise that it will get finished.
