Rio: Shadows of the Past

by SpiketheEchidna

Blu's been having nightmares of his past. He finally decides to set out to find his childhood home and perhaps some answers but an old enemy waits for him that could be as much a part of his past as he is his present. i own none of the Rio Characters

10. Chapter 10

Ch 10: reunion

Blu slumped down in the cage he was now in. He had tried for ages to pick the large padlock that kept him imprisoned in vain and had ultimately given up, now sitting with Jewel who was still knocked out from her fight with Nigel. He breathed a deep sigh as he looked at his mate, "Dont worry Jewel" breathed Blu, "We'll get out of here somehow.". As if on que, Jewel slowly started to stir as she came back to conciousness. "B-Blu?" she stammered, trying to sit up, "Wh-what happened? Where are we?". "Dont try to move too much" said Blu, "you took a pretty hard hit to the head". Jewel looked slightly confused as she felt the back of her head with her wing. She finally remembered about her fight with Nigel back in the forest as she ran her wing over the large knot that formed on her head. She looked around hastily, trying to get a grip on where she was. "Nigel brought us to the shipyards, were in a small cargo ship as of now" said Blu sullenly, looking at Jewel for a reaction. She simply looked down, a defeated look on her face as she knew there was no escape from this cage. Blu placed a comforting wing across her shoulder and she pressed herself close to her mate, feeling the warmth of his body mingle with her own, and sighed. "Help will come Jewel" said Blu reassuringly, "just you wait". She looked deep into his brown eyes and managed a small smile, "I believe you Blu" she said. "Oh this is just precious" a cold sounding voice said, out of the shadows, Nigel appeared and landed in front of their cage, "Oh do you really think your little friends will come and save you? They wont even be able to find us before this ship heads out". Blu simply chuckled, angering Nigel as he said "I beg to differ Nigel, that ego of your's is what got you shredded the first time". Out of complete anger, Nigel reached through the bars and gripped Blu's neck, "We'll see whos being shredded by the end of this day macaw" he said sinisterly, then threw him to the ground, "By this afternoon, the four of you will be gone from this place forever" he then cackled and flew out of the room. "Wait" said Jewel, very confused, "the four of us? Us and who else?", "That would be us senorita" said a voice from behind. Blu and Jewel turned and saw two other macaws, both around her and Blu's age, both male, and both a very vibrant shade of yellow, the only difference was on was slightly taller and the other had shaggier feathers and they were chained to a wall rather than being locked in a cage. Jewel didnt know who either of these birds were, but Blu instantly blurted out their names excitedly, "LUZ! SOL! Oh my gosh! I never even dreamed of seeing you guys again!". The two yellow macaws looked puzzled, wondering how some random blue macaw knew who they were, "Im sorry, have we met before? Asked Sol, the taller one. Blu facepalmed at his sudden outburst, forgetting it was fifteen years since he had last seen them, "Of course, we were friends fifteen years ago as hatchlings, we would play together on the nursery branch while our parents attended other things. Do you remember? My parents, Oceano and Saphira, were friends with your mother". At this explanation, Luz and Sols' eyes widened, their beaks curved into a smile as they both said simultaneously, "AZUL!, Mue amigo! How have you been? Where were you taken? How did you get back?". Blu chuckled at their sudden outburst and replied, "Well, my name has been changed to Blu, I know not much difference besides language, but Im afraid we need to catch up some other time and figure out a way to get out of here". Sol and Luz looked at each other, obviously trying to come with some kind of solution, then Sol turned to Blu and Jewel and said, "Well the lead smuggler keeps a key on the top shelf right behind us, Im sure I can reach it but it doesnt fit our shackle, weve already tried", "But maybey it will fit your lock" finished Luz. "Hmm" pondered Blu, "its a long shot but it's the only chance weve got, try to get it and toss it next to our cage". With a nod, Sol turned and began to work his way up the shelves. He saw the key and with his beak, slowly nudged it closer to him, but as he went to grab it, it flipped over the edge and started falling to the floor, luckily, Luz reacted quick enough and grabbed the key before it fell all the way. He breathed a sigh of relief and nimbly tossed it toward Blu, who caught it with his foot that was sticking out of the cage. He then manuvered the key to line up with the lock, it didnt fit, now there was only a fifty fifty chance they would escape as Blu flipped the key over and... it slid right in! "alright! It fits!" excalimed Jewel as Blu turned the key and with a resounding click, opened the lock. Blu removed the lock and opened the cage, he and Jewel jumped out and immediately began to help the two yellow macaws. Before Blu began to work on picking the lock to their shackles, however, Luz and Sol pulled Blu into a large and unexpected hug, "It really is good to see you again Azu... Blu, its nice to see a familiar face after fifteen years of hell". Blu smiled as he hugged them back, "well I'm glad to see you guys again too, but I'm still curious, how did you end up here?". The two yellow macaws then started to explain as he worked on the locks, "Well, when we were taken out of the plane to be sold, nobody took us, we were scared to think what those smugglers did to birds nobody bought, but finally someone looked to us and offered to buy us. It seemed this human was a friend of the smugglers for he was laughing and smiling with him the whole time. Anyway, he took us away and as it turned out, was a smuggler too, and he saw how those smugglers had that cockatoo and wanted to keep us as pets too. We kept trying to escape, but he was determined to 'break us of our habit' and he kept us locked in cages and shackled for ages on end, not being able to fly and hardly enough to eat each day. We would look at all the stolen birds that he would take and sell, not being able to help, watching their hope fade away as they were taken from their homes. We were about to lose our own hope, that is, until you came along. For that we thank you Blu". As Blu finally heard the click of the shackles unlocking, he looked up at his childhood friends and said, "Youre welcome". Jewel, as happy as she was for Blu and his old friends, began to turn restless, "Ok guys, I like tender moments as much as the next bird, but we should probably get out of here!". Blu turned to Jewel, determination in his eyes, nodded his head and replied, "Youre right, lets get the hell outta here!", "Leaving so soon?" asked a malicious voice, they looked to the door to see Nigel fliyng toward them, "But you just got here, surely you cant just stick around" he cackled crazily, slowly advancing toward the four birds. "Hah, you really think you have a chance against all four of us?" asked Jewel defiantley, "then youre about as smart as you are handsome, both being not at all!". Nigels eyes suddednly took an icy cold glare as he locked his sight on Jewel, but suprisingly held his ground, resisting the urge to clamp down on her neck. "Oh you forget my dear, the humans are just down the hallway, a simple call to them will bring them in here, thus making the odds very much in my favor. Now, be good little birds and get back in your cages". Blu and Jewel merely stood their ground, staring down Nigel, not caring what the odds were, they just knew they werent going back into those cages. Nigel chuckled and said "Very well, your funeral..." he raised his head to call for the smugglers, but instead was cut short as the five birds heard a loud "COWABUNGA!" directly above the cockatoo. Nigel looked up just in time to see a large cardinal literaly cannonball straight onto his head, making him stagger back and snap in anger, "You good for nothing-", but was cut short again as a bottle cap whirred through the air and struck Nigel in the eye, making him yelp in pain and anger and looked to his other side to see who the fool was. But what he saw next was a large black and orange beak, a flash of white, and the next thing he knew, he was staring up at the ceiling in a daze. "Raphie! Nico! Pedro! I knew you guys would come! And just in time too!". "You kiddin' bird?" exclaimed Pedro, "Like I said before, you mess with a friend of Pedro's, then its on!", "Yeah" said Nico "Plus youd do the same for us too man, also Ive always wanted to do that to that crazy cockatoo" he high fived Pedro and both did a little victory dance. "Are you two ok" asked Raphael, he looked behind Blu and Jewel and saw the two yellow macaws and asked, "Who are your friends?". "Raphael, this is Sol and Luz, Amarela is their mother" said Blu introducing the macaws to the toucan. At the mention of their mother, their eyes widened as they looked at Blu, "Wait, mama is still alive?" blurted Sol, Blu simply smiled and nodded, the yellow macaws' excitement clearly shown on their faces. "Well we'd better go now before Mr. Happy man comes back to his senses" said Nico, gesturing toward the dazed Nigel. They agreed and soon all seven birds took off to the exit of the boat, not noticing Nigel as he shook himself back to reality and gave pursuit. The seven friends had already left the boat and took to the skies, relishing their victory, "Well, that was definitely easier than I thought it would be" said Blu smiling. "Yeah" replies Luz, "so, Blu, how has our mother been? Is she well?", Jewel replied, "She is doing fine, she has stayed in that same part of the jungle, waiting each day for you two to return home". "And now we will see her again" Sol said happily. Suddenly, a loud screech was heard and Blu felt the air getting knocked out of him as something large crashed into his stomach. The others looked in shock as Nigel then grabbed Blu's leg and hurled him to the earth, the sudden shock disabling Blu from stopping himself. He crashed into the top of a small supply boat, just barely missing the skylight window that was next to him, with Nigel closing in. Jewel immediately dove for Blu, but Nigel reached him first, placing a clawed foot over his neck, thus making Jewel come to a halt, "Come any closer and the cerulean bird dies" snarled Nigel, "this is a matter between us only". At that, he grabbed Blu by the neck and threw him into the boat via skylight, and latched the window shut as soon as he slid in. The six other birds could only watch in horror as Nigel slowly circled the winded Blu. "Well, it seems it's just you and me now macaw, nobody is here to come to your rescue anymore" he said angrily. "So... is that what you think" said Blu, "that all this time... all those years ago... I've just been protected all my life?". "Oh but of course, do you really think you would have a chance against me? A little weakling like you? Your own parents had more of a chance than you ever would" growled Nigel. "Oh yeah?" inquired Blu, "how so?". "Well" said Nigel, "your mother was a very quick learner, she could learn how to take down an enemy that she's never faced in just the first minute of a fight, and your father... well, he had one of the most top notch fighting techniques I've ever seen. It doesnt matter however, not even they could beat me alone". Blu mulled this over in his head and realised Nigel had a point, his parents couldnt beat Nigel on their own, "but... what about together?". "And you are even more insignificant" continued Nigel, "you arent your mother, and most definitely not your father, so what hope do you have of beating me?", he let out a loud cackle and slowly advanced toward Blu. Blu was filled with rage at hearing the insult, but suddenly it all faded into a new feeling... he was finally at peace. "Youre right Nigel", said Blu, slightly confusing the cockatoo, "Im not my mom... or my dad", at this, Nigel got even more confused, tilting his head to the side. Suddenly, Blu whipped up his head and looked directly at Nigel, a feeling of raw energy coursing through him as he yelled, "IM A PEFECT MIX OF BOTH!" and he launched himself at Nigel, who didnt expect the sudden strike. He wasnt prepared for Blu to attack, and could only stagger back a few paces before Blu crashed into him, bearing his talons down on Nigel's chest, drawing blood as he did. "I'LL KILL YOU YOU WORTHLESS BIRD!" cried out Nigel in pain and rage as he grabbed Blu's tailfeathers and threw him off with all his might. Blu anticipated his move and took to the air as soon as Nigel threw him so he could not only have the advantage of height, but also get a good view of the room for something he could use against the cockatoo. He finally saw what he was looking for, a small, steel, slide bolt cage just off on the corner of the room. Before he could make a plan, however, Nigel launched himself toward Blu. Blu folded his wings in, falling downward, barely missing Nigel's talons, and opened them back up to slow his descent. But as he did so, Nigel whipped back around and raked his claws down Blu's back, causing him to cry out in pain and fall to the ground. Blu knew his window of oppurtunity was quickly closing, he had to act now if he wanted to survive. He struggled to get up, but Nigel swooped down and slammed his foot down on Blu's back, pinning him to the ground. Nigel cackled loudly as he gloated his victory, "You see cerulean, you never even had a chance against me, your parents couldnt, so how could you? Now, hows about I make you truly alone, forever". He grabbed Blu's neck and slowly dragged him to the cage, thinking Blu had given up. But, on the contrary, Blu was quietly waiting, ignoring his pain, he mentally calculated the height of the cage and the amount of force needed to execute his plan. As they neared the cage, Blu knew the time was then and there, he shot up and gripped the top of the cage with his feet, then pushing as hard as he can, flipped his body over Nigel, breaking the grip he had on his neck, and landing behind him, then shoving the suprised cockatoo with all his might straight into the cage. Nigel fell forward and Blu slammed the cage shut, sliding and locking the bolt. "NO!" screamed Nigel, "HOW CAN THIS BE!". "I believe its your turn to feel truly alone Nigel" said Blu, "its a good thing you like yourself so much because your the only one youll be seeing for a while". He turned and took off toward the window, as he opened it he could hear Nigels desperate cries, "NO, DONT LEAVE ME LIKE THIS, PLEASE!". Blu then jumped out and slammed the window, locking it as well in the process. "And good riddance" was all Blu said before Jewel ran up to him, enveloping Blu in a large hug, he slightly winced as pain shot up his back, but quickly faded as he melted into his mate's embrace and hugged her back. He was soon surrounded by his friends, who were all whooping and cheering for Blu, "AWWWYEAHH!" shouted Pedro, "Now that was a fight worth watchin!". "Seriously" agreed Nico, "and i was here to watch this time woohoo!". "Way to go mue amigo! I knew you had it in you!" said Raphael, slapping Blu on his back. "You always were the brave one" teased Luz, Sol chuckling in agreement. Blu couldnt do anything but look at all of his friends and smile, he may not have his parents with him, but he still had a large and great family with these loyal birds. "Come on guys" said Blu happily, "lets go home".

well what do you guys think? I wasnt sure if the fight scene was as actiony as i had hoped for but that result depends on you alls reviews. Next chapter will finally mark the end of this story, any ideas for another i could do? Please speak up