Author's Notes:

This is probably the most intense chapter yet in terms of story. There is a lot happening in this one, hopefully you can keep up.

Please leave your reviews and comments. I want to know what you think (whether good or bad)

Chapter 9:

Final Preparations!

Rico let his voice trail off into silence. Coming to a brief intermission in his story, he let out an exasperated sigh. He wanted to peer out at the jungle to see the fading sunlight as the day drew to its glorious close, but he could not turn his eyes away from the three spix's macaws – his friends – who hung onto his every word with great interest. They each held a different expression on their face which he could only determine was their initial shock over the events he told to them. True, he couldn't determine how much they already knew from their recent encounters with each member of the Dark Robe Society, but he couldn't shake the feeling in his heart that the two spix's macaws intended to be captured by smugglers so long ago were in fact now standing right in front of him. Blu and Jewel looked to one another trying to comfort each other. He smiled and came to realise just how true his predictions were. These macaws… brought together by nothing more than evil intentions and cruel sadistic murderers, now loved each other and cherished each other with all of their hearts.

Rico shuffled his feathers together and tried to avoid eye contact with everyone. He wanted to give them a couple of minutes before he decided on whether or not he should address his question to them. His eyes darted throughout the confined hollow, shifting continuously between both of the adult macaws. He could see Rose through his peripheral vision each time he moved his eyes, but she too seemed far too involved in noticing her parents' expressions to bother with him at the moment. For a couple of minutes, silence ruled the air. An awkward feeling swept through the mind of every bird present. They dare not speak. They could only stare in silence at one another. Rico himself started to feel a little uncomfortable. He wished he could read their minds so he knew what they were thinking. His tail feathers drooped across the wooden flooring.

"So, what happened next?" Jewel asked arching a curious eyebrow, turning to face the bird thief after a couple of moments.

"Yeah," Blu nodded, putting in his own two cense. "Please don't leave us hanging like that. We must know everything about what happened with Marco and his little group… I am also curious to see how you tie into all of this. Why did this robed figure want Marco to wait thirteen years for you to be born? Most bad guys want to take the coward's way out and deal with their targets before they ever even become a potential threat to them."

Rico held up his wings and issued for silence. He began to feel a little more confident now that he knew he re-captured their interest. He eyed the two love birds for a moment and cocked his head to one side. He tried his best to see curious, though he knew deep down that he already knew what the answer would be. He just needed to hear them confirm it, to avoid any given impression that he jumped to a conclusion straight away.

"Well, I shall tell you… actually I was about to get to all of that." Rico explained. "But first, there is a question that I must ask. Those two spix's macaws, Roger wanted the humans to go after and have them captured. They were you two, correct?"

Blu and Jewel nodded their heads in perfect synch with one another. Jewel formed a sly smile and nudged her mate with a single wing.

"He's good. He figured that out all on his own." She teased. "In a way he is almost as intelligent as you, Pet."

Blu smiled and nodded his head. He knew Jewel didn't mean to insult him, but she did have a valid point. He toyed with his wings in an awkward manner and tried to respond in his most confident voice.

"Yeah, I-I-I guess you could say that,"

Jewel continued to nudge him with her wing and let her smile deepen. She would have wrapped her wings around him and kissed him but she didn't feel like doing it in front of her daughter and her boyfriend.

"Awwww, what's the matter, Pet… are you a little jealous?"

Blu shook his head and went bright red in the face. At the sight of him, all three birds started to laugh at him. Not in a cruel bullying fashion, but in a playful sincere way that caused Blu to let go of his shy awkward self and laugh along with them. Rose fell over and slapped her wing on the flooring. Rico held his wings against his stomach which ached from the effort of maintaining such an effort. Jewel hugged Blu and kissed him on the side of his cheek. She winked at him seductively.

"You don't need to be jealous, Pet. You're the only bird in the entire world for me. We're meant to be together for the rest of our lives."

Rico repeated Jewel's words in his mind for a couple of rounds. His beak trembled as he began to think about someone from long ago. Someone he said almost the exact same thing too. His eyes narrowed and filled to the brim with painful tears. He shook his head and wiped his wing across his eyes to clear his vision. He held up a wing and let out a heartfelt sigh.

"I guess I should tell you the rest of the story." He said. "Thirteen years drifted by. Marco continued to impress Luciano and Maria with every day that passed. He showed off several hidden talents which bettered the community. Over time, Luciano decided to take Marco under his wing. With any fears long gone, Luciano began to train him to take over leadership of the grotto… Maria needed to tell her husband something, which would ultimately change their lives forever."

Rico closed his eyes and seated himself. He could feel the cool breeze embrace him as he began to relate the third part of his origin story. His voice filled with enthusiasm with every word he spoke. He could picture the days long ago as if he had been there the whole time.

# # #

Maria paced through the hollow. Having been left alone, she slipped into a state of semi-shock. Her eyes filled with concern, her wings drew to her stomach. She could feel the firm roundness of it… the weight which she now carried inside of her. She peered out at the clear blue sky and frowned. She couldn't believe the turn of events. She had longed for this moment for so long that the feeling felt so unreal. She felt like she wandered within the clutches of some wonderful dream. She just needed to tell her husband the good news and tell him that she finally could bare him a son or daughter, and in just a short time that is what would happen.

So many thoughts travelled through her mind. She maintained the natural glow of an expecting mother. Her talons scraped along the flooring, her tail feathers drooped. She thought about how her husband would react when he found out. She knew he wanted this almost as much as she did. But after so many years of failing, would he be excited? Or would he be like her and dwell within a state of semi-shock and denial.

She shook her head and cleared her mind. She wouldn't think about anything negative. This was supposed to be the happiest moment of her life. She turned her attention towards the clear blue sky. She knew deep down that he would love the reality of the situation. They were going to become parents, and she knew that he would make a good father. Her worries drowned upon the realisation. A warm smile appeared on the end of her beak.

"You can do this, Maria." She told herself. "You can tell him. He'll be so happy. He'll probably fly around the grotto cheering his latest victory."

She sighed and nodded her head. She could imagine him doing just that. The grotto of birds who served him would celebrate the good fortune and welcome the baby macaw. He or she would be a one of a kind bird – part blue and gold macaw, and part spix's macaw – he or she would be a species of his own, something the world had never before laid eyes upon. The thought made her smile. How many mothers could say their son or daughter was truly one of a kind.

"Good afternoon, my dear."

The sound of a voice ringing in her ear forced Maria to jump with fright. She spun around and glared into the eyes of her friend, Marco. He bowed with respect towards her and eyed her with a mischievous smile. His eyes peered out at her, studying her from head too talon. He nodded his head and licked the rim of his beak. He chuckled in a cruel manner which sent chills to shoot down her back. She began to back away. Her wings went to her stomach.

"Uh, Marco, are you okay?" she asked, her eyes filling with fear. "Are you okay? You look like angry-"

The hawk continued to cackle in his cruel manner. He sounded just like a demon from the fiery pit of hell. His eyes stared at her stomach, studying her. He took a step forward and spread his wings. His head cocked to one side. He never moved his glare off of the large lump just barely noticeable.

"Oh yes," he smiled. "I'm doing just fine. Especially now, you have no idea how long I've waited for you to get pregnant. I've waited thirteen years for this one moment."

Marco's face twisted into a conniving smile, he lowered his wings and straightened his head. He laughed and nudged the female with his wings. He could see her fear vanish as he returned to normal.

"Relax," he teased. "I was only joking. It's a hawk thing. You should have seen your face though. You looked like I was a mass murderer coming too kill you and your unborn baby."

Maria smiled and laughed a little uneasy by the cruel joke played upon her. She could have sworn that his behaviour was real. She would have bet her life on it, but he reverted back to his kind self in an instant. She could not explain such a transformation in such a short time. Could it have only been a cruel joke? Could Marco be telling the truth?

"That's not funny," she frowned. "But you're correct. I found out this morning. You must promise not to tell Luciano, I want to do that the minute he gets home."

Marco nodded his head in understanding. He bowed in respect again, his eyes shifted to her face. He forced a pleasant smile.

"You have my word, my dear. I will not tell a single soul about your current condition."

Marco turned his back and spread his wings. He lifted himself off the ground and soared out of the hollow. He flew a safe distance away and cackled to himself. His eyes filled with evil ambition. After all of these years, Maria rested in her nest ready to give birth. The dark robed demonic figure proved to be correct in his judgment. He clenched his wing like a fist. He glared at it for a moment, letting his years of pent up frustration at not being able to kill anything subside.

"Soon," he promised himself. "Soon the Dark Robe Society will be back together, and we'll resume our mission. I still may not know what that boy's role is in all of this, but I'll soon figure it out, and then he won't be standing for long. I'll make him regret making me wait thirteen long years."

"You talk real tough. However I would like to see you back it up hehehe."

Marco spun around and grabbed the neck of a monkey who dropped down beside him. He tightened his grip and pulled the monkey inches from his face. His eyes darkened as his temper rose to dangerous levels. His voice rang out in a cruel enraged whisper.

"What are you doing here, fool!" he snarled. "Don't you realise that if anyone sees you than my whole plan will be ruined?"

The monkey's paws drew to the hawk's talons around his throat. He tried to pry himself free. He grunted as the hawk only tightened his grip further waiting for the sound of his muscles to snap.

"So what?" he chuckled between gasps. "It's not like you are friends with them or anything. Why can't you just kill them all now or are you too scared to do it?"

Marco's eyes glistened over with extreme hatred for his victim. He would have choked the life right out of him, if he wasn't a member of his society. He tossed the monkey aside, watching as the marmoset hit his back against a nearby tree trunk. He arched and slid down to the branch the hawk stood on.

"I'm afraid of nothing." He boasted. "I have my orders, and now you will have yours. Go south and find Roger and Amber. They must begin to move towards this position. The time of our victory is almost at hand. We're going to need to prepare ourselves for the upcoming battle."

The monkey nodded his head and smiled. He could not hold in his delight at the orders. He would get to test his strength in battle. He could not wait to taste the blood of his opponents. He coveted it. He held up a single paw and arched a curious eyebrow towards the hawk.

"By the way, I noticed the three of you have tattoos. When do I go about getting one?"

"Very soon," the hawk smirked. "Once our battle here is over, you will get what is coming to you. You have my word."

The monkey nodded in understanding and began to climb the tree. He didn't turn back to face the predatory bird. He would not see him again until he completed his appointed task. Marco let out a sigh of relief, thankful that he would have some time alone at least. He failed to see the figure of a spix's macaw standing behind him.

"So your true colours have been revealed." The spix's macaw's voice called out. "I should have known you were nothing more than a treacherous snake."

Marco's eyes widened in horror, he cursed under his breath and turned around to face his next opponent. It wasn't Luciano or Maria, instead it was another creature he recognised, the spix's macaw named Jollo. Marco shrugged his shoulders and closed his eyes in amusement. He didn't show any signs of defeat, he remained calm as if he expected the macaw's arrival.

"So you've figured it out, eh?" he asked. "Well it took you long enough. I would have thought you and the old fool would have been able to sniff out my deceit long ago. Fools, you should have known the minute the monkey first showed up. Think about it for a minute, wasn't it a little too convenient to have a creature showing up wanting to kill him when I needed to prove my loyalty?"

Jollo's eyes narrowed. He held up his wings ready to beat the hawk into submission. His heart pounded in his chest, fearful of the evil creature, but none of his insecurities reflected upon his face. He stood confident, defiant, and a hardened warrior who needed to defend his home. His beak curled into a savage snarl, the likes of which remained unknown to most of the creatures within Luciano's grotto.

"You won't get away with this." He said. "You days of evil will end today. I'll make sure of that."

Marco raised his head towards the sky. The wind bristled through his dark brown feathers. His cruel laughter cut through the air. Upon returning his attention to his opponent, he shook his head in a mocking fashion. For the first time in thirteen years, he would taste the power of a battle. He would be able to show off the true extent of his powers. He still maintained perfect control, if not better from his training throughout the years. He glared at the fool of a bird, his beak curled into a sly devious smile.

"What are you going to do?" he asked. "Jose is off to gather the remainder of my forces. All four of us are cruel sadistic murderers, and we've slaughtered hundreds in cold blood. You can't defeat us all, so if you were smart, I would surrender. Who knows you might live long enough to see another dawn."

The hawk watched the macaw ponder the request for quite some time. After a couple of minutes, the bird gave his response in a rather confident cocky tone. He continued to hold up his wings, ready to defend himself.

"I will never surrender to the likes of you. I'll deal with you first and the remainder of your group when they arrive."

Marco rolled his eyes. He spit with disgust, aiming his saliva at the macaw's talons.

"Meh, wrong answer… but you're confident, although a bit foolish. You would make a perfect member of my order."

"Shove it," Jollo snorted. "I would never be caught dead in your little group. Now let's get this over with. I don't have all day."

Marco once again rolled his eyes. He let his body move into his fighting stance. His talons, his beak, his wings, every part of his body stood ready to attack. His voice turned into a cold emotionless hiss.

"If you won't join me on your own free will, than I will force you to join me. First let me show you just how powerless you really are."

Before Jollo could make sense of his words, Marco charged forward, striking his across the back of the neck with his wing. The macaw fell forward, stunned, but not affected in any other way. He cringed and turned around, grabbing hold of Marco's wing in a speedy movement and twisted it behind the hawk's back.

"Well, what do you know?" Jollo smiled. "It looks like I won that round. Perhaps you aren't so tough after all."

Marco's beak twisted into a sneer.

"You fool, quit being so damn confident!"

Marco threw his talon backwards striking Jollo in the chest with several of his jagged razor sharp claws. The macaw bled upon impact. His cerulean feathers stained a dark red. He lurched backwards a few paces, dropping the hawk's wing. The assault did its dirty work and freed the would-be assassin.

"Damn you to hell." Jollo cringed feeling the pain shoot through his body. "But you still haven't won. I'll rip out your throat so you won't hurt anyone else."

Marco cackled and spread his wings. He fastened a pair of the razor blades to his feather column. He wouldn't let himself be defeated, if the macaw wouldn't join him, he would just kill him. Those options were both valid.

"Oh, that's the spirit." Marco's voice called out. "I would love to see you try!"

Marco and Jollo collided with one another, their wings thrown together in a perfect matchup. Neither would give an inch. They stared into each other's eyes with cold hatred for one another. Jollo held the advantage. He noted the blades and made sure to avoid them. In this position, the hawk wouldn't be able to use them. He couldn't even begin to swing them.

"You're moves are far too showy." Jollo smirked. "I'll show you what close quarters combat is all about."

The two birds fluttered away from each other and stood evenly. Marco panted, he knew he wouldn't be able to beat him at this rate. He needed a new strategy. He needed to control him. The hawk let his devious smile widen. He removed the blades from his feather column and took a single step forward.

"I've had enough of this." He admitted. "You put up a good match, but you've only fought in vein. You're still powerless against me and I'm about to prove it. Maybe we're equal in strength, but I outmatch you in other ways."

Jollo wiped the blood from his wounds, they kept gushing, but over all they weren't too serious. He deciphered the hawk's words. He muttered the words aloud as he came to the realisation.

"Are you saying that it's not the strongest who'll win this it's the smartest?"

"Exactly," Marco smiled. "Now behold my true power. You're about to lose whatever brain you have."

Before the macaw could respond, Marco waved his wings in the same fashion he used on the puffball bird a little over thirteen years ago. The macaw couldn't resist the power. His eyes went glassy and unresponsive. His wings fell to his side and he stood motionless. Marco's voice rang out in a soothing hypnotic tone.

"Listen closely to my words. You are not a peaceful bird. You are a murderer. You are a member of the Dark Robe Society. I am your master, the great and powerful, Marco. You will obey my every command without question. Do you understand?"

The macaw nodded his head but gave no vocal reply.

"Good, now here is what I want you to do. You will not return to the grotto. Instead you will travel south. You will find any leads on a poisonous flower called the blood orchid. You will pick this flower and you will bring a bulb back to this spot. This is a matter of great importance, you must not fail me."

"I must not fail…" Jollo repeated in a flat soulless voice. "You are my master, I must not fail you."

Marco pointed a lone wing to the south. He cackled and gave his next order to the brainwashed bird.

"Now fly, and be quick about it!"

Jollo nodded his head and took to the sky. Marco nodded his head and wiped the perspiration from his forehead. He studied the clear liquid for a moment in amazement. He smiled to himself.

"I didn't even know we could sweat." He frowned. "Hmmm I guess you really do learn something new every day."

# # #

Maria's strength began to fade faster than she would have liked. She positioned herself within the nest and lowered herself onto her stomach. She struggled to move any muscle in her body except for the automatic reflexes produced from the spasms in her body (blinking, breathing, etc). She could feel a horrible throbbing pain within the lower section of her body. With each passing second, it grew more severe. Her face twisted as she tried to relieve herself of the tension, but found herself unable to do so. It lowered itself further, resting around the backside of her body. In that moment it became apparent of what was happening. Her body was laying the egg.

Luciano fluttered into the hollow. His eyes widened at the sight of her lying on the ground. He rushed over to her and tried his best to comfort her the best way he could. His voice rang out in a comforting tone.

"Maria, honey, what's happening? Should I go and get somebody?"

He eyed her in shock, uncertain of what was happening. He could see her pain growing worse with each passing second. He couldn't wait. He turned his back, ready to find someone who could help her through this. Someone who could treat whatever injury affected her. Before he could leave, she managed to grab hold of his wing. She smiled reassuringly at him.

"I wanted to tell you in private, but I never got the chance too. Looks like you're about to find out now even if I can't form the words."

Luciano knelt down beside her and rolled his wings around her body. He frowned as he tried to come up with any logical explanation to this sudden event. Tears rolled down the crevices of his face.

"Luciano, I am giving you what you want. You're going to be a father. By tomorrow morning, or afternoon, we'll have an egg of our own."