A/N: I'm back. Elliq is unconscious. For once, I didn't have to do anything. She kinda collapsed after writing by herself without any of my energy for her to leech onto. I guess it's hard work being evil. =)

Anyways, (dramatic music) this chapter will set up not one but TWO battles! So it's pretty important! But then again, ALL of the chapters have had at least SOME foreshadowing in them. Muahahahahahahahaha!

Oh, and I forgot to mention: THANK YOU ALL FOR THE 100 PLUS REVIEWS! I love all of you reviewers! This story has officially beaten my record for most reviews! THANK YOU!

Oh, and just in case you were wondering, I'm still in school. I don't get out until the 23rd. On with the story!

Seeing Double

Nico felt like a total zombie the next day. He could barely keep his eyes open, and he felt totally void of emotions, almost as if that nightmare had drained them all. He and Pedro were at what was soon to be the Lagoon. After hours of sifting through the charred rubble of the Branch, they had found a lot of the lights and sound systems to still be intact.

At the moment, Pedro was digging through the sand for something shiny that he had seen a moment ago. Nico was looking out over the ocean at the large black clouds, billowing upwards into a massive thunder storm. Nico had yet to see any lightning yet, but the sun was shining and the wind was blowing strong. Blowing the storm right at Rio.

Nico started to wonder what Rico was doing. After all, Rico was terrified of thunder storms.

"Nico! Pedro!" exclaimed a voice from behind them. They turned around to see Rafael, struggling to hold up a large light. "Come give me a hand." Pedro, abandoning his shiny object, jumped up and brushed the sand off of his wings before running to help, followed by Nico. They all somehow managed to get the light onto a large crate where it was supposed to go.

"Thanks boys," said Rafael, heading back near the forest to help a large group of birds move a very large crate.

"This is gonna be so cool!" exclaimed Pedro. "A beach-side club that monkeys and human's can't get to!"

"Yep," whispered Nico, nodding.

Pedro took notice of Nico's lethargic attitude, but before he could say anything, Ernesto came over to them. He had apparently recovered from the loss of his beloved Branch.

"Guys, this is awesome!" he exclaimed, gesturing to the nearly completed stage.

"This is great and all, but what about storms?" asked Nico, gesturing over his shoulder to the building monster of a storm.

"That's what this is for!" exclaimed Ernesto, gesturing to an enormous tarp that was being opened up. The top of the tarp was sandy-white and the bottom was a dark forest green.

"Where did you guys get that?" exclaimed Pedro, watching in awe as a large group of birds took an end of the tarp and flew into the air. They pulled the tarp up and over the stage and the rest of the beach where the crowd would be. They attached the tarp to the palm trees ringing the beach before letting go. The tarp fell over the entire beach, covering the entire Lagoon. There was enough space underneath for birds to fly around in. It was just like the Branch.

"My friend found it on a baseball field. They probably won't need it," said Ernesto.

"That was awesome!" exclaimed Pedro, looking around.

"Come with me," said Ernesto, excited. He led them outside through the pre-cut entrance. From outside, the Lagoon looked almost exactly like the Branch.

"So you guys can just take that down whenever it's nice, and put it up whenever there's a storm?" asked Nico.

"That's about it," said Ernesto.

Suddenly, thunder rumbled through the sky. The storm was getting closer, and the clouds began to cast shadows over all of Rio.

"Uh, Pedro," said Nico, "I think we should head back to the hollow for a minute."

"What? Why?" asked Pedro.

"Well, Rico's scared of thunderstorms, and he's probably there now... I just wanna make sure he's okay..." said Nico, not taking his eyes off of the darkening sky.

Pedro looked at Ernesto, who just shrugged.

"Okay, let's go," said Pedro. "But we should probably stay low. Don't wanna get struck by lightning..."

Nico smiled for the first time that day, and he and Pedro took off towards their hollow.

As predicted, Rico was in their hollow, nervously pacing around, flinching every time thunder sounded. There was a large, club-like stick laying at his feet. He nearly screamed when Nico and Pedro landed inside.

"Rico? You okay?" asked Nico.

"F-f-f-f-fine..." stuttered Rico, wrapping his wings around himself nervously. He was trembling like crazy. There was another rumble of thunder accompanied by a distant flash of lightning. The wind outside picked up. Rico whimpered and backed farther away from the entrance.

Nico looked at Pedro. "Told ya so..."

"What's with the stick?" asked Pedro.

"S-s-saw a s-spider..."

"Well then thank you for killing it."

"Nico..." whimpered Rico, leaning against the far wall of the hollow. His arms wrapped around himself, he slowly slid into a sitting position, curled up into a ball. "S-s-s-s-something h-happened to Paco..."

"What!" gasped Nico, his eyes wide.

"Who?" asked Pedro.

"He's my nephew," said Nico.

"Oh, uh, well... I'll head back to the Lagoon. You guys can talk alone..." said Pedro, backing out of the hollow.

"I'll be back there in a bit," said Nico. Pedro gave him a thumbs up and flew out of the hollow, back to the Lagoon.

"What happened to him?" Nico asked Rico, his voice laced with fear.

Rico, who had been slowly rocking back and forth, looked up at Nico. Slowly he stood up straight, eye level with his brother. "Nothing."

"Wait, what?" asked Nico, taking a small step back.

"There's nothing wrong with him. I just needed to talk to you alone."

"Wha- and you had to lie? You could have just said that you needed to talk to me alone!"

"Would you have let Pedro go?"

Nico was quiet.

"Didn't think so..."

"What do you want, Rico?"

"What I came here for," said Rico, his voice hard. Thunder rumbled outside, and he didn't even flinch. "I came to bring you home."

"Wha-..." Nico took another step back. "Why would you even think about trying to come here and take me back? Out there isn't my home anymore! This is my home!"

"It's not safe here," said Rico, his eyes betraying him and showing his fear.

"What do you mean it's not safe here?" exclaimed Nico.

"Think about what happened in the last month!" exclaimed Rico. "You got kidnapped and tortured!"

"You don't need to remind me," growled Nico. "You think I don't remember what kind of hell I've been through? You have no idea..."

"I've seen what happens, and I know what's going to happen to you if you don't come with me and get out of here now!" exclaimed Rico, grabbing Nico's shoulders to try and make him realize the gravity of the situation.

"I am never going to leave. And nothing you can say will make me..."

Rico slowly let go of his brother. Nico straightened up and turned around, preparing to leave the hollow.

"I didn't wanna do this," said Rico, "but you leave me no choice." He picked up the stick. Nico turned around in time to see the large stick coming right at his face. It connected and Nico hit the floor, unconscious. His bottle cap rolled off of his head and landed at Rico's feet.

"Sorry brother," said Rico, tossing the stick out of the hollow, his eyes emotionless. "But it's either me or you..."

Rico picked up Nico's limp body and tossed him over his shoulder. He picked up the bottle cap with his foot before flying out of the hollow, in the opposite direction of the beach.

A/N: I know it's short, but it serves a very important purpose! And for all of you who've been saying that Rico seemed suspicious... congratulations, you paranoia paid off! I've probably got more to say, but I'm super hopped up on sugar right now, so READ AND REVIEW THIS!