I'm back, and so is the story. Now we return to the journey of the X-Birds. Enjoy :)

The night hadn't gone for long, or so it seemed for the team since they were still tired. They lazily went down, Blu holding the note. He was the least tired, but still had dark rings around his eyes.

"Can't we wait a bit longer? I'm tired, mate."

"No. We chose this time to leave, so we will go now. Tipa hopefully will be fine."

"Actually, about Tipa, maybe one of us should stay, and I think it should be you" Sapphire suggested, the others agreeing.

"But what about you?"

"I'll be fine. Zeel wouldn't have met me yet, so won't know me. And remember, I'm a master of disguise."

"I'm not worried about Zeel. What if the Sentinels attack?"

"I doubt that. He isn't on the list, and all that were listed have either been attacked or killed by the Sentinels. That's why we're here. To save them."

"Fine. But if anything happens-"

"I'll contact you and warn you, but you must protect Tipa. He is our only way back. This tribe also needs our protection, and with us gone, you are the only one who can do that. Will you do that?"

"Yes, of course. Just be careful." Blu stood at the entrance way, watching Cody and Tranq leave. Before Sapphire left, she gave a friendly hug to Blu.

"Now I see why your wife loves you. You care for everyone. But that ain't exactly my type." She jumped from the tree, hovering just outside.

"What is your type then?"

"Bad boys. I love them" she replied before flying away. When he saw no one was around, he too flew out.

When Violet, she realized that is was later than when she would normally wake up. She thought the others would be awake, but they were still sleeping. She heard someone else in the tree and forgot about her guests.

"Eduardo, there's someone else inside." Eduardo only rolled over a bit and groaned. "Fine, just stay here then. Don't blame me if you find me gone." She got out from the nest and walked out to a surprise. There was a pile of nuts and fruit, and Blu was preparing the food.

"Good morning, Violet. How was your sleep?"

"Tyler, what is all this?"

"Oh this? Just my thanks to you for taking us in. A bit of breakfast I got for you."

"Where are the others?"

"They had to run some errands. They should be back in a day or two." Blu noticed Eduardo, followed by young Jewel, come out.

"What's all this, mom?"

" has brought us breakfast. Go on, dig in." Jewel didn't wait and went straight to the pile of food, taking one of the nuts.

"Thank you, " she said, her mouth full of food.

"You're welcome. You and your family deserve it for your kindness." Blu and the family enjoyed the breakfast. Just as they were finishing, Tipa was coming out to them. He was walking perfectly, as if he was never injured.

"Tipa! You look great."

"I feel great too. Anything left for me?" Blu chucked him a small mango which he ate in a hurry. "Anything else?" Blu just shook his head.

"Eduardo, can you get him something please?" asked Violet.

"Yes, honey." He left, quickly returning with another mango. "Here you go, kid."

"Thanks, man. I'm starving." He dug his beak into the mango, savoring the taste of it.

"How much further do we have to go, mate? I'm getting tired."

"Will you quit your complaining! You are acting like a child."

"I just like to let my inner child loose most of the time. Now, can you answer my question. How much further?"

"I don't know. Maybe another two days till we get there." Cody sighed.

"I wish we had that underground tram."

"The what?"

"Well, before the Sentinels, we had this little tram system that ran around most of South America. If we had it, we would be there in a few hours without tiring ourselves."

"I remember it, or at least part of it. You remember when you were escaping from Rio, but the tram was attacked. I was the one who found who, and saved you."

"But I thought Blu did."

"He saved your daughter, but I saved you. The reason you never knew was because I left before you woke up, so you kind of owe me."

"Were we the only survivors?" Tranq nodded slowly, a grave expression on his face.

"I'm sorry, but everyone else died. No one else could be saved."

"It's okay. At least me and Caitlin survived. I wonder how she's doing?"

"I'm pretty sure she is doing just fine."

Future

In the future, the night was darker than usual. The reason why was right above them. A large Sentinel transport fleet, flying over them. Thanks to the sensor jammers, the mutants weren't detected. When the fleet was one, they all came out from hiding.

"That was too close" said Logan.

"I know. We need to double the patrols" replied Fortune.

"But we don't have enough to do so."

"We do now" cried Steela, "Look!" She pointed to a large group of birds heading straight for them. One of them headed straight for Logan.

"Uncle Logan!" Logan was tackled by Caitlin, Lilian right behind her.

"Hey Caitlin, Lilian. What are you all doing here?" Ghoul came from behind Lilian, slightly wounded.

"We were attacked. We barely made it. This is all that's left. The human mutants were first to go, so we had some warning, but there was still so many. We've been heading here, using mobile sensor jammers to help. We also ran into a few others." Another came out from the crowd, who Steela immediately recognized.

"Lincoln?"

"Feathers and all. It's good to see you again."

"Good to see you two." Fortune and Ghoul went away to talk while the others greeted each other.

"How large was this force?"

"First it was only about twenty. But then in a few seconds it became around a hundred."

"A hundred? Are you sure?"

"Positive. Probably more. They had the whole place covered. We were lucky to escape."

"Very suspicious."

"What is?"

"How you got out? You should have been killed."

"Guess we had a lot of luck. Why, what do you think?"

"I think that they are tracking you."

"Tracking us? But they couldn't, we covered our tracks and used the jammers and-"

"Did any of you come into contact with them?"

"I don't know. Why do you ask?"

"One of you could have been chipped."

"I'll check all of them at once."

"No, you are wounded. I'll take care of it." Fortune started leaving before Ghoul spoke again.

"Did they make it?"

"I believe so. We can only hope."

Past

It wasn't long until Sapphire reached the tree where Zeel was last seen. It looked different to what it would look like in a few minutes. Most of the leaves were dead and some branches had fallen off. It looked almost dead. She went up to the entrance which had a door attached to it. She knocked on it, then waited. It was almost a minute before it opened. The head of an owl poked out, it's body hidden.

"What do you want?"

"I'm looking for Zeel. Is he here?"

"I'm sorry. He isn't here at them moment. Please leave." He started closing the door, but Sapphire stopped it.

"It is urgent. I must see him."

"I said leave. I won't ask again." The owl pushed her away with the door, knocking her to the ground.

"Please, Fortune. We need his help." A few seconds past, then he opened it slightly.

"How do you know my name?" She changed to her true form, revealing what she was.

"Quickly, come in." Fortune waved Sapphire into the tree. Inside, there was a large hall.

"This looks familiar."

"Pardon?"

"Nothing. So, where is Zeel?"

"First, answer my questions. First one, who are you?"

"My name is Saffron."

"Okay. Second, are you alone?"

"No. I am with others, but they aren't here with me at the moment."

"Right. Last question, how do you know me and Zeel?"

"I was sent here for your help. Our home is being destroyed, and we were told you could help."

"I guess that's good enough. Come with me." Fortune led her up the stairs up to a secluded room. It looked dark and gloomy inside, only a sliver of light coming through the covered window.

"Fortune, what is it you need?"

"Someone has come to see you." Sapphire slowly approached the dark figure sitting at the desk.

"Who are you?" How can't he read my mind Sapphire wondered.

"My name is Saffron, and I was told that you could help me and my friends."

"Then you have been sent on a fool's errand. I am no use to anyone but myself and my dear friend. I have vowed to help no one, for all it does is cause me pain and suffering, and I do not get thanked at all. Why should I help you anyway?"

"Because I was told that you could help. We are desperate."

"So you see me as your last resort. Is that how you see me? Something to be used, then discarded like the piece of rubbish I am."

"No. This is also for your benefit-"

"My benefit!" Zeel shot up from his seat, his eyes filled with anger. "My only benefit from this would be more pain for me. I am sick and tired of others like you, always seeking help from those you see as greater beings. Well, now that you have seen me, do you believe me as great, or do you now see the truth of the world? I believe that in this world, you can't save everyone. I learnt that the hard way. Perhaps you will too, for your own sake. Now leave." Sapphire backed off away from Zeel, feeling defeated. Fortune led her out of the tree. Before he closed the door, he spoke to her.

"If there is anything I can do to help, just ask. He's been like this long enough, but I don't blame him. What happened to him was very hard for him."

"What did happen to him?"

"It is not my place to tell. But maybe, with some convincing, you can ask him."

"Thank you Fortune, but I must return now."

"I wish you luck, Sapphire."

"And I to- wait, how did you know my name?"

"I thought I told you. That future of yours is dark, and I will do whatever it takes to stop it."

"How come he couldn't see it?"

"The experience he had sent him on a dark path. His anger pushed his power away. He has forgotten how to use it, and takes certain drugs to keep it dormant. Well, goodbye."

"And goodbye to you too, Fortune. Until we meet again." Sapphire flew off into the distance, Zeel watching her through his window.