Chapter 21- Meeting Luiz and Ginger, freeing Pluto and Lapis Lazuli, Ruby's secret revealed
Back with Jupiter and company, the car and its trailer in which they had hitched a ride continued driving down some roads. It was the afternoon and the sun had passed its highest midday point in the sky. The group was doing nothing other than waiting until the car stopped. Veggie and Dash were simply observing the Brazilian buildings as they flowed by while the birds just laying around, talking or just staring into space. Uranus looked at the sky overhead.
"Is it the afternoon already?" he asked, "I can't believe how fast time has gone."
Jupiter then managed to get a glimpse of a large clock as the car and trailer drove on. Due to him being a pet for the first fifteen years of his life, Jupiter and the other domesticated macaws had learned to tell time by reading the position of the hands on clocks. Blu had also learned this ability.
"If I were to answer that question, Uranus," said Jupiter, "Yes it is."
Uranus smiled and then continued admiring the scenery.
"How do you know when it is morning or afternoon just by looking at those circle things with the squiggles and two sticks?" asked Ruby.
"Those things are what humans call clocks, Ruby," said Jupiter, "During our life as domestic birds, we have picked up the ability to tell time by looking at clocks and also at electronic things humans call digital clocks which displays time in the form of a number."
"Interesting," said Orquidea, "As wild macaws, we have absolutely no idea what those pictures arranged in a circle with those two stick things pointing to them mean."
"Those stick things are called hands," explained Mars, "One is longer than the other is short. The long hand is called the minute hand while the shorter hand is called the hour hand. From the positioning of these hands, humans tell time."
"So it seems that humans have invented some rather interesting things," said Zephyr, "I never knew humans could be so creative."
He and Brisa were sitting next to Ruby and Chiquitita without looking at them with a scowl of hatred, which the group was happy for since they appeared to have become friends. The dance at Nico and Pedro's club and their working together to fend off the cats seemed to have melted the cold enmity Zephyr, Brisa, Chiquitita and Ruby had for each other initially. Sapphire and Esmeralda also appeared to have become friends.
"Humans are good at building things called devices and vehicles," said Veggie, "As well as electronics. The name of inventing and producing electronic things and vehicles is called technology."
He then eyed Blu with a smile and said, "And being a nerd bird, I suppose Blu should have some good knowledge on electronics."
"I do to a degree" said Blu as he watched over Jewel as she stroked their three sleeping kids who have calmed down after that fight with the cats, "But I'm mostly more knowledgeable in the areas of nature and physics, but I do know how to operate moist human devices like computers and Ipads."
"What's an Ipad?" asked Sapphire.
"They're flat rectangular things with a variety of functions," said Dash, "The image is interactive just with the touch of a finger. Susan, Lucy, Blake, Drake and Jake, our owners, have one such device."
"Well, if humans are so inventive," said Esmeralda with a frown, "Then they're also so destructive. They seemed to have invented machines to knock down trees and destroy us animals' homes..."
"That's the problem sadly," said Mercury, "Deforestation is one of the major contributing factors causing the vast reduction in populations and even extinction of various animal species."
"I agree," said Lapis Lazuli, "When my tribe used to live in that patch of trees that was suitable for us, loggers came with their monstrous machines and destroyed most of our trees. We were forced to abandon our habitat and relocate."
Pluto, who was still sulky for not participating in the fight against the cats earlier, just looked at Lapis Lazuli and then down at the floor of the trailer again. Then Jewel looked at Lapis Lazuli.
"Sorry if it seems that I'm a bit intrusive but I'm a bit curious about your history, Lapis," she said, "How did you end up separated from your tribe? Was it by that fire caused by loggers?"
"No, it wasn't Jewel," said Lapis Lazuli, "When that fire tore through the jungle, we took shelter on as large island in the middle of the Amazon River until the fire died down. However, some of our tribe members died. After that, we relocated and tried to settle in a patch of trees a few days later. However, four years after the fire we were suddenly and violently attacked by a flock of flying foxes one day."
"Flying foxes?" repeated Jewel, "Ugh, pesky winged furballs, those creatures. They've been known to despise us birds and drive out bird tribes and clans."
"Our tribe was one of them," said Lapis Lazuli, "It happened when I was an adolescent, almost a young adult. As those flying foxes attacked us, I and another glaucous macaw, who was my boyfriend named Rodrigo, were separated from the others in the chaos."
As she said this, Pluto looked up.
"You had a boyfriend?" he asked.
"He was my childhood friend," said Lapis Lazuli, "We've been friends since we were chicks. He eventually became my boyfriend shortly after my fourth birthday and I thought he would be caring of me such as being willing to protect me whenever I am in danger. However, that was shattered when we were chased by several flying foxes after we were separated from our tribe."
"Good grief," gasped Blu in shock, "How big were those bats?"
Lapis Lazuli extended a wing to Jupiter and said, "About as big as Jupiter or around half way between your height and Neptune and Ultramarine's. Their wingspan was also as large as theirs or larger, about one to two metres."
At this, Neptune fully opened his wings to observe his wingspan.
"My wingspan's probably about more than a metre," he said.
"Yeah, their wings are around that length," said Lapis Lazuli. Neptune then closed his wings and sat back beside Ultramarine.
"Massive creatures, those winged furballs," said Ruby darkly, "And also very savage. When Chiquitita and I were chicks alongside our friends such as my sister Pearl and friend Felipe, Meia-Noite's parents told us during their visit to our tribe, the red macaws that those bats had violently driven out a toucan clan. Meia-Noite's parents had been the Bluewing hyacinth clan's leaders at the time. When Meia-Noite's parents visited the toucan clan's territory..."
She then walked towards Lapis Lazuli to whisper what she was about to say next, concerned that Blu and Jewel's chicks might hear it.
"...they found nothing but carnage with dozens of toucan bodies everywhere on the forest floor," she whispered to Lapis Lazuli much to her horror, "I can't describe to you how horrifying the scene was but it was totally gruesome."
"Good grief," whispered Lapis Lazuli in shock. Ruby nodded with a frown.
"So yeah, those bats are violent when they drive out bird tribes and clans," she said as she returned to her spot near Jupiter, "And after they have driven out those poor flocks, they take over their land to populate and live in."
"They're nasty pieces of work, honestly," said Jewel darkly, "Daddy was almost attacked by a group when he was out with a group of green macaws one day when I was a chick..."
She then began to shed a tear as she remembered her apparently deceased dad. Ruby looked at her sympathetically.
"You miss your family, don't you?" she said. Jewel nodded as Blu put a wing around her back to comfort her. Ruby sighed as well.
"I miss my family too," she murmured, "My sister Pearl, Mom, Dad, Felipe..."
"I agree," said Chiquitita. Jupiter looked at the two red macaws sympathetically as Lapis Lazuli resumed her story.
"Anyway, back to my story," said the female glaucous macaw, "While we were chased by that group of flying foxes, two of those massive bats managed to separate us and I was cornered by one against a tree..."
She then shuddered and continued in a strangled voice, "A-a-and while I was being cornered by one, Rodrigo, who had managed to shake off his pursuers, hovered there and saw me in danger. I begged for him to..."
She then sniffled and continued, "H-h-help me but... but..."
A tear fell from her eye as she began to cry.
"Go on," said Pluto. However, some of them, including Blu and Jewel, had already deduced what Lapis Lazuli was about to say before she even said it.
"He just hovered there, fear in his eyes," murmured Lapis Lazuli, "And then he just fled just as one of the flying foxes struck me with its wing. I was forced to flee those remaining flying foxes alone and after I had managed to shake them off, I was lost... and alone..."
She then cried. The others looked at her sympathetically.
"Had Rodrigo just come and either tackled those bats away and/or rescue me," murmured Lapis Lazuli, "I wouldn't have ended up lost. He was such a coward, he was."
She then shot Pluto a glare and continued, "That's why I said, 'I have no use for cowards', because Rodrigo was downright selfish just to leave me to face those bats alone..."
She then wept as the feeling of utter betrayal poured out of her heart. Blu just stared at her with brown eyes full of sympathy.
"If I were in her boyfriend's place and Jewel in Lapis's places, I'd rather attack those bats to save Jewel rather than leave her to fend for herself and fleeing to save my own skin," he said. Jewel just looked at him with a slight smile.
"Huh, falling off that human's flying thing to your likely death for your love is courageous enough as it is," muttered Lapis Lazuli, "You ought not to find yourself face to face with those big bats. They're very savage. Even hyacinth macaws often don't stand a chance against those bats, especially a group of them."
Neptune and Ultramarine just looked at her while Sunset and Travis kept their eyes wide and crests partially raised in shock. Dash then turned to Rafael, Nico and Pedro and asked, "So, are we almost at Luiz's yet?"
"Almost," said Rafael. Pluto sighed and looked at the chain linking him to Lapis Lazuli.
"Don't worry, that'll be off soon," said Ceres nearby reassuringly.
"I'll be glad to get this thing off," said Pluto, "It's been a hindrance to us since those wretched poachers put it on."
"Yeah, restrictive, made movement difficult," muttered Lapis Lazuli, "I can't wait to get this metal piece of junk off."
"Neither can we," said Jupiter as he looked at the glinting chain, "I can never tell what it is used for anyway?"
"Maybe it's supposed to stop a bird from flying away?" asked Blu.
"I don't know but it's certainly not good for chaining birds together," said Veggie with a frown.
"Absolutely not," said Jupiter in agreement. The car and trailer continued driving on until it finally turned into the street Rafael recognised that it was the exact street Luiz's workshop, also called a garage, was located. As the car pulled up beside the footpath (sidewalk in America), the group of animals all disembarked the trailer and rushed into hiding before the driver could spot them. After they had made sure that the driver had not seen them, Rafael, Nico and Pedro came out and walked towards the door of the workshop. Jupiter and the others including Blu, Jewel and their chicks followed.
"This, folks," said Rafael with a gesture of his wing, "Is Luiz's garage."
Jupiter walked towards the door with the others behind him and looked at in awe. The door resembled a large black pair of gate doors and above the doorway was a sign which read 'Mecanico', which Jupiter assumed was Spanish or Brazilian Portuguese for 'Mechanic'. There were a couple of tires laying to the right of the doorway into the garage and there was also a sign attached to the right post of the door. This sign was circular with a red border and a line through it. Its background was white and an 'E' was written behind the red line. Jupiter didn't recognise it but he assumed it to be some sort of prohibitive sign similar to a certain English sign that had a 'P' behind the red line.
"What's that thingy?" asked Esmeralda.
"It's a 'no parking' sign," explained Blu who was an expert on human things, "In some countries, humans use picture signs for roads to communicate rules and warnings to vehicle drivers."
"In the UK, for example," explained Veggie, "A triangular sign with a red outline means 'warning: potential hazard ahead', with the hazard being described with a picture. A plus shape, for example, means crossroads, so a triangular sign with the plus shape in it means 'warning: crossroads ahead'. But there are other shaped signs, mainly circles and rectangles. Circular signs give orders while rectangular signs are informative."
"Interesting," said Orquidea.
"It sounds complicated," said Ruby with a slight frown.
"We've lived as human's pets for the past fifteen years," said Neptune, "So we're familiar with human things."
"I'm not surprised," said Jewel, "Blu's a real expert in human things."
"Eh-hem," Rafael grunted to get the group's attention, "Are we gonna enter Luiz's garage then or what?"
At this, the group walked towards the door and then entered it a few at a time. As the group entered the garage, they were greeted with a spacious room filled with all kinds of tools, tires and machines. A car and what appeared to be oil containers were also present. Rafael, Nico and Pedro flew ahead to call out Luiz.
"Hey, Luiz," called Rafael, "Come on out. We've got a group of birds that need your help."
As the group continued walking along, Venus asked Blu, "What type of dog is Luiz?"
"He's a bulldog," replied Blu, "And if we're lucky we might meet Ginger as well. She's staying here for a while until she gets a home."
"Does this Luiz have owners?" asked Mars who walked alongside Chiquitita. Blu was about to answer when suddenly, the sounds of Rafael's and another animal's voices filled the air.
"Hey, Rafy," said the other voice, "How are you doin'?"
"Hey there, Luiz," said Rafael's voice, "Good to see you again."
Nico and Pedro then appeared and hovered around the macaws, cockatoos, Veggie and Dash.
"Here dey come," said Nico. Then as if on cue, Rafael emerged from behind the car with a brown and white dog. True to what Blu said, Luiz was a bulldog. He had a bulky appearance like all bulldogs. His legs and body had a stocky build and his head was large. Luiz's build was quite a contrast to the slender build of Dash in his legs and body. Most of Luiz's fur was white and he had large brown patches on his head and body but he did have one quite grotesque feature, he was drooly. Some of the members of the group winced slightly in revulsion at the sight of Luiz's drooling mouth.
"I know some dog breeds have a drooling problem," muttered Sunset, "But I didn't know this one did."
"Drooling dogs aren't very hygienic, are they?" muttered Ruby. Rafael then led Luiz to Jupiter and his group and gestured to them in introduction.
"This," said Rafael, "Is Jupiter and his group."
Luiz, at this, widened his drooly mouth into a smile.
"Is it now?" he said cheerfully, "Well, I'm glad to meet ya."
He then turned to Blu and Jewel and admired their three chicks.
"And I see you've been busy in raisin' your three little 'uns," said Luiz, "How are they doin'? Growin' big and strong, are they?"
"They indeed are," said Jewel, "Their personalities are starting to show."
"Carla is developing an interest in music," said Blu, "Bia's taken a like in science, particularly nature, and Tiago's a little rascal."
"Are they, now?" said Luiz with a smile, "Well I'm glad to hear that they are doin' just fine."
Blu, Jewel, Carla, Bia and Tiago smiled at this statement. Then Luiz turned his attention to the others present. When he saw Venus, Zephyr and Brisa, his eyes widened in surprise.
"Wait a minute," he said in wonder, "Are those three Spix macaws like Blu and Jewel?"
Zephyr rolled his eyes in annoyance and said, "What does it look like?"
"Yes we are," muttered Brisa. Luiz then walked over to the three and examined them closely.
"Interesting," he said, "I always thought that Blu and his family are the last of the five Spix macaws left alive on planet Earth, but apparently not."
"It came as both a shock and a surprise to the ornithologists when they found Zephyr and Brisa," said Mars, "At first they thought they'd be a breeding pair but when they found out that they were brother and sister, they began to search high and low for a macaw that wasn't so closely related to them."
"That is one of the reasons why we had to travel here from London," said Uranus. Zephyr and Brisa looked at Uranus with a slight glare.
"At least those humans finally know that we're not a breeding pair," muttered Zephyr in distaste. Luiz then browsed the other macaws, Travis, Sunset, Dash and Veggie and admired how diverse in species the group was. When his eyes moved over Mercury and Sapphire, Luiz smiled with intrigue.
"Wait a minute," he said, "I've never seen macaws like you before. What sort of bird species are you?"
"We're Lear's macaws," said Mercury.
"Not a very common species of macaw in Brazil at all," said Sapphire.
"Really?" said Luiz, "I always thought that the only rare species of macaw is the Spix macaw."
He then looked at Pluto and Lapiz Lazuli and asked, "And what species of macaw are those two?"
"We're glaucous macaws," said Pluto.
"And the last two glaucous macaws on the planet," said Lapis Lazuli. Luiz's eyes widened in curiosity.
"Glaucous macaws?" he repeated.
"That species of macaw was believed to have gone extinct in the wild in the 1960s," explained Blu. "But all that changed after Lapis Lazuli was discovered and when Tulio alerted us that one of us was also a glaucous macaw," added Saturn.
"I see," said Luiz as he inspected Lapis Lazuli and Pluto closely, "I've never at all seen a glaucous macaw in my life."
"They are very valuable to conservationists," explained Veggie, "Tulio and his team were keen on those two breeding and saving their species from likely extinction."
Lapis Lazuli just rolled her eyes in annoyance at this. Luiz then backed away and smiled.
"Well it sure is nice to meet you lot," he said. He then eyed Dash, Veggie, Travis and Sunset.
"And those two must be cockatoos, am I right?" he said as he looked at Travis and Sunset.
"We are, yes," said Travis, "I'm a sulfur-crested and Sunset is a Major Mitchell's."
"Really?" said Luiz, "I've never seen a Major Mitchell's cockatoo before."
"Oh, they're very beautiful cockatoos, I think," said Dash, "They have an awesome crest. Solid red, yellow and pinkish white striped feathers."
"Visible only when I raise my crest," said Sunset.
"Mine is only a solid yellow colour," said Travis. Luiz smiled.
"Well, you sure seem like a nice and friendly sulfur-crested cockatoo," he said to Travis, "I know another sulfur-crested cockatoo that used to torture and abuse birds."
"Oh, that Nigel?" asked Jupiter.
"Yes," said Luiz, "I guess I oughta be glad that I haven't met him. He seemed like a nasty piece of work, he was."
"He certainly was," snarled Jewel, "He was an outright monster."
"But he's dead now," said Blu, "He died after hitting that propeller."
(This is obviously not true. Nigel actually survived). Luiz looked at the Spix macaw couple in agreement. Suddenly, a female voice shouted, "Luiz, who are you talking to?"
The unexpected new voice made the group jump and Jupiter's group to look around. However, Luiz, Rafael, Nico and Pedro were calm.
"That's Ginger," said Rafael, "She's that stray greyhound I told you guys about."
"Yeah, I found her resting outside the entrance to my garage," said Luiz, "So I offered her to stay here for a while."
As he said this, a ginger coloured greyhound emerged from behind a cluster of toolboxes. Luiz smiled at her.
"Oh, it's nothing imaginary, Ginger," he said, "Just talking to a group of newcomers and my old friends including Rafy, Blu and Jewel."
Then the female greyhound named Ginger walked towards the group. She was slender with long thin legs like all greyhounds. She was shorter than Dash and had entirely ginger coloured fur. Ginger's eyes were a shade of brown like Blu's eyes but slightly lighter, more like hazel. When Ginger saw the colourful crowd of animals, she smiled.
"Oh, sorry if I startled you," she said with a giggle, "I just wondered who Luiz was chatting to."
She then walked over to the group and sat down before them.
"And I can see the very famous last Spix macaws on the planet are with you," said Ginger as she looked at Blu, Jewel, Carla, Bia and Tiago. Blu smiled.
"Ah, we're not the last Spix macaws anymore, Ginger," he said, "Three more have been discovered."
And with that, he gestured to Zephyr, Brisa and Venus. Ginger's eyes widened in awe and amazement when she saw the trio.
"You're kidding;" she said, "I-I-I thought Blu and his family were the last of the Spix macaws."
"You should have read the posted articles," said Venus, "Zephyr and Brisa have been discovered a while ago and I'm the most recently discovered one."
"We actually thought that she, Mercury and Pluto were merely types of hyacinth macaws until Tulio opened our eyes to the fact that they are not," said Neptune. Ginger's eyes then travelled to Mercury, Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli and Pluto.
"Mercury and Sapphire are ultra rare Lear's macaws," explained Jupiter, "While Pluto and Lapis Lazuli here are the last pair of glaucous macaws alive."
"Really?" replied Ginger in shock, "I thought the glaucous macaw is extinct."
"Oh, no," said Pluto, "Not yet, though."
Then Ginger saw a glint of something metallic between the two glaucous macaws. At this, she became curious.
"What is that?" she asked. Luiz also looked at it as Jupiter picked up the metal thing revealing it to be a chain.
"This is the reason why we've come here," explained Rafael, "It is to get that chain off of those two glaucous macaws."
Luiz then inspected it closely.
"Dis is the same sort of device that held Blu and Jewel together," he said, "We've gotta get this thing off."
"They've been suffering the same restrictions Blu and I had when we were chained together," said Jewel. As Luiz continued examining the chain, Lapis Lazuli backed away from the bulldog's drool as a drip grossly dribbled onto her foot.
"Will you not drool on me, it's revolting," she muttered as she brushed her foot repulsively of the saliva. This comment stung Luiz like a wasp, making him back away, hurt.
"I can't help it, miss," he muttered, "It's a medical condition."
He then turned away and bowed his head, offended. Rafael shot Lapis Lazuli a slight glare.
"You might want to watch your tongue, miss," he said in a stern voice. He then went over to Luiz to try and soothe his hurt feelings.
"I'll be right back," said Rafael, "Just continue talking to Ginger."
He then led Luiz away to soothe him. Ginger watched the bulldog and toucan leave.
"It's just one of those things that some dog breeds have that drooling trait," she said. She then turned her attention back to the chain between Pluto and Lapis Lazuli.
"By the way," she said, "How did those two end up chained together?"
"It's kind of a long story," said Jupiter, "But we'll try to shorten it."
And with that, he launched into a summarised explanation of how Pluto and Lapis Lazuli had been chained together. He told Ginger about the second group of smugglers and that they were assisted by cats led by a violent Russian grey apparently named Brutus, how many of the birds including Jupiter himself ended up grounded from being handled so roughly that some suffered sprained wings, and how the group was forced to flee that psychotic cat Brutus and some other things including Jupiter's near-fatal fight with Brutus resulting in him suffering a scratch on his flank and torn out feathers from his left wing, rendering Jupiter unable to fly at all.
"They're hot on our tails, honestly," said Jupiter darkly, "And they're also after Blu and his family due to them being the only family of Spix macaws on the planet..."
Ginger's eyes widened in horror and astonishment as the information entered her head.
"But how can that be?" she asked, "The smugglers have been caught."
"Well, apparently, this second group must have somehow got established behind the ornithologists' backs," said Dash, "And instead of a cockatoo like the first group, their assistant pets are cats."
"Well, by the sounds of it, they certainly are a serious problem," said Ginger. She then sighed and said, "You know something, there are some very cruel humans out there."
"We couldn't agree more on that," muttered Mars.
"Some don't even care about the environment they are destroying for their own selfish gain," muttered Chiquitita. Ginger then looked at Sapphire and said, "You know something, your appearance reminds me of another macaw with head feathers like that."
"Really?" asked Sapphire. As Ginger said this, Jewel began to have flashbacks about her life in the Spix macaw tribe before a fire tore through the jungle and separated her from them.
"He was a blue macaw, like Blu and Jewel," said Ginger, "And both him and me, we had the same owner, a young girl and only daughter of a married human couple. I was only a puppy at the time."
"You were owned with a blue macaw?" asked Venus in shock.
"What did he look like exactly?" asked Mercury.
"He had a mop of head feathers, like that Lear's macaw," said Ginger pointing to Sapphire with a paw, "But shorter. His eyes were blue and he had a stocky build."
These descriptions made Jewel begin to weep. However, at first none of the others noticed.
"But our owner was a terrible, terrible one," muttered Ginger, "Especially to that macaw. She often starved him or not fed him properly, didn't look after him properly nor let him out, and for the fun of it sometimes attacked him. That girl's parents had their backs turned while their daughter inflicted her abuse on us. She would often force feed crackers to the poor macaw and chant repeatedly, 'Polly wanna cracker? Polly wanna cracker?' and it really sent him mad sometimes."
"What was the name of the macaw?" asked Ceres.
"I can't even remember," said Ginger, "But he suffered terribly. I did too but to a lesser extent than what he suffered. However, I could not allow that wicked girl to continue abusing that poor macaw so I tried my best to feed him the proper fruit and to do that, I hunted for every scrap of fruit I could find to bring back to him. I was basically the only friend he had ever had during his time as a pet."
Ginger then became more sombre and continued, "And when things got really bad, I learned to operate the cage door and I just took him out and set him free, telling him to return to the wild where he belongs. After that, I ran away myself after hearing the girl cry and sob after she found her macaw missing, and I spent the next number of years as a stray dog living off garbage and sleeping in any shelter I could find and here I am."
As she finished this sad story, the others looked back at her sympathetically. Ruby, however, began to look troubled while Jewel looked teary.
"Oh, that's so sad," murmured Jupiter.
"The poor macaw," said Saturn. Ginger nodded in agreement.
"Ever since I released him, he just flew away, he somehow still knew how to fly, and that was the last time I had ever seen him," she said in a slight strangled voice. She then wiped her face with a paw as she shed a tear. Ceres then put her wings on her hips.
"Well, I have no sympathy for the girl who had abused that macaw and you," she growled, "She shouldn't have been so cruel to you two."
"Cruel? She shouldn't have been allowed to keep animals," said Cobalto with a frown.
"Were her parents aware that she was abusive to you and the macaw at all, Ginger?" asked Neptune. Ginger shook her head sadly.
"No they weren't," she said, "Whenever their back is turned; she always showed that abusive attitude toward us. Because of that, her parents didn't discipline her. That is what is so upsetting."
She then let a sob escape her throat. Ceres then put her wings on her hips and frowned.
"Well at least you managed to set the macaw free," she said, "But the way that girl has treated you and he was utterly depressing and disgusting."
"I agree," said Saturn, "God didn't intend us animals to be abused and mistreated like that."
"Absolutely not" said Jupiter. Then Mars saw Jewel look down with a sad look on her face.
"Hey, Jewel, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Jewel, are you okay?" asked Blu. Jewel looked up at him.
"Oh, it's nothing," she said, "Just... flashbacks of what I lost in the Amazon."
"Oh, your family and friends?" said Chiquitita, "I know how that feels..."
"Please, let's not talk about it," said Jewel, "It's too painful."
"Okay," said Jupiter. Then Veggie saw Ruby look troubled.
"Are you alright, Ruby?" he asked. Ruby just looked up at him and said nothing. Ginger looked on curiously.
"What is it? Is it about my backstory?" she asked. Just then, Rafael and Luiz returned after Rafael had soothed Luiz's hurt feelings after Lapis Lazuli's rather insensitive remark.
"Here dey come," said Pedro who stood with Nico nearby.
"Luiz is okay now," said Rafael, "Sorry about that, folks."
As the toucan and bulldog walked towards the group, Mars picked up the chain linking Pluto to Lapis Lazuli.
"So, you have any ideas on how to get this chain off our glaucous macaw friends?" he asked. Luiz looked at the silver thing.
"Hmm, this is definitely like the one that Blu and Jewel had," he said, "I think I might have the perfect solution."
However, Blu and Jewel doubted this as they knew what Luiz was referring to. Ceres walked backwards until she bumped into a can of oil, knocking off its top and causing some of the gooey stuff to drip onto her blue and yellow-ochre plumage. Ceres, with a twisted face of revulsion, backed away and tried to clean her wing feathers of the oil.
"If you're planning on using the buzzsaw to cut the chain like you did our one, Luiz," said Blu, "I don't think it's a good idea."
"Yeah, especially after we were almost killed by that sharp blade thing," said Jewel.
"Oh, come on, you two," said Rafael, "Luiz is an expert. He'll know what to do."
"Yeah, I'm good with mechanics," said Luiz insistently. Blu and Jewel, however, were adamant. Then Veggie threw in his vote against using the buzz saw to cut the chain holding Pluto and Lapis Lazuli together.
"I'm with Blu and Jewel on this one," he said, "I don't want to risk these two only existing glaucous macaws getting killed."
"Absolutely," said Jupiter. Pluto looked timidly at him and then back at Luiz.
"I honestly don't like the sound of using a circular saw to cut this chain," he said.
"Okay," said Rafael. He then turned to the others and asked, "Which of you guys are against Luiz using the buzz saw to cut the chain? Wings and paws up please."
Immediately, the wings of all the birds apart from Ceres shot up. Dash and Veggie put their paws up. Ginger also did the same to show that she agreed with Blu and Jewel. At this, Luiz looked a bit disappointed as Ceres then noticed how slippery the oil was. As she examined the slipperiness of the oil, an idea entered her head.
"Well, that's disappointing," said Luiz in a small voice. Pluto and Lapis Lazuli then sighed.
"There HAS to be another way to get this chain off our feet," muttered Pluto.
"Yeah, I can't stand to have this human thing on me any longer," added Lapis Lazuli.
"Well, there is no other way to get the chain off, you two," said Luiz, "The only thing that would do the trick is the buzz saw. It's worth giving it a try."
He then saw the disagreeing looks on the group's faces and sighed. Then Ceres piped in.
"Hey, wouldn't this slippery liquid do?" she asked. All eyes turned and looked at her.
"What?" asked Dash, "How?"
"What would that do?" asked Lapis Lazuli. Blu then came in and tested the slipperiness of the oil.
He then remembered how he and Jewel were freed from their chain seconds after a close brush with death with the circular saw.
"I know, why don't we smother Pluto and Lapis Lazuli's chained feet with this oil," he said to the others, "And then try and see if we could pull them through the cuffs?"
"What do you mean Blu?" asked Jewel. Blu then nodded to Luiz's saliva.
"Don't you remember when Luiz tried to cut our chain, Jewel?" asked Blu, "And we instinctively tried to escape it? Luiz's saliva must have allowed our feet to slip through our cuffs."
Jewel turned her head to one side confused at first. But then finally it clicked.
"Oh, I get it," she said, "Yeah, I remember now."
Jupiter then smiled and said, "Then let's give it a shot."
"What do you mean?" asked Pluto. Blu looked at him.
"We're going to make your talons slippery and then slip them out of the cuffs with the oil, Pluto," he explained. He then turned to Ceres and said, "Ceres here helped me to remember how Jewel and I were freed from our chain and it was through Luiz's drool so we're going to apply that idea with the oil."
"Oil," said Luiz, "I like that idea."
"Yeah," said Esmeralda, "It sounds safer than using that spinny blade thing you call a buzz saw."
"Then let's get to it," said Blu. Turning to Ceres and said, "You've just found a potential and safer alternative to get your glaucous macaw friends out of the chain, Ceres. You're a genius."
"Not as much as you, Blu," said Ceres with a smile. And with that, Pluto and Lapis Lazuli were brought forward. Blu picked up a small cup and filled it with the oil. He then went over to the pair of glaucous macaws.
"Okay, who would like to go first?" asked Blu.
"You go first, Lapis," said Pluto, "Since you're the most desperate to get out of this chain."
"Why thank you, Pluto," said Lapis Lazuli and with that, she lifted her left foot. Orquidea and Saturn then held it steady while Lapis Lazuli was supported by Dash with his front paws. Luiz, Rafael, Nico, Pedro and Ginger looked on with Jewel, Carla, Bia and Tiago beside them.
"At least dis isn't as drastic as Blu and Jewel's situation," said Nico with a smile.
"Now, Lapis," said Blu, "It may feel a bit unpleasant at first but you'll be glad once you're free."
"Yeah, yeah, just get to it," muttered Lapis Lazuli. Blu then began to tip the cup of oil all over Lapis Lazuli's chained foot. Lapis Lazuli found the texture of the liquid rather wet but she did not make a repulsed face.
"This is the stuff humans use to power their cars and some other machines," explained Blu. Then as soon as he had poured enough oil over Lapis Lazuli's foot, Blu turned to Neptune.
"Alright, Neptune, I'd like you to pull on the chain but be gentle," said Blu. Neptune nodded and took hold of the chain with his large wings. He then began to gently tug on the chain while Saturn and Orquidea held Lapis Lazuli's leg still and also pulled the other way. Lapis Lazuli and the others looked on and held their breath to see if this idea would work. If it did not, then it might mean Lapis Lazuli and Pluto facing the buzz saw. Neptune continued pulling on the chain.
"It's slipping past Lapis's ankle," exclaimed Orquidea. Neptune continued gently pulling until a pop was heard. Neptune looked up and saw that the cuff was no longer attached to Lapis Lazuli's talon. Lapis Lazuli then stroked her talon and made a wide smile of relief and jubilation.
"It's off!" she exclaimed. The group cheered slightly. The idea was a success.
"Right, let's see to Pluto," said Blu and with that, Orquidea and Saturn released Lapis Lazuli's foot while Dash set Lapis Lazuli on the ground. The group went over to Pluto to repeat the process, leaving Lapis Lazuli to relish her first moments of being free for the first time in a day. Nico and Pedro flew over to her as she danced on the spot.
"How does it feel to be free, lil' Lapis?" asked Pedro.
"Excellente," said Lapis Lazuli in Spanish (English: excellent), "It feels so good to be by myself again."
"You have Ceres to thank," said Esmeralda, "She was the one who came up with the idea."
"Yeah, absolutely," said Lapis Lazuli. Just then, a small 'pop' was heard as Neptune had pulled the other cuff from Pluto's right leg after Blu had drenched it with oil. As soon as Neptune had pulled the chain off of Pluto's foot, he left to dispose of it.
"Wait, Neptune," said Ultramarine as he left, "Do you think that thing might come in handy in case we encounter those cats again?"
"I'm afraid it's out of the question, Ultramarine," said Neptune, "If those poachers get their hands on this thing, they'd chain Pluto and Lapis Lazuli together again, and I don't want that to happen."
And with that he left to get rid of the chain much to Ultramarine's slight disappointment but she finally agreed. Suddenly, a light teal-tinted turquoise and grey blur shot past as Pluto flew around, separate from Lapis Lazuli for the first time in hours, and whooping.
"I'm free, I'm free," he cried, much to the amusement of the others, "I don't have to worry about being restricted by a chain again."
Lapis Lazuli looked up at Pluto as he flew around some of the structures supporting the ceiling and then at her right wing. The scratch on her wing and chest seemed to have healed but it still made flying uncomfortable for Lapis Lazuli. Sighing, Lapis Lazuli folded her wing and walked away. Then as soon as the group had calmed down from the little celebration, Jupiter began to focus on the group's next big thing.
"Right, now that Pluto and Lapis Lazuli are free," he said, "It is time to return to our owners and Tulio's Aviary."
"Yeah," said Saturn, "It's getting dark outside. The sun's setting."
As he said this, Nico, Pedro, Luiz and Rafael looked at them in disappointment.
"Awww," said Nico, "But your Spix macaw friend Venus hasn't fallen in love with Zephyr yet."
"Neither have Pluto and Lapis Lazuli and Sapphire and Mercury," said Pedro.
"Look, we've been away from our owners long enough," said Jupiter, "Sorry to disappoint you but we have to return to Tulio's Aviary."
"Absolutely," said Veggie, "And I'd like to thank you for your help in getting us back to Rio and getting that chain off of Pluto and Lapis Lazuli but now it is time to focus on reuniting with Susan, Lucy and their triplet cousins Blake, Drake and Jake."
As Veggie said this, Ruby came by and looked at the group with a scowl on her face.
"And den what?" asked Nico, "Perhaps go back to London, the UK? But your Spix, Lear's and glaucous macaw friends belong here in Rio."
"Yeah," said Rafael, "Venus is Juliet to Zephyr's Romeo and the same applies to Sapphire with Mercury and Lapis Lazuli with Pluto, especially the latter."
"Look, I know you want Venus, Pluto and Mercury to pair up with Zephyr, Lapis Lazuli and Sapphire respectively but they're not showing any signs of doing so," said Jupiter sadly, "And besides, they..."
"Um, Jupiter," said Veggie, "You'd better have a look over there."
At this, Jupiter, Saturn, Rafael, Nico, Luiz and Pedro followed Veggie's gaze and, to their shock, saw Sapphire gaze at Mercury as he prepared for the trip back to Tulio's Aviary. Based on the look on her face, she seemed disappointed. However there was something else tinting her blue eyes and she let loose a sigh as though saddened.
"Have you seen that look before?" asked Nico.
"Yes," said Rafael, "That might be a look of longing to be with someone. I've seen that look countless times before."
"I think it's more like sadness and disappointment that she'll be missing Mercury when we return to our owners," said Saturn.
"Well, even if Mercury doesn't pair up with Sapphire to breed," said Jupiter, "He's going to have to remain in Rio because of his species. The same applies to Venus and Pluto. As for the rest of us, we might be going back to London in England."
At this, heads turned and looked at him in shock.
"What?" asked Nico.
"Wha' did you say?" asked Pedro. Saturn then came forwards with a sad look on his face. Jupiter also looked a bit saddened.
"But we'll seriously miss Mercury, Venus and Pluto," said Saturn, "And they'll seriously miss us. Ever since we met as chicks, we have become like a family; almost like... brothers and sisters even though we're all a different species."
"That is true," murmured Jupiter. He also felt the thought of leaving Mercury, Venus and Pluto behind very depressing and upsetting. Ruby then let loose a growl of disgust.
"Huh, even though you might like your birdcage, human's pet," she growled, "I certainly won't."
Jupiter, at this, looked up at Ruby.
"I didn't say that, Ruby, I..." he said but Ruby cut him off and quickly paced towards him.
"Look, it seems that those five humans, Suzie and whoever the others are, have raised you and those other eight macaws, two cockatoos, that unusual cat and greyhound with love, care and may have even pampered and spoilt you," growled the angry female scarlet macaw, "And Blu seemed to have been spoilt by his owner too but me, I never had any of that."
"What do you mean, you've never had any of that?" asked Jupiter. Ruby just whipped round and stormed off.
"Every time I see other birds that have been raised by humans, especially with love and care, they make me JEALOUS AND DISGUSTED!" she shouted, "And I may surprise you but I was owned by humans too!"
Shock hit Jupiter, Saturn, Rafael, Nico, Pedro and Luiz as well as the rest of the group as they heard this and all eyes turned to Ruby. However, Chiquitita and Orquidea did not look surprised.
"You were a PET!?" asked Sapphire incredulously.
"But how could that be?" asked Esmeralda. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Uranus, Ceres, Neptune and Pluto, together with Dash, Veggie, Travis and Sunset also looked at Ruby in shock, as did Blu and Jewel as they were talking, and Lapis Lazuli, Zephyr, Brisa, Cobalto, Ginger and Ultramarine. Ruby just eyed everyone with yellow eyes mixed with anger, hatred and sadness.
"You lot have NO idea of what I've been through during my time as a pet," she cried, tears forming in her eyes, "Except Orquidea and Chiquitita."
And with that, she stomped off and stopped in a corner and began to cry. Jupiter continued to look on in disbelief.
"I-I-I don't get it," he said, "But her attitude sure is irritating. I'll be glad when we're back with Susan, Lucy, Blake Drake and Jake, and Tulio's Aviary."
As he said this, Orquidea and Chiquitita silently approached him with sorrowful looks on their faces.
"Jupiter, don't be prejudicial," said Chiquitita gently, "Ruby has had an awful experience as a pet."
"B-but why didn't you or she tell us?" asked Jupiter in shock.
"She found it too uncomfortable to talk about," said Orquidea, "Especially in front of Zephyr, Brisa and Jewel after what happened between them when they were chicks and before the fire tore through the jungle and separated us from our tribes and clans."
"But what did you mean that she had an awful experience as a pet?" asked Jupiter. Chiquitita then looked at Ruby as she sulked in the corner and said, "I tell you what, why don't you try and talk to her about it. She'll answer your questions as she's been through the ordeal all by herself as we're reluctant to talk about it with you behind her back."
At this, Jupiter looked at the sulking Ruby as he thought about this advice. Finally, he made his decision.
"Okay, I'll do just that," he said, "But I'm not sure what good it'll do."
And with that he walked over to Ruby.