The Rio the Darkness Saga Remastered
Rio the Darkness 3
Chapter 21: Nexus
Hey everyone, here's our next chapter. Don't have nothing to say today so enjoy reading the author shout out and the story.
Author shout out: YootisPoshil
And going by our traditional shout outs, today's author is YootisPoshil. An author who first begun writing his stories during the 2014 as Rio 2 was not long released, Yootis has since written multiple Rio stories, primary focused upon the second movie's plot. Some of them are sequels/alternative worlds while others are standalone. But ever since I first read Yootis's stories, I am happy to say they are excellent. In terms of story writing, Yootis does a variety of characters and settings, but that's one of the reasons I love them. They are something new to experience each time.
Yootis' stories are excellent, they are very detailed, and have a perfect balance of when they consistent with Rio's tone while other times go down the darker path. In terms of his writing style, Yootis has a great combination of detail and dialogue, keeping a great balance between the two. I have known Yootis for quite sometime now and besides being a great writer, he is also a kind person and someone I will happily call friend.. Overall, Yootis has published some excellent work and you would be a fool to miss them. Yootis has published multiple stories, all of which are connected in some way. I recommend starting with "Rio: De Grande Conflict". Great story and personally one of my favorites on this entire archive.
It had been a couple days since Nico and Pedro had visited their blue macaw friends. Last time they saw them, their new chicks had only been recently born and were still sleeping. Now that he had some time to think things over, they decided to go and pay the blue macaws visit.
As Blu and Jewel did not live too far from the city, getting to their location was easily done. Upon arriving early afternoon, Nico and Pedro expected to see the family together. However, they did not expect to see abandoned children.
"Blu? Jewel?" Nico called, but received no response.
"Where you lovebirds at?" Pedro added.
Where could they be? Nico knew them too well that they would never leave their children alone, especially Blu. Fortunately, their children were still asleep for now and were unaware their parents were missing.
"Somethings wrong," Nico noted, rubbing one wing against the back of his head. "I need to get help."
"Go find Rafi and somebody!" Pedro responded. "I'll stay with the kids."
Nico knew better than to leave three children alone, but Pedro wasn't exactly parent material. Nevertheless, if he could not find assistance then he would never piece together what happened. Rafael only lived a few minutes away, one of the benefits of this area of the jungle.
Hesitant at first, Nico turned and prepared to find his toucan friends. As soon as their children were in safe hands, then he was going to make finding Blu and Jewel his priority.
Upon regaining conscious, Blu and Jewel struggled to relieve the memories from the previous night. One moment they were preparing to go to sleep, the next they were captured and now they were in a hideout of sorts.
Trapped in cage while surrounded by darkness, the two lovebirds were still together. However, their fears were not focused on the situation at hand. Their babies were alone and who knows what could have happened to them.
Jewel was in tears, devastated at the thought of something happening to her babies. Blu attempted to ease her with an embrace, but his comforts were less than effective.
"Our babies are alone, Blu!" Jewel spoke while the tears continued. "They can't defend themselves! What if another bird has taken them? What if they fall out the hollow?"
"Jewel, don't say that," Blu whispered while gently stroking one wing through her head. "They'll be okay. I'm sure one of our friends have flew past and noticed we were gone."
Jewel wished she could believe that, but until she held her babies close then her fears would only continue. While Blu did not show it, he was just as scared. He wanted to cry, but he had to be strong for his wife.
The silence around them was ceased when footsteps approached. In closer view, the two figures who had kidnapped them had arrived.
The hooded figure arrived near the cage door, accompanied with Kate. Using the correct key, the hooded figure opened the cage and pointed a single wingtip directly towards Blu. "You, out."
"Why?" Jewel questioned, slipping out from Blu's grip.
"None of your concern," the hooded figure replied. "This can go two ways: you come out or I come in there and drag you out. You do not want the latter."
Knowing it was inevitable, Blu complied. He placed one wing around Jewel while drying her eyes with the other. "It's okay, Jewel. I'll be fine, don't worry about me."
Jewel planted a quick kiss upon Blu's beak before he exited the cage and followed the hooded figure. As Jewel watched and approached the cage bars, Kate stood in front of her from outside the cage.
"You don't need to worry about him," Kate assure, though her tone said otherwise. "Besides, you should be more worried about what will happen to you."
Enraged, Jewel swiftly raised one talon and grasped Kate's throat, slamming her into the cage bars. Kate, who had not expected this to happen begun to slap her wings against Jewel's talon, desperate to pry herself free.
"I'm going to hurt you for hurting my Blu again!" Jewel hissed, tightening her grip. "You're lucky I'm in this cage."
Knowing she could do nothing more, Jewel released her grip and Kate fell, clutching one wing over her throat. The second she could stand, she became furious and raised her wing to strike, only for the hooded figure to catch her wing.
"Enough," he warned. "She remains unharmed."
"She just tried to kill me," Kate reminded, pulling her wing free from his grip.
"Then don't stand so close to the bars next time," the hooded figure warned.
With a quick glance towards Jewel, the hooded figure left and took Blu and Kate with him, leaving Jewel alone to ponder her thoughts. She sat against one end of the cage, pressing her back against the bars. Now alone, Jewel continued to release her emotions and burst into tears once more. Without her mate and children, Jewel was alone once again. Just like before.
"-and then we found the kids alone and that's when I came to you, Rafi," Nico concluded his story towards his toucan friend.
Fortune favored him today and he was successful in finding Rafael and Eva to inform them of their missing friends. Knowing her children would never survive alone, the toucans took the babies to their home to take care of them until they found Blu and Jewel.
"Blu would never even leave anyone alone," Rafael spoke while he gently held Rey and Azul close.
"A mother is also supposed to be with her children until they can fly for themselves," Eva added. She comforted Crystal.
The toucan parents were inside their home with Nico and Pedro. Their eighteen children played outside, oblivious to the situation at hand.
"What do we do?" Pedro inquired. "We have no idea where to start looking for them."
Rafael was no detective and had no idea on where to start. Based on their search around the blue macaw's home, there was no signs as struggle. He sighed, unsure on what to do next. "I don't know, amigo, but we'll take care of their kids until we find a lead. That I promise."
Nico nodded. Knowing the blue macaw kids were in safe hands, the duo proceeded to leave and search the area for their blue macaw friends. He could only hope they were safe.
Alone and separated from his wife, Blu had no idea what the future held for him. Since being separated from his wife, Blu was escorted to another room where he was forced to sit on a bird-sized chair. While being escorted, Blu was eager to know who this hooded figure was. The way he spoke and started suggested they had met before, but where?
"Why am I here?" Blu called, unsure of any of them were lurking within the darkness.
"Because you are needed."
A new voice broke Blu from his thoughts. Emerging from the darkness, another figure approached him and this one had a more intimidating appearance compared to the hooded figure. He had a sinister deep voice, not to mention he was a lot taller compared to him.
Blu, now nervous, spoke slowly to avoid angering him. "Who are you?"
The dark figure approached, standing directly in front of Blu. His height was incredible for a macaw breed. Even if Blu was standing, the figure was clearly another head taller than him. "I am known by many names, but as of now, I am Nexus. I understand that you do not want to be here, and I don't intend to keep you longer than needed. You have something that belongs to me and I want it back."
"And what would that be?" Blu inquired.
"The siphon," Nexus answered.
Blu gulped in response. How did Nexus know about the siphon? Worst, why did Nexus want it? Blu could only imagine it was for no good. With a sigh, he answered with a lie. "I don't know what you mean."
Nexus chuckled softly in response, calmly marching around Blu in a circle. "Of course, you don't. However, when you are as old as I am, you learn when one is lying."
Before he could reply, Blu spotted another figure from the darkness. Kate approached Blu from his left and placed one wing to the side of his face. "He is lying, my Lord. I was with Johnny and Vadin long enough to know about the siphon."
"Don't touch me!" Blu growled, pushing her wing away from him.
"Oh, he's feisty," Kate noted while placing one wing to her hip.
Blu glared towards her. "I remember you, Kate. I could have left to die that night, but I saved you. And this is the thanks I get?"
"Thanks? You broke my wing!" Kate reminded, raising her wing to smack him, but Nexus put his own in front of her own.
"No," Nexus ordered, calmly pushing her wing away. "Now leave us."
Although hesitant due to her anger towards the blue macaw, Kate knew better than to question her leader. She bowed and respectfully left the two of them alone.
Once Kate was gone, Nexus continued with his interrogation. "I know of you, Blu. I know more than you could possibly know. You were the host of the Darkness, you defeated the leader of the brotherhood, defeated the leader of the Gangster's, experienced the full power of the Darkness and you even killed the Queen of Light herself."
"How do you know all this?" Blu asked. Many of those events were only witnessed by people he knew.
Nexus chuckled a second time, standing in front of him yet again. "I know more than you could possible know. Now I want the siphon. Give me what I want, and you can go. You and your wife can leave, and you will never see us again. Release yourself from the burden."
Blu did not respond. He was uncertain if he could trust this Nexus character. It took a full moment until he had an answer. "The siphon is dangerous. I have no guarantee that you will let myself and Jewel go."
Blu had expected Nexus to become enraged and begin screaming. Too his surprise, Nexus did no such thing. Instead, he only grinned and begun to march elsewhere.
"I will not torture you, Blu," Nexus assured while he continued marching. "You have experienced the Darkness; no other torture would possibly begin to compare. You may not tell me and that is fine. But the longer you remain silent, the longer you will not get to see your children. I only hope they can survive without the comfort of their parents."
At the mention of his children, Blu prepared to attack but kept a calm enough mind to know when he was beaten. As soon as Nexus was gone, Blu begun to reconsider his decision. Should he trust his Nexus with the siphon? If fell into the wrong hands, then who knows what damage could be caused? How many lives would it cost? Blu had no idea what to do. It was like that old saying…
"Between rock and a hard place."
Now alone to think things over, Blu remained where he was positioned, pondering his thoughts. Inform Nexus of the location of the siphon and risk chaos or remain silent and have his future unknown. His thoughts were broken when another familiar voice approached.
"You are better off just telling Nexus what he wants to know," emerging from the darkness, the hooded figure returned. He stood in front of Blu, crossing both wings together.
Blu only frowned. He stared down the mysterious hooded figure and asked a question that had been racing around his mind for a while. "Who are you?"
The hooded figure merely gazed towards him before responding. "No one of importance."
"Then why do you hide behind the cowl?" Blu questioned. Deep down the hooded figure scared him. He had no idea who he was and why he was here.
The hooded figure sighed. "Sooner or later, you would know my identity. I suppose there Is no reason hiding now."
Slowly, the hooded figure removed the hood and mask covering his face, followed by throwing his entire robe to the ground. Even in the room full of darkness, Blu immediately recognized the hooded figure.
"R-R-R-Rico!?" Blu gasped, almost falling from his chair. Impossible, the black hawk had died during their fight against Vadin. "Y-Y-You're dead…"
Rico chuckled and gestured towards a scar across his chest. Even with his dark feathers blending in with the environment, the scar stuck out like a needle in a haystack. "Close, but no. My heart stopped, I was in cardiac arrest. Nexus found me, used his dark magic to revive me."
Blu felt like he was going to pass out from shock. His closest friend stood before him, alive and well. "I don't understand. Why are you helping Nexus?"
"He saved my life. Seemed the least I could do was help him," Rico replied in a casual attitude. Then, however, he got serious. "But I haven't forgotten. You left me to die."
Still surprised, Blu took a moment to gather his words, pleading with Rico to turn away from this dark path. "Rico, Jewel and I tried to save you. Your heart stopped, you were dead! I'm sorry- "
"You're sorry?!" Rico snapped, stepping towards him with a large step. "You left me to die and that is all you can say? I want nothing more than to hurt you for leaving me, but for the sake of Jewel, you should consider yourself lucky. I'm not intent of causing you harm."
"Then what?" Blu inquired. "What do you what from me? I'm sorry, for everything."
"I want you to understand!" Rico responded. "I want you to know how it feels, to be robbed of everything you love. See this darkness? That I almost fell victim to, but then I was saved and now I am reborn.
Blu merely gulped in response. The mixture of sadness, regret, and shock had him speechless for a moment. Once his mind calmed, Blu continued. "Rico, it's not too late. Let Jewel and I go, come with us."
Rico shook his head. "It's too late for that, Blu. I have a mission to finish. Now tell me where the siphon is."
"No," Blu refused, shaking his head. "I know Nexus is evil, he will use it for no good."
Rico frowned, raising his talon to seize Blu by the throat, lifting him out from his chair. "I am in no mood for games. You will tell me where it is."
Jewel was alone for a short while, but it felt like entirety. She had ceased her crying, though damps remained under her eyes. She sniffed and remained leaning against the cage bars, secretly praying that her family were okay.
Jewel raised her head when the familiar face of Kate emerged from the darkness. This time, she kept her distance from the cage. "What do you want?"
"Has anyone ever suggested that you take anger management classes?" Kate questioned with a grin. "I can understand if you're upset. As soon as Blu tells us what we want, then Rico and I will take you him."
Hearing the mention of her close friend, the one who had been a brother to her for so many years, Jewel stood and approached the cage bars. "Rico? Rico's dead!"
"Oh, is he?" Kate retorted, crossing her wings together. She chuckled. "Rico is on our side now. When Lord Nexus begins his plans, Rico will be with us every step on the way."
"We'll see about that," Jewel disagreed. Kate was wrong, Rico would never betray them. Apart from the occasional joke or two, Rico was loyal to his friends.
She could only hope the Rico she knew was still the same.
In another area of the hideout, Blu remained in deep thought. Sooner or later, he was going to have to tell them where the siphon was. Not for his own sake, but for Jewel's and his children. Rico was still with him, waiting for an answer.
With only one option left, Blu spoke up. "Rico…I will give you the siphon…On one condition."
"And that would be?" Rico inquired with an eyebrow raised.
"You let Jewel go first," Blu requested with pleading eyes. "I will personally take you to it, but only if Jewel is let go. Please Rico, you will lose nothing."
Rico stared him down for a few seconds, considering Blu's offer. While he was not in charge, Rico had the power to persuade Nexus different. With a sigh, he turned and left, not giving Blu the answer he sought.
Exhausted with worry, Jewel tried to get some rest for a while. Sleep was difficult, not to mention she was paranoid one of them may return and do something while she slept. While Jewel lied on her side with one wing using to rest her head, her eyes widened upon hearing a familiar voice.
"Hey, wake up."
Opening her turquoise eyes, Jewel stood and approached the cage. Upon seeing her old friend, this confirmed that Kate was not lying. "Rico? It's really you?"
"Hello Jewel," Rico greeted while using a key to open her cage.
"Rico..." Jewel spoke in disbelief. She approached the now opened cage, taking one of his wings within her own. "...Is it true? You're with them?"
"...Yes Jewel, it is." Rico confirmed. His tone hinted a small case of regret.
"I don't understand. Why?" Jewel inquired as she was beginning to tear up again. "Those people are evil, you helped them kidnap us. Why would you do this?"
Rico merely sighed. He looked into her eyes, taking his wing from her grip. "You were there, Jewel. Blu left me to die when we were fighting Vadin. He didn't even try to save me."
"Blu?!" Jewel shirked, refusing to believe Rico's claim. She may have known the black hawk much longer, but Blu would never lie to his loved one. "He's your friend. Blu would never hurt anyone he cared for."
"It's his fault and that stupid Darkness of his!" Rico growled with small hints of anger. "All this never would have happened if it wasn't for Blu. He caused us nothing but trouble."
Jewel took his wing yet again, this time she held it with both wings. She looked deep into Rico's eyes with a pleading expression. "Rico, please. You don't need to do this. Come with us, we'll go back home. We can help you."
Rico tried to look away, ashamed to look into his sister's eyes. A small part of him wanted to accept her other, but the rest of him knew what was in stake. With a sigh, he considered her eyes again and spoke softly. "I'm sorry."
Before she could blink, Rico twisted her around, placing one wing over her neck while another over her beak, holding her in a choke hold.
"Rico, let me go!" Jewel demanded between muffles, struggling to free herself.
"Shh, shh, it's okay," Rico whispered calmly, adjusting her grip. "I don't want to do this, but I can't risk you knowing where we live."
Jewel continued to squirm around, desperate to free herself. With every struggle, Jewel only tired herself in seconds. Within a small amount of time, Jewel fell unconscious.
Now subdued and asleep, Rico gently picked her up bridal style and begun to carry her elsewhere. Despite her unconscious state, he continued to speak to her. "I'm sorry, Jewel. I promise you'll be safe."
And that brings us to the end of another chapter, ladies and gentlemen. The mysterious hooded figure is no other than Rico himself and with his mysterious master Nexus, trouble is certain to follow.