Story: Birdy Beatdown

Chapter 2: Father vs Son (in law)

Style: Action, Humor, Exciting

With his final chance on proving his worth looming the next day, Blu fastened his flight to Eduardo's hollow for a last ditch effort to squeeze in as an entrant for the Ordeal of the Mighty.

Not too far behind the speeding Blu was Jewel accompanying alongside, curious how her lover has changed over the course of time during their stay in the wild. His personality and habits hasn't change a bit, but his thought process seemed different. Unsure whether to worry for it or not, Jewel was going to enjoy the show the two males will put up for the challenge ahead.

Arriving at the chief's hollow, Blu and Jewel stepped inside to be greeted by the spunky and approachable Mimi.

"Ah my dearest lovebirds how are you!" Mimi greeted the two macaws with a great hug pinning them against her girth.

"Hey Aunt Mimi." Jewel croaked out from near suffocation. "Could you ease up a bit on the hug?"

"Ah of course!" Mimi chuckled as she released her grip around Blu and Jewel. "What can I do for you two?"

"Can you tell us where's Dad?" Jewel asked.

"No need to ask that question when you're inside my home." A gruff voice replied from the side.

Enters Eduardo, the leader of the Blue Spix Macaw tribe and father of Jewel as he happily landed beside Blu and Jewel with his wings open. After a quick hug to his beloved daughter and son-in-law, Eduardo smiles softly and stands before Blu and Jewel on what the two macaws requested the need of his presence.

"Dad." Blu started. "I wish to compete in the Ordeal of the Mighty." Eduardo not surprisingly laughed out loudly as he placed his wing on Blu's shoulder.

"Son, you know you can't compete for two reasons. One: Only one member can represent our tribe. Two: Roberto is representing for us this month."

"We're aware of that father." Jewel added. "But Blu really insists on competing and won't stop at nothing. So we both have a proposition if you would like to consider it."

"Alright, hit me, figuratively." Eduardo chuckled.

"I wish to challenge you sir in a friendly bout for Roberto's entrant spot for the Ordeal of the Mighty. If I win, I get his spot." Blu said.

"Oh ho a challenge eh?" Eduardo replied with a surprised look on his aged face. "You boy are thinking way too highly of yourself if you think you can take down this bird."

"So will you accept Dad?" Jewel asked.

"Oh I accept, under one condition." Eduardo insisted. "If you lose Blu, you'll be my waterboy again for the next match with the Scarlet Macaws next week!"

"Deal." Blu smiled as he and Eduardo shook wings.

"Are you sure Roberto will be okay with this?" Jewel asked.

"Nah don't worry about him. I make the decisions after all, he can't complain."

"So, when do we fight?" Blu asked.

"Given the time of day, meet me at the Pit of Doom in one hour. Better be ready boy." Eduardo smiled as he flexed his wings to further boast his stature. "This old dog is a lot stronger than you think."

"Wait…you're seriously fighting Pop Pop!?" Blu's daughter Bia cried out.

"Indeed my dear, you know how much I want in that Ordeal." Blu replied as he and his family flew over towards the Pit of Doom.

"Ah sweet! I never seen Dad fought before!" Tiago beamed.

"Me neither." Carla added. "Are you sure you can take on Pop Pop Dad?"

"What makes you say that?" Blu asked, shocked by his eldest daughter's doubts in his abilities.

"Well, you did had that one incident with that splinter on your left leg, lost 27 times to Ray at Street Flyer while complaining he was cheating, which he didn't mind you. And to top that, other events involving some emotional distraught forced you to cry oh I say 4 to 5 hours in one setting. I kinda don't see you as a brawler Dad."

"Gee Carla, anything else you wish to embarrass me with?" Blu asked sarcastically.

"Nope. But despite all what we think of you, we'll still support you no matter how badly Pop Pop beats you!" Carla cheered unconvincingly.

"Oh goody even my family has no confidence in me. Heh, time to show them what Ray taught me." Blu thought devislishly.

Arriving at the designated location as instructed by Eduardo, the family noticed a rather large group of Blue Spix Macaws gathering around the Pit. Blu was fascinated on how fast word has spread with his bout against Eduardo.

Then again, any fight involving Eduardo is worth watching for anyone Blu thought.

"There's still time to call it quits honey." Jewel insisting Blu to reconsider, but knew deep down Blu wouldn't step down.

"With all eyes on me, I can't chicken out now. If I'm going to be humiliated, at least I go down fighting." Blu replied.

"Well I tried. Good luck." Jewel nudging Blu towards the center arena. Brushing aside the push, Blu marches towards the Pit, physically and mentally preparing himself for his bout against Eduardo.

"Hey Mom, he's not serious about this is he?" Bia asked.

"Hate to say dear your father really wants this." Jewel signed.

"Whoa hold up! This isn't a joke!?" Carla cried out.

"No joke Carla. Blu is going to fight your Grandfather for Roberto's spot at the Ordeal."

"No way! Since when did Dad think of entering in the first place!?" Tiago asked.

"I believe it's something along the lines of showing his worth." Jewel signed.

"Blu…you don't need to prove me anything. You're fine as who you are. Please just be careful with him Dad."

After a few minutes passed by, Blu spots the imposing figure of Eduardo soaring down from above towards the pit. With a thunderous boom from landing before him, Eduardo looks up eye to eye with his son-in-law, no trace of remorse in each pupil on Eduardo's face.

The only chilling thing Blu notices was the sparkle of joy in Eduardo's eyes as he began stretching his wings.

"I would say you should just back down Blu." Eduardo said as he finished stretching. "But I do enjoy a good tussle when asked. You ready son?"

"Ready as always." Blu nodded.

"Very well. But before we began…My dear Family of the Blue Spix Macaw tribe!" Eduardo shouted towards the crowd of macaws present at the Pit of Doom.

"As you see before me, my son-in-law has issued a challenge to me for Roberto's position in the Ordeal of the Mighty!"

Numerous mummers of confusion and doubt were passing among the tribe as Eduardo went on with his announcement.

"As a man of sport and the spirit of competition, I accepted Blu's challenge under one condition. If he would lose, he shall serve me as the waterboy for next week's match against the Scarlets!"

Eduardo's stipulation to Blu brought either gasps of shock or roars of laughter from the crowd. Nevertheless, it didn't falter Blu as he narrowed his eyes to the obstacle before him.

"Going by Ordeal Regulations?" Blu murmured.

"Sure. Remember the rules?" Eduardo replied as he positioned himself into his fighting stance.

"Indeed. Five rounds, 5 minutes each, 3 knockouts equal a TKO. Winner is with either the most KOs or TKO. Another exception is knocking out your opponent by the count of 10."

"Excellent, that saves me time explaining. Now let's begin."

With no more words to be said, Eduardo switched from his calm demeanor to a serious gaze as he and Blu dashed towards each other.

Blu went in with a series of kicks and pecks at his opponent. Eduardo easily dodged or parried them as he returned Blu shots to his midsection. Blu took the blows, but casted aside the pain as he went in more attacks. Eduardo soared down and landed on the ground as Blu tried to tackle him. Sadly for Blu, he simply bounced off of Eduardo as the macaw leader laughed at Blu's feeble strength. He then quickly grabbed at Blu and tossed him across the Pit's arena grounds. Blu was able to recover in midair as he flipped and stopped himself from further skidding across the arena. He quickly shook off the dust and went after Eduardo once more, continuing to surprise Eduardo and the crowd for his resilience.

Amongst the crowd of Blue Macaws, Blu's family watch in awe as the two macaws battled it out. It seemed neck to neck, but signs of fatigue starting to show on Blu's face as he made a desperate attempt to create space between himself and Eduardo by flying up.

"Hey Bia." Tiago asking his older sister.

"Yeah bro?" Bia turning her attention to her younger brother.

"You think Dad will win?"

Bia signed as she spots her father trying to distant himself with Eduardo. By her calculations, father's stamina can't match up with her Grandfather no matter how hard he battles. It's a fight of endurance.

Back to the fight, Blu continued to dodge and avoid Eduardo's strikes, but he couldn't keep up for long as he felt his chest burning with pain from exhaustion. An opening for Eduardo sparked his interest as he lunged forward at Blu's legs. With his talons, he grasps around Blu's legs and flung him toward the ground. Blu crash lands onto the ground with a resonating boom, forming a small crater around the spot he landed on. The crowd gasped in shock from the impact, especially Jewel and her kids to see Blu in great pain.

"Ah boy you gotta try harder than that!" Eduardo taunted as he landed beside the battered Blu. Blu remained motionless as Eduardo stood over him. The leader began counting as Blu laid on the earth.

From 1 until 4, Blu continued to lay on the ground as the crowd counted along with Eduardo. Jewel shook her head in disbelief as she knew this would happen. Despite her doubt, Jewel could see the hope in her three kids as they whispered: "Come on Dad, get up!"

To their joy, Blu slowly stood up by the time Eduardo got to 7.

Although shaky, Blu stood proud.

The crowd cheered on, astonished for Blu's endurance.

"Come on Dad, you gotta try harder than that." Blu taunted weakly.

"I'll give you credit, you got guts." Eduardo smirked. "But I have to end this farce for your sake!"

Eduardo lets out a roar as he dashed at Blu for the finishing blow.

Jewel, the kids, and some of the crowd shielded their eyes as they couldn't bear what attack Eduardo was going to land on Blu with.

Oddly enough, Blu remained calm as he studied Eduardo rushing him. He took a deep breath as he remembered what Ray taught him.

"In the wild, most fighters attack by pure strength and instinct alone. You got something they don't to be on top, durability and your noggin. Watch your opponent's movements, if you see their emotion driving their attack, use it to throw them off balance. Then go in and finish. Remember, the winner is the one who lands the fewest blows, not throwing the most."

With his master's teachings in mind, Blu opens his eyes as he spots Eduardo's curled wing like a fist about a few inches away from his face.

"Now I don't need to hold back." Blu thought.

Blu quickly parries Eduardo's jab and counters with a cross punch to his beak. Eduardo stumbles back from the blow as Blu rushes in to follow up his attack. He delivers an unusual attack involving slamming both his wings against Eduardo's temples. Enraged, Eduardo tried to kick Blu, only for his attack to be simply parried followed by another blow to his beak. And again when Eduardo went in for an attack, Blu parries and kicks him in the side.

The young macaw went in and delivered another curled wing punch to his father-in-laws stomach with authority. The shock from lack of oxygen sent Eduardo reeling back. The leader looked up to see Blu leaping at him, finishing him off with a devastating dropkick across his face.

Eduardo went skidding across the floor from the shot, slowly rolling to a complete stop as he laid on his side.

A macaw from the stands flew in and began counting as if he was an official to the fight. On the count of 5, Eduardo continued to lay on the ground unconsciousness as the official continued.

By the time he reached 10, Eduardo showed no signs of continuing on.

Jewel and the crowd couldn't believe it. Blu won.

"Dad!" Jewel cried as she flew over to Eduardo. The crowd was stunned at first before opening up in a frenzy of cheering for Blu's surprising victory over their leader.

To Jewel's relief, Eduardo was fine, just exhausted beyond a doubt. She turned around to see Blu standing still, dumbfolded by his victory and the cheers he was receiving. Without thinking, Blu raised his wings victorious in response to the cheering crowd. Jewel wasn't sure how to react on how Blu gave her father the most senseless beating she ever saw, but she did feel glad Blu proved her wrong that he was even more worthy than she thought.

A/N: And that concludes this chapter. Review, fav, follow, do what you want. Also, I'm opening up a Q and A as a small project. Post your questions to me if you wish to get to know me more! I'll answer them to the best of my ability in the next update.

With that said, hope you've enjoyed this chapter and take care!- Poshil