In case you guys haven't noticed, the name for this chapter is the same name as one of the chapters from Rio 3, the original one. So you can think of this chapter truly as a tribute to that previous story.
I am going to try my best not to create a huge essay for you all to read, but I can't help myself.
As you can see (for those of you who read the original) I kept my promise. Didn't I? I didn't exactly promise anything, but I did say the plot was going to be pretty different. Bordering on a different story.
Here is my excuse for the originals plot. I watched one too many episodes of Invader Zim, and when that stuff gets inside of your head, it stays.
All in all, don't do drugs kids.
So the pigeons invading the tribe and all the rest of that stuff, yeah, goodbye. Good riddance, felt good to get that off my chest.
Some other news is that my month long marathon of Fortnite has ended. And with a lot of time spent in the Emergency Room, a very patient surgeon, and few prosthetic legs, I am back and better than ever!
Hopefully.
That being said, I will list out all the things that are different in this story. In case you are having trouble.
-Jewel actually does something to contribute. Last story, I just had her sit around and wait all day until Blu came back. Not very interesting as a story, and certainly doesn't show Jewel's true character. Now she will actively try and fight, to get Blu back home.
-Humans! Evan and the other scientist were a major plot addition to this story. Instead of the pigeons as the "bad guys" they have been replaced with Evan and his team.
-No pigeons. Quite obviously. They were a dumb addition to the story. Didn't really contribute, nor made any real plot depth.
-Less random stupidity. Some people like it, but I was actually trying to make a serious story back then. It did not come out the same way. OOof.
-RIP Connor. Yeah Connor got wiped off the slate fast.
-Diante and Aberdeen are actually in a relationship. Last story, they kind of just were friends. The end of the story I just mentioned they were expecting a child and I know all of oh were confused by that. How did they become friends, not really do anything romantic together, and next thing you lone Aberdeen is pregnant? WTF ?!
-Less jumbled text. Important for the eyes.
-A better writing style. I like my Fahrenheit 451° writing style, and I am gonna keep it.
-And it is a very different story. All together.
Cool right? Can I hang out with the cool writers on this archive now? No? Okay then, sorry for being a pest. Goodbye hopes and dreams.
Now that my hopes and dreams are dead, lets move on with the story .
The caravan stopped outside the city of Pelotas. Blu made sure of that. But even still, he was worried. Trying to plot the around-the-way course would take several more hours to traverse. And just to navigate it would require major adjustment.
The group pretty much just elected Blu as the leader. He understood Human language, so he could read the GPS. He was pretty much the smartest out of all of them and was well liked. Well liked enough anyway.
Diante still held his grudges, but he didn't make a big deal out of it. After that scene he had with Aberdeen, he decided he should try and make things right for once in his life.
"The new course is going to take at least 4 extra hours to complete. That is about 5 hours for a Human, 7 or 8 hours for us. We aren't going to be able to sleep in the street lights, so we are going to have another camp in the great outdoors." Blu said.
"Why can't we just go through the city? I can't see what the big deal is!" Clyde was tired of being the pack mule. And what made it worst is that their walking time was about to be extended.
Blu asked everybody to give Clyde a break and not use him as a bus, and instead he loaded all of their supplies onto his back with a makeshift saddle. Something Clyde wasn't too ecs.
"Tulio sent me a special message telling me to do this. I am not exactly sure why somebody would be out to capture us, but I would trust him rather than take the chance."
"But my paws are killing me! Look I have an idea, why don't we rest for the rest of the day and finish the journey tomorrow?"
"Bad idea, we should cover as much ground as possible so we don't have as much. Besides we are on the clock, who knows when we will get more food and water?" Diante pitched in.
"Besides, we are all tired and hungry. I know you are doing a lot and you don't like it but won't you just be our friend and help us?" Aberdeen asked Clyde.
"Sometimes I love you guys. Sometimes I really hate you. Times like right now." Clyde sighed and kept on.
"You don't hate me all the time?" Diante asked, poking fun at Clyde.
"Oh no I don't. I hate you slightly and then other times I hate you really. And there are times when I just want to outright murder you." Clyde laughed.
"Aw. You are making me blush."
"Diante look me in the eyes!" Clyde pulled Diante over. Diante looked straight into them. He didn't notice how one of Clyde's eyes were red and the other blue. Strange.
Clyde blink and turned Diante back around.
"Okay don't look me in the eyes. I just saw the end of the world in there." The whole group laughed at Clyde and Diante's rivalry.
The journey was agonizing, the rain had long stopped pouring down on them, but nonetheless the climb through the dirt and the untamed terrain was unlike anything they have encountered.
How they struggled through it all! But each and every one of them had the goal in their eyes. To reach the golden city! The get to their destination. They were focused on their goal, and once they set a task for themselves, they were determined to reach it. Ignorant of all the signs telling them they couldn't do it.
Think about what they accomplished already. They already escaped from the shelter in Buenos Aires, made it across the river to Montevideo, carried on to Rivera, crossed the Uruguayan border into Brazil, and they reached Pelotas.
By now, reaching destinations and challenges became a breeze for them. It seemed as of the cities only got closer together.
When they first started their expedition, the city of Montevideo, in itself, seemed far away. Their biggest feat was conquering the trail to Rivera. But by now, they felt like they could reach Rio tomorrow! Mexico City next week! New York before the end of two weeks! They felt they could run the entire world!
Or maybe they were just assuring themselves, falsely inflating their hopes so they have the willpower to carry on. Maybe that was it.
Nonetheless, they were getting there. They were making progress. Real progress.
The trip in itself was harsh. Crossing various streams and small rivers that crisscrossed the region was difficult, but they found their way.
Eventually, they reached the north point of the city of Rivera. Their course was complete. To celebrate, they ate twice their usual ration amount (about half a can of food they found inside of Rivera) and made a camp outside of the city.
Again, the moon was high and the stars were bright. They made sure not to repeat their mistake they made last time, and camped in the trees. Clyde stayed inside of a hollow while the rest of the birds camped on the tree branches and other smaller hollows. They should be safe here.
Hopefully.
Blu knew that his survival meant a lot to a lot of people. But he had no idea of the effects his situation had on the world. It was impossible for him to know. So many things were being set in motion, while he was gone, because of him. And he didn't even have to lift a feather.
But he knew what he was here for, and he knew where he wanted to go. He needed to get back home, it had been so long. He forgotten what it felt like to be kissed or hugged by Jewel. Or to have his children jump on him with love whenever he was there. He forgotten all of that.
He knew Jewel was there. He knew she was waiting for him. But to him, Jewel started to feel more and more like a stranger. Somebody he fantasized of in his wild imagination. Was it possible the love between Jewel and himself never existed? That he and Jewel never fell in love and had kids? That his whole life up to his moment was fake? That he was stuck in a dream state, and he woke up into this? Was this real life?
It was only a month since he was gone, a month since he last saw Jewel, down by the river. It felt like it had been years. Had it only been one month? Impossible.
Jewel felt like somebody he loved, yet never knew. That person on TV you admire most but you could never meet. He felt as if Jewel was never his wife, as if all the things that happened between the two happened in some weird love movie.
He remembered jumping out of the plane for Jewel, not knowing how to fly. He would always use that to assure himself that he was a brave and courageous bird. But now it felt like somebody else did it. That he only watched from a 5th wall as another bird sacrificed his own life for Jewel.
No, he knew Jewel was real. He knew that he loved her, he knew she loved him. When he jumped out of a airplane to rescue her, it was him. He loved her and she loved him.
And he fought as hard as he could to get back to her, no matter what it takes. No matter how long. For all he knew, it could take years before he got back home to Jewel, but he would still keep on fighting. No matter what.
And most importantly of all, he wasn't about to let Diante and Aberdeen love each other while he sat there alone. He wasn't going to let Diante win the game of love.
Then again, the only reason why Blu was lonely now was because he accidentally picked up a chance card in the game of love. Guess that's just the way that life goes.
Imagine that? Blu seperated, hundreds of miles from his wife and children, and he was stuck here watching Diante (Diante of all people) fall in love with Aberdeen.
Blu wasn't jealous of Diante or anything. In his eyes, compared to Jewel, Aberdeen was hideous.
Well she wasn't hideous. Blu had to admit Aberdeen was pretty. But Jewel on the other hand…
To him, there wasn't much to compare.
Either way, he was going to try all he could to get back home. Even if it breaks him. It doesn't matter, he needed to get home.