So, I'm continuing this story for a couple more chapters. The explanation is in the previous chapter, replacing the summarized ending. So here it is…
Blu was sitting on the branch near his den's entrance. It was a clear night in the jungle. He looked up at the stars, lost in thought. The cool wind brushed against his blue feathers.
"Blu?"
He looked to his right and saw Jewel approaching him.
"It's kind of late, don't you think?"
"I know. I was just...looking at the stars."
Jewel sat down, snuggling next to Blu.
"Blu, we've seen the stars several times."
"Yes, but it's still interesting."
"But Blu, I see the same thing as yesterday and the day before that."
Jewel then remembered something. This could be one of the few occasions that Blu suffered from memory loss. She looked at his mate with a concerned face.
"I think we need to see Tulio. I'm afraid you're losing your memory."
Blu shook his head and faced Jewel.
"Trust me. I'm fine."
"But Blu-"
"Dear, worry about it when I forget your names."
Jewel narrowed her eyes.
"Don't even joke about that."
Blu fringed at her voice.
"Okay. I'm sorry. It's just that…well, I appreciate your concern and love for me, but I'm just saying the facts. I haven't forgotten your names. Here, I'll say them. There're Leoncio, Elena, Victor…Claudia, Manuel, Christina…Jalin, Salvia, and..."
"You do know that this is about a twelve foot drop if you're unconscious."
"…And my mate, your name, Jewel. Just building the suspense, Dear."
Jewel shook her head and sighed. She looked up at the stars.
"So, why are they different to you today? They look the same to me."
"Well, they may look the same, but they are not."
Jewel gave Blu a confused face.
"I don't really understand."
"That's because you're not focusing hard enough. Have you ever heard the saying 'reach for the stars'?"
"No."
"Well, in America, it was used to motivate someone. Most say it in order to motivate someone to reach for something big. It makes sense, but I view it different. Each star is different. We can reach our goals and dream big, but our dreams may not agree with others. Look at, I can't believe I'm saying this, Hitler. He had dreams. His dream was for Germany to not suffer. He just wanted to help his country the best he could, but he also wanted to kill people he didn't like or opposed him. He dreamt big, but for the wrong reasons. He was just trying to reach out for a different way to fix Germany, a different star. You get where I'm going?"
There was a moment of silence before Jewel replied.
"You lost me."
Blu slightly groaned.
"Well, all I'm saying is that something similar may be different."
Blu smiled when he thought of an easy example.
"Like someone may look the same, but when you talk to them, they sound completely different."
"Okay. That's better. That one I understood."
Blu heaved out in relief and looked back up at the stars.
"Like the stars, we are different every day and reach our goals differently. It just comes at what seems right to us and what makes up happy."
Jewel looked back up at the stars and did notice a star different from the others.
"I see what you mean, Blu," she said and then pointed at it. "Look. That one shines differently from the rest."
Blu nodded.
"Yep, but it's not a star."
"Why?" she asked, looking towards Blu. "It looks like a star. It's just different than the other, but it is still a star."
"Well, no. You can't judge anything by looks. It's really a planet."
"How? It looks like a star?"
"Just because something looks like a star, doesn't mean it's a star. Jewel, there's a reason why I feel in love with you. It wasn't on what I saw…even though you are beautiful."
Jewel blushed.
"I fell in love with you by what I couldn't see. I knew about your personality, but I couldn't see it. Yes, I saw it by your actions, but your actions and personality were only by what my thoughts put together. I didn't know about what we would go through in the future, but I didn't care. I wanted to be by your side Jewel, because I love you."
Jewel smiled and rested her head against Blu's shoulder.
"I love you too, Blu. These past years together have been…interesting, but if I were to go through it with you by my side, I would not hesitate for a second."
Blu grinned.
"Blu? Do you wonder if Jalin ever made it to where Auro…Salvia lives?"
"Well, it's like the stars. Everyone reaches for a star differently, but they reach them nonetheless if they don't give up. Jalin left determined, and I'm pretty sure he did make it with Salvia."
Blu smirked.
"He might even come home before Leoncio and Elena's eggs hatch."
Jewel sighed.
"I hope."
The two macaws sat there for a little bit, admiring the night scenery of the jungle. The wind slowly picked up. Blu nudged his mate.
"Jewel, let's go into the den to get some rest."
Jewel slowly lifted her head off of Blu's shoulder and nodded. The old couple walked inside the den to get some rest.
In a different country, a male Spinx's Macaw looked out of the window of a pet store. He stood next to the closed window, admiring the moonlight. He smiled.
Well, I did it.
He nodded to no one in particular and looked back. Salvia was sleeping in her cage. The bird who he had betrayed; who had come back to Rio and found love, only to leave heartbroken because of him and his siblings, had forgiven him. It had been a couple of months to finally get here, to Roseburg, Oregon, after the lie was exposed, but he did it. It could've probably turned out worst. It appeared it was going to, but Jalin took the risk. He loved her, and he couldn't be happy without her.
Jalin sighed and looked back up at the stars.
"Our star shines the brightest tonight."
With that, Jalin retired for the night. Tomorrow, Salvia and him would board a plane and fly home tomorrow…to Rio de Janeiro.