Notes & Disclaimers:

• Rio is Blue Sky IP.

In many stories and real world events, there's always a point where people plan something big and helpful. They often turn out good…but not always convenient. Take a look at what I mean.

(Please leave a comment and enjoy!)

Chapter Forty Four: Real in Rio Again Part 4

A few more hours later, on the cover of night, the local news began airing on TV. The reporter was sitting at her main desk behind the big green screen, and smiling at the camera before getting ready to speak.

"Good evening, citizens of Rio. This is Maria Gratch with the latest and exciting news here in our fair city." The picture then changed to a slideshow of pictures with Blu and Jewel before she spoke again. "For about fifteen years now, the city and jungle have been residented by these two lovebirds, Blu and Jewel, who are claimed to be the last two blue macaws on earth. They are currently being kept safe in the animal hospital near the 'Blu Bird Sanctuary', where very soon, they are expecting to not be the only ones left. As the two doctors, Linda and Tulio Monteiro have recently discovered that their friends are expecting to have three chicks in their family."

As the newscaster was still speaking, Tulio and Linda were in the monitor room, watching from the mini-TV, and cheering as Blu and Jewel were on their shoulders.

"Whoo!" Tulio chanted. "I can't believe it. Not only will Blu and Jewel be having their own family soon, the whole city knows about it too."

Linda, "And hopefully supports them all the way too. Especially after those smugglers are caught."

"Speaking of which, do you think now would be a good time to…?" Tulio gestured to the breeding chamber.

"Oh." Then Linda looked at Blu. "Well guys, do you feel okay with finally hitting the nest?"

Blu happily squawked and Jewel rolled her eyes with a smile, not eager to sleep in the man-made jungle. But however, she was willing to join her husband into a safe environment. So she nodded next too, and the two were carried to the other room, and a comfortably made nest above the middle tree.

"Goodnight you two. Stay safe. Just know that we'll stop those thieves the moment we find them." Linda said, and gave Blu a surprise kiss to his forehead.

"Uh, night Linda." Blu waved and blushed. Then looked back at Jewel sternly staring at him.

"What?" He was confused until, "Oh! Jewel, no, that wasn't-"

"It's okay! Haha!" Jewel chuckled. "I'm just kidding. For crying out loud, Linda's not a bird. At least not literally." She kissed Blu's cheek and sat back down.

"Right." Blu nervously responded. "Though if you don't mind me asking, you wouldn't be jealous if at any time Linda gave me so much attention, would you?"

"No. Just so long as it's not too much. After all, you're my one and only, Blu."

"Aw. Well, you're my one and only, Jewel. One in a million."

"Aww." Jewel smiled, and Blu hugged her as he sat down in the nest with her. Then he responded, "That being said, maybe you should know about the times I was sick and she kind of pampered me so much during my trips to this place."

"Haha." Jewel laughed sarcastically. "Look, how about we take the opportunity to enjoy the moment. Right now we're alone, we have maybe until later tonight for those bandits to show up, so we can do whatever we want. In fact, there's one thing I want to talk to you about."

"And what's that?" Blu asked with a smile.

"Does any part of you feel excited?"

"You mean what we're doing? And what we're expecting?" He pointed to Jewel's belly. "Of course I am. If anything, every part of me that I can think of is excited to be a dad!"

"No, no. I don't mean just that. The fact that we've actually come this far in life after everything we've been through. Ever since 1995, even though we were separated from our previous families, we actually came together and found a new one. Eva, Rafael, Carlos, Sophia, Mikka, Leo, Angel, Nico, Pedro, Luiz, and Nigel. And so many more. All these friends, this family, and…relationship and marriage." Jewel stopped for a second and gently took Blu's wing romantically. "The fact that we actually found each other, it makes me feel like we reached a destined point that not many other birds have. Can you believe it?"

"Actually, I can. Though…a destined point? From the way I see it, we came together because we chose to. We chose to be friends, and then accepted the choice to fall in love. And with every choice we made after that, I say that's what I find exciting."

"Hm." Jewel kept smiling. "Then let me ask you another question: Do you think we still could've chosen to come together if things in the past were different?"

"Different? If there was any alternate life where we didn't end up together, it wouldn't be as happy. Not even a little. So now that you mention it, maybe if things weren't too different, I think we still would've ended up together."

"Okay. Then let's see if we can prove that with a challenge. Let's play a game where we each think of a story that describes any different events of the past, but then point out how they could lead to us getting together."

"Hm. Alright. I'll play your little girl, Jewel. But what happens if I come up with the best story?"

"Uh…well, if one of us wins at coming up with the best story, the loser has to create a sort of roleplay, acting out everything that was said in the story."

"You're on. And may the most…creative bird win." Blu chuckled, shaking his wife's wing, who made an evil looking grin, "Ooh, I plan to."

Moments later, the married couple each took a turn in sharing their own story of their alternate lives, and in the end…the loser had to join the roleplay based on the winner's story.

Blu was walking on the ground of the breeding chamber, looking terrified as he browsed around and stuttered, "U-U-Uh hi. Hello?" Then he heard something fly past him. "Uh, I-I come in peace." Then he noticed a shadow above him. He looked up and saw that it was Jewel, flying in the air, casting a shadow while showing herself below a light.

"Whoa." Blu said out loud. "She's beautiful. W-What were they talking about? She's…she's like an angel. An angel who's getting really close. WHOA!" Blu fell on his back as Jewel approached him. He was on the ground while she stood up in front of him (not standing on his throat), and spoke in Portuguese.

"Huh? What?" Blu asked in confusion. So he tried to reply in a friendly tone, "Uh, I. Am not. From here."

"Oh you're an American." Jewel said in surprise and brought her wing down to help him up. "I'm sorry, I scared you."

"Pardon? Oh, n-no problem." He stood up with her help, and to his surprise, she was examining him.

"You…you look like me."

"Right. Uh anyway, hi. My name is Blu." He offered his talon to shake, which she accepted and replied, "I'm Jewel. Now follow me." She suddenly took his wings as she was planning to hug him. "We don't have much time."

"Hehe." Blu chuckled nervously, and Jewel immediately grabbed him to help him catch up while she was running across the room. Then she let go and flew up to one of the trees. But Blu decided to simply climb up before Jewel flew back to him.

"Are you ready?" She happily asked.

"For what? Oh!" Blu was confused until he changed his expression, misunderstanding what she meant. So she turned smiling, and Blu whispered to himself, "Confidence. Crazy love hawk. Just like it said in the books." He smiled, approaching Jewel and hoping to accomplish what he thought she wanted.

"Alright." Jewel turned around, and saw Blu puckering up. Jewel smiled and was ready to do her part, until…BOOSSH! All the lights in the room suddenly went out.

"What the?" Blu responded, now breaking out character. "Is, uh, this part of the roleplay?"

"No." Jewel hovered down. "What's going on?"

Blu hovered down to her and said, "Well, it couldn't have been Linda and Tulio, right? If they meant to turn off all the lights they would've done that the moment after they left."

"That sounds right. But I don't remember it being this dark in here. Maybe-"

"Maybe it's the smugglers?"

Jewel gasped the same time Blu did. So he whispered, "Quick! Let's get up to the nest!" They flew up again, trying to reach the nest, and laid down together, pretending to sleep. Blu felt Jewel's wings become tighter around him. She looked a little scared, and he did the same before whispering, "It's okay. We'll be fine."

"I hope so." Jewel smiled. "Let's just hope we don't regret getting ourselves captured in any way."

Suddenly, they heard the door to the room open. So they kept quiet, and expected their new foes to come over. Blu and Jewel held each other tight, feeling like little kids that thought monsters were coming out of the closet. But as they were waiting…nothing happened.

Blu and Jewel opened their eyes and they sat up and looked to see the door. It was wide open but no one was there. They didn't see any human or animal on sight. Except for an ominous red glow beaming at the door.

"That's weird." Blu whispered. "Jewel, you stay here. I'm going to check that out."

"What?" Jewel also whispered. "Not alone you're not."

"It's okay. I'm just gonna look. I'll be back in here and get you. No harm done. Just stay where you are."

"Hm." Jewel humphed, but then kissed his cheek, and nodded with a frown.

Blu smiled. "I'll be back. Don't worry." He flew down next, and slowly exited the room. He was expecting to find something weird…but he wasn't too far off as he looked and only saw a lamp on the floor with a red glass light bulb. "Well hello?" He turned and saw the whole area was dark and without power. "Then how is this thing still on?" He wondered.

Then he heard another voice speak up. "Who are you talking to?"

"Huh?" Blu looked in another direction, and he felt something get shot into his throat. "AH! Whoa!" He felt like choking, but was able to swallow it. "Was that a pill?" He questioned in fear.

"Blu?" He heard Jewel's voice and tried to turn. He yelled, "JEWEL!"

"Blu?!" She hovered down, intending on helping him until something stopped her.

"AAHH!" A sudden white streak jumped on her, and pinned her down. Jewel was able to look and see…a female cockatoo. "Well hello pretty girl."

"What the? Hey you're-!"

"Yeah, yeah. I know you know who I am. And let me tell ya, I admire your cockatoo friend wanting to help you guys out, but…nothing's gonna stop my bosses from making a fair profit."

"WHAT?!" Jewel was way past surprised, angry, and tried breaking free, but the other girl was too strong.

"Anyway, I think it's time you take your night medicine, baby girl." She carried a small purple pill with her wing while still pinning Jewel down with her talon.

"Jewel!" Blu yelled. He saw what was happening, but after taking that previous pill, he felt weak in his joints. Unable to move and help Jewel. "Jewel! Oh no." Then he felt unable to keep his eyes open. "No."

So the cockatoo smiled, and slowly made Jewel swallow the pill. "AH!" Jewel complained, trying not to take it but it was too late. Making the girl let her go and back up with an evil grin.

Jewel felt very agitated saying, "What did you do to-? Ah!" But she suddenly felt her legs going weak too, causing her to flop on the floor and feel totally tired next. "What did you…do to…us?"

"Aw." The other girl pretended to care. "Ya feeling tired, sweetheart? Well don't worry. I'll make sure you and your husband get the luxury suite. It'll be the ride of your life."

Then the last thing that Jewel saw was both the girl staring at her in an ominous smile, and her husband lying on the floor, feeling the same way she was. Tired…and fully fast asleep with her eyes shut. Not knowing what was to come next.

More Notes & Disclaimers:

• Now for the next chapter (coming soon), do you guys want to see it focus on what happens next? Or do you want it to focus on Blu and Jewel playing their story game?

• That pill our new OC enemy was carrying was a medicine designed to put animals to sleep for a short time. So don't worry, they're not dead or poisoned.

By the way, her name will be revealed in the next part.

Here's also another thing to keep in mind: Since things in this series are obviously different from the movie it's based on, do you guys have any ideas on how else this adventure may go? So far I have a little, but not enough to fill in the whole thing. But until then…what will happen now? Have the lovebirds' newest adversaries been one step ahead of them all along? Will Blu and Jewel, and the gang, still be able to find a way to stop them? Find out next time. And have a good time with what else may come in 2022.

(You may also read this on DeviantART.)