Rio: Battle and Friendship Chapter 4: Took You Long Enough, a rio fanfic

Chapter 4: Took you long enough…

"Well well well. I let you out of my sign for just a moment and this is what happens? Really Blu? I thought you would at least scratch him. But whatever, the real fun starts now." unknown appeared behind Marco.

"Well I most certainly didn´t invite you." said Marco with raging hate in his eyes.

"Am I dead? Is this how being dead feels? No way, not dead just yet" Blu´s consciousness returned and he slowly opened his eyes. In front of him was standing that one macaw who wanted him and Eduardo dead. But further in front, there was another macaw. His feathers were also covered in paint.

"Marco…" said Blu with a shaking voice.

"Hello Blu, miss me already?" said newly arrived macaw.

"How did you find us?" asked Marco with a totally different voice.

"Luck, I guess…" replied the Macaw and with his full might charged at his enemy.

Both macaws clashed. Since both macaws were covered in paint, it was hard telling who is who. Opponents were trading powerful hits, both deadly and fast. It was clear that both had some fighting training. It seemed like one of the macaws started to have upper hand. It didn´t take long and fight was over, with one of the macaws fleeing from fight.

Eduardo, who got back on his feet was now standing before Blu, guarding him.

"STAY BACK!" yelled Eduardo at lonely macaw.

"I don´t want to hurt you. I came to save Blu. You have to trust me." replied the macaw calmly.

"TRUST YOU! How can I trust you? You both look the same. Even your voices were exactly the same!" yelled Eduardo while standing in his battle stance.

"That was an imposter! He used colorful colors to hide his true identity." Replied the macaw while slowly coming towards Eduardo and injured Blu.

"How can you explain your voice?!" yelled enraged Eduardo.

"P…parrots can mimic sounds they hear, remember?" said Blu. His wound made it really hard for him to speak.

"Wh…what?! Then how am I supposed to know if he really is our ally?!" said Eduardo while looking at Blu.

"If…he has…a scar on…his right wing…the he is for sure…my friend." said Blu and his consciousness faded once again away.

"BLU?! Show me your wing!" yelled Eduardo.

The macaw quickly spread his wing, revealing a big scar across his wing. This was the real Marco.

"Alright, I believe you…for now. We need to help Blu. We have to get him back to our colony so we can treat him." said Eduardo, leaving his battle stance, aiming his attention towards Blu.

Marco quickly moved by Blu´s side when he heard wing-flapping once again. But this time a huge group of Spix macaws entered the scene.

"Eduardo, what happened?! And who on Earth is that?!" asked Roberto while he suspiciously looked at Marco.

"He is a friend of Blu. He helped us. But that is not important right now. We need to get him back to the colony. Your name was Marco, right?" asked Eduardo while looking at Marco with a worried look.

"Yes. Can I be of any help?" replied Marco while looking at Blu´s wound.

"Grab his feet. Roberto, you grab him by his wings. We need to get moving or we will lose him. He is bleeding very badly." ordered Eduardo.

Marco and Roberto did as he said and the group was soon on their way back to the colony.

"Mimi, where she?! MIMI!" yelled Eduardo across the whole colony.

"I am here brother. What is wrong?" asked Mimi who just left her treehouse.

"Blu is badly hurt. Get Corvo and Emily, take medical herbs, and come to my treehouse as fast as you can." ordered Eduardo while heading towards his treehouse.

"Oh, God! What happened to him?!" asked Mimi in shock when she saw Blu´s wound.

"HURRY! I will explain later!" ordered Eduardo.

"I'm on my way!" replied Mimi and went for her medical colleagues and needed herbs.

"This way you two!" said Eduardo while entering his treehouse, Marco and Roberto with Blu in their talons followed. The rest of group spread a headed towards their homes.

Marco and Roberto carefully laid Blu on Eduardo´s bed. It took some time before Mimi got what she needed and entered Eduardo´s treehouse as well. Corvo and Emily, two of best healers in the colony, followed her as well. Once everything was ready and everyone, who was needed, was present, Mimi alongside Corvo and Emily started treating Blu´s wound. Eduardo, Roberto, and Marco left, to get Mimi as much space as she needed. Eduardo´s heart skipped a beat once he saw his daughter Jewel approaching them.

"Daddy, you are already back? So, what about Blu? How did he do?" asked Jewel with warmth-giving smile.

"Well honey, don´t worry, everything will be alright, but…" Eduardo was stopped by Mimi, who rushed from his treehouse covered in blood.

"Out of my way! We need more efficient herbs or we will lose him!" shouted Mimi.

Jewel turned her attention back to Eduardo: "Daddy? Where…where is Blu?"

"Honey, don´t worry, he will be fine, you just have to let them help…" Eduardo was once again stopped as Jewel rushed into his treehouse.

"BLU!" powerful cry of despair left Jewels beak, as she saw hew beloved husband and father of her children, lying on the bed without any signs of movement, covered in blood.

"Ju-Ju, come outside. You need to let them help him. You are no use here. Let´s go." said Roberto while laying his wing on Jewel´s shoulder.

"NO! I WANT TO STAY WITH HIM!" cried Jewel as tears started to roll from her eyes.

Marco had to help Roberto to get heartbroken Jewel out of the treehouse. Eduardo only helplessly watched as his only beloved daughter lost her senses by looking at the one, she truly loved. This was the moment Eduardo realized, that her love for him is beyond boundaries of this world. Looking back, Blu had the same determination when he jumped in front of that attack. Deadly invitation, that was meant for him and him alone. As the jungle dived into the darkness of night, so did Eduardo´s mind.

Droplets of water started to fall onto leaves of calm Amazon jungle. Cold night air spread across the jungle, healing hurt souls. Drops of rain sounded like a symphony of thousands of instruments, with thunders playing parts of a thousand dulcimers, rain playing parts of peaceful violins and flutes, that were in harmony with calm wind that sounded like a simple, yet beautiful notes from a harp. Every being that lived within an Amazon jungle, could witness this magnificent concert of the world's finest composer – the nature. But yet, no ear heard this symphony on this night. Every alive being dreamed they deepest desires within their own dream worlds. There were few, who heard nature´s symphony after all. These listeners were standing under shelter from giant leaves. None of them said a word and they only listened and hoped for they admired as a friend, valued as a family member, loved like no one else.

"If only I didn´t let him go…"

"If only I was stronger…"

"If only I got there sooner…"

"If only I never separated from them…"

"Don´t give up just yet…you have responsibilities here…your wife and children…"

"I´ve heard that you saved Eduardo…I won´t let you die…"

"Finding food for tribe is important…you did a good job…keep fighting…"

"Don´t give up…"

"Blu…Blu my love, open your eyes. Those who love you are there for you. Don´t close your eyes just yet. You have your entire life ahead of you…wake up my love…"

"Is this really how you want to end your story? There is no such thing as destiny. We shape our lives by our actions. And those actions are shaped by those we love and admire…wake up my boy…"

"Don´t give up…"

"It´s dark. It´s cold. My eyes are tired and I want to go to sleep. Who is calling me? What are those voices? Is it someone I know? Or is it just an illusion. No. No those voices are real. Voices of those whom I love and admire. Jewel, Eduardo, Marco, Roberto, Mimi, Corvo, Emily…Mom…Dad. I can´t go to sleep just yet…I have things to deal with…"

Blu´s hardest fight came to its end. And Blu came out victoriously.

Next chapter: New Home