I am still alive! I told you this already, no? Anyhow... Shan't procrastinate any further! Onto the story...

Since we left off, (such a long time ago...) Blu, Jewel and Emile had all been given the green light to go out and enjoy themselves.

It was lunchtime in the city, and there was a trove of activity in the bustling streets of the beautiful bay-side metropolis.

On the sill of the window, the threesome prepared to set off.

"So... Any ideas as to where we might spend the afternoon?" asked a nervous Blu.

"Hmm. There's an eating establishment I used to frequent. I know the guy there; his name's Hao. He'll take care of us." replied a confident Jewel.

"I'm just hungry." chirped a hungry Emile.

"Well then, we should make this our first stop. I am feeling rather ravenous, myself." said Jewel, joyously.

Blu had been dreading this moment. Although he wanted to go out, he couldn't fly, still. So he said to Jewel, "Do we have to fly there?" Jewel just looked at him strangely, contemplating his sanity. "Sorry? Are you not a bird like the rest of us?" she answered.

"Uh, Yes, I am, but..." He chose his lie carefully. "I'm just a bit tired, is all. I'd like to take a bus if at all possible."

Blu remained uncertain if Jewel was testing him or not, when she agreed with him. "Okay," she said, "Let's take a... Bus."

She spread her wings as if to fly, but Blu stopped her again. "We can walk there?" he told her, uncertain if she knew of his flightless-ness or not.

"We can fly there." she said, with a smile.

Blu was defeated. "You... You know... Don't you?"

"It was pretty obvious from the start, Blu. Every single bird who ever existed would have flown a further distance than you in the brief time we have known each other." said Jewel, stating the obvious.

"But... Do you hate me for it?" he said, wincing, expecting some form of attack to come.

"No, not really. We have already established that hurting you won't get me anywhere, and..." began Jewel, though, when she cut herself off at the end, she looked at Emile, and Blu got the message.

"But... What now?" asked Blu, tensely.

"Well, there are..." began Jewel, mulling the thoughts around inside her head, "Two, options."

Blu was starting to sweat, and felt extremely uncomfortable, he just looked at her, awaiting the list.

"Option number one, we go back inside." stated Jewel.

Emile looked at her, confused.

"Option number two, I carry you. Which I don't fancy doing, but, if I must, then, I see no harm." finished Jewel, who was looking at Blu, implying that the statement was intended for him.

Blu chuckled awkwardly for a second, before telling Jewel, "I don't mean to sound... offensive, or anything, but, I'm probably too heavy for you to carry."

Jewel laughed hysterically, "You did NOT just say that, Blu!"

The confused male looked at Jewel, questioning her sanity, in thinking that she could carry him, despite likely weighing more than she should be able to transport.

"I did just say that; it is a fact." informed Blu.

Jewel just rolled her eyes, and with no emotion, walked up to Blu, threw her wings against his sides, and with an "Upsy Daisy!", she lifted him above her head as if he were weightless. Blu was stunned, partly because he was being held up in the air, but also because he didn't quite know what to say, other than commenting on how strong Jewel was, in order to be able to lift him with such ease.

"One thing I don't like, is being made out to be weak. I'm really not, wouldn't you agree?" she said with a smile.

Short again. I know. I wish I could have more time and motivation rather than posting snippets of chapters I want to post. In short: I'm busy, but I want to post long chapters.

So I have two options, actually... What a coincidence...

1) Work on a full 2,000 character chapter that wouldn't be released until at least New Year's.
2) Post snippets of chapters that I work on, so that people at least have SOMETHING to read of mine.

I choose 2.