Chapter Fifteen: Freedom Is Never Truly There Until You Have Someone to Share It With
Author's Note: Hey Guys and Gals! I received a question on the last chapter that I thought needed some clarification. Blu was dreaming that he married Jewel, but the reason he was dreaming was because he passed out before his bath with Jewel for a reason I'll get to in this chapter. By the way, this story is one of a few I thought of when Jewel's wing was healing and what really happened between the time jump in Rio. Those stories will definitely come out sooner than you think. But anyway, I hope you enjoy. :)
Blu woke to the sun hitting his face. He looked down next to him to find an empty spot where Jewel once was. Probably getting some food. He thought. He was correct. Not a minute later, Jewel came into the hollow with two mangos.
"Come on, Blu! We're getting released today!" She shouted, shoving the mango into Blu's talons and devouring her's.
"Slow it down there! You don't want to have a stomach ache while flying again." Blu said.
"Alright." Jewel said with a mouthful of mango. They finished their breakfast and Tulio walked in.
"You two ready for the big day?" Tulio asked. Both macaws squawked with joy. Tulio picked them both up and carried them through the forest to a newly built tower for the Blu bird sanctuary.
"I really wish they didn't name it after me." Blu said.
"Why not? It's easier than saying Centro de Conservaçāo Ambiental or Environmental Conservation Center." Jewel said. "Besides, it makes me happy humans care for us that much." Jewel said. Blu thought about it and realized that if Jewel was fine with it, he shouldn't mind either. The two looked back towards where they were walking and saw the brand new lookout tower.
"Well, today's going to start off great." Blu said. Jewel just ignored him. They reached the top of the sanctuary tower and Tulio let Jewel go. She felt the breeze under her wings once again and was delighted with joy. Now all she had to wait for was Blu. She looked back at Blu and rolled her eyes when she saw him and Linda doing that handshake. But afterwards, he took off after her.
"Well, what took you so long?" Jewel asked teasingly.
"Well, it was kind of a goodbye to my old life." Blu said. Jewel never really thought of it that way.
"Oh, alright. But at least you have a new life with your lovehawk." Jewel said.
"Yep. OH! I have that surprise for you! Follow me!" Blu shouted as he started heading towards the city. Jewel forgot all about it because she was so anxious to get free again. She flew after Blu.
It didn't take long. But when Blu arrived to the place she least expected, she decided to ask. "What are we doing here?" Jewel asked.
"Oh, wait here. I had to get help from Luiz to get your surprise ready." Blu said.
I hope it doesn't have drool all over it. Jewel thought. She was waiting outside for a while. Soon enough, she felt like she had waited too long. She walked in, nervous that Luiz would pounce on her like he did to her last time. But her worries soon came to rest when she saw Luiz under the car.
"Hey, Blu! Could you hand me that wrench over there!" Luiz shouted.
"Yeah, sure." Blu said. When he gave Luiz the wrench, he looked and saw Jewel. "Oh, sorry honey. He got his favorite toy stuck under there and…" He was cut off when a loud noise came from the car. Both Blu and Jewel jumped and watched Luiz come out from under the car with the wrench in his mouth and his tennis ball rolling out from under the car.
"Thanks Blu." Luiz said as he dropped the wrench and grabbed the ball. He started to walk off. "Enjoy the gift Miss Jewel!" Luiz shouted from halfway across the garage.
Blu watched Luiz retreat back to his own bed. "As I was saying," Blu started to say, "that the reason I helped him get the toy back was kind of the payment for the gift." Blu said. He flew to a table and flew out the door and onto a trolley that was coming by.
"Blu! Wait up!" Jewel shouted as she flew after him. She saw the cloth that kind of clattered with itself every other minute. Jewel was very curious.
"Ah, ah ah!" Blu said. "That's the finale. I still have to take you somewhere else." Blu said. Jewel was getting impatient and was very curious. It was around midday and Blu and Jewel got off the trolley at the market.
"Okay Blu. Now can I open it?" She asked.
"Nope. Not yet." Blu said as he carried the sack with him.
Darn it. She thought. Blu flew down towards a familiar spot
"I still owe you a dance." Blu said as they landed. "The two fixed up their little club for another week or so before they move it."
"Why?"
"They're keeping it open so they can tell all of their customers where it's going to be, but they're moving because they think a few humans spotted them and don't want trouble." Blu said. He grabbed Jewel's wing and started dashing inside. It was just like last time.
"Hey! Look who showed up!"
"Hey Pedro. Can you take this for me?"
"Oh, 'course Blu. Hope you two enjoy yourselves." Pedro said as he flew off. Music filled the air, but it wasn't Nico and Pedro singing the songs. Nico came by.
"Oh, hey lovebirds!"
"Hey Nico! Why aren't you guys singing on stage?" Jewel asked.
"Oh, we're heading out and building the new club. We just kept this spot open for a little bit so we could tell the crowd and not let them down and everything." Nico said.
"Ah, okay." Jewel said. She already knew that, but she didn't want to be rude.
"See you two later! Good luck tonight, Blu!"
"Thanks Nico!" Blu shouted back. The song ended and a brand new one came on.
Unchained Melody by Righteous Brothers
Author's Note: I didn't really have any other decent slow dance songs because I don't know of any. I just searched up 'slow dance songs' and I found this one to be the better one out of the rest for my story. It's just my thought.
Whoa, my love
My darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
"May I have this dance?" Blu asked.
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
"Of course you can." Jewel said. Blu grabbed her wing and gave her a quick twirl. Afterwards, Jewel rested her head on Blu's shoulder while they slow danced. Best surprise yet. Jewel thought to herself. Where would I be without him? Well, dead I guess. She chuckled and buried her head deeper into Blu's shoulder as the two continued to slow dance.
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me
Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea
Lonely rivers sigh, "Wait for me, wait for me
I'll be coming home, wait for me"
Whoa, my love
My darling
I've hungered, hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me
The song ended and everyone started cheering. Jewel was still resting on Blu's shoulder and they were happy. "How did you like your dance?" Blu asked.
"It was wonderful, Blu." Jewel said. She laid her head back onto his shoulder and sighed.
"Something wrong?" Blu asked.
"No no. I'm just wondering how I would be right now without you, and that I would rather be with you every step of the way than alone." Jewel said.
"I'm kinda tired. Do you want to go back to our hollow for a quick nap?" Blu asked.
"Sure, my sleepyhead." Jewel said with a giggle.
"Ha ha, very funny." Blu said. "Besides, we still need to find ourselves a hollow." Blu said.
"Yeah, my old one is a little too small." Jewel said with a laugh. They thanked Nico and Pedro again and flew off to find a hollow. Blu picked up the wrapped present for Jewel and started to fly off with her in search of a brand new home. It felt like an hour or more passed by when Blu found a hollow that was huge. The rest were taken, so they decided to stay here.
Besides, having some kids would definitely pack the hollow up a little more. Blu thought. Speaking of kids, I need to marry her first. I guess the surprise comes after her nap.
"Good night? Evening? I don't know. Just get some sleep, Blu." Jewel said as she laid her head down onto his chest. What else could I ask for? She thought as she drifted off. Blu didn't though. He flew off in search of something, making sure Jewel didn't wake.
A few hours later, Jewel started to wake up. Blu was right there, wrapping her tightly in his wings. She snuggled in a little closer and kissed him. This woke Blu up. "Morning beautiful."
Jewel giggled. "Morning Blu." She said. "How did you sleep?"
"Pretty well. Linda and Tulio came by to tell us that they're engaged and have adopted Fernando. That's some pretty good news, right?" Blu said.
Jewel was a little downhearted that they got together before Blu and herself did. "Yeah, I guess." Jewel said. She started to get up, but there was something different about the hollow. It was decorated. It had streamers around the hollow and some mechanical candles (Seeing as they were in a tree), and right in the middle was the bag with Jewel's gift inside. "Blu, what's all of this?"
"Ah, I don't know, but someone told me to do this." Blu said.
"Who?"
"Can't say. Just popped into my head as an idea, and I followed through on it." Blu said. "Open it."
Jewel sat down, and started unwrapping the gift. Finally. She thought. As she undid the last fold, a familiar chain was present. It was the chain that held them together. "Blu, is-is this the…"
"Yes ma'am." Blu said, coming up from behind her and wrapping his wings around her. He kissed her forehead.
"So this is why we went to Luiz?"
"Why else?"
"I don't know, maybe to get some drool to release the hatch to the aviary, I don't know." Jewel said.
"Do you like it?"
"Oh Blu. I love it."
"Then I think you'll like what else comes with this gift." Blu said.
"And that would be?"
"Would you marry me?" Blu whispered into her ear.
Jewel couldn't hold back her delight. This was a perfect day. "Yes, of course I will." She said as she pulled him into another kiss. "Want to watch the sunset?" Jewel asked as she pulled away from the kiss.
"Yeah, of course." Blu said. Jewel put her chain in the corner and they flew out to the top of Christ the Redeemer Statue. They watched the sunset and enjoyed one another's embrace. "So, how was your day?" Blu asked, trying to joke.
"Perfect." Jewel said. She laid her head on Blu's neck, and Blu wrapped his wing around her. She fit there perfectly, like the two were made for each other.
