Chapter Five: Happy Wife, Happy Life
The sun was setting on the first day's end. "We can't get Maria, not without a plan!" Blu screamed at Rafael.
"You don't understand." Rafael said.
"You're right, I don't. But I have some experience in thinking I'll lose Jewel. Plans help, even if all hell breaks loose."
Rafael looked to Blu. He was right. Plans help, even if it didn't go to as planned. "Alright."
"We have another day. Let's get some sleep." Rafael flew off.
"Hey Blu?"
"Yes?"
"If we lose,..."
"We aren't going to lose."
"IF we do," Jewel stated firmly. "I want to be your wife."
"Oh, o-okay." Blu said, startled. "So, um, how are we going to do this? The plan proceeds tomorrow."
"I know. That's why we'll have to make do for now."
"I don't understand."
"You are my significant other until tomorrow ends, then we'll get married sometime after. Is that alright?"
"Of course it is." Blu said as he put a wing around Jewel. Jewel accepted his offer, and snuggled into his embrace.
Jewel yawned, and whispered, "Good night, by handsome husband." she kissed him.
"Good night, my lovely wife." Blu said.
Blu couldn't fall asleep. He was worried. He was worried what his friend might lose for him. He was afraid of losing his new fiance, Jewel. I can't be considered a husband if I put everyone through this. Maybe to keep everyone safe, I should turn myself in. No, I can't do that to Jewel.
He was up all night. Then, an idea came to him.
Jewel woke to find Blu gone. She was worried. He better not have turned himself in. She thought fiercely.
Just then, Blu flew into the hollow. "Morning sunshine."
"Morning sweetie." Jewel said, giving him a kiss. "Ready for the victory ahead of us?"
"Or already had."
"What do you mean?" Jewel asked, but then a baby toucan came from behind him. "You are turning yourself in?" she asked as she started to tear up.
"No no no no no no." Blu said quickly. He kissed her. "I'm not going anywhere."
Jewel was still sniffing a little, "So, *sniff*, how is Maria here?" she asked.
"It's a long story." Blu started to say.
That previous night
Blu couldn't take it anymore. He was fighting himself for some sleep, but couldn't. Then a plan popped into his head. If I could get something red on my feathers. He gently laid Jewel down, and put a blanket over her. I hope this works. He thought. "I'll see you soon, my love, hopefully." he whispered as he took one last gulp. He flew to the aviary, and knocked on the glass.
Tulio came to the window, working an extra shift. "Ah, Blu, I didn't think you would be out at this time. What can I do for you?" Blu pointed towards a bucket of paint. "Why do you need paint?" Tulio asked. Blu then pointed to his feathers. "You want to paint yourself?" Blu nodded. "Why?" Blu just slapped himself in the beak. "Okay, okay, here you go." Tulio said as he handed Blu the paint. It was the color white. Blu got a little irritated because of his time crunch. Blu grabbed a red pen, and a yellow highlighter. Tulio was confused. Blu put some paint on the table. Tulio got a little angry at this, and Blu put more on a napkin while Tulio cleaned up the other mess. Blu unscrewed the pen, and snapped the ink well. Tulio, again cleaned up the mess, but Blu put it into the white paint. It turned pink. GRR. Blu thought. Blu got Tulio's attention, and he saw what he was trying to do. "Okay Blu, I'll help you, just this once." About an hour later, Blu had gotten a solid red and yellow paint. He put the red all over his top portion of his body and his tail, and some yellow by his diaphragm and on his wings. When he dried, he looked like a red macaw. He thanked Tulio, and few out. Now, time for my plan to be put into action.
Meanwhile, in Sapphire's fortress
"Good night you two." Sapphire said as she retreated into her fortress. Tomorrow, I get my new husband. She started to drift off, and Maria did the same.
Dante and Bart flew home. They told Rojo to stand guard and watch the stronghold. Blu saw them, and flew low, avoiding their vision. Once they flew over, he flew to Sapphire's stronghold. Rojo started to drift off. He kept bolting himself awake, though. But one time, he stayed asleep, letting Blu sneak past him. Once he entered, he saw a cage, and no Sapphire. He swallowed a lump in his throat, hoping she wasn't awake. He quietly opened the cage, being a slide bolt lock, and quietly opened the door. It started to squeak. He stopped. He heard someone toss and turn, but not wake. He opened it a little more, and it squeaked some more. Again he stopped, praying that it wouldn't wake the bird in the other room. It didn't once again, to Blu's relief. He quietly picked the chick up, and woke her up. "Shh, uncle Blu is here." He said to the chick. "Quiet, we don't want both of us to be prisoners."
Maria opened her mouth, and shut it. She wanted to get out, alive. Blu started walking towards the entrance, seeing Rojo asleep again. He started walking out. SNAP! Uh oh. Blu thought as he stepped on a twig. He quickly flew behind a pole to hear screaming a second later. "Maria, don't make a sound." She didn't hesitate to obey. She was so quiet, that you couldn't hear her on the quietest night.
"Rojo! What are you doing, waking me from my slumber!?" Sapphire screamed. Rojo bolted awake.
"What, ma'am?"
SLAP
"OW!"
"Stop sleepsteping on sticks!" she said as she went back inside and fell asleep again. Blu waited another minute before leaving, making sure Rojo was dozing off again. He started flying, but was stopped by Rojo.
"Hey!"
Uh oh. Blu thought.
"Where's Dante, Brat?" Rojo asked again, as it was too dark to make out who it fully was.
"Uh, asleep. I was just checking on you two." Blu said as he spoke in a hoarse voice. "I'm also getting sick, so stay a little ways from me."
"Oh, okay. Feel better." Rojo said, as he went back to his post. Blu was really relieved, and flew back to his hollow, hitting a river to wash off all the paint. Most of it came out, but it left a faint red and yellow on his feathers. It'll come out eventually. He thought. The sun was rising. He picked up Maria, and flew to his hollow.
"Morning sunshine." Blu said.
"Morning sweetie." Jewel said, giving him a kiss. "Ready for the victory ahead of us?"
"Or already had."
"What do you mean?" Jewel asked, but then a baby toucan came from behind him. "You are turning yourself in?" she asked as she started to tear up.
"No no no no no no." Blu said quickly. He kissed her. "I'm not going anywhere."
Jewel was still sniffing a little, "So, *sniff*, how is Maria here?" she asked.
"It's a long story." Blu started to say.
