Amazon Adventures Chapter 8: Jungle Jams, a rio fanfic

Amazon Adventures

Chapter Eight: Jungle Jams

Carla flew through the jungle. Coming to rest on a branch, she paused to listen to the "beat" of the jungle. The sounds made by animal, bird, plant, and water, which combined into a natural medley.

"Needs a little something..." Carla mused. Struck by inspiration, she grabbed a couple of Brazil nuts from a nearby branch, and starting shaking them like maracas. "Oh, yeah! Now we're groovin'!"

"Shake it, girl!"

"That's how ya do it!"

Carla turned around, and saw Nico and Pedro, making one of their regular visits to the Amazon.

"Uncle Nico!" She cheered. "Uncle Pedro!"

"How ya doin', kid?" Pedro asked.

"Pretty great." Carla smiled.

"Look at you." Nico smiled. "Getting bigger every time we see ya." He held his wing just under his chin. "I remember when you were just this tall."

"No offense, uncle Nico, but I don't remember ever being shorter then you." Carla smirked.

"Ooh, burn!" Pedro snickered, tapping Nico's bottlecap hat. "She got you good!"

"Hey, a little bird can dream, right?" Nico chuckled.

"So, how long have you been in the jungle?" Carla asked.

"We just got here." Pedro told her. "We were on our way to your tree when we heard that funky tune of yours!"

"Nice jam, girl." Nico added. "Should come in useful for what we're planning."

"And what would that be?" Carla asked.

"Well, we had so much fun with "Amazon Untamed", we figured we'd put together a new talent show." Pedro grinned. "One for talented young birds such as yourself."

"Think your grandpa would mind?" Nico asked.

"I know he won't." Carla smiled.

The three birds flew over Carla's family's tree, where they greeted the others.

"Hey, guys." Blu smiled. "Good to see you."

"How are Rafael and Eva?" Jewel asked.

"They're a'ight." Pedro shrugged.

"They woulda come with us, but Eva just laid another egg." Nico added.

"Another one?" Blu raised an eyebrow. "When will they stop?"

"That's a lot of kids." Jewel noted. "We have a lot of work to do if we want to catch up."

"I, er... what?!" Blu said, flustered.

"Just kidding, sweetie." Jewel chuckled. "For now, at least..."

"You two want in on our little talent show?" Pedro asked Bia and Tiago.

"I don't know..." Bia frowned. "I'm not that talented..."

"You're a pretty good dancer, sis." Tiago told her. "Not as good as me, but... hey! We could be a breakdancing duet! Whaddaya say?"

"Well... sure, why not?" Bia smiled.

"Great." Tiago grinned. "Just try and keep up, 'kay?"

"I'll try." Bia nodded.

As it turned out, Carla was right; Eduardo gladly gave Nico and Pedro permission to hold their talent show. He even had some of the tribe members spread the word. Before long, dozens of young macaws were lining up to show off their talents. And not just blue macaws, but red macaws, lear macaws, and several other kinds of macaws.

"Whoa, that's a whole lotta performers." Nico noted. "This is gonna be some show!"

"Wait'll you see my act." Carla smiled.

"Gonna sing, kiddo?" Pedro asked.

"Naturally." Carla grinned. "I've been working on a new song, just for an occasion like this."

"An occasion where you lose?" Jeered a familiar voice.

It was Antonio. He descended from the air into the front of the line of performers.

"Aw, no." Carla groaned.

"Nice to see you too." Antonio sneered.

"You know this guy?" Nico asked.

"You could say that." Carla growled. "His name's Antonio, and he's a total jerk. What do you think you're doing here, pal?"

"What's it look like?" Antonio smirked. "You're looking at the winning act."

"No way!" Carla turned to Nico and Pedro. "You cannot let this guy in!"

"Trying to get me kicked out, just cuz you don't like me?" Antonio said in mock horror. "Let's see what Felipe thinks of that..."

"He's got a point, kiddo." Pedro admitted. "We can't kick him to the kerb just 'cuz you've got a beef with him."

"You won't regret this." Antonio told Nico and Pedro, before throwing a sneer Carla's way. "I'll show everyone what real talent is. Oh, and by the way? Can't wait to hear you sing, fat lady."

Antonio joined the line of hopefuls.

"Grrr!" Carla snarled. "I seriously hate that guy!"

"Don't let him get to ya, kid." Nico told her.

"Yeah." Pedro nodded. "You just do your best, and show him how it's done!"

"Oh, you can count on that." Carla smiled.

Before long, the show got underway. A crowd of the jungle's denizens formed the audience. The judges consisted of Nico, Pedro, Roberto, and Felipe (Who had volunteered to ensure no "pro-blue macaw bias", as he put it).

There were a plethora of performances to be had. There were singers, dancers, jugglers, musicians, and one military macaw chick who could contort himself until he resembled a feathery pretzel. The crowd clapped awkwardly as he shuffled offstage, still in the shape of a certain salty snack food.

When their turn came, Bia and Tiago launched into a breakdancing routine. Tiago spun on his head, while Bia pushed off with her wings and cartwheeled across the stage. They finished with a well-synchronised series of slides and leaps. They finished with a set of backflips. Tiago flipped forward, landing in a sitting position on Bia's shoulders. The crowd cheered loudly.

"See?" Tiago said breathlessy. "Told ya we could do it, sis!"

"I'll admit, you were right." Bia smiled. "Now, could you get off my shoulders? You're heavier then you look, you know."

"Are you calling me fat?" Tiago joked, as he climbed off her shoulders.

Next, it was Antonio's turn. Clearing his throat, he began to sing.

Shake those feathers, shake those wings
Swing that tail, swing it, yeah
We're gonna get into the groove of things
Red is the color of funk and cool
Best color in the rainbow
Blue is a color just for fools
Flap it up, flap it down
Fly around like you just don't care
Flap too low, you feel like a clown

My name's Antonio
And I'm here to say
I could keep singing the whole long day

Shake those feathers, shake those wings
Swing that tail, swing it, yeah
We're gonna rule this jungle like kings
Red is the color of awaesome and fun
Best color in the rainbow
Blue is a color that's never won
Flap it up, flap it down
Fly around, master of the skies
Flap too low, you feel like ya dies

My name's Antonio
And I'm here to say
I could keep singing the whole long day

Antonio bowed as the crowd cheered.

"Top that." He sneered at Carla as he left the stage.

Soon after, Carla's turn came.

"Good luck, sis." Bia told her.

"Break a leg!" Tiago smiled.

Carla walked on stage.

"Hi, I'm Carla." She smiled. "Here's a little ditty I've been working on. Hope you like it:"

I feel your heavy heart, saw it from the start
When you walked in the room
The world has got you dragging baby
Tell me what has happen to you, oh yeah
I can see the light, drifted from your eyes
Sorrow on your face
Tears are falling down
And I can see you need some sunshine in your days
And I know a way

Na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na
Yeah, I see you singing along
Your worries are gone, it's true, it's true
So come on sing with me
Na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na
Yeah, I see your light shining through
And that's what a song can do
For you, for you, for you

I know your burden's heavy
I can help you if you let me
Help your mind escape
It won't solve your problems
But I can take you far away, away, away

Na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na
Yeah, I hear you singing along
Your worries are gone, it's true, it's true
So come on sing with me
Na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na
Yeah, I see your light shining through
And that's what a song can do
For you, for you, for you

I'll stand here, hold your hand
Even in the pouring rain
Mhm, oh yeah, and while we're soaking wet
We'll laugh to death until the darkest clouds just float away

Carla whistled.

I hear you singing along
Your worries are gone, it's true, it's true
Help me sing

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause. Carla bowed, then left the stage, making sure to throw a triumphant glare at Antonio, who had been struck dumb by the quality of her performance.

Once all the acts had been seen, the judges deliberated.

"Okay, folks." Roberto declared. "We've come to a decision. First up is the award for sheer originality: Jorge the pretzel bird!"

The contorting bird (now back to his regular shape) waved as the crowd applauded politely.

"In third place: the dancing duo, Bia and Tiago!" Pedro boomed.

The crowd cheered. Bia accepted the praise with humility, but Tiago milked it for all it was worth, blowing kisses and posing arrogantly.

"We already know who's getting first place." Antonio smirked at Carla. "You'll be lucky to get second place."

"Second place goes to: Antonio the awesome rapper!" Felipe cheered.

Antonio's beak dropped as the crowd applauded once more.

"Second place?" He gaped. "But, but... who was better then me?"

"And our first place winner is: Croonin' Carla!" Nico announced.

The crowd practically exploded with cheers and clapping.

"Yes!" Carla beamed.

"No way!" Antonio roared. "Fix! Fix!" He flew over to the judges' table. "Felipe, how could you pick her over one of your own?"

"I volunteered for this gig to make sure there was no bias in this show." Felipe declared. "Doesn't matter if her feathers are red or blue, that girl's the best singer I've ever heard."

Antonio turned and flew away, muttering bitterly to himself.

"Sore loser." Carla rolled her eyes.

Carla's family came to congratulate her.

"That's my girl!" Jewel hugged.

"Way to go, sweetie." Blu added.

"Statistically, you were bound to win." Bia declared.

"Like there was any doubt!" Tiago smirked.

"Such wonderful pipes on such a young lady." Mimi grinned.

"Well done, Carla." Eduardo added. "I have to say, this little 'talent show' was a resounding success. Perhaps your 'uncles' can put on another one sometime?"

"What do you think, guys?" Carla asked.

"Just try and stop us!" Pedro chuckled.

"Next time, we'll go even bigger!" Nico boasted. "Long as we got performers like you, kid, the sky's the limit!"

That was why Carla liked her uncles so much. They could always be relied upon to put on a show, with life itself as the stage.

To Be Continued...

(Rio 2 and all associated characters are the property of Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox. What A Song Can Do belongs to Rachel Crow, Syco Music and Columbia Records.)