Chapter 3: The Nightmare

Blu and Jewel soon went to sleep, with Jewel smiling in her sleep, she had the most perfect birthday she could ask for and she had Blu to thank for that.

But as Jewel slept, she remembered her birthday vividly, it was like it was actually happening again in her mind.

Jewel was standing where she was when she walked away from the party. Where she remembered what she was thinking.

"Am I really this old? The grey feather and my back hurting proves it. Why do I feel this way?" Jewel told herself in her head.

Next, Jewel remembered the birthday speech Blu gave for her. And words like, "we came so far", "having kids", and "For as long as we live", stuck in her mind.

Jewel realized how many years it has been since she met Blu until her birthday today, and how much she has grew since than.

All of her memories of the day passed and Jewel thought that would be the end of it and just wanted to rest and sleep without thinking of anything.

Jewel's mind, however, had a different idea and continued.

Soon Jewel's mind pictured Jewel in a completely black room.

"What's going on, where am I?" Jewel shouted and started panicking.

In the middle of the room was what seemed like a mirror, for Jewel saw her reflection. She stepped closer and closer to the mirror, but it was not a mirror, it was an exact copy of Jewel.

Jewel stepped even closer and she could see an older version of herself, she could tell because the grey feathers were showing and she had wrinkles, plus she seems a bit taller too.

"Who are you?" Young Jewel asked.

"I am you, but much older."

"And why are you here?"

"To warn you that your life is getting boring, you will not have anymore fun soon, and you will be reduced to a nobody."

"How do you know?"

"Like I said, I am the older you, I have lived it and regret it."

"This is not possible."

"You better believe it is possible, you are looking at your life now."

"No, it can't be true, I won't listen to you." Now young Jewel was getting terrified and tried to cover her ears.

"You better start being the crazy bird that you once were, than be a wife and mother, whatever happened to being independent." Older Jewel raised her voice to be heard.

"Shut up!" Young Jewel yelled at the top of her voice, to make it stop.

"You have been warned!" Older Jewel finally said at her loudest.

It was at this point that Jewel woke up in real life with such noise and movement that Blu woke up too.

Jewel was panting and trying to catch her breath and felt her face.

"Jewel, Jewel." Blu said to Jewel, but Jewel was too shocked to respond.

"Jewel! Blu shouted to get Jewel's attention.

Jewel turned around to see Blu's worried face and she just hugged Blu without a word, crying on his shoulder.

Blu was confused, but heard Jewel's crying and just returned the hug and patted her on the back.

"Hey, it's okay, I'm here." Blu said smoothly, trying to calm Jewel down.

Finally Jewel let go of Blu and Blu helped her wipe the tears away.

"It's okay Jewel, you are alright."

Finally Jewel had the courage to say something. "Blu, you love me the way I am, right?"

"I do, how about you try to go back to sleep. I will go get some water for you."

And Blu flew out of the hollow to get water while Jewel waited. Jewel still felt some tears come down as she recalled what she dreamt. She decided to not tell Blu about it.

Soon Blu was back with some water. "Here, this will help to cool your head." Blu said as he gave the water to Jewel.

"Thanks Blu, I'm lucky to have a loving, kind mate like you."

"Your welcome, so do you want to talk about what is going on with you."

Jewel wanted to tell Blu what was bothering her, but some other part of her told her not too.

"No I don't want to, if you don't mind."

"No, I don't mind, well let's try to get back to sleep." Blu said as he gave Jewel a kiss.

Blu went back to sleep, but Jewel stayed up, fearing that falling asleep would bring back her nightmare.