Chapter 4:A Chain Date
The days slogged on in the wake of Cobalt's friendship-garnering experiences. Seven days later was the day he agreed to initiate the next step of his parents' plan, but the whims of Earth harbored other ideas. That morning, they – along with the entire city of Rio – were woken in the predawn hours by a snarling storm of pounding rain, crackling lightning, and incessant thunder.
A return to the folds of sleep was impossible, as was any attempt to even go outside the confines of the sanctuary – having spent the previous evening with Linda and her family there, as well as opting to sleep in the aviary until the following morning.
The tempest howled around the structure nonstop, but if anything, the trio of macaws were safe and in the presence of good company. They remained there, in that sheltered environment, waiting for the storm to give out.
As the day dragged on, it lessened slightly in intensity, but never really left the city behind. The evening hours swung around again, bringing along with them the eventual end of the storm.
By that time, however, the atmosphere had been left chilling and uninviting. Instilled with a temporary phobia of the weather, Blu, Jewel, and Cobalt slept once again in the aviary, praying fervently that the approaching day would be a peaceful one.
Their wish was half-granted, for although the sun shone – if only weakly – a thick blanket of cement-tinted clouds shrouded the sky in every direction.
Cobalt pressed the issue of fleshing out his chain date, and so after a delightful and warm breakfast, Cobalt and his parents set to work.
The specific venues to which Cobalt would escort his counterparts was based mostly on each of the females personalities.
As such, Azura would spend half of the day with Cobalt at the beach – which would be devoid of all but the most daring tourists and locals – while Sapphire would be taken to a club setting.
Blu and Jewel gave their son bountiful and not very obvious tips regarding his preparation – and ultimately, his conduct – to ensure a meaningful and charming outing with both females. Cobalt took the advice to heart, knowing that his parents were well-versed in those areas, along with the fact that he surely did not want to embarrass himself.
A few other topics were squared away after that, and by the time the discussions ceased, time had advanced to the early afternoon hours. Cobalt felt a certain eagerness to carry out his assignment for the day, while Blu and Jewel were merely eager to return to their residence and see how well it had fared.
Linda, Tulio, and Fernando received hearty farewells from their guests, who then glided from the aviary and found themselves immersed in the aftermath of the cyclone.
The jungle was indeed altered in the wake of the airborne fury.
Trees were toppled left and right, laying half-submerged in vast pools of water. The fruit of the jungle lay strewn about randomly and in large numbers, ruined, soggy, and visibly unfit for consumption.
Uncountable numbers of flowers and leaves – once vibrant and verdant – carpeted the ground like a second layer of false dirt.
It was a stunning sight, rendering them all the more thankful of their decision to wait it out.
Cobalt wished his parents well and hoped that their home was still intact.
After watching them fly off into the tattered undergrowth towards their home, he wheeled about and charted a path for himself. His destination was the hollow of Scarlet and Ashley, the most likely place for Azura to be visiting at the moment – or so he hoped.
The temperature of the air wasn't exactly bone-chilling, but it was nowhere near sweltering, either. Cobalt did not shiver on his way to Azura, but the coolness of the air was definitely there. If anything, he thought, it would make their stay on the beach appreciable – and give him the chance to snuggle with her, if the opportunity arose.
He managed a soft landing in the abode of the inter-species macaw couple, internally delighted by the fact that Azura was indeed there with them.
"Okay, let's get the ball rolling. I wonder if Scarlet and Ashley will object to her going with me. I guess I'll just have to find out..."
He donned a warm smile and approached the trio of strongly-patterned birds smoothly.
Catching the attention of Azura's parents, he asked sweetly, "Is it okay if Azura and I spend some time together at the beach? I know the weather isn't perfect, but it will give us both something to do."
Eyes sparkling, the female replied, "Oh! Well, I suppose it couldn't hurt."
Ashley then leaned in closer to him and added, "Perhaps you can help her break out of her shell a little bit. You're basically the only one she can call a friend."
Ashley drew her head back, to which Cobalt replied wisely, "Great! I see what you mean. I'll do it."
He tensed up to see if Azura would inquire about the exchange, but no such demand issued from her beak.
Relaxing his body, he added, "Is there a certain time you want me to brig her back here by?"
"Not really, but be sensible." said Scarlet in a clear tone. "Can you handle that?"
"Oh sure, Scarlet. I'll bring her back in the late afternoon, but definitely before evening."
"That's fine with me."
"Awesome!" he replied sternly.
Leaving his spot in front of their nest, he marched over to Azura. "How about it, Azura? Are you up for a little friendly outing?"
"Sure." was her simple reply.
She brushed past him and neared her parents, giving them each a tender hug, yet saying nothing. She slipped past Cobalt once again, stopping at the lip of the hollow and eying him pointedly.
"Bye, you two. We'll be back in a few hours."
"Okay, Cobalt," replied the male, "keep her safe, and I hope you both have a good time."
"You got it, Scarlet."
He lofted from the hollow with a few strong flaps, registering the beating of Azura's own flight appendages moments later.
Glancing back, he noticed her sleek form drifting along a short distance behind him. He flashed her a quick smile, which she returned sincerely.
Rotating his head back to its optimal position, he thought, "That went well. Now, it'll be just me and her, alone on the beach, engaging in some friendly bonding. I wonder what other things I can find out about her while we're resting on the sand. Maybe I can get her to open up some more, just like Ashley wanted me to try and do. If the weather doesn't intervene, we should have a good time together. She's so... cute and charming, despite her silent spells..."
With the positive thoughts scurrying about inside his head, he gracefully led his companion out of the distorted jungle and in the direction of the hopefully desolate beaches...
They alighted down on the fresh, slightly damp sand ten minutes later, seeing but a smattering of humans on the golden crescent on which they sat. They were out of reach of the tide, yet close enough to hear its murmurs, despite the joyous shouts of the jet-skiers out frolicking in the bay.
Cobalt, not wanting to rush his stay with his companion – he was unsure if it qualified as a date – rested a fair distance away, barely within wing-reach of the female.
Clearing his mind and fluffing out his feathers, he said, "So, what did you think of yesterday's storm? Sure did a number on the jungle, didn't it?"
She met his gaze and nodded. "I was scared. I was worried that my mom and dad would lose their home."
Cobalt felt like he could relate with her reply.
"I was scared, too. I was trapped in the Blu Bird Sanctuary's aviary with my mom and dad for two days, actually. We left about an hour ago, which was just before I came to see you. They went to go check on their home, so I still don't know if it's still standing."
"I see."
"Getting her to speak more strongly may not be as easy at it sounds..."
Cobalt cooked up another question to try and crack Azura's shell.
"Is there anything you want to talk about? You are the guest here, Azura. Feel free to say whatever you want."
She stared down at the golden grains for a few moments, her eyes blinking slowly.
She looked back up at him and said, "Okay. Um, do you like living in Rio?"
"Huh, that's a funky question. Is that the kinds of things she has copped up inside of her?"
He breathed in and replied, "Yeah. The weather is lovely ninety-nine percent of the time, the jungle is gorgeous, and there's plenty of things to do here in the city. What about you?"
"I like it, too. I just don't have many friends. Only family..." was her soft-spoken reply.
His heartstrings pulled by the hint of sadness in her voice, he scooted closer to her.
"Am I your only friend?"
She fixed him with a gloomy gaze and said, "Yes. All the others left."
"It's okay, Azura. I'll always be your friend. That's why I brought you here. To get to know you better, to learn about your reserved life."
"Thanks..." she said tenderly, edging closer to him in turn.
"Could you tell me more about yourself? If you do, I'll do the same. It'll be a mutual exchange. But remember, only tell me what you feel comfortable saying."
She lifted the tip of her left wing to her beak.
"Well, um, I'm afraid of spiders."
"Did something happen? Was there a trigger for your fear?"
"While my parents were gathering food for my step-siblings, I fell from the tree. There was a spider in a nearby bush."
"Oh my gosh! It didn't eat you, obviously, so what did it do?"
"It tried to, but my mom saved me."
A slight tremble wracked her body, due not to the air, but from the image as it replayed in her head.
Cobalt bravely put his left wing around her in a comforting manner. She did not refuse his act of kindness.
"Thanks, Cobalt."
"No problem. I'm afraid of being alone. I've never thought of finding my own home. Ever."
"Wow. Good to know I share something with you."
"Yeah. Maybe we can help each other get over our fears one day."
He hadn't realized what he had said until it was already out of his beak.
"Maybe."
He slumped visibly, grateful that she hadn't picked up on the veiled meaning in his words.
"You're nice."
Caught off-guard by the blunt statement, he blushed.
"You really think so?" he asked, his voice higher-pitched than usual.
"Of course." she replied, looking him full on in the face.
"Gosh, thanks! You're a sweet girl too."
She gave him a slow, sincere nod in return.
"Could you take your wing off me now?"
There was no malice in her tone, just friendly seriousness.
"Oh, right. Sorry about that."
He pulled his wing back and folded against him, its surface a few inches away from Azura's right wing.
"I like to eat starfruit." she said flatly.
"Hey, so do I! That's a neat coincidence."
"It sure is."
"We both share a fear of something, and on top of that, we enjoy the same food! There must be more in common between us than we know about..."
Bolstered by the knowledge he had received, he formulated a question to try and shoot for a third similarity between them: "Have you ever thought about leaving Rio?"
She shifted slightly before responding with a sincere "no."
"Neither have I. I'm surrounded by friends and family, and I could never leave them behind."
"Neither could I..."
Cobalt scored the sand with his foot idly while asking, "Is there any spot in Rio.."
He and his companion chatted away curtly for some time, unaware of the passing minutes and the unchanging features of the gloomy sky above.
While they were conversing, a team of humans decided to set up a makeshift soccer field in their vicinity.
The goals were marked with a pair of dead trees to which brightly colored t-shirts were attached.
As the humans cavorted, flinging sand this way and that as they ran and skidded along the beach, they seemed t be paying zero attention to the pair of birds resting just feet away.
As Cobalt and Azura's conversations ran out of steam, they rotated their bodies and observed the delighted bipeds and their energetic game. Cobalt and Azura kept track of the goals, but it seemed that each side was unable to maintain a lead on the other.
By the time four skirmishes had passed – judged by the sparse breaks the Brazilians took as the day wore on – the sky had morphed to a deep gray shade, yet back-lit by eerie yellow rays. Internally, he deemed that he was ready to part ways with her and carry out his stay with Sapphire.
Cobalt was deeply pleased with all that he had learned regarding the cute female next to him, yet he wanted to make sure she felt the same.
Stepping in front of her, he declared, "I don't know about you, but I'm kind of ready to go. I had a great time here, even though we didn't do much."
Nodding politely, she responded, "So did I. It was time well spent. You have some very interesting inner traits."
"As do you, Azura. And some outer ones, too... oh, did I say that out loud?"
Astonished by his accidental confession, he threw his wings up over his beak, his eyes wide.
After the words registered in her head, she tilted her head in an alluring manner.
"Yes you did, Cobalt. Thanks for the praise."
She planted an air-light kiss on his cheek, a brief contact that stirred his soul – along with a primal rise in his hormonal levels.
"What... was that for?"
"You're cute."
Her direct tone and twinkling eyes charmed him, igniting sparks of desire in his system.
"Is this... what dad was talking about? I feel some sort of attraction to her. We better get going before I kiss her back..."
"You ready to go?"
Her lilting voice pushed the musings from his mind, bring him back to reality.
"Uh, sure! I'll fly with you back to your parents' hollow and chat for a minute, and then I'll depart. Sound good?"
"Yes." He stepped backwards a few paces and bowed, extending his left wing with a flourish.
"Ladies first."
"Why thank you. I'll oblige..."
Azura bounded from the sand with a few flaps of her wings, sending bursts of salty air in all directions.
His gaze tracked her drifting form, leading him to whisper, "What an adorable creature! I sure have my work cut out for me..."
He turned ninety degrees and spread his wings wide, only to be knocked in the side of the head by a harsh blow. He squawked in pain as he went tumbling head-over-tail, ending up face down in the sand, rendered partially senseless.
A stream of shouts forced themselves into his muddled brain, accompanied by a thudding rhythm he felt via the ground.
"Ohhh... my head! Why do the bad things always happen to me?"
After barely managing to stand up, he was quickly snatched up by a pair of smooth hands. As his captor turned him around, his blurred vision revealed to him a female surrounded by a cluster of other humans.
The males and females began to point at him and talk loudly in Portuguese. He was too disoriented to understand them.
Moments later, a blue streak assaulted the center female's head, the one who was cradling Cobalt. She released him and threw up her hands, trying to bat away the bird clawing at her hair.
Cobalt fell to the ground as the group scattered somewhat. He jogged awkwardly through the first opening he saw and threw himself into flight with a mighty effort.
The entire left side of his vision was blurred, his head pulsing with a constant, gripping pain. He flapped meekly towards the jungle, not noticing the figure who shot in on his left side.
"Cobalt, are you okay? Your eye is swollen! I think a soccer ball hit you!"
He craned his head to get a better view, noticing that her entire coat of feathers was disheveled.
"No wonder... I can't see! Figures... that I would be in the wrong place... at the wrong time..."
"If you want to head home, you can. You must be hurting badly."
"No no no. I'll manage. At least I... can still fly..."
Azura shrugged, yet her face was still painted with a concerned expression.
Cobalt remained behind her as they drifted away from the beach, her languid form providing slight relief from the crushing ache in his head...
Scarlet and Ashley were astounded to see Cobalt's condition as he plopped down into their hollow, but he assured them it was no fault of Azura's.
Cobalt struggled as he recounted a brief version of the events on the beach, up to and including the purported reason for his injury.
The ailing-yet-stout male then thanked the adults for allowing Azura to go, and then made plans to depart for his own residence.
He was momentarily soothed by a second light kiss from her, more of a friendly gesture than a serious one.
He managed a rough takeoff from the hollow, wobbling through the air until he faded from the view of Azura and her parents. Upon his arrival in Blu and Jewel's hollow, Cobalt was assaulted by a pair of deeply worried, feathery bodies.
After squirming from their twin grasps, he hastily explained how the injury had been acquired. They informed him of the bruised and swollen state of his eye, and with complete sternness, ordered him to accompany them to the sanctuary building.
Even though he did his best to convince them he was mostly fine, their order still stood, and so he traveled with them to the ivory building. They quickly found Linda, who in turn quickly located Tulio.
The senior ornithologist administered a complete checkup to Cobalt, finding nothing wrong with the male, save for his damaged ocular organ. Tulio cleaned and disinfected it before protecting it with pad of gauze.
The seeping black bruise still showed around the edges, which would have to heal on its own.
After he was dutifully taken care of, he asked his parents if he could conduct his visit with Sapphire. They were hesitant to release him in his degraded state, but the enthusiasm he showed ultimately turned their opinions.
Before leaving, he informed them that after his return would he divulge the more positive experiences he endured with both females. Seeking some interactive time, his parents advised him that they would still be in the sanctuary, and that they expected him to return not more than one hour after sundown.
Heeding the information, he bid suave goodbyes to both the humans and the birds that surrounded him, taking off – very carefully – from the gap in the front door of the sanctuary. He threaded his way towards the hollow of Pedro and Nico after computing its direction, happily gripped in the claws of eagerness for the second time that day...
Briefly after his landing in the target hollow, Cobalt met the bewildered and surprised faces of Nico, Pedro, and Sapphire. They shot him up with questions regarding his temporary eye-patch and its origins, to which he answered after the initial energy burst had worn off.
"I'm just fine, you guys, really. It's just a black eye I got down on the beach earlier. I was... relaxing by myself next to a bunch of people playing soccer, and when I tried to leave, the ball hit me in the face."
He left out mentioning Azura, for he did not want to instill a bias or sense of competition in Sapphire. Given her exuberant personality, he did not want to imagine what she would do if she ever crossed paths with his significant other.
"That's kind of kind of funny, yo!" chided Pedro, "but at least you're alright..." he added smoothly.
Nico gave three hops, ending up square in front of Cobalt.
"Anyways, why did you come here? Got somethin' you wanna talk about?"
"Actually, I was wondering if..." he flashed a telling look at Sapphire before continuing, "Sapphire could come to the Palm with me for a few hours."
Nico and Pedro donned sly expressions as his words soaked in.
"Oh, wanna spend some time with the hot-wing, huh?" said the cardinal pointedly.
Through his intense blush he replied, "If it's alright... with you two. Today's a boring day, you know."
Pedro nudged Nico, who then said, "Sure man, go ahead! Me and Pedro will stay behind, though. We've already hit the club today, and Sapphire hasn't. It's you guys' turn!"
Grateful that he had earned their permission, he faced the remaining – and vastly more important – party.
"Are you up for it?" "Heck yeah, I am! What a wonderful idea, Cobalt. The urge to dance is burning in my blood. Come on, let's go!"
She ran around him in a rapid circle before jetting off into the eerie sky.
"You better get movin', man." declared Pedro.
"Thanks, you two. We'll be back just after sunset." said Cobalt quickly before blasting out of the hollow.
He quickly spotted Sapphire a fair distance away, doing more tricks and stunts in the air than actual flying.
"Oh boy, if she's this crazy normally, she must be insane at the club! Guess I better prepare myself for a much more lively outing..."
Powering his wings to catch up with the cartwheeling female, he sensed the fires of desire and anticipation flaring brightly inside of him, a tantalizing feeling that fueled his flight.
Their trek from the jungle to the city was quick and upbeat, not to mention their rough landing just outside the Palm.
The percussive drumbeat and muffled vocals were already audible, seeming to ensnare Sapphire within moments. Grabbing hold of Cobalt's wing, she pulled him forward past the partially open, bird-sized door.
The inside of the club was brimming with torrents of sound, almostn too much for Cobalt to bear.
"Jeez, it's loud in here! I hope I get used to the noise level, or I may not be able to saty for too long. I just know this is going to give me some temporary hearing loss..."
Unable – yet unwilling – to break free of Sapphire's grasp, he trailed her as she wound her way through the heaving mass of feathered bodies.
They eventually found a table near the rear of the building, yet one with a clear view of the wooden stage. After they settled themselves down, they looked towards the stage, only to see a rough-looking Military Macaw jumping down, his performance concluded.
"That was some show, wasn't it, Cobalt?" she said merrily.
"Yeah, I guess so. It was a little loud."
She nudged him playfully and said, "Oh, lighten up, buddy! You'll adapt in a few minutes. By the way, thanks for bringing me here. I was planning to come alone, but you just happened to show up. How's that for a coincidence?"
"No problem! All the better for me, then. I just knew you'd enjoy my choice of venue."
"You bet!" she responded gleefully.
"So, what do you usually do when you visit this place?"
"Oh, I usually bring my friends along, chat, and if a particularly good song comes on, I dance. Oh, and I sing too."
"Really? Well, maybe I'll get to watch you today, see how impressive your skills are."
"Who would want to just watch?" she replied, astonished. "No, if I dance, you're coming with me. You are the one who brought me here. It's only fair you take part."
"No, no, no. I think I'll just sit. I'm... not much of a singer or a dancer."
"Nope," she countered strongly, "too bad! You're going to experience firsthand the rush of dancing to powerful music. And you're going to experience it with me."
Moments later, as a Blue and Gold Macaw crested the stage, a thumping drumbeat enveloped the room once again.
Sapphire threw her gaze towards the performer, giving Cobalt the chance to sigh and think, "Oh joy, now I've really gotten myself into a mess! What if I slip up and face-plant into the floor? What if my terrible voice cracks?Something bad is going to happen. I just know it..."
Feeling disheartened about Sapphire's ultimatum, his mind began to conjure up various scenarios that would undoubtedly lead him to be shamed in front of the swelling crowd.
The action of him leaving seemed like the only option, but his heart soon took over.
He was determined not to spoil his outing with Sapphire, and by the same token, please his parents with how well his union had gone. No, he would do his best to be fruitful and savor this evening, and if his clumsiness decided to make itself known, he would merely pick himself up and keep going.
If he wanted to even have a chance with this alluring female, he would have to put up with his flaws – if only for a few hours.
He perked himself up and surrendered himself to the music, trying to establish a deeper connection with the notes, akin to the connection Sapphire so obviously possessed.
As the Blue and Gold Macaw's song progressed, he felt his soul being enriched with energy – albeit very slightly. He realized the potential was there, but being born the way he was, his soul was perhaps dull and tame.
If just for this one evening, he would open himself up to the beat and attempt to keep time with it.
Cobalt analyzed the macaw's footwork carefully, trying to memorize any attractive movements that he would put to use later. Once the musical number came to a close, Cobalt narrowed his eyes peered down at the table's grainy surface, brooding heavily.
His mental activity was broken by Sapphire's spunky voice: "All of this noise and excitement has got me thirsty! I'm going to get me a drink. You want something?"
"Uh, like what?"
"Water, silly! You think there's alcohol here? Where would Kipo get it?"
"That's a good point. Water's fine. Thanks."
"Okay! Be back in a sec..."
With an eye-catching flourish, she whirled around and trotted off, vanishing amongst the semi-still throng of avian creatures.
Cobalt felt his heart jump at her maneuver, along with that pang of primal desire embedded in his biology.
"Man, is she beautiful or what? Something about her reminds me of Mom. Could she... no, it's just a coincidence. I don't remember having any siblings, so there goes that idea..."
Sapphire returned not even a full minute after leaving the table, one tiny plastic cup dangling from her beak, another held between her outstretched wings. She plunked both cups on the table, sliding one over to Cobalt and sighing with relief.
"Do you know how hard it is to walk with two cups without spilling any of the liquid?"
"Judging by your expression, I think I do." he replied smugly.
"Ugh, it's an ordeal, let me tell you! Anyways, you got any plans after this?"
"Uh, what do you mean? Is... that a come-on?"
"No, that's not a come-on!"
"Hey, I just said was I was thinking."
"Sure, buddy," she chided, rolling her eyes, "what I meant was, where are you going after this?"
"Well, I'm going back home. I know it sounds dumb, but my parents gave me a curfew. I have to be back no later than one hour after sundown."
"Huh. So am I. Pedro and Nico don't want me staying out too late, either. They always say that Rio at night is way more dangerous than Rio in the daytime. I guess that's true, but I've never had a run-in with any fiendish animals, bird or otherwise."
"Yeah, my parents tell me the exact same thing. I suppose it's just their way of showing me that they care for me."
"Right you are, Cobalt."
Her head lowered slightly, her gaze darkening visibly.
Cobalt took a sip from his cup and asked, "What's the matter?"
Sapphire sent a small stream of water down her parched throat and responded, "I miss my true parents. I've only seen them... once or twice. Heck, I can't even remember their names."
Seeing this routinely bouncy female so downcast distressed Cobalt.
"Do the names Blu and Jewel ring any bells?"
After a brief pause, she spun her head back and forth, replying, "Not at all."
"Maybe... in the near future, I could help you look for them."
She gulped more water and countered, "No, it's okay. I doubt they're even in Rio anymore. I would have seen them somewhere, being as I go everywhere with Nico and Pedro. They're just faded memories."
He extended a wing, patting her cheek gently.
"I'm sorry about that, but at least you have Nico and Pedro. They do keep you happy, right?"
"Yeah, they do. Those two rowdy guys are so like me, it's a perfect match..."
She inhaled deeply before adding, "I didn't mean to kill the mood. I suppose it's the way things are for me, and there's little I can do to change it. I'll put the negativity aside, so we can enjoy our evening."
"No, it's okay. It's only natural for you to feel that way. But I do agree that tonight is a night to celebrate."
Her eyes twinkled at his truthful words, igniting that familiar pull inside his soul.
"That's a start, Cobalt. That's a start..."
In accordance with their will to purify the mood, they spent a significant amount of time questioning each other over many topics, from the mundane to the serious.
Just like his previous affair with Azura, a wealth of information was learned by Cobalt, and in return, he gave away much knowledge to Sapphire. There was no doubt in Cobalt's mind; she bore as much charm and mystery as Azura, both internally and externally.
By the time he departed this electric locale, he also knew that the dilemma of which female to choose would weigh heavily on his mind. It was a sweet and sour journey, but for now, he was fully immersed in the sweet.
A reasonable number of songs passed while the two joyous macaws conversed, of which neither kept track.
Eventually, however, a choice rhythm swallowed the interior of the Palm. Sapphire's ultimatum was realized, and so, due to her spontaneity, she bounded from the table with Cobalt fastened firmly in her grasp.
They secured themselves an appreciable spot near the back of the crowd, being jostled in a multitude of directions from their too-close neighbors.
Cobalt was hesitant to make a move; his proximity to the other wild birds would most likely force him to the floor. The fact this his eye was still vulnerable to injury didn't boost his confidence, either. He stood stock still, yet soon realized he was staring at the weaving form of Sapphire.
She paused after twirling in a full circle, catching sight of Cobalt rooted to the spot.
She trotted up to him, her feet tapping the floor in time with the beat. She pulled his wings out with her own, holding them out in front of him in a warm embrace.
"You better get moving, buddy! This song won't last forever."
"But... my eye! And I'm so clumsy, just like my father! This can't end well."
She jerked him closer, pulling him dangerously close to her body.
"Just live a little! So what if you mess up. That's all part of the process, and besides, I won't make fun of you. I promise."
"Are you sure you won't?"
She rolled her eyes and replied, "If I do, then I'll give up my club life for a month!"
"Yeah, like that will ever happen..." he thought roughly.
Escape was impossible for him, and so he relented.
"Ugh, fine! But I am not going to enjoy this."
"Ha! We'll see about that..."
With a swaying movement, she timed her steps to the beat, and once they matched the rhythm, her body followed suit.
Cobalt couldn't help but follow along, and soon, he began to mirror her movements.
Whenever she stepped to the right, he stepped to the left. Whenever she swayed to the left, he swayed to the right.
The precision with which he was matching the female's moves was uplifting, and he couldn't help but establish a large smile.
Sapphire did the same, declaring, "You see, you're a natural. You should do this more often!"
"Heh, I guess so! Well, the song's getting stronger. I think we should step it up."
"Alright, then. Let's thrill this crowd!"
She released Cobalt's wings and began to shuffle backwards, the bumping crowd parting to make room. Once she was a few feet away, she taunted Cobalt with a sweep of her wing.
He jogged over to her through the rift in the crowd, kicking his body into motion once more.
The whirling, quick-stepping duo was a sight to see, and within seconds, the other club-goers parted and formed a circular ring around Cobalt and Sapphire. By now, the beat was infectious, and Cobalt felt his movements being powered by the tones of sound themselves.
He had become a puppet to the music, and a skilled one at that.
As he proudly completed a break-dance themed move, Sapphire pulled him right up against her and said slyly, "I think you're giving me a run for my money. You better calm down, buddy."
"After twirling her around in a complete circle, only to have her face meet his again, he replied, "Not a chance! This feels amazing!"
"I guess a little competition never hurt. Hey, a solo's coming on! If you want me to sing it, you have to give me some height."
"Just watch what I can do!"
As a scarlet spotlight beam slammed down onto the dancing stars, Cobalt dipped Sapphire low with his wings, then brought her back up and threw her into the air.
Right on cue, her beak opened, and out of it spilled the loveliest aura he had ever heard. She twined her voice with the music, a gorgeous symphony that nearly melted him. She slowly flapped her wings to stay in the air, the playing of the light on her wings and chest a luscious sight.
"She is so... beautiful and talented!" he thought, stupefied. "Azura may be a good choice, but she is a great choice! Oh man, just wait until Mom and Dad hear the news about our performance! Sapphire, you may not know it, but you've nearly captured my heart..."
As the solo dwindled away, Sapphire drifted back to the floor, her chest puffing from her exertion.
"That was amazing, Sapphire! I was speechless!"
"Thanks, buddy! Hearing it from you makes it really special. Now come on, this song isn't over yet..."
She and Cobalt buzzed through the rest of the song, feeding the crowd with their synchronized and charming ballet. By the time the singer was finished and received her applause, Cobalt and Sapphire received their own, and a grand ovation it was.
They were practically carried by the club-goers all the way back to their table, and then given hearty back slaps and plentiful words of praise. A fresh pair of water cups were even provided for them, and the two parched birds instantly downed the fluid.
"Was that awesome or what? Just wait until Nico and Pedro hear how me and you rocked the house!"
"Heck yeah, it was! It sure tires you out, though."
"But that's well worth the fun, isn't it?"
"You bet."
"Are you up for another round?"
"Sure! Just let me rest first..." he replied while inhaling rapidly.
"Take your time, Cobalt..."
He and Sapphire relaxed their bodies, all the while biding their time until another powerful number would begin. Three songs later, it happened, and they returned to the dance floor, sufficiently rested to put on another spectacle.
Needless to say, a spectacle it was, enthralling the crowd just as fully as their prior exhibition.
As their display came to a close, Cobalt happened to observe the dullness of the sky from one of the Palm's many windows, igniting a sense of duty in his spirit. He quickly re-informed Sapphire of his curfew, and being that she was pleased with her time there, obliged to leave as well.
They departed the roiling club and were soon homeward bound.
Upon their entry into Pedro and Nico's hollow, they found out the pair of party birds were sound asleep. Keen not to wake them, Sapphire reassured Cobalt that she would convey to them the momentous night they had experienced the next morning.
Cobalt happily agreed and left for his own abode, but not before confessing to her how jovial his time was – and less discreetly – some of his feeling about her.
She planted upon his cheek a soft kiss, which he used as emotional fuel to propel him onward. By the time he skidded into his parents' hollow, he still retained a large reserve of energy, and that energy was now being converted into pure excitement and willingness.
Before the adult macaws could even greet him, he shrieked, "Mom! Dad! You won't believe how wonderful my time with Sapphire was!"
"Since you seem so eager to spill it, go ahead, mister live-wire!" retorted Jewel gleefully.
Sucking in a deep breath, he spouted, "Well, I am kind of tired, so to make along story short, me and her danced. Twice! Oh man, that girl can move, and even better, she can sing! She reminds me of you, Mom. She's beautiful, a great singer, and she has a spunky attitude."
After a shocked look swept over their faces, Blu replied, "You see? It's not so bad after all. I can only imagine what happened in there. Did you try to kiss her?"
Taken aback, he replied, "No! But, after I left from Pedro and Nico's hollow after guiding her home, she kissed me on the cheek."
"So you still got some sugar after all. I don't know what your mother thinks, but to me, that's a definite sign."
Cobalt smirked and countered, "That may be, but I don't want either of you to get your hopes up too soon. I have yet to make my decision, but trust me, it's going to be really hard! I'll sleep on it for about a week or so."
Jewel stepped up to her son and patted his head with her wing.
"I know this sounds cheesy, but you've come so far, Cobalt. All grown up, and maybe, about to get a girlfriend. Oh, it just makes me want to burst with happiness!"
Blu then added, "Since it's such a serious choice, you can take all the time you need. But don't keep us waiting forever!"
Beaming, Cobalt replied, "You got it, Dad."
"By the way, how's that eye, son?"
"Oh, it's just fine, Mom. No ache, but I don't feel comfortable taking it off yet."
"You can go have Tulio check up on it tomorrow. If you want, we'll come with you."
"Sounds good."
In an immensely sweet maneuver, both Blu and Jewel planted themselves on either side of Cobalt, wrapping him warmly in their wings.
"In another year or so, this family may get a little bit bigger."
As the words sank in, Cobalt watched his mom throw a sharp look at Blu, causing him to cower slightly.
"I doubt that's what's on Cobalt's mind right now, Blu. Do you need some help controlling your beak?"
"Sorry, honey, but one can hope..."
Jewel lightened up slightly and peered at her son, a faint smile on her face. Blu then did the same on Cobalt's other side.
Taking it as a cue, he said, "Thanks for all you've done for me Mom. I love you..."
He then turned his head away from her and added sincerely, "And the same goes for you, Dad."
"You are eternally welcome son. But... I love you more."
Cobalt nudged him playfully, responding, "Whatever you say..."
There was no more exalted bird in Rio than Cobalt, who, wrapped in the wings of his parents, felt a sense of completeness.
He knew by their tenderness that he had pleased them, and at the same time, he had also pleased himself.
Romance may not have been a major obligation to him before, but now that he had orchestrated it, it didn't seem so harrowing after all.
Whether he chose Sapphire or Azura, the end result would be the same: a truly enriched life with a bird that would grow to love him, care for him, and when he was away, miss him.
He would be able to experience the journey that his very own parents were on, something that thrilled him to no end and gave him the will to seize the opportunity...