A/N: Sorry for the late update guys, but I was waiting for the Thanksgiving holiday to get here. College drains away nearly all of my free time!
Anyways, just in case you haven't read my poll results, Sapphire received 25 % of the vote, while Azura receieved 75%. True, only four people voted, but hey, a clear winner was chosen.
Without further ado, the delayed chapter five of this team story!
Chapter 5: Final Call
The seven days following Cobalt's chain date were quite harrowing for the male. He remained in a meditative state and was always acting very high strung.
He distanced himself from those around him during those long, warm days, since he thought he could come to a decision faster.
Only when nightfall arrived did he seek cover – namely the hollow of his parents – due to his fear of being alone, something the shadows of night only intensified.
It was the seventh day of his meditation, and he had still not been able to decide between Azura and Sapphire. A mental tug of war was a thorough description of his indecision, and he was growing frustrated with his inability.
That morning, he had gone out for a very rich breakfast of passion fruit, knowing that a full belly did help with his musings, if only slightly. Much of that day he had spent gliding around the city of Rio, during which he would rest at a major landmark, think, and then glide some more.
His routine ensured that he kept a clear head, but did not accomplish much more than that. By midday, he had returned to the safe haven of the Blu Bird Sanctuary, snatched up a light snack, and then fled to the hollow of his parents.
Finding them absent, he borrowed their nest and plunked himself down for a nap.
Torturous were his dreams, however, filled with images of Azura and Sapphire, and oddly, hazy visions of the future.
Cobalt saw himself living with Sapphire, happily, but she would suddenly morph into Azura, plunging him into an all-too-familiar pool of confusion. He was trapped in that illusory back-and-forth dreaming for several hours, his semi-conscious mind still unable to make a choice between the two females.
None too soon, Cobalt awoke, rousing himself from the dream-turned-nightmare and gathering his senses. He slogged over to the lip of the hollow and peered out, only to be met by the heavy, expansive veil of the moonless night.
"Geez," I exclaimed mentally, "my sleep was terrible! I've had enough of this indecisiveness. I have to pick between Azura and Sapphire... tonight! I can't deal with this any more!"
Now that I was conscious, my eyes peering into the hauntingly dark jungle, my phobia set in. It was as if the very darkness had become mobile, reaching out to me from across the clearing, malicious and evil. Feeling a sense of dull panic rising within me, I threw myself into flight.
Putting the thoughts regarding Azura and Sapphire aside, I quickly picked a destination that would help me feel more secure, help me quell the deep-seated fear inside of me: the aviary nestled in the heart of the sanctuary's main building.
The dimness of the jungle elevated my heart rate, driving my wings even faster in an attempt to leave the hidden horrors behind. I eventually burst from the foliage, swerving to avoid a painful collision with the ivory building itself, then searching for a way in.
I rapidly remember the gap in the door, blasting around to the front of the sanctuary and forcing my way past the flap.
As I hopped across the carpeted floor, I hastily regained control of my frenzied body. The entire space was deathly quiet, save for the sound of my own heart thudding in my ears, the gentle rushing of my breathing.
By then, I knew I was safe. Though the interior was only dimly lit by the spotlights outside, I was surrounded by the solid walls of the structure, and nothing intent on exacerbating my phobia could enter.
I sighed calmly and plodded over to the aviary door, finding it slightly cracked open, for reasons I could not deduce. I gracefully slipped inside and propelled myself up to a branch just outside the hollow of an artificial palm tree.
This space was no brighter or dimmer than the previous room, but it carried a sense of added protection against any creatures that may be lurking – real or not.
"No harm in being doubly protected against any sketchy beings." I told myself silently. "If I am going to finally make the long-awaited choice between those two females, I'll need to focus..."
In one fluid motion, I entered the hollow, retreating to the wall farthest from the oval opening. I ruffled my feathers, blanking out my mind momentarily for the heavy meditation that I was about to evoke.
"Okay, no more messing around. Let's get this done..."
Bringing the shapes of Azura and Sapphire back into mental focus, I set the decision-making wheels in motion once again.
"Hmmm. Should I pick Sapphire, or should I pick Azura? That is the question, obviously, but the answer isn't so clear. First off, Sapphire is so spunky and cheerful, it's like she pulls you close to her like magnet. I remember my Dad telling me that 'opposites attract,' but I can't base my choice solely on that superstition. On the other hand, or wing, rather, Azura is so calm and mellow, she makes you desperate to dig beneath her outer shell, see what she's like on the inside. That's something I could relate to, I guess, and maybe I would be better off with someone who matched my personality, rather than complimented it..."
I paused for a few moments, tapping my primaries on my chin expectantly. I threw a quick glance out of the slot in the tree, and, seeing nothing, resumed my mental ramblings.
" I think I should look ahead and try to imagine how Sapphire would react to my choice,as compared to Azura. Sapphire would probably crush me to death in a hug!"
I gave a light chuckle at the exaggerated thought.
"That girl is like a fireball of emotion and energy, and I have to admit, that evening at the club did ignite something between us. But, what would happen if I rejected her? I could imagine her getting discouraged, and maybe even shocked, but her personality would help her pull through. On top of that, since she's very much engaged with Nico and Pedro's clubbing lifestyle, she'll forget about the whole incident sooner or later."
Feeling very content with my reasoning, I switched over to examine the other side of my dilemma.
"If I chose Azura, she would probably be happy, even if she didn't make it known outright. But if I rejected her..."
An epiphany slammed into my mind, causing me to shake my head with the realization.
"I remember her telling me I was her only friend, since the others from her childhood had all flown away. Where will she be without me? Despite having her siblings, she'll think I abandoned her. She's such a reserved and sensitive female... it would smother her. It would be like me throwing her into an emotional slaughterhouse!"
In that moment, with the terrible consequences rushing around inside of my head, I solidified my choice.
Stamping my foot on the floor for emphasis, I declared inside my head, "I can't shatter Azura like that! Sapphire will, in time, forget all about my announcement. Rejecting Sapphire instead of rejecting Azura is choosing between the lesser of two evils, but that's the way it has to be..."
Swelling with confidence, I strutted to the edge of the tree and spread my wings, but another train of thought stopped me cold.
"Maybe I should wait until tomorrow. I've had enough excitement and mental turmoil for one day. In addition, I'm not keen on going back out into the scary... creeping...living... shadows again..."
Sheepishly, I refolded my wings before retreating into the sheltered hollow, swept up in the glory of my own success. Reclining against the durable inner shell of the space, I let loose a heavy sigh, swamped with a sense of deep peace at finally reaching the end of a week-long internal discussion.
I managed to calm down my boisterous state enough to tun drowsy, relenting myself to the folds of golden slumber minutes later. This time around, my dreams were content, filled with the flashing images of my spectral body solely next to Azura's.
With my recent revelation – and with the encouragement of my parents – that illusory future didn't seem so farfetched after all.
The next morning, I was gently awoken by the shining sunlight pouring into the perimeter windows around the aviary. The sweet warmth bathed every inch of the room, me included, as if to congratulate me on my previous night's accomplishment, and also to spur me on to make known my choice.
"Alright, Cobalt, it's now or never. I think it's about time to shove this whole crazy week behind me!"
Steeling myself for the roller-coaster ride I was about to board, I extricated myself from the sturdy sanctuary building and immersing my body in the verdant splendor of the jungle, of my home.
As I guided myself away from the ivory shelter, I realized there was one last inconsistency to flesh out.
I brought myself into a hover and thought, "I wonder who I should inform first? Is it best to get the hard part of my choice out of the way first, or use Azura's joy to lessen the blow of Sapphire's reaction? Oh, I suppose Sapphire will have to know, but not just yet. I'm much more eager to hit it off with Azura..."
I formulated my short-but-sweet speech on the way to Scarlet and Ashley's abode. I was certain she was going to be there, since I had not yet seen her leave the hollow out of her own accord.
I snatched a pair of starfruit from a bush on the fly, since a bout of hunger pangs had seized me during my journey. I consumed the yellow packets of nutrition carefully, popping the last chunks into my beak and swallowing just prior to landing in the target hollow.
Much to my enlightenment – along with a few waves of negativity – I observed Azura's silent form curled up cutely in the nest, resting on her right side.
"Huh. Scarlet and Ashley aren't here. That's too bad. They would have been able to share they joy of this little occurrence..."
I tentatively neared the nest, tapping the adorable female on the shoulder softly. Those gentle eyes of hers soon emerged out from under her eyelids, studying me carefully. The rest of her body followed suit, surprised by my random appearance.
She righted herself to a sitting position in the nest, shaking her feathers in a short flurry.
"Cobalt? Wh-why are you here?"
Her tone was not harsh, but inquisitive. Suddenly, a swarm of butterflies danced around in my gut as my confidence drained away.
"I... uh... have something to tell you. I mean ask you."
Tilting her head, she said, "What?"
I could not speak while my gaze was locked with hers, so I averted it slightly.
"Ever since I met you... I was... mystified. You live in... your own secret world, and I could never stop learning about you..."
I took a brief pause, knowing that my next sentence would elegantly sum up my intentions.
"Would you make me... a part of your world too?"
As the words slipped from my beak, I clenched my muscles, hoping I wasn't being too vague. Azura blinked several times, leading me to think my veiled message had gotten through.
Silently, she hopped from the nest, her expression odd. I paced back a few steps to give her room, but she merely approached me once I stopped.
Her proximity was close enough that the faint scents of her feathers poured into my nostrils; I swallowed as I struggled to maintain my composure.
"Cobalt," she said tenderly, "you can't hide it."
"Hide what?" I said sheepishly.
"You like me." "Uh... I guess..." I responded, answering the question-slash-statement.
"And I like you."
Stunned by the notion, I stuttered, "Y-you d-do?"
"Of course. I'll answer your main question: yes."
With that, she stuck a rosy kiss on my cheek; I thought I was going to die from the fluttering pace of my heart. I actually stumbled back, my near-fall being broke by the solid wall of the space.
"Azura... I don't know what to say... except that I am so... happy..."
She slowly neared me once again, tapping my beak lightly with her right wing primaries.
"Welcome to my world."
As she stood there, staring at me with a new-found twinkle in her eyes, I felt a rush of joy unlike any other. Things had gone smoother than I had ever hoped in the beginning.
Here I was, peering deep into the eyes of my love-bird, now free to call her more than just a "friend" or an "acquaintance."
I had taken a leap of faith across a gorge of normality, only to land on the other side, a realm filled with love and cheerfulness.
Somehow finding the will to speak, I said wondrously, "I think we should share the love, my sweet Azura. How about I escort you to my parents, and show them the object of my affections?"
Her expression jolted as I said this, and I instantly knew I had struck a harsh chord with her memory.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to remind you of-"
"No, it's alright."
"Really?" I replied, dumbfounded by her unconventional answer.
"Yes. Maybe they'll know where my real parents are."
"Oh, yeah, I guess we could try."
Wordlessly, she nodded before drawing close to me and helping me to my feet. I flashed her a quick glance of approval before passing her, nearly tripping over my own feet as my tail grazed her chest.
"Come on, I'll show you the way..." I squeaked, still dizzy from the touch.
"I'll be right behind you."
Fighting off that biological urge to smother her with procreation-minded intimacy, I threw myself from the hollow, settling on a comfy pace.
Azura's lush wing-beats were plainly audible behind me, reestablishing the invisible ties present between us, fresh and strong. Charting a course to the hollow of my superiors, I couldn't help but drift back until I was flying alongside her. The faintest of smiles grew on her face, yet that was all I needed to see.
"If everything goes well, she'll be by my side for as long as I live. Me and her will be chained-together birds, just like my Mom and Dad..."
As I steered myself towards the abode of my parents, I couldn't help but worry about Azura's predicament.
What if they knew not a hint of information about her biological creators? Just as terrible a notion would be if they knew her superiors were once alive, but were now gone.
I could perhaps help her cope, now that I was bound to her romantically, but the realization either way would hurt her deeply. There was also a slim hope that they were indeed alive, but that also warranted an explanation as to why they had vanished without a trace.
There was no way either of us would learn of the real truth until we reached our destination.
Minutes later, I touched down on the grainy floor of the roomy space, noting Azura's landing shortly after mine. My Mom and Dad were still sleeping, much to my surprise, folded over each other in the nest.
"Should we wake them?" she asked briskly.
"They won't mind. Just wait here." I replied assuredly.
Trouncing over to their mossy bed, I whispered, "Mom, Dad, I have something amazing to show you."
Within seconds, my mother roused herself from her slumber, sliding out from under my father and waking him in turn.
"What is it, son?" she asked drowsily.
"Hey, what's going on, Jewel?" said my father, just as disoriented.
"I am now more than just a friend to her, and that means what you think it means." I said proudly, sweeping my wing in Azura's direction.
The reaction from them was a quick jolt of shock, followed by a wave of sheer jubilation. After pulling herself from the nest, my Mom laid both her wings on my shoulders.
"Cobalt, you've done it! Finally, you've found yourself a female willing to stay by your side and cherish you. I could not be any happier!"
"I have to agree with Jewel. You've accomplished everything you set out do, with a little help from us of course!"
The latter part of his reply was audibly less serious, but Azura was the only one who didn't understand its hidden significance.
Trapped in the beaming gazes of my creators, I stepped back, stopping at Azura's side and wrapping her with my left wing.
"I guess I did, huh? I don't know about you two, but I think this deserves some sort of celebration."
"Hey, you're right, son! Why don't we go have a nice meal at Linda and Tulio's place? They'll be just as excited to see what you've done as your mother and I are."
"Great plan, Dad. Let's go!"
After a slight pause, I turned to my sweet companion and asked, "Would you like to come along?"
"How could I say no?"
Taking charge, I dashed over to the lip of the hollow, only to be frozen by a burst of chatter. A flash of yellow and orange movement caught my eye, recognizing the forms of Nico and Pedro.
I jumped back from the edge just in time, barely avoiding getting barreled over by the twin birds.
"Nico? Pedro? What on Earth are you doing here?" my Dad asked energetically.
"We came to see if you guys want to hit the club, yo!" replied the canary, nearly invisible in the shafts of sunlight filtering a short distance into the space.
"We be on our way there now, but we stopped by jus' to check on you and love-hawk. Wait a minute... who's that chick you got next to you, Cobalt?"
"Oh, she's my love-hawk, Pedro! Her name's Azura."
"Oh man, now it's really getting' crazy. One pair of lovebirds was enough, but now we got two!" declared Nico.
"We'd love to come," my Mom cut in, "but we're going to see Linda and Tulio to celebrate. Sorry! Maybe we can go with you to the Palm tomorrow."
"Hey, that's a solid reason. Cobalt gettin' serious is serious!" said Pedro.
"Well, me and Pedro better get our tail-feathers movin'. See you tomorrow!"
"Definitely. Catch you later!" replied my Dad.
All of a sudden, a faint, clearly female voice resounded from outside the tree: "Nico? Pedro? Where did you go?"
"Is that... Sapphire? Why is she following them?"
As I realized that a firestorm of emotion was about to erupt, due to her seeing me with Azura, I braced myself for the inevitable.
Sapphire's alluring form skidded into the hollow, sending a gust of air over all of us.
"Sapphire? What are you doin' here? We told you to stay at the house!"
"I watched as she locked eyes with Pedro and replied, "I just couldn't! I had to see why you two were acting so weird."
Shortly after, her gaze turned in my direction, spying me and Azura inches apart. Her ocular organs went wide as an owl's, and her face cracked from the shock.
"Cobalt? Why is my sister here with you?"
I glanced from Azura to Sapphire and then back again.
"Azura is Sapphire's sister? Wait a minute... Mom and Dad told me there were two females just like me out there... oh no..."
At that moment, all the pieces fell into place, the revelation leaving me breathless. I was related to Azura and Sapphire genetically.
I turned inexorably towards my up-bringers, an expression of full-on demand present in my eyes.
"Mom? Dad? What is going on here? Is there something you're not telling me?"
Rather than reply to my query, my Dad looked at my Mom with a pained expression.
"Jewel, all hell just broke loose..."