A few weeks had passed since the birth of Aurora. She had gone from the ugly newborn to a beautiful macaw. Her feathers stood out. It was like she had dark blue highlights on her head. Her feathers on her head curled back like Jewel's and Elena's feathers on top of their heads. She also had a darker shade of blue for her wingtips. The rest of her feathers were light blue like her mother's feathers. She had hazel eyes, which gave the other birds a sense of mystery to her. Not only did she look beautiful, but she was very smart. She was the third smartest bird in the family, surpassing Jewel. She would always be curious on what Blu would say, and she would read and study with Jalin. She learned how to walk the day all her feathers came out to classify her as a smooth feathery chick. Flying was a no brainer to her, so she learned how to fly in three days after she learned how to walk.

Today, the Blu family was at the soccer field, watching the local soccer game. Over the time, Leoncio and Jalin became big fans of soccer. They called it football, which confused Blu. They were saying it wrong. It was pronounced futbol. American football had strong people attacking the one who had the pigskin. Spanish futbol mostly had, compared to American football players, scrawny-body players and chased an unpredictable ball around. Though all this, it was still favored more than American football. Blu just had to appreciate the phenomenon. That was mostly the reason why they were there.

"I still don't get it," said Blu, looking at the moving ball.

Jewel faced her mate.

"Blu, it's just soccer. What's there not to get?"

"Yeah, but football is way more interesting to watch."

"Um…Blu? Soccer is football."

"No. American football. Besides, it's pronounced futbol, not football."

"But isn't it more aggressive? The clips you showed me from the internet looked like they were pulverizing each other."

"Well, yeah. Football has more action because a player can suffer through several injures besides just a sprain leg."

"No. Soccer had its severe injuries too."

"Yeah, but in football, you can expect a major injury every third through five game. Soccer is just, "oh, you sprained a leg".

"I have to disagree with you. Besides, soccer is our culture. It's a respected sport."

"Like the WNBA."

Blu chuckled at his comment. Jewel just stared at him. He stopped laughing.

"What's that?" asked Jewel.

"Oh, it's…um…never mind. Let's just watch the game."

Blu looked back towards the action of the game. Jewel dropped it and faced the game also. Leoncio and Jalin were cheering. Blu looked down and saw her two girls looking up at him.

"Papa, I'm bored," said Aurora.

"Can we go to the bookstore?" suggested Elena.

Blu smiled. He faced Jewel.

"Jewel?"

She looked at him.

"I'm going to take the girls to Linda."

"No, stay here. We'll go later as a family. Besides, they can wait five minutes."

"Awwww," the girls sighed.

Blu wanted to complain too, but his mate implied there was five minutes left in the game. He watched as the players hurriedly tried to score within the last minutes of the game. He yawned, closing his eyes. He didn't notice his family. He opened his eyes to see the soccer ball hit him. He fell off the low branch and smacked the ground. He groaned. Jewel and his kids landed next to him.

"Honey, are you okay?"

He lifted his head up towards Jewel.

"Can we go to the bookstore now?"

"But Papa," said Aurora. "We should go to the store to buy a beak for you."

Jewel walked up to her mate and saw his beak a little off-centered.

"Um… This will hurt."

"Jewel, what are you-"

Jewel grabbed his beak with both her wings and twisted it back into place. Blu's eyes widened as he let out a giant squawk. Leoncio snickered under his breath.

Linda was ringing up the cost for a customer.

"It'll be five dollars."

The Latina paid Linda and walked out with the book. Linda watched as her customer left. She smiled and logged into her computer. She began to check the current books that were checked out. She then heard a squawk above her. Linda looked up and saw the Blu family come down towards her. They landed on the desk. Blu squawked.

"Hi, everyone," said Linda.

She then noticed Aurora.

"Is this your new bird? Aw, she's so cute. Her feathers are quite unique."

Elena groaned softly.

"Hey, Blu. I already premade some hot chocolate. You want some?"

Blu nodded. Linda smiled and got up from her chair. She went into the back room to get some hot chocolate. Jewel looked at Blu.

"Hopefully she doesn't bring back six cups. Then the kids won't eat."

"Not only that, but a sugar rush might kick in."

Jewel looked around and then glanced at Blu.

"Blu, I'll be back."

"Jewel, no Terminator phrases."

Jewel shook her head, smiling. She had watched the movies with Blu before the kids hatched. She liked the second movie better, even though it wasn't like anything compared to the movies now. She enjoyed all and loved the acting Arnold Schwarzenegger. She hated the fact people were all over the fact he had a secret kid. They had made jokes like his baby says, "I have a dada" in his Terminator voice. Blu laughed at that joke, but he received a slap by Jewel.

Jewel flew down the bookshelves to the children's section. She picked a book and flew back to the desk counter. Leoncio, Elena, and Aurora circled around her. Jalin walked up to Blu.

"Papa, do you know where any chemistry books are?"

"Chemistry?"

"Yeah, it'll be good to learn about chemicals. That way, I can stay away from bad chemicals."

That wasn't entirely true, but if he told the truth, Blu would probably not tell him where to find it.

"Check in the science area."

Jalin mentally slapped himself. Chemistry was a science. Why didn't he think of that? Jalin nodded and flew towards the bookshelf labeled "Science".

"Blu," called out Jewel smoothly.

Blu walked over to his mate and sat down next to her.

"Hold the book as I read to the kids."

"Wait. Why can't you get something to make the book stand?"

"I did."

"Besides me."

"Blu, I'm not asking you; I'm telling you. Besides, I've been holding the books every time I read to the kids. Don't you think I deserve a break?"

Blu exhaled.

"Okay."

Jewel smiled and read the title of the book.

"It's called the 'Ugly Duckling'."

The cover of the book showed a large image of a gray duck. In the background was a pond with duck chicks and a mother duck. Leoncio stared at the image.

"I never saw a gray duck chick before," he commented.

"Since when you've seen a duck chick?" asked Aurora.

"Hey, I've been born longer. I've seen more than you."

"You guys, be quiet," said Elena.

Jewel cleared her throat. Her chicks faced her and closed their beaks. Blu opened the book to the first page. Jewel began reading.

"Once upon a time, there was a mother duck. She was sitting on some eggs, hoping one day they will hatch."

"Like Mama did with us," pointed out Elena.

Jewel nodded as Blu flipped the page.

"She waited and waited and waited until the day came that her chicks hatched. All were pretty yellow ducklings. The mother welcomed them into the world, but soon, she saw not all the eggs hatched."

Blu waited five seconds before he turned the page.

"A large egg was still in the nest. The mother duck remained in the nest, waiting for it to hatch. Soon, the egg hatched and out popped out the duckling."

Blu waited and turned the page.

"The duckling did not look like the other ducklings," continued Jewel. "It was tall and had gray feathers. It chirped like a horn. The mother then thought it could not possibly be hers. She and her other ducklings left the ugly duckling all alone."

"What a terrible Mama," said Aurora. "She left him because he was ugly."

"I guess so," said Jewel.

"I kind of see why," said Leoncio. "If I was her, I would've left Jalin by now."

Jalin was on the small round table that was in-between two bookshelves. He looked up from the book he read.

"I heard that."

"Well, it wasn't supposed to be a secret."

Jalin narrowed his eyes.

"Just listen to Mama."

Jalin faced down and continued to read. Leoncio turned back around to have both of his parents glaring at him.

"What?" he asked innocently.

"We'll talk later," said Blu as he flipped the page.

Jewel looked at the text and continued to read.

"The ugly duckling left the duck pond. He walked through the woods and found another pond. There, he looked down at his reflection and saw himself. He was not like the other ducks. He was ugly. Soon, it was dark, and he found a place to sleep."

Blu flipped the page.

"The next morning, he took a swim in the pond," continued Jewel. "He had never learned how to swim, but he was naturally good at it. He swam around the pond. The other ducks in the pond saw the ugly duckling and looked away from him when he looked at him. If he got too close to him, they would fly away. The ugly duckling was truly alone."

"Woah," commented Leoncio. "Everyone flew away from him?"

"That might happen to you if you continue to be a jerk," said Jalin.

Leoncio faced him.

"Mama, did you hear that?"

"Leoncio, you called him ugly. He's just trying to get back at you, which he shouldn't do."

"Why not?"

Blu faced Jalin.

"You're just stepping down to his level," said Blu. "You're smarter than that."

"So you're calling me stupid, Papa?" snorted Leoncio. "Geez, thanks."

"I'm not…huhhhhhh. Honey, can you finish the story?"

"As soon as you flip the page."

Blu obeyed and turned to the next page. Jewel continued to read.

"The ugly duckling was very sad. Everywhere he went, the ducks would fly away from him. He tried to fit in with the other local birds, but everyone shooed him away because he was too ugly."

"That's very sad, Mama," said Aurora. "How will he live if he is all alone?"

"Let's see."

Blu flipped the page.

"The seasons changed. The duckling grew older. His gray feathers and his giant size for a duck made him appear uglier. As everyone flew south for the upcoming winter, the ugly duckling found no one to fly with. They all saw he was too ugly. He found some swans, but he didn't dare to ask them. Swans were the most beautiful birds he had ever seen. If the other bids rejected him, there was no doubt that the swans would reject him. He watched them as they left, wishing he was as beautiful as they were."

"Swans?" questioned Elena. "Swans are not the most beautiful birds. Birds from here are prettier than any swan."

"Are you sure?" asked Aurora. "Some birds here are kind of…you know…ugly."

"Yeah, I only see two pretty birds," said Leoncio. "Me and Mama."

Jewel smiled.

"Thank you, Mejo."

"Jewel," said Blu. "You do realize he called everyone else ugly, including me."

"That's because your beak is crooked," said Leoncio.

"It is not crooked. You just have crooked eyes."

"Blu!" yelled Jewel.

He remembered he was having a childish fight with his son and nervously smiled at his mate.

"Well…he-"

"You're a grown bird, or so I think. Act like one! Just flip the page."

Blu did what he was told. Jewel huffed before she continued reading.

"The ugly duckling survived that brutal winter. He grew into something more than just a duck, but he still saw himself as being ugly. Spring had come, and he was swimming in a pond. Soon, three swans landed on top of the pond. The ugly duckling saw them and knew he couldn't be seen with them. He was about to fly away when one of them called him over. 'Hey, Brother', said the male swan. 'I haven't seen you around.' The ugly duckling faced them, covering his face. 'Why are you talking to me? Can't you see I'm ugly?'

Blu flipped the page.

"A female swan approached him and pulled his wings down from his face. 'You are not ugly. In fact, you are a very beautiful swan.' The ugly duckling wondered. 'Swan?' The ugly duckling looked down and saw his reflection in the water. He smiled as he saw who he truly was. 'I'm a swan!' he cheered. 'Yes,' answered the female swan. 'Would you care to join us?' The ugly duckling smiled. He agreed. He was never a duck to begin with. He was a swan. He swam with the other swans and lived happily ever after."

"So he was a swan?" wondered Elena.

"That's like a slap to the face," said Aurora.

"What do you mean?" asked Blu.

"I know the moral of the story, but he was referred as a duck when he was really a swan. Besides, all the characters seem really dumb. Instead of thinking he could be another bird, they assume he's a duck and confuse him into thinking he's a duck. That's kind of messed up."

"It's just a story," said Blu, closing the book. "It has a good moral to it."

"I guess so. I did like the story too. I just didn't like the ending so much because it makes all the characters really, really dumb."

A door opened. Linda came back with a plate of cookies at three cups of hot chocolate. The chicks lightly squawked in happiness. Blu and Jewel groaned. Not only would they not eat their fruit, but it would be an annoying hour or two with their sugar rushes.