Blu III
Blu woke up with a start, cold sweat dripping off his forehead and dropping onto his beak. His face was twisted into a fearful expression, his breaths rapid. These nights were becoming more common since the day he accepted his future job. Stress, worry, and a high-maintenance lifestyle were beginning to take a toll on him. Despite being able to walk as of a month ago and taking medication and physical therapy for his pain, he still felt sick, old, and worn out.
With a deep sigh, Blu wiped his forehead clean of sweat with his wing and gave his sleeping wife a kiss on the cheek, causing her to subconsciously smile. The tired and stressed Spix then walked over to his hollow's grand staircase and slowly climbed it to reach the swimming pool on the third floor. Once there, Blu dove into the water and took in the energy the sudden rush of cold gave him. After treading water for a while, he began to swim lengths. Back in Minnesota, when summertime came around, he would always swim in the lake by Linda's house. This made him a fantastic swimmer, something that set him apart from most birds.
After about three lengths of freestyle, he stopped to take a breath, and noticed Jewel sitting on the edge of the pool, dipping her feet in the water.
"Hi handsome, I saw those lengths, that was pretty impressive", she greeted giving him a quick peck on the beak.
"Thank you honey" Blu replied, shooting her a smile.
"Why don't you come in? the water is warm"
"Oh, no Blu… I kinda… well"
"Don't know how to swim", Blu finished.
"How did you know?"
"You always avoid going to the riverside, and you stayed completely glued to me on the boat ride here"
"You're too smart for your own good sweetie, you know that?" Jewel scolded jokingly
"You give me too much credit honey" Blu retorted with a grin.
"But seriously honey, I could teach you how to swim if you'd like."
"I don't know Blu… It doesn't feel safe", Jewel shyly replied.
"Nonsense! hop in and at least enjoy the water"
Conceding to his demands, Jewel finally jumped in the water with a not so elegant, hesitant, jump. Panicking slightly, she quickly waded over to Blu and stood next to him.
"Honey, relax, you're ok." Blu said, convincing Jewel to finally stop shuddering in fear to take a deep breath.
"Today's lesson will simply be to get comfortable with floating and simply being in the water", Blu informed her with an encouraging smile while floating on his back. Jewel, not willing to be outdone by her mate, copied his movements and floated next to him, planting another kiss on his beak.
"Well done", Blu said, grinning.
"Thanks sweetie" Jewel replied with a smile of her own.
"So Blu, I wanted to talk about our kids… and how we should raise them".
"Jewel, I know you won't concee-".
"You are right Blu… they shouldn't be too wild". This caught Blu completely off guard.
"Jewel, are you saying that after that whole argument, you changed your mind?"
Jewel IV
Jewel flashback-
"You need to figure out what you want", Jewel started, stuttering slightly to find the right words to say to her mate. "And maybe stopthinkingabout just yourself and start thinking about us" she finished.
"Stop thinking about myself…" Blu repeated, in an uncharacteristically low, calm voice.
"Stop thinking about me, huh?" He asked rhetorically.
"I think I've thought of you quite enough you… you…"
"Tell me Blu, tell me what I am!", Jewel arrogantly replied, believing that her mate couldn't bring himself to answer.
"Ungrateful" he started, "Disloyal, cheating, crude, heartless, vile, cold, wretch of a bird." Blu finished in his calm, angry tone.
"B-Blu… wha… Me… a…" Jewel said in an odd tone that was both angry and heartbroken.
"Let me tell you something Jewel, I have done very little for myself in all my thirty three years of life. I have always been eager to please others", Blu began to rant.
"Seven years ago, I jumped out of a plane to save your life, six years ago, I agreed to move into the woods with you, five years ago we brought our kids into this world when you thought the time was right, four years ago I agreed to have none of them enrolled into schools and only teach them at home, three years ago I agreed that most of the tech would be moved outside the house, two years ago I stopped drinking hot chocolate when you asked, two years ago I stopped going to carnival parties because it's a human-only holiday, last year I agreed to replace the kids nests with beds. And finally, two weeks ago, I traveled to the Amazon Jungle with you and the kids. Did I agree with any of this, hell no. Did I do it because I love you, yes. And how do you repay me… you ignore me, shut me out, and now you call me selfish!"
A now crying Jewel fell to her knees.
"Blu p-please stop."
"-How dare you Jewel! You accuse me of being a bad father and mate when I damn near died for you!"
"Blu… I-I"
"You what, Julia Gunderson? Feel bad? Pity me? I'll tell you what, I don't want any of your goddamned sob stories, I've had it!"
"Blu p-please! Think this through!"
"I don't have to Jewel, you've made my choice obvious", Blu finished, flying off.
-End Flashback
"Yes, I do believe I was wrong. I used to believe that technology and advanced stuff was only for humans, and was bad for birds", Jewel started. "With that belief, came my image of what parenting should be; A totally wild experience with not an ounce of human influence. But, after our argument, I realized that to deny my kids some of the human-y stuff that you grew up with, would be denying them their heritage and deny you your right to be a parent", Jewel explained to Blu in an ashamed voice. "I also realized that I need to grow up a bit, and work more on being a wife and mother. I-I pushed you over the edge and I really hurt you Blu… and I am deeply and truly sorry. I-I understand if you are only staying with me and putting up a facade of love not to disappoint the kids and my dad. If-if you are only waiting for the kids to get old enough to leave the nest so you can divorce me… I understand that too… I-"
"Please Jewel, none of this nonsense, I love you still and will love you for all eternity."
Overwhelmed with joy, Jewel hugged Blu tightly and let out tears of relief which dripped off her face and into the pool.
"Thank you Blu!… I'm so, so sorry!"
"Please Jewel, no more apologies, you are completely forgiven" Blu replied while wiping her tears, causing Jewel to smile.
Roberto II
"Father, your lordships" Roberto greeted, bowing before three old macaws seated on stone chairs. The middle one, his father, bore a striking resemblance to him, but had striking purple eyes and had a buzz cut with grey feathers. The macaw to his left was only slightly younger than his father and was tall, lanky, and frankly ugly as all hell. The final bird was of an average build, he was clearly the oldest of the bunch as his teal eyes revealed experience and his white feathers, age.
"Rise son" his father instructed. "Tell me, what of our little hero?" he inquired.
"He hasn't taken a stance yet, although he seems to support Eduardo and the rest of the godforsaken royal family"
"Godforsaken? I thought you quited enjoyed the company of Mrs. Hero?" the left bird jeered
"Jewel left me a long time ago Rodrigo" Roberto spat.
"Watch your manners boy, use the correct title!" The macaw on the right scolded.
"Only I will discipline my son Oswaldo", Antonio menacingly threatened.
"Now", his father continued, "Do you think he wishes to oppose our agenda?"
"I don't know" Roberto nervously replied.
"Then figure it out my son… and report back to me alone" Antonio instructed
"Yes father" Roberto said, bowing and leaving.
A/N: Thoughts? Concerns? Predictions? Hit me up with them in the comments.
P.S. Inspiration for the argument flashback come from Alex the Owl's "At Blu's Place"