Notes & Disclaimers:
• Rio is Blue Sky Studios IP.
(Please leave a comment and enjoy.)
Chapter Seventeen: A New Day to Open Part 2
Still the same day. Blu, along with his new friends, was on his way to the club. But Jewel and her adoptive family made it there a little faster.
"Hey guys." Said Jewel as she saw the others and landed near the club. Nico and Pedro greeted them back but Luiz jumped up and licked Carlos and Sophia. He was on top of them. "Ugh! I'm guessing you're the Luiz that we've heard about?" Said the grossed out Carlos. As a puppy, Luiz always had a habit of jumping on new friends.
The gang was all happy to see each other and got to work on the club together, but two of them were too nervous to even squeak a sound, and those two were Rafael and Eva. Both of them still really liked each other, and them giving each other so much silence kind of proved it.
"Hey Carlos." Sophia nudged him to look at Rafael and Eva, and she winked at him. He was surprised and a little upset.
"Oh no." He whispered.
"Give him a chance. Please?" She begged him to not be so stubborn against Rafi, and he gave in. Jewel, Nico, and Pedro also noticed them and teased them in the best way. Eva was about to say the first word, and they both noticed it was raining cherry blossom pellets, caused by the three most annoying weather-birds. She felt the urge to get them but Rafael got her shoulder.
"Ignore them. Do you wanna talk alone?"
"Sure. Mom, Dad, can I?"
Sophia was obviously okay with it, but she nudged Carlos to answer, "O-Okay. It's okay with me, dear."
"Thanks guys." Then Eva and Rafael went to a private spot to speak. Jewel smiled and thought, "They remind me of me and Blu. So cute." Speaking of which, "Hey guys." Blu finally made it to the club.
"Blu!" Jewel was thrilled so she launched herself to him for a hug. Blu accepted it, and loved feeling her comfort again. Sophia loved seeing them together as well.
"Wow, you never told us you had a girlfriend." Leo said, and Jewel looked to see the scarlet couple. "Hello. Blu, who are your friends?"
"Oh, this is Leo and Mikka. Guys, this is my girlfriend Jewel." They shook wings and Mikka commented, "Nice to meet you, dear." And whispered to Jewel, "I think you're lucky to have a compassionate bird like him." Jewel blushed and Blu put a wing around her.
"Hey." Pedro said. "I remember you two. You guys were here at our club and danced like fire."
Leo replied, "Thanks, it's good to see you guys too. Hey today, our new friend Blu tells us that he helped you guys first open the club. Is that right?"
"Yep, that's our buddy Blu."
"And since he wanted to come and help rebuild, my Mikka and I thought if we could help out too."
Nico, "Absolutely. As long as you can also help entertain like last time and have our friends' back, this reopening's gonna be off the hook!"
So the ten animals went to work. Mikka and Leo got to introduce themselves to everyone else, and had a good time working. Soon afterwards, the gang got together for lunch, and while Blu was eating, he had a few questions on his mind. "Why didn't Mikka and Leo fly to the club? Why didn't they even ask me if I could fly?" Until he noticed Mikka's right wing. It looked like it was clipped, so he scooted closer to her. Then asked, "Excuse me, Mikka. I'm sorry if I'm being rude but can I just ask, what happened to your wing?" Mikka looked back at it and it just brought bad memories for both her and Leo. Everyone else even heard and were also curious. Leo knew the whole story as well as she did, and decided to speak up. "Mikka, if you don't wanna tell them, I can do it for you."
"Go ahead."
"Alright. The best way to explain it, guys. is just like this…"
Me and Mikka have known each other since we were hatchlings. We've always had good times together, we never stop playing and hanging out, and eventually after we became an official couple, we agreed that when we're ready to leave the nest, we would move into our own place together. Then when it finally happened, we were on our way.
We actually came from a jungle area that is about ten miles away from this town. It was long for us but we were determined to find our own perfect home and start a future together, that is until a dreadful night came in. Mikka and I were still flying and found a good spot to sleep in. After a while, it was peaceful but then a jaguar came and almost got us. We tried to get away from it as quickly as we could, and did, but we got separated. I spent hours trying to find Mikka without taking a single moment of rest. Then I finally found her, but she was unconscious while I saw her right wing stuck to a small bear trap. I woke her up and despite her not worrying, I was terrified since I had no experience with human things before, so she wanted me to pull her wing out of the trap. I hated it but I had to help, and from that, most of the feathers on her wing were ripped out. It scarred her whole wing and…and now she can't fly anymore. So since then, I made a promise to myself and her that I would never fly if she can't, and we've been walking for a while until we found Blu's nest.
Leo finished the story, and everyone felt bad for him and Mikka. Jewel, Eva, and Sophia even shed a few tears because of how much of a dedicated husband Leo was to Mikka.
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, Mikka. How long ago was that?" Sophia asked.
Mikka answered, "It's okay, and about two days before we found Blu's nest, which was for two weeks now."
Blu, "And during that time, me and Jewel were still in the aviary." Then Rafael spoke, "Wow. Well I hope you two enjoy your time here. And consider all of us your friends. If you ever need any help, you can find us and we'll be happy to assist with anything." Then everyone said in unison, "Yeah." The two were touched to see that their new friends were this kind, and really did hope to enjoy their time in Rio.
Jewel scooted closer to Blu and said, "Kinda reminds me of you and me. Huh, Blu?"
"Yeah." He began to tickle her from the back. "But don't think that means I won't be flying with you someday." Blu smiled and Jewel just enjoyed Blu's comfort. "I know, Blu. But still...I'm the hawk and you my prey." They hugged while blushing again, and everyone continued their lunch without noticing.
After they finished, everyone went back to work until the night finally came in. The sun was down, the moon was up, and all of the birds were ready to enter party town.
"Wow, the place looks more packed than usual, and with the expansion, that's saying something." Said Carlos. While the guests were waiting for the show to start, He and the others were behind a curtain that was used for the backstage. "Okay, we finished remodeling the club, reopened it, and now we have to go over the plan. What do you guys have?" Blu went over and asked. Pedro said, "Are you talking to us?"
"Yes. You four have taken control of this club while I was gone. But while it was closed, you did have plans to make the reopening more exciting than what we normally do, right?" Nico and Pedro began to sweat, and Blu wing-palmed himself, knowing that they didn't have a plan other than play the old radio.
Rafael decided to defend them, "Okay look Blu, don't blame them, blame me. I should've thought of it myself and helped them out more. I'm sorry."
"Right, sorry guys, I'm just worried now. I mean…this club started so early and was shut down so early because of me, and I don't want everybody to be disappointed after all the hard work that we put in together. What in Rio are we gonna do now?" Everyone started babbling with him and shouted out some ideas and things they could use. They sounded like a bickering council, but Jewel was more focused on thinking than arguing.
She peeked out of the curtain and saw the whole audience, more birds than there ever were. But then she noticed a pile of crates that looked good enough to be a stage, and that was when the best idea came to her. "Guys!" She tried to get the gang's attention but they didn't hear her. "Guys? Hello? Everyone…SHUT UP!" She yelled loud enough and got them. "Okay. I got an idea."
After going over it, Nico came up to the audience, and made the announcement. "Hello everyone, sorry to keep you waiting, but who here is ready for the reopening of Rio's one and only Bird Samba Club?!" They all cheered. "Great! Now, my friends and I will be starting up the radio for everyone to shake their tail feathers with, but first, we'd like you guys to say hello again to the club's best since the beginning, to the hero that helped started it all and changed our lives, and is now with the most beautiful blue-chick there is! Just give your feathers up for the new lovebirds of Rio, Blu and Jewel!" The back curtain opened and the spotlight turned on revealing Blu and Jewel, and giving everyone the chance to cheer out loud and shout lovable comments.
"They're a couple?! Alright!"
"I knew they would make it official!"
"Aww, this is so great!"
"I wonder how long it'll last."
Nobody was being quiet for a single second until Blu spoke. "Alright everyone! I'm glad to see you here all again, and I'm sorry for the long weeks of not being here, it's just been a little wild, and yes…" He held Jewel's wing, and she continued for him, "We are boyfriend and girlfriend now." Everyone cheered again. "Okay guys, now Jewel thought that we'd do something a little interesting. A little something we like to call a Karaoke Duet, and we hope you like it."
Blu snapped his wingtips, giving Nico and Pedro the signal to turn on a new tape player and it started the lovebirds' song, where they did their parts in singing and dancing to…
(Blu) "Listen baby, ain't no mountain high, ain't no valley low, ain't no river wide enough baby!"
(Jewel) "If you need me, call me, no matter where you are, no matter how far; don't worry baby. Just call my name; I'll be there in a hurry, you don't have to worry."
(Both) "Oh baby there ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough, ain't no river wide enough to keep me from getting to you babe."
They sang through the whole song. Then when it ended, everyone happily screamed with joy again while Blu and Jewel bowed, feeling good, and out of breath.
"Jewel…that…was…great!"
"I agree." They were both happy, and Jewel brought the next show for the audience. She launched herself and Blu from the bow, and kissed him in front of everyone.
Their cheers still went non-stop. "Wow." Said Carlos, as he and others in the back witnessed it. Even Luiz stopped his tongue for one second. Then Rafael controlled the radio, playing the usual tunes, and they all continued on for the young night.
Three hours later…
The gang closed the club (just for the night), and everyone gave their goodnight farewells.
Rafael came to Eva. "Hey Eva?"
"Yeah Rafi?"
"Um…I just wanted to say that you were great tonight, and thank you for being my dance partner."
"You're welcome. But…"
"But what?"
"But who says it has to be just tonight? Could it be every night?" She blushed and they both noticed that Carlos and Sophia were watching. "It's okay with me." Carlos said without a bother, and Sophia had her wing over him, showing how proud she is of him for not being overprotective, and was also happy for Eva. So Rafi stuttered, "Really? I-I'd like that, Eva. A-And it's okay with you…sir?"
"Of course. I thought about it, and it's obvious that Jewel and my little girl are growing up, so as long as you and Blu treat them well, it's okay with me."
"Treat her we…? Oh no no no, sir. I mean I l-like her a lot b-but-"
"Daddy!" They were annoyed by him and were too jittery to argue, causing the toucan parents to laugh.
Even Blu and Jewel laughed. "Now they know how we feel."
"Totally."
"Hey Blu, I wanna ask you something."
"Ask away."
"Last night was the first night when we haven't hung out together since we were released. Did you feel cold?"
"Haha. So cold that your hugs and kisses were beyond compare." As always they were happy to give compliments to each other, and Jewel was always rewarding him with a surprise kiss on the beak. "But don't worry. Sooner or later I'll move in with you. Or the other way around."
"And I'll hold my breath until then."
Soon they all went home. Jewel, Eva, and the parents flew home, the samba team stayed behind, and Blu, Leo, and Mikka walked back to the nest.
"Well guys…this's been great, and thanks for helping me and the others." Blu said as the three were still walking.
"You're welcome, and after today, you turned out to be more fun than me and Mikka gave you credit for." Leo said.
"Tha…Hey!"
"Leo!" Mikka bopped her elbow to him.
Leo, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I couldn't resist."
Blu gave a sarcastic "Haha."
They continued walking and enjoyed each other's company still, and then Leo brought up what Blu didn't want to mention to anyone but Jewel.
"Hey Blu, I wanna know something. Why can't you just fly to your nest and let us catch up?"
"Uh…well, I don't wanna lie about it, but…the thing is I can't fly…yet."
Mikka, "Oh I'm sorry about that, sweetie."
"It's okay, Mikka. It's not something that I'm used to talking about but I guess since you're now my neighbors it's okay."
By the time they made it to the nest, Blu finished telling them his past story.
"Oh you poor thing." Mikka teared up.
"Thanks but it's nothing to worry about. I mean…I know how to survive in the jungle, I'm a co-club owner, I have great friends, and most of all, a great girlfriend. If I did get caught by the smugglers, then I don't know what my life would be like."
"Maybe just as good if you went through only the good sides of it. When you think about it, it never really matters what kind of life you live in, what matters is how you live it." Said Leo, and those words really hit Blu. Maybe his life wouldn't be too different if he did get captured.
Mikka and Leo got comfortable together in the nest, and Blu sat back outside without a problem. "Hey Blu, are you sure you're okay with sleeping out here again?" Leo asked.
"Oh yeah. You know, it actually took me just two whole days to figure out how to build it. I'm okay with this. You two just enjoy yourselves and I'll help you with the new nest tomorrow."
Mikka, "Okay, goodnight Blu."
"Goodnight."
Blu began to lay down, and looked up at the night sky again, enjoying what he could before going to sleep, and noticed a constellation that looked like Jewel. "Hmm. Goodnight Jewel." He said as he finally slept, and Jewel said the same thing to Blu while she was back with Eva's. Even she noticed a constellation that looked like Blu.
So the two lovebirds were each at their homes and slept, as they felt like there weren't any worries for the rest of their lives.
More Notes & Disclaimers:
• "a little faster": Since they can still fly.
• "Everyone…SHUT UP!": It's possible I could've been thinking about Chicken Run when I wrote this.
• "I don't know": If he only knew.
• "if he did get captured": Wink, wink.
Please don't expect the next chapters to be as long as this. Also the song that Blu and Jewel sang together was "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell.