Notes & Disclaimers:
• Rio is Blue Sky Studios.
To those of you who are reading this story for the first time, know that you will notice tons of spoilers for "New Kind of Story," so please be mindful of that while enjoying the tales and other things I share.
(Please leave a comment and enjoy!)
Ch1
December 25, Christmas time. It has been multiple years since the friend, Tyler "Blu" Gunderson (or in this universe just Blu) the Spix Macaw got separated from his parents and grew up in the jungle. But through those years he never did it alone, because he had great friends. A group of animals to call family, and not only that, he even had the best girlfriend he could ask for.
Jewel, the most beautiful, caring, and only other blue macaw that Blu has ever truly known, and the rest of his friends were…
Rafael, the selfless and fun toucan.
Eva, Rafael's significant other and Jewel's adoptive sister.
Nico and Pedro, the two samba brothers of Rio.
Carlos and Sophia, Eva and Jewel's parents.
Leo and Mikka, the scarlet couple and…parents of their young beautiful daughter, Angel.
Linda and Tulio, the first and young human friends of Blu and Jewel.
During the years, Blu always had nothing but the best times with his friends, and it was mutual for them. But really…it was more so for them since they always felt like their lives have somehow changed for the better, all because of Blu.
What gang could make the last male blue macaw on earth more happy than this one? And with it being a new Christmas time for everyone, they were indeed able to celebrate. So during the night, the whole gang had a chance to express that during the best holiday around in Rio. Not only that, it was the last Christmas of the 20th century, and the party animals of Rio were celebrating like mad.
They were in their usual place, the samba club, and the whole festivities started with one of the birds on stage singing one classic…with a beautiful voice.
"I don't want a lot for Christmas." It was the opening act of their Christmas Karaoke Party from their friend…Eva the Toucan. "There is just one thing I need. I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree. I just want you for my own, more than you could ever know. Make my wish come true." She paused for a moment on the stage, seeing everyone, and her friends were actually smiling at her, especially her significant other, Rafael. "All I want for Christmas is you, yeah."
The new band of the club played the music and everyone began to dance along. Rafi even came up to her on stage. They danced along together as she continued.
"I don't want a lot for Christmas. There is just one thing I need, and I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree! I don't need to hang my stocking there upon the fireplace! Santa Claus won't make me happy with a toy on Christmas Day! I just want you for my own, more than you could ever know. Make my wish come true. Baby, all I want for Christmas is you! You, baby! All I want for Christmas is you, baby! All I want for Christmas is you, baby! All I want for Christmas is you, baby! All I want for Christmas is you, baby!"
A minute or so later, once the song ended, every animal cheered for Eva's performance. Though she may have had some personal doubts, she enjoyed and remembered the years she spent, dating Rafael and learning from him on how to sing. Making her grateful that every performance she made ended well. So she flew down the stage and joined her smiling friends.
"Whoo-Hoo! Eva, my love, that was amazing!" Said the hyped Rafael, who flew to Eva again, giving her a tight hug and kiss to her cheek.
"Easy, Rafi. Not in front of everyone." She mumbled, blushing with embarrassment.
"You know I can't help it." Rafael replied as the hug was released.
Then everyone came over to hug her. Once they stopped, the friends each got to share their own opinion.
Jewel said, "That was great, Eva."
"Yeah, and we all had no doubt on how well it would turn out." Blu chanted.
Even Eva's parents were more than happy for her.
"Thank you guys." Eva said. "And thank you, Rafi, for teaching me all these years."
Rafael, "You don't need to thank me, I just helped because I wanted everyone to see how great your talent is."
"Hmm." Eva moaned with a blissful tone, because for many years, she appreciated the passionate words that her fellow lovebird always shared with her. Plus, like Jewel with Blu, she also felt her legs jiggling, as if she could barely stand when hearing Rafi's words too.
Suddenly, Pedro spoke up saying, "Alright, lovebirds. It's great to see how we treatin' each other, but I think it's time to continue on with our Christmas party!" He flew off to the audience and the rest of the gang followed him.
Everyone continued dancing to their christmas radio-station and singing karaoke, and the group somewhat separated in the crowd. Each side went about their business for the party. Still, nobody imagined any time that would be more enjoyable than celebrating the most wonderful time of the year together.
Mikka and Leo were dancing together with their baby daughter, Angel.
"Merry Christmas, Mommy and Daddy." Angel said so sweetly, and her parents quickly stopped dancing and replied, "Merry Christmas, our little Angel. We love you."
"I love you too."
Mikka couldn't help but cry a little before saying, "W-Wow, Loveo…can you believe how far we've come?"
Leo replied, "I know, right? We decided to make a nest together, and we did. We traveled here, met a lot of great friends, and best of all…"
"We have a beautiful family. I-I don't think I could be anymore h-happier than this." Mikka slowly sobbed, and Leo smiled as the three scarlets continued hugging.
Though while everyone else was dancing, Nico, Pedro, and Luiz were simply watching everything. Trying to chill.
"Wow, they really are serious." Pedro said and Nico replied, "Yeah, I just wonder when we'll each find a girl of our own."
Luiz stepped. "I know you two will, but for me…I'm not really interested in meeting a girl."
Pedro, "What? Aww come on. I know that's not true."
"I'm serious, guys. Why would I need a girlfriend when I've got good friends here?"
"Haha. Luiz, my non-bird buddy, you may have a good point, but if the lives of all our friends tell us anything, it's that you'll get your own girl eventually."
"Thanks…but I still don't think so."
Nico and Pedro chuckled away from him. It almost made it look like that the two now had a new goal…finding a female dog for their drooling pal.
Rafael and Eva looked like they enjoyed themselves more. They danced slowly, looked at each other passionately, and almost kissed every time they got closer. But Eva felt totally embarrassed as her parents were also dancing in the back and smiled seeing them together.
Rafael noticed her expression and asked, "What's wrong, love?"
Eva replied, "Sorry, sweetie. It's just…even though things have changed, my parents won't stop staring at us. It's like they still think I'm a little hatchling that needs to be watched over."
"Eh. I think that's normal. After all, we've only been married more than a year or so. They're just trying to get used to it."
"Even so, I just wish they'd already get used to the fact that I'm grown up and love the fact that I'm stuck with you forever."
"I think they will and have. Many parents just have their own ways of adjusting. And besides, if you are feeling embarrassed about it, maybe this will help." Rafael stopped dancing and kissed Eva's cheek again, causing her to feel shaky and barely stand…again. Rafael stopped her from dreamily falling and hugged her dearly. "Haha. You're adorable. You know that?"
"Oh Rafi. I…I wish I could tell you how much I love you…but every time I look at you, I can barely breathe or stand."
"Maybe that's a good thing. If this is how you feel, it just makes me want to love you even more." He put his wing around her. Making Eva feel relaxed inside, and encouragingly hug him back.
"Rafi-" Eva said like she was in a trance.
"Shh. It's alright, Eva. Just let me dance the night away with you."
Eva closed her eyes, feeling Rafael's comfort, as if nothing would ever make her feel more safe than this.
"I l-love you, Rafael."
"I love you too, my tasty mango. And I promise I'll never let you go."
"Please don't. Don't start now, and don't ever."
Carlos and Sophia couldn't help but feel sad seeing how much their daughter has grown up, while also acknowledging their time together too.
"Remember when I used to be like that toward you, Carlos?" Said Sophia.
"Towards me? Really? I seem to remember more of myself being the snake to your prey."
"Yeah. You were quite smooth but you were also smart enough to never do anything to tick me off." Sophia glared and Carlos awkwardly gulped.
"Right."
"Haha. I'm joking." Sophia then chuckled. "Either way, I'm grateful for all the time I've spent with you."
"Same here. I can't imagine what my life would be like without you and our daughter."
"I would. It would be nothing but lonely."
"Aw." The two hugged each other and enjoyed their time as well.
Every animal in the club was having nothing but an exciting time on Christmas night, especially the two amazing lovebirds themselves: Blu and Jewel.
"Wow, Blu." Said Jewel.
"'Wow' is pretty much right. I'm grateful to spend this time of year joyfully with everyone…especially you." Said Blu.
Jewel heard her significant other's words and looked deeply into his eyes. "Same here, dear."
"Dear?"
"Yeah. What, we're married and I don't get to call you names like 'dear' or 'sweetheart'?"
"No, no. You can, I just think I admire that a little more than you think. Plus, didn't we call each other that long before we made it official?"
"Good point." The two continued dancing to the music and even they couldn't imagine a better time than this. Then Jewel continued, "And you know, I think it's amazing how fast time goes by."
"Me too. You and I have been married for a few years now and enjoyed so much in our lives."
"Yeah. Aw, remember when Rafael and Eva first told us they were getting married? I was so excited for them…that I couldn't think about anything better except me getting married to you. I was so scared to ask though."
"Really? Because I remember when you did, you looked like you didn't even hesitate. The courage I saw in your eyes was like shining stars. And since then, that day, I've been grateful to have said yes, and that Carlos and Sophia, and my family were happy with it too."
Jewel chuckled, "Uh huh. It hasn't been that long since we made it official and moved in together. Since even our gang expanded when sweet little Angel came into the world. And…since we got separated from our previous families."
"Yeah, but at least that part led to something great."
"I agree. We met and fell in love with each other, and because of you…I believe that we'll find them together someday. No doubt about it. I love you, Blu."
"I love you too, Jewel."
"And another thing, I…I…"
"I-I-I what? It's okay, you can say it."
"I…Blu, you should know before we got married, from the time even before we became a couple…I always thought to myself…I want to spend every moment of my life with you."
Blu's eyes were wide open from that remark, and Jewel gave him the tightest loving hug she could. He loved Jewel beyond so much. But the thought that Jewel loved him that much for so long never crossed Blu's mind once. The idea of it made his heart race like a cheetah. Then Jewel dropped her head down thinking that it was a silly thing to bring up but Blu smiled and lifted her chin up to see her eyes.
"Is that really how you felt about me? Since the beginning?" He smiled.
"More than you could ever know. From now and forever, even after we reunite with our parents, and imagine if they didn't think we were right for each other, or if there are macaws getting in between us, I want to be with you and no one else in the entire world. I want to be with you for the rest of my life…and maybe even beyond that…no matter what." Jewel smiled, feeling tears coming down her eyes and kept hugging Blu. Even he began to feel it since he really saw how much Jewel loved him back. So he hugged her back.
"Jewel?"
"Y-Yes?"
"I love you and I always will love you…forever."
"I will love you forever too. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas."
"And a happy new year…"
"And nothing but more happiness in all the years to come."
"Exactly."
The two continued hugging while dancing, but once they shut their eyes, neither of 'em had a clue that everyone was lovingly staring at them.
So as the night went on, everyone continued dancing like it was their last Christmas, and in a way it still was. Then later once everybody finally left, it was straight early in the morning and the gang decided to stay behind and sleep in the club. Except for Blu and Jewel.
"Hey Blu, do you wanna head home?" Jewel asked.
Blu, feeling as tired as she did but wanting to rest in their regular home, replied, "Sure. Bye everyone."
"Bye." Replied the gang as the lovebirds flew off (with Jewel flying and carrying Blu because he still couldn't fly yet) and left to their nest while everyone else settled in at the club.
Including Rafael and Eva. Rafi laid on top of a little soft blanket on the ground, and as Eva laid by his side, she wanted to say one last thing.
"Rafi, thank you. Thank you for…"
"For what?"
"For being the best husband a girl like me could ask for. I love you so much, my juicy papaya. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, sweetheart."
Now Eva couldn't help but slowly move her beak to his, and he gladly accepted it.
The two kissed as everyone was settled in. Nico, Pedro, and Luiz each found their own sleeping spot, Leo and Mikka slept next to each other with baby Angel in their wings, and Carlos and Sophia slept in their own area too.
Everyone in Rio soon slept like they were in a camp and let the night go by before they could all get ready for the next event that was coming in six days.
More Notes & Disclaimers:
• "beautiful voice": This is the first spoiler. In this series, Rafael and Eva were kids when they first met. At that time, Rafael gave Eva both the confidence and lesson on how to sing differently. Giving her a new ability that grew over the years, and made her sing better than in the original movie.
• "All I Want for Christmas is You" was sung by Eva, originally performed by Mariah Carey.
• "married": Just like what was established in Ch2 of "New Kind of Story," I'm not going to specify what year it is or how old everyone is. But I can say that even though some of the characters are still at a young age, Rafael and Eva, and Blu and Jewel, each pair was given the privilege to officially be wedded.
• "my family": This will be established later in Rio NKS. But imagine it in the character's perspective, he said the name of who he was referring to.
Now with this part done, I first want to say thanks for reading. Plus to explain this: ages ago…when I made that Halloween special "A New Kind of Spook," I remember Alexriolover95 once said in a comment that if I wanted to, I could try splitting these short stories into smaller chapters rather than one for each special. And because I am taking the opportunity to re-establish each of these stories, I figured, why not?
Now "New Kind of Century" will be three chapters instead of one, and with this, it gives me the opportunity to point out something that I hope you will all find good. I have established multiple times already that I would be publishing my stories in the order that they were released previously.
So after this, the continuation of Alexriolover95's fanfiction "Life of Love" and prequel to his other story "Roses," would be next. That continuation is next in line. I have a new plan in mind for it, which will be something that'll work as different but hopefully still enjoyable and meaningful to everyone. I hope you like it and the next stories I share.
I also know that there's been a lot of news going on in the pop-culture community. Not just with Rio, but many more. I will share my opinion on some of those later on when I finish publishing the first chapters of my other stories.
One more thing, to make sure this story still feels New Years appropriate, I'm gonna try to release the final chapters at the end of December. And if you are all feeling anxious about when I publish anything else, just know that it'll be alright. I am publishing stories and art at my own pace and you guys will love them.
Until then, see ya and have a great day.