Rio: Fear and Feathers in Las Vegas
Chapter 15 - Back Home
"Nigel!" Blu cried. "You hurt my son, I promise that I will- aaaahhhh!"
He and Jewel dodged an oncoming speeding taxi, with Nigel cackling with joy.
"You should have stayed back in Minnesota, cerulean bird!"
This was turning out to be difficult almost every second; the Strip was definitely more active at nighttime, and with so many buildings, Jewel had to add more speed so that she didn't let Nigel out of her sight.
As for Carlos, he was just really tired of other birds kidnapping him.
So, he was about to try and bite the cockatoo's leg, but Nigel warned, "Do that, and I'll make you an omelet in 3 seconds."
Meanwhile, Blu took in the distance they currently had, his own weight, and looked up at Jewel, saying, "Honey, I have an idea! Throw me at him like a sling shot!"
Looking at his injured wing, Jewel began to protest, "But, Blu, what about...?"
"It's fine," said Blu, half-telling the truth. "Just let me deal with it. And this is our only chance."
With a heavy sigh, Jewel nodded her head, and she looked up at Nigel. "Hey! Batter up, fatso!"
Using all her strength, Jewel swung Blu at Nigel, hitting the cockatoo like a wrecking ball, and as he flew up into a nearby dumpster, Blu and Carlos tumbled across the sidewalk.
Once they stopped, Blu (eyes closed) said, "Oh, my gosh... am I dead?"
"I hope not."
All of a sudden, Blu opened his eyes, and turned to look at Carlos, who was a little ruffled up. "Was that you?"
His son began looking nervous, but Blu said to him, "Hey, it's okay, I'm here now. You're safe with me... I won't be disappointed."
The little Macaw sighed, and gave his father a warm smile. "Uh... are you okay, Dad?"
Ignoring the pain in his wing, Blu hugged his son, relieved that he'd finally overcome his speaking fear. "I haven't heard that voice in a VERY long time."
Carlos chuckled, but then, he looked around, and said, "Hey, where's Mom?"
"Ugh..." groaned Nigel, his head popping out from the pile of trash, but before he could climb out, the lid came crashing down shut, and the cockatoo moaned in a dizzy defeat.
"Hope you've learned your lesson," taunted Jewel, flying in the air.
"Wow! Nice one, Mom!"
She turned to the side, and saw Blu flying awkwardly towards the top of the dumpster, followed by Carlos.
"What did... did he..." Jewel couldn't believe it.
Blu chuckled, and after Carlos nodded his head, the little bird said, "Hi, Mom, I - oof!"
Jewel gave him a warm, soothing hug, and Carlos said, "Yeah, I know. I missed you too."
"Oh, if only I had my camera," said Blu.
Jewel looked at Carlos, and stroked his face with her wing feathers. "Are you okay?"
"I've never been better," said Carlos, with Jewel hugging him again. "Aww, Mom, come on, not in front of Dad!"
Blu just laughed, and said, "All right, you two, let's go home now."
When they came back to the others, Blu was about to embrace his other children when Vinny stepped in front of him.
He didn't say anything at first, but then, Blu smiled after the crow offered a wing for a handshake.
"Thanks for taking care of Nigel for me," smiled Vinny.
"Thanks for not hurting my son," smiled Blu.
With a final nod, Vinny and the rest of his crows took to the skies, flying to wherever home was for them.
Looking at his friends - no, his "family", Blu said, "Okay, I am officially done with Vegas, so I think it's good enough now for us to go home."
"Aw, come on, Blu," groaned Wally. "I didn't even get to hit the jackpot at the casinos!"
Arthur chuckled, shaking his head, and was about to take off when Jewel said, "Hold it. Arthur,Rafael, if you don't mind, I'd like a little word with both of you."
The toucan and blue macaw looked at each other, while Blu simply gulped, and said, "Okay, kids, come follow the rest of us."
As Blu, Jez, Nico, Pedro, Robyn, Wally, and the 3 macaw kids began flying in the sky (with Jez holding onto Blu), Sergio asked, "Is Mom okay, Dad?"
"She's perfectly fine," replied Blu. "Just um... needed to have a discussion with Rafael and Arthur about something important."
A few hours later, Jewel and the others had caught up to them, with Blu noticing that they were quiet now.
"What happened?" Blu asked.
"I'll tell you later," replied Jewel, who looked relieved about something.
##########
Once they had returned (at last) to the sanctuary, Blu was about to go and find Linda when he was stopped at the moment by Arthur.
"Oh, hey, Artie," smiled the Macaw. "Feels good to be home, right?"
To his surprise, Arthur said, "Um, well, actually, Blu... this is just a visit for me."
"What?" Blue looked confused. "You mean you aren't..."
"I'm not staying in Rio for a while, buddy," replied Arthur. "I didn't say forever, but I just want to try and get out of the past in order to prepare for the future. Cause, frankly, all of what I've done since meeting you and Jewel hasn't been much of what I would put in the friendship category."
Blu wanted to protest, but Arthur would not accept that. "I already told Jez this back in Vegas... also with Jewel... after she attacked me... and if you're anything like them, your reasons for me to stay will almost be the same. I ain't changing my mind. This is something I have to do."
Arthur offered a wing up, and with a smile, Blu shook it with his non-broken wing. "Take care of yourself out there, pal... I don't want to be the only male in our species again."
Arthur laughed, and said, "I'll be cool, little boy blue. Enjoy Rio, okay? It's our home."
With those final words, Arthur took off to the skies, and after Blu blinked, he was gone.
"You okay, Dad?"
Blu turned to see his daughter, now by his side,and he said, "I'm good, Ruby. Just can't believe we're home."
"Neither can I," replied Carlos, flying over, as well, making Ruby chuckle.
"Why do I have the feeling that now that you're talking again, I'm gonna wish sometimes you'd shut up?"
Carlos shrugged, and said, "Beats me. Probably cause we're siblings."
Blu just smiled as the two began to argue while he flew to the top of the sanctuary post.
Looking at the sun and the clouds, the young Macaw was thinking about everything that had happened to him, starting from Minnesota, and ending up in Las Vegas... not noticing Jewel flying over to be by him.
"How's the wing?"
Blu looked at her, moving his injured wing around, and said, "Uh, pretty good, actually... just that my flying is gonna be a bit crooked for a while."
Jewel smiled, and brought herself close to Blu, saying, "You're my one and only, sweetheart. I'd love you no matter what."
"Well, duh, since I'm technically the only ONE at our, um, age to... uh... you know, it doesn't matter. I'd love you, too..."
Jewel rolled her eyes, chuckling, and brought him towards her. "Come on, love hawk, let's go have some fun."
"Oh, yeah, right, fun," replied Blu. "Um... exactly what KIND of fun?"
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{A few months later... New Year's Eve}
Oh, yeah...
Two, zero, one, two
Whoa, oh, oh, yeah
It's alright, oh it's alright
Almost all of the birds in Rio were celebrating at the local town square, along with some of the human citizens, since it was the time to celebrate the beginning of a new year.
And Rio definitely knew how to make a party.
You know what they say
Life ain't always easy and everyday
We're survivors
So forget the day
Its all about tonight act a fool, and start a riot, be a rebel
Music poppin' til we can't stand
We keep it rockin' 'til six A.M.
New York to London over to Japan
Turn it up, turn it up
Mash it up
We gonna party like
Party like, like it's the end of the world
We gonna party like, like it's 2012
You know that it doesn't matter as long as we got each other
Turn it up, turn it up
Mash it up
It ain't the end of the world, oh
Gonna live like it's the end of the world
Gonna party like, oh
Turn it up, turn it up
Mash it up
It ain't the end of the world
Have a drink with me
And lets make tonight go down
In history, in history yeah
Lets play make believe
Its the last twenty-four hours and this
Whole world is ours eternally, eternally
It ain't the end of the world, oh
We gotta live like its the end of the world
We gotta party like, oh
Turn it up, turn it up
Mash it up
It ain't the end of the world, no
No I'm not gonna follow
Anything that they say anymore
It's never to late to start living
So let start it with here right now
Party like like its the end of the world
We gonna party like like it's two thousand and twelve
You know that it doesn't matter as long as we got each other
Turn it up
Turn it up, mash it up
It ain't the end of the world, oh
We're gonna live like its the end of the world
We're gonna party like, oh
Turn it up, turn it up
Mash it up
It ain't the end of the world
The world
Because the world keeps spinning
The world keeps spinninng around
From the sanctuary, Blu and Jewel were celebrating with Nico, Robyn, Pedro, and Flora while Rafael was with the kids.
"All right, it's time to rock this place to the max," cheered Pedro.
What is love if it's not with you?
I know when you're alone you feel it too
In your arms is where I long to be
'Cause being with you gives me sanity (hey!)
Oh... listen to me, darling
I wake up every morning thinkin' 'bout the way you feel
Oh... I wonder if you know it
And what good is the party if you're not around?
Listen to me now
What good is love... (is it a crazy love?)
If it's not your love? (is it amazing love?)
What good is love...
Nico- Am I your baby love?
If it's not your love?
Nico- Is it a crazy love?
Blu: What's a song if you can't hear it too? (hey hey)
Jewel: Can't imagine dancing without you
Blu: A shooting star ain't really nothin' to see
Jewel: If you're not right here standing next to me
(Humans)
Oh... listen to me, darling
I wake up every morning thinkin' 'bout the way you feel
Oh... I wonder if you know it
And what good is the party if you're not around?
Listen to me now
What good is love... (is it a crazy love?)
If it's not your love? (is it amazing love?)
What good is love... (am I your baby love?)
If it's not your love? (is it a crazy love?)
Oh, oh, oh, oh... (ooh...)
Oh, oh, oh, oh... (Rio...)
Oh, oh, oh, oh...
Oh... (oh...)
To Be Continued...