I, WolfOnFyre, present to you...my third Rio Fanfiction!

This is a sequel to The Betrayal, for those of you who have read it.

This is probably going to be the most exciting story I will ever write!

*Disclaimer: Rio and all of its characters belong to Blue Sky Studios. I do, however, own a few OC's.*

Please review when you finish! I will proably be updating daily, so this is just the beginning!

Theme Song: Skillet-Monster

~Until Tomorrow, Wolf Out!~

Prologue: As the family and friends of Blu accept his loss, they realize it will take time to adjust.

However, things will soon be looking up for them.

In a shadowed part of the jungle, a certain macaw is stirring. As Blu realizes he has been spared, what he discovers will change his own life, and the lives of everyone around him.

The changes that have affected him as a result of his revival will force him to accept the new creature he has become...

Chapter 1: Remembrance

The four macaws and the viper gave half-hearted smiles as Jewel landed in the hollow. However, she just shambled over and embraced her three children, bursting into tears.

All three macaws asked, "M-Mama, where is Papa? Why isn't he with y-you?"

Jewel could hardly speak the next words: "Seu pai não vai voltar..."

Her children stared at her in disbelief. "What do you m-mean he's not coming b-back? Does t-that mean he is..."

"Y-yes! Ele está morto. Sinto muito..."

Esperanza shouted, "No, mother! He can't be dead! He will come back!"

She let go of her mother, and sobbing visibly, she turned and faced the viper. "Y-you said h-he was okay! You lied! You k-killed him..."

Riphate could not believe that her father had succumbed to such a small amount of venom. It was simply not possible. He was in near perfect health!

"I gave him the ssssmallest amount possssible! Any lessss than that would have been a dry bite! I don't know how it could have killed him..."

The six creatures suddenly felt as though the air had been sucked from the hollow.

Jewel's father went up to her and hugged her. "I-I am so sorry, daughter. He was a fine mate, and a loving father. You know as well as I that he will be missed. But on top of that, he will be remembered..."

Jewel sniffled and gazed at her father. "I-I guess you are right. I will try to be the best mother that I can, in his absence. That is w-what he would have wanted."

"I feel that is true. But don't worry, Jewel. I don't doubt that you have always been a fine mother for your children, and that will never change."

"Thank you, father. But what a-are we going to do with..."

"I think that Blu needs a proper burial. We should arrange the funeral as soon as possible."

Jewel merely nodded and went to her corner of the hollow with her children.

"Jewel, I will go and bring Blu's...body from the other side of the jungle. You can start gathering the flowers for his grave. I will return as quickly as I can."

As he made his way towards the exit, Jewel stopped him.

"Father, I am g-going to go tell our f-friends. They have to know about Blu's...death, and the funeral." Her father replied sullenly, "Okay, daughter. But be careful."

She then turned to her children and said, "Vicente, Ricardo, Esperanza, you n-need to go out and g-gather as many flowers as you can."

They nodded dejectedly and watched their mother accompany her father to the exit.

The two macaws launched themselves into the chilly atmosphere. They went their separate ways, Vicente heading straight from the hollow, while Jewel peeled off to the west.

As they vanished from sight, Jewel's children did the same, slowly flying back and forth across the jungle in their search for the flowers.

The heavy gray cloud cover did not help ease Jewel's mood as she flew slowly towards the home home of her toucan friends. To her, it was a mirror of sorts, for it reflected the image of her soul.

It was also as if the newly healed hole in her chest had allowed her soul to be flung across the vast expanse of sky above.

As she neared the stubby tree that they inhabited, she glanced down at the ground below. Rafael and Eva were standing on the ground, and Pedro and Nico were with them as well.

Jewel went into a quick dive and alighted on the leafy floor a few feet away.

"Hey, it's our old friend Jewel! Me and Nico was wonderin' were you been all this time! How's life been treating you?"

Jewel took a long time to reply, and the smiles on the others' faces vanished.

Shel stared at the ground, drew a deep breath, and muttered, "I don't know how to describe how weak I feel. It's because...my mate...is dead."

The four other birds could not believe what she had said. They all wondered if something had gone awry with their hearing.

Rafael said, "C-could you repeat that, Jewel? I think I heard you wrong."

"You didn't. Blu...is gone. Forever."

Pedro shouted, "W-what! When? How?"

"We went to go visit a new neighbor, and she trapped us in her hollow. She ordered a s-snake to keep us f-from escaping, and when Blu tried to get away, he w-was bitten. He went unconscious, a-and he never woke u-up..."

Eva began crying, and she said, "That is...horrible! I cannot express how sad I am, Jewel. I thought that you and Blu would live long lives together. Why did this have to happen!"

Jewel did not reply. Rafael approached her and asked, "A-are you going to have a funeral?"

"Y-yes. My father went to bring Blu back to our home. My children went to gather the f-flowers. We should be having it later today..."

Rafael nodded and returned to his sobbing wife. "Eva, we are going to go to Blu's funeral. That is, if you want to go..."

"Of course *sniff* I will go. How could you expect me not to. Blu was so dear to me..."

Pedro and Nico walked up to Jewel and said, "We will come too. It would be a disgrace for us not to."

"That would be so nice. Thank you so much. You guys are the best..."

"Hey, it's what we are here for. We will help you get through this. It will be okay. We are going to bring some guests to the funeral, and we will meet you there when it starts. Bye, Jewel."

She watched as the canary and cardinal flew off into the jungle soon fading from sight. Jewel turned to the toucans and said, "I-I am going back home now. I need to help set the funeral up."

"Okay, Jewel. We will be there. Don't worry."

She lifted off and left the two toucans behind, heading straight back to her nest. I wonder who Nico and Pedro will be bringing? I guess I will just have to wait and find out...

Nico and Pedro flew languidly through the Sanctuary, finally finding an exit hole and slipping through it. They trekked across the oddly quiet city, finally arriving at their destination: The Palm.

They landed just outside of its walls, and they heard nothing but silence once again. "Are you sure the club ain't closed, Nico?"

"I hope it isn't. We have to do this, for Jewel."

They entered the club, and they were relieved to see that it was fairly packed with birds of all kinds. The DJ was not at his booth, so they figured he was taking a break between songs.

They flew up to the stage and passed through the rear curtain, looking around for Kipo. They spotted a large shadow just ahead, and they called his name.

He came around the corner and looked down at them, smiling. "Hey, boys! Back for another performance?"

The two birds frowned and replied, "No. We came to gather some birds for a...funeral."

"Oh. I am sorry to hear that. Who is it for?" "It's...it's for...Blu."

His eyes widened in response. "Oh my word! I didn't know he was dead. How tragic! Jewel must be in pieces."

"Isn't it. We just found out a little while ago. Can we announce it to the club?"

"By all means, go ahead. Oh, and I will probably be at the funeral. Blu was like a brother to me. The way the club went crazy when he danced...I will never forget him."

"Cool, bro. The funeral will be later today, so just come whenever you can, okay?"

"Will do, boys."

The two birds passed through the curtain and re-emerged on the stage. Pedro moved forward and said, "Attention, ya'll. Me and Nico got some news to announce about a certain macaw you may know. His name is Blu."

With that, most of the birds grew excited and anxious to hear the news about this famous macaw.

One bird asked, "Well? Is he coming here to perform? He is so awesome!" Another bird added, "What about his mate? She is the best singer that I have heard so far!"

Nico shouted, "No. He is not coming, and neither is Jewel. A terrible tragedy has occurred."

The club was instantly silenced, and the room grew tense. "We have just learned that Blu, this club's famous performer, is...dead."

The club erupted in into shouts of disbelief. "What?" "When did this happen?" "This can't be true!"

Pedro declared, "It is true. His mate came and told us a short while ago. She is preparing the funeral as we speak. We would like to ask you all if you could come to the funeral. Me and Pedro know how much of an icon Blu was to you all."

"Oh, my. This is so sad." "I will go. It's the best I can do." "Yeah. I will come too..." Pretty soon, it sounded as though the whole club was going to attend the funeral of their former star, Blu.

One bird shouted, "Should we bring anything?" Like flowers or, or, something?"

Nico replied, "You can bring flowers, if you want to. It is not mandatory, but it is a show of respect."

"In that case, I will bring some flowers." "Me too." "So will I."

Pedro said, "The funeral should begin in a few hours. It will be at the Blu Bird Sanctuary. Once you get there, look for a small clearing with a cannonball tree in the middle. That is where he will be buried. We hope to see you there..."

The two birds exited the club, but before they returned to the jungle, they had one last guest to invite.

They flew across the city once again, before arriving at Luiz's garage. They entered the spooky building and called his name.

He emerged from the shadows and charged at them, stopping just in time. "Hey, guys! How you been? What's crackin'?"

"Not so well, man. We came to ask if you could come to a funeral."

"What? A funeral for who?"

"A funeral for Blu. He is dead."

"What! Yous must be joking! That macaw can't be dead! He too cool for that!"

"We are sorry Luiz, but he is. Jewel is organizing the funeral right now."

"Oh man, I'm gonna cry now. I can't believe he dead."

The bulldog began to shed tears, and he began to drool profusely as well.

"Neither can we, but that is the reality. Do you know where the Blu Bird Sanctuary is?"

"Yeah. I t-think so."

"The funeral will be there. Once you get in, look for a crowd of birds in a small clearing. That's where it will be."

"Okay. I will be there. Man, this really sucks..."

The two birds flew off and escaped the garage. They flew high above the city, towards the patch of green that was the Blu Bird Sanctuary. They hoped that the birds from the club would come, for Jewel's sake...

Jewel had toiled for several hours to get everything set up for her mate's burial.

Her children had collected a copious amount of flowers, ranging from the blooms of orchids, to mangoes and even papayas. They even harvested a few large palm flowers.

They had carefully arranged them at the base of the tree they lived in. Vicente had carried Blu's body back from the dark section of the jungle.

Blu now rested peacefully against the trunk of the tree, at the head of the lane of flowers that adorned the clearing. It appeared as if he was merely sleeping.

Jewel found it nearly impossible to look at her mate as she worked. The beautiful design they had created with the flowers seemed like a mockery to the reality of her situation.

Riphate had been unable to help out, since the cold atmosphere had rendered him sluggish and tired.

He was staying in the hollow as a result, and he felt horrible for what he had done, even though it was not his intent.

He had wanted to try and redeem himself to Jewel for what he had accidentally done, but he knew that he may very well never be able to. He oozed over to the entrance and poked his head out, settling down to watch the activity from above.

Just outside, the finishing touches were added to the flowers and the makeshift stage was built. As Jewel glanced around, she noticed that Rafael, Eva, Nico and Pedro had arrived.

They helped the others tidy up, and then they sat and waited for the other birds to arrive. Much to Jewel's surprise, a large number of birds began to trickle in, and they all brought flowers clutched in their talons.

They placed them artfully along with the rest and alighted down in the clearing, which was starting to get quite full.

She made her way through the solemn crowd and approached the canary and cardinal.

"Are these the 'guests' you were going to bring?"

They replied, "Yes, Jewel. We went to The Palm and told them. Kipo is coming too."

"Well, thank you. This is so kind..."

"Don't thank us. Thank them."

Almost half an hour later, Kipo had arrived with his own gift: A small stack of photos from Blu and Jewel's past performances at The Palm. She took them and stashed them away in her hollow.

When she returned, she noticed that Luiz had come as well, and the crowd had grown nervous.

She heard him reassuring them that he was a friendly dog, although his "medical condition" had caused the other birds to move away from him.

Jewel felt that it was time to begin the procession, so she lofted over to the crude stage to the left of the tree. She gazed out at the silent crowd and cleared her throat.

"I assume you have all heard the distressing news that Blu, my mate, has passed on. I do not feel comfortable going into the details, so I ask you to forgive me.

I know now that life will be hard for me and my children, but we must move forward. The past cannot be changed, but the future however, can be changed.

Me and my family will work to change it for the better. Let us take this day to honor the noble macaw known as Blu."

As Jewel continued her speech, it was clear that she was struggling to speak through the tears that had begun to drip from her eyes.

"He was content with his former life in Minnesota, but he agreed to come to Rio to attempt to save his species.

When I first met him, I thought that he was a strange, goofy bird. I was also troubled by the fact that he could not fly.

After we were captured by smugglers, his lack of flight made our escape that much harder. However, escape we did, and we traveled across Rio to remove the chain that the smugglers had joined us with.

During that adventure, I found myself growing more comfortable with Blu, and I grew to admire his true nature: smart, cheerful, and a bit awkward, even.

After we were freed, we had a small argument, and let me just say that we let it all out. I was angered by his take on our situation, and I flew off.

I was captured again by one of the smuggler's birds, and little did I know that I was destined for a plane that would soon take me away for good.

Blu attempted to rescue me, and he was captured as well. After we were taken to a small airport inside of a carnival float, we were loaded onto the plane, and Blu managed to break free from his cage.

We freed the others and fled the plane. However, I realized that Blu still could not fly, and I stayed behind to work out a solution.

Blu was attacked by the evil bird, and I was injured as I tried to help him. Blu took care of the bird, but I fell from the plane.

Blu put aside his own safety and came after me. He caught me, and as we fell towards the ocean, I kissed him. I knew then that Blu would do anything for me, and that is when he flew me to safety.

We then moved here, and after my wing recovered, we had our children. It was a lovely life, while it lasted..."

Jewel took a pause and wiped her face with her wing.

"That is the story of our lives, up until this point.

Recently, a tragic series of events led to his death, instigated by another evil macaw. She is dead now, but we know that her death will not bring my former mate back to life, for that is not the way that life works.

We all will miss him, but he shall live on, in our hearts and minds. This day is one of remembrance for him..."

A few birds in the crowd nodded silently, and a few others began to cry at Jewel's powerful eulogy.

"I thank you all for your choice to come. As this funeral nears its end, take the time to pay respects to my mate, if you wish.

Feel free to leave after that. I thank you all so much..."

Jewel flew down into the crowd, which by now had begun to form into a line that was slowly filing past Blu. The guests took nearly an hour to pay their respects, and after that, some of them had left.

Others had stayed to witness Blu's burial. Jewel had chosen a spot behind the tree, just past the edge of the clearing, to be his resting place.

Now she knew why Luiz had come: He would be the one to dig the grave for them.

After a few minutes of digging amidst the leafy jungle, Blu's body was carefully lowered into the semi-deep hole by her children.

Jewel and her family had covered his body with flowers, and they said their final goodbyes. Luiz solemnly replaced the soft dirt after they finished, trying his best to conceal the grave site.

They re-emerged into the clearing, and Jewel nodded to the flock of birds. They soon dispersed, and the clearing was now nearly empty, save for her family and friends, and a few scattered flowers.

Luiz, the toucans, and Nico and Pedro soon departed as well.

Jewel looked up at the sky, and she noticed the pale glow from the hidden full moon.

Although she could not see the stars, she whispered, "I know you are up there, Blu. You will always be watching over me. Você sempre estará lá..."

She returned to her hollow and saw that the others were asleep.

She took out the photos and looked over them a few more times.

She sank down into her nest and joined them in their slumber, her eyes dripping tears as she slept.

Although she was still torn apart inside, she found peace in the fact that her mate's spirit would always be by her side, and that he would look down on her every night from above...