Bird-Smuggler Conflict

The Bird-Smuggler War was a conflict fought between Bird Smugglers and the Birds they intended to capture. Bird Smuggling had plagued Brazil for many years, but the smuggling operation took a major blow when a group of birds led by two rare Blue Macaws and the Angry Birds decided to fight back, and free their brethren.

## History

Ever since before or during 1996, smugglers have been kidnapping, capturing, and smuggling birds out of Rio de Janiero, Brazil. Blu was one of the victims of the smuggling operation. He was kidnapped from his home when he was just a baby, probably around 1996.

### Events of March 2011

Fifteen years later, Blu returns to Rio with his owner Linda, in hope of meeting Jewel, a another one of his kind. The two of them were kidnapped by the Smugglers however, and brought to their hideout where they were chained together.

Around the same time, the Angry Birds were having a normal day singing their theme song while guarding their eggs, when all of a sudden a helicopter with red markings captured them and brought them to the Smuggler's hideout in Rio, where they met fellow prisoners Blu and Jewel. They all soon became acquainted with Nigel, a cockatoo working for the smugglers who harbors a hatred against all bird-kind. He reveals that the Angry Birds, like Blu and Jewel, are a rare species of bird that are worth a high price on the market. Enraged, the Birds broke out of their cage and freed Blu, Jewel, and several other birds.

The smuggler leader, Marcel, tasked Nigel with recapturing the escaped birds. Nigel coerced the Marmosets of Rio into capturing them for him. The Angry Birds, Blu, and Jewel were able to fight off both the Marmosets and Nigel. They later met a toucan named Rafael, who knew someone who could help break Blu and Jewel's chain, a dog named Luiz. They made their way to his workshop across Rio, but were ambushed by Marmosets at the beach. The Birds fought off the Marmosets once again, and were able reach Luiz's workshop, where Blu and Jewel were finally free from their chains. However, while Jewel was flying, she was ambushed and kidnapped by Nigel.

The Birds chased them into Carnival, where they were able to defeat Mauro, the Marmoset leader, and find Jewel. However, Blu was captured by Nigel while trying to free Jewel (and so were Rafael, Pedro, and Nico too apparently). The Birds followed the smugglers to an airfield (by following a trail left by either Blu or Fernando). They battled their way across the airfield until they were able to reach the Smuggler's plane before it was able to take off.

Blu was able to break himself and Jewel out of their cages, and he along with the Angry Birds started freeing the other birds. Blu was able to open the main cargo door of the plane, which all the other birds used to escape and fly out. However, Nigel was able to ambush Blu and injure Jewel. The Angry Birds gathered around Nigel and started to threaten him, distracting Nigel long enough for Blu to attach a fire extinguisher to his leg and send him flying outside the plane, where he was hit by the plane's propeller. Jewel fell out of the plane and Blu jumped after her. Unbeknownst to the Angry Birds, Blu was able to finally learn how to fly and save himself and Jewel. The Angry Birds meanwhile were able to crash land back at their nest on Piggy Island just before the Pigs were about to steal the Eggs. Marcel and the rest of the Smugglers were arrested by the Brazilian authorities.

## Trivia

* It is not currently known who wanted to purchase the Angry Birds from the Smugglers. Neither is the identity of the Mysterious Dealer who wanted Blu and Jewel. Maybe we will find out someday.
* "I am the Mysterious Dealer" (Half-Blood Prince Reference)