Los Dos Ernestos

a Coco AU fanfic

by DecaTilde


Prólogo - Adiós, Amigo


It all began in mid 1921, when beginning musician Héctor Rivera had packed up his songs after traveling on the road with his childhood friend, Ernesto de la Cruz. He was feeling homesick.

"You want to give up now," Ernesto began as Héctor closed his suitcase, "when we are this close to reaching our dream?"

"This was your dream," Héctor replied as he was heading toward the door. "You'll manage."

"I can't do this without your songs, Héctor!" Ernesto begged.

"I'm going home, Ernesto," Héctor replied again, pulling away from Ernesto. "Hate me if you want, but my mind is made up."

Ernesto felt a bit angry, but he controlled himself then.

"Oh, I could never hate you," he said, getting Héctor's attention. "If you must go, then I'm... I'm sending you off with a toast." He then poured drinks into two shot glasses. "To our friendship. I would move heaven and earth for you, mi amigo. Salud!"

The two toasted. While Héctor drank, Ernesto stared coldly as he drank. Little did he know that he made one fatal mistake.


Later that night, just as Ernesto walked Héctor to the train station, he stumbled and clutched his stomach painfully. Héctor ran to Ernesto, alarmed.

"Ernesto!" he called as Ernesto turned face up. "Are you all right, mi amigo?"

"Héctor," he replied, voice breaking. "Lo... lo siento."

"You're sorry?" Héctor repeated in English. "¿Por qué?"

"I cannot say," Ernesto answered, breathing heavily. "Adiós, amigo."

And with these last two words, Ernesto went lifeless.

"Ernesto!" Héctor gasped. Long silence. "ERNESTO!" The shout echoed throughout the city.