In the middle of Mexico there resided a small town known as San Angel where our tale begins to unfold. As it so happen to be the day of the dead celebrations, Xibalba decided he had taken enough of serving as the Land of the Forgot ten's ruler where it was nothing but a bleak and vile wasteland. Xibalba went up to the surface where the humans were to speak with his former love La Muerta who ruled over the Land of the Remembered where it was nothing but endless fiesta's and celebrations, to discuss a new arrangement. In the midst of their conversation as they walk past many families bringing food to the graves of their lost loved ones, he pleads with her "Please trade lands with me! I beg you!" She only laughs at his request as she leans closer to him and says "Oh you're so cute when you beg." Xibalba exclaims further "I'm serious! I hate it down there" La Muerta's eyes flare with anger as she appears in front of him closer than before in the blink of an eye "Hey! You're there because you cheated! You made your bed with that wager!" she yells back at him.
"You're not the man I fell in love with all those centuries ago…" she sighs softly as she looked away from him, as a moment of silence passes Xibalba tries to diffuse the tension by saying "Let's not dwell on the past MI Amore" in a sweet voice, but this only causes La Muerte to let out a small growl back in response as he continues by saying "I was thinking… How about another wager?" That only fueled her anger further as she hollerd at him again saying "You think you can calm the fire of my anger with another bet?!" Xibalba shrivels back in fear, but still curious about the proposition La Muerte mulls over the idea until asking "what exactly do you have in mind…?" Xibalba's previous fear of her anger is replaced with a large smile and hope as he quickly zooms up through the air onto the tallest tower in the town to look down at the people below, His former lover right behind him looking down with him as well. Xibalba begins to look around and says with a small amount of curiosity to himself "Let's check out the menu..."
He spots three kids playing, two boys and one girl. "Look there my love, classic mortal dilemma, two boys, best friends no doubt..." He says as he looks over at La Muerte who is watching as well as there is a boy with a guitar trying to serenade the girl sitting atop a tombstone and another boy with a fake sword who is slashing his sword around trying to impress her with his might. La Muerte finishes Xibalba's sentence softly sighing "In love with the same girl..." La Muerte takes one last look as she sees the boys fighting one another claiming the girl as theirs until the young girl jumps from the tombstone and pushes both of the boys exclaiming she belongs to no one leaving the boys speechless and amazed. With a sigh of contentment Xibalba says "I believe we have our wager, which boy will marry her?" He extends his hand towards the trio to emphasize his point. La Muerta sighs as she begins her decent down towards the ground and the children, "Very well, we will each chose one of each of these boys to be her champion." She says as she looks over to Xibalba who is right next to her until they both zoom to the ground and take a new form to blend in with the surrounding and the people.
La Muerta turning herself from a tall, gracious, beautiful sugar skull woman clad in a red dress with yellow flowers that lined the dress as well as one resting atop each of her ears and a red hat adorned with candles on top with hanging skulls at the bottom that sat gracefully sat atop her head, into an old woman wearing a red dress with yellow flowers on top of her right ear with a kind face and chicken resting peacefully a top her head as her disguise. "let's go wish them luck" Xibalba said as he had also transformed himself from the black tar skinned, green slim covering the parts that tar didn't, white bearded and mustached, creature he once was into an old man with a crocked nose in a faded soldier uniform. They linked arms as they started towards the group of young children.
Meanwhile the children were playing around pushing no one another until the boy with guitar looked to the girl and asked "Maria weren't you grounded?" Maria looked upwards as she sighed then at the young boy with the guitar "My father is over reacting. How was I supposed to know chickens didn't like taking baths?" she questioned as she looked over at the boy with the sword and fake mustache who just shrugged. She shrugged back until the chicken she had bathed earlier had run past them clucking with soap bubbles following after it as it went by. Maria shocked at first as she watch the chicken go past them but then relaxed as the boy with the fake sword and mustache popped up between her and the other boy.
"Don't worry." The boy with the mustache said as she he pointed to himself with his sword "He knows a real man is protecting you tonight." Saying proudly as he moved closer to Maria. Maria leaned over to him as she laughed lightly saying "You're not even close!" as she crossed her arms over her chest smiling. The boy taken back replied "But I have a mustache!" As he gestured to his upper lip where his cut out mustache was with his sword. The other boy with the guitar quickly interjected as Maria shoved the boy with the fake mustaches shoulder "Just like your grandma!" causing the boys mustache to swing up and almost off his upper lip until he quickly caught himself and his mustache, adjusting it back to where it once was.
As he stood tall, his mustache faltered and eventually fell off causing both Maria and the boy with the guitar to laugh at him, as they wrapped an arm around each of his shoulders. They all laughed until Maria and the boy with the guitar were called by their fathers "Maria!" her father called. "Manolo!" the boy with the guitar father called. Leaving the boy with the fake mustache and sword all to himself yearning to be called by his own father, but he knew his father would never be calling. So he picked up his fake mustache and put it back on his upper lip while holding his sword as he walked towards the alter where his father resided. His father a decorated soldier and hero known as Captain Mondragon, who had died fighting the notorious bandit known as Chakal leaving his only son Joaquin an orphan in the process. Joaquin held his sword up high and made sure his fake mustache was on properly as he saluted his father's statue and to the memory of his sacrifice.
As Joaquin was admiring his father, Manolo was with his father remembering the loss of his mother with him and his great grandmother. Manolo's father was explaining to him about how if they remembered their lost loved ones they were never truly gone, and on that day they would be able to feel their presence. As Manolo looked up to his father after closing his eyes for a moment he whispered "I can feel them…" and he could, he felt the soft warm presence of his mother holding him. Looking at his father who smiled down at him until a kind voice of an older woman softly interrupted them "Kind people" she said as the older woman in a red dress and chicken adorning her head who walked up to them "May I please have a bit of your bread?" she gestured to the bread held in Manolo's hands he was going to give to his mother's alter.
"I am so hungry." The disguised La Muerte finished as she moved even closer to Manolo. Manolo walked closer to the older woman, and offered the bread to her saying "I'm sure Mama would want you to have this." As he looked at her then his father for reassurance "Right Papa?" His father only smiled and nodded his approval as he looked at his son then the older woman who had gingerly taken the bread from Manolo's hands. "Thank you my dear" La Muerte smiled in her disguise as she and looked at the young boy before her who smiled back "In return, you have my blessing." She said "May your heart always be pure and courageous." Manolo's father walked up behind him and placed a hand on his should as he asked "What do we say Manolo?" the boy looked up at his father with glee as he looked back at the old woman before and said "Thank you Senorita, thank you." La Muerte still disguised then walked away from Manolo and his father holding the bread they had given her in her hands.
Joaquin who was finished with admiring his father's statue turned around to watch the interaction between Manolo and the old woman. Joaquin sighed as he walked the old woman leave with a loaf of bread in her hands "Oh Manolo, always giving stuff away for free." Then turned back to his father's statue with his hands on his hips as he asked "Right dad?" Suddenly Joaquin had head a mysterious sound coming from the nearby entrance to his father's tomb. He pulled his sword out as he walked further in and asked "Who's in there?" cautiously moving forward, as his mustache was blown away. Out of the darkness came an old man with a crocked nose who wore a tarnished old soldier uniform. The old man pleaded with his eyes slightly water and his hands out to the young boy "Young sir, May I please have some of your bread?" then gesturing with his hands to the bread that lay at the foot of Joaquin's fathers alter "I'm so hungry." Placing his once outstretched hands around his stomach to emphasize his hunger.
The disguised Xibalba watched as Joaquin used his sword to pick up a loaf of bread and bring it in front of him as he said "This bread is for my father" Joaquin then used his free hand to remove the bread from the sword and waved it in front of him "and it's delicious". Joaquin watched as the old man removed his hands from his stomach and asked "Perhaps you would consider trading it?" As the old man held out a green and black medal with a cross in the middle to him. Joaquin in disbelief said "A medal?" Please!" as he brought the bread to his lips and took a bite but the old man leaned in closer to him as he said "Oh! This is no ordinary medal my boy" the disguised Xibalba then flipped the medal between his fingers "As long as you wear it, you cannot be hurt and it will give you immeasurable courage." He then held the medal in his palm and offered it to the young boy before him.
Joaquin was silent but considered the offer for a moment before reaching out for the medal and taking it from the old man. "Really?" he asked as he held the medal up examining it. Without looking at the old man he tossed him the bread and said "Deal!" still amazed as he gazed at his new prize but the old man quickly walked forward grabbing his shoulder and twisting him around saying "But keep it hidden." Looking around then back at Joaquin "There is a bandit king who would stop at nothing! To get it back." Joaquin was still looking at the medal as he asked "Bandit king…?" then a sudden realization dawned on him "Do you mean Chakal?" he looked up to ask the old man but he had disappeared, and left the young boy all alone. Confused, he looked around for the old man "Where did he go?" he asked himself as he saw the old man nowhere in sight while gripping the medal firmly to his chest.
Back on the tallest tower in the town, stood La Muerte in her natural form. In between her hands she held one of the yellow flowers that usual lie above one of her ears. She carelessly pulled at it while smiling as she watched her champion Manolo with his father, then Maria with her father as she waited for Xibalba to return. Xibalba laughed deeply as he zoomed up behind his ex-lover as he smugly said "So if my boy wins" then zoomed closer to La Muerte as she placed the flower in her hands back over her ear "I will finally rule the land of the remembered." Turning away from her and smiling at the thought of him ruling over her domain. La Muerte watched him, a smiling tugging at the corner of her lips too as she reached over for his beard and bringing him closer to her "And if my boy wins" she said seductively as she stroked his face to his beard, causing him sigh blissfully until she forcibly jerked his beard down and yelling "You will stop interfering the affairs of man!" she then zoomed away Xibalba directly behind her surprised and shocked "What?!" He exclaimed as they both appeared on a different tower.
"I can't do that!" He insisted "Come on! That's the only fun I ever get!" La Muerte looked at him unamused while place a hand on her hip and leaning forward using her free hand to point at him "Then the bet is off" She then zoomed away again leaving Xibalba alone to let out a frustrated huff with a scowl to form on his face before remembering that if he won he would rule over the land of the remembered, making him smile mischievously and zooming away after her. They both reappeared back on the first tower they were on before and with a sigh and a bow Xibalba extended his hand out to his ex-love "Very well, my dear" He said "By the ancient rules, the wager is set" La Muerte looked at him contemplating for a moment before reaching out and grasping Xibalba's hand in hers as they both shook on the now official wager, a smile forming on both of their faces. Lightening crackling in the background as a sign the wager had now begun.
The following day the young trio ran through the streets of San Angel, having fun as they slide, jumped and fell down stairs chasing after one another. Until Maria who was running in front of Joaquin and Manolo, abruptly stopped as she heard a young piglet call out to her saying "Bleehhh!" she looked over at the young piglet and said "You're so cute." Holding her hands to her chest as her and the piglet looked at one another, a smile forming on her lips. From the side she heard the sound of metal scraping against metal, causing her to look where it had come from to see a man sharping two butcher knives against each other. Shocked she gasped, then looked up at the picture above him that showed three pigs in a pot, a fire under them as one of the pigs had an x over its eyes symbolizing it had died.
Quickly regaining her composure she looked back at the young pig and said "Oh no" courage and rage had no filled her small frame as she declared "Not on my watch!" as she held her fake sword in her hands tightly then looked back as the two boys had finally caught up to her. She pointed to the pen where the pigs were being held and yelled "We have to the animals!" pleading with eyes to the two boys to help her. The boys replied in unison "Huh?!" confusion written on their faces until Maria encouraged them by saying "Come on you guys!" raising her sword high up in the air "Let's do this!" Manolo being the only one who raised his sword up with hers letting out a yell in agreement as Joaquin tried to reach out to her, to stop her exclaiming "No Maria! Don't!" but could not reach her in time as she brought down her sword on the lock of the pen releasing the pigs into the streets of the town.
In the center of town Maria's father the Captain of the brigade was beseeching anyone to join his four man army so that they had more people to protect their town against Chakal and is heinous group of bandits. At the mention of Chakal's name the town citizen shrank in fear and let out gasps full of terror. Then out of nowhere from behind the group of citizens and the Captain with his brigade came a young voice that cried "Chakal is here!" causing them all the shriek in fright and turn around to see if Chakal was there. To their relief it was not Chakal just a young piglet that came down bouncing towards them from one of the main streets with a happy "Blee!" The townsfolk let out a relieved sigh, until they heard the cheer of Maria saying "Freeeedddooomm!" as she rode upon a big pig, heading straight for them. A with a whole herd of pigs behind her as well as Joaquin running as fast as he could to keep up and Manolo begging dragged as he held onto the pigs tail that Maria was riding on.
Everyone in the square shrieked as they ran away from the incoming pigs that ran towards them. Maria just giggled as she bulldozed through her the only four men in her brigade and towards her father. Her father incredulous to what his daughter had just done, he looks around then at his fast approaching daughter bellowing "What have you done now Maria?!" Maria points her sword forward up towards the sky as she squeals with joy "Freedom is coming through!" it's not until she looks down does she realize how close she is to her father and then she lets out a gasp in surprise. Her father hollers "No!" as he raises his hands up to cover himself, but before Maria can collide with him Joaquin and Manolo go tumbling forwards and pushing him out of the way as they both end up flying from the impact and landing in two baskets off to the side safely.
Manolo laughing and Joaquin looking over at his friend with fruit on his head shrugging with a small smile on his face as the piglet from earlier pups up between them his eyes wide with concern as he looks at where Maria's father is. Not paying any attention to the pig the boys watch Maria as she safely leads her pig to a nearby stall and sit on top of him. She looks to her father, to make sure he is alright, the two boys following her eyes to look to her father as well until they see a giant boar with spikes on its back heading straight for Maria's father.
The boar gaining speed as it rushes towards Maria's father, its large tusks in front of it as it pants heavily, pushing forward. Manolo lets out a sharp gasp in fear as he lifts himself from his basket but before he can even get out Joaquin has jumped away from his and is running towards Maria's father, the General. Joaquin pushes past the General's men who are cowering as he runs faster towards the Boar and Maria's father. Barely making to General he pushes him out of the way as the Boar hits Joaquin with all hits might, causing the boy to go slide backwards with so much force he is only a few feet away from Manolo and where he started to run from. Surprise gasps surround him as he looks down at the medal he received from the old man the other night and lets out an astounded "Whoa…!" then covers the metal with his jacket.
The boar snorts angrily in reply and quickly turns to a nun who unfortunately happens to be close to for comfort. The nun lets a feeble "Oh…" as the boar's eyes narrow on its latest victim and snorts again loudly. Joaquin looks to Manolo who ran up next to him as they look at the nun and the boar then to each other. Joaquin smiling looks at Manolo and hollers "No retreat!" Manolo grinning back at him for a moment before bolting forwarding shouts "No Surrender!" Manolo running as fast as his legs will allow him he passes by a young woman wearing a red shawl and grabs it from her before jumping in front of the nun to face the boar. "Toro! Toro!" He exclaims towards the boar as she he waves the red shawl he now holds in both hands.
The boar lets out a deathly growl as it dashes forward towards Manolo who waits with the red shawl held out ahead of him. Just as the boar is about to come crashing into Manolo he quickly moves to the side, the red shawl following after him, as the boar plunges forward past him colliding with one of the men in the brigade instead, causing the man goes flying off with a scream as the boar turns around after the impact to face Manolo again. Manolo's father said proudly as he looked to his "He has the gift!"
Bewildered by what just happened, Manolo looks down at the red shawl in awe then back up at the approaching boar as the boar nearly misses him again. Moving the red shawl to lead the boar away from him, as to not get hit as the speed in which the boar passed him caused him to spin around and the shawl to be wrapped around his waist as his hands tightly holding on to it. As the boar crashed into a cart full of produce, the crowd let out a cheer and applauded. Joaquin himself smiled and cheered as well, as they watched the boar get up and turn back around towards Manolo.
Manolo evades the boar once more as his father cheers him on shouting "Good form!" causing his son to smile as he evades the boar again. Finally Manolo and the boar face off for the last time as he tricks the boar into running past him and into a wall causing it to crash with a loud Thud! As the crowd erupts into applause and praise for him. His father holding his fist up as he tells anyone nearby "That's my son!" All the nuns walk up to and sing their thanks.
After watching Manolo, Joaquin runs up to the fallen General and helps him up. Maria's father scratches his head as his vision comes back to him saying "Oh my! What did I miss?" his eyes refocusing first on the applause of the crowd then on Joaquin. "Are you okay sir?" Joaquin asks as the General puts an arm around him and says with gratitude "You have my life!" walking up to them Manolo is holding the piglet as he begins to say "As I..!" but the General cuts him off with his hooked hand to his lips with an irritated "Shush!" Quiet boy, I'm talking" Manolo tries to speak again saying "But I..!" but the General cuts him off again telling him to "Be quiet."
To the left of him Maria's father the General can hear the screams of the citizen and looks in mock horror at what his daughter has done. He sees one of his men fighting over a pig for a hat that is on fire, chickens running round scattered in fright, wagons over turns and pigs roaming everywhere. Shocked and angry he says quiet anger "That girl is in so much trouble!" Maria hearing her father though in a nearby stall, still on top of a pig moves back scared as she breathes "Uh oh…" and looks away as her father finally looks around so angry he screams his daughters name "MAARRRIIIAAA!" So loud you can hear it ten miles out of the city's boundaries. Reluctant she rides the pig to her father and hops off to offer him an explanation saying "I'm sorry Papa it's just..." and stops mid-sentence to see that Manolo's guitar on the ground broken from the stampede from before and gasps dropping her fake sword to reach over and pick up the broken guitar. Saying sadly as she holds the guitar "Manolo's guitar…" Manolo gasps as well as he notices his now broken guitar lying in Maria's hands.
"Maria!" Her father calls out to her to get her attention "This rebellious nonsense ends now!" yelling as he stomps his foot and points down to emphasize his point. Moving in front of Manolo to get her full attention he continues "You are going to become a proper lady!" confused Maria response "Why?" frustrated her father hollers "Because I said so!" staring into his daughters eyes he calms down a little and says "I am sending you to Spain, where the sisters of the convent of the perpetual flame of beauty will straighten you out!" All three children shocked and surprised ask "What?!" in disbelief as Maria then implores her father to reconsider as she begs "But Papa!" Not allowing her any say he interrupts her saying "Nope! Its already been decided. Now go Home!" as he shouts at her and points to their home. Crying as she runs towards their home Maria clings to Manolo's guitar and disappears out of view from the two boys and her father.
As they watched her leave in tears the General looks at Joaquin and says happily "Joaquin you are so much like your father. This town could use a new hero use a new hero" then walks away telling Joaquin "Come… You are like the son I never had." Joaquin looks back to Manolo a wide smile on his lips before running after the General who went on to say to Joaquin "Your father was the best..." As Joaquin and General kept walking away Manolo could no longer hear what they were saying.
Manolo not paying attention was surprised when he heard an upset grunt coming from the woman he had taken the shawl from earlier beside him. He laughed nervously as she snatched it from him and walked away in a huff. Sighing sadly he released the piglet to have it pee on his shoes and legs. Saddened and frustrated at being alone and peed on. Trying to get his mind off the fact he was just urinated on his mind roamed back to Maria where he remembered what Maria's father had said to her about sending her to Spain. The thought angered him and he started to head towards Maria's house until he felt his father's strong hand holding him back and asking him "And where do you think you're going?" Looking at his now kneeling father then back towards Maria's house he says distraught "He can't send Maria away!" his father smiled towards his son and told him "Father do what is best for their children, Come along." Then rose and walked away. Manolo followed him as the piglet trailed behind him, his head held low in defeat.
As the boys were busy Maria sat alone crying about having to leave her two best friends to go to Spain. It was only a few days that had passed and she had packed her things, about to board a train to Spain. She looked between her two friends, Joaquin was recruited by her father to join his brigade and wore a soldiers uniform as Manolo was forced to start practicing for his family's tradition which was to become a bullfighter and he wore a Matador uniform. After saying goodbye to her father who walked away trying to not show her he was crying she sighed and walked up to the two boys in their uniforms saying "I'm going to miss you guys." Joaquin and hugged her as he told her reassuringly "We will be here waiting." Then hugging Manolo who said supportively "For as long as it takes."
Maria smiled at both of them as she told Joaquin "Keep fighting for what's right" and Manolo "Don't forget to keep playing" Manolo reached behind him and brought up a big box telling her "It's a present, you should open it now." She did and saw the piglet from before. "I named him chewy, he will look after you now." She gratefully smiled at Manolo as she held Chewy close to her. Joaquin exclaiming in the back how he didn't know they were supposed to bring gifts, causing the trio to laugh.
"It's almost time to go!" someone called causing the three children to snap out of laughter and look at one another sadly. "Oh!" Mary said excitedly as she had almost forgotten as she ran behind Manolo and grabbed a large box with a red bow on it. She handed the box to Manolo as she apologetically said "This is to make up for breaking your guitar." A loud man's voice yelling "All Aboard!" caused the trio to look at the train. Maria swiftly grabbed Chewy from Joaquin and ran to the train where she hopped in, leaving the boys to watch her leave but not before running after the train promising to play music and fight for her when she returns. As the town began to fade away with her two best friends, Maria clung to Chewy. Afraid and excited to the new adventure that lay before her in Spain.