Too late
I'm aware that there is someone spamming reviews on stories, asking for authors to write their ideas. I'd like to tell this person not do this on this fic, I'll block all your reviews or even edit them, if it's a guest review.
I just saw this movie a few weeks ago, and my first thought was "what happened if Miguel was left behind in the Land of the Dead?" I know, I am a cynical person. But I am curious- and I want to see this idea come to life, of a parent/child relationship between Miguel, and Hector and Imelda.
WIth some world building/an actual plot...
Nothing in this fic is really graphic. There is some discussion of child loss/similar themes. But that's it. And some minor swears.
Welp! Here it is! I'm only going to continue this if I get enough followers/attention.
"You can't go back home to your family, back home to your childhood ... back home to a young man's dreams of glory and of fame ... back home to places in the country, back home to the old forms and systems of things which once seemed everlasting but which are changing all the time -back home to the escapes of Time and Memory."
-Thomas Wolfe
The sun rose steadily, gradually illuminating the top of the stone tower with gentle, pale rays.
It was first few moments of the day after Dios Los Muertos. The dead could no longer cross the Marigold bridge to see their families, it was fading away with the light.
The offices managing the edge of the bridge had just closed, as most border staff had either gone home to get some shut eye due to staying up all night, or had headed to the Sunrise Spectacular to catch Ernesto De La Cruz's concert celebrating the end of the holiday.
But the deceased members of the Rivera family weren't aware of this.
That it was already too late to prevent tragedy.
Miguel shook Héctor again, trying desperately to get him to wake up.
His Great-Great-Grandpapa had fallen deathly silent after spasming with a golden glow a few moments before, and he couldn't tell if he was still with them, or about to fade away and depart to the next world.
It reminded him of Chicharrón's passing. The old skeleton had looked so peaceful and silent when he had started fading away- but with Héctor it was all wrong.
He looked like he was in pain. His eyes were shut and his mouth was in a grimace. But other than that, he couldn't discern anything from his skeletal face.
So, engrossed he was with worrying and pleading for his Papa Héctor to stay with him, that he did not immediately notice the brush of soft petals on his chest, or that the world suddenly became much much colder. Or at least, that's how his now numb senses processed the odd feeling.
Miguel shivered, and realised with a jolt what had just happened to him.
He'd missed the deadline.
He was stuck in the land of the dead. Forever.
He'd never see his family again- Mama Coco, Mama Imelda- or his parents, or his cousins, or anyone.
He'd never know his little sister. She would grow up without him, never knowing him either.
Looking down numbly, his eyes met now skeletal fingers gripping Héctor's body.
Unlike before, when it'd been a fuzzy sensation as he'd had his skin, he could now feel the open air on his bones.
Miguel swallowed and looked at Héctor again, latching on to the feeble hope that he would somehow wake up, only to start shaking when he didn't. He instead remained silent and deathly still.
He'd failed him too.
He'd wanted- needed to go back and get Mama Coco to remember him. Now he couldn't.
Soon Héctor would experience his final death and fade away- and it was all his fault.
In fact, all of it was his fault. All this tragedy. And death. And horror.
Because he'd been a stupid, rash, little boy.
And with that realisation, his whole world collapsed.
Imelda frantically pressed the fading marigold petal against Miguel's chest again.
It was turning to bone in front of her, becoming a proper ribcage.
"No. No." She whispered under her breath, and pressed the petal more deeply into his shirt.
This couldn't be happening. They couldn't have failed. Her great, great, Grandson couldn't have died.
She looked down, not wanting to face the cruelness of reality just yet, only to come to face to face with another sorrow.
Héctor…he was sleeping, and he looked like he was having a nightmare.
He'd never…not when they'd been together- when they'd been alive, had a troubled night.
Had he- was this his existence in the land of the dead? Was every night filled with such horrors? Being alone and dreaming of his family- of her and their coco, never seeing them again and being separated forever?
It'd taken almost a century for them to reconnect, and they'd only done it at all due to a tragic fluke.
Miguel getting stuck in the land of the dead had brought the truth of Hector's death to light, reuniting them and reinvigorating their shared passion for music.
Before she had always turned him away, out of a mistaken belief that he had abandoned her and Coco in life.
Imelda shook her head and took a deep breath, pulling herself together. She couldn't dwell on her regrets and mistakes now. She was a matriarch of the Rivera family and had to look after all her deceased relatives.
Especially the new ones.
Because Miguel suddenly doubled over her husband's body and started bawling, clinging to it and burying his face in Hector's shirt as if his very life depended on it.
"Shhh. Shhh. Mijo…shhh." She soothed and hurriedly hugged him, patting his hair gently with one hand while squeezing him tightly with the other.
"Mama Imelda, I'm- I can't- I should've listened." Miguel sobbed and hiccupped.
"Shh. It's not your fault. Not at all. You did nothing wrong Miguelito." She said softly.
"But Papa Héctor…I need to remind Mama Coco about him. I can't have failed. And my family- my living family, I'll never see them again." He said slowly.
"Your family is with you Miguel. We're all right here. We won't abandon you. Ever." She promised steadily, tearing up herself. She'd never leave her grandson alone.
And he was wrong about his worries. He would see his living family again. Eventually, after they died themselves...and that would be many years.
She hugged him tighter, just as he started crying harder.
For a few moments she cuddled him fiercely, gently rocking him back and forth, glad that the rest of their familia was giving them space. The shock was still too new. Miguel needed it.
But she slowly became aware of something…a presence that she thought would've been gone by now.
Héctor was still there. With them. He hadn't faded away yet.
That's odd. She thought numbly, until her mind finally caught up to the present.
Dios mio! Is he…? Could he come back?
"Miguel, Héctor is still here." She whispered to Miguel gently, nuzzling his head with her chin. "We…we need to get him to the department of the dead. They might be able to do something Mijo."
She was trying to break it to him gently, but to her surprise, Miguel reacted by recoiling slightly and then forcing himself up to stare at Héctor with teary eyes. Like he needed to verify it for himself.
There was dim hope in his sunken gaze. It astounded her, that her Grandson could muster such strength in such short order. He really was a strong boy.
The action also let her see his skeletal face for the first time, and it broke her heart.
He was just so young. Only twelve. He looked so innocent.
Although there was something wrong. She couldn't quite place it, being so distracted with everything else…
"Papa Héctor!" Miguel said desperately, calling out to the sleeping skeleton again.
But Héctor didn't wake. In fact, he didn't even register his voice or their presence. He seemed stuck in a perpetual nightmare; frowning and eyes solidly screwed shut.
It pained her to see him in such a condition, but she had to be strong for her family.
"Come on Miguel. It's okay. Family relations will take a look at him. We need to get going. You need to get some rest." Imelda said and squeezed him again.
Miguel continued looking at Héctor for a few more moments, expression drooping as more tears spilled, before he nodded gently.
"All right?" Imelda asked.
"Y-yeah." Miguel said. He sounded broken.
Together they rose up, still holding onto one another and turned to face the rest of their family.
Dante ran up to them almost immediately. He rubbed his face against Miguel's legs, whining delicately with his tongue drooping out mournfully.
Miguel sniffed and lowered a hand to pat his alebrije's prone head, trying to take comfort in his presence.
The others advanced more slowly. Sadness and sympathy playing equally on their features.
They were all crying. Even Victoria, who was even more reserved than her sometimes.
Rosita shook her head and gathered speed, throwing her arms around them both desperately. Her usual vibrancy was all gone.
Julio came next, going to Miguel so he could hug him solidly and rub circles into his back.
Then her brothers, Felipe and Oscar. The former went behind her while the latter went behind Miguel, embracing them and linking their hands over their shoulders, as if wanting to protect them from the world.
Victoria came last and joined her father. She'd removed her glasses and was now crying steadily.
Together, they surrounded Miguel and simply held him, trying to telegraph to him that he was well loved and that they didn't blame him for anything that had happened that night.
He was family, and they would always love him.
Miguel almost collapsed again, but managed to keep standing, overwhelmed by their gesture.
They stayed that way for a while, simply being together and comforting one another.
A loud, rather familiar roar, disturbed their serenity and made Imelda raise her head to the brightening sky to try and spot her.
Sure enough, Pepita landed with a small growl and stared at them with sad eyes.
A moment later, there was an even louder, sharper roar, startling the family and making them break apart ever so slightly.
A large dragon Alebrije landed next to Pepita and four officers and a clerk got off. Imelda recognised him as the one that had served them earlier.
They all did a seemingly synchronised double take when they saw them, reeling back from Miguel's presence, and Héctor's still form. The clerk almost tripped over himself, then coughed and slowly approached them.
Behind him, the officers had expressions of numb shock.
"Riveras…I'm so sorry for your loss. I came because I'm managing Miguel's case- considering I submitted the original report into his arrival, and…well, we need to look at him- and Senor Héctor too, if possible." He said.
Very reluctantly, everyone, bar Imelda, got up and stepped back from Miguel. Although they stayed right behind him, and Rosita put a reassuring hand on his shoulder while Dante refused to leave his side.
"Do you have to see Miguel now? He needs some sleep…and time to adjust with his family. He's been through so much- too much. Too much tragedy and heartache for a Niño. He needs time." Imelda said sternly, making sure her voice was strong.
"Si-Si. T-that's perfectly understandable. But we- The Chief Physician wants to see Héctor now. It's tough to explain- he specifically made time in his schedule for him. I don't know why, but- Senora Rivera, you know how busy he usually is. He rarely has time to take individual cases. Please, can you at least bring Héctor, while Miguel has a rest?" The clerk pleaded.
"The chief physician?" Miguel said curiously.
Imelda blinked and then sighed, resisting the urge to pinch her brow. She was very stressed and the sudden request irked her to no end. She wanted to refuse, take both Héctor and Miguel home, and just push everyone but her familia away.
But she couldn't. Because it was the Chief Physician.
The clerk was right. The physician rarely had time for anyone, and it was even rarer for him to request a specific patient.
His job was to look into the conditions of the dead and treat skeletons- depending on their age, remembrance factor, and a lot of other things that made no sense to her.
She'd only ever seen him once. When she'd first arrived in the land of the dead, and that had only been for a few minutes. If even that.
She'd been, apparently lucky enough, to get him as her doctor, rather than one of the other physicians.
He'd greeted her and checked her bones over before abruptly leaving. Quick and short. In and out.
And somehow, he'd known about Héctor, before they'd had a chance to tell anyone.
Shaking her head again, she cleared her throat and glared at the clerk lightly.
"Very well. But give me a minute to speak to my grandson. He's…new, and I need to explain everything to him." She said.
The clerk nodded, rubbing his hands together with meek nervousness.
Imelda turned to Miguel, wanting to reassure him, but her eyes instead fell on Héctor lying on the ground behind him.
Cursing under her breath, as she'd unintentionally left him on the dirty ground, she whipped back to the clerk, who cowered at her sudden movement, hiding in his ribcage as Julio frequently did when he himself was frightened, and gave him permission to let the officers pick up Héctor and get him settled on the dragon Alebrije.
She then told her family to wait while she spoke to Miguel.
Then she took Miguel aside, far away from everyone, only letting Dante follow them, and went down to her knees so she was on his level.
Gripping his shoulders gently, she looked into his bewildered brown eyes and did her best to give him a reassuring look.
"Miguel, I'm sorry that I have to leave you, but I need to go with the clerk and officers now. And I'm taking Héctor with me. I'm afraid that you can't come with us. You need some sleep and time to get settled in. I'll get Rosita and Victoria to take you home on Pepita, okay?" She said.
Miguel reacted just as she'd expected him to; he started trembling and fell forward, clinging on to her as he'd clung onto Héctor earlier. She hurriedly returned the embrace and held him close, whispering sweet assurances to him.
"You said- I can't-I need you. Please stay with me! Or at least let me go with you." Miguel whispered between tears.
"I wish I could Mijo. But- let me explain. The Chief Physician, he looks after- well, bones. Our bones. Everyone in the land of the dead. I've only ever seen him once, when I first arrived here…and others never see him at all. He's a notoriously busy man. He must want to look at Héctor so he can try and help him. And I'll need to be there so I can give him details about his condition." She explained.
"O-okay. So…he'll need to see me as well? He- the clerk said so. But Papa Héctor…he'll look after him?" Miguel said, drawing his head back slightly to give her a pleading look.
"Yes, he will need to see you. But don't worry, I'll help you. And with Héctor- he'll do a good job. In fact, I'll make sure he does. I won't leave him alone with Héctor Mijo. And I'll be home as soon as I can, and I'll bring him back with me. I promise." She said.
"But why can't I come now? I'm not that tired- I can deal with it. I want to help Papa Héctor." Miguel begged.
"Mijo, you can help by going home and getting some sleep- you've been up far too much. All night. You need to regain your strength and considering what happened- the emotional ordeal you went through, some time to just rest and come to terms with being here." She said.
Miguel nodded solemnly, drying his eyes with his shirt and doing his best to stop crying.
"I understand Mama Imelda. I'll go with Tia Rosita and Tia Victoria…if it helps. I also need to rest so I can be strong for Papa Héctor as well." He said.
"Eres un buen niño." She said and squeezed him again.
They hugged for one more moment, and then they slowly separated. Miguel seemed reluctant to let go, and he gave her a sad look as they stepped apart.
Imelda smiled at him and held out her hand, beckoning him to take it.
Miguel perked up slightly and took it. Then, together, they walked back to the others.
The officers had gotten Héctor loaded on to the dragon Alebrije, and there seemed to be no change in his condition. The clerk gave her an understanding nod as she and Miguel approached them.
Imelda felt her heart seize. She hated it. Seeing someone she loved, and someone who had suffered so much already, have to go through even more hardship.
But that was just how life worked out; it was unfair and cruel, and any happiness had to be worked hard for and held onto tightly. Like family.
Further on, her familia was by Pepita. Dante ran ahead and sat down next to her.
"Rosita, Victoria, please take Miguel home on Pepita. Julio, and my Hermanos, get the first trolley back. They should be running by now.. I'm going to go with Héctor and see the Chief Physician." She explained.
Everyone voiced their agreement to her plans and she turned to Miguel one last time.
"Don't worry, I'll see you soon Mijo." She said, and squeezed his hand before letting go.
"Mama Imelda…I love you." Miguel said suddenly, looking down at the ground to hide his face.
"I love you too. Now, go with Rosita and Victoria." She said and pushed him gently in their direction.
Miguel looked back at her, fresh tears brimming in his eyes, before he nodded and hurried to Pepita.
Imelda's heart clenched again, but she steeled herself and went to the Dragon Alebrije.
The clerk got on first with one of the officers, and motioned her to sit behind Héctor so she could steady him as they flew.
Imelda quickly mounted the beast and cradled her husband's head in her lap, smoothing his hair back and doing her best to comfort him. Just as she had done for Miguel.
The dragon grunted, and then started flapping its wings.
It raised itself steadily in the hair.
All too quickly, it took off with a low roar and sped away from the roof.
Imelda managed to look back, and caught Miguel staring at her with distant eyes from the edge.
She swallowed and tore her eyes away, before her heart broke.