Miguel panted as he hid behind the wall of a house near the edge of the dock. Tulio had his back pressed against the wall and was barely breathing as the soldiers looked around but couldn't find them. "Ah forget it. They're long gone by now anyways."

One of the soldiers waved his arm at the ocean, "They probably got on a boat and left, let's go down there and check." The group walked around and down the stairs to the dock.

"Well that was close!" Miguel said, laughing as he turned to Tulio only to grow quiet at his glare.

"Close? We almost got trampled to death by a bull and then almost captured!" Tulio growled out as he shimmied out from behind the wall, "We're lucky to still be alive!"

Miguel smirked and pulled out the map, "And luckier still to have this map!"

Tulio groaned, "You still have that map? It's no good to us anyways, we have no idea where to start to get there!"

Miguel visibly deflated before grinning as he ran to Tulio's side, "I know someone who could! When we were at the bar earlier I heard someone talking of this woman. Apparently she's been to Mexico and goes on treasure hunts all the time."

Tulio raised an eyebrow at his partner, "Where do we find this woman?"

Miguel rubbed the back of his neck, "Umm.. I think at the bar down by the docks."

Tulio narrowed his eyes at him, "The one where the soldiers just went down to?" Miguel nodded. "Great. Let's just go." Miguel wiggled his eyebrows at him and lead the way, looking out for the soldiers as they went.

A woman saw at a table, her long brown hair braided tightly and resting against her back. Her light brown, honey like eyes were scanning the crowd in the bar she was in before rolling her eyes as she looked back down at her table. She was wearing a long sleeved white blouse with a black striped vest over which contrasted against her tanned skin tone. She had on form fitting black pants, knee high boots and a huge belt, more for decoration than utility. The woman looked up and watched as a few soldiers walked around, obviously looking for someone or some people. She rolled her eyes again and sipped at her glass of water, looking down at the map of the world. There was a path laid out for Spain to Cuba, and then Mexico. She was calculating how long the trip would take when she heard the bar owner say her name. She looked up to see two skittish men looking at her. She sat up straight and narrowed her eyes as they walked over to her. The taller one had long black hair tied into a ponytail, a long angular face with blue eyes and weird facial hair. The shorter one had blonde hair and green eyes with a goatee.

The blonde one spoke up first as he grinned at her in a way she thought he assumed was charming, "May we sit here?"

She thought about it but was curious as to why they were looking for her so she allowed it, nodding at the two. The blonde sat down and scooted over for the dark haired one who sat across from her.

The blonde smiled at her again, "We have a proposition for you."

The woman chuckled softly and rolled her map up, placing it into her large satchel. She began putting her measurements away as well, "And you didn't even buy me a drink first." The black haired one gaped at her before stuttering as he tried to make it clear that's not what they meant, although they both blushed rather adorably. She smirked, "I was joking. What is it you boys need my help for?"

The black haired one coughed softly before leaning in slightly, "We need help with a map."

She tilted her head as she watched them, "Well you've come to the right person then. May I see the map?"

The blonde went to hand a rolled up map to her when the black haired one stopped him, "First we need to set some ground rules. If you help us you will get twenty percent of the reward. You will also have to keep quiet about this. Top secret." He said the last part trying to sound stern but failed as he was still flustered from her earlier joke.

Reina rolled her eyes, "Alright. Just let me see the map." The blonde spread out the map and turned it around for her. Reina looked down at all the landmarks before seeing El Dorado written down. She raised her eyebrows and hummed thoughtfully before reading it more, mentally planning out the path they would need to take. "When you said help, did you mean a guide?"

The blonde one grinned, "Yes." The black haired one nodded in agreement.

She nodded as she rolled up the map and handed it back to the blonde, smirking, "I'm Reina Guerrero and I'll be your guide for this expedition."

The blonde chuckled and held out his hand for her to shake, "I'm Miguel, and this is Tulio." Tulio waved slightly before looking around to make sure no one heard.

Reina watched them before sitting up, "You're in luck. I'm currently hired as Captain Cortes' guide to help scout out Mexico. I'll help you two stow away until the time is right and we can go."

Tulio frowned, "How can we trust you won't turn us in?"

Reina shrugged, "You can't know for sure but I give you my word I'm more interested in this adventure than anything I could gain from turning you two in." She got up and left money for her meal, "We need to get going however to make this work." She smirked at the two and began walking to the door. Tulio scrambled out of the seat and followed her, Miguel following quickly.

Reina stared at the two men before putting her right hand on her right hip, narrowing her eyes at them, "There's no other way. The men will notice you otherwise."

Miguel looked down into the now empty barrel and frowned before sliding into it, "This is going to be a long trip."

Tulio grumbled from his spot inside his own barrel, "This better be worth it."

Reina chuckled as she put the lids on top the barrels and moved them back to where they were before, beside the others. "I'll sneak you food and water when I can and let you out when everyone else is asleep." She knocked on the wood before walking off to the boat where Cortes would be waiting on her. When she walked on board the crew were getting everything ready to depart. She saw someone work a crane to get the crates on board and chuckled knowing the two men inside would not be happy with their rough treatment. She walked to the captain's quarters and knocked on the door. When she heard an enter she walked in, gently shutting the door behind her. Inside Cortes was sitting at his desk, looking down at a map. He motioned her over and she looked down at the map of Mexico and Cuba, the path he planned to take marked clearly.

Cortes looked up at her, "Do you believe this path is the best way?"

Reina looked at the path carefully before humming softly to herself as she thought, she gently erased a part staying farther from Mexico and moved the path closer, "The current here will help you get to the destination faster rather than sticking to the open ocean", when really Reina needed to be closer to Mexico to make her escape with Miguel and Tulio.

Cortes studied the altered path before nodding, "Thank you. You may go. The men set up your room down below, it's the only room so it shouldn't be hard to miss." Reina nodded before leaving quickly down to her room, sighing as she went. This was going to be one long trip.

It had been a long couple of weeks for Reina, Tulio and Miguel. Though Reina tried her best, time for the two men to get out and stretch their legs was few and far between. However they had come across a horrible storm and the boat was rocking violently from the tough waves. One tough wave knocked a couple of barrels loose and began to roll across the deck, unluckily those barrels contained the two men. When the barrels crashed into a mast pole the barrels smashed, leaving the two dazed men in clear view of the entire crew. Reina was walking back down to her room when she heard yelling. She thought someone had fallen off and ran back to the main deck only to gasp as she saw Miguel and Tulio being hauled up, two men grabbing each man. Reina gulped as she met Miguel's eyes before fighting her emotions and getting Cortes. As she walked to his office she was cursing the sea for destroying her plan. She knocked gently, hearing a grumpy enter from the man. She calmed herself down before walking inside. She saw him sitting at his desk, looking at the map again. "Sir, the crew found two stowaways in some barrels."

Cortes stood up, slamming the measuring tools down on the desk, "What!?" Reina winced at his loud tone before moving out of the doorway for him. Cortes stormed down to the main deck and glared down at the two handcuffed men. "My crew was as carefully chosen as the disciples of Christ." He cracked his knuckles angrily before continuing, "and I will not tolerate stowaways." Miguel and Tulio looked at each other and gulped nervously. "You will be flogged. When we put into Cuba to resupply, God willing, you will be flogged some more and then enslaved on the sugar plantations for the rest of your miserable lives." He nodded to some of his men, "To the brig."

Miguel looked up and grinned, "All right! Cuba!" They gasped as the two men hauled them to the brig. Reina watched them before watching as Cortes stomped up to his quarters. Reina sighed and walked over to the railing, staring out at the waves. She had to think of a way to get her, Miguel and Tulio off the boat before they reached Cuba. How, she didn't know yet but she would think of something.

Many weeks later Miguel looked up as an apple fell form the gate above the brig. He caught it before turning to Tulio who was banging his head repeatedly against a wooden beam slowly. "So.. uhh.. how's the escape plan coming?"

Tulio pulled his head back and had a slight black eye, "All right. All right. Wait! I'm getting something!" He went back to hitting his head on the beam. He pulled back again and grinned, "Okay! Here's the plan." Miguel leaned in closer happily. Tulio grabbed him and lowered them down to the floor, "In the dead of night, you and I grab some provisions."

Miguel nodded interested, "mm-hmm."

Tulio continued, "Reina helps us hijack one of those longboats, and then we row back to Spain like there's no manana!"

Miguel frowned as he turned to him, "Back to Spain, yeah?"

Tulio nodded, "Yeah!"

Miguel continued, "In a rowboat."

Tulio nodded again, "You got it!"

Miguel sighed, "Great. Sensational. And that-that's your plan is it?"

Tulio nodded, "That's pretty much it."

Miguel grinned, "Well I like it! So how do we get on deck?"

Tulio hummed, "Umm..." He then proceeded to begin the plan over again.

Miguel sighed, "Uh, great."

Tulio slammed his fist down, "Okay, what's your idea, smart guy?"

Miguel turned to him, "Wh-wh-what do you mean? Don't ask me that! You're the one with the plans!" Altivo whinnied from up above, catching Miguel's attention. "Wait, I... I have an idea. Come on, give me a boost." Miguel stood up, clutching the apple. "Hey Altivo. Altivo." Miguel tossed the apple back between his hands, "You want a nice apple? Come and get it." Altivo picked up his head and focused in on the apple, moving closer. "You have to do a trick for me first." Altivo reared his head back, looking at them weirdly. "All you have to do is find a pry bar, a long piece of iron with a hooky think at the end. Yeah?" He brought the apple up again and waved it around to entice Altivo more. Altivo quickly went to find one.

Tulio groaned out as he help up Miguel, "He can't understand 'pry bar'. He's a dumb horse. There's no way-." They look down to see a set of keys laying on the floor of their cell. "Well it's not a pry bar." Miguel shrugged before tossing the apple up to Altivo and getting down.

Reina had walked down the steps just in time to see Altivo munching on an apple. She walked over and stroked his neck, "Hey buddy. Where did you get the apple? You know you're on a diet." Altivo brushed his head against hers before nodding to the brig. Reina raised her eyebrows before patting Altivo's head affectionately. She looked around to see everyone already inside for lunch. She kneeled down by the bars, "Hey guys, how are you holding up?" She looked down to see the two men grinning at her. She raised her eyebrows before chuckling as she saw Miguel hold up the keys, "Alright, you hide them for now and I'll get everything else ready to go." She winked at them before leaving, going to her room to pack a small bag.

That night when everyone was asleep Reina sneaked down and raised up one of the longboats, putting her stuff into the boat before putting the supplies she needed in the boat, while whistling softly to let the guys know it was time to get out. She turned to see Miguel helping Tulio out and gently placing the gate back down. She smiled before seeing Altivo snorting as he walked over to her. She rubbed his head affectionately, "Shh.. It's okay Altivo. We have to go but you be a good boy okay?" Altivo nudged her at her hip looking for another apple. She chuckled before seeing Tulio and Miguel already in the boat. She patted him on the head before getting in the boat as well and sat as the two men lowered the boat down. Altivo looked down and neighed loudly, looking highly distressed. Miguel frowned, "He wants another apple!" He took one and threw it up, thinking Altivo had caught it. A few seconds later when they had reached the ocean and departed from the ship they heard Altivo's loud neigh as he fell into the ocean. Reina gasped before standing up and jumping in and swimming after the horse, "Altivo!"

Miguel gasped, "Reina!" He and Tulio quickly began rowing after them. "Hang on!"

Reina grasped onto his reins and calmed him down as Tulio pulled the boat to her. She pushed Altivo on and he clumsily climbed on before Miguel pulled Rein up into the boat. She fell back and panted as she looked up at the two men before laughing, "Well that was fun." She looked up at the sky and frowned before she passed out rain ponchos to the men before laying a plastic tarp over Altivo. She put on a poncho as well just in time for rain to pour down. Miguel and Tulio just shrugged before they began rowing. Reina told them what direction they needed to go before she tidied up the boat from Altivo's arrival.

Reina looked up at the stars and hummed thoughtfully "It won't be too long to get there, when you get tired let me know and I'll take over rowing for one of you." She said smiling. Miguel just grinned at her and nodded while Tulio elbowed him in the ribs, giving him THE look, not to flirt with their guide.

Reina was used to hard, long boat trips but these two men seemed pathetic to her right now. They were low on food and water but had enough to survive till they got to Mexico. She rolled her eyes as she heard Miguel and Tulio mumbling incoherently to Altivo. She laid back and covered her face as she began to doze off...

Reina jumped up when the boat jumped high up in the air before going down suddenly. Reina looked around and gasped at how horrible the waves were and the rain pouring down on them, "Guys!"

Miguel and Tulio sat up and held onto the boat as a huge wave pushed them roughly. Reina pushed Altivo down as she held onto the boat with one hand, "Great. Just great."

Miguel shuddered softly at the rain, "How long now?!" He yelled over the storm.

Reina looked up but shrugged, "I can't see the stars anymore! Not much farther, though with this storm we may get there sooner!"

Tulio looked up happily before crying out as the boat rocked violently. "If we survive this."

Reina laughed as she held on, "Just imagine it being a fun ride that will end soon enough." Tulio rolled his eyes at her, mumbling at her sense of fun being insane. About an hour later the storm had calmed down, lulling the four occupants of the boat back to sleep with the gentle lapping of the waves hitting the boat. When morning came the boat came to a sudden stop.

Reina slipped off her bench and sat up, looking up before gasping, "Yes!" She grinned and hopped off the boat onto the beach, looking around happily. Miguel and Tulio sat up, still half asleep, to her cry. It took them a few seconds to realize they were on land before they jumped out and dramatically began kissing the sand, Altivo following their actions.

Miguel had kissed up a few feet before he kissed a human skull. He jumped back and yelled out in alarm, "Waaah!" Miguel jumped back and hid behind Tulio, Altivo trying to hide behind the two men and failing.

Reina walked over and gently picked up the skull, looking at the skeleton figures on the beach. She frowned softly before gently placing the skull back, mumbling a small prayer under her breath. She stood up and turned to the men, one hand on her hip, grinning like a fool at the three in front of her, "Welcome to Mexico, our adventure begins now!"