Hello readers! This story was originally just going to be a Book of Life story, with my OCs. But then I saw Coco, and though, "No...I'll do a crossover!"
So here are the rules: The Land of the Remember, and Forgotten do exist. The forgotten is for people who don't deserve to be remembered, like criminals and so forth. That's how Héctor and those other skeletons can stay in the Land of the Remember, aka the Dead. Ernesto hid his murder, that is how he is able to be the Land of the Remember. Also since this is taken place in Mexico, I am using Spanish language in some sentences, including using the ones in the movie. I looked some up on google translate, so please forgive me if I got some wrong.
This story will take place through the hole movie, and will continue on as its own. Hope you like it, enjoy!
"I'll never forget the night I went to the Land of the Dead, or as it's more known as the Land of the Remember. I met my familia, and learned who my great-great-grandfather was, and saved his life. But those weren't the only peo-I mean skeletons I met that night."
Miguel followed his Abuelita, as she pushed Mama Coco into their family's ofrenda. Food was set out, candles were lit, and marigolds covered the room. Miguel sighed, he wanted to preform so badly at the plaza's compaction, but since it was Dia de los Muertos, that meant spending time with family.
"Don't give me that look." Abuelita told him. "Dia de los Muertos is the one night of the year our ancestors can come visit us." She walked him over to the ofrenda. "We've put their photos on the ofrenda, so their spirits can cross over." She explained. "That is very important. If we don't put them up, they can't come. We made all this food, set out the things they loved in life, mijo. All this work to bring the family together. I don't want you sneaking off to who knows where." She turned back to her grandson, who was trying to tip to away. "Where are you going?"
Miguel stiffened up, knowing it wouldn't be that easy to sneak off. "I thought we were done." He stammered. His Abuelita sighed, pulling him back.
"Ay, Dois mio. Being part of this family means being here for this family. That is what La Muerte would want." She smiled.
"La Muerta?" Miguel remembered the story that his Papa and Mama would tell him when he was younger. About the to two rulers that watched over the lands that the deceased traveled to. The Land of the Remembered, where his ancestors were, and the Land of the Forgotten, where those who are not remembered by anyone. La Muerta was a beautiful goddess that watched over the remembered spirits, so in return, the people must pay their respects to her, for watching over their loved ones. Miguel, being twelve didn't really believed in fairytales anymore, so he didn't understand why it was so important to his Abuelita.
"Yes, and she has continued to watched over our family. That is why I don't want to see you end up forgotten like-"
"Like Mama Coco's papa?" Miguel asked.
Upset form hearing that, Abuelita slammed her hand on the table. "Never mention that man!" She pointed to her grandson. "He is better off forgotten."
"But you're the one who-" Miguel tried to speak up, but his Abuelita kept tutting him, to zip it.
Out of the commotion, Mama Coco overheard them. "Papa? Papa is home?" She said in a quiet voice. Abuelita walked over to her mother, comforting her. "Mama, calmese, calmese." "Papa is coming home?" Coco asked. "No, Mama. It's okay. I'm here." Coco looked at her daughter and asked. "Who are you." It pained Abuelita, knowing that her mother was losing her memory, and that she will not live much longer. "Rest Mama."
"I'm hard on you because I care, Miguel." She turned back, but her grandson had already left. Sighing she looked at Imelda Rivera's picture. "What are we going to do with that boy?"
Land of the Remembered was bursting with lights and music. Tonight was Dia de los Muertos, and all the skeletons were getting ready for the celebration and to cross over to the living.
High above the city, was a beautiful golden tree castle, and inside was the goddess La Muerta. She mummed a tune in her head, as she brushed her long hair in front of her bedroom mirror. Tonight was an important night, it was a day when families were together, and that's what she wanted for her own.
She looked in the mirror and saw a dark figure, made of tar and had a pair of dark wings. He was standing at the door. But she was not afraid, instead she smiled, turning to look and man. "Mi amor, you look extraordinary as ever." He dark god walked over to his wife, taking her hands, he folding his over hers, bring one up to his lips to kiss it.
La Muerta giggled. How is it that cheesy lines like that make her feel moved. "Ah, Balby, and you don't look half bad yourself." Her husband chuckled, kissing her wife. The goddess pulled back. "We should let the girls know we're about to leave."
Xibalba sighed, sounding disappointed. "Must we? It has been so long since it's only been the two of us. Maybe we should..."
"Ah ah, this is a familia time." She tsk him. "And today will also be a learning experience for them, especially for Cira."
"I am aware of that. I just worry that she won't take responsibility for herself." Xibalba pulled down his beard, stressing out.
"I'm just as worried as you." La Muerta chuckled. "You know, she gets her mischievousness from you, unfortunately." She joked. "Now," she pulled away from her husband, "you get Kynthia, while I'll get Cira."
Xibalba groaned. Why must he deal with the younger daughter, who was unfortunately at that age where boys were only on her mind. And being a father, not wanting his daughters to be in relationships yet. "Mi amor, I must rather deal with Cira. I at least have a good relationship with her."
"Oh, and you think that I don't?" La Muerta crossed her arms raising a brow. Her eldest daughter maybe more like her father, even sorta looks like him, but she had an understanding relationship with her. "Besides, we need some girl time." With that said, she floated out their bedroom too her daughter's.
"Good luck on that!" Xibalba joked, before getting slapped on the cheek by marigold petals.
"I am sooo, not looking forward to tonight." A young teenage goddess, lounge her back on her bed. She groaned sounding in pain. Outside her window, she could hear the excitement, why couldn't she just go out and have fun! And not worry about her job as a goddess. She wished to be in her younger sister's place, that way, her mother would stop pestering her.
She turned to her alebrije, an iguana, colored in bright sunshine yellow and blue strips. "Gagh, what do you think Alba?" The iguana tilted his head. Cira then gave off and devilish smirk, flying off her bed, she picked him up, putting him on her shoulder. She opened her window, spreading her wings. "How about we quickly escape and have some fun before-"
"Novio?" She heard her mother knocked on her door. Panicking, she quickly closed the window, threw Abla her bed, and she rushed over to her closet, pretending to get ready for tonight. "May I come in?"
"S-si!" La Muerta entered, she saw her daughter looking through her closet. She smiled, walking up behind her daughter. "I've never known you to get dress up for special actions. Is your sister rubbing off on you?"
"No! I just, uh...thought that since we're all going out tonight, that I should look my best." She hoped that her mom would by it.
"Well, how about wearing something that it most comfortable to you?" La Muerta suggested. She helped her daughter look, till she found something. "How about this?" She held the dress up. It was a long, dress like her mother's but the skirt was wavy and was a gold with red fire patterns. The top was black and had off the shoulder puffy sleeves, with red and gold fire like the skirt. And black hand gloves, to match her father. "Perfect for a diosa del sol." She gave the dress to her daughter for her to change behind the changing screen. After getting dress, her mother lead her to her vanity.
Sitting down, Cira looked in the mirror as her mother comb her hair. She saw that they almost looked the same. Sugar skin, waist long black hair. Her face had gold swirls on her cheeks, and on her forehead was a tiny sun. Her eyes were white with green skull pupils, wearing red eye-shadow. She also had big, beautiful black wings that had gold sparkles on the feathers. She enjoyed her hair being brushed as her mother started small talk.
"I know you're worried." La Muerta spoke. She knew her daughter too well. "It's a big responsibility. Guiding souls to the two lands. But you will become the next ruler of the Land of the Remembered."
"Can't Kynthia do it?" Cira asked. She understood what her mother was saying, and she was right about worrying. But if she were honest, she must rather have some freedom. Which obviously was irresponsible, but that feeling being future ruler was a lot of pressure.
"No." La Muerta stopped brushing and tied her daughters hair into a light ponytail. She placed her hands on her shoulders and rubbed her cheek with hers. Looking in the mirror she smiled. "You may not understand now, and it will take some time, but I know, you are capable of amazing things novio." She kissed her daughter. She magically grew a peach-color dahlia pinnata flower, and placed it on the right side of her hair. "There," she looked back in the mirror, "hermosa. Are you ready?"
Cira looked at herself, she did look very pretty, almost as beautiful as her mother. Sighing out, she nodded yes.
"Alright, likes go see if your papa managed to get your sister ready." She teased, making Cira chuckle.
Downstairs Cira and La Muerta, saw Xibalba and Kynthia waiting for them. Kynthia rushed over to her older sister. "Cira! te ves tan bonita!" She beamed.
"Gracias, Kynthia. Same to you." She looked at her sister's choice of clothing. Her little sister was kinda similar to their mother, but with brown sugar skin, gold skull eyes, short curly black hair, with little white and blue flowers in it. And small white wings that were a sparkly white. Her face, had silver swirls, dark blue around her eyes, and crescent moon on her forehead.
As they knew, their parents decided to name them sun and moon. Cira being the first born was sun and Kynthia was moon. So naturally they dressed like what their names mean. Kynthia wore a long blue dress, the layers going from light to dark blue down the skirt, and the top was sleeveless and had white starts on it.
"You like?" She asked twirling around.
As the girls talked, Xibalba stood next to his wife. "It took seven dresses." He groaned. He heard his wife chuckled, but she was happy he was spending time his other daughter. "How did it go with Cira?"
La Muerta smiled. "It maybe risky, but I trust her. I understand her wanting freedom and not caring about responsibilities, but if she finds something that's important to her, she will do everything in her power to do the right thing."
Xibalba smiled pulling her into a hug. He looked back at her daughter. "Alright hijas, it's time to get going." All together they teleported out of the castle, off the Land of the Living.
After his family found out about him playing music, and his Abuelita smashing his homemade guitar, Miguel ran away from home. He hated his family, saying he didn't want to be apart of it anymore. Why couldn't they understand, they just didn't care! It's was his life, he was going to do what he wanted. Making it to the Mariachi Plaza he asked if he could sine up, but unfortunately he didn't have an instrument. After trying to ask every musician he could borrow, and being turned down. He was starting to lose hope. It was getting darker and fireworks were starting to go off. He saw the statue of Ernesto de la Cruz, or as he thought was his grandfather.
"Great-great-grandfather, what am I supposed to do?" He asked. He knew it was silly asking someone how had been dead for decades, in the hope to get advice. He looked down at his quote on the statue. "Seize Your Moment!" Miguel looked back at his great-great familia's photo, the guitar in the picture was the same as the statue and that's when he got an idea.
In the Panteón Santa Cecilia cemetery, people were gathering around the graves of their loved ones. Though it was dark hundreds of candles made it bright. Miguel tried to walk casual, knowing that what he was planning to do was illegal in so many ways. He walked up to Ernesto's mausoleum, but a xoloizcuintli hairless dog jumped him. The dog barked happily, at his friend.
"No, no! Dante, stop!" Miguel panicked, trying to keep quiet. "Callate! Shh!" Noticing a plate of food on one of the graves he grab a meat bone, and threw it, distracting the dog.
Being quick, Miguel hurried over to the side window, on the mausoleum. Peaking in, he saw the beautiful white skeleton guitar.
Climbing up he tried to push the window open. Looking up at the fireworks he waiting for them to get loud. "I'm sorry." He said, before smashed his arm agents the window, breaking the lock. Opening it, he jumped in, tiptoeing up to the guitar. There was no going back now. Jumping on top of the tomb, he gazed at the it. He felt spiritually close to it, once belonged to the most famous musician in all of Mexico, was also his relieved. he looked up at the painting of Ernesto, above him. "Senor de la Cruz, please don't be mad. I'm Miguel. Your great-great grandson. I need to borrow this." He gentle took the guitar off the wall. Unbeknownst to him, the the trail of petals started to glow. "Our family thinks music is a curse," he stepped down, "none of the understand, but I know you would have. You would have told me to follow my heart." The twelve year old boy smiled with joy. "To seize my moment! So if it's all right with you, I'm gonna play in the place. Just like you did!" With passion in his heart, he strummed the guitar. But at the same moment, the trail of petals, blew around him.
Panteón Santa Cecilia cemetery, the one god and three goddesses floated around, watching the mortals and the soul skeletons together with their families. Obviously the mortals could not see the gods towering over them, but the skeletons could. When they saw La Muerta pass by they gave their respects to her. Cira and Kynthia looked around. It wasn't the first time they've been to the Land of the Leaving, but watching mortals were still interesting. Cira knew, that if it wasn't for her mama and sister, she and her papa would be playing pranks on them. But tonight she had to restrain herself.
Kynthia listened to the music that was being played down by the plaza. "Oh, how I would have loved to have Xolotl where. We could dance all night." She sighed dreaming about the young god.
"I thought you were into Tlaloc?" Cira smirked. She new her sister couldn't decide on just one guy she like. And whenever she saw someone new, she would fall in love again.
"He's nice, but too sensitive."
"Oh, because he's the god of rain and lightning?" Cira chuckled.
Xibalba wrapped a hand around La Muerta's wastes, bring her close to his side. They watched daughters, mostly Cira very closely. The reason they chose Panteón Santa Cecilia was they thought it would be a good start for her to understand the importance of Dia de los Muertos was to the living and the dead. "Do you like itchicas?"
Kynthia turned back to her padres. "Well, it's not as lively at the Land of the Remembered."
"Well, that's because it's all of Mexico together." La Muerta explained. Glancing at her younger daughter she spoke. "Kynthia," getting her attention, "how about you go to the plaza, we'll meet you there in a pit." Kynthia beamed with joy, teleporting in a ball of moonlight, she flew off. Cira groaned, if her padres sent her sister away it meant parent discussion. "novia, what do you think?"
"It's, it's nice. Like every other cemetery on Dia de los Muertos." Cira shrugged, crossing her arms. Why were they teaching this to her now? Couldn't she have gotten a little time for relaxation? "I mean, there are souls crossing over the bridge, and they're arriving safety, and-" She was going on about everything she was already taught, when she noticed some commotion over by the mausoleum. Being curious, she wanted to go see, but she had to get away. "Mama, papa? If it's alright, could I go look around myself?" Her padres raised their brows, usually when they hear her say that it was an excuse to run off. "I promise, as a Diosa! I will not go back to the Land of the Remembered." She vowed.
Her padres looked at each other, thinking about it. If she made a Goddess promise, they would know if she broke it. La Muerta thought about it, and wanting to trust her. "Alright, novia." Xibalba was surprised, but he did not want to start an argument with her. They raised their hands up vowing at the same time. "As long as you come back before sunrise."
"Promise." Together shook hands. Cira spread her wings flying off. "I'll bet you ten minutes." Xibalba teased, but got elbowed in the arm.
Cira flew to the mausoleum. People were gathering around it, saying someone had broken it and tried to steal the guitar, but they couldn't find anyone. She then her a woman screaming on the other side of the cemetery. "What is going on?" She flew over to the gathering skeletons, who seemed just as confused as her. Landing in front of them she asked. "What is all the commotion about?"
The skeletons gasped, seeing the Goddess they downed. "Señorita Cira! Diosa, there as a living boy! He could see us, and touch us!"
Cira's eyes went wide, did she hear correctly? A mortal, in the spirit world? That's not possible! But the question now was what should she do? Should she tell her padres? Or maybe Candlemaker should know, for he was the one who watched over every soul in Mexico. Cira then thought, her padres were teaching her how to watch over souls that would soon pass, and to guide spirits to the the Lands of the Dead. If she wanted to get her padres off her back, then following this living boy, she could show them that she is responsible enough to leave her alone!
"Which way did he go?" The skeleton's pointed over to where one of the bridges were. Cira flew off again. It didn't take her long till she spotted him. Hiding a monks the shadows, she watched. The mortal was not very old, maybe twelve, and wore a red hoodie. He was with a group of skeletons, who - she had to guess was his passed relatives, and they keep calling him Miguel. They were walking to the petals bridge, Cira was amazed how he could easily walk across. Cira groaned, great now he was heading to the Land of the Remembered, and she just promised her padres. If she were to cross over, they would know. They were half way across now. "Perdóname mama, papa. But I can't miss out on this." Spreading her wings, she crossed.
As La Muerta and Xibalba floated to the plaza, they left the promise they made with Cira break. "Ten minutes." Xibalba announced, feeling victoreuss, even thought thair daughter lied. "I just know her too well, mi amor-OW!" He yelped, feeling a sting in his cheek.
La Muerta exhaled, trying to calm herself. Yes, her daughter broke their promise, but why? Just to go off and party? She didn't want to believe her daughter would do that, after the talk they had earlier. "Is it because of me?" She sighed. "Am I pressuring her with so much responsibility?"
"No, no, my darling. It is not you." Xibalba tried to reassure her, taking her hands in his. "If anything, you should be more stern with her. This behavior is unexceptionable, and should be dealt with."
He was right, Cira actions have been getting worse since shes been getting older, thought that was mostly her husbands fault, taking her off to do mischief. But she couldn't bring herself to be mad at her novia. "You're right," she sighed, "you're right. This needs to stop. And I should be the one to do it." Moved away from her husband. "Look after Kynthia." Kissing her husband one more time, she vanished in swirl of marigold petals.
Xibalba sighed. "Again?" He prayed that his girls wouldn't get into a big fight.
Miguel gazed up at the city in lights. There were not words to describe it, amazing, beautiful. So all those stories he was told when he was little, were true. He looked to his side and saw more flower bridges crossing over to the living. "This isn't a dream then. You're all ready out there."
"You thought we weren't?" Tia Victoria asked.
"Well I don't know. I thought it might've been one of those made up things that adults tell kids. Like vitamins." The twelve year old shrugged.
"Miguel, vitamins are a real thing."
"Well now I'm thinking maybe they could be." A little skeleton girl pointed at him, her mother freaked and pulled her away. Embarrassed and not wanting to make a seen, Miguel pulled his hood up. He noticed a bunch of colorful mythic creatures on the other side of the bridge. "Are those...Alebrijes!" But those are-"
"Real alebrijes. Spirit creatures." Tio Oscar spoke.
"They guide souls on their journey." Tia Rosita explained.
"What your step. They make caquitas everywhere." Warned Tio Felipe, shooing one off his shoulder.
They could overhear an announcer's voice over the gate. "Welcome back to the Land of the Remembered. Please have all offerings ready for re-entry."
Following behind them was Cira, she kept her distance. She didn't want to immediately step in and take over, she wanted to see how it all played out. Some of the skeletons that were crossing the bridge were a little shocked and scared, manly because she was the daughter of Xibalba. But those who knew her well know that she wasn't as dark as her father was. They bowed their heads in respect. Cira watched the group she tried to remember the families name, it was one of the things her mama had been teaching her, remembering every soul in the Land. "Who were they again? Something with an R. Rila? Rivono? Oh, Rivera! The shoe makers. What a boring life." She commented. "No wonder the kid decided to run from home." She knew that sounded rude but to be fair, she only hung out with the Sánchezs who were amazing bullfighters.
As they got inline for re-entry. Miguel noticed the departure gate. Skeletons would gets their faces scanned to see if their photos were put on the ofrendas. If they were they could cross over. Though there was one, or at least she thought it was a she, trying to cross. "Yes it is I, Frida Kahlo." The skeleton sounded like a man trying very hard to sound like a woman. "Shall we skip the scanner? I'm on so many ofrendas it'll just overwhelm your blinks thingy." Ignoring gender mixed skeleton, the officer scanned and came up false.
"Well, shoot, looks like no one put up your photo, Frida." She smirked, knowing it was an impostor.
Knowing he was caught the senor took off the wig dress and fake unibrow, to revive a shabby skeleton with a ripped vest jacket, suspenders and straw hat, and a goatee. "Okay when I said I was Frida just now, that was a lie." He tried again. "And I apologize for doing that." He smiled, in shame.
"No photo on an ofrenda, no crossing the bridge." She explained. But the guy wasn't taking no for an answer.
"You know what, I'm just going zip right over. You won't even know I'm gone." He stepped over to the gate before making a run for it, jumping over an officer. Miguel and Cira watched as he tried to get across the bridge but he sunk right through the petals. "Almost...there. Just a little further!" He panted flaying his arms. But he was stuck till security dragged him away. "Okay fine, who cares? Dumb flower bridge!"
Cira chuckled. "Ah, pobre alma." Her parents made an agreement that if a soul is slowly forgotten, and has maybe just one person to remembers them, they could stay in the Lane of the Remembered, and not in the Forgotten. Cira saw the Rivera as pass the re-entry She quickly floated pass the officer and the front desk.
He saw her pass, but didn't get a good look at her, for her wings blocked her figure. "Ah, excuse me! You need to stay in line!"
Cira bend her wings down, turning to him, she gave off her best Xibalba impression. "Oh really? Last time I check, I could cross whenever I want." Her wings went up, like a dark shadow, and she flashed a toothy grin, as her green skull-eyes glowed.
The officer and the line of skeletons cowered, afraid that they had upset their Goddess. "No, no, no, mi diosa!" His bones rattled. "P-please forgive me!"
Cira chuckled, it was fun scaring souls. Her papa would be proud, unlike her mama. "Well...I guess I could forgive you just this once. On one condition," she flew right in his face, "tell me where you sent that group with the living boy?"
"Th-they went to Marigold Grand Central Station." He squeaked.
"Great!" Cira went back to normal, smiling happily. "Gracias!" She flew off to follow them. She could hear the sound of a pile of bones falling on the floor, she chuckled. "It's so much fun to act bad."
The Riveras walked through the Central Station, making there way into the Department of Family Reunions. Cira knew that her goddess form would case too much attention and decided to transform her appearance as a teenage skeleton, wearing the same clothes, same hair and face marks. Unfortunately due to the amount of skeleton's crowding every station and room, Cira lost the group.
She growled in frustration, her skull pupils catching on green fire. "Maldita sea todo..." she cursed out. This would be so much easier if she were flying, but she would stand out. Unless... "Ugh, I'm so stupid!" She smacked her forehead. Like her parent's she could travel in a small convent form. She transformed her body into a ball of light, and flew in the air. No one could see her, maybe because the station was bright enough as it was. She floated around until she spotted a familiar red hoodie, headed to a room.
Flying down, Cira formed back into her skeleton look. She pressed her head against the door, listening in. She couldn't hear everything they were saying, only "family curse," "blessing," "and do it before sunrise." Cira wanted to hear more, but the sounds of steps coming to the door signaled her to step away. But just then, there was a crash noise inside, and they stopped walking to the door. Pressing back against it, she listened in again. "This isn't fair, it's my life. You already had yours." She heard the living boy complain. "You really hate music that much?" She then heard a woman's voice, "I will not let you go down the same path he did." Just then the door opened. Moving quick, Cira moved to the side, as the living boy stepped out saying, "Con permiso, I need to visit the restroom. Be right back." He shut the door, and bolted off.
Cria watched where he was going, and ran after him. She's been following him for this long, she wasn't about to let this go.
Miguel ran down the stairs, glancing up he saw his familia talking to a security guard. Panicking he pulled his hood up, his face was a dead giveaway. He spotted the exit, he walked quickly with Dante following him. "If I want to be a musician, I need a musician's blessing. We got to find my great-great-grandpa."
Suddenly he was grabbed by a guard. "Hold it, muchacho." A kid shouldn't be walking by himself in a busy station. Turning Miguel around, he saw his face, he sheepishly smiled. The guard panicked and grabbed his radio. "I-I fond that living boy!" Just then a crowd of skeletons walked between them, seeing his chance, Miguel snuck with them. The guard lost sight of him.
Miguel hid behind a corner. Dante sniffed the ground, and started going a different duration. "No, Dante." Miguel followed him into an office room. Where he overhead a guard talking to the same skeleton that tried to cross the bridge. "Disturbing the peace. Fleeing an officer. Falsifying a unibrow."
"That's illegal?" The skeleton asked, taking off his head shaking flower petals out of his ear-bone.
"Very illegal. You need to clean up your act, amigo."
The skeleton spinned his head back on his spine. "Amigo? Oh, that's so nice to hear you say that because I have just had a really hard Dia de Muertos and I could really use an amigo right now." He said feeling touched being called that. The officer sighed, knowing where this was going. "And amigos, they help their amigos. Listen, you get me across that bridge tonight, and I'll make it worth your while." He then spotted a poster with Ernesto de la Cruz on it. "Oh! You like de la Cruz? He and I go way back. I can get you front row seats to his Sunrise Spectacular show." The officer was not having it, not beveling one word. But the Skeleton kept trying. "I'll get you backstage. You can meet him. You just got to let me cross that bridge!" He said, sounding desperate.
The officer narrowed his eye-sockets. "I should lock you up for the rest of the holiday. But my shift's almost up and I want to visit my living family. So I'm letting you off with a warning." He handed him a ticket.
Frowning the skeleton took it and stood up. "Can I at least get my costume back?" He asked, pointing to it, on a chair.
"No."
Groaning, he walked out. "Some amigo."
Miguel watched him leave, then thought; if he knew his grandfather, he could take him to him, and get his blessing! He ran after him, catching up from behind. "Hey! Hey! You really know de la Cruz?"
The skeleton was still frowning as he turned to look at in "Who wants to - AH! you're alive!" He freaked. Miguel couldn't make a scene, so he pulled the skeleton inside a phone booth, shutting the door.
"Yea, I'm alive. And if I want to get back to the Land of the Living, I need de la Cruz's blessing." He tried to explained.
"That's weirdly specific." The skeleton said, still quick not understanding whats going on.
"He's my great-great-grandfather."
"He's your wa-!" His jaw dropped, as his eyeballs fell out of his sockets. Miguel cringed. The skeleton pushed his jaw back up and his eyes back in their sockets. "Wait, wait, wait." He thought. That can't be possible? De la Cruz has a grandson? But if he did, and this boy wanted to get home, he could help him! "Wait, wait." He smiled at Miguel, who smiled back. But started to have second thoughts. Could this work? "Wait. No, wait, wait, wait." But he decide, it was his only chance. "Yes! You're going back to the Land of the Living!"
Now Miguel started to have second thoughts, on this creepy skeleton. And that's saying much, because he was surrounded by dead people. "You know what? Maybe this isn't such a good-"
The Sekelton stopped him. "No, no, niño! Niño, niño, I can help you. You can help me. We can help each other. But most importantly, you can help me." Miguel tried to listen, but he noticed behind the skeleton's head, we saw his familia. And they noticed him, hurrying down the stairs, calling his name. The living boy panicked while the skeleton had no idea. "I'm Héctor." He offered his hand.
"That's nice." Miguel grabbed him and pulled him along. He ran outside of the station. The skeleton hand snapped it's fingers, to get his attention. Realizing he was just holding an arm. The hand pointed back, telling Miguel to slow down for Héctor. "esperame chamaco!" He grabbed his arm back, as the two ran for it.
But they didn't notice a shadow following behind them, taking the form of the living boy's shadow.
