Prologue
Aurora Medina lost all hope and vowed to never love again. One day in Mexico, she finds a mysterious crystal skull that transported her to the world of The book of Life. She must journey with a passionate guitarist to a realm of the dead, face angry death gods, battle an evil Chakal and discover a secret that is link to her family ancestor. Will she make it home to her dimension? Will she ever love again? I don't own TBOL, just OC's.
October 17th, 2014 (Los Angeles, CA)
Standing on the holy grounds made 19 year old Aurora Medina more mortified and cold. She was standing next to her 12 year old brother, Ruben, watching the coffin being lower down to a dark and hollow hole. Their mother, Marina Medina, had recently passed away by unknown circumstances. The doctors were baffled as science and medicine couldn't find the cause. Police questioned the two children and family friends but all investigation came to a dead end. Nothing, not even their beloved mother's body showed any signs of illness, suicide or possible murder. Aurora couldn't bear any of this, first her father death in the war, the unforgiving abandonment from the man who stole her heart and now this. Her mother was her only comfort and protector in the world. This was too much, everything she loved had died in her hands. Why was God punishing her? What wrong had she done? All the spark of hope, happiness and love drained out of her heart. Unconsciously, her arm wrapped around Ruben's arm. Ruben, however, moved away, rejecting the comfort from her older sister. They were the only ones present in the burial. Though the burial was simple and humble, Aurora wished she had money to give her mother a proper funeral. She remembered her mother saying in Spanish, "Cuando me muera hija, me trais un mariachi." She would then laugh and Aurora would join in their joke. Now, she wished she would fulfill this request.
An hour later, the priest recites the last words from his small black book. He bid the two children farewell and hurried away to get away from the rain that started to fall. Their mother's grave next to their father's, which read, "Martin Medina (1965-2013), beloved Husband and father". The drops of rain streamed down pale cheeks, substituting for the tears Aurora couldn't shed. She and Ruben only had a black trench coat with a hood, but it didn't help. Still, it didn't bother them a bit.
"Come on Ruben, let's go home," said Aurora after what it seemed hours since she first spoke after the service.
"NO…I don't want to," replied Ruben sternly, his head looking down at his mother's grave.
"Ruben, it is not a question whether you want to or not. Let's go," replied Aurora with a tone mixed with irritation and a slight anger. She holds her brothers arm and with effort pulls him away from the graveyard and to the bus stop.
Upon arriving home to the small apartment, Ruben walks straight to their one bedroom and locks the door. Aurora went straight to the small bathroom. She locks the door as she unzips her trench coat letting it fall on the floor covering her small black boots. She looks straight in the mirror, examining her image. Her skin lost most of the sun tan shine, reduced to a fair skin tone. Her eyes, honey color, express a cold stone stare with black bags under her eyes. Small pink lips in a frown, a small nose with light freckles across and finally her dark brown pixie cut hair. She had long hair once upon a time, however, after the tragic hell she had gone through, drove her to a depress insanity to cut her hair off, a symbol that she would no longer be the same young woman as before. Her mother prevented her to commit a deed that would have ended her life. Mother…why did you have to leave us?, Aurora thought to herself in despair. Leaning against the broken chipped sink. Now what? She must find a job to support her brother and help him pursue his education. The question is how. Aurora has no friends or living relatives. Come to think of it, she was never introduced to any relative. Both her parents emigrated here in the US from Mexico and never mentioned family back home. No grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins were mentioned from her parents. The two children were in a complicated predicament, who can help them in a time of need?
Suddenly a knock was heard from the front door. Aurora looks out from the bathroom with an eyebrow raised up, who is that at this hour? It was 12 am and she was in no mood for company. Ruben walks out of the bedroom, he was a tall for his age despite being an inch shorter than his sister, who was 5'5. Skinny and lanky with raven short hair and brown eyes, a spitting image of their father. He looks at her with annoyance.
"Whos that sis? Who knocks at this hour?"
"I have no idea. Get the bat and stay behind the door when I open. If it's an asshole, beat him till his dead."
"Got ya," with that he did as he was told. Aurora slowly approach the door and slowly opens it. She pulls the door open and right in front of her stood an old man in a brown suit. He wore a Mexican palm hat, and had the appearance of a kindman. What stood out most of him was his thick moustache and his gold eyes. Strange, thought Aurora but she felt no danger, rather a welcoming presence.
"Buenos dias senorita, I'm sorry to disturb you at such an hour," he said with a thick accent, though he spoke English well. "Are you Aurora Medina?"
"Why do you want to know? Who are you? Are you lost? Because the motel is next to this crappy apartment." The old man chuckle with a kind smile.
"No my dear," he said shaking his head, "Don't fear me. I'm someone you can trust. I came to help you and your brother. Who, I may suggest, don't need to hide behind the door to hit me with the bat. That would be unpleasant."
As if on cue, Ruben walks away with the bat hanging and with a stunned expression. The old man chuckles even more. Ruben however, was not in the mood for laugh, for Christ sake, they just lost their mother and they came back from the funeral. With blood boiling, Ruben shouts, "What's so funny old man?! Can't you see were are in mourning now!"
"I'm terribly sorry my boy, I know the tragic death of your mother. Bless her kind soul. She is a daughter like no other, helping you two will ease her spirit to rest-"
"WHOA! WAIT!", yelled Aurora, eyes bulging out and gaping, "Daughter? You-we-are you-" she couldn't finish but the old man did.
"Grandfather? Why yes… me llamo Jesus Xbalanque." He takes off his hat and bows before them, the two children felt their jaws fall to the ground.
2 hours Later
Aurora and Ruben heard closely to their suppose grandfather. He was their mother's father who raised her in San Angel, Mexico City, Mexico. He owns a ranch not far from the colonial and he came to help his grandchildren. Apparently, Jesus is a wealthy ranch owner with a small property in the outskirts of the small town. He proposed to invite them for a vacation as well as learning of their roots. Aurora was quiet and didn't know what to think. Ruben immediately refused.
"Ruben, I know losing your mother is a dreadful thing. Believe me, it was hard for me when I was told of the news. Losing my only daughter-"
"What would you know!? Where were you all this time? Hugh?! Tell me, why haven't mom tell us about you? God this is happening too fast and here you are appearing out of nowhere and just asking us to go with you to Mexico with a tone of voice as if this is NORMAL?! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!?" Ruben' tears descended and he couldn't contain the rage no more. Aurora immediately hugs him and looks at Jesus.
"I have to agree with my brother. How do we trust you? We never heard of you and appearing out of nowhere just like that doesn't help things. Where were you when my mother needed you the most?"
"I may not give you a straight answer now, but there will be a time and place to explain everything. For now, you must trust me. I want to help you two who are my only grandchildren. Ruben... if you give me a chance, I promise to make up the lost time. You Aurora, I promise to help you find peace within your heart. Come with me to San Angel, the town is preparing the celebration for El Dia de los Muertos. I promise you that we will make homage to your mother and father. They would have wanted you to visit the land of your ancestors." What felt like hours, the two siblings look at each other.
Ruben then looks at Jesus and responds, "Okay" , he looks down, sulking.
Aurora then looks at Jesus, " Very well, I suppose we are doing this in our mom's memory. In time, we may recognize you as a grandfather."
San Angel, Mexico city, Mexico
Everything happened so quickly. It's been a week since their arrival in San Angel. To the siblings, it was a beautiful city. Mexico was full of rich culture. For the first time, Ruben and Aurora felt peace and happy. The town was decorated with a variety colorful tissue paper banners and they saw vendors selling flowers, wooden toys and small statues of a skeleton woman with a bright red festive hat and beautiful dress. Jesus explained that it was Catrina, the image of death.
"Don't be fooled by her macabre appearance children. She is as sweet as a sugar skull with a compassion and wisdom. In fact, she rules over the Land of the Remembered-"
"Land of the remembered? I never heard about that place. How come the culture never mentioned it in their stories?" asked Ruben.
"Well, such beliefs were forgotten over time. Catrina or rather preferred as La Muerte, is a very sensational person who watches over the spirits of the deceased. She is very festive and always holds party everyday in her kingdom." Jesus had a far away look, with a smile.
"You talk about her as if you knew her," said Aurora with a raised eyebrow. Jesus said nothing as they drove around the town in a Taxi.
As the days passed, Aurora and Ruben enjoyed many of the town's splendid attractions like the museums, the forest and el panteon that was decorated with many flowers and candles. Though the visit to the cemetery was quick as it reminded their mother. Food there was quite extravagant like the tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tortas,and best of all…CHURROS! The weather was hot but at night, it was cool and peaceful. They even had a taste of sugar skulls, a traditional candy. Their grandfather's ranch was not big but neither small. The land stretched near a forest, Aurora was tempted to run across the field.
October 29th, 2014
On this particular, a field worker came to their ranch with an invitation to a masquerade ball for Halloween. Aurora winced when her grandfather read aloud the invitation and frowned.
"I thought Mexico celebrated el dia de los muertos," said Ruben, who was carving a wooden figure of a mayan warrior. His grandfather was teaching him the craft of wood carving.
"Well, I have neighbors who celebrate the so called American Holiday. They have family there too and they come to their home and still celebrate Halloween. I wouldn't mind taking you two to the ball. I can present the two of you to some of my friends and acquaintances."
The ball…Aurora remembers the first Halloween ball she went, it was the day she met the bastard, someone she was trying hard to forget. This made her frown more if possible.
"I'll call the tailors in town to make costumes for you two," he winks as he said this. Aurora was still not sure whether to go or not. But she was in no mood to argue with her grandfather.
"Jesus, may I walk in the fields for a while," asks Aurora.
"Si mija, just be back before sundown."
The air was sweet and fresh in the afternoon. The sun began to set as Aurora walked towards the open field. She wore skinny navy blue pants with a purple sleeveless blouse and her favorite black short boots. Along with her, she brought her small black backpack that hold a water bottle, a wallet with family pictures and most importantly, her journal. She hoped to get some outdoor privacy to update her most recent journal. Frankly, Jesus had no workers and he manages the work on his own quite well. As she walked she notice the dark forest at the edge. As she looked on, something unusual happened. A faint voice echoed throughout the field. Aurora was stunned and looked around to find the source of the sound. It was faint but could understand it was calling her name. The sound came from the forest, against her will, she began her journey toward the dark forest. As she entered the forest, everything was quite, not a bird chirping or critter scurrying…Aurora was creep out.
As she began to turn back something caught her eye. A sparkling object was nearly buried on the ground. Aurora was entranced and beyond curious, she approach the object. It nearly buried in the ground. She began to dig it out with her hand. Her hands were covered with dirt as she finally moved the majority of the ground dirt and began to pull. The object was smooth and made of some crystal material. With the third and final tug, Aurora pulled the object out of the ground. She fell on her bottom. Ouch…that will leave a bruise on my ass, thought Aurora warily. She looked down at what she was holding. Aurora gasped loudly as her eyes went widely open, budging out. It was a crystal skull! The skull was beautiful, it was crystal clear with strange white markings like she had seen in the sugar skulls and the Catrina figures. On the forehead of the crystal skull was a heart symbol. Aurora stood with a heart beating excitedly. She couldn't wait to show Jesus and Ruben her recent discovery. Suddenly she felt a sharp thing stab her pointer finger.
"Ouch!" cried Aurora.
She quickly placed her finger on her mouth sucking the metallic blood. On the back of the skull was a sharp thorn like needle and could see her blood in the skull. As she analyze it, she began to see something strange and frightening. Her blood began to glow and move, it went through all the marking of the crystal skull. Going through a zig sag motion, the blood covered the marking making the skull loose it's crystal appearance to nearly a bloody red one. The reached the heart shape markings, Aurora drops it on the ground with a fright as the skulls hollow eyes began to glow red. It began to float high above her, a wind picked up like a tornado and Aurora drop herself on the ground as she watched that the skull's jaw open and blew fire like a dragon, creating a gold vortex. Aurora screamed for help but it was useless as the vortex gravity began to pull her in. She screamed with all her might as she flew in the gold vortex disappearing. The skull that had been floating followed behind her. The vortex shrunk making a ripping paper sound as it closed. The Forest stayed quite again after that, without a trace of what took place.
Cave of Souls( alternate realm dimension)
The Candle Maker was busy cleaning up his cave full of bright candles. A golden book floated near him, it opened itelf and glowed with a mighty force. The candle maker staggered back, it had been a long time it did that on it's own.
"Now what's this?" he approached the book and gasp. Words were writing by itself and it stopped. Candle maker stroke his puffy cloud beard in thought and smiles.
"It seems a new story it's about to be born."
Hello Everybody! I just re edit the chapter by an advice I was given and I thank the reviewer who did. Now unfortunately, I won't be able to watch the movie in theaters and will wait for the DVD to come out. I really want to write the characters of TBOL really well and not make them OOC. I want to ask anyone who read this, how old is Manolo, Juaquin and Maria? If they are older then I might change my OC's age and be able to add a detail about her past to fit in the story. Please anyone who has an answer pm me or include it to the review. To answer a reviewers question, it is an ManoloX OC pair up. I know he ends up with Maria but I promise you I can make this work out. I somehow feel that the trios relationship was like a sibling one. Eventhough I haven't seen the movie, I just felt this way about them. I might update later before going through the story and wait till it comes to dvd, which I might think it will be sooner like in 3 months. If anyone know where I can find the movie script online, please do say so. So thank you again for supporting my fanfic and keep a look out for the update. Until then, bye bye.