Review Answers:
- MysteryGirl7Freak: Now I actually can see the two getting along. It's so cute :)
- Natsi-Luca Thank you so much. This really boost my self-esteem. Believe me, I needed that.
- spotty-bee: Thank you and trust me, he will... eventually. Hehe
- ghostyTrickster: It's all good, as long as you reviewed it's cool and thanks for encouraging me.
- jimenajocelyn123: I'm glad you love it and trust me, I fully plan to finish this to the very end! Glad you loved it.
- queenlaur: Glad you liked it, and thanks for enjoying it.
- Beca: Thanks for being the first to review and I hope you enjoy it.
- Franklin Uhlbeck: Most likely, Eleven Chapters. Cause I sometimes get wrapped up and make really long chapters.
Thank you to all my readers! You are all Awesome!
In Santa Cecilia, the entire town was getting ready for the upcoming music festival. People from all over Mexico traveled many miles for the event.
At the edge of town was a long stone bridge over a river. It was the only access to the town.
Standing at end of the bridge was a female guard and a black horse with green and blue designs across her body. Their job was to check over the ones going into town and keep one out.
Over recent years, an outlaw had been trying to sneak into the town. The town he had been banished from for his crime, for some reason he never learned and constantly tried to sneak back in.
The female guard and her horse, Pepita were in charge of making sure he didn't get inside.
"Enjoy the festival," the guard said to a couple as they made their way over the stone bridge, "Next, please"
A woman with a colorful dress and a unibrow walked up to the guard, "Frida Kahlo," she said, Pepita narrowed her eyes at this Frida.
The guard was about to wave her in but Pepita neighed and nudged her clipboard with her head. The guard looked at her clipboard and smiled.
"Perdóname, Ms. Frida but we seem to already have you check in," she showed Frida her clipboard which had a check mark next to the name Frida Kahlo, causing the imposter to chuckle nervously.
"Okay, when I said I was Frida just now," The imposter quickly stripped off her…his costume to reveal a man with black hair under a straw hat and instead of a dress he was wearing a white shirt and purple jacket that had rips, holes, and one sleeve, his pants were covered in dirt and was torn on one knee. The only thing suitable on his was his shoe, "That was a lie, I apologize for that. My name is actually-,"
"Hector?" The guard guessed holding up a wanted poster with the man's face on it.
"Diego, who is this Hector?" The now revealed Hector quickly lied, "Everyone tells me that I look like him?" He then glared at the poster, noticing a flaw, "See, he has a different nose!"
Pepita snarled at Hector but the guard held her back.
"Senor," the guard sighed, "I really don't want to do this but you're up to your last warning. If we find you back in this town, you will be arrested. Comprender?"
Hector sighed in annoyance, "Yeah, yeah," with a huffed he turned on his heels and walked away from the bridge. He grumbled as he made his way into the forest.
"Hurry up!"
The shout caused Hector to turn, he saw a band outside a wagon, a few were fixing a wheel.
"We need to be in Santa Cecilia before tonight!"
A lightbulb went off in Hector's head, "Santa Cecilia, here I come!" he cheered quietly to himself, "This is a very big day!"
Miguel was smiling through his tiredness as he placed all the cleaning supplies back into the closet.
"This is a very big day, Dante," the boy said as he closed the closet door, "I'm finally gonna do it, I'm gonna ask him,"
Dante barked in encouragement before running off.
"Dante? Come on, you gotta hide before Papa gets home!"
Miguel looked at the clock anxiously as he went on the search for Dante but the dog was already on his way back to his owner. Inside his mouth was a guitar. One that Miguel had gotten for his tenth birthday.
"Gracias, Dante," Miguel said rubbing the dog's head, "Now I can be a musician just like Papa!"
Dante sat in front of the boy and with his tongue hanging out, looked up at him expectedly.
Miguel held the guitar and his fingers hovered over the strings.
In the back of his mind, a song played. It wasn't one that his father had written or performed. Just a song Miguel always had stuck in his head for as long as he could remember.
Miguel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Dante grew more excited as Miguel's hands moved closer to the strings and
"Miguel!" a voice from outside called out, causing the said boy jumped at his name, his Papa was home!
"Rápido Dante, hide!"
Dante quickly ran upstairs to Miguel's room and dove under his bed. Miguel put the guitar against the wall and prepared himself, "It's time,"
"Miguel?" Ernesto called up again, "What's going on up there?"
"Coming Papa!" Miguel ran towards the window and threw down a long rope.
On the ground, Ernesto held onto the rope and used it to climb up the stone wall until he made it to the balcony window where his excited son waited.
"Welcome Home, Papa," Miguel greeted as his father climbed in through the window.
"Thank you, Mijo," Ernesto said and patted the boys head then pulled a postcard from his pocket, "I brought you back a postcard like you asked,"
Everytime De La Cruz traveled somewhere new on his tours, Miguel always asked that he brought back a postcard from where he went. So that way he could see the outside world, without leaving the tower.
"Gracias Papa!" Miguel said before running off to place the postcard with his collection.
When the boy was gone, Ernesto looked at his reflection to straighten his jacket. While doing so, he sees a part of his hair is growing a grey streak. He was running out of magic.
Just then Miguel came running back, "So Papa, as you know, tomorrow is-"
"Miguel," Ernesto interrupted, "I would love to see how well your practicing is going. Would you play a song for me?"
"Uh, sure!" Miguel quickly grabbed his fathers guitar and sat on a stool next to Ernesto.
Miguel took a deep breath and began to play except he sang the song faster then what was meant to be, almost too fast for Ernesto to absorb the healing properties but he managed to catch enough to regain his youth.
"Miguel-" he began but was interrupted when his son latched onto his arm.
"Papa! As you already know, tomorrow is a really big day, my Birthday!"
"No, it couldn't be," Ernesto protested, "You already had one last year,"
"That's the thing about birthdays Papa, they're annual," Miguel chuckled nervously before sitting back down and becoming more serious.
"Papa, I'm turning twelve this year and uh what I really want for this birthday, uh it's something I wanted for awhile... um," Miguel was so nervous the words got caught in his throat.
"Miguel, you can tell me anything," Ernesto said as he took back his guitar on the table to clean it.
Miguel looked at the stairs to see Dante standing there with his tongue hanging out. Miguel glanced at his father before silently gesturing for him to go back to the room. Dante let out a bark before obeying.
Ernesto's head perked up at the sound, so Miguel faked deeps coughs to throw him off. Luckily, Ernesto fell for it.
Miguel sighed in relief, after thinking it over he couldn't hold it in anymore, and blurted out, "Iwanttogotothefestival!"
But he said it too fast that his Dad didn't quite catch it, "What?"
"I want to go to the Festival?" Miguel repeated but with less confidence
"What festival?" Ernesto scoffed.
"The ones that always happens on my birthday," Miguel explained pointing to the window, "The one with all the music and the floating lights. I was hoping that I could-"
"You want to go outside?" Ernesto asked putting the pieces together of his sons' requests, "After everything I told you?"
"But if you're with me then you could protect me," The look on his fathers face told hos otherwise, the boy began to wring his hands nervously, "Right?"
"Miguel," Ernesto said in a stern voice that made Miguel wince, "There are dangerous people out there, and if they found out about your gift, they'll do anything to have it. We already lost your mother, what would I do if I lost you?"
"I.." Miguel hesitated, he knew he already lost the argument, "I don't know?"
"My son, you are a born musician but the world is too dangerous. When will you learn that I do this because I love you?"
"I know Papa," Miguel hugged his father, "Lo Siento,"
"Better," Ernesto smiled and ran his hand through the boy's hair, "and Miguel?" Miguel stepped back and his fathers placed his hands upon his shoulders, "Don't ever ask to leave this tower, again!"
His voice meant there was no use in arguing, so Miguel sighed and looked towards the ground, "Yes Papa,"
"That's my boy," Ernesto smiled and patted the boys head, "Now, I'll be back," De La Cruz grabbed his guitar and climbed out the window, "I'll see you in a bit, mijo!"
"I'll be here," Miguel sighed then placed his chin on the window sill and watched his father disappear into the world.
Behind him, Dante pushed his guitar across the ground until it hit his foot.
Miguel looked down at his canine companion with a sad smile before rubbing his head, "Sorry Dante, no Music Festival,"
Dante whimpered but rubbed his head against his owner in sympathy.
Miguel sighed and flopped onto the ground. After a minute or two, he picked up his guitar and just started playing,
"I've got my father's love, I shouldn't ask for more. I've got so many things, I should be thankful for,"
Miguel looked around his home with a sad smile,
"Yes, I have everything- except, I guess, a door. Perhaps it's better that I stay in,"
"But tell me... when will my life begin?"
Dante laid his head on Miguel's lap and the boy hugged his friend close.
For Hector here, I tried to keep the whole "Can't cross the bridge" thing but with a new twist.
Did I make it clear right? He can't cross the bridge because he's banned for a crime he committed. A crime that'll be revealed later on.
The song Miguel sings is When will my life begin, Reprise 1.
Hope you all have a blessful day. I Love You All!