As the sun was setting in the west, preparations for Dia de los Muertos were coming to an end in the Rivera's house. Like every year, the holiday atmosphere embraced the whole home; it could be seen in decorations placed all around the building and courtyard, as well as smelt in marigolds scent lingering in the air. Family members made every effort to make this day special not only for deceased relatives, but also for young generations; which resulted in cooking a rich choice of festal dishes. Smells issuing from the kitchen put everyone in an excellent mood and even more escalated their anticipation for sitting down together for dinner. Exclusive of some boy and his Pokemon, who had their own plan for tonight.
Miguel and Eevee, excited like never before, returned from the attic into their room, and thence, cautiously stepping on the wooden stairs, walked down to the ground floor of the house. They quietly closed the front door and carefully trod towards the Trainers Plaza, making sure nobody in the family noticed them, as they were forbidden to leave home that day.
Suddenly, after taking a few steps, they heard Papa's voice coming from the corner of the building!
"Mama, where we should put this table?"
A second later before their eyes appeared a gray, humanoid Pokemon carrying a big, massive table. Miguel stopped in mid-walk, afraid that in a moment Papa will also emerge from behind the house, and will catch him trying to leave home.
But that wasn't the worst thing. All of a sudden, the Pokedex, hidden in Miguel's pocket, turned itself on and started to pronounce the description of the just scanned Pokemon!
"Machop, the Superpower Pokemon."
A panicked boy began to back away, not wanting Papa to hear the electronic voice. Simultaneously, he was nervously groping the Pokedex trying to turn it off; however, the device got stuck and continued with its speech:
"Machop have muscles that never tire, no matter how much they exercise."
As if that wasn't enough trouble, from behind the opposite corner came Abuelita, sweeping the sidewalk. She was walking backwards, so she didn't notice Miguel, but she could have heard the Pokedex's voice...
"In the courtyard, mijo," she answered Papa, somewhat drowning out the device.
"You want it down by the kitchen?" now Papa also showed up in Miguel's field of vision. He was walking behind Machop, directing him; luckily the table covered the man's head.
"Si. Next to the other one."
Papa and Abuelita were getting closer and closer to Miguel and Eevee from both sides, and the Pokedex kept talking. Just a few seconds and the adults will see them or - even worse - hear the device... They had no choice but to return home.
They entered the ofrenda room. There was no one there, except a sleeping Coco. Miguel took the Pokedex out of his pocket and frantically started pressing the deactivation button. The device, however, once again didn't respond and impassively finished the description:
"Machop have enough strength to throw 100 average-sized adults."
The Pokedex buzzed for a while yet, before it finally turned off. Barely had its voice stopped, when the front door opened and a few people came into the house.
"Miguel?" Abuelita called on the threshold.
"Nothing!" the boy answered nervously, hiding Pokedex in his pocket.
Miguel's parents and Abuelita walked into ofrenda room, carefully looking at him.
"Mama... Papa... I..." the boy stuttered out, confident he had been caught.
But they didn't look angry. On the contrary, their faces were filled with happiness and pride. Papa clapped his hands to silence his son.
"Miguel... Your Abuelita had the most wonderful idea! We've all decided - it's time you joined us in the workplace!" he announced.
"What?" Miguel gave a gasp of surprise.
"No more bringing Pokeblock to the post office - you will be making it! Every day after school!" explained Papa.
Abuelita squeezed boy's cheeks and said in a squeaky from excitement voice:
"Our Migueli-ti-ti-ti-to carrying on the family tradition! And on Dia de los Muertos! Your ancestors will be so proud!"
For Miguel this idea was like his worst nightmare coming true. If he starts working at the plant, he won't have time for training and won't be able to visit Trainers Plaza!
"But what if I'm no good at making Pokeblock?" he desperately asked.
"Ah, Miguel" Papa waved his concern aside. "You have your family here to guide you... You are a Rivera. And a Rivera is...?"
"A Pokeblock producer. Through and through" Miguel finished in a resigned voice.
"That's my boy!" Papa rejoiced, and Mama and Abuelita accompanied him. They were so joyful, Miguel didn't want to distress them. So he smiled back.
"Berto, break out the good stuff, I wanna make a toast!" Papa called, walking out of the room. Mama and Abuelita followed him; the second one, upon leaving, smothered Miguel with kisses, like she used to.
When Miguel was left alone, he wiped the insincere smile off his face and sadly sighed. He loved his relatives and didn't want to disappoint them, but he totally didn't see himself in the family business. He had always dreamed of being a trainer and setting off on a journey, but he never gave himself away in front of his relatives, knowing they would bid him to get that idea out of his head. His family and passion... he couldn't connect these two things.
Suddenly, he heard a noise coming from the ofrenda. Eevee was devouring sweets left for deceased relatives!
"Eevee! No, Eevee, stop!" Miguel grabbed Pokemon and tried to pull him, but he resisted. They started to grapple, which caused the table to shake, as well as photo frames to sway... Finally, with one strong tug, he dragged him away from the ofrenda. But this action set the table swinging to the extent that the highest picture lost balance and crushed to the ground!
"No, no, no! No..." Miguel cried, looking around. He feared that in a moment his whole family would converge here; however, it looked like none of them had heard the sound of breaking glass.
Miguel took Imelda's photo in his hand and was amazed to discover that a part of the picture was folded and covered by the frame all these years! It showed a small sea snake in an unusual - pink - color, wrapped around the faceless trainer's arm. Normal - blue - Dratinis were extremely rare, but this one - Shiny - was unique on a regional scale! Miguel knew only one person who had one such as this...
"De la Cruz's Dratini...?" the boy whispered in disbelief.
"Papa?" Miguel heard a voice behind his back and turned around, startled; he forgot there was also Coco in the room!
"Mama Coco, is your papa... Ernesto de la Cruz?" he asked, coming up to her with the photo.
"Papa! Papa!" she repeated, pointing a finger at the faceless man.
Miguel's eyes widened as he began to realize the mysterious trainer's identity. It all fell into place: de la Cruz left Santa Cecilia in order to become a Pokemon master, exactly like the trainer from the family legend!
Holding the picture, Miguel and Eevee rushed into their Secret Base, where they pulled out an album with de la Cruz's team photos. They showed his Pokemon from the time he became famous, therefore it would be futile to look there for Dratini; yet there was one Dragonair's picture, taken during the final battle of the league. Miguel compared Dratini from the family photo with Dragonair from the album. Their colors were identical!
It could not be otherwise; de la Cruz was his great-great-grandfather! He must stop with hiding his passion and share his discovery with his family. Maybe now, when they get to know they're related to the greatest Pokemon master, they'll change their attitude towards trainers?
Miguel ran out on the roof and noticed his parents in the courtyard.
"Mama! Papa!" he exclaimed, waving the photo. "I know who my great-great-grandfather was!"
"Miguel! Get down from there!" called Mama.
"Mama Coco's father was Ernesto de la Cruz!"
"What are you talking about?" wondered Papa.
Miguel took the Pokedex out of his pocket and proudly held it out in front of him, while Eevee jumped onto his shoulder.
"I'm gonna be a trainer!