And it doesn't matter how I cry
My tears, so far, are a waste of time
If I turn away
Am I strong enough to see it through
Go crazy is what I will do
If I can't have you
I don't want nobody baby
If I can't have you, uh-huh, oh
If I can't have you
I don't want nobody baby
If I can't have you
If I can't have you - Yvonne Elliman
With the help of Frida, Todd and the Rivera family were able to sneak into the backstage of the Sunrise Spectacular. Under the cover of the dance number, they were able to get into the spectacular, the dry ice and water helping out with it. All but Todd was disguised as one of Frida's dancers, Todd was dressed in a long black gown as there weren't enough costumes to go round.
"Dude!" Todd said to Miguel as they snuck in "She used our ideas!"
Miguel answered in a hyped manner "I know!"
"Good luck muchachos" Frida said as she passed them
"Thank you!" Todd and Miguel said sweetly.
Todd slipped off his gown and put it to the side as everybody else had to take off their disguises. smirking he pulled out his phone and put it on selfie cam while recording a video "Hey, can you guys like, y'know hurry up?"
Everyone turned to him "CÁLLATE" they all shouted at once
"Okay..." Todd said softly as he turned off the camera
Once everyone was out of their costumes, they all came into a huddle
"Everyone got the plan?" Todd began everyone nodded "We get the photo..."
Imelda continued "...Give it to Miguel..."
"Then send Miguel and Todd back to the Land of the Living" Hector finished
"Everyone got a petal...?" Todd questioned everyone, held up a Marigold Petal. Todd put on a gritty English accent "...Let's do this"
All of them now began to hunt for that horrible man, Imelda taking charge of course. "Now we need to find de la Cruz," she said looking back at the group.
"Yes?" a familiar voice said as they rounded the corner
'Well that's convenient Todd thought to himself
Hector held out his arm, stopping the others from rounding the corner
"Don't I know you?" Ernesto asked Imelda, only to have his face slapped with her boot
"THAT'S FOR MURDERING THE LOVE OF MY LIFE" she screeched
"W-What? Who?-"
"She's talking about me!" Hector said, rounding the corner, he looked at Imelda hopefully "I'm the love of your life?"
"I don't know! I'm still angry at you" she snapped back at him
"Hector?" Ernesto said in confusion "How did-" he didn't get to finish as Imelda hit him once again
"AND THAT'S FOR TRYING TO KILL MY GRANDSON AND HIS FRIEND!"
Todd and Miguel rounded the corner. "She's talking about us" Miguel declared proudly
"Wait!" Ernesto said finally connecting the dots "You're related to Hector!"
Todd then noticed the picture in his jacket pocket "The picture give it to me!" he said firmly as the rest of the Riveras rounded the corner, anger present on their faces.
Ernesto giggled nervously before running away. "After him!" Todd ordered.
"You said I was the love of your life?" Hector asked as they ran
"I don't know what I said!" Imelda quickly answered back
"I don't know" Miguel teased "That's what I heard" Todd chose to not say anything to avoid the boot slapping him across the helmet. They all then burst into a room full of security.
Todd quickly grabbed a broom and quickly broke off the head "Let's dance". A guard charged at him, Todd quickly swept his legs and brought down the makeshift staff on his cheekbone. 'Thank god I played Batman: Arkham Origins'. Another guard tried to pull the pole out of his grasp, without thinking Todd headbutted him, knocking him unconscious. Todd stumbled back and into someone, it was Imelda and she held the picture in her hand.
"Hey! guys we got it!" Todd said happily, just before a platform underneath both of them started to raise them up. Todd tried to step down only to be quickly pulled back by Imelda.
"What is wrong with you!" Todd snapped at her. Imelda was about to answer back only to look up with extreme worry. Todd catching her line of sight also looked up.
When the platform finally stopped Todd and Imelda were standing in the middle of the stage, in front of thousands of skeletons with a blinding limelight buring down on them. For a short while, both of them just stood there, absolutely petrified. Todd took a deep breath and stepped out to the side before pulling the drumsticks out of his boots and twirled them around and struck a pose.
A group of skeletons in the crowd near the front row stood up and pointed at Todd "Hey! It's Poco Loco!" One yelled out before the group cheered. Todd waved out to them, gaining a small amount of confidence. He looked at Imelda, who was still frozen. "Sing!" Miguel suddenly whisper-yelled to Imelda. She turned to Todd who gave her a firm nod. She walked up to the mic and took a deep breath.
She then began to sing, rather beautifully actually, although Todd wasn't really focusing on her singing only on tapping sticks in a suitable rhythm. Todd slowly made his way down the stairs keeping an eye on the security surrounding him. Todd quickly stepped on one guard's foot and stepped his stick on another's skull in tune to the singing and guitar.
Just as Todd made it to the bottom he saw de la Cruz grab Imelda and began dancing with her while trying to take the photo away. Todd stopped drumming and looked at their struggle, Todd looked down at his sticks and quickly shoved them into his boots. he cracked his knuckles and walked over to them, without thinking he grabbed Imelda's arm and pulled her away causing Ernesto to trip on the ground. Todd twirled Imelda around and pulled her close.
"What are you doing?!" she hissed under her breath
"Just keep singing!" Todd ordered as he began to dance with her. They were about to step out on the opposite side only to see that's where the security was waiting, Todd quickly pulled her away. Ernesto then pulled Imelda out of Todd's grasp, he lost his balance and fell hard on the ground.
*CRACK*
Todd's visor now had a crack on it, he growled and punched the floor in anger. He looked up and saw Imelda step hard on Ernesto's foot causing him to let her go, she lost her balance, Todd then grabbed her and held her in a bridal fashion. The crowd erupted, they actually thought it was part of the performance. Todd quickly carried Imelda away from the stage and set her down.
Todd fell to his knees, panting heavily. Miguel placed a hand on his shoulder "You okay?"
"Yeah," Todd said softly "was that good?"
Miguel smirked "You nailed it"
"Casco" Hector said playfully "Are you trying to steal my wife?"
"No, she's a bit too spicy for my liking"
To everyone's surprise, Imelda let out a small laugh. She then pulled out her marigold petal and gave Miguel the picture, she cleared her throat.
"Miguel" she began "I give you and your friend my blessing" the petal glowed "to go home and-"
"Never play music again..." Miguel said sadly
"- And to never forget how much your family loves you"
Miguel looked up, his eyes lighting up
"You're going home" Imelda finished with a smile.
Todd placed his hand on his shoulder, Miguel looked up at him before turning back to the petal and reached out for it...
"You are not going anywhere!" Ernesto growled suddenly while he pulled Miguel away
"You motherf-" Todd said rage bleeding from his lips, He tried to pull Miguel away. Ernesto quickly shoved Todd onto the ground.
*CRACK*
A large chunk of his visor broke off as he hit the ground, he grimaced and held his helmet in pain, "Todd!" Hector said with worry. Hector and Imelda helped him back to his feet. Todd growled in anger and ripped the goggles off his helmet and ran forward.
"STAY BACK" Ernesto barked Todd immediately halted, he stood in between him and the Riveras "ALL OF YOU STAY BACK"
Mega Evolution Dante swooped down and attempted to pull Miguel away only to have him pulled away, Dante only managed to pull his red hoodie away. Ernesto pulled Miguel to the edge.
Hector tried to step forward only for golden flourish to course through his bones causing him to stagger to the ground.
"AH!" Todd cried in pain, his heart burned as it sent a pulse through his body. He collapsed onto his back. 'I can't feel my legs...' he thought to himself. Todd looked down and saw his legs engulfed in a golden glow, he slowly felt numbness running through his body. 'No! Not now!'
"Ernesto stop!" Hector begged from the ground, "Please just let them go home!" Unknownst to anybody, Tía Rosita panned a camera on Ernesto and Tía Victoria hit the record button for all of the Land of the Dead to see.
"I have worked too hard for these two molestias (nuisances) to ruin everything!"
"They are living children Ernesto!" Hector pleaded
"They are threats! Do you really think I would let them got back to the Land of the Living with your picture and for what? To keep your memory alive?!"
"You're a coward!" Miguel told him no ounce of fear in his voice
"I am Ernesto de la Cruz: The greatest musician of all time!" he declared proudly
Todd glared angrily from the ground "I have had just about enough of you and your bullsh*t!" he cursed
Miguel then continued "Hector is the real musician! You just killed him and stole his songs!"
Ernesto pulled Miguel close to his face "I am the man who is willing to seize their moment" his tone took a dangerous edge "No matter the cost" He then tossed Miguel over the edge.
"NO!" Todd and Hector yelled out, Miguel's family ran to the edge in utter disbelief.
Ernesto smoothed out his hair and straightened out his suit as he walked past Todd and Hector "I'm sorry Mi Amigo" Todd lunged at him but fell short and flopped on his stomach "Say your goodbyes, Hector..." he then turned to Todd "And you too, I guess"
Todd lay on the ground as reality began to dawn upon him, he wasn't making home. Todd looked up and saw Hector, using the final ounces of his strength he began to crawl toward him, Hector doing the same. As soon as they were close enough, they gripped one another's hands tightly.
"Todd, I'm so sorry," Hector said softly
Todd chocked back a sob "I'm sorry too"
Todd laid his head back down a began to quietly cry. His eyes closed...
"Blue-jean baby"
Todd softly sang
"L.A. lady
Seamstress for the band
Pretty-eyed
Pirate smile
You'll marry a music man"
Memory began to form in his mind...
"But oh, how it feels so real
Lying here, with no one near
Only you and you can hear me
When I say softly, slowly"
Flashback: 05/02/2010
Todd remembered his tenth birthday when this song played out, the very first song Olivia and Shane danced to on their wedding day.
"Hold me closer, tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today"
A ten-year-old Todd and his family began to sing along, cherishing this priceless moment.
"Hold me closer, tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today"
Shane MacLaren looked at a camera filming the whole occasion and smiled "I've got the best family in the world" He then pulled Todd into a hug "Happy birthday my little Trooper!" Todd hugged back tightly, his mother and sister joined the hug as the song played in the background.
Shane had a tear in his eye "I love you so much...
...I'll miss you all"
Only ten days later Shane Jack MacLaren would pass away after a one-year battle with Blood Cancer.
(Tiny Dancer - Elton John)
Present Time: 02/11/2016
As the memory replayed in Todd's head, he almost smiled, that moment only brought him the greatest amount of joy. This time it was sadness, this was now a moment that he would never have again. Todd gripped Hector's hand tighter.
However, Todd heard powerful wing beats before hearing something land on the ground. Mega Catto saves the day once again.
"Hector! Todd!" Miguel called out as he quickly ran over to where they were.
Todd could only Crack his eye open a small amount and saw him. 'There's still a chance' he thought to himself.
"Hector" Miguel began holding back tears "I - I lost the photo"
Todd's heart shattered. All of this for nothing...
"It's okay hijo it's -" Hector's bones then shimmered once again
"No!" Miguel denied quickly "we can find another-"
"Miguel," Imelda cut in "It's almost sunrise!"
Todd tried to stay awake but his body was in protest, his energy and strength draining from his body.
Hector felt Todd's grip loosen "Casco?" He said in concern
*Clunk* The hollow sound of Todd's helmet rang loud in everyone's ears.
They all turned to Todd, he laid motionless on the ground.
"TODD!" Miguel yelled out, he tried to shake him only for his hands to go right through Todd and onto the ground, he quickly retracted his hands. Todd's body went translucent with the glowing gold spark in his chest slowly began to fade away, his eyes were closed as if he was peacefully asleep.
"Hijo, you and Todd are out of time," Hector told Miguel
"No!" Miguel cried out "No she can't forget you!"
Hector continued "I just wanted her to know that I love her..."
Hector and Imelda held up a petal "You have our blessing Miguel" Imelda said "No conditions"
Hector turned to Todd "Todd if you can hear me look after yourself...
...Hijo"
A bright golden tear fell from Todd's closed eye, he heard it, Hector knows he did.
"No Papa Hector please!" Miguel pleaded, the skin of his face fading away slowly.
"Go home, Miguel..." Hector said softly
"I promise" Miguel yelled out tears pouring from his eyes "I won't let Coco forget yo-"
The petal touched his chest, Todd and Miguel then disappeared in a swirl of golden petals...
My emotions man...
Hope you enjoyed...
See you soon...