Author's note: Muchas gracias a todos. I want to thank u all for coming with me this far. We move on a little deeper into our guacamole and see what happens. Two stories are going to meet at last. Lyrics belong to Of Monsters and Men, as helpful with these trials as always.

Also, have you guys noticed two peculiar things: Jorge Sanchez's looks are quite similar to Zatz's and the fact that in episode one we already have a foreshadowing moment at the coronation. Have a second look, if you don't believe me!

5. Chaski

"Swallowed by a vicious, vengeful sea

Darker days are raining over me

In the deepest depths I lost myself

I see myself through someone else"

As night drew close to San Angel, a bonfire was lit in the square and the whole town gathered around the warmth of the flames. The strings were pulled, the hearts bounced and joy filled every corner. When the moon came out, it was happy to see that there was no one feeling blue in its wake. Joaquin was busy impressing his ever-loyal fans, Pepe and his mariachi brothers took care of the music, Ignacio was again taking over Manolo's guitar and, well, the two lovers were dancing on their own in a corner of the square. The moon watched silently as Manolo and Maria seemed to dance to their own song, and the night star held its breath. They seemed so happy together. A memory stirred in the dark and settled. Two lovers dancing in the dark, sword in hand. The moon craved for more.

The Moon Rabbit heard his cries and slid down into San Angel once again. Waiting for Manolo to remember was proving to be too complicated, but Tochtli, fortune teller and rabbit of wit, was not without resources. The white creature ran down the streets, leaving a trail of pale yellow light behind him, his trailing unheard and no footstep left behind. The flowers opened around him and a sweet perfume filled the streets. When he came to a halt, it surprised him to find Manolo, standing all alone and finally reading through Father Domingo's book. A longing light in those eyes. Tochtli knew then that it was time for both sides of the story to meet.

"Manolo? Are you all right, bro?" Joaquin touched his friend's shoulder.

"Hu? Oh, uhm, yeah, sure. I was just, uh, reading. I'm a little tired" Manolo smiled but his eyes were still sad. He somehow knew what it was in those pages and a knot was taking form in his heart. If his visions had something to do with the Aztecs, another life, had he forgotten something important on this new life? Was he going to lose Maria too?

"You know I ain't Maria, right? No need for excuses"

"Lo sé, lo sé. I'm sorry. It's just that, well. I've already told you about my visions and I can't shake the feeling that I'm missing something important. What if everything I've done is wrong? What if it means losing Maria?"

"You could always send her my way" that joke was able to make them both snigger before going quiet again.

"I'm scared, bro"

"I know, Manolo. Look, I've never been to anything close to reincarnation or past lives, I'll be honest, and I can't bare seeing you like this. You've done a lot, don't tell yourself otherwise. This is YOUR life, Manolo. Remember everything you saw and did in the Land of the Death"

"The Candle Maker said he was impressed because I was making my own story" whispered the young Sanchez.

"Exactly. That is no small thing. Take it from me" Joaquin pointed at his missing eye and his father's statue.

"Yes, but where does this past life fit in? I'm so confused right now. Me está volviendo loco"

"Maybe, just maybe, there is something left for you to do so you can move on. Just a thought there" the solder's words lit a small light inside Manolo's head. "Whatever happened those centuries ago, it can't hurt you. Not anymore, not with Maria and me here" Joaquin grabbed his friend's shoulder with a smile.

"What are you two doing here on your own?" Maria walked to them.

"Oh, nothing! Just some man to man talking! You know, girls and stuff!" Joaquin gave the bullfighter some friendly punches.

"Right. Seguro que sí y mi padre es el Chapulín Colorado. Did you found anything, Manolo?" she turned to her husband.

"I'm not entirely sure. I think I know a few things but again, it's all too…" Manolo sighed.

"'Guacked'? Too deep in guacamole?" his friend nailed it.

"Just the word I was looking for, bro" smiled the guitarist and so did Maria. "I'm sorry, mi amor, I'm trying"

"I know you are, Manolo. And I love you even more for that" they shared a kiss. "Tell you what. I could use a last dance before going to bed and I'm missing a good guitarrista. How does that sound?" Mss. Sanchez had brought her husband's beloved instrument. "And I think Pepe could really use a hand" the three amigos looked at the mariachis, who were already too drunk to tell which playing music they were playing. The trio smiled.

Walking back to their house, Manolo and Maria didn't spoke. No words were needed, anyway. Tochtli followed them from a distance and was happy to see that things had gotten even better between the two lovers he had known for five centuries. A pale light shimmered, like a question, and the rabbit smile. The moon was keeping an eye on them and wanted to know what was going to happen. Tochtli didn't answer.

"You sure you're all right?" once in their bedroom, Maria sat down quietly and waited while her husband got ready for bed.

"Still care for another dance, Señorita Posada?" joked Manolo and she giggled. Something moved in the mirror behind the musician and squinted from the corner, catching the woman's attention. Maria held her breath. Right there, before her eyes was a familiar face, one she knew that she had waited centuries to see. White haired, a single red pupil and a playful smile… Zatz? "Maria?" young Sanchez snapped her out of her trance. The ghost was gone. "Now you're the one seeing things, chula"

"I thought I saw… Never mind!"

"Is there another man in here?" Manolo teased her, looking inside the closets and under the beds before posing like in a fight. "Because if there is, he will have to face my sword! The sword of a Sanchez!" they both started laughing and lied in bed. They shared a long glance and finally fell asleep close to each other, as the moon light was finally able to find them. There was a certain silence around them, like a quiet hug. The rabbit looked at the night star and it smiled softly, before closing its only eye.

XXX

Manolo felt like sinking into the dark sea, but it wasn't cold. It was quiet and warm, like being in his mother's arms. The young man opened an eye and found himself falling through the coils of a humongous feathered-snake, that seemed to be sleeping, and at the bottom, Manolo saw someone. A boy just a little younger than him, his knees bended tight against his chest, his single eye closed. The guitarist stretched an arm to touch the stranger's hand and they looked at each other. Somehow Manolo felt like staring deep into a mirror, feeling so tired of doing so that he let himself go.

A gasp was heard inside the bedroom. The sun peeked through the window as two souls were now one again and the missing eye of the Prince of Bats was now Manolo's. The son of Camazotz was once again awake in this world.

OMG

Little I can say there. Chaskis were Peruvian messengers who delivered during the time of the Incas. They used to announce their presence with the sound of a shell.

More to come!