Author's note: So happy to see that things are going this good. Time to see what happens when the two stories collide. Also, it's interesting to keep noticing little details in Maya and the Three such as the slight reference between the ever-lasting battle between the Horned Snake and the Thunder Bird (Sun Eagle in this case). Or the use of Zatz's conch, because it is also the symbol of the Man on the Moon for the Aztecs (foreshadowing. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge). Or the red in the Prince's eyes for Maya's crimson and her green details referring her connection with Zatz (like Xibalba and la Muerte). And so on and so forth…

Let's go!

6. Pakal

The air in his lungs burned, his body seemed to hurt and yet didn't. There were no fiery snake jaws closing on him. Both his eyes were now open and that nearly stopped his heart. Since when could he see through his two pupils? He couldn't remember. Mitclan had taken his right pupil as a token of loyalty, a ransom. Zatz shivered at the thought, trying not to remember where had that eye ended. Hu? It was day already? Had he misplaced his sleep? What was that room? Where was he? A soft moan told him that someone else was in the room and it was a familiar face, one the Prince had devoted centuries to watch, and yet it was different somehow. Maya? Is that you, princess? How was that possible?

"Oink" Chuy yawned and stared at the face of the once-Manolo, before started snarling in distrust. Who was this stranger? Zatz hushed him and tried to calm him in vain, so that Maya could sleep. This strange pink creature seemed to hate him somehow. In his attempts, the Prince finally caught a glance of his reflection in the mirror and was taken aback. Was that him? He seemed less lean than before, his hair was darker and, indeed, there were now two eyes where there was just one.

"Th-this is me? How long was I asleep? I don't remember" Zatz had a good look, while Chuy sniffed him carefully. It was Manolo, yes, but something was different, the pig could tell. Who was this stranger with the face of the matador? "I've been through so many lives now, I don't recall" Zatz walked towards one of the windows and looked outside to glance at San Angel. Teca was gone, the jungle was no more and everything was confusing and strange. "Wait! Where's Papa? Where's Rico? Chimi? Chiapa? Anyone? Am I all alone with Maya? Where's the city? Where's..." the young man sighed.

"Manolo?" Maria was finally awake. He looked at her and she seemed even more beautiful than what he remembered. "Buenos días"

"Buenos días, princesa" her husband smiled.

"Did you sleep well today? Or did you have another weird dream?" she walked up to him softly. "Last night you were so happy, I was hoping you finally got some rest"

"Sort of" Zatz bit his lip. "Uh, Maya, I..."

"Maya?"

"Uh, I, mean…"

"Ok, gordo, I get it. Another funny dream it was tonight" this woman was quick, the prince thought to himself. Even more than when she was the Teca princess. "So, what was it this time, Manolo? An aztec city? A girlfriend I should know? Or an ex? If Joaquin has given you even more nightmares…"

"No, no, no! Estoy bien, mi amor. I'm fine. For real. See?" the bullfighter took her to sit on the bed, trying to calm her down. Maria then noticed something off. One of Manolo's eyes, the left one was his usual brown but the other was red, blood crimson. There was nothing swollen or signs of an injury. "I'm just a little drowsy" that didn't convinced her. Moreover, she remembered the figure in the mirror. Somehow, Manolo was now similar to that young man. Had that stranger had somehow gotten possession of her husband?

"Right. And you just colored that eye, right?"

"Uh, no? It's always been like that"

"Uh-hu. Ok, you better start telling me the truth or I swear you are going to see just how loud I can scream, mister" Maria wasn't kidding. If someone was using Manolo for one of their tricks, they were in for a world of pain.

"Uh, you lost me" Zatz couldn't understand what she was saying, and that made Maria angrier. If someone was trying to hurt Manolo, she wasn't going to just sit and wait. Maria made her mind in seconds while verything seemed to become a blur in Zatz's eyes as his brain became duller. He wasn't returning to the darkness, or was he? When he blinked, the prince was still in Manolo's body but no longer in the helm. The bullfighter had somehow awoke just when the woman was taking out her sword for a "sharper" interrogation. "Ouch! My head! Maria, what? WOW! HEY! Hey, what are you even doing, chula? I shaved yesterday, I swear! ¡María, por favor!"

"Who are you and what are you…?" Maria looked at her husband's eyes and saw again that noble goofy light she knew and loved. "Manolo?"

"Uh, do you know anybody else with this hair and named Sanchez? Cuz creo que no. No, obviously no" the man blinked in fear. "What has gotten into you?"

"I could ask you the same thing. Just a moment ago, it was if someone else was inside you. I dunno who but it wasn't you"

"OK, now I'm really freaking out. Esto ya es puro peyote" Manolo got up uneasily. He got a killer headache but everything else was in place, or so it seemed. Who was the boy in his dream? Why was he still stalking him? They heard voices from outside and walked to the balcony to see that Pepe and the others were waiting for them.

"Manolo! Get down here, bro! We've got a lot of things to do remember?" the mariachi brothers seemed very excited.

"Yeah, bro! Joaquin isn't gonna wait for you all day for this! Nor the other chicas in town!" Pancho seemed to be just as nervous.

"Anything I can help you with, chicos?" Maria smiled.

"Uh, as long you don't throw us anything. We're bien, mucho good. Gracias" said Pablo cowering behind his brothers. "C'mon, Manolo! We've got to, uh, you know. Pack the things in the office before they get more dust"

"Coming! I promise I'll be back for lunch, mi amor. Enjoy this day and stay safe!" the bullfighter kissed his wife and ran downstairs after grabbing some breakfast from the General's table.

"Are you really doing this, mijo? You really don't have to" asked Maria's father before he could leave.

"I appreciate everything you have done so far, Sr. Posada, but like you said after the wedding. This is my family and I need to be responsible for them. I really need to do this" Manolo had decided that as Maria's husband, they needed their own space. As much as the General wanted them to stay, they needed a house on their own. "Será una sorpresa para María"

"You're a good man, Manolo. I hope you know that. I'm sure your father, Carlos, is proud wherever he is. You might have lost your only family, but I'm happy that you're still doing this like a Sanchez. Like a man. And know that my door is always open"

"Gracias" Manolo headed for the door, noticing then a tear in his eye. He didn't remember feeling like crying but Zatz did. No matter which live he lived, he always lost his father and that broke his heart.

Okay, so Jorge Gutierrez did confirm that Maria and Manolo moved out of the General's house shortly after the wedding. And, yes! Zatz is finally getting to really know Manolo. Poor guy! Always ends up an orphan.

And as for Pakal, well. You might have all heard of the UFO found in a Mayan tomb. That is the tomb of king Pakal, whose sarcophagus has fascinated archeologist and alien fans for decades.

More to come real soon!