Summary: Hector finds out why Miguel is in the Land of the Dead and Miguel arrives at the Department of Family Reunions. He learns the details of the curse and makes a deal with Hector to find de la Cruz.

Notes: Since the terms and conditions of the blessing are different, Miguel doesn't cross paths with the Riveras. Once they figure out Miguel was there, they will try to use Pepita but without anything to smell, they can't find him as easily. They'll have to resort to other methods. Since Hector and Miguel are not running away, I feel it's easier for them to just use the tram to get to Ceci's studio.

As Miguel, Dante, and Hector passed through the city on their way to the Department of Family Reunions, Miguel noted the odd looks he received from other skeletons. He pulled his hood over his face as several boldly pointed at him and whispered. Hector didn't notice until Miguel clutched onto his vest from behind.

"Ay, chamaco! You're going to make me trip walking so close."

He turned and noted how uncomfortable Miguel looked. Hector stopped walking and looked around. Some people turned away and pretended not to have looked but others were undeterred. He followed their line of sight and finally noticed the guitar on Miguel's back.

"What?! Chamaco, where did- hold on!"

Hector pulled him until an alleyway. Miguel flinched at the angry look on Hector's face.

"Where did you get that?! Did you steal it?! Are you a grave robber?!"

Miguel pulled the guitar forward and held it close.

"No! I-It's my great-great-grandfather's! I was just borrowing it so that I could play in the talent show!"

Hector froze. He looked at Miguel and then at the guitar.

"… You're great-great-grandfather?"

Miguel nodded.

"Yeah, Ernesto de la Cruz is my great-great-grandfather. It's not stealing if I'm borrowing it and we're related, he would've wanted me to have it!"

Hector's eyeballs fell into his mouth.

Ew… That's so gross…

Hector sighed and rubbed his face his hands.

"I can't believe this… Actually, I can believe this. That man was always rash."

He knelt down in front of Miguel and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Look, chamaco. You seem like a good kid. I don't understand why you took the guitar but you need to understand that stealing is never okay."

Miguel tried to explain but Hector raised a hand.

"Borrowing without permission is the same thing as stealing. It's a serious crime to be a grave robber. No one here takes too kindly to them so never do this again, okay?"

Miguel nodded.

He's right. I don't know why I thought that would work. Everyone would've recognized it right away as de la Cruz's guitar once I got on stage.

"You're right. I'm sorry."

Hector sighed and patted Miguel's head.

"The Department will know how to fix this but I don't want you to keep getting looks. Here."

Hector held out the Frida Kahlo costume.

"We have to hide that and you or else you're going to continue to get stares."

"Ay, ay, hold still. Look up. A ver, a ver. Look up, up, up."

Ay, this taking forever!

"Aqui arriba, eso… Eh, la rayita. Okay. Hey! Ta-da!"

Finally!

Hector held up a little mirror so that he could see.

Hey, I look like a skeleton!

Miguel made a couple faces as he looked at himself in the mirror. Dante barked at the two and smiled doggishly.

"Alright, you can just wipe it off at the Department if you need to. This way we can get there without any trouble. Come on!"

Miguel wrapped the guitar around his shoulder and made sure that he didn't mess up the make-shift guitar cover Hector made for him. The costume's skirt was long enough to cover the body of the guitar well and the shirt covered the handle. Assured that the guitar wouldn't be recognized they continued to the Department of Family Reunions.

It didn't take long for the two to arrive at the front doors of the large building.

"Well, here you are chamaco. Just go inside and ask to speak to one of the managers. They'll be able to get everything squared out for you."

Hector turned to leave.

"Wait!"

He paused and looked back at Miguel.

"…Would you, I-I mean, c-could you wait for me, please? You're the only person here that I know."

This place is really big and crowded. I don't think I've ever been someplace this large before.

Hector seemed to debate with himself before sighing and walking up to the doors. He held one open and gestured for Miguel to enter. Miguel smiled and relaxed a little as they entered the building.

The inside was bustling with many skeletons. Miguel followed Hector as they maneuvered through the crowd until they were by a couple desks and several long lines of skeletons waiting to talk to clerks. He could see a woman shouting angrily at one of the clerks. Hector stiffened though as he saw her.

"Okay, kid. I'm going to wait for you over here."

He pointed off to the side by the wall.

"Just go up to that door and knock. The man in there should be able to help you, okay? Great!"

Hector gave Miguel a slight push and then slunk away to hide. Miguel huffed and looked at Dante. His companion smiled at him, tongue hanging out and tail wagging.

"Dante, could you go wait with Hector? I'll come back for you once I'm done."

The dog barked and ran off to wait with the man. Miguel then towards the office door. The woman scared him a little so he did his best not to look at her when he passed by and hoped she wouldn't notice him as he knocked on the door.

It opened up and a small man looked up at him.

"What can I do for you?"

Miguel grabbed his arm with his other hand.

"I need some help, por favor. I think something went wrong since I'm alive but I'm here."

Miguel whispered when he mentioned he was alive. The man's eyes widened in surprise and then he gestured for Miguel to enter. The man closed the door behind him and made his way over to the desk. Miguel pulled his hood down.

"So, you're living but in the Land of the Dead. What happened before you got here?"

He asked as he rifled through some papers stacked on his desk.

"I wanted to play at a Talent Show in my town but I needed a guitar and no one would let me borrow one. I figured I could borrow my great-great-grandfather's guitar from his memorial and play it at the show but once I strummed it, no one could see me anymore."

The man pulled out a file.

"That would do it."

Do what?

"You cursed yourself."

"What?!"

The skeleton opened up the file and flipped through a couple pages.

"Día de los Muertos is a time to give to the dead. You stole from the dead so now you're cursed."

I think I'm gonna be sick.

"H-How do I uncurse myself?"

The man read a couple lines and hummed to himself.

"Looks like you need to return the stolen object to the owner and be forgiven for the act. Only then, can you go home but you gotta do it by sunrise."

"What happens at sunrise?"

The man gestured to Miguel's hands. One of his fingers was bone.

I-I'm-

He fainted.

"-kay? Kid?"

Miguel slowly came back to awareness. He blinked a couple times and then sat up when he realized the skeleton from before was snapping his fingers in his ear.

"That's better. Do you want me to call your family? They can help you get that forgiveness."

Miguel quickly shook his head.

"I-I'm alright! They are actually waiting for me outside! I'll just go ahead and meet up with them. Gracias for the help though, señor!"

Miguel stood up and started to back away towards the door.

"One last thing!"

Miguel paused.

"When you get your forgiveness, your family member needs to hold a cempasúchil petal and say, starting with your name, 'I forgive you.' Then, you take the petal from them and that will send you home. Also, if the guitar gets lost or broken, you'll be unable to return home. Take good care of it, okay?"

Miguel nodded and pulled his hood back up.

"Gracias, señor!"

He opened the door and saw his family with the woman from earlier.

Oh, no! I gotta hide!

Miguel looked towards the wall and made his way into the crowd.

Thank goodness, I don't think anyone saw me! Now, where did Hector say he was waiting?

He looked around and walked over once he found him.

"How'd it go, kid?"

Miguel frowned.

"I need to return the guitar and be forgiven by the owner. Once that happens, I can return to the Land of the Living. Do you know where I can find de la Cruz?"

Hector looked at him.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Wait. Wait, wait, wait, wait! Okay, this works out!"

That's a little weird.

"If you're going back to the Land of the Living, you can do me a favor! We can help each other!"

Hector dug out a photo from his vest and handed it to Miguel.

"You can put my photo on the ofrenda when you get home and I'll help you find de la Cruz!"

The man on the photo was smiling but he looked lanky and a little scruffy.

"This is you?"

Hector posed.

"Muy guapo, eh? So, what do you say?"

Miguel shrugged his shoulders.

"Alright. You help me find de la Cruz and then I'll put your photo up when I get home."

Hector led Miguel back out the main doors. They headed to the trams out front and hopped on. Dante sat down at Miguel's feet.

"Every Día de los Muertos your great-great-grandfather puts on a show called the Sunrise Spectacular. He should be at his rehearsal. I know someone who can get us in."