Everyone, I made a poll regarding a potential sequel, or spin-offs and one-shots. Sincerely, I love MHBTY, but I think it's the type of stories which are so great they DON'T need sequels, like some Disney Movies that were perfect but the company had to ruin them with sequels that don't even live up to the first movie (*cough*Frozen*cough*). Spin-Offs are acceptable, though.

Make sure to vote!


La Muerte was awakened by the first rays of morning light that came from the window. All her senses slowly activated as memories from last night returned, and soon she was scanning her surroundings. The door to the balcony was still open, and there was a pleasant morning breeze coming from the coastal environment. The flower petals were scattered in her hair, the blankets and the floor, and the sheets were still covering her though the cushions and small pillows had fallen to the floor in their passion making, the candles had long extinguished.

A snore made La Muerte turn her gaze rightwards, and she found a rather funny scene. Xibalba was still asleep, snoring, but there was a content air to him. His beard and moustaches were messy, not tangled, it was evident they had a wild time last night, his arms were half-spread out like his wings, and she could feel his wing wrapped around her in a protective way. La Muerte giggled as she stroked his cheek with the back of her hand, and Xibalba smiled in his sleep, shifting lightly.

"Despierta, dormilón." She whispered into his ear.

Xibalba started to stir awake, and the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was his beloved wife laying next to him, stroking his face. He smiled sweetly at her. "Good morning, mi amor." He gently uttered. "Did you sleep well?"

"Better than ever."

This time, Xibalba managed to catch her by surprise by stealing her a soft but quick kiss, before snuggling closer to her and his hand going to rest at her abdomen, stroking it slow and tenderly.

"She didn't stop moving all night, you know." La Muerte commented. She couldn't feel strong movements from the baby yet, but she could faintly feel a little thing moving inside her.

"I hope I didn't bother her too much."

"No, it's fine. I think she missed you."

"I also missed your taste, your flavor, your love…"

Xibalba sat up a bit in bed to lean in and plant a small kiss on his wife's belly, but before he moved away, he felt a small tapping sensation. Surprised, he placed his hand on her abdomen, and his amazed gaze lifted to his wife as he felt another movement.

La Muerte was equally surprised. Wasn't it to soon? "Xibalba, did you…?"

"I didn't do a thing, I swear…"

"No, no, I mean… Did you feel her?"

At yet another movement, Xibalba started to laugh. "Yes, I did! She has a strong kick!" he continued to laugh as the baby kicked at his hand. He couldn't imagine how much strength she was using to make herself noticed. La Muerte was shedding tears of joy at the feeling of her baby's first kicking. Much to her surprise, Xibalba's hand started to glow a soft green, and she felt it warm.

"What are you doing?" she asked

"Bonding with the baby." He said simply.

"How…?"

"Babies like warmth, I'm trying to make her feel a bit warmer, and she might start getting used to my aura as well…" he felt the baby shifting inside the limited space, and her tiny, yet not-completely-developed hand pressing against his palm in response. His eyes swelled up with tears, smiling.

"The baby's saying hi." La Muerte smiled at him.

Sadly, soon the tiny hand got bored and went to do something else, the movement ceasing. Xibalba leaned in his head closer and gently lay it on his wife's belly. Apparently, the baby had gone back to sleep to make up for having been awake at night when her parents were… cuddling.

"I can't wait to finally meet her!" Xibalba chirped in delight, straightening back up again. "I really hope she will look more like you, my dear. A small, beautiful pequeñita."

La Muerte sighed. "Do you think she will have wings?"

"I hope she will… If she does I'll be the happiest man on earth!" Xibalba gave her a playful look. "Why? Any feeling?"

She returned the teasing glance. "Maybe…"

"La Muerte, are you hiding something from me?" Xibalba pretended to be offended.

La Muerte winked playfully. "Who knows?"

"Ohh… Is this a game? Okay, I'll play!"

La Muerte wasn't prepared for the tickle attack that came after it. She laughed hysterically as she tried to push Xibalba's fingers away as they tickled her sides, all the while he made funny noises, even going as far as to blow playfully on her abdomen. However, they both stopped when suddenly the baby started to move again, but this time her squirming made it feel as if she were crying, startled by her father's tickle attack.

"I'm sorry, baby!" Xibalba quickly apologized to the unborn child, stroking his wife's abdomen. "I'm sorry, daddy startled you?"

La Muerte stroked her abdomen tenderly, trying to calm the baby down. "She'll be startled further if you yell like that."

"I'm not yelling, I'm just making myself heard, that's different." Xibalba's hands found their way to his wife', softly this time. "I startled the baby, but answer me this…" he put on a funny expression. " Did I also scare you? Am I a monster that scares you too?"

La Muerte rolled her eyes, smiling. "No, you're not a monster, just a dork." The baby didn't stop 'crying', though.

"Well, how about we make the baby stop so we can wet you some breakfast?"

"You could sing to the baby."

"Sing? Me?" Xibalba looked genuinely surprised. "Are you sure you want me to sing? You have a much more beautiful voice, my dear."

"Maybe, but the baby wants to hear your voice too."

Xibalba sighed in defeat, but still he smiled at her. "How about we both sing?"

"What could we sing to her?" Much to her surprise, he snapped his fingers and a familiar object appeared in his hands. She recognized it almost instantly. "Is that…?"

"Yes." Xibalba placed his mother's music box next to his wife's abdomen, where the baby would be able to hear it. He hadn't felt any sort of energy coming from it anymore, he guessed it had nothing more to show them. He opened the lid, and the beautiful song from before started to play.

"I have never heard that song before…" La Muerte pointed out.

"My mother used to sing it to me every time I went to sleep, or when I had a nightmare, sometimes after one of father's…" Xibalba stopped. He didn't want to mention Akrinok at that moment.

La Muerte held his hand reassuringly. "It's okay…"

Xibalba smiled at his wife, again stroking her abdomen as he started to sing. The more he sang, the more he remembered his mother, remembered the many nights he'd cuddle in her embrace listening to her beautiful voice. La Muerte joined in, and soon her angelical voice like the chorus of Paradise blended in with his deep voice. Surprisingly, even though she didn't really know the lyrics, she managed to keep up with the song.

Soon, the baby seemingly calmed down, and she ceased her movements, going back to sleep. With their task complete for the time being, Xibalba placed the music box aside, and picked up his wife bridal style, carrying her out of the room. "So, what would you like for breakfast, my dear?" he asked her. "I could make you some eggs, or pancakes, anything you'd like."

"I'll be fine with some pancakes, Balby." La Muerte smiled. She didn't want to give him any more work for the time being, he had done so much already. "What do you think Zipacna and Epona are doing?"

Xibalba shivered at the thought. "Probably just staying home with hot cocoa and talking about horses."


He would rather be home drinking hot cocoa with Epona as they chatted about Equines.

But unfortunately, he had to help Epona with this. They waited just outside Itzlacol's castle until the Fire God had left on his carriage, Epona suppressed the need to snap at him when she realized those two bay geldings were forced to use a check-rein, and the coachman didn't help, whipping the animals at any signs of insubordination, but Zipacna had to stop her. This was breaking into private property as far as he knew.

When they were certain he was gone, Zipacna led Epona through the bushes, lifting his head like an alligator would from beneath the water to stalk prey, staring at the guards in patrol.

"So, how do we get into his stables?" Epona asked.

"Well, we cannot directly attack or I'll be in big trouble. You don't belong to our pantheon, so the Kings won't be able to punish you, me on the other hand…"

"I got it." Epona rolled her eyes. "I just asked how we could get in without being seen."

"Well, a simple spell to hide our presence, or maybe to stop time, could do the trick. Those guards seem to be fire constructs of some sort, so they are technically reanimated rocks or even fire of some sort, so they are magically insensitive. They wouldn't detect a spell's effects."

"I think I know the perfect spell for this…" Epona started to concentrate, and much to Zipacna's surprise a dark energy emerged from her and towards the stables. Suddenly, all the surroundings were surrounded in a darker hue shadow.

"What was that?" Zipacna asked.

"It's a sort of invisibility spell, but instead of making us simply disappear, it affects the senses and surroundings of the people. We can go inside those stables a hundred times and those guards wouldn't even notice."

"Could you teach it to me?"

"Maybe if you behave like a good gentleman." Epona winked, and ran towards the stables doors, followed by Zipacna.

Zipacna noticed the horses were staring at them. "Epona, I thought you said no one would be able to see us."

"Animals, especially horses, dogs and cats, are special. You can cast the most powerful invisibility spell and the would still be able to see, or at the very least sense your presence in some way. And remember we only don't want the guards to see us."

Epona walked down the stables, taking a quick glance into each stall trying to find Camaria, but her stomach sank when she only found physically beautiful but emotionally devastated horses, there were lots of 'fancy' breeds, a few of them had whip marks on their backs, others were so afraid they acted aggressively in a defensive posture.

"These guys don't seem to like us…" Zipacna pointed nervously at a black Friesian that reminded him of Medianoche, but without green markings and with the normal breed proportions, stomped its hoof, staring at him apprehensively.

"They are scared, they haven't had a nice experience…"

"Where do you think Camaria would be?"

"I don't know…" Epona glanced at a black thoroughbred mare, and approached her carefully. Zipacna watched as she whispered something to the horse, and it gave a small snort.

"So?"

Epona stepped back, and glanced at the doors that led to the backyard where the corral was. "Son of a leprechaun…"

"What?"

Epona ran towards the backyard, where there was a large corral with a white, high fence that kept any horses inside, no matter how high they could jump. She saw a rather large stallion, grayish white thoroughbred with black mane and tail, and dark gray socks, and inside with him was…

"CAMARIA!" Epona didn't even bother to go to the gate and open it; she climbed up the fence and landed on the other side, running towards the Friesian mare as she galloped towards her mistress. Epona hugged the mare's neck tightly, patting her neck. "It's okay, girl, I'm here… I'm here…"

Zipacna stared at the stallion, who was apparently trying to get a sort of reaction from Camaria, bucking around, and giving neighs. "Epona, I got the feeling her partner is interested in her, but he doesn't seem to want to force himself on her yet."

"He's courting her, but he won't approach until she gives him the signal she's ready to be mounted. Thankfully Itzlacol didn't rub off his traits unto him." Epona glanced at the stallion. "I'm sorry, boy, but Camaria is too old for that."

The stallion seemingly understood and gave a disappointed snort. Zipacna headed to the door of the corral and opened it, letting Camaria walk out, but before he could close it the gray stallion had already galloped out, nearly running over him in the process. Epona stared at the stallion, then glanced back at the stables, thinking.

"What's wrong?" Zipacna inquired, glancing at the stables. His gears started to turn. "Uh oh…."

Two hours later, Itzlacol's carriage had stopped in the main courtyard, just in front of the marble staircases. As Itzlacol climbed down his carriage promptly, he headed towards his stables to check if the stallion had already mounted that troublesome mare. Now he knew where Xibalba's horse got its attitude, that mare turned out to be a nuisance. But if she had produced such a fine horse for Xibalba, she would do the same for him even if he had to force her.

But when he stepped into the stables, he found all the stalls were empty.

"Qué rayos…?!" he growled, running inside, staring at the open stall doors in shock and confusion. All his collection of purebred horses was gone, after all the trouble he had taken to obtain them all. Itzlacol ran towards the courtyard, and when he found the corral empty and the mare gone, his blood started to boil. Who in their sane judgment would even think of robbing his property? Oh, but his guards would hear it! They were supposed to stop this from happening!

With a burst of red fire, Itzlacol had teleported into his throne room, making as much noise as possible in the explosion to let his servants know he had returned, and he was angry. But when the fire extinguished, his surroundings became pitch dark, except from the light coming through the windows. However, Itzlacol realized he was not alone, he could feel two auras inside that very room, from the direction of his throne… and one of those auras felt darker and more threatening than the other. Itzlacol looked in the direction of his throne, recognizing the aura faintly.

"You?!"

"Hello, Itzlacol."

Suddenly, the torches went lit. Itzlacol had to shield his eyes momentarily, but when his vision adjusted to the illumination, he found Epona sitting casually on his throne, sipping some tea from one of his cups. Zipacna was leaning casually against the wall, sipping wine from another cup.

Epona didn't shudder at the murderous glare Itzlacol was giving her. She simply stared down at the hot brown liquid curiously, swaying it with her finger. "My, my, may I ask where you got the tea from? It's quite good, though I think it could be better."

Zipacna chuckled at Itzlacol's expression. "Oh my dear, you were right. His face is priceless."

Epona lifted her cup. "Cheers."

"What are you doing here?!" Itzlacol growled with venom in his voice.

"What? Can't we pay you a small visit?"

"Not what we missed you that much, though." Zipacna shrugged.

"Oh, that's rude, Zipacna. Of course we missed seeing him, especially that frozen face that only shows dread and limitations." Epona smirked. "What happened, Itzlacol? Were you robbed?"

Realization slapped him in the face like a bucket of cold water. "This was your doing, wasn't it?!

"What was our doing?" Epona simply said.

"I'm as confused as you, dear Epona." Zipacna added. "Could you be a bit more specific, Itzlacol?"

Itzlacol pointed at her with an accusing finger. "You took my horses, you puta!"

Zipacna flared out his wings, all friendliness gone as he tried to cover Epona from sight with one of his wings. "Hey! Watch your tongue, you gingerfail!"

Epona smiled mockingly at Itzlacol. "Ay, Itzlacol… Do you know what glue is made of? Remember that question you asked me?"

Zipacna glanced back at her, and decided to play along. "I'm quite curious."

"Horse skin." He realized what she was playing at. "

"Horse skin…" Epona brushed her red hair away, showing the bruises in her neck. "You played with the skin of the goddess of horses… Then you played war with my horses… Oh, and did I see well? You took Camaria too? I must admit, though, that Criollo stallion you tried to pair her with was absolutely gorgeous. Too bad that he actually respected mares, unlike other people who have no respect for women in general.

Zipacna wanted to punch Itzlacol for leaving such marks on Epona's neck, but he contained himself.

"It was Camaria, wasn't it? I'm not loosing my mind, am I?"

"It was her, alright, my dear. And after the shock of all your horses disappearing, my dear…"

Epona's eyes started to glow in anger, which Itzlacol took advantage of. "I see you're not stupid as I thought. If you had given my a horse, like I asked you countless times, we would have saved ourselves this situation."

Surprisingly for him, Epona stood up, and walked towards him, smiling. Both men stared at her with uncertainty, wondering what she was playing at. Zipacna stiffened in jealously when Epona stroked Itzlacol's cheek.

"You know, Itzlacol… I would have given you a horse if you had proved to be fit to take care of one…" she whispered. "Instead, you decided to steal a horse from me." She placed a finger on his lips in a seductive way, and she knew she had him when she felt him shivering. His lust would be the end of him one of these days. "Bad decision." She patted his cheek with one hand, but with the other she scratched his neck. Itzlacol stepped back, growling as he pressed his hand against his neck.

Epona continued to smile. "You see, you're not my type. Take it from redhead to redhead, only the best get to wash their hair in blood… and the ones who do…" she twirled a lock of his red hair, amused at how he was entranced at her beauty, and her seductive voice. "Usually wash it with the blood of the less fortunate…"

Zipacna was going mad at how she was playing with Itzlacol, that could be him, if only… The way she was swaying her hips, stroking Itzlacol's face, the only thing he could do for the time being was to glare at Itzlacol.

"Maybe…" Itzlacol couldn't contain it any longer, and he pulled Epona closer by the waist. "You might not be my type, but I desire you… You're so hot…"

Epona continued to smile, turning his face away with a finger, raising a thin red eyebrow. "If the God of Fire says so… but I trust the devil far more than you in this matter, no offense."

That caught Zipacna's attention. "Wait, what?!" he was close to lunging at Itzlacol at any moment before he lost it and dared to go further with Epona. Before he knew, Epona had teleported away from Itzlacol's hold, and reappeared right next to him in a few seconds, he didn't have time to get surprise when Epona's lips came into contact with his cheek.

"Too bad you're not my type." Epona glanced at Itzlacol with a teasing smile, internally giggling at how Zipacna had become stiff, heating on the inside. Zipacna hoped he was more than just a torture towards Itzlacol just to produce him even more jealously.

Epona rubbed her lips against Zipacna's scaly cheeks, stroking his chest. "Playing with fire is always dangerous… someone always gets burnt.

Zipacna realized the game she was playing at, and decided to play along, even if to have Epona flirt with him a little longer. He wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her closer.

Itzlacol crossed his arms. "How curious…"

"Curious?" Epona raised an eyebrow. "Yes it is, isn't it?"

Zipacna glanced down at her, smiling. The both of them teleported right behind Itzlacol, and Zipacna patted the fire god's shoulder with his hand, which was extremely hot. Itzlacol's status as a Fire God was the only thing that kept him from being burnt.

"Watch out, you're starting to turn into ash already." Epona whispered into his ear.

"And horses love the feeling of ash under their hooves." Zipacna said.

"And before you panic again, don't bother to search for the spares and all the torturing tools you used on all those horses, they are melting somewhere in Zipacna's realm."

"No hard feelings."

Itzlacol remained still, frozen and stiff as they disappeared. It wasn't until he was certain they were gone that he lout a monstrous scream of ire.