I went back. I despised the whole trip. Mictlan is bound to kill someone. "Ah, Zatz. Welcome back. How did it go?" I glanced at his sides. The others are already back. I'm sure he knows how it went.

"I'm sure you know this by now, Lord Mictlan, but Maya and her friends were victorious. They pushed us back to the Divine Gate. She is on her way to destroy it," I replied.

"Hmm. Quite a predicament," Mictlan said. He paused. "I want you to stop her. Don't kill her. Bring her to me...alive." The last word was emphasized with his heads splitting. I flinched.

"Yes, sir."

"Good. If you do a good job, I'll spare you...and your father."

Papa looked away from Mictlan as he said that. This is it. This is the moment to help her. I'm tired of this. I'm tired of being pushed around. I'm tired of being feared. Of being the bad guy. I have my own opinions, my own thoughts. I can do what I want, even if it costs me my life.

"Si, Mictlan."

"Good, now go!" His heads returned back as one. I stood and turned. This is the chance to show Papa that I can do what I want. To show him that I want to do good. I just have to find her. Maya. I can't let Mictlan get his hands on her.

I rode Colmilo to the entrance of the Divine Gate from our side. I stopped, however, when I came face to face with Maya. "Maya. What are you doing here?"

"I-we-came to stop Mictlan," she replied courageously.

"Maya, it's too dangerous. You have to get out of here," I tried.

"Too bad, bat boy," Maya said. "My mind's set." I sighed. I should've expected this. Maya is not one to turn from a challenge. This is a death challenge.

"Maya, this is digging our g-g-graves," Rico stated.

"I am not going back, Rico," Maya said sternly. "This ends now. Move."

I shook my head. "I will help you, Maya," I stated.

"You-you will?" she asked.

"Si, Maya. I will help you. I will help all of you. I don't want to be one of them."

Maya looked me up and down. She smiled. "Okay then! Let's go!"

I showed them the way to Mictlan's throne room. "Okay, this is it," I whispered. "We need to be very careful what we do in here. Mictlan is the god of war so whatever happens, we need to be there together."

Everyone nodded. "I'll pretend I've got you as my prisoners until I give you the signal. Once you get it, we charge."

"Okay, nice plan and all but what is the signal?" Rico asked.

"Whatever," I replied.

"So will I have to watch for a wink or-" he stared at me, "I mean will you make a bird sound or-"

"You'll know when it comes, Rico," I replied.

"All right, everyone, into positions," Maya whispered. The group gathered in front of me, hands behind their backs. I grabbed some rope and loosely tied it around all their wrists. "Okay, lets go," I said.

I opened the doors and led them in. "Ah, Zatz! You've returned! And with prisoners I see!" He scanned the party. "Maya! Great to see you! Come here for a moment!" I nudged Maya forward. She walked towards him.

"You know you're half god, right?" Maya didn't reply. She's great at acting. "I'm sure you know. Anyway, the reason why I need you is for a sacrifice! If I kill you, then I become the most powerful god in all existence!"

"You can never kill me!" Maya yelled.

"We'll see about that." He grabbed Maya. I untied Pichu's ropes and nodded at Rico, since he was the most confused about the signal. Pichu pulled his axes off of his back, Chimi tore her ropes off, and Rico grabbed Estefan. "What?" Mictlan yelled, his heads splitting.

"Charge!" Maya cried, ripping free from Mictlan.

"Zatz!" Mictlan yelled. I pulled out my sword. This is it. This is my chance.

Mictlan grabbed Maya and shoved her on the altar. Pichu charged and was thrown into the wall. Chimi's arrows were all shot back at her. Rico was hesitant. I charged at Mictlan as he tied Maya's arms to the altar. "I can't believe you would do this to me, Zatz. You were the most loyal."

"I was never loyal to you, Mictlan!" I cried. My sword flew towards his head but made no contact. I had stopped. "Zatz! Look out!" Maya called. I looked down to see a snake wrapped around my legs. I tried to wiggle free but the snake held on tighter the more I moved.

"Last chance, Zatz. Prove your loyalty to me," Mictlan threatened.

"Never," I replied.

"Then you die." He threw his arm at me, flinging me to the wall. The snake shot venom at me, sticking me to the wall before I could move. "You can't do this to Maya!" I cried, trying to wiggle free.

"I can do what I want. Plus, if you keep moving, the venom will kill you faster."

"Maya!" I cried.

"I'm fine, Zatz!"

I watched as Pichu, Rico and Chimi all charged at Mictlan. Each attack failed. He threw Rico at the wall, pinned Chimi to the floor with her arrows and knocked out Pichu. At least I think.

Papa charged in at him. Along with a few others. "Camazotz, you dare oppose me?" Mictlan asked.

"I must protect my son!" Papa exclaimed. Mictlan snapped his fingers. All of the others stopped charging him and went after Maya's party. All but Papa. "You aren't loyal either?" Mictlan asked.

"I never have been."

"Wedding that human made you weak, Camazotz."

"No. It made me strong."

"Wrong again." Mictlan stabbed him with his arm. I closed my eyes. I didn't want to see the rest. "Much better," Mictlan said.

I opened them again. All that was left of Papa is a pile of liquid gold. "Papa!" I cried. "Micltan! How could you?"

"I did what I had to, Zatz. Now, to finish the job."

My vision began to fade. "Maya..." I tried before I blacked out.

I gained consciousness while...flying on a bird? What happened. "Zatz! You're okay!" Maya called.

"I think the snake poison is dying down. What happened?"

"We escaped from Mictlan. He was too powerful. This bird saved us. Pichu got you off of the wall and carried you onto this owl. You can thank him for that."

I didn't answer. This is all my fault. I could've avoided this. Papa wouldn't have died if it wasn't for me. He could've lived. "I'm...sorry about your papa," Maya said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"It-it's okay," I said.

"Guys?" Rico said. "I hate to break up this moment but Mictlan and his army are catching up!" Rico pointed down below, where, sure enough, Mictlan is catching up pretty fast. "What are we going to do?"

"We're too heavy," Chimi said. "We need to loose weight!"

"Pichu got this."

"Pichu, no!" Chimi cried.

"It is the right thing. Pichu jump off and hold them off," Pichu stated.

"Pichu, you can't!" Maya cried.

"Pichu will. Pichu die a hero death. Pichu protect you." He saluted us and jumped off the owl's back. He landed on the floor below.

I watched him as we flew up the staircase. He smashed his axes onto the bottom, crashing the staircase. That was all I could see before the doorway closed.