Episode 30: The Final Battle
One day Manny's family pulled him aside to have a talk with him.
"Manny we need to talk." His father said. "As you know you're 17 now and you're practically an adult."
"What are you saying?" Manny asked.
"It's time for you to decide weather to be good or evil." Grandpapi said.
"What?!"
"You don't have to make it now Miho." Maria said.
"But it's time to start thinking about it." Rodolfo said. "And no matter what decision you make just remember that we will still love you. Right Papi?"
"Yes, si."
"We also have some gifts for you." His father handed him a box. Manny opened it and in side was a dagger. "It's been used in our families for years, use it only for supernatural forces."
"Thanks Dad."
"And now for my gift." Maria pulled something off her finger and placed it in Manny's hand. It was a sliver ring with a blue diamond on it. "It was my wedding ring and your grandmother's and so on and so on."
Manny clutched the dagger and the ring. He hugged his family and went upstairs to put them away. Meanwhile some where else in town Frida was sitting in bed in a white nightgown reading her favorite book when she heard the window to the living room break. She slipped on her blue rope and walked out of her room and looked for someone.
"Mom? Dad?" She asked.
"Sorry dearie." A voice said. "Your parents won't be home for another 3 hours."
It was El Demonio. He stood behind her grinning wickedly.
"I've been wanting to meet you." He said. He walked up to her and looked at her face. "Wow! You really are one of the most beautiful girls in Miracle City aren't you?"
"What do you want?" She asked.
"I have a score to settle."
He snapped his fingers and they were instantly transported to the land of dead. As soon as they arrived a group of horrible creatures appeared and they grabbed her.
"Let me go!" She said.
"Take her away!"
"Let go!" She kicked one of them.
"Ohh! Oww! That hurt." The creature cried.
...
"Hi Manny!" Zoe said.
"Hey." He said twiddling with his mother's ring.
"Manny do you love me?" She said.
"Um..."
"Don't lie!"
"Okay I don't and I'm sorry."
"Why? Why can't you love me?"
"I just don't!" Manny said.
"You'll love me! After tonight you'll love me!" Them she covered her mouth as if she had said too much.
"Why? What happens tonight?"
Zoe turned into Black Cuervo and flew away. Manny turned into El tigre and ran after her. He tackled Zoe and the two engaged in a fight.
"Zoe! Listen I don't love you! And you don't really love me!"
"I do! I do! I don't love anyone else!"
"What about Django?"
"Django?" She squeaked.
"You said you loved him once! Was that a lie?"
"N...no." She wimpered. She cried a tear which caused the shard of glass to fall out of her eye. "Wait! What? What's going on?"
"You tell me. You mentioned something about tonight."
"I did? I...Oh no! Manny! Frida is in grave danger! No time to explain just get to the land of the dead now!"
Hearing this Manny raced back to his house. He found his family and told them what happened. Luckily Grandpapi knew a spell to open a portal there.
"Alright guys I'm going in alone." Manny said.
"No Miho. We're going with you." Rodolfo said. "This is a fight for the family."
The Portal opened and they entered and landed in the land of dead. It was cold and barren this time. The family decided to spilt up and search for Frida. Manny searched everywhere until he found a dark room. Inside he found Frida chained up and gagged.
"Mmmmph!" She cried.
"Frida, hang on. I'll get you out of this."
"Mmmph! No! It's a trap!" Frida cried.
Then Manny felt something knock him on the head causing him to lose consciousness. When he woke up he was in a cell, El Demonio stood in front of him.
"Where's Frida? Where's my family?" He pounced on the demon but he vanished.
"Temper, temper." He said. "Your family is fine. Right now they're all in a jail cell but I can't say the same for your lady love."
"Where is she? Tell me! Or I'll-"
"Do what? I'm a demon you can't hurt me." He snickered. "But since you asked so nicely."
He snapped his fingers and Frida appeared in front of him. El Demonio's henchmen restrained her.
"You have exactly 3 seconds to call your goons off before slap them off the ground!" Frida demanded.
"Such fire! Maybe I should you scratch up your pretty little face."
"You do that and I swear I'll tear you to pieces!" Manny growled.
"I don't have to kill her I could always let her go but of course it's gonna cost you."
"What do you want?"
"You're body!"
"Don't listen to him!" Frida said.
Manny froze in terror but after thinking it over he had an idea.
"Fine! But on one condition. You free everyone you've trapped here and you let me say goodbye to my family."
"Deal!"
They shook hands and El Demonio changed into a red mist and entered Manny's body. His body glowed bright red and his teeth and claws grew longer and sharper. His fur turned black and he roared in a way that didn't sound human. The creatures ran away in fear. Frida was too scared to move, the shock was just too much. The thought of losing Manny overwhelmed her. She fainted, Manny caught her in his arms before she could hit the ground. He lifted her up. She felt so light and delicate. Her body seemed to have an angelic glow to it. Seeing her there, so frail, so innocent, so beautiful. Manny could hardly stand it. He nuzzled her face, purring.
"Forgive me my love." He whispered in her ear.
He carried her bridal style all the way back to the land of the living. The Rivera family including the ancestors were there and they watched as the demonic El tigre approached them carrying his angel, Frida. No one said anything they just stared in awe. Normally if someone got possessed by a demon they would tear apart and destroy anything innocent. But Manny despite being possessed, held her carefully and protectively. He carefully placed her on the ground and stroked the side of her face with his claw. He leaned over and gently kissed her awake. Her lips felt so cold against his, he felt his heart melt when they touched. He just wanted to stay there, kissing her forever but reluctantly he pulled away. She woke up and she looked at him shocked.
"Manny what have you done?" Frida asked.
"I put you before my life." He said. "Don't forget me okay?"
"Manny please don't." She said tearfully.
"Manny you don't have to do this." Miguel said.
"Yes I do." Manny said.
"At last!" El Demonio laughed. "Now I can rule the- Huh?"
Manny pulled his father's dagger from his pocket.
"What are you doing?" He said.
"I've had enough of you!" Manny said. "I'll never let you hurt anyone I love again! This I swear!" He held the dagger over his chest. "And if this is the only way to do it, so be it!"
"Manny! No!" Frida cried.
"You fool! Don't you dare! " El Demonio yelled.
"Go to Hell!" Manny stabbed the dagger into his heart and collapsed to the ground. El Demonio flew out of Manny's body and shrieked in agony.
"What's happening?" Rodolfo asked.
"If a mortal dies before El Demonio leaves the body then he must go back to Hell. Forever." Miguel said.
El Demonio let out one last screech and in a flash he was gone. Frida ran to Manny's side and held him.
"Manny! Manny! Come on! You have to get up!" Frida cried.
He looked at her weakly.
"Why did you do it?" She asked.
"I loved you too much to let him hurt you." He said.
Then at that very moment the boy died.
"Can you help him?" Maria asked.
"No." Miguel said.
"No, no, no!" Frida said. "Please! Please come back to me!"
Tears filled Frida's eyes and she laid on top of Manny's body. Suddenly a light appeared and floated toward them. It took the form of a beautiful woman.
"Who are you?" Frida asked.
"Hello Miguel." She said.
"Rida!" He walked toward her. "Is it really you."
"Yes it's me."
"I've had dreams like this so many times."
"I know." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.
"I thought I'd never see you agian."
"Neither did I."
Rida turned to Manny.
"Manny Rivera, you sacrificed yourself to destroy El Demonio and save your family."
"He's a true hero." Rodolfo said.
"And I'm okay with it ." Grandpapi said.
"You freed me Manny. And because you have loved so purely and unselfishly with no thought of yourself I shall grant you a second chance." Rida's hands glowed bright gold and she placed them on Manny's heart which healed his wounds.
His eyes opened and the first thing he saw was Frida's smiling face. She brushed his cheek gently.
"Am I in heaven? Because there's an angel here who looks like Frida." Manny said.
Everyone laughed and hugged Manny.
"I can't breathe!" He said.
"That was a very brave thing you did Manny." Maria said.
"So are you choosing good?" Rodolfo asked.
"Rodolfo!"
"What?"
"Yes I am." Manny said. "I'm going to be a hero. So I can protect everyone I care about."