Chapter 11 (The Plain and Remember me)
As the plan was simply and easy, the kids and their dead relatives sneaked into the concert by using explosion mini microbots that Hiro have put together, as it blew up outside of the building causing most of the security to run out and investigate while they went in and closed the door behind them.
Imelda was very impressed on how Hiro was able to make a hundred micobots in just an hour to spare and see that he can do anything if he put his mind to it, in which that's what Cornelius and Tardarshi been telling him that for years. As they reached the back stage area they huddle up to go over the plan in case anyone forgets.
"Alright guys here's how the plan goes. We search and find Ernesto Cruz." said Wilbur as Violet finished his part of the plan.
"Then we take him out and grab the photo of Hector." She said as everyone nodded.
Miguel then said "And we get out of here as soon as possible." Then Penny said "Do anyone have their peddles?." Imelda, Hector, and the others pulled out their peddels as it was part of the plan in case things goes south if either Imelda or Hector lose their peddels. "Alright let's get this done." Momma Imelda said as the kids nodded and put their hands in the middle.
"One, two, three. Go Team Future!." said all five in a whisper as they threw their hands in the air.
Hector raise an eyebrow and said "Team Future?. Is that what you kids call yourselves as a hero team name?."
"Yeah, I know it sounds a tab bit goofy but our name is still in a working progress." Violet said as she was embarrassed about the name.
Then Hiro said while smirking "Not really poppa Hector, it's our team name." Penny rolled her eyes as she knows that was true. "We talk about our hero team name when we get back home, now let's find that music stealing De La Cruz." She said as everyone started running their way to the back stage area.
As they take different routes on the back stage passing the people that work there and passing by the snack stand, as both Wilbur and Hiro grabbed some muffins an ate them. "We're almost to find Ernesto Cruz, I can feel it in." Momma Imelda said as she was dead on right.
When she out ran the others and reached to the other side of the hallway and made a left, and came face to face with Cruz who was just walked out of his dressing room. The others stopped an hid behind the wall as Imelda was shock to see him while he gave her a smile.
"Why hello miss. Are you here for an autograph?." He asked. Suddenly Imelda took off one of her boots and slap him with it in anger. "That's is for murdering the love of my life!." She yelled while pointing her boot at him.
Cruz fixed his head and said "You're lover?." Hector came around and present himself as to who Imelda was referring to.
"She's talking about me. I'm your love of your life?." He asked looking at his wife as he felt loved.
At that moment Imelda didn't know whether to say yes or no since she is still mad at him. "I don't know right now but it's coming along slowly." She answered back not leaving her eyes off of Cruz. "You married Hector?." He asked as he received another slap in the face from her boot.
"An that's for trying to murder my grandkids!." She yelled as the kids came out and smiled proudly.
"She's talking about us." said Miguel as he was happy to have family on his side.
Violet said adding on to what Miguel said. "You are so going to get what's coming to you, you crook." All family members came out in full effect as they will not leave until they get that photo. Instead of facing the music, Cruz ran away quickly as fast as his legs can muster.
"After him!." said Penny as she and everyone ran after that coward as he was pushing and knocking people over to block them from reaching him. And what made things worse his security guards have came back from outside, as it would have appears that Cruz had called them on his phone and they immediately stormed in.
"In coming. Violet?." said Miguel as Violet responded back. "On it!." as she created visible energy balls in both of her hands and went shooting at them. Each guard was blown into pieces since they were already dead and they were skeletons anyway. "Oh yeah go Vi!. Bring it on!." yelled Penny as she jumped and high kicked one of the security guards in the chest, and then high punched one of them hard on the face causing his head to come off of the body.
Miguel, Hiro, and Wilbur were super hyped after seeing Violet and Penny dishing out Cruz's security an made them go and get some of the action of kicking some butt. "I call dibs on this guy!." yelled Wilbur as he ran and jump karate kicked the guard on the side of the head. "Wow!. These kids aren't playing around." said Aunt Tia as she was looking at the kids fighting like a group of Supers, in which she too was hitting and wacking one of the guards with a bat that she randomly found.
As guards were trying to fall back from getting attacked by the kids, Penny and Violet did a tag team as she grabbed hold of Violet's hands as Violet swing her around and let her go as Penny crashed the guards down like a bowling ball hitting all the pins. After doing so Penny got got right up now was having a hard time keeping balance, as she was dizzy while Hiro caught her before she can hit the floor.
"Penny that was awesome!. You and Vi did a one amazing job at doing the Pen and Vi tag move." Hiro said grinning.
Penny smiled silly and dizzy as she said "Thanks. Now I know why me and Violet don't do that tag move that much. It's a true head sore.
"Yes we all know after watching you girls did that at Cornelius company picnic for his employees at his back yard." said Grandpa Julio as he couldn't help but smile about that, as he and rest of the family saw it at their home on the tv as it was one of the ways that the dead can watch and hear their love ones in the living world.
As much Momma Imelda wanted to add on to the comment she remembered why they are here, as she made attempt to catch Cruz by jumping on him and grabbed the photo. "Kids I have it!." She yelled in victory as suddenly the floor that she was on was pushing her up. The floor that she was on was part of the stage as Cruz was trying to use it as an escape plan but instead of him getting on it, Momma Imelda took his spot and now she was on the stage facing a huge crowd of people who were waiting for that concert to start.
"Oh boy, Momma Imelda landed on the stage entrance pad." said Miguel as he, Violet, Penny, Hiro, and Hector ran to the side of the stage where they see Imelda who was shock and surprise to be up here. She looked to her right an saw her grandkids and husband as they were motion her to come here, and before she could do that she looked to her left and saw Cruz telling his security guards to take her off the stage.
"Guys we have to do something before they get her. Any ideas?." asked Wilbur.
"I don't know what what we can do at this moment." said Hector as he was worried for his wife.
While Violet and the others were thinking quick on how to get her off the stage without her being in danger. Imelda was already beating them on what to do in this situation as she looked at the microphone that was standing in front of her innocently. An so she walked over and grab the mike off of the microphone stand as the crowd was getting quite. With deep breath she did something that shocked everyone including her family, as she begin to sing.
Ay, de mi, llorana, llorana de azul celeste
Ay, de mi, llorana, llorana de azul celeste
Y aunque la vida me cueste, llorana, no dejare de quererte
"No way." said a nonbeliever Wilbur as he can not believe in his own eyes what he was seeing, and neither did the others.
"Momma Imelda has the most beautiful voice that I ever heard in my life." said Hiro as he too didn't believe it.
With quick thinking, Violet and Penny went up to the instrument rack and pulled down two guitars, and went back to give it to Hector and Miguel as they catch on an went to playing the tune that went with the song that she was singing to. Imelda couldn't help but feel as the rhythm of the song was filling her body up as forgot how it felt to feel and sing music, as continue to sing as everyone in the building were cheering for her to go on as she started walking down the steps an continue singing her heart out.
Me subi al pino mas alto, llorana, a ver si te divisaba
Me subi al pino mas alto, llorana, a ver si te divisaba
Como el pino era tierno, llorana, al verme llorar, lloraba
Como el pino era tierno, llorana, al verme llorar, lloraba
Cruz was furious to see his spot being taken by Imelda and she has the photo of Hector in her hand, as he already knows that if the kids leave the spirit world and go back to the living. Then he knew the truth will come out about him killing and stealing those songs from his old friend, and that means he will no longer be famous or loved by his fans.
He grabbed one of his security guards by the shirt and said "Don't let her leave that stage and get me that photo!." With that the security guard an the others headed on to the stage to get their hands on her but, Imelda was really good on her feet as she avoiding from being touched while still singing.
La pena y la que no es pena, llorana, todo es pena para mi
La pena y la que no es pena, llorana, todo es pena para mi
Ayer lloraba por verte, llorana, hoy lloro porque te vi
Ayer lloraba por verte, llorana, hoy lloro porqueporque te vi
As she manage to break free from being grabbed, Wilbur and Hiro motion her to come here as she immediately headed to towards her family. She was inches away towards them while still singing as she was happy to get off the stage, until she was pulled back on to the stage as it was Cruz who decided that his going to get the photo himself, and while entertaining his fans.
"Oooooo his good." said Violet who was mad now as Penny was mad as well, while pounding her fist in her hand and hoping that she would have the opportunity to punch him in the face.
"Before we leave, I wanted to give that jerk a good one, two in the face before we head back home." She said as she was practicing her punches by punching the air, while both Miguel and Hiro watched her knowing that she was acting like one of the UFC's female fighters, since that's what Aunt Franny, Helen, and Cass watch when they were out having a girls night out.
Back on the stage Ernesto Cruz was trying to get his hand on the photo from Imelda but she's putting up a good fight by trying to keep the photo out of his reach, as they were dancing and singing in a duet form.
Ay, de mi, llorana, llorana de azul celeste
Ay, de mi, llorana, llorana de azul celeste
Y aunque la vida me cueste, llorana, dejare de quererte
Finally, Cruz got the photo in victory as he grinned at Imelda while he continued singing, while Imelda was done just yet as Cruz was holding her while finishing off the song.
No dejare de quererte!
No dejare de quererte!
Ay, ay, ay!
At that final moment, Momma Imelda stumped his foot hard with her boot, as Cruz let go of the photo while hollering in pain in which the crowd thought he was putting some feeling to the ending of the song as they cheered and clapped their hands together and started whistling as a standing ovation.
Momma Imelda quickly grabbed the photo and headed off the stage as she and the rest ran out from the back stage, and headed to the ramp that was on top of the stage. Seeing as the close was clear, Imelda was catching her breath and felt like a new person after singing one of her favorite songs.
"I... I...I kinda forgot what it felt to sing. Oh I feel so brand new and fresh." Momma Imelda said as Hector was smiling as he loved to hear his wife sing, more than the world itself. "You sounded like an angel my love. So, so sweet." Hector said wrapping his arms around her.
"Ahem, well as much as I hate to break up a love moment but, our time is running out." said Wilbur rubbing his back of his head while chuckling.
"Yeah, an were kinda home sick." said Hiro while taking a yawn.
As Imelda pulled out her peddle she presented to them. "Miguel, Wilbur, Violet, Hiro, and Penny. I give you my blessing to go home and put our photo back on the ofrenda, and." Before she can finish, Miguel already assumed what came next.
"Yes, I know. Never play music." He said as he already accepting the reality of not playing or listen to music.
Momma Imelda chuckled after hearing that as she said "You can play and listen to music. And remember to keep each other safe." With that being said, all five looked at each other and look back at their great, great grandmother and grandfather and smiled at them. As soon as they were about to made contact with the peddle, out of nowhere Miguel was pulled and grabbed by a now pissed off Cruz as he has had enough of it.
"Hey!. You leave my friend alone you jerk!." yelled Wilbur as he was pulled back by Hiro, knowing that Wilbur will fight anyone when someone threatens his friends or family.
"I'm not letting you kids go!. Give me that photo!." Cruz said while reaping the photo out of Miguel's hands and then threw it out. The photo floating in the air until it landed in the water that was near the building. "No!." said Miguel as he quickly bit Cruz's hand causing him to scream in pain.
"You little brat!." He spat as he threw Miguel to the ground hard.
"Ernesto Cruz you're nothing but a evil snake and a coward!." yelled Penny as Violet added her two cents in.
"Your no hero, you're a scum!. A good for nothing villain!." Violet yelled as it made Cruz chuckled.
"Oh save it shy girl, I do what it takes to cease my moments. And I'll will do whatever it takes to keep my reputation and image safe!." Cruz said while looking down at Miguel who was trying to get up but, Cruz picked him up.
"And I don't care if I have to kill each and one of kids. Just like I did with your weak, pathetic, and sorry grandfather of yours." He said as he didn't realize that Penny and Aunt Tia were turning on the video camera that was connected to the big screen that was showing the live feed on what just happened to the whole crowd of people, as they could not believe what they were seeing and hearing.
Hector was having a hard time standing as he was being forgotten quicker than he thought as he manage to speak to his friend. "Cruz please leave my grandkids alone. This is not right and you know it. This isn't you." "No, no, no are you insane!?. If I let these kids leave they are going to tell the whole world that I didn't wrote those songs, and the people will disown me as a famous Mexican Musician, and forget about me!." He yelled in anger as threw Miguel off the building as he was falling to his doom.
"Miguel!." yelled everyone as Wilbur had broke loose from Hiro's grip and kicked Cruz in the family jewels. Then suddenly Miguel was lifted back up on top with the rest as it was Momma Imelda's spirit guide, who was their when Cruz threw him off. Suddenly, Dante barked at Cruz an took a good bite on his leg making him scream while holding his jewels.
"Get off of me you stupid dog!." He said as he manage to push Dante off his leg.
While that was happening, everyone was checking on Miguel as they were all glad that he was alright. "Oh thank god you're ok Miguel." said Violet as she hugged her best friend." "T... T... Thanks for caring guys. It was a near death experience in my opinion." He said as he being hugged by Momma Imelda as she happy than everyone else.
"Man, we thought that you were going to be a goner for sure." said Penny
Then Hiro said "Yeah, but luckily this big exotic animal saved your hind." As Cruz was seeing this he just gave up as he knew he already won, due to throwing away the photo to the lake. "Well it looks like I have won after all. Since you kids can't put his photo back on the ofrenda, and your time is about up due to the sun coming up." Cruz said with his signature evil smile.
Everyone was mad and anger as they wanted to punch him and kick the living crap at him. But on the bright side he got one thing right about his victory, but the other half however was the down side for him.
An so he straightened up his clothes and walked back to the stage as the crowd was angry, and were booing at him.
He tried to sing but the crowd started to throw tomatoes at him and calling names like phony, fake, liar, and a scum bag. As he was about to retreat he went face to face with the spirit guide Cheetah as she went an grabbed him by the leg, and flew him away and threw him underneath the huge bell as it suddenly collapse on top him. Everyone cheered after seeing that as the kids were giving each other high fives and fist pumps on a job well done.
"We were awesome!. Super hero awesome to be in fact." said Wilbur as he and the others were agreeing on that statement. "You can say that again my grandson." Hector said as he started to glow and fail down, as Imelda was by his side as she was holding his hand.
"Poppa Hector!." said all five of the kids as they were checking on their grandfather. Hector was breathing hard as he said "I... I... I'm running out of time. I have made so many mistakes in life and it cost me dearly but I'm going to make things right for once." He went to his pocket in his jacket and pull out his peddle.
"My grandkids you have made me so proud and I want to tell you five that you're going to do great things one day, and I for one will be forever proud. I give you my blessing to play music, and be a great impact to the world." He said as the peddle begin to glow.
Miguel, Hiro, Wilbur, Violet, and Penny was tearing up as they have to do anything they can to make grandma CoCo remember her father. "Poppa Hector we promise that we will do whatever it takes to keep you remember." said Violet wiping her tear. "Just please hold on." Miguel said making it his absolute mission that must be done and completed.
Hector smile and said "You already did good for me and now I'm going to do the same. Now go home." As all five touched the peddle they were sent right back to the living world, then quietly they ran out of the mausoleum and ran out of the graveyard and headed to Miguel's home.
When they reached to house they saw Cornelius, Bob, and Tardarshi sleeping on the bench but woke up and see the kids. "Hey wait!. Penny, Miguel, Hiro, Violet, Wilbur where are you going?." asked Tardarshi as he and the fellas got right up from the bench. "Not now Tardarshi were busy and it's urgent!." said Hiro as he and the others were running inside.
Bob and Cornelius were confused as to what they were talking about as all three ran to catch up with them. When they went inside they saw Helen, Cass, Franny, Penny's mom, and Luisa who were seating at the long table eating one of Aunt Cass's Day of the Dead cake, but eventually spit the cake right out as they saw the kids.
"Hi guys. Bye guys." said all five while passing them and headed straight to Grandma CoCo's bedroom. "Wait, kids were have you been?. We and rest of the family have been looking in every place of Todayland to find you kids." said Helen as she was trying to talk to them as and girls were following the fellas as they were heading to where the kids are going.
"We're almost there. We still have time on our side." said Miguel.
"We have got to reach her in time, before it's too late." said Violet as she was jumping over the chairs.
As they saw grandma Coco's door to room as it was in reach, Abuelita and Vanellepe jumped in front and putting a stop to their running.
"Guys where have you been?!. We were all worried sick to death trying to find you guys." said Vanellepe as she was happy but upset at the same time. Then Abuelita looked at the guitar that was in Miguel's hand and ask "What on earth are you doing with that instrument?!." while pointing at it like it was a rat carrying the plague.
"We don't have time for this." said Penny as she pulled Vanellepe to the side, while Violet quickly put up her force field and pushed Abuelita out of the way without hurting her. "Sorry Grandma Abuelita but we have to do this." said Wilbur as open the door and pushed Dash out of the room.
"Hey what's the big idea?!." He asked as the door was slammed at his face. As they close and locked the door, they saw Grandma Coco in her wheel chair just seating as if she waiting for her time to join the great word of the dead.
With effort they went over towards her and begin to remind her of her father. "Grandma CoCo?. We saw and met with your poppa." Wilbur said as Miguel showed the photo that he took from the ofrenda and show her the photo.
"Great Grandma Coco do you remember your poppa?. He was in this photo and he wanted to let you know that he loves you." said Miguel hoping this was working.
Sadly, Grandma CoCo didn't pay any attention as she looked to other side letting them know that she doesn't remember him. "Grandma Coco please you have to remember. Your father's afterlife depends on it." said Violet as she feeling that all hope was completely gone. All of a sudden the door was pushed down by force as it Bob who did it as if it was nothing.(A/N: He is Mr. Incredible after all)
"What are you kids doing to this poor woman?." asked Abuelita as she ran towards her mother while the others was wanting to know the same thing.
"Kids what on earth has gotten into you?." asked Cornelius as he was taking the whole thing seriously as Bob said "Violet explain yourself now." Then Aunt Cass said "That goes to the rest of you as well." What surprised them was that all five of them begin to cry as they know for a fact that they have failed to save Hector and now theirs nothing they can do.
Each of them went over their family members and hug them while crying. This made Franny, Cass, Helen, Luisa, and Penny's mom whose name was Sierra hugged their kids as they were confused as to what was going on but right now they needed to comfort them.
"Hey, hey it's alright. You kids are safe now." said Franny while rubbing her son's hair as he was hugging her tight as tears were running down hard.
"Vi everything is going to be ok. Shhhhh." Helen said slowly rocking her daughter as she was crying her eyes out.
When Abuelita was done checking over her mother she looked at her grandchildren and said with authority. "Hiro, Miguel, Wilbur, Violet, Penny, you apologies to your Grandma CoCo right now." Without even arguing they walked to face Grandma Coco as one was about to say something to her, until Miguel see the guitar and remember what Hector wrote an sang to Coco.
He grabbed the guitar as the others remember what Hector have sang and made it their last hope of saving him. "Grandma Coco?. Your father have wrote this song for and he wanted to give it to you." said Miguel as put his fingers on the strings and went to playplay the familiar tune.
Grandma Abuelita was mad to see Miguel the guitar knowing that music was banned from their lives, and was about to stop him but Tardarshi put his hand on his shoulder to stop her. "Wait grandma Abuelita. Let them play just this once." He said as he had fate in the kids.
Penny was the one to start the song as she began to sing. "Remember me. Though I have to say goodbye. Remember me." Then Violet joined in and said "Don't let it make you cry. For ever if I'm far away, I hold you in my heart."
"I sing a secret song to you. Each night we are apart." sang Wilbur.
"Remember me. Though I have to travel far. Remember me." sang Hiro.
At that exact moment, Grandma CoCo started to tap her finger while opening her eyes, as she remembered that song as she sang right along with them.
"Each time you hear a sad guitar. Know that I'm with you. The only way that I can be. Until you're in my arms again. Remember me."
Grandma CoCo smiled happily as she said "I remembered when my poppa have sang that to me every time when he was here." She looked at the others who were smiling, happy, and tearing after seeing what they saw. "Why are you young and old kids crying?. Abuelita?." She asked her daughter as she was wiping her tears away.
"It's nothing momma. It's nothing." She answered back with happiness as she was happy that her mother remembers her name.
Grandma CoCo smile as she pull open her drawer and put out a small book an sat it on her lap, and went to opening it up. "My poppa have always send me letters and gifts when he was on the road, and he give me a picture." She said pulling out a photo of Hector as it was the photo that was part of the whole photo that Miguel have in his pocket.
After realizing that they didn't fail but actually saved both people, and those people were Hector and CoCo. Without any words to say they all hugged their great Grandma CoCo as she continued to talk about the stories of Hector as everyone was listening to the untold story of her father.
A week later as it was officially Day of the Dead, Violet who was holding her baby brother Jack Jack and Miguel was holding his new baby sister as they were teaching them the family members names and their stories.
"This is Aunt Tia and she was a great person to hang out with." Violet pointed out as Jack Jack was giggling happily.
Then Miguel said "And here is Momma Imelda and Poppa Hector. An remember this you two, these people aren't just old random people. they are our family."
Abuelita came over to where they were as she was glad to see Violet and Miguel already teaching the young about the family, as she added a new photo on the ofrenda. The picture frame that she set in the shrine was her mother CoCo who had passed away two days ago and before she passed away, she made a last wish to them as it to forever play and listen to music. An so now the Rivera family can listen and play music as they please.
Violet and Miguel comfort their Grandma Abuelita and let her know that she's in a better place, and they know for a fact. And right they are cause back at the land of Dead checking out at the station, Hector was given the ok to go ahead as he, his wife, and their daughter joined the other family members as they hold hands and walked to the bridge, as Hector can't believe his actually going to cross the bridge after all those long years.
Meanwhile back at the Rivera house hold, they were celebrating the holiday with food, dancing, and music. Miguel and his friends were singing while dressed up in their Mexican clothes as they were singing Proud Corazon as Miguel's cousins were playing their instruments as they were getting music lessons from Franny as Tardarshi was playing his favorite trumpet.
While they were singing, both Vanellepe and Dash rounded up seeing their dead relatives as Momma Imelda and Poppa Hector was dancing and stopped to wave at them and went back to dancing.
Vanellepe and Dash stared spiting out their candy after seeing them, as Dash said "Vanellepe was that candy up to date?." "It should. I have these since Sunday." Vanellepe protested.
After done singing everyone sat down at the table, prayed, and begin to eat dinner. "This has to be one of the best craziest adventures we ever had." said Wilbur stuffing his face.
"True, true an for some odd reason, I have a crazy feeling that this is far from over." said Hiro while passing the bowl of rice to Penny.
"I feel the same way two." said Violet as she was making herself a burrito and ate it.
"Well whatever it is we will be ready for it." said Penny.
An right they were as the adventure was far from over as the real adventure begins, as they don't know what lies ahead of them.
Remember to favor, follow, and review!. Go Team Future!.
