CatCrescent: This is based on the final episode of Maya and the Three. If you aren't familiar with it, I would highly recommend watching the series on Netflix, as it is short but incredibly well-written with wonderful characters.

For those who have seen the show, this isn't a Fix-It for the ending, and it is more of one important interaction I felt like was missing from the series involving Acat. As I mentioned, I loved the whole series and every character, including Acat, and she was the only one I felt like could have used just one extra scene or two. Regardless, I hoped to fill this story with my love for the show.

That being said, I did try to emulate characters alternating between English and Spanish phrases, just like they do in the show. However, I am not experienced in Spanish so I tried to do a lot of grammer checking to make sure what I used was correct, but there's a very good chance for mistakes. If there's anything that needs correcting, please let me know! Most of all, please enjoy!

The morning sun rose, blanketing the jungle trees and brick of the Teca empire in a soft glow of sunlight, yet that glow wasn't nearly as radiant as the golden figures standing and walking throughout the main plaza. There were figures who weren't glowing, the living, whose armor was torn, skin cut and dirtied from the aftermath of a seemingly endless fight, but they hardly noticed their wounds nor the debris of upturned buildings, all of them too busy smiling in disbelief and wonder at the spirits of their loved ones standing before them, talking, laughing, able to be held one more time. Truly a miracle, as many were warriors who, not even moments before, had laid among the rubble bearing fatal wounds, but now their shining bodies were made new, almost better than when they had been alive, not a blemish and no longer in any pain.

Zatz stood on a small ledge he found a little off to the side, slightly under the shade of a half-torn tree. Not that the shade did much to obscure him, as his ethereal body glowed with that same warm light. He never imagined experiencing such a peacefulness, with no aches, no tiredness. But the feeling almost didn't compare to what he felt as he watched families and friends reunite, making his heart swell with such joy.

He had been with the spirits of his parents earlier, especially taking time to properly meet his mother, as she proudly regarded the man he had become. It had been a wonderful moment. Despite missing so many years together, despite losing his mother so young, Zatz was able to hug both of his parents and felt that he missed no time at all.

He would have spent countless hours more with his parents but he politely stepped away to give them time to connect with their friends, including the other former-members of Lord Mictlan's court who valiantly turned from his evil ways and fought against him in their final moments. A part of Zatz still couldn't believe the peacefulness and joy before him, after so much pain and uncertainty.

His eye easily found its way to Maya. To him, she was the figure who shone the brightest, brighter than the sun could ever hope to. She was saying goodbye to the living, including her former subjects, neighbors and playing a little game of tag with some children, with her jaguar companion joining in. Love and gratitude filled Zatz completely. Without her, none of what was happening now would have been possible.

His eye searched for his parents again. He last saw them talking with Cipactli and Cabrakan. But his remaining eye caught on a familiar figure, one that was highly unexpected.

The name tumbled from his mouth, "Acat?"

She wasn't acting like her normal confident self, instead shyly lingering behind a stone pillar that was away from the crowd. It was a far cry from the young woman that maintained an iron grip on being the center of attention, making sure her cutting smile and deadly tattoos were never overlooked. This time, her eyes were unable to meet his. Even more, her body gleamed an ethereal gold, just like his own, like all the other spirits.

"Buenos dias…Zatz," she greeted quietly.

When Acat greeted Zatz, the words "mi amore" clung to her tongue, but she refused to let them leave her lips. That was no longer her right. She lost Zatz months ago to the Teca princess, before losing literally everything else to Lord Mictlan. She hadn't expected to brought back among the living with the dead, many of whom gave up their lives fighting Lord Mictlan and his pantheon. Seeing Zatz standing with the spirits of the mortals and by the side of the Teca princess, it solidified the truth in what was left of her heart. He really had left Acat for Princess Maya.

Acat then realized she was surrounded by strangers and the familiar faces around her she didn't want to approach. All she could do was slip to the edge of the crowd and wait for whatever forces brought her here to end. A part of her hoped that Zatz wouldn't see her, but the other part was relieved when he did notice her. Even with his eyepatch, very little escaped Zatz's notice.

He looked so shocked to see her spirit. It was replaced by a grim understanding, realizing she was as dead as he was. There was sadness and shock in his eye, with silent questions welling in his lips. The sight of it made her sting with bitterness. Of course you didn't know I was dead, she wanted to hiss. You left me behind. But she also ached with regret. But I didn't give you a reason to stay.

The last that Acat had seen of Zatz was his anger and disappointment towards and her dishonorable ways of trying to defeat Maya. But now, his expression was confused and softened.

"Acat, how…" Zatz started to ask, his eye searching her face and her tattoos for an answer. She didn't say a word, but she instinctively bunched her shoulder as unpleasant memories threatened to return. His gaze widened in realization, "Lord Mictlan."

Even hearing that name brought a shudder to her spine. The final thing Acat had seen in her living moments was Lord Mictlan looming over her, with his split-face regarding her with a hateful smile. His voice always seemed too smooth and calm for someone with such a monstrous appearance. Acat hadn't been sure how he would react when she came back empty-handed, not only without Princess Maya, but also without Zatz, who had been assigned to hunt the Teca princess for Lord Mictlan. Yet, no matter what she said, Acat found herself unable give up Zatz's location, because she could see in his eyes that Zatz had no intention of letting the Teca princess die. She knew he would betray Mictlan to help Maya, and it was what had made her furious. Acat could have ratted him out, but she just couldn't. It would have validated all he said about her being dishonorable. And, most of all, she loved him too much to betray him. When Acat realized Lord Mictlan was going to kill her, believing her to no longer be useful, she was quick to draw her knives and protect herself, just like she had always protected herself, alone. But Lord Mictlan didn't even need a weapon. He simply plunged his blade-like fingers into her chest and tore out what was left of her broken heart.

To Acat's shock, Zatz snapped his head towards a crater in the ground, presumably where Lord Mictlan was killed, and he snarled, "El Monstro. How dare he—"

"How dare he?" Acat's indignant words leapt from her lips like sparks from a fire, spooking Zatz. She let the anger bubble over, "You mean you care that he killed me? That I died? You…left me. You were gone."

Her words hit the mark. But there was such a hurt in his face that Acat was too sad to feel any satisfaction from it.

The anger had left her like a fox racing out of a burrow, so then there was only a cavernous hole in her chest. She was too familiar with the feeling. How many times did she do this same thing when she was alive? Hurting others around her so they'd be more miserable than she was? A bitter part of herself scoffed that she was simply fulfilling the truth Zatz had said about her horrible nature.

But Zatz suddenly dropped to his knees in front of her. Without his physical body, the sound was more like grains of sand. She saw him trembling and shaking his head. His whisper was quiet, and it would have been lost among all the other conversations and oblivious excitement around them, yet his voice was the only thing she heard, "I am deeply sorry, Acat. He should not have been allowed to take your life. I failed to protect you like I meant to."

Acat hated that, despite not having a body either, she could still feel the sting of tears. She wanted to be angry again, but she couldn't muster up the strength. She wanted to just collapse and not get up again, but that didn't feel like it would have been any better. She resisted the urge to cry and, swallowing that, she realized she wasn't angry at Zatz for her death. She had never blamed him for it in the first place.

Suddenly, Acat became very afraid. She didn't understand what forces had brought them back and for how long it was going to last. This might be the last conversation they would ever truly have. All of the regrets and questions and uncertainties sprung up in Acat's chest, fighting to leave her lips. Most of all, seeing Zatz kneeling before her, with his beloved features twisted by his remorse, Acat realized that she could never forgive herself to leave him like this.

She rested her hand on his shoulder, responding, "You were right. I was arrogant, so, honestly…it was my own fault." Her heart squeezed, revealing to her what she really wanted to say, "But Zatz, mi amore, tell me this, do you think that we ever could have, did you really mean that we weren't…"

Zatz rose his eye, which was as red as blood yet soft as roses. He wrapped his hand over hers and stood. Acat had never seen such a sad sincerity in his face.

"I…did not treat you right, Acat. I felt I had no friends among the gods, only having my father—and you. But I did not love as I should have, I was only trying to distract from my loneliness. It was not fair to you. I shouldn't have misled you as I did and you deserved far better than me. I am truly, truly sorry. No merezco tu perdon."

Her heart felt like it was going to burst. There was pain yet an unexpected rush of relief. Acat took his hand in hers and squeezed tightly, feeling tears and words threatening to come out. Instead came a very soft sigh. Acat closed her eyes and gently put a hand on the back of his head, touching their foreheads together. She murmured, "I didn't deserve you either. You are far too kind and heroic."

Very slowly, Acat let go of Zatz's hand. She turned her head towards the Teca people, living and spirit alike, and she said softly, "I guess I can't help but be happy that you found someone just like you."

"Being heroic or brave doesn't always look the same," Zatz responded, absently-looking over the former members of Lord Mictlan's pantheon, who laughed alongside the mortals they had previously plotted against. "Look at all who is here. No matter what had been done before, everyone chose to do what is good and right, even in their final moments."

Acat felt a rush of unexpected emotions, including disbelief. Could she really be considered among the others that laid down their lives, had she truly been brave? What struck Acat most was the feeling that Zatz no longer saw her as dishonorable. The sense of relief she felt almost made her tear up, so Acat sniffed lightly and put up a grin, "That sounds like something that Teca Princess would say."

When Acat said this, she noticed Zatz's gaze move. She followed it to where they could see the spirit of Maya, who seemed to be catching up with some travel companions of hers. Despite being dead and having lost everything, Maya's eyes were alight with the same boundless joy and energy that Acat had first seen.

Acat scoffed lightly, "I think the Teca princess was right. I think we would've been best friends."

Maya noticed them, even from the distance. Acat saw her eyes squint, recognizing Zatz but then trying to understand who he was standing next to. Then her eyes snapped open in shock, recognizing Acat. As far as what reactions Acat had expected, it wasn't for the Teca princess she tried to murder to break into a squealing smile and wave excitedly at her.

Acat was so surprised she absently waved back. Zatz chuckled beside her and waved as well.

"I think," Zatz commented, "you already are."

She let out a little laugh of disbelief, feeling a relieved tug on her heart. Tears threatened to come again, but she swallowed them down. She did not want anymore tears in this last reunion.

"Acat," Zatz spoke and she felt his hand gently take her elbow. She looked to him, regarding his sincere face, "I cannot make any promises of what to expect from here, if this is the end or something more, but I want you to remember…you are deserving of happiness too. I believe you will have that happiness. Te prometo."

Acat managed a smile towards him, "I won't forget you. Even though I didn't listen, you taught me a lot about being a better person. Now," she pulled away from him, "Go to her."

She watched surprise and bittersweet sadness flicker over his golden face until settling into a small smile. His smiles were always so sweet. Zatz bowed his head to her, "Thank you. I will never forget you as well. Goodbye, Acat."

Zatz stepped away, and Acat resisted the small part of her that wanted to take his hand again. She let him move out of reach. She watched him reunite with Maya, who was in the process of introducing her parents to his. Acat felt her trembles turn into shakes, as she did everything she could to not sob. She didn't want to appear weak, not in these final moments. Then Acat felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.

It was Lady Micete. Her golden appearance was like rays of the morning sun, and her face was more motherly and at peace than Acat had ever seen her at Lord Mictlan's side. Lady Micete drew Acat to face her, to brush some strands of hair out of Acat's face, and she spoke softly, "Saying goodbye is difficult. I know this all too well. But you are not alone in this."

Something finally broke in Acat. With a quiet cry, Acat fell into Lady Micete's arms. Acat was racked with tears and sobs, finally letting go of all she had guarded so jealously. And yet, in the depths of her soul, Acat felt at peace and free, with no more fear in her heart.