Chapter 118: The Heart of Family Part 3: Remember Me!
Miguel and Pinkie got to the tower and fund there were a lot of people there, some of the celebrities, others who managed to get their invitation by purchasing them, all of which going up the stairs and showing their invite, passing through without any issues while Pinkie and Miguel stood there, amazed by the sight of the tower as it took the next batch of guests up.
"Wow, it's huge!" Miguel said.
"You said it Miguel!" Pinkie said. "This place is gigantic! How are we going to find your grandpa up there!?"
"We'll find him." Miguel said, looking to Pinkie. "Pinkie, thanks for supporting me when I needed you. You helped me escape and were there for me."
"Ah no worries!" Pinkie replied. "Anything for a friend. Now how are we going to get up there? We didn't exactly stick around to get first place and I doubt they'll let us pass without an invitation. Unless I can pull one from my mane real quick and pass it off as the one needed."
"Actually, I got an idea." Miguel said.
He rushed to his left, Pinkie looking over and saw the band that went before them, showing they had the3 invite and immediately knew what Miguel was up to, so she hopped over to the band as they were unloading everything.
"Hey guys." Miguel said.
"Hey look, it's Poco Loco and his Spirit guide!" One of the musicians said. "Hey you were on fire back there!"
"Hey, you too." Miguel replied. "Uh, I need to ask you guys a quick favor musician to musician."
"Anything amigo!" The musician replied.
"We need to get into Ernesto De La Cruz's tower, it's very important." Miguel said. "Can you help us?"
"Of course amigo!" The musician replied. "Anyone who plays as good as you do deserves a chance to meet Del later Cruz. Come, hop in the Tuba."
Without hesitation, Miguel got into the tuba and scrunched in as much as he could while Pinkie zipped underneath he musicians hat, confusing them at how she got in without knocking him over, but they shrugged it off and went to the bouncer, presenting their invitation and managed to get onto the cart, letting the young boy out as soon as it went up. Miguel looked excited as they rode up the cart, seeing the party was in full swing as they got up there and got off, Miguel smiling as he finally made it.
"Wow, now this is a party!" Pinkie said, jumping out of the guys hat. "Thanks new skelly friends!"
"No problem amigos!" The musician replied. "Hey, enjoy the party!"
They then ran up the stairs and into the outside foyer, finding a lot of people were there enjoying some of the food and the drinks along with entertainment from fire breathers, dancers, and some local musicians, everyone having a good time when they saw someone that looked like Señor De La Cruz, getting their hopes up as they ran up the stairs and to the doorway where a lot of people were inside, enjoying music from a DJ table as he tuned the table and mixed up some songs to make it sound great, people dancing inside as they enjoyed themselves.
"Wow, so many party guests!" Pinkie said, her eyes lighting up. "How are we gonna-"
"There!" Miguel said, pointing to the other side of the pool. He ran through the crowd with pinkie following close behind as they pushed through, though the crowd made it impossible to get through as they were so close, yet too far for De La Cruz to hear them.
"Drat, crowd too thick!" Pinkie said. "What now!?"
Miguel was thinking about what to do when he looked up to one of the screens playing an old movie of De La Cruz while he was alive, pulling out a guitar and saying someone would listen to music, getting an idea.
"Pinkie, think you can cut the music and get a spotlight on me?" Miguel asked.
"You kidding!?" Pinkie asked, cracking her neck. "Easy-peasy-lemon squeesy!"
She then shook as she bounced, sky rocketing into the and landed right behind the DJ stand, pulling the cord and stopping the music before kicking the light, shining it onto Miguel as he started playing his guitar and getting the crowd attention along with Ernesto De la Cruz, wondering who it was that was playing.
[Miguel]
Señoras y señores, buenas tardes, buenas noches!
Buenas tardes, buenas noches, señoritas y señores!
To be here with you tonight,
Brings me joy que allegria!
As he played, he traveled down the stairs, captivating everyone with how good he was, including Ernesto as he immediately took great interest in the boy as he played, approaching him.
For this music is my language,
And the world es mi familia!
For this music is my language,
And the world es mi familia!
For this music is my language-
He didn't;t get to finish the song as he then fell into the pool, shocking everyone and Pinkie, the party pony diving in to help him right as De La Cruz dove in to help him, both reaching the boy as the musician pulled the guitar strap off him and both swam up, tossing Miguel onto the dry land as pinkie and Ernesto got out, Pinkie shacking the water off and drying off.
"Are you alright Niño?" Ernesto asked. Miguel was coughing a bit, getting the water out of his lungs before looking up, showing he was alive and shocking everyone while Ernesto looked the most surprised out of them. "You... you're that boy. The one who came from the world of the living!"
"You... know about me?" Miguel asked.
"Why, you're all anyone has been talking about recently." Ernesto replied. "But... why are you here?"
"I...I'm Miguel." Miguel replied, getting up. "Your great-great grandson."
"Wait, I have a great-great grandson?" Ernesto asked, looking shocked.
"I... I need your blessing." Miguel said. "So I can go back home and be a musician like you. The rest of our family... they wouldn't listen. But... I hope you would."
"Miguel my boy." Ernesto said, getting up. "With talent like yours, how could I not listen."
Miguel then hugged his great-great grandfather, who picked him up and put him on his shoulders, looking very happy as he had family and was proud of it as the crowd cheered for him. Back on the ground, hector managed to get the costume he borrowed to try and get across the bridge back and was approaching the bouncer, expecting to get past when someone put his hand on his shoulder, making him hiss as he thought he was caught.
"You know, you remind me of someone who dressed like a woman to get out of the army on a TV show I watch." Spyro said, making Hector look at him.
"Señor VanVickle." Hector said, seeing the ponies with him. "Twilight, Cadence, Luna, Shining Armor!"
"Yeah, yeah, we're glad to see you as well." Shining Armor said. "Where's Miguel and Pinkie?"
"You just missed them." Hector said. "They went up not too long ago. I'm hoping this disguise of Frida will get me up there."
"Oh, it definitely will." Spyro said. "I need you to take the ponies with you and make sure Miguel gets home safe. Can you do that?"
"Sí, I can." Hector replied.
"Muy bien!" Spyro exclaimed. "In the mean time, I'll stay down here and wait for Miguels familia. I got a feeling we're going to need them."
Spyro turned and left them alone, Hector turning and walking to the bouncer, who allowed them all on without any fuss as they boarded the trolly cart and rode up the spiraling rails up the tower towards the pent house in the tower. While they were ridding up the tower, Ernesto was going around introducing Miguel to everyone, proud to show them his great-great grandson, riding on horses with him, singing, and showing him some of the stunts he did when he was on the TV, enjoying the time he had with Miguel. Soon, they came into a room full of offerings from De La Cruz's fans, ranging from good drinks and food to guitars they put at his Ofrenda so he could continue to play.
"Wow, all of this is yours!?" Pinkie asked, clearly surprised.
"Sí, they're all from my fans." Ernesto replied. "They leave me so many offerings, I don't know what to do with them." He then looked down at Miguel who looked worried as he kept quiet as he showed him everything. "Hey, what's wrong? You look overwhelmed."
"Oh, no, it's all great." Miguel replied. "It's just... I've looked up to you my whole life. You're the guy who actually did it! But... did you ever regret it? Trading everything else over music?"
"Well, it was hard heading out of my home town." Ernesto replied. "Saying good bye..."
"Leaving your family?" Pinkie asked.
"Sí, it was hard leaving them." Ernesto replied. "But I could not have done it any differently. One cannot deny what one's meant to be. And you, Miguel, my great-great grandson, are meant to be a musician." He then got up and walked over tot he window, smiling as he looked out to the city. "You and I, we're artists Miguel. We simply cannot belong to one family. The entire world is your family!"
As he said it, the fireworks started going off, flying into the air and exploding to let them know the sun was about to come up, so the Sunrise Spectacular was about to start, so Ernesto and Miguel walked back into the main room where the pool and screens were.
"I must say, I've never been in a more fun place than this!" Pinkie said.
"You think this is fun, you should come to my Sunrise Spectacular!" Ernesto said. "You'd love it, both of you."
"I'd love to, but I can't." Miguel said, pulling his shirt up to show he was running out of time. "I need to get home soon."
"Oy, I do need to get you home." Ernesto said, walking over and getting a petal and bringing it over to Miguel. "{It has been an honor Miguel. I hope you return very soon. Miguel, I give you my blessing."
"We had a deal muchacho!" Hector said, appearing before them.
"Frida, what are you doing here?" Ernesto said. "I thought you couldn't make it."
"We had a deal Miguel." Hector said, removing his disguise.
"You know this guy Miguel?" Ernesto asked, grabbing the boy to protect him.
"I met him tonight." Miguel replied. "He said he knew you."
Ernesto looked at the man approaching him, not recognizing him at first before it suddenly clicked in his mind, but for Pinkie, she started to shake, her Pinkie sense telling her something unexpected was going to happen.
"Hector?" Ernesto asked.
"Please... Miguel, take my photo home and put it up, please." Hector asked, giving the photo to Miguel, which Ernesto took it, looking at his old friend.
"Hector, my goodness, you're fading." Ernesto said.
"And whose fault is that!?" Hector exclaimed, making the musician back away. "You took my hard work, sung my songs that I wrote and never told anyone."
"Wait, you wrote those songs?" Pinkie asked.
"But, Ernesto wrote his own songs, didn't you?" Miguel asked.
"You want to tell him, or should I?" Hector asked.
"Hector, please, i never meant to take credit for your songs." Ernesto replied. "But, you died. i only sang your songs because I wanted to keep a part of you alive."
"Heh, that's rich coming from you." Hector replied.
"So it is true." Pinkie said, shaking again.
"Pinkie, what's wrong?" Miguel asked.
"I don't know." Pinkie replied. "That only happens when something unexpected is about to happen."
"Look, I wish not to fight you Ernesto." Hector said. "I only want to make things right. Miguel can put my photo up and I can cross over the bridge. Please Ernesto, i want to see my little girl again. Ernesto, remember that night when I died, when we drank together?"
"Hector, that was a long time ago." Ernesto replied.
"You said you'd move heaven and earth for your amigo." Hector said. "Now I'm asking you to do that for me now."
"You mean like in his movie?" Miguel asked.
"What are you talking about?" Hector asked.
"In his movie, he had a line like that." Miguel said.
"I'm talking about real life, not some movie." Hector said.
"No, in the movie, the bad guy poisons the drink to try and kill Ernesto." Miguel said, finding what he was looking for. "There, see."
They all looked up, Ernesto keeping his eyes on Hectors photo while the others watched, Hector suddenly remembering the night he was leaving, looking to Ernesto with disgust and realization.
"That night, when I was leaving, I packed up my songs as we were on the road for months and I got home sick." Hector said, shocked by the realization. "You... poisoned me."
"Hector, you're confusing movies with reality." Ernesto replied, trying to play it off as just a movie.
"All this time... I thought it was bad luck." Hector continued, looking angry. "I never thought I'd be betrayed... by my own friend! You killed me!"
"Security!" Ernesto exclaimed. Two security guards came and dragged him away, Hector screaming how he ruined his life, taking everything away from, him as the doors closed, Pinkie looking in horror at the man. "I apologize about that. Now, where were we?"
"You were going to give me your blessing." Miguel replied, seeing his great-great grandfather in another light.
"Ah, sí, right." Ernesto said, taking the petal out.
"Miguel, he's a bad guy." Pinkie said. "You shouldn't take his blessing."
"But I want to go home and be a musician." Miguel said.
"But he killed a guy to be famous!" Pinkie said, making Ernesto worry. "If he really was a friend and a good guy, he'd have let Hector go home to his family, not kill him for his songs! He killed to get the music, what about keeping his reputation safe?"
"But... he's my papá." Miguel said. "He wouldn't do that, would you?"
Ernesto looked down at the boy, seeing the uncertainty in his eyes as he put the photo in his pocket and crushed the petal, shocking them.
"Security!" Ernesto said. "Take care of Miguel. He and his friend will be extending their stay."
"What!?" Miguel asked, the guards taking them away. "But I'm your family!"
"And Hector was my best friend." Ernesto said, turning to them. "My boy, success doesn't come for free. You have to be willing to do whatever it takes to seize your moment. I know you'll understand."
The doors closed as Miguel and Pinkie tried to break free, but the guards grip was too strong, taking them to a crater in the ground and tossed both of them into it, thankfully there was water, but the hole was too deep for them to climb out of, so they swam to the closest patch of land in the crater, looking to the sky as the moon shined upon them.
"Help!" Miguel called out. "Can anyone hear me!? I want to go home!"
"Twilight, Cadence, anypony!" Pinkie shouted, jumping to get out, flapping her legs, but she ended up falling back into the water, swimming back to shore. "Well, I'm out of ideas."
"It's no use." Miguel said, falling to his knees as he saw his hands were now skeletal, feeling hope fade. "They all went to the Sunrise Spectacular. No one will hear us."
"Don't worry Miguel, somepony will find us." Pinkie said, hugging her scared boy. "Just you wait."
At the tower, the family had gathered with the ponies to get up into the tower to find Miguel, having learned something that changed everything and were about to go up when Spyro froze, sensing fear and hopelessness in the distance and turning in the direction, sensing Miguels fear and sadness.
"Spyro, what's wrong?" Luna asked. "You're not coming?"
"Miguel's no longer in the tower." Spyro said, getting everyone to look at him. "He's not in the tower."
"Then where is he?" Imelda asked.
"In trouble." Spyro replied. "Imelda, send your spirit guide!"
Everyone stood back at the spirit guide came up, flying in the direction that Miguel was in, hoping to find Miguel before it was too late. Back in the crater, Pinkie was hugging Miguel, letting the kid cry as he was scared about dying when they heard something coming from behind them, looking to find Hector was there, wobbling over to them.
"Hector!" Miguel shouted, getting up and hugging him.
"Kid?" Hector asked, surprised to see them there.
"You were right, I should have gone back to my family!" Miguel said. "They told me to be not to be like De La Cruz, but I didn't listen! I told them I didn't;t care if they didn't remember me or if I was on the Ofrenda."
"Hey Chollo, it's ok." Hector said, hugging the kid. "It's ok."
"I told them I didn't care." Miguel said, regretting everything he ever said when Hector fell down in pain, the same way Chicharrón did. "Hector, are you ok?"
"She's... forgetting me." Hector replied.
"Who?" Pinkie asked. "Who's forgetting you?"
"My daughter." Hector replied.
"She's the reason you were trying to cross the bridge?" Miguel asked.
"I wanted to see her again." Hector said. "I wanted to tell her papa was coming home and that he loved her so much. My Coco."
"C-coco?" Miguel asked.
He then took out the photo from the Ofrenda he knocked over, giving it to Hector, who looked at it in surprise as he saw the photo.
"Where did you get this?" Hector asked.
"From mí familia's Ofrenda." Miguel replied. "Coco's my great grandmother. And Imelda's my great-great grandmother. Then... that means-"
"You're family!" Pinkie said excitedly. "Wee! Your family!"
"You know the worst thing?" Hector asked. "I was hoping that I'd get to see her one day. If not in the living world, maybe in this one. But she's the last one who remembers me. And when she's no longer in the living world..."
"You disappear." Miguel said. "You'll never get to see her again."
"Never again." Hector replied, looking at the photo. "You know, I wrote a song just for her. And every night, we'd sing it together at the same time, no matter how far apart we were. What I wouldn't give to sing it to her again, one last time."
A moment later, music started to play as he remembered the words to the song, smiling as he sang it.
[Hector]
Remember me.
Though I have to say goodbye,
Remember me.
Don't let it make you cry,
For even if I'm far away,
I hold you in my heart!
I sing a secret song to you,
each night we are apart.
Remember me.
Though I have to travel far,
Remember me.
Each time you hear a sad guitar,
And know that I'm with you,
the only way that I can be,
Until you're in my arms again...
Remember me.
As he sang the song, a droplet of water hit the large body of water, releasing a gold wave as it rippled across the surface towards the island, releasing a harmonious hum that could be heard from everyone.
"He stole your guitar, your songs... you should be remembered, not De La Cruz!" Miguel said.
"Yeah, that Cruz is a mean old thief who killed his best friend to be famous!" Pinkie exclaimed. "You should get the credit, not him!"
"I didn't write that song for the world Miguel." Hector replied. "I wrote it for Coco. Heh, pretty lame excuse for a great-great grandfather, aren't I?"
"You kidding!?" Miguel replied. "For a minute, I thought I was related to a murderer, but you're a total upgrade! My whole life, there was something that made me different and I didn't know what, but it came from you. I proud we're family! I'm proud to be his family!"
As Miguel shouted that, the water rippled, Miguel making a sound that echoed and Hector followed suit, happy as can be as he followed his example.
"I'm proud to be his family!" Hector shouted. They then cheered and shouted as to having discovered their family, which Pinkie pulled out her cannon and fired it as confetti flew everywhere, but then they stopped cheering, realizing they were still trapped in the hole. "But... how do we get out of here? It's not like..."
"Miguel!" Imelda exclaimed, having found them.
"Mamá Imelda!" Miguel shouted.
She then looked over to Hector, finding him with them and looked disgusted.
"Hector." Imelda said.
"H-hi Imelda." Hector replied. "Y-you looked good."
"Why am I not surprised this is your fault!" Imelda said, making him flinch. "Come, hop on!"
Imelda flew her Spirit guide down to them, landing on the patch of land in the pit before flying back into the air, flying away from the pit while Miguel and Pinkie were riding on the back of the spirit guide while Hector was holding onto the tail, hanging on for dear life as they flew. After a couple of minutes, they landed on the ground where everyone was at, Pinkie and Miguel hopping off and the party pony running to Spyro and her friends, hugging them.
"Pinkie, thank goodness you're ok." Spyro said.
"Well of course I'm ok silly!" Pinkie said, ending the hug. "Nothing can keep this party animal down!"
"Mího, I was so worried!" Imelda said, hugging him, which he returned the hug before looking to Imelda. "And you! How many times must I turn you away!?"
"Wait, am I missing something here?" Shining Armor asked.
"Hector is Imelda's husband!" Pinkie replied. "He's Miguels actual great-great grandfather, not Ernesto!"
"I want nothing to do with him!" Imelda said. "Not in life or in death! I spent decades protecting this family from your mistakes and you spend five minutes with Miguel and I had to fish you out of a sinkhole!"
"Hey, don't blame this on him!" Pinkie shouted, getting in front of Hector. "Miguel wasn't;t in there because of Hector!"
"She's right mama Imelda." Miguel said. "He was in there because of me. He was trying to get me home, but I didn't listen. He was right, nothing's more important than family." He smiled at his great-great grandfather, happy to have him for family instead of De La Cruz, turning back to his great-great grandmother. "I'm ready to accept your blessing, and your conditions."
"Miguel, no." Pinkie said. "You love music."
"Not if it means someone needs to loose their life because of it." Miguel said.
"What?" Imelda asked.
"Ernesto killed Hector for his songs because he wanted to return home to you and Coco." Pinkie replied, surprising everyone. "All he wanted to do is go home and be with you, so we need to get his photo back from that mean old De La Cruz so he can cross the bridge and see coco again."
"He should be on our Ofrenda!" Miguel said. "He's part of our family."
"He left this family!" Imelda replied.
"But he did try to go home to you and Coco." Miguel said. "But De La Cruz murdered him."
"What!?" They all shouted in unison.
"Hector, is this true?" Shining Armor asked.
"Sí, it is." Hector replied. "Ernesto poisoned me."
"So what if it's true!?" Imelda asked. "You left me alone to raise a child on my own and I'm supposed to forgive you!?"
"Imelda..." Hector said, collapsing to the ground, shocking everyone.
"Hector!" Miguel said, helping him up.
"I'm running out of time." Hector said. "Coco... she's forgetting me."
"Oh no." Twilight said. "If she forgets him... then..."
"You don't have to forgive him Mamá Imelda, but we shouldn't forget him." Miguel said.
Everyone was dead silent as they looked to him, the family feeling awful for him while Imelda had mixed feelings, watching as the ponies and Miguel helped him, still wanting to be angry with him, but she couldn't bring it on herself to remain angry.
"I tried to forget you." Imelda said. "I tried to make Coco forget you, but-"
"It's my fault Imelda, not yours." Hector said. "I wanted to sing for the world, to spread my work and art to everyone, but the more I was on the road, the more I missed home and I then realized that the world can love your songs, but it's your family that truly loves you. I'm sorry Imelda, I should have realized it sooner."
She was touched by the sentiment, putting her hand on her chest as a sudden flash of light went off in Miguel's back pocket, Pinkie noticing the light and looking to see what it was and saw the photo, realizing the Heart Piece was int he picture, not the guitar.
"Miguel, if we help you get the photo back, you go home and no more music." Imelda said.
"Family comes first." Miguel said, holding Hectors hand.
Imelda looked between Miguel and then to Hector, her heart in turmoil of what to do and what to say, feeling Spyro put his hand on her shoulder and nodding to her, letting her know it was ok.
"Hector, I cannot forgive you for what you've done." Imelda said, looking to him. "But I will help you."
"Great, so now what?" Shining Armor asked. "I doubt he's going to let us walk in and ask for the photo back."
"I might have an idea." Miguel said.
Meanwhile, on the world of Mobius, Dr. Eggman was putting together the finishing touches of his device, twisting some of the parts together and welding them until they were finished with the design, a large spherical container with the Heart Piece in the center where it was still glowing and a second container where it could hold up to six pieces at a time, the doctor smiling as it was finished.
"At last, it's finished!" Dr. Eggman said. "Now, time to collect my prize."
"Dr. Eggman!" Bocoe shouted, he and Decoe coming down the stairs. "Dr. Eggman! We got some terrible news!"
"The Deathbot has been destroyed!" Decoe said.
"Blast that meddlesome hedgehog!" Eggman said. "No matter, that robot gave me all the time I needed to finish the machine. Decoe, lock the coordinates of those lights. Bocoe, activate the device! Let's start with the closest one and get it."
"Coordinates locked sir!" Decoe announced.
"Machine's ready!" Bocoe said.
"Then turn it on and let's see how this baby works!" Eggman said. Bocoe activated the machine and a second later, the roof of the tower opened up, a small satellite dish going up as green bolts of electricity charged up, firing the a massive bolt of electricity into the sky, hitting it and causing the barriers between world to be shattered, purple and dark mist seeping into the world as the electricity made its way to the first world, which happened to be Traverse Town, heading straight into an accessory shop where the lightning crashed through the roof, destroying the building as it tried to extract the Heart piece out from a glowing yellow crystal, successfully pulling it out of the crystal before pulling back, the barrier repairing itself in Traverse town while in Mobius, Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, and Psyrox got to the cliff side where they could see the tower, seeing the massive beam of energy as it went through the barrier, sending shivers down Psyrox's spine as he saw the mist hit the ground.
"What is that?" Sonic asked. "What's old egg head doing now?"
"He's ripping the World Barriers apart." Psyrox replied, the lightning returning to the satellite as it returned into the tower.
"The what?" Knuckles asked.
"The World barriers acts like a shield to keep out the darkness, preventing a tidal wave of evil from coming into all the worlds." Psyrox replied. "And what your Dr. Eggman is doing is ripping apart the barriers and allowing the darkness to enter the worlds, allowing it to destroy any world the doctor is hitting."
"And what happens if the barriers completely destroyed?" Tails asked.
"Then your world will fade from existence." Psyrox replied. "The darkness will cover this world, destroying all life, absorbing your world into the void, the end of all worlds."
"Then we have to stop old egghead now!" Sonic exclaimed.
As he said it, the ground started to quake as the earth shifted, emerging from the ground was a Darkside, towering over the tower as it raised it's hand and slammed it onto the ground, opening a rift and allowing dozens of Heartless from Shadows, Soldiers, and Power Wilds to Invisibles and Angel Stars, all flying around as they approached the tower.
"Oh no." Psyrox said.
"What... are those things?" Tails asked.
"The Heartless." Psyrox replied. "Creatures born from the darkness in everyone's hearts. And they're after the Heart Piece, or should I say Heart Pieces as Eggman now has two. If they get those pieces... they'll be unstoppable."
"Then let's get down there and stop old egghead!" Sonic said.
Sonic then rushed into the heart of the enemy forces while Tails flew over head and Knuckles glided down, Psyrox calling his Keyblades and running towards the enemy to give them a hand. In Eggman's lab, the satellite had fully retracted and a moment later, the newly acquired Heart Piece dropped into the container and spun around, the 'good doctor' smiling at the machines success.
"Yes!" Eggman shouted. "Success! Now we have two of them! Our victory over the meddlesome rodent is assured!"
"Doctor!" Bocoe said, turning the screen to the Heartless. "When we activated the satellite, it destroyed some kind of barrier, allowing these creatures to enter our world and multiply!"
"And they're heading straight for the tower!" Decoe said.
"It doesn't matter to me what these things are." Eggman said. "Reactivate the satellite and-" He then saw Sonic zip towards the heartless, spin dashing through multiples of them before changing direction as Tails fired his cannon and Knuckles started to smash and slam them around, destroying them as they charged in. "They're here!"
"Sir, the factory has been activated." Decoe said. "It's been producing more of those robots and many different variants of them as well."
"How many are there?" Eggman asked.
"About five hundred sir." Bocoe replied. "Ranging from Assault class, Heavy class and Specialist class."
"There's even some armored vehicles as well." Decoe said. "Looks like tanks and some kind of walkers."
"Whatever they are, get them out there and destroy that rodent and his friends, now!" Dr. Eggman exclaimed.
In the battlefield, Sonic was continuing to spin dash through he Heartless while Knuckles was using one of the Soldiers like a club, smacking them around while Tails used his cannon to distract the Darkside, which tried to smack and slam him, but the flying fox was too small and too quick for it while Psyrox sliced through many Heartless, using some of his spells while calling his Nobodies to help, overwhelming them as the only one left was the Darkside, Sonic smiling and scratching his nose.
"They aren't so tough." Sonic said, however, a second later, the Heartless they destroyed, minus the ones Psyrox destroyed, came back and glared at them, Psyrox taking a defensive position. "Spoke too soon."
They then heard an alarm and looked to the tower, finding more of the Conqueror's coming out of the tower in rows of five, some of them assault class with their claws out or blaster riffles for mid range attacks. Some carrying heavy cannons and rotary guns with six cylinders and shoulder missile launchers while some also hand rocket launchers for arms, most of them having a single launcher or two launchers. Others had sniper rifles for arms, along with short range pistols and cloaking fields to allow for camouflage, causing the Heartless to face them as they approached.
"That's... a lot of robots." Knuckles said.
"All of them are Conquerers." Psyrox said. "Assault, Heavy, Specialist... the whole enchilada."
"Well at least they don't have any tanks." Sonic said. As he said it, a massive door opened up in front of them and from it came a dragon shaped walker, shaped like a male dragon, two horns, black metal sheets and covered with dozens of cannons and some rocket launchers, the tail having a massive energy weapon and several heavy cannons on the back, glowing red eyes and roaring out as it caused the group to back away. "Well, at least-"
"Unless you want to make things worse, shut up!" Psyrox exclaimed, looking to the massive walker. "That's a Heavy Armor Assault Walker, HA-AW for short, Dragon Class. Heavy armor, heavy shields, heavy weapons, pure destruction."
"Then how do we fight it?" Knuckles asked, punching a Soldier, destroying it.
"It doesn't." Psyrox replied. "The shields make it impervious to energy base weapons, the heavy armor makes kinetic weapons all but useless, and if it's created from the Heart Piece, it's probably got the same regeneration system that the Conquerers have. Best to let them fight the Heartless and get to Eggman." A second later, the mechanical dragon opened it's mouth and unleashed a powerful energy beam, vaporizing many Heartless and Nobodies, Psyrox leaping out of the way as it and the Conquerors unleashed volleys of plasma bolts, hiding behind a large rock to keep themselves covered. "That is if we don't end up getting killed."
In the tower, Eggman was watching the battle taking place, watching as his new robot army went through the Heartless while pinning Sonic and his friends, preventing them from making a run for it.
"Sir, the new bots have Sonic and his friends pinned and the new creatures are getting overwhelmed." Bocoe said. "And the factory is producing more and more of them every minute."
"Excellent!" Eggman said. "Prepare the satellite to collect another piece of whatever this is. I want more of these robots under my command, stronger than ever!"
As he ordered it, the Satellite rose back into the air, firing the green energy bolt back into the sky and breaking the barriers again to extract another Heart Piece, allowing for more Heartless to come through. Back in the Land of the Dead, Miguel and his family, along with their friends hid inside of a prop that was being used for De La Cruz's show, disguised as dancers and coming out when they did, explaining to Frida what De La Cruz did and she agreed to help them, letting them hide out and dimming the lights to hide them as they made their way back stage, ditching their disguises while Twilight teleported the ponies in.
"Alright, we're in." Shining Armor said. "Now where do we go from here?"
"We find Ernesto De La Cruz and get the photo." Miguel said. "Everyone got your petals?"
Everyone, including the ponies pulled out a petal and then ran a random direction, hoping to find De La Cruz before sunrise.
"Let's hope we find De La Cruz before it's too late!" Imelda said.
"Yes?" Ernesto asked, Imelda rounding a corner. "You look... familiar, have we met before?"
Without answering, Imelda took her shoe off and smacked De La Cruz with it, his head spinning, using his hands to stop the spinning.
"That's for murdering the love of my life!" Imelda shouted.
"What?" Ernesto asked.
"She means me." Hector replied, shocking the murderous musician. "I'm the love of your life?"
"I don't know, I'm still angry with you." Imelda replied.
"Hector?" Ernesto asked, clearly surprised. "How did you-"
He didn't get to ask the question as Imelda hit him again, making his head spin again.
"And that's for trying to murder my grandson!" Imelda shouted.
"Grandson!?" Ernesto asked.
"She means me!" Miguel replied.
"You!?" Ernesto asked. "Wait, you're related to Hector? That explains a lot."
"The photo!" Miguel shouted, the rest of his family and his friends rounding the corner.
Without even trying, he turned and fled, running away from the Rivera family and the ponies, running through the dressing room to get away from them as he passed his security detail, which they tried to block their path, but Spyro ran ahead and called his Keyblades, slicing through the guards and making them explode into many pieces as they ran after De La Cruz, but the guards reassembled themselves and attacked the Rivera's and the ponies, Imelda getting to De La Cruz and getting the photo, but Ernesto grabbed her to try and take the photo back, but Miguel and Pinkie tackles him, knocked Imelda back onto a platform that rose up, watching her family fight the guards off while she rose up onto the stage, the spot light shining on her as the crowd gasped, wondering what she was doing there, Miguel, Hector, and Pinkie seeing her and motioning for her to sing, knowing she could do it as she took the microphone and music started playing.
[Imelda]
Ay.. de mí, llorona,
Llorona de azul celeste!
Ay de mí llorona,
Llorona de azul celeste!
Everyone else managed to get to the stage as did De La Cruz and his men, the security guards walking up the steps to get Imelda while she walked down the stairs.
"Pinkie, Cadence, get to the top of the stage and make sure the Camera's are on De la Cruz at all time." Spyro said. "We're gonna need to get him to confess and when we do, everyone needs to hear it."
"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie replied.
She and Cadence then went up the stairs while everyone else's eyes were on Imelda and the guards, keeping their distance unless absolutely necessary to intervene.
Y aunque la vida me cueste llorona,
No dejaré de quererte,
No dejaré de quererte!
De La Cruz was not happy as the crowd cheered for her, Hector playing the guitar while the guards came down to stop her, which Spyro nodded his head to allow for them to move in and intervene, helping to keep Imelda safe while dancing to make it look like it was part of the show.
Me subí al pino más alto llorona,
A ver si te divisaba!
Como el pino era tierno llorona,
al verme llorar Iloraba!
Ay de mí llorona llorona,
Llorona de azul celeste!
As she tried to make her way back to Miguel and Hector, Ernesto took hold of her and to her shock, looked happy, though he was furious as they danced and sung together
[Imelda and Ernesto de la Cruz]
Ay de mí llorona llorona,
Llorona de azul celeste!
Y aunque la vida me cueste llorona,
No dejaré de quererte!
[Ernesto de la Cruz]
Y aunque la vida me cueste llorona,
No dejaré de quererte,
No dejaré de quererte,
No dejaré de quererte!
¡Ay-ay-ay!
¡Ay-ha-ha-ha-ay!
Imelda had enough of Ernesto and at the very end of the song, she pulled her skirt up a bit and smashed his foot, causing great pain for him as Imelda took the photo and ran off stage, leaving Ernesto with a messed up foot while she ran into Hectors arms and laughed, having had fun before composing herself.
"I forgot how much fun it was to sing." Imelda said.
"You still got it." Hector said, both of them smiling at one another.
"See, this is what brought you together." Spyro said. "Music brought you together, it's a part of you. Something you cannot deny as it is a part of your heart. For when you ignore one piece of yourself, a piece of what makes you who you are, then you loose it."
"I... guess you're right." Imelda said.
"Um, Mamá Imelda?" Miguel asked.
"Oh, right, right." Imelda said, giving the photo to Miguel before taking her petal out. "Miguel, I give you my blessing." A second later, the petal glowed as its magic filled the area. "I give you my blessing to go home, put up our photos and to never-"
"To never play music again." Miguel said, knowing what she was going to say, but she just smiled, surprising him.
"To never forget how much your family loves you." Imelda said, surprising them all.
"You're going home Miguel." Hector said. "And you can still play music. It's who you are."
Miguel smiled, looking to Imelda with gratitude and happiness as he reached for the petal, happy to go home, but Ernesto grabbed him, holding him hostage as he backed away.
"Not so fast!" Ernesto said, shocking everyone.
Imelda rushed towards De la Cruz, hoping to save Miguel, but he pushed her down, dragging him away before tossing him towards the edge, Hector running to help, but he felt the pain of fading, loosing strength as he fell over.
"Please, don't hurt him." Hector said.
"No Hector, I worked hard." Ernesto replied. "Too hard to let someone like you and this boy ruin everything for me."
"He's a child Ernesto." Spyro said, his Keyblades out. "A living boy. You already took your best friend's life, now you're going to take his!?"
"He's a threat to everything I worked so hard for!" Ernesto replied. "You think I'd let him go back to the Land of the Living with Hectors photo and ruin everything I worked for!?"
"So that's it then?" Spyro asked. "You care more about your reputation and fame than someone's life? You truly are the saddest excuse of a man I ever saw."
"I am Hector De La Cruz, the greatest Musician of all time." Ernesto said.
"Hector's the real musician!" Miguel said, getting up. "You're just a guy who murdered him and stole his songs!"
"I am willing to do whatever it takes to seize my moment." Ernesto replied, grabbing Miguel by his shirt. "Whatever it takes."
"NO!" Imelda shouted.
Before Ernesto could throw Miguel off the side of the building, Spyro unleashed a storm of Force lightning, causing great pain for Ernesto as he dropped Miguel, getting lifted into the air and thrown to the stage, Spyro walking on stage with both his Keyblades out.
"You're truly pathetic." Spyro said, walking to him.
"Security, stop him!" Ernesto said, trying to play the victim. "He's trying to kill me! He's a murderer."
"I'm afraid no one's coming to save you Ernesto De La Cruz." Spyro said, confusing him. "Smile, you're on camera." He then looked up and saw that the cameras were watching him, looking to the crowd and seeing the disgusted looks on their faces. "I had Pinkie and Cadence have a camera trained on you at all times, recording everything that has ever been done. From what happened backstage to now. Everyone's heard your confession De La Cruz, everyone." They all booed De La Cruz, horrifying him as he got up, trying to run, but Spyro released another storm of Force Lightning before pulling him back, slashing him in the chest and making him collapse to the ground, the wound glowing white as he felt it's steering pain. "You think that bell falling on you was an accident? It was the world righting a wrong. Karma caught up with you that day De La Cruz, as it's catching up with you now."
"I will always be remembered." Ernesto said, getting up. "There will always be one person who shall remember Ernesto De La Cruz!"
"If they do remember you, it's to tell the people of how you murdered your friend in cold blood." Spyro replied, lifting him up and aiming him somewhere. "I think it's time you got reintroduced to an old friend. I mean, after all, it put you through the ringer."
He then Force pushed him out of the stadium, the cameras on De La Cruz as he flew over the stadium walls and saw where he was going towards the bell, De La Cruz screaming as he smacked into the bell, falling to the ground as the bell fell on top of the murderous musician, the crowd cheering for Spyro as he took a bow after Ernesto got crushed by the bell again, walking to the family as they cheered, Pinkie and Cadence running down and hugging him.
"Well done Spyro!" Luna exclaimed, running and hugging him, which he picked her up and spun her around. "You have always been our night in shining armor."
"And you are my little moon drop, little moon drop." Spyro replied, kissing her.
"Hector!" Miguel said, seeing him collapse again as the sun was coming up.
"Imelda, the petal!" Spyro said.
"No, I promised I put his photo up!" Miguel said. "I don't want him to fade."
"He won't." Spyro said. "Go to Coco, talk to her and hear the tale about your great-great grandfather, it'll be enough to save him."
"But the photo..." Twilight said.
"Don't worry, the world always makes everything right." Spyro said, looking to her. "Go to Coco, she has everything you need."
"Miguel, you have our blessing." Hector said, the petal glowing.
"No conditions." Imelda said, holding his hands.
"I promise, I won't let Coco forget you!" Miguel said, the petal touching him as he was surrounded by petals and the ponies were engulfed in light, returning to the Ofrenda of De La Cruz.
"W-we're back." Luna said.
"Miguel, quick, we need to hurry!" Cadence said. "Hop on!"
She knelt down to let Miguel climb on her back, but he decided to take the unitary with them, holding it as he got onto Princess Cadence's back and she ran out of the shrine, the others following close behind as they ran through the streets as they made there way to Miguel's home, the boy telling Cadence where to go when they arrived, seeing Coco's room.
"We can just make it." Twilight said.
"Miguel, where have you been!?" His grandmother asked.
"I need to see Mama Coco, please." Miguel said, his grandmother seeing the guitar.
"What are you doing with that!?" She asked. "Give it to me!"
Before she could try to destroy this guitar, Pinkie lunged and knocked her to the ground, pinning her as she growled like an angry dog.
"You are not destroying this guitar granny!" Pinkie shouted, surprising the grandmother.
"Que?" She asked. "It... talks?"
"Pinkie!" Twilight said.
Pinkie then jumped into the window of the room, closing and locking it as the grandmother tried to barge in, but it too was locked, blocking them. They then saw Miguel's great grandmother, running over and kneeling in front of her.
"Mamá Coco, it's me... Miguel." Miguel said. "I saw your Papá. Remember, papa Hector? If you forget him, he'll be gone... forever." The family banged on the door to try and open it, Miguel picking up the guitar. "This was his guitar, wasn't it?" He placed the guitar down and took the photo out, hoping to help her remember. "Papá, remember? Papá?"
It was no use, she had no reaction as she was forgetting her father, the rest of Miguels family unlocking the door and barging in.
"Miguel what are you doing to that poor woman!?"
"Trying to help her remember, that's what!" Shining Armor replied, shocking them.
"Miguel..." Miguels father said, which the boy hugged him. "We thought we lost you."
"I'm sorry Papa." He said.
"It's ok Miguel." His mother said. "All that matters now is we're back together again."
"Not all of us." Miguel replied.
"Miguel, you apologize to your great grandmother, now!" His grandmother said.
"Why, for trying to help her remember her family!?" Luna exclaimed, getting in front of Miguel. "I don't know what you have against music, but all you ever did was harm this boy mentally by trying to deny him his dream! He nearly died because of you!?"
"What?" His father said.
"Luna, no." Twilight said, stopping her. "The World order is already stretched thin, we can't tell them."
As everyone was arguing, Miguel looked down to the guitar, tears running down his face as the wind blew, the strings playing a few notes that sounded like the song Hector would play for Coco, remembering the song and hoping it would be enough. So Miguel took the guitar and played a few cords, his grandmother trying to stop him, but Shining Armor got in the way, giving her a death glare as she backed away.
"Don't even think about it." Shining Armor said.
"Mama Coco, your papa loved you." Miguel said, trying to fight through the tears. "He wanted you to have this."
"Stop." His grandmother said.
"Wait, look." His father said.
They all watched as Miguel played a few cords on the guitar, which seemed to stir Coco to life as the music was playing, remembering the song as it was played, the cords turning gold as some of the notes appeared, flying to Coco as they entered her head, healing her memory.
[Miguel]
Remember me.
Though I have to say goodbye,
Remember me.
Don't let it make you cry.
For even if I'm far away,
I hold you in my heart.
I sing a secret song to you each night we are apart,
Remember me.
Though I have to travel far...
[Miguel and Coco]
Remember me.
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.
The song seemed to make her happy again, happy to hear that song again, but none more happy and Miguel's grandmother, who seemed to be crying tears of joy as Coco looked to her.
"Mía, what's wrong?" Coco asked.
"Nothing mama." She replied, happy to see her grandmother look better and happier. "Nothing at all."
"Coco, who sung you that song?" Twilight asked, hoping she remembered.
"My papa, each and every night." Coco replied, putting a smile on their faces. "He would sing it to me every night."
"Your papa loved you Mama Coco." Miguel said. "So much."
Coco reached up and touched her grandsons face, reaching for a drawer and pulling it, getting an old book and opening it.
"I kept his old letters." Coco said. "Poems he wrote me. And... this." he took out a piece of paper, handing it to Miguel and to everyone's surprise, it was the missing piece of the photo, Miguel putting it to the photo and smiling, having succeeded in saving Hector. "Papa was a musician. He and Mama would sing such beautiful songs each and every night, bringing joy into our home. When he left, he wanted to spread that joy, but he never forgot about me or Mama. He said he;d come home soon after his last show."
"Well he was on his way home." Miguel said. "But Ernesto De La Cruz murdered him for his songs and took his guitar."
"What!?" His father said. "That monster!"
"I saw him... in the land of the dead." Miguel said. "When I took the guitar, it took me there, showed me the truth behind De La Cruz and our family."
"But because you remembered him, his memory can now live on." Cadence said. "In all of us."
Coco smiled, hugging her grandson as everyone smiled at them, tears of joy rolling down everyone's face when Luna looked over, and her eyes widened with surprise.
"Everypony, look." Luna said.
They all looked at her, but then saw what she was looking at, the musical notes form the song 'Remember Me' on the wall, glowing a pure golden light in the chorus, everyone shocked to see the music on the wall, but a moment later, they turned purple before they all circled one another, turning into a vortex before the entire cord was absorbed and turned into the Symbol, the triangle spinning around as the dragon's head glowed before them, surprising them.
"What is that?" Miguel asked.
"The Symbol." Twilight said. "The song... when Coco remembered her father... it brought forth the Symbol. It holds a piece of our friend's heart, one we're trying to put back together."
The triangle then stopped on the Earth Pony head, Pinkie's Keyblade appearing next to her as she bounced around, streamers and confetti flying everywhere before she spun around and pointed her Keyblade at the symbol, the Keyhole appearing ont he dragons forehead before stars flew to the tip of the Keyblade before pink and blue light beams shot out of the Keyblade and into the Keyhole, making a clicking sound before the dragon's eyes glowed pink, opening it's mouth to release a golden light, the light flying towards Twilight as she took the book out and it flew into the dragons head on the book, the eyes glowing pink as the guitar on the book turned pure white.
"And that makes six!" Pinkie said. "We're half way there!"
"And that means it's time for us to go." Twilight said.
"You're leaving?" Miguel asked. "So soon?"
"I wish we could stay Miguel, but we can't." Cadence said. "Our friend is waiting for us and we have six more Heart Pieces to find and we don't to loose any momentum in finding them."
"Well, if you're in the neighborhood, drop by anytime." Miguels grandmother said. "You're more than welcome in our home."
"Thank you." Twilight said, the ponies started to glow. "Thank you all."
They then turned into individual lights and shot out of the window, flying through the air while on the roof, Spyro was sitting there, playing a guitar as he watched them return to the ship, playing a few cords before disappearing into light, dozens of tiny lights flying into them air as the sun rose. On Mobius, things were getting worse and worse as Eggman activated his machine again, breaking the barrier again and allowing more heartless to come into the world, ranging from small weak Heartless to more powerful ones, the robots blasting and destroying the Heartless while Tails flew overhead taking out whatever he can while Knuckles punched his way through the dark creatures.
"There's no end to these things!" Knuckles said, smashing another one. "Where are they all coming from!?"
"From the darkness!" Psyrox replied, throwing his blades and destroying dozens of them before they came back. "And they are endless, especially if you don't have a Keyblade, which is the only thing that can permanently destroy them."
"Would have been nice to have known that from the start!" Knuckles said, tossing a Soldier into the air where it was blasted by a rotary gun. "So hw do we get rid of them!?"
"We need to stop the one who's letting them in." Psyrox replied. "Sonic, get in there and destroy that device!"
"No problem!" Sonic said.
He then spin dashed through the entire Heartless army, the Conquerers aiming their weapons at Sonic, but he just smashed through them,. Creating a path way and smashing into the door, making a massive hole. In the doctor's lab, Eggman's satellite had finished collecting another Heart Piece, depositing it into the container along with two others recently acquired, making the bad doctor smile.
"And that makes five sir!" Bocoe said. "Just seven more to go!"
"Excellent!" Dr. Eggman said. "Decoe, what's the status on Sonic and his friends?"
"Well, his friends are fighting the robots and the unknown creatures, but Sonic is no where to be seen!"
"What!?" Eggman asked, clearly spooked. "Then where is he!?"
"Right here egghead!" Sonic said, zooming from the corner of the room.
A moment later, Sonic spin dashed right into the machine, leaving a massive hole in it as electricity sparked across it machine, spooking Eggman as he seemed cover.
"You fool!" Eggman said. "Without the stabilizer, nothing is keeping the machine from exploding and-"
He didn't get to finish as suddenly the Heart Pieces all turned red, the container holding the four that had been collected shaking violently as the the pieces spun around, making the orb shaped container turn a blood red as the electricity shot out from the orb, a red colored dome expanding from the container as it engulfed them, expanding out from the tower as it moved towards the two armies, the Heartless destroyed instantly by the expanding dome as the light engulfed the robots, Knuckles, Tails, and Psyrox, disappearing a moment later to show the robots were still there, but Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Psyrox were gone, Dr. Eggman looking over to see everything was ruined and Sonic was no where to be seen.
"What happened?" Decoe asked.
"The machine overloaded and the lights disappeared, that's what happened!" Eggman said. "The container holding the lights is gone, teleported away and the meddlesome hedgehog is no where to be seen! We need to reassemble the machine and-"
"Doctor, look!" Bocoe said.
He looked up to the ruined satellite and saw, to his surprise, the Heart Piece they had originally was still there, glowing red as the symbol spun.
"Haha, yes!" Eggman said. "We still have one! That means we can reassemble the machine and reacquire the other lights quickly!"
However, it wasn't going to happen as the Heart Piece then turned into a single red crystal, long and thin, but still big enough to be able to hold the piece of Spyro's heart. It then shook violently as it released red lightning and shattered the glass, causing the doctor to back away along with his assistants as it levitated out of it's containment unit and from the factory, multiple machine parts flew out as wired all shot out from the ground, connecting to one another as the chassis was assembled right in front of them, covering the crystal as the metal parts all melted together, assembling right before them before the molten metal disappeared, leaving a semi-humanoid machine in front of them, dark mist covering it's body as it created a black coat with red flames on it, setting down as it activated, moving its arms as it examined itself, a dragon head and legs with red holographic wings on it's back, looking to Eggman.
"Where... am... I?" The machine asked. "What... am... I? Who... are... you?"
"I am Doctor Robitnick!" Eggman said happily. "You are in my laboratory in my glorious tower, and you are my creation!"
"Robotnick?" The machine asked, seeing an undamaged console and extending its right hand, wires shooting from the tips as it plugged in, examine the data from it.
"What do you think you're doing!?" Eggman asked.
"Downloading all relative information to one Dr. Robotnick." The machine replied, its eyes lighting up with codes of data and information appearing in it. "Download at 68.78%. Download complete." It then looked to Robotnick, detaching itself from the computer as it approached him. "Objective: World domination of Mobius, terminate or convert all enemy opposition to robots, adding to the arsenal."
"That's correct my friend." Eggman said. "I have a fully operational army of robots ready to do just that. And without the meddlesome Hedgehog around, nothing can stop me. Now get out there, and do what you were built for."
"Negative." The machine said.
"Excuse me?" Eggman asked. "I am your creator, and you will-"
The machine then raised it's hands and from the, red Force Lightning shot out, incapacitating Eggman as he flew through the air, yelling in pain as he his the wall, falling to the ground as the electricity arced across him.
"Dr. Robotnick!" Decoe said, running over and helping him up along with Bocoe. "Who do you think you are!?"
"I am the solution to all conflict." The machine replied. "The key to peace in this world and in worlds around. I... am... Overlord."