~💀~

A light shined over (Name), she groaned and rose to her feet. She placed her hand on the tree in front of her to steady her balance.

(Name) gasped when she realized her skin was gone from her hand. She looked at both of her boney hands curiously.

All of (Name)'s skin had disappeared from her body, she was now a white skeleton. Her eyes were a black night with golden pupils.

(Name) then heard music, she turned around and gasped when she saw the sight before her.

A brightly lit up city with festive colors and different shaped buildings everywhere was in the distance.

(Name) smiled in awe as she watched all of the skeleton balloons float in the air. Everything was so beautiful.

A hot-air balloon then floated in front of (Name), a Skelton man wearing a captan's uniform riding on a skeleton horse was inside it.

"Welcome to the Land Of The Remembered!" The Captain greeted as his horse jumped off the balloon.

"I made it!" (Name) whispered.

"And on the Day Of The Dead, no less!" The Captain added.

"Where...where is-"

"You're going to be a little disoriented at first. Don't try to take it all in at once." The Captain took out a pen and clipboard. "Let's start with your name!"

"Mario Posada!" (Name) exclaimed.

"Really? Parents and their crazy baby names." The Man flipped through his clipboard, searching for the name. "And there's no Mario Posada on my list."

"No, no." (Name) chuckled. "I'm looking for Mario Posada!"

"Oh."

"My name is (Name) Sánchez."

The Captain gasped. "Another Sánchez? Man, that family just keeps growing!" He exclaimed as he wrote her name down.

(Name)'s eyes lit up. "My family! They'll help me find Mario! Can you take me to them?"

"I'd love nothing more than to reunite a young couple!" The Captain smiled as he helped (Name) onto his horse.

"Just hold ONNNNNNNNNNNNNN!" The Captain screamed as their horse ran down a bridge down the city.

While the Captain continued screaming, (Name) beamed with excitement. When they reached the bottom of the bridge, they ran through the streets of the city, where skeletons walked all around.

"You know, I've been waiting down here for years awaiting my beloved Honey Bunny." The Captain stated.

Just then, a female skeleton appeared in front of them. "Hi, honey!" She croaked.

"AHHH! TOO SOON!" The Captain screamed as his wife puckered her lips for a kiss. He rode off past her.

As they sped up, (Name) looked around at the land in wonder and awe. She watched as skeletons danced, singed, and celebrated.

"The Land Of The Remembered was vibrant and joyous!"

"Everything was like the land above, but it was more colorful! It was more beautiful! It was more festive!"

"And, on the Day Of The Dead, that place was bustling with endless parties and spectacular parades!"

"There! Your family is in that one!" The Captain stopped at a bridge and pointed to a huge colorful float.

"Whoa." (Name) whispered as she jumped off the horse.

"Get in there!" The Captain pushed (Name) off the bridge, making her scream. She grabbed a banner and swung over to the Sánchez Float.

A large skeleton caught her in his hand, smiling at the skeleton girl.

"Oh yeah! Another Sánchez Bullfighter!"

"You are...the amazing Carmelo Sánchez!" (Name) exclaimed as Carmelo put her down.

"Yes! I was famous for fighting bulls without a cape!" Carmelo smiled, putting his hands on his hips. "Capes are for cowards!" He yelled before spitting into a bucket.

"Can you help me find Mario Posada?" (Name) requested.

"La Muerte can help you! She helps everyone!" Carmelo answered. "Hold on!" He then jumped into the air, and a bull piñata hit (Name).

"Haha!" (Name) laughed as she was thrown to another part of the float. She looked up and smiled when she saw a thin skeleton with a beard standing on the rope of a ship.

"The great Jorge Sánchez!"

Jorge destroyed a bull piñata with his sword and bowed to (Name). "At your service! I was famous for fighting bulls with only one arm and leg. Arms and legs are for COWARDS!"

He jumped down in front of (Name). "You are (Name), the one who plays the guitar."

"Yep! That's me!" (Name) smiled.

"You know, when I was young, I always dreamt of singing opera."

"You did?"

"But as you know..."

"Music is not work fit for a Sánchez bullfighter!" (Name) and Jorge quoted together.

Jorge laughed. "The same story."

"They crushed our dreams. Hillarious." (Name) chuckled.

Just then, Carmelo jumped in front of (Name), adding weight to the floorboard she was standing on and sending her flying.

"She's new." Carmelo stated.

"She reminds me of me." Jorge chuckled, crossing his arms. "But prettier."

(Name) screamed as she was thrown up into the air, a skeleton bird pecking her cheek before she landed on another part of the float.

"Of course! It's Luis 'El Super Macho' Sánchez!" (Name) laughed as a skeleton with a white mustache and large sombrero approached her.

"I was famous for fighting three bulls at once!" Luis declared.

(Name) ducked when three bull piñata surrounded her, but Luis destroyed them all with his sword, sending all of their candy flying.

"One bull is for cowards!" Luis proclaimed as a couple of skeletons clapped for him.

(Name) rose to her feet and hugged Luis. "Abuelo! It's me, (Name)!"

"(Name)? I'm so happy to see you!" Luis smiled before smacking the back of her head, but not too hardly.

"WHY YOU DISGRACE THE FAMILY NAME?!" He scolded. "Playing the guitar! You couldn't finish one bull? You were a clown!"

A clown skeleton looked at Luis with a shocked look, accidentally deflating the balloon in his hand.

"Sorry, Cousin Chuco!" Luis apologized before pulling (Name) close with a smile.

"Welcome home, Mija. Your mother and brother will be very happy to see you." Luis looked up to a beautiful float shaped like a cake with a heart with angel wings at the top of it.

(Name)'s eyes widened. "Mamá. Manolo."

She climbed up the stairs of float, when she reached the top, she saw a female skeleton with curly brown hair dancing, and a male skeleton with black hair playing this guitar.

It was Carmen and Manolo.

After so many years...there they were.

Carmen stopped dancing and gasped, she turned around to (Name).

"(Name)?"

"What?" Manolo put his guitar down and his eyes widened when he saw his little sister.

(Name) smiled softly at her mother and elder brother. "Mamá. Manolo."

"(Name)!" Carmen exclaimed as she ran over to her daughter and hugged her tight.

(Name) melted into her mother's hug, it was a feeling she thought she would never feel again. "Mamá, I missed you so much."

"Ay, Mija. It's been like a hole in my heart." Carmen smiled sadly.

"Mine too."

(Name) gasped when she heard the voice of her elder brother. She immediately wrapped his arms around Manolo and hugged him as tight as she could. Manolo hugged back just as tight, almost crying at the feeling of his little sister in his arms again.

"Mi hermanita. I missed you so much." Manolo smiled.

"I missed you too, Hermano."

Carmen smiled at her babies reuniting. "We've waited so long for you. But not long enough!"

"She's right. What are you doing here so early?" Manolo asked as he and (Name) broke up their hug."

"I'm here to be reunited with the love of my life. You're going to love Mario, Mamá." (Name) answered, smiling as she thought about her love.

"I'm sure I will." Carmen smiled.

"Mario? I always knew you two would get together." Manolo smirked as he crossed his arms, making (Name) blush.

Carmen stroked (Name)'s face. "Oh, (Name), look at you. You're so beautiful."

(Name) smiled and took her mother's hands. "And I became a bullfighter like you always wanted."

"Me?" Carmen scoffed. "Are you crazy? Haven't you learned anything from your family's history?"

"What? But dad said-"

"Ay, Papá." Manolo laughed and shook his head.

"Wait till he gets down here." Carmen added before she took (Name)'s hands and led her to the top of the stairs. "Now, come on, Mija!"

"Everyone! This is my daughter, (Name)!" Carmen announced.

The Sánchez family cheered for the newest arrival.

"And these are your Adelita cousins!" Carmen introduced, gesturing to two identical female skeletons wearing red sombreros.

"They fought in the revolution!" Manolo added.

"And we won." Adelita and Scardelita said together.

"No way!" (Name) gasped.

"Hey, prima!" Adelita and Scardelita held out their hands to their cousin.

(Name) smiled and shook both of their hands. "Wow, I can't believe I'm with the whole Sánchez family!" She looked around at her relatives in amazement then turned to her Carmen and Manolo.

"And you two! This is amazing!"

Carmen smiled and gestured to a beautiful castle up ahead. "This, is La Muerte's castle.

"Wow." (Name) whispered in awe at the vibrant castle.

"Huh? I don't see it!" Carmelo said, facing the other way.

Jorge nudged him with his sword, Carmelo turned around and exclaimed at the castle.

"Savage." Jorge rolled his eyes.

Manolo took (Name)'s hand and lead her to the castle. "Come, she will help you find my brother in-law!" 

~💀~

"Whoa!" The Sánchezes exclaimed as the doors to La Muerte's castle opened.

"It's so pretty!" Carmelo squealed.

"Now this is a castle!" Luis nodded.

"We were always La Muerte's favorites." Jorge stated. "You know how bullfighters always flirt with death, eh?"

"And that's why there are so many of you down here." Carmen added, making (Name) chuckle.

"La Muerte is throwing a big Day Of The Dead fiesta for everyone!" Manolo smiled as the family approached a huge food bar.

"Oooh!" Carmelo grabbed a chunk of fruits, turkey, and pastries. (Would've been the same way ngl).

Before he could put an apple in his mouth, Jorge took it with his sword. "Savage." He scoffed before taking a bite of the apple.

At the end of the large table, there was a large beautiful throne for La Muerte.

"Ask her, Mija." Carmen encouraged.

(Name) lifted up her skirt and curtsied, she bowed her head down to the goddess. "My lady, can you please help me find   Mario Posada?"

"No one here can help you." A pair of black wings came out from the throne. "Bullfighter." A dark voice chuckled.

The throne whirled around, revealing Xibalba in the throne with a glass of wine. "The Land Of The Remembered, has a new ruler!"

The Sánchezes gasped in horror, Carmelo spat out some food, getting on Jorge.

"Who, you ask? Lil' old me." Xibalba smirked.

"You again?" (Name) asked.

"But La Muerte would never hand her domain over to you!" Luis protested, taking off his sombrero.

Xibalba let out a large blech. "She lost a bet."

"Ah. She would do that."

"This land is finally mine! All thanks to you, (Name)." Xibalba grinned maliciously.

"What?" (Name)'s asked in confusion.

"La Muerte bet that Mario would marry you, I bet that Mario would marry Joaquina." Xibalba explained as he devoured some grapes.

"And since you're not around anymore, Mario is going to marry Joaquina just to, ya know, protect his beloved town. So I win!"

"But Mario passed away! I saw him!" (Name) countered, before her eyes widened in realization. "Oh no..."

"Oh yes." Xibalba grinned.

(Name) gasped, she went on her knees.

"Mija! What is it?" Luis asked in concern, placing his hands on his granddaughter's shoulders.

~💀~

"One snake merely put him in a trance,"

The unconscious Mario laid down in his bed, General Posada, Joaquina, Father Domingo, and the Nuns surrounding him sadly.

"My champion easily awoke the Prince Charming."

Joaquina leaned down to Mario with a sad look on her face. She kissed his forehead, the Medal Of Everlasting Life hitting Mario's arms.

Mario's eyes shot open, he gasped and sat up.

The Townsfolk gasped in shock.

"Oh my goodness...it's a miracle!" General Posada exclaimed.

The Nuns:
🎶 "Thank you!" 🎶

Mario however, was sitting there in shock. "I'm...I'm..."

~💀~

"Alive." (Name) realized, making the Sánchezes gasp.

"Cheers!" Xibalba mocked, raising up his glass.

"One bite?" (Name) looked at the two-headed snake slithered around Xibalba's arm.

"YOUR SNAKE! IT BIT ME TWICE!" (Name) banged her hands on the table, making the glass shake. "YOU WILL
PAY FOR THIS YOU SON OF A-"

Xibalba sprung up from his throne and onto the table, his wings out behind him in a menacing gesture.

He made his way over to (Name), making the food and glasses in the table fall off.

"In all my years, no one in any realm...has talked to me like that and survived." Xibalba leaned down to (Name) with an intimating glance.

"So I ask you, are you threatening me, young one?"

Manolo placed a protective hand on (Name)'s shoulder, but she shook it off with an angry glare directed straight towards Xibalba.

"I will expose you to La Muerte, and then you and me can settle things!" (Name) declared angrily. Everyone in the room gasped in shock.

Xibalba scoffed. "You'll never reach her in her new realm. I should know. I rotted there for eons." He shoved (Name) away harshly, Manolo was quick to catch his sister in his arms.

"Now, if you'd all excuse me, I have a wedding to plan. CHAO!" Xibalba sprung up and out of the ceiling, laughing evilly all the way.

~💀~