I slowly opened my eyes and sat up. There was a dull pain throughout my body like I exercised yesterday. 

“Fabi!” Paimon rushed up to me, “Are you alright?” 

“Yeah, I'm ok.” I said, “Where's-?” I heard groaning and turned my head, gasping. Manolo slowly got up and balanced himself against the tree. He looked at his hands in confusion.

He was a skeleton.

“Wha… What happened to you?!” Paimon exclaimed.

Before he or I could answer, Manolo turned around and gasped in amazement. Paimon and I looked in his direction. I was blown away.

The Land of the Remembered. 

It was a beautiful place with such vibrant colors. There were sugar skull-shaped balloons floating into the sky with beautiful music in the air. Every time I saw this in the movie, I was always captivated. Nothing could prepare me for how beautiful this place is in person.

“Wow! What is this beautiful place?” Paimon asked with stars in her eyes.

As if on cue, a skeleton on a horse arrived on a balloon, “Welcome to the Land of the Remembered!” He said as he rode to us.

“I made it.” Manolo said to himself. 

“And on the Day of the Dead, no less.”

“Ahem.” Paimon cleared her throat, making Manolo finally notice us.

“Wait, what are you guys doing here?” He asked.

“I'll explain later.” I said. I looked down and realized me and Paimon still had our skins.

 Paimon noticed too, “Wait, how come we're not…?”

“Maybe it's different for us since we're not from this world.” I whispered. Paimon nodded.

“Yes.” The skeleton on the horse said, “You'll feel a little disoriented at first. Don't try to take it all in at once.”

Manolo wasn't listening, “Where… where is…?”

The skeleton took out a pen and clipboard, “Let's start with your names.”

“Maria Posada!” Manolo blurted out.

“Really?” The skeleton flipped through his papers, “Parents and their crazy baby names. And there's no Maria Posada on my list.”

“No, no. I'm looking for Maria Posada.”

“Oh.”

“My name is Manolo Sanchez.”

“Another Sanchez! That family just keeps on growing. And you two?”

“Oh, uh, I'm Fabi, and this is Paimon.” He quickly jotted us down on the paper.

“My family!” Manolo exclaimed, “They will help me find Maria. Can you take us to them?”

The skeleton helped Manolo up on the horse and Manolo helped me. Paimon held onto my shoulders tightly. “I would love nothing more than to reunite a young couple!” The skeleton said, “Just hold on!” 

The skeleton screamed as we rode down a steep hill. My stomach dropped. It was like a ninety-degree angle. While the rest of us were shrieking in fear, Manolo was shouting in excitement. Glad one of us was having fun.

Finally the road evened out more and we were on the flat ground. 

“You know, I've been down here for years awaiting my beloved honey bunny.” The skeleton told us.

In a flash, a small woman appeared, “Hi, honey!” 

“Ah! Too soon!” We zipped away from his wife. Ok, don't know what that was about. 

We looked around at the beautiful buildings, floats, and skeletons as we rode through the realm. There were flower petals falling from the sky. It was magical.

“There. Your family is in that one.” The skeleton showed us a float with bullhorns. Of course, it did.

“Whoa.” Manolo gaped.

“Get in there!” Out of nowhere, the skeleton shoved us off his horse towards the float. 

I screamed and squeezed my eyes shut, holding onto Manolo like a spider monkey. I don't know how I ended up on him, but here I am. Being pressed against his guitar and swords wasn't comfortable. 

Paimon was holding onto my arm. I could feel us being thrown around, twisting and turning in the air. I swear my organs got rearranged. 

We were caught by a large skeleton in a turquoise bullfighting uniform, “Oh, yeah! Another Sanchez bullfighter!”

He set Manolo down, but I didn't let go. Paimon and I were too dizzy to even speak. Manolo pretty forgot we were there, “You are the amazing Carmelo Sanchez!”

Carmelo proudly stated that he was famous for fighting bulls without a cape. When Manolo asked if he could help find Maria, Carmelo said La Muerte could help us. Next thing I knew, a piñata hit us, making us fall down the pyramid float.

Manolo disassembled on the way down only to quickly reassemble when he landed on his feet.

“I think I'm gonna be sick.” I said. We saw a skeleton with swords for one of his arms and legs. He was another one of Manolo’s relatives, Jorge Sanchez, famous for fighting bulls with one arm and leg. Not like he had a choice, no offense.

Turns out, he and Manolo are kindred spirits. Jorge wanted to sing in the opera, but you know, “Music is not work fit for a Sanchez bullfighter.”

I opened my eyes just in time for Carmelo to launch us into the air as he landed on the plank Manolo stood on. While we were in the air, a skeletal bird kissed Manolo on the cheek before we fell to the ground. I wish I could do the same.

As soon as we landed, Paimon and I rolled onto the ground, our heads spinning, “Please… no more.” Paimon said.

Manolo was reunited with his grandpa Luis, famous for fighting three bulls at once. He berated Manolo for being a musician. Paimon and I got up when our dizziness died down.

“Welcome home, mijo.” Luis said, “Your mother will be so happy to see you.” We looked up at the float in front of us.

“Mama?” Manolo said to himself. 

I smiled as Manolo made his way to the top of the float to reunite with his mother. 

“Wow. You weren't kidding when you said Manolo’s family was bullfighters.” Paimon said as we made our way to the next float.

“Tradition.” I said, “You gotta love it. Believe it or not, his mom didn’t even want him to be a bullfighter.” 

“Really?! So then what was Carlos talking about?” 

I chuckled and shrugged, “Yeah, it hurts.”

When we made it to the front of the float, the whole Sanchez family was gathered at the bottom. We saw Manolo with his mother, Carmen, as they came down the steps. 

“Everyone!” Carmen called out, “This is my son, Manolo!” Everyone cheered for Manolo. Carmen introduced him to two of his cousins who fought in the revolution.

“Oh, I almost forgot.” Manolo brought Carmen to me and Paimon, “These are my friends.”

“Glad you remembered we exist.” Paimon said with a smirk. Manolo laughed sheepishly.

“Friends?” I asked, lovestruck. I cleared my throat, “Hola. I'm Fabi and this is Paimon.”

“Hello!” Paimon said.

“It's great to meet you both.” Carmen said, “This is La Muerte's castle.” We all saw a giant colorful castle and were in awe. This place keeps getting more and more amazing, “Come. She will help find my new daughter-in-law.”

We were even more flabbergasted when we were inside the castle. It looked like a candy land that went on for miles. We walked on these floating red platforms, which made me a little uncomfortable since I couldn't see the ground. We made it to the main hall where there was a large table filled with food.

“La Muerte's throwing a big Day of the Dead fiesta for everyone.” Carmen said.

“Mmm. That all looks so yummy.” Paimon said, practically drooling.

Carmen urged Manolo forward, “Ask her, mijo.”

Manolo politely bowed, “My lady. Will you help me find Maria Posada?”

“No one here can help you, bullfighter.” 

My heart stopped as a pair of black wings appeared from behind the chair. The chair turned around to reveal Xibalba, “The Land of the Remembered had a new ruler!”

Everyone gasped in horror.

“Who, you ask? Lil' ol me.”

“You again?” Manolo asked in confusion.

“What are you doing here, you monster!” Paimon yelled. I held her back when she tried to float to Xibalba. 

“But La Muerte would never hand her domain over to you.” Luis said.

Xibalba burped loudly, “She lost a bet.”

“Oh. She would do that.”

“This land is finally mine! All thanks to you, Manolo.”

“What?” Manolo asked. Paimon looked at me in shock.

“La Muerte bet that Maria would marry you. I bet that Maria would marry Joaquin. And since you're not around anymore, Maria’s gonna marry Joaquin to, you know, protect her beloved town. So I win.” 

My blood was boiling. How could he be so cruel?

“But Maria passed away. I saw her.” Manolo’s eyes filled with realization, “Oh, no…” 

“Oh, yes.”

Manolo fell to his knees in shock. Xibalba explained that his snake bit Maria once, which only put her in a Snow White sleep and has most likely woken up by now. That means Maria is still…

“...Alive.” We all gasped in shock.

“Cheers.” Xibalba taunted.

“One bite. Your snake. It bit me twice!” Manolo snapped, slamming his fists on the table, “You cheated! You will pay for this!”

Everyone was shocked by his sudden outburst. Would it be bad if a part of me thought that was kinda hot?

Xibalba stood on the table. He made his way towards Manolo, pushing the food off the table.

“The food!” Paimon exclaimed. 

Xibalba was kind of intimidating, asking Manolo if he was threatening him. Which he was. 

He flicked Manolo across the room, his relatives catching him. Xibalba taunted us one more time before flying through the ceiling.

“You big cheat!” Paimon fumed, “Oh, Paimon knew he was sleazy the second we saw him!”

“How could I have been so foolish?” Manolo asked himself.

“It isn't your fault, Manolo.” I said, “He tricked you. You were vulnerable and he took advantage of that. When I get my hands on that little…” I sighed, “So, what are we gonna do now?”

“I have to find La Muerte.” He turned to his family, “Please, help me.”

At first, Manolo’s family tried to convince him to stay, but Manolo was determined to get back to Maria. 

I love you, Manolo.

“If La Muerte is where Xibalba rotted away…” Carmen thought.

“Then she's in the Land of the Forgotten.” The Adelita cousins finished.

“Manolo, there is only one way to reach the Land of the Forgotten.” Jorge said, “Through the Cave of Souls.”

“Going there would be certain doom!” Luis said.

“Well, it's a good day for doom.” Manolo said. Everyone cheered, including me. Such a badass! 

Manolo, Carmen, Luis, Paimon and I got some horses and began our journey to the Cave of Souls. I rode with Manolo while Paimon held onto my shoulders.

“Do we know where we're going?” Paimon asked.

“We're going to the edge of the Land of the Remembered.” I said, “I think we just keep going in a straight line.”

“Oh, that makes sense.”

“Hey, Fabi.” Manolo said, “I've been meaning to ask you. How come you and Paimon aren't skeletons?”

Paimon and I looked at each other with wide eyes. Oh, no.

“Uh… well… I really don't know.” I said. I didn't lie, but I wasn't too sure if I should tell him the possibility as to why.

“Anyway, how do we know when we'll get there?” I asked, changing the subject. 

“I'm not sure.” Manolo said, “I guess we'll know it when we see it.”

I don't know how long we rode for, but it was long enough for my legs to hurt. Real bad. Didn't think skeletal horses could be so uncomfortable. 

We saw a giant cliff-side that intimidated all of us, “Caramba.” Luis said, “It hurts just looking at it.” 

“I'll say.” I said. I'm not the most athletic person. If I'm not already dead, this would definitely kill me.

Thankfully, Carmen, Luis, Manolo, and Paimon helped me up when I was struggling, and I struggled a lot. I was jealous that Paimon just floated to the top while the rest of us had to climb. I couldn't even blame Luis when he complained.

After what felt like an eternity climbing this death wall, we finally made it to the top. We were all tired, minus Paimon, and relieved we made it.

Luis ran ahead of us. A wall suddenly shot up from the ground as a loud voice boomed, “You are not worthy!”

Luis’s head was sent flying back to us, “Hey! My arthritis is gone!” Carmen went to help Luis. 

The ground was cracking and shifting, lowering and raising, “Uhh…” 

Manolo pushed Carmen out of the way of the ground splitting, “Mama!”

“Manolo!” I called out. I tried to avoid the cracks forming in the ground as walls were forming around us. Manolo was trapped in the shifting ground.

“Face the labyrinth and earn the right to be judged.” The voice said.

“What's going on?” Paimon panicked.

“It's a maze!” I realized. And not only that, but it was moving. We couldn't see what was going on, but we heard stone grinding and movement.

“I can't see him.” Luis said, “Lift me up!”

Carmen threw Luis into the air to see what was going on, “I see him! Uh, oh.”

“What? What's happening?” Carmen asked.

“It's alright, honey. He's totally ok.” Luis when tossed into the air again, “Run for your life!”

Paimon floated up to try and see Manolo, “Oh! Manolo, watch out!”

“What's going on?” I asked.

“Manolo is running from these large boulders!” Paimon said, “Come on, Manolo! You got this!”

I held my breath as the maze stopped moving. We all saw Manolo stop and dodge the boulders with that beautiful knee slide he does. 

Be still my beating heart.

“Ay, that was so beautiful.” Luis cried.

Manolo climbed on top of the boulders as the maze disappeared. A giant skeleton statue made of stone appeared with a giant sword, “You have earned the right to be judged. But be warned. No mortal has ever passed.”

We began to panic as the guardian raised his sword, “Manolo!” Carmen exclaimed. 

“No!” I screamed. 

As the sword striked Manolo, the sword shattered. Whoa…

“Manolo Sanchez.” The guardian said, “Your heart is pure and courageous.” The guardian lowered its head, becoming the entrance to the Cave of Souls, “You and yours may enter.”

“Whoo-hoo!” Paimon cheered, “Paimon knew you could do it!”

“Ay, mijo.” Carmen slapped Manolo, “Don't do that again!” She hugged him before we entered the Cave of Souls.

Here we go.