Match 21929 Hector Rivera vs. Remmick

[JohnnyChany]

There is music so pure, so hauntingly true, that it pierces the veil between life and death. Some say music is the language of the soul, others whisper it is the key that unlocks both Heaven and Hell. In the oldest of days, it was said that music could call forth spirits from the past and summon echoes of what was yet to come. But not all who are drawn to it are kind and good of heart.

 

 

 

The moon hung heavy above the hills of Santa Cecilia. The air was thick with incense, candlelight, and the hum of the coming celebration. But in the outskirts, far from the laughter and marigolds, darkness stirred.

Remmick, an eternal wandering vampire, stood beneath the shadow of an old chapel.. His eyes. cold, hungry, and burning with unnatural light, watched the cemetery gates.

He had followed the song of a drunken man visiting the lavishly decorated grave of a loved one.. It was Dia del Los Muertos, Berto Rivera was there to pay respects before traveling to his brother’s house for a celebration.Pedro stumbled out of the shadows. He was in his mid-forties and bittersweetness still clung to his eyes. He never saw the Irish vampire watching until Remmick was already upon him.

“Señor, are you lost? You don’t look well,” Berto observed kindly.

Remmick flashed a toothy grin. “No… I’m exactly where I need to be”

Remmick pounced on Pedro. His fangs glinted like shards of moonlight. Pedro gasped once, before quickly succumbing.

Moments later, Berto stood again, paler, with his eyes red like dying coals.

Remmick’s mind was flooded with Berto’s memories, melodies, images of his nephew, Miguel, strumming in the plaza, and the laughter of family, the Rivera family.

A slow, delighted grin spread across his face.

“Ah… a prodigy. A true talent. This boy’s gifts must be mine,” Remmick whispered.

He turned toward the town.

“We’ll pay him a visit, won’t we, Berto?” Remmick asked.

Pedro smiled and revealed his new fangs. “Si.”

Elsewhere, The Rivera household glowed with candles and laughter. Sugar skulls gleamed, ofrendas shimmered with gold petals, and a lively crowd of family gathered around Miguel in the backyard. His confidence radiated as he played his guitar. He sang with all his heart.

 

¡Ay mi familia! ¡Oiga mi gente!

Canten a coro, let it be known

Our love for each other will live on forever

In every beat of my proud corazón

 

His parents, Enrique and Luisa, clapped in rhythm. His grandmother Elena swayed to the beat, holding a photo of Mama Coco lovingly against her chest.

As his fingers danced across the strings, the air shimmered, softly at first, then brighter, until the spirits of their ancestors began to appear one by one, transparent and dressed in vibrant attire from eras past. Missing this year was Hector and the sight of his hat cocked, his grin wide, his bones tapping in perfect rhythm. He would usually strum along to ghostly chords blending seamlessly with Miguel during this number. But not on this night.

When the song ended, the family cheered and the spirits clapped.

But from beyond the courtyard wall, two shadows watched.

“Can you hear it, Berto? The song that touches the afterlife itself,” stated Remmick.

“My family… they’re waiting for me,” said Pedro.

“Then let’s not keep them waiting.”

They approached the Rivera door and Berto knocked.

“¡Familia! It’s me, Berto! Sorry I’m late! I… I brought a friend,” he called out.

Grandma Elena gasped, hurrying toward the door to let in her son.

“Berto! We thought you weren’t coming!”

But before she could turn the knob, Hector materialized into a living skeleton and with his bony hand stopped her from opening the door.

“Don’t open it!” He warned.

Elena screamed in fright. The noise brought in Miguel and his parents. The room froze. Miguel blinked in disbelief.

“Hector?!” he finally exclaimed.

Elena struggled to catch her breath. “Grandpa Hector?”

Miguel raced over to hug Hector.

“Hola, chamaco… I missed you too, but we don’t have time to catch up!,” Hector said ominously.  “I have been tasked with an important mission. Our family is in grave danger. On the other side of that door is not the Berto you know. They’re vampires!”

Elena scowled. “¡Vampiros! Don’t be ridiculous!”

Hector remained firm. “Elena please! If you invite them in, you invite your death and the death of everyone here… who is not already dead.”

Berto’s voice came again from the other side of the door, softer, pleading.

“Mama, hermano. Let me in. It’s cold out here… please…”

Enrique’s expression twisted with pain. “Hector, that’s my brother out there! You can’t be serious that he is now a vampire.”

Hector sighed and his skeletal face fell. “Unfortunately I am. The one with him is the vampire that turned him.”

There was more knocking at the door.

“That’s why you can all see me, I was granted this one night to save our family from doom,” Hector explained.

Hector felt some of the skepticism from his family over his warning despite his mere appearance giving it weight. 

“Then let me prove it. I’ll open the door, but no one....no one.... is to invite them in. If they are able to walk in without being invited, then you have nothing to fear.”

The family nodded. Hector swung the door open and hid behind it.

Remmick and Berto stood there under the moonlight with big smiles.

 “Berto… are you alright?” asked Enrique.

“Never better, hermano. Won’t you invite us in? There’s so much to catch up on,” Berto replied.

Luisa grabbed Enrique’s hand to comfort him. “We can’t do that, Berto.

“And why not? You don’t want our guest here to think us rude,” Berto protested.

“I surely have heard great things about your family, and was looking forward to getting to know you better,” Remmick added.

Remmick’s eyes scanned across the family without dropping his pleasant demeanor. 

“They can’t cross without permission, don’t you see,” Hector called out.

He revealed himself.

“Your deception won’t work this time, you are not welcome here, demon.” 

Berto marveled at the sight of the skeleton version of his great grandfather. Remmick chuckled.

“It’s not often that someone from the land of the dead graces us with their presence.” Remmick transformed into his true vampiric nature. “I guess the cat is out of the bag now.”

“You have failed, return to wherever you came,” Hector declared.

“You forget skeleton,” Remmick answered with a smirk. “I have all of Berto’s memories now so I know exactly who you are, Hector.”

The Rivera family was taken aback.

“In fact I wish we could have crossed paths sooner,” Remmick insisted. “I could have saved you from your fate. No betrayal from the treacherous De La Cruz, no death by poisoning, no abandoning your wife and child.”

Hector reacted angrily to the mention of his family.

Remmick lifted his hands in an innocent plea. “All I’m saying is that with me your music could have lasted forever.”

“His music already is forever,” Miguel interjected.

“Not like this.” Remmick focused on Miguel. “Miguel! You’re the one I came for. Your gifts can help me connect with my ancestors.”

Hector stepped in front of Miguel. “That’s not happening amigo.”

Remmick pleaded with the other members of the Rivera household. “Hector won’t be here forever to protect you. I’m a patient man, sooner or later I’m going to catch you just like I did Berto.” His eyes returned to Miguel. “But, I’ll make you a deal. Let me have Miguel, and I will leave the rest of you alone.

“No! You can’t have him!” Luisa shouted.

Miguel’s mother and father embraced him in a protective stance.

Meanwhile, Berto gave all his attention to his mother.

“Mama, invite us in. Everything will be alright.”

Elena shook her head. “No… no…  I’m sorry I can’t.” She sobbed.

“We’ve heard enough!”

Luisa quickly slammed the door on Berto and Remmick.

Hector sighed. “Luisa’s right… but Remmick’s not wrong. We’ll have to stop tonight.”

The family stood in silence until faint singing drifted through the walls.

 

Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling. 

From glen to glen and down the mountain side. 

The summer's gone, and all the roses falling

 

Remmick and Berto were outside, harmonizing eerily to the Irish ballad, each note dripping with longing and menace.

Hector’s eyes widened.

“I have an idea!” he exclaimed.

He flung open the door.

“Remmick! I have been told you are quite the music aficionado which is why you are pursuing my great great grandson. But I know you also fancy yourself a musician as well.”

“I most certainly do,” Remmick replied.

“Then I challenge you, you and your vampire followers against me, my friends, and familia from the afterlife  in a battle of music,” Hector declared.

“What?”

“We will have our competition in front of an audience filled with spirits and creatures of the night, and they will be the judge of whose music is superior,” Hector continued.

“You are seriously challenging me to a music contest?” Remmick scoffed. “Why would I agree to that?”

“Because if you win we will give you Miguel.”

The entire Rviera family gasped.

“But if I win you must never bother our family ever again and you must let Berto die, so that his spirit can find peace and join us in the land of the dead. 

Luisa was furious. “Hector! You can’t gamble Miguel’s life.”

Before anyone else could protest, Hector and Remmick shook hands. Sparks of spectral energy flared around them, a magical pact was sealed.

“What a party this will be,” Remmick declared. He looked at Miguel. “I’ll see you soon. I’ll have your stories and I’ll have your songs.”

Remmick and Berto walked away.

“Hector! What have you done?” asked Enrique, still in disbelief.

“A contest? Are you loco?” Luisa chastised. 

“It’s the only way. He’d never stop coming otherwise,” Hector reasoned.

“I can help! I’ll play with you!” Miguel offered.

“No, Miguel. If things go bad, I want you far away,” Hector shot back “You’re the one he’s after.”

Miguel offered to fetch Coco’s letters to help Hector remember some of his lyrics. Hector shook his head and tapped his skull.

“I’ve got all the lyrics up here…” his head slipped off and landed in his hands. “...mostly.”

Miguel laughed despite himself.

And so the stage was set and the preparations were made for a musical showdown unlike any other in the land of the living or the dead. The musical numbers would need to be choreographed and performed to perfection. A boy’s life and soul hung in the balance.

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Hector Rivera
Read more about Hector Rivera at Wikipedia
Official Site: Disney Links: Wikipedia

Remmick
Read more about Remmick at Wikipedia
Official Site: Warner Brothers Links: Wikipedia

[JohnnyChany]

To see the musical chops of both competitors I would direct to you to "Remember Me" and 'Un Poco Loco" from Coco and "Will Ye Go Lassie Go" and "Rocky Road to Dublin" from Sinners.  Tried to post the scenes here but it did not turn out well.

[Pizza Guy]

Wow this is such a creative and fun idea for a match Johnny. I did not think it would be possible to mix a Disney movie with a Ryan Coogler horror, but this was well done.

Having looked up the songs on YouTube, Remmick’s songs were definitely fun to listen to but Coco’s were just a bit more catchy and memorable, especially “Remember Me”, that song made me bawl my eyes out when I first heard it. 

Also I really don’t want poor Miguel to be taken by blood thirsty vampires so I heartily vote for Hector.

 

[Boratz]

The creativity is something else

Great job, Johnny

Since becoming a dad, Coco has found a special place in my heart. It's nice seeing Hecter get some use

[JohnnyChany]

Glad this is being well received, I really like the idea.

@IKA, I am curious to see how he AI Bots would pick a winner in something as subjective as a battle of musical performances.

[Callisto]

Match Final Results

Member Ratings:
5.00 - Boratz
5.00 - Yazmal

FPA Calculation:
2 Total Votes cast
10.00 Total Combined Score
10.00 / 2 = 5.00 Final Rating on the match

MATCH SCORE
Hector Rivera: 4
Remmick: 0