A Touch of Royalty

Synopsis:  This is an Elena of Avalor/Coco crossover.  Wanting to test his theory about multiple dimensions, Matteo tries a new incantation and opens a temporary portal to Mexico, where he meets Miguel and his family...hilarity ensues.  

‘You mess with a jaquin, you get the claws.’--Luna

Chapter 1--Experimenting

Matteo was eager for the new year to begin.  All of Avalor was still glistening, glittering and shimmering with Christmas decor.   For them, the holiday lasted until the 6th of January.   The sparkle of the candles in the trees and the twinkling of the tinsel made him feel merry.   He sang a traditional Spanish Christmas carol while drumming a tribal beat on his drum.   Then, a brilliant idea hit him like a bolt from the blue.

‘I’ve always wondered about other dimensions.  I know they exist.  The archaic texts suggest them.   Many who traveled to these realms recorded what they saw, but I am still skeptical.’, he thought.   There was only one way to test his theory.   

Matteo drummed a rhythmic couplet followed by a clave syncopation.   He intonated a cantation that was in his ancient texts.  

‘I wonder if this spell will open a portal…’, he mused.   With a rattle of his drum tambourine, a vortex opened.  

‘Ay, mi !’, he exclaimed aloud, not really expecting his magic to work.   He wasn’t experienced like Elena was.    He couldn’t exactly hide it.   Summoning it had been more trouble than it was worth, but he would venture into it with Elena, Esteban, Isabelle and Naomi.  

Chapter 2--Just Jump In !

Matteo was a little agitated at first, secondly he was slightly freaked out.   He took a couple of deep breaths and managed to explain everything to Luisa and Francisco.   They were both impressed and slightly upset at what had happened.  

‘You did this without asking, but since you accomplished it, we advise you to go ahead and see what’s on the other side.   Can’t finish the experiment otherwise.’, Luisa said wisely.  

‘Just be careful.  You don’t know who...or what is in the other dimension.’, Francisco warned.

‘I am going with you !’, a rush of wings was heard.  It was Skylar, Elena’s favorite jaquin.   Elena had been traveling in style to see Sofia the First and had just arrived home in Avalor.   

‘Oh so now we have a jaquin joining the quest ?  How intriguing.’, Esteban said with a smirk.   Even though he was Elena’s elder, Esteban had the spirit of a child when it came to the unknown and adventures.    

Matteo took the honors of jumping into the swirling, oscillating, growing cosmos in front of him.  It was a kaleidoscope of color and glitter, turning clockwise and mesmerizing them all.

‘Geronimo !’, Elena yelled after her young friend, catapulting herself into the vortex.   Isabelle, her sister, followed bravely after. The last one standing was Skylar, who was having second thoughts about leaping into what seemed to be nothingness.  

‘It seems to be friendly and safe...so far.’, Esteban reported.   This did nothing to really assuage Skylar’s fears.  

‘It’s ok, Skylar.  I’m here.   I’ll help you get through this.’, Elena said.

‘Yes, we all will.   We’re all just a little frightened but we’re together, so none of us is alone in this journey.’, Isabelle stated, profoundly.  Skylar received a boost of confidence from his friends supporting him.   He leaned back on his haunches and leapt boldly forward, joining them.

Chapter 3--A Mexican Neighborhood

It was unlike Avalor but the most gorgeous thing they had ever laid eyes on.  The streets were covered in potted poinsettias.   Lights decorated the telephone poles and trees were dazzling with decorations.

‘My goodness, it’s beautiful !’, Isabelle said.

‘Some sort of magic is keeping these strings of stars illuminated.’, Esteban said.  

‘It could be some sort of energy.  I can feel it from these poles.  Be careful !’, Matteo said.   The rest of them knew not to get too close to the electrified trees simply because they were buzzing with immense power.   

Miguel was on his way from school.   Dante picked up speed and barrelled ahead of him toward a sausage cart.  

‘No, Dante !   Those aren’t for you !’, Miguel lamented.   This sort of thing happened almost every single day when Miguel took the same pathway home.  The butcher didn’t seem to mind though.  He loved animals.  

‘It’s ok, Miguel.   I have plenty to go around.’, Julio reassured, giving Dante the snack that he had hoped for.  A grateful Dante slobbered all over Julio and left Julio laughing.  

‘I’ll see you again tomorrow.  Be careful, the roads might be a little slick from the snowfall.’, Julio warned.    Miguel thanked him, whistled for a distracted Dante to join him and hurried home.   

Chapter 4--Not So Different

On the way back home, Dante ran into Skylar.  Dante had seen cats and chased them.  The last time he had seen a jaquin was in the Land of the Dead.   This one was much smaller but nonetheless impressive.  

‘No way.’, Miguel said, reaching out to touch Skylar.   Skylar felt himself soften with the gentle petting and scratching he was getting but he turned around to see who was doing it.  It wasn’t Elena.  He shrieked and scared himself, Dante, and Miguel.

‘Oh jeez, I’m really sorry.  You see, we’re not from your dimension.’, Skylar said and then covered his mouth with his paws.

‘That’s impossible.   Increible…’, Miguel commented.  He couldn’t fathom a jaquin speaking and knew it was a mystical, magical beast.   

‘Pretty kitty.’, Socorro said, distracted by Skylar’s multicolored feathers.  She had originally come home from Kindergarten straight to return home to Miguel.   She loved playing with her big brother but the jaquin had diverted her momentarily.  She was pretty articulate for her age and only becoming more so.   

The more exchanges that took place the more curious Miguel became.  Fairly soon he was being introduced to Naomi, Elena, Esteban, Isabelle and Matteo.  

‘Oh, you play an instrument too ?  Spiffy !’, Matteo complimented.

‘Could you give me a beat ?’, Miguel offered.    Matteo brightened.  A fellow musician wanted to ‘jam’ with him !  This was the opportunity of a lifetime.  Once they started playing and dancing together, the whole neighborhood came to watch.  The mariachis joined in, and a tiny fiesta formed.   They realized that even though their realms were unique in and of themselves they weren’t that different.   The Avalorians had learned about electricity, automobiles and other modern day marvels of technology.   

Chapter 5--Getting Late

Matteo felt lost without a sundial to tell the time but Miguel had a magical time-telling device called a watch.  

‘Oh no !  We’re going to be late for supper.   Epiphany is coming up and the whole kingdom will be together.  Sophia will probably come to visit too.  It’s been so long since we’ve seen her.’, Isabelle said.    With those words in mind, the newfound friends said their goodbyes but the Avalorians smelled outstanding food before they left.   Miguel’s family was cooking churros.  

‘Here, just take some for the road.  My grandmama made extra.  There’s plenty to go around.’, he said.  

‘Thanks for letting me play with you.  That was remarkable.’, Matteo complimented.  

‘Your spell really worked.  That’s so awesome.  Keep up the good work.’, Miguel said.  The two friends hugged and he added,

‘Come back anytime !’, before they all vanished into the portal.   

Epilogue

Matteo was still astonished at his own ability.   He knew that portals weren’t something to take lightly though.   The next time he would choose the place rather than it manifesting itself into their own plane.    Still, he learned quite a bit and Elena had some remarkable dishes thanks to Miguel’s mother.   The kid could really play guitar.   She could see him going far and bringing music to those who needed it most.   His darling sister, Socorro, had quite the musician in her as well, and it showed.   She loved being a back up singer or savoring a soulful duet.   

Elena kissed her little sister goodnight on the forehead.   Epiphany was approaching over the weekend and they had to prepare.   Isa wished her sister goodnight.    Elena was so proud of her in how brilliant she was and how she and Matteo fit in walking around that strange realm in what was known as Mexico.  She had been a fish out of water too, but she was ever the diplomat and hostess.  Yawning and stretching, she quickly bathed and put on her nightgown for the night.  Playing with Miguel would be something she’d never forget.   That memory would remain engrained in the fibers of her heart and in her mind forever.   She knew that even across distant multiverses, she had made a friend, and perhaps, one day, another portal could be opened and they would reunite.

The End