*Clang, clang, clang*

[El Mariachi Muerte runs a metallic prison feed-cup along the bars of his cage, catching the cadence of clanging metal on metal.]

I never had it all.

But I always had enough. I was never… nothing.

I was always part of a greater song, a mantle thrust upon me because I was worthy. I played my part note for note. The beauty was always in fighting for something bigger than one’s self.

[His eyes well with tears, fuelled by passion as he laments.]

One minute I held the key, next the walls were closed on me. I discovered that my castles stand upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand.

[Muerte turns, locking eyes with El Dragon Caido. His gaze narrows, glaring.]

Not like you. You were everything.

Architect, creator… El Mariachi Grande. You are used to being everything.

You have it all, you are all. And you expect nothing less than the nobodies like me to bow down and worship your greatness.

[Muerte stands taller]

It must really piss you off, El Jefe, how unwilling I am to kneel. Yet all I ever wanted was to stand as equals with you.

[He laughs, a scoff.]

But now… we must do exactly that if we’re going to survive this war. The irony is you need to stand alongside a nothing to survive.

You need me.

[Muerte glares to where Nero and Ezekiel Graves both hover.]

You two know what it is like to have everything and lose it all.

El Pastor Graves, like Caido, are used to being everything. The mouthpiece of your god. You had everything in the adoration of your congregation. They worshipped you more than your god, and you expect them to eat out of the palm of your hand.

Only, they don’t anymore… do they, El Pastor?

Your steeple has crumbled to dust before you. You preach about sacrifice, but never for yourself. Always words intended for others.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Locked alongside the likes of me, as equals.

To you, I’m nothing… but you’re right here with me.

[He laughs, attention swinging to Nero, his fist clenched tightly]

And you, Nero.

Like me, you never had it all, but you had enough. A loving family. A wife. A son.

But where I had my life ripped from me, you squandered yours.

[Muerte opens his hand, palm up to reveal nothing within.]

You abandoned them.

You gave up your everything in your blind vengeance and made yourself nothing in the process.

[EMM slams his fist into the cage wall, exhaling loudly.]

In here, we’re all nothing. There is no fanfare, no adoring congregation to fuel our ego. There is just violence and bloodshed before us.

And I have nothing to lose, but everything to prove.

[He turns back to Graves and Nero.]

Neither of you two are everything you think you are.

I will prove to you, to Arcadia… that I may not be everything, maybe I never was, but I’m not nothing.

For none of you are willing to give up everything for a chance at being merely …something … again.