Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1

    It was a gilded coliseum where vivid moss replaced gold, where mountains molded the stones, where the only way out was you gripping it by the skin of your teeth and heaving. The sun beat down as if it were trying to smelt anything that caught its eye. Most called it Encanto, everyone called it home. Luisa called it hot.

    Luisa Madrigal was but one member of the Madrigal familia; every generation resided in the city of their design. It was nothing short of a miracle when Alma, the oldest member lost her beloved, and in grief armed with a single candle, encircled an expanse of jungle with great mountains. Low hanging clouds and shrubbery encapsulate the rolling ranges that surround. Fifty years later, they were a town that she governed with a critical eye and the Madrigals were the closest thing to royalty they had. Together with the miracle came the gifts. They could sway the skies, heal the harmed, tell the time ahead, flourish the flora, harken a far off way, fashion their facade, and converse with creatures big and small. Luisa was blessed with the heavy lifting. She was sturdily built and light on her feet, her sleeves puffed, ribbon dainty, and skirt convenient for work.

    She knocked back her coffee and went about her daily route to begin her chores; as soon as she crossed the town entryway, they started coming in. “Luisa! Can you move the church? They kids want more space to play..” “Uh Luisa, my house is tilted to the-” “Can you help build our new house?” There was no real question in their tone because they knew it would get done. Her affirmations of the job were really just formalities as they had already started walking off. Sure they could do it themselves taking a lot more work but it would be more convenient if she did. Wasn’t like she had a choice but Luisa was always happy to help, what was good for the community was good for her.

    Sweat rolled down her neck as she hoisted the last bamboo frame into place, glad the position didn’t need a swift fastening to keep it up. Joints now in place, she could say it was her best house start yet. She clipped her sigh of relief seeing a small group approaching. She grinned as she flexed and waved at passersby after subtly licking her chapped lips. If she got everything in, in the next thirty minutes, she could be done by lunch.

   On her way to pick up the bricks and paste for the foundation, she saw two kids drinking salpicón papaya sitting on their front steps and playing with trompos. Cecilia beat Juan in 2.5 seconds flat, his spinning top fell almost immediately while hers was still going. After all it was Saturday, they could spend the day playing. Upon spotting her, Cecilia’s dark toffee twin braids swung as she ran over and grabbed her hand.

“Hi Luisa!” She beamed while giving a gappy grin.

Juan causally leaned against her leg, ruffling the purple fabric, with a smug grin as he blurted “Cecilia wanted to ask you a question.”

Luisa’s kind eyes flicked between her two little friends. “What’s up?’ she asked the girl sunnily. She dug her fingers into the ends of a braid, separating the smooth chunk into sections. “How come you stopped playing with us?” She raised a questioning eyebrow as she tilted her head to the side.

She quickly scooped them up so they each sat on an arm and raised them so they'd be on somewhat of the same level. “Come on, you guys know I always get in a quick game with you on Saturday.” She replied as if they were being silly then gently put them down. She swiftly felt her skirt pockets (an upside of Mirabel being wicked with a needle) for her own smaller trompa but turns out it wasn't on her.

“When was the last time I defeated you guys?” Her voice trailed as she asked them, slightly confused.

“Four Saturdays ago.” Luisa couldn’t tell if it was Cecilia or Juan who said it because she couldn’t believe it's been that long. She felt herself start to sweat a bit more. She began to spout her alibis in rapid-fire succession . “You guys remembered when I put that cool bridge down, and saved all the corn from drowning when Tia Pepa got upset, and when Antonio’s jaguar spooked all of the donkeys…” she trailed off.

They looked at her as if they were expecting it. “See, I told you she would rather do chores.” Juan said cheekily while elbowing his friend. Cecilia looked at her for a beat before her face turned sympathetic.

“But aren't you tired?” Luisa wasn’t one to laugh obnoxiously but she let out a loud laugh accompanied by an “I never get tired.” As she said this she posed with a practiced poise as she kept her eyes closed to hide the twitch. If she wanted to get her chores done before sundown, she couldn’t stick around and play right now. Luisa started in a falsely serious tone “This Saturday, losers have to give the winner a piggyback ride. Deal?”

“Deal.” They agreed and shook on it. She then crossed her arms with a sly grin. The kids glanced at each other before they burst out laughing together. They offered her some of their fruity drink, she hadn't had anything to drink since breakfast so she took a small sip. She gave them both a quick hug that lifted them off their feet and went back on her way.

    She recognized the little hole-in-the-wall shop that her little sister gushes about for their colorful variety. She thought back to when Mirabel jumped in her face and shouted “Look!” When she first sewed the lime green circular design into her sleeve. She paced back and forth for a minute before deciding to go in, checking over her shoulder as she went. All of the dresses, skirts, and shirts they had were unique and splashed with asymmetrical colors and designs. The shaky old woman behind the counter raised from her seat and shuffled nearer, “Hola sweetie, what can I do for you?” She rubbed the back of her neck and replied “Just thought I’d look around.”

    Luisa trailed along the wall, noticing the unopened boxes stacked waist-high in the corner. In the section for smaller goods, she looked at the buttons and yarn, and ran her large hand over them as she scanned the selection. Her eyes landed on a little set with five buttons, a fair folded hank of yarn, and a magnificent butterfly hair clip all in a brilliant orange Mirabel would love. She scooped it up and brought it to the counter, “Wonderful choice, that’ll be ten- thousand pesos.” She reached into her right pocket and picked out a twenty-thousand peso note and handed it to her, “No change please.” She brought her feeble hands to one of hers and gave her a grateful smile “Gracias mija.” She slid the items in a small, tawny, jaw string bag.

    “Did you uh, do you need help with those boxes back there?” Luisa asked awkwardly while gesturing. The short woman sighed “I’m so embarrassed. I’m not as nimble as I used to be, my hands get tired easily with so much to fold for display. You don’t have to worry yourself, this old woman will be fine.” Her deep eyes held subtle sadness and she puffed a fading humorless laugh. The bag slipped into her pocket and in an instant she was at the packages. She kneeled down on both knees, sweeping the excess skirt behind her “Show me how to fold these?” “O-of course.” Her eyes were saucers.

    Step-by-step she taught her how to fold each of the articles in the boxes. Spindly fingers guided the strong hands clumsily making their way through, slowly picking up a rhythm. Casual small talk and occasional humming filled the air. Each completed batch was taken and set in its place, the extras were taken to the back until the displays were sold. Upon folding the last skirt, Senora Frida put her hand on her shoulder.

“Thank you so much, I don’t want you to be late for lunch.”

“OhmyGod.” She checked the clock on the wall and lo and behold it was five until one. She got up quickly and started rushing to the door. “Have a good day!”

“Wait!” Luisa froze before she made it out and turned around, the old lady beconned her closer so she leaned down. Very confused. She slipped a small white hair clip onto a tiny chunk of her hair, pinning it to the side.

“Just a token of my appreciation.”

Luisa blinked,“thanks.” before she was out the door, a small smile on her face. She bounded home, three feet at a time, causing people that dodged her to wobble a little as the ground slightly shook. She ran up the slight hill and took one breath to catch herself and casita opened the door for her when she’d had it.

    The rest of the family began to enjoy their Bandeja Paisa. Her parents and aunt smiled at her while her older sister Isabela gave her a brief glance before she continued eating and chatting with Abuela. Luisa retrieved the plate with the 2 extra eggs and bit of steak her mother set aside for her and joined the table. Antonio giggled when she pursed her lips while shooing a fuzzy coatis curled up in her chair. She ruffled his curls and disturbed his toucan sitting on his head.

“Hello Luisa, glad you could make it.” Abuela said dryly. Mirabel snorted a bit in her chair. “Sorry I lost track of time.” She sat straighter in her chair and stared at Luisa with a sigh. “How have your chores been going?” Luisa felt her stomach drop. Dolores’ green eyes met hers subtly. “Good Abuela.”

“Hm. You’d be finished if you didn’t play dress up.”

Luisa nodded while shoving her face in her glass of juice, suddenly thirsty. Her head felt light and she grounded herself, clasping her hands underneath the table. Isabel gracefully turned to Abuela and spoke up. “Abuela, would you like to see the gloxinia I made today?”

“Of course” She responded, giving her undivided attention. With a wave, she brandished a pale pink flower resembling a rose, the crimped petals erupted from the center and spilled over each other. Antonio sprung up to lean the table with both of his hands “Peep would love that!” He squealed excitedly. Pepa jumped, “Antonio” she scolded. He looked away with a small smile, “Sorry mama.”

“Excellent Isabela.” Abuela smiled fondly, returning back to conversations prior to her arrival. Isabella slyly mouthed “You’re welcome.”

She ate, passive, listening to everyone talk about events from this morning or later plans. Julieta passed her daughter the plate of mildly warm bunuelos dusted in sugar, she politely declined. She continued with her steak, egg, and beans, looking everywhere but at the sugary plate, disciplined. Abuela would be proud, she couldn’t let her down again.

    As soon as she was done, like lightning she was gone. Eyes fixed straight ahead, she arrived at the production site and started loading up the bricks, one after the other until they stopped just below her shoulder. With the tub of gray sludge resting on top she dusted her tan hands in powdery chalk and got moving. She shoved her hands between the small space before the ground and sucked in a massive breath, intensely gripping the wood and pulling her arms towards the sky. Once high enough, she popped it up to get her hands into place and held it above her head. Once in the air, it was smooth sailing.

    They gave her a wide berth as she marched to the empty frame. She sank down a bit and bent her arms, hunching her shoulders and scrunching her nose. With a jump it flew into the air and landed a good foot in front of her.

“Okay.” She gave her hands a clap and got to work. Like a machine she smeared the mortar and aligned the next brick with fervent efficiency. Her clothes clutched her under the sun’s hateful glare, her brown flyaways stuck to her head. The gritty schh of friction was constant disturbance in the otherwise occasionally still air. Each empty space except one right of center was filled halfway to leave the possibility of windows. It was circled thrice to check for any gaps, meticulously inspected to make sure it was perfect.

‘Done, onto the next.’

    Abuela Alma, took the head of the table. Her hair curved back and stiff with an icy white dribbling down over her graying hair. Her two eldest children sat at her sides followed by their husbands and children. Upon her speaking, the table sat at attention as she clasped her hands and started speaking, lips ever downturned. “I believe you all very well understand your duties, what have you done today? Pepa.” She raised her chin, “Mama the crops were all watered and the sky was clear.”

Next, “Julieta.”

She zoned out listening to them give the rundown, thinking about what she’d done today. She was back when she heard her name. Her mind reeled but she pulled it in and gave her report.

“Luisa.”

Her face remained constant as she listed off her activities. Brief in detail but rich in significance.

“Well, a bit later than usual but good work. ” Abuela gave her a fleeting smile.

Luisa felt the small scrapes on her hands and her shoulders un-knot as she ate her mother’s empanadas.

    When it was all said and done, twenty reps of ten crunches later she retired for the night. She slipped into her ruffled pink nightgown and released her tight bun; her wavy hair sprawled against her gray stone pillow. She thought about lunch, the look of disapproval was undeniably present under her Abuela’s smile. It was too much to bear, her heart wrenched knowing she was the cause.

She looked above at her inclined ceiling, the uneven yellow stars looked back.

She deserved her day off. Saturdays were supposed to be her days.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

     Her sinewy muscles contracted and relaxed as her body seesawed up and down, gaze closer and farther with each completed push up. Her breaths expertly paced and focused solely on her morning drill. “Two-hundred and one, two-hundred and two, two-hundred and three- ugh what Mirabel?'' Luisa drawled, seeing her sister’s too-close face come into view, her face reflecting off of her circular lenses.

“You know you’re my favorite sister ri~ght.” Mirabel all but sang, the corners of her mouth curling into a saccharine smile, laying across her sister’s back. 

She rolled her eyes “Uh-huh, what do you want?” She resumed her workout, starting back at two-hundred. 

“You know, I was thinking” she curled her hair around her finger, “that maybe you would want to tell your adorable sister..” 

“Mhm.” Mira scooted up and craned her neck to crowd Luisa’s field of vision.

“What you were doing at Su Amado Colores.” She continued in faux sadness, bottom lip stuck out. Puppy dog eyes at full force, batting her eyelashes, telepathically compelling her sister to spill the beans. No dice.    

“Forget it.” She replied without missing a beat. Mirabel dropped the face ”Well. I tried.” She rolled off of Luisa landing unceremoniously in a heap. She shifted onto her side and propped her head up on her hand. 

“What are you even doing anyway?” Mirabel questioned, boredom giving way. Luisa looked at her like she was dense, squinting.

”Duh, I'm exercising. Like I do every day.” She replied, wrinkling her nose, arms stilled and extended. Mirabel shrugged “Yeah but, can’t you like, do that whenever?” She halfheartedly gestured around the courtyard, “Don’t you have a life, friends, something?” She flopped onto her back, Luisa still paused, chuckled dryly “What? Pff me? I totally have friends to hang out with and stuff.” Miniscule beads of sweat started to form and she continued to laugh awkwardly, a constipated smile still there, eyes flicking around the area. Mirabel stared slack-jawed, “Are you serious?” 

She opened her mouth then closed it again. ”Yeah” she murmured, deflated, moving to a sitting position. “I mean, I do stuff with Cecilia and Juan…  and the donkeys.” 

“No no no no no no no, one- Camillo babysits her and two- she’s eight.” She got to her feet, Luisa chimed in “And a half.”  “Sis you have got to go make some real friends.” she paced, spinning back towards Luisa.

“But there's always so much to do and the village needs me-” she chattered but was interrupted by her sister’s finger to her mouth.

“They won’t die without you every second of every day.” 

“That’s not the point” she sighed, standing and opting to lean against the jasmine walls. Her thick brows knitted and her lips turned into a slight frown. 

“Uh-huh, how about this,” Mira’s eyes lit up and she bounced “Feria de las Flores- you bring a new friend or I will take it upon myself to find an old one from school.” while grasping her shoulders and shaking slightly, leaning on the balls of her feet to reach. Luisa’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head, her right eye twitching slightly. “No,” she said firmly, mouth in a straight line. 

No no no no -

Her arms clamped around her chest, the involuntary writhing muscles smothered into stillness. 

“Breakfast!” called their mother, her voice traveling from the kitchen. They started towards the kitchen. Luisa faced forward, taking purposeful strides as Mirabel jogged sideways next to her, not looking away from her face. “Oh no I’m not asking- you make a friend or it’s up to moi .” She cheekily wiggled her eyebrows. Eye contact was made. “Fine I’ll try- but no promises.” She yielded, once again, giving in. Mirabel pumped a fist into the air, not the original plan but t’was a success.

     Mirabel sped ahead and started laying out their painted ceramic plates, with sound waves encircling red flowers on one, and arrays of toucans, turtles, and geckos on another. Their names sprawled in elegant and curled cursive. Camillo was already waiting at the table, everyone else started filing in. Felix and Pepa went for their café, Dolores sat and gently tapped her fingers on the table. “Can you take that to the table mija?” Julieta asked. “Okay mamá.” Luisa went and grabbed a plate piled with crispy golden arepas de huevo and a steaming bowl of rice and beans from the counter. The bowl in the crook of her elbow and plate in her hand, the pitcher of orange juice in her other. Julietta smoothly wiped her hands on a rag hanging from her pocket and cupped Luisa’s cheek on the way to the table with a bowl in hand. “Thank you,” she said followed by a quick peck. 

     Abuela said a few words and everyone started making their plates. Mirabel’s mischievous smirk kept returning when she looked at her sister, on her right, Camillo side-eyed her while shoving half of an arepa in his mouth. “What?” he asked, a couple crumbs flying out of his mouth. “Nothing.” She shrugged casually. Mirabel interrupted the conversation by loudly starting “Tia, didn’t you say you needed to do a serious de-weeding in the garden?” Now only slightly annoyed by the interruption, her eyebrow raised in confusion. “Yes..” Mirabel tapped her chin with her pointer for a second and gasped. “What about this- how about we have Luisa pick Antonio up from school today?” 

     Luisa froze mid bite, cheek rounded. All eyes turned to her, Antonio looked back and forth, excitedly bouncing in his seat. Luisa swallowed the bite and started “Uh..sur-” ““That would be perfect!” Pepa beamed. Antonio fistbumped and smiled at his older cousin. Conversation soon started again. Stomach growing queasy, Luisa slowed her consumption and started spearing the beans on her fork. Mirabel was plotting something, she could feel it. Eventually everyone finished, Camillo grabbed the two uneaten egg arepas left on her plate as she started to clean up a bit before heading out.   

     Instead of reviewing the daily list of chores, her mind kept returning to the deal with Mira. She’d drop a donkey here, and say ‘okay’ without hearing what they said there. Kneeling in Señor Hernandez’s backyard, she pulled another gnawed  wooden board from between two posts and tossed it onto the firewood heap. The burros watched from their stable, they crowded around the opening, their heads peeking out to watch her. Grabbing a new one from the pile she lined it up, tongue sticking out in attempted concentration. Holding the board in place with her arm, she grabbed a nail from between her folded lips, placing it above the mark with one hand, hammer positioned in the other. One swift hit and it was cleared, she eyeballed it and gave it an extra hit just to be safe. Three acres later she was done, nails were counted and hammer returned. She nodded at her handiwork, it looked good as when she first put it in. She cranked the handle of the water pump, quickly rubbing off dirt and dust from the project. She waved her hands to shake some water off and went over to the donkeys. 

“This is between you and me,” she whispered to the group. She bent and stuck her hands into her pocket and pulled out beetroot scraps, stalks with pieces of beet and leaves still attached. “Okay one at a time.” She pet some of their heads and watched as they munched, a small smile playing on her lips. “You tell no one about this.” and with that she turned around and shouted to let Mr.H know she was done. Closing the gate, she left down the street, kicking pebbles out of her path, sending some a few yards out. 

How am I going to pull this off? 

     While looking for ways to satisfy Mira and get out of this agreement, she kept drawing blanks. The hustle and bustle in town became white noise as she passed her house to change course. Her mind was so loud she almost didn’t hear the bell tower ring for noon. She picked up her pace, it would take twenty minutes to get there and the youngest Madrigal gets out at twelve thirty. The orange cobblestone road narrowed out and she neared the clearing surrounding the school buildings. Each step nearer, the lead in her feet became heavier and heavier. She kept reminding herself that school was just school. Just regular school. The feeling of dread setting in became more intense the closer she got, thankful that the elementary building was closest.

     Six feet from the door, she stopped and shouted “Antonio!” Upon hearing her voice, a familiar curly head popped out of the doorframe and waved, then another, and a few more before a surge of kids spilled out. Twelve first graders surrounded and started to climb all over her, onto her back and arms, and clung onto her legs. She raised the arms at her sides and tried to ignore the humor in the situation. 

“Hey Luisa lets go.” Antonio said giggling at his friend’s antics. “Nooo” whined the children. Sad to see the visit was cut so short. “Okay, okay guys we have to get home,” she said looking at each of them. They lowered themselves to the ground, disappointed. She grinned and ruffled one’s head, who perked up while heading back into the classroom. She took Antonio’s small leather bookbag and managed to slip a strap onto one of her arms. Antonio was lifted to ride on her shoulders as they heeded back to Casita. His hands rested on her bun and Pico who had flown out to greet them perched in Antonio’s mane. “It’s so high up here,” Antonio said looking down as they walked through town. Luisa shook her head and laughed at her cousin’s amusement. She suddenly stopped and  turned right, taking off in a sprint, veering off of the straight shot home. “Where are you going?” Antonio asked as he bobbed up and down at the sudden movements, tilting his head to the side. 

“I forgot Abuela had said there were some rocks that needed to be cleared, it’s not too far from here Ant.” He shrugged as she continued down the road, slightly less populated than the main street. Neither were frequent visitors of this particular area so they both looked around a bit as they went. “There it is!” Antonio pointed up ahead where the road curved with grass on either side sat a pile of flat, jagged, rust colored boulders. Each about the same height as Antonio. “Hm, they must’ve fell.” She said lowly, looking at the edge of the nearby mount. After placing Antonio down as she began moving them to either side of the path. “Yeah, you wanna go look around?” Antonio asked Pico as he watched for a bit before slowly inching away, wandering over to the buildings lining the street. Luisa was done in four minutes but looked up and saw a blinking outline where her little cousin should be. 

     She stood straight as her eyes rapidly scanned the area, only to find him standing on an abandoned crate, looking into the window of a shop. “That was so uncool,” she said down to him as she joined him, he looked up at her eyes bright. “Can we go in! Pleeease?” He asked, hands clasped in front of him. The toucan on his head leaned down and peered up at her seemingly begging as well. She sighed for a moment “Okay fine,” she agreed, they could spare five minutes if she ran back. “C’mon,” she said as she walked over and held open the door for him.

     The aromatic warm and earthy scent of wood entered their noses as they entered the shop. Birdhouse hung from the rafters of the flat, umber ceiling. Entwined and swirling intricately carved chairs lined the far wall, breaking in the center to accommodate a door. In front of them were two tables, the left covered in an array of tools, jars of liquid and powdery wax, and curled wood shavings. The other held picture frames and candle holders. The two walls on either side were lined with shelves holding sets of plates and bowls. A strategically placed stand of toys stood in front of the right window. Antonio ran his hand along a toy train before investigating more of the items in the store.

“Luisa look! It looks just like Piko!” Exclaimed Antonio, pointing to an idle toucan among the animals. Luisa walked deeper into the store, abandoning the toys. The bird in question flew from his perch and landed next to it, copying it’s pose. She examined the carving and noted the black along the back and bare chest and beak. “Yeah, the only thing missing is the color,” she said, leaning in to admire the ridges of the feathers. 

“We can paint it, you know.” An unknown voice vocalized causing Luisa to look up to find the source.