"be our guest" is one of my favorite songs in the film, so i just couldn't pass up the opportunity of adding it into the fic! though, of course, the wording is a little different – it's the english translation of the mexican-spanish dubbed version; with minor accommodations (and some lyrics from the original are kept, since the spanish translation changed a lot and sometimes it doesn't fit into this fic's context), obviously. it's not my best work – especially since i got exhausted and slightlylazy near the end – but i honestly put a bit too much time into it so my stubborn side is proud of it regardless. :P
anyway, enjoy i guess! the next chapter's gonna be better though, i promise.
Sixto, Urtzi, Coletta and Alípio gathered around near the fireplace in the dining room. Their bodies shimmered brightly, causing them all to whimper in pain.
"Another petal fell," Coletta remarked, shuddering.
"Maestro's shimmering is getting worse and worse," Alípio sighed.
"Won't be long now until he's truly forgotten," Urtzi said bitterly. "Soon, we'll be in the Land of the Forgotten – rotting there, for all eternity…"
"Calm down," Sixto tried to soothe his siblings. "There's still some time left. We'll all be having our days in the sun again, soon."
"You think so?" Alípio asked, turning to his older littermate.
"I know so."
If there was one thing that Ernesto was right about, it was that Victoria couldn't stay in her room all night. That, she admitted, was true. Growing up, her parents and grandparents stressed that she eat every meal each day, as skipping a meal would only backfire and lead to starvation – and while she was dead now, she couldn't bring herself to ignore one of the rules she grew up with.
So she quietly opened the door to her room and stepped out, trying to be as quiet as possible while she went down the halls. She had heard what Ernesto said, and knew very well that if she were caught, then she wouldn't be having any dinner that night.
She went downstairs, towards what appeared to be the dining room. She entered the room, causing the alebrijes to turn to her.
"She's here!" Alípio yipped happily.
"I know he said 'if she doesn't eat with me, she doesn't eat at all'," Victoria began, feeling a little embarrassed to be talking to a bunch of Chihuahuas, "but… I was wondering if there was at least a bit of dinner left."
"A second ago, she was refusing dinner – now, she's hungry," Urtzi grumbled, before Coletta pushed him with her paw.
"A bit left?" Sixto laughed. "Why, we have the whole banquet!" Then, he led her to the dining table. "Right this way, Señorita!"
"Gracias, err…" Victoria trailed off for a moment as she looked down at the Chihuahua.
"Sixto," he answered, then gestured to his littermate. "And that's Urtzi. You've already met Coletta and Alípio, sí?"
"Sí, I have." She nodded as she sat at the end of the long dining table.
"But you know what Maestro said—" Urtzi tried to object to his siblings feeding the guest, but he was interrupted.
"—eso es una tontería!" Coletta interrupted him. "We can't just let her go hungry!"
Urtzi frowned. "Fine, but keep it quiet," he reluctantly relented. "If Maestro finds out that we violated his order, we're kibble."
"Sí, sí," Sixto agreed. "But it has been so many years since we've performed – it's only logical that there is some music to go along with dinner."
"MUSIC?!" Urtzi exclaimed in horror, as his other siblings ran past him.
"Señorita," Sixto began as he got on top of the other end of the long table. "It gives us great pleasure to be serving and entertaining you tonight. All that we ask is that you relax as we present to you… your dinner."
Victoria eased back into her chair a little. She had to admit that this place was ratherluxurious, even if its owner was crude.
Much to her shock, the Chihuahua alebrije began to sing.
"Be our guest,
be our guest.
Come and try the service.
Tie a napkin around your neck, Señorita, and we'll provide the rest."
Victoria grabbed a napkin from nearby, placing it on her lap as she waited for her meal to arrive.
And it did – plates of chicken fajitas, shrimp enchiladas, corn salad, empanadas, a bowl of soup and other goods were passed down to her. She tasted each one, savoring each flavor.
"Chicken fajitas, hot enchiladas – oh, we live to serve!
Try the tamales – they're wonderful."
She took a bite out of one of the tamales, its taste reminding her of how much her younger sister loved to bake the treat.
"Don't believe me? Ask my siblings!"
A light flashed, as a screen on the dining room's wall turned on. Victoria watched as four black Chihuahuas with white undercoats began performing tricks – most of which were like the typical circus act, while others were unique; such as them howling along to the sound of a mariachi's trumpet playing.
"We can sing,
we can dance!
After all, this is Mexico!
But food comes first, as you've seen."
Sixto carried a menu in his mouth as he ran over to her, placing it down in front of her. She picked it up and began to read it.
"Look at your menu,
and choose your buffet.
Be our guest, be our guest, be our guest!"
The kitchen doors swung open, as more dishes were passed down – this time, it was the desserts.
"Rice pudding, pan dulce – marzipan and nicuatole!
Prepared and served with a touch of gourmet!
Forget your restlessness.
The banquet is about to begin.
There's no sadness or protest
when there's a feast going on here!"
Sixto and Alípio began to perform tricks, flipping around as they tried entertaining their guest. Thankfully, it seemed to be working, as Victoria was smiling widely.
"There will be one of a kind tricks and a thousand jokes to tell!
Everything is at its peak, I can assure it!
And we'll make a toast,
it won't cost you a thing.
And ask us, if you're tensed.
Eating well is the solution;
be our guest, be our guest, be our guest!"
Alípio stepped back as a spotlight focused on both Sixto and Urtzi, as the former began to indulge in a melodramatic histrionic.
"No one resigns
to this life so unworthy,
of the spirit who has no one to guide.
Oh, our good old triumphal days…"
"Eh, Urtzi?" Sixto nudged his brother a little, while the other Chihuahua rolled his beady eyes as sugar began to fall down upon them, much like snow.
"They're long gone, and there's nothing to live for.
For seventy-five years, we've been wasting away,
rotting as we're forgotten,
powerless to do our work!"
As she was about to take another piece of food, Victoria stopped as she heard the alebrije utter "seventy-five years." So, they had been in the Land of the Intermediate for a century? It astounded her.
"Like shadows, we roamed the castle…
We used to be so lonely,
until you brought the joy back!"
Sixto then moved aside as Coletta hopped onto the table.
"It's a guest, it's a guest!
We're truly blessed!
There's good wine on the table,
placed with great distinction.
With dessert, there'll be tea,
which I'll gladly serve.
While the teacups are marching,
the tea is bubbling – it is brewing…"
A tea trolley soon arrived with desserts, teacups and napkins. Out of the corner of her eye, Coletta noticed a smudge on one of the cups. "Ay dios mio! Is that a spot?"
She hopped onto the trolley, grabbing a napkin in her teeth, quickly wiping off the spot before getting back to the table. If the company was to be impressed, then there needed to be a little cleanup, after all.
"We've got a lot to do.
Is it one lump or two?
For you, our guest!"
"She's our guest!" the others – even Urtzi, who had begun to cheer up a bit – chorused, as the teacup was passed down to Victoria, who put a lump on sugar in it.
Then, all of the Chihuahua alebrijes began to stand on their hind legs as they performed various tricks for their guest – mostly somersaults and dancing as they sung.
"Be our guest, be our guest!
Ask us and we'll attend to you.
It's been years since anyone has come here,
and no one else will come
Comforting you is our purpose.
And as long as the candles are lit,
we'll continue cooking…
Plate by plate, we will come
until we can't anymore.
We'll sing so that you may rest!
Enjoy the great feast,
from beginning to end,
and be our guest, be our guest!
Be our guest – please, be our guest!"
Once the song was over, the alebrijes stopped performing and cleared the table.
Victoria stood up from her seat, clapping. She was amazed by the show, as she'd never been this entertained in her entire life – not even the mariachi plaza near her home in Santa Cecilia was this lively. "Bravo! Qué increíble actuación!"
"Gracias, Señorita," Urtzi thanked her. He looked at the clock, then back at her. "Oh, would you look at the time! Now, it's off to bed with you."
But Victoria wouldn't budge, as she was not tired – but rather, curious. There were so many mysterious things about the mansion – she wanted to learn more; explore and see more of it. There had to be more, than what De la Cruz had 'showed' her – she just knew it. "I can't go to bed now," she protested softly, shaking her head. "I want to see more of this enchanted mansion."
"Enchanted? Who said there was any magic involved?" Urtzi laughed nervously, before his eyes fell upon Coletta. He glared at his sister, growling, "It was you, wasn't it?"
"The fact that you all are talking alebrijes was the first hint, actually," Victoria spoke up, causing the Chihuahuas to turn to her. "Perhaps, one of you would like to give me a tour?" she questioned, smiling slyly. "Since you've all been here for many years, you surely must know everything there is to know about this place."
"Well – yes," Urtzi answered slowly, looking as his siblings, then back at the woman. "We do, actually."
