DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but some of the plot and my ocs.
Leo and Layla wished that the family would say anything, anything at all. That they hated them, to leave the village, that they were monsters. It was nothing they hadn't heard of before, nothing they weren't used to, for wherever either de León twins tread, total annihilation and destruction followed.
Instead, there was silence, with tension so thick, Leo doubted his finely-crafted and very menacing-looking obsidian blade would even be able to slice it.
And so it went on. Nobody cried. Not a sound was made and neither was eye-contact.
That was, until someone finally said something. It wasn't Pepa hurling lightning at them, but when the person spoke to them in such a confused and hurt voice, they wished for the former instead.
"Why would you wanna do this?" Antonio asked quietly. "Why would anyone wanna do this? To anybody?"
Neither twin spoke for a while, trying to gather their discombobulated emotions to tie them up and store it away, for what else were unwilling teenage mercenaries to do when caught in the act? Emotions were only another problem, but they could avoid it, if they tried hard enough.
"Funny," Layla said, pride evident in the fact that her voice didn't wobble, not even a bit.
Of course, the Madrigals took hose two down a completely different route.
"Funny? Funny?!" Camilo had finally had enough. He'd really liked this girl. She seemed so mysterious, but in a good way. Guess he had to find out the hard way that a mysterious girl was more likely going to be mysterious in a bad way. "How could you say that?"
Layla looked down, unable to look him in the eye. which gave Camilo a sliver of satisfaction. That small satisfaction faded fastidiously when he saw that she wasn't stunned speechless as he'd hoped she'd be.
"You didn't let me finish," she said calmly. "Everyone has been shouting at us, demanded how we were capable of such..." she struggled for an appropriate word.
"I think the word you're looking for is ruthlessness, hermana," Leo supplied helpfully, leaning back comfortably in his chair, much to the distance of the other Madrigals, who were appalled at his total lack of remorse for what he was speaking of.
Layla nodded. "Yes. Thank you, hermano." She turned nonchalantly back to a furious Camilo, forcing herself to look straight into his eyes as she delivered her next sentence. "Everybody demands how we are capable of such ruthlessness yet only Antonio has asked the really question: Why would we do this? What is our motive?"
"Well what is it, then?!" Pepa roared, thunderclouds covering everyone's heads. From the pinched look on her face, it was taking every fiber of willpower in her being to restrain the rain that fought to fall. "Why do you want to do this? What is your motive?"
"We don't want to," Leo replied, stoic as ever. "We never have and we never will. We have no reason to do this...but that doesn't mean we couldn't be forced into this."
He said it so plainly, they assumed he was just being theatrical. But Pedro didn't. Some things still didn't make sense. "What do you mean by 'forced'?"
"Exactly what it sounds like," Leo deadpanned. He inhale deeply through his nose before charging forwarding with, "You people have nothing to hold you back from making a choice of what you want to do with life." Then, his expression turned slightly apologetic, inclining his head towards the Madrigal grandkids. "Or, at least, it seemed as such to me, at least. I apologize for that."
The Madrigals were not swayed. Not yet.
"Why didn't you just resist?" Luisa inquired, but with noticeably less anger. "If he is your grandfather—?"
"You think it's that easy?" Layla snapped, standing up. "You really think he'll let us just leave with the knowledge that we have? Because he won't. My brother and I, were in this for life, but not because we chose it."
"What would he do to you if you did try and leave?" Mirabel asked, hoping the girl wasn't hinting at what she thought she was.
"He'd kill us," Layla whispered with no emotion. Leo just nodded, as if it all made perfect sense to him. "And now...you all know."
"Well, they don't know the whole thing," Casita supplied suddenly, making a couple people jump from the quick change in atmosphere. "But this is enough for now! Time to resume the film!"
Even after they reappeared in the theater, the tension was still there. They still appeared back in their seats. The twins weren't sure if the Madrigals wanted to be sitting so close to them, but they didn't have a choice as the movie resumed.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(MIRABEL GRUNTS)
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)
(MIRABEL GASPS SOFTLY)
ABUELA: Ay, Pedro.I need you. Cracks in our casita. If our family knew how vulnerable we truly are...If our miracle is dying...We cannot lose our home again. (SIGHS) Why is this happening? Open my eyes. If the answer is here, help me find it. Help me protect our family. Help me save our miracle.
"Mama..." Julietta felt like crying. "Why didn't you tell us you were worried?"
"I did not want to worry anyone."
"Well, we're worrying now," Camilo muttered.
MIRABEL: I will save the miracle.
(UPLIFTING MUSIC PLAYS)
MIRABEL: Wait. How do I save a miracle?
"Make another one happen?"
"Like what?"
"Become friends with Isabela maybe?" Leo suggested, feeling hopeful if Mirabel was still talking to him.
"That's wishful thinking," Mirabel whispered, rolling her eyes. "And never going to happen. She hates me."
(CREAKS)
MIRABEL: I figure out what's happening to the miracle. Oh I have no idea. But there is one person in this family who hears everything about everything. So, if anyone would know what's wrong with the magic...
"Bet you it's Dolores," Antonio declared.
AGUSTIN: Hey!
MIRABEL: ...it's her.
"I KNEW IT!"
"Nobody said otherwise, primo," Mirabel said, ruffling his hair.
MIRABEL: Dolores, hey. You know, out of all my older cousins, you're, like, my favorite cousin, so I feel like I can talk to you about anything, ergo you can talk to me about anything. Like the problem with the magic last night that no one seemed to worry about, but maybe you heard about that maybe I should know about.
"Why do I feel like this isn't...Camilo, are you pretending to be Dolores so you can have seconds again?!"
Camilo froze, chuckling awkwardly. "Uhhh...no?"
Layla lips twitched.
FELIX: Camilo, stop pretending you're Dolores so you can have seconds.
"Camilo!"
"...Worth a shot..."
CAMILO: Worth a shot. Ah! (GRUNTS)
"Hey, that's what he just said!" Antonio giggled at the screen as Camilo was smacked by Casita.
"No fair, Casita," Camilo muttered.
MIRABEL: (GROANS)
DOLORES: The only one worried about the magic is you and the rats talking in the walls. Oh, and Luisa, I heard her eye twitching all night. (SQUEAKS)
"Snitch!"
LUISA: There we go.
ABUELA: Everyone, to the table! Let's go, let's go.
MIRABEL: Luisa!
ABUELA: Family. We are all thankful for Antonio's wonderful new (GRUNTS) Gift.
ANTONIO: I told them to warm up your seat.
"That was kind of you, Toñito, but maybe give Abuela a warning beforehand?" Dolores suggested kindly.
Antonio nodded sheepishly. "Okay."
ABUELA: Thank you, Toñito. I'm sure today we'll find a way to put your blessings to good use.
MIRABEL: (SOFTLY) Luisa, Dolores says you're totally freaking out. Any chance you maybe know something about last night with the magic...(GASPS) You do!
"I'm probably not going to say a thing, Mira," Luisa said softly. "Sorry, but I won't be much help."
"Oh, I think I'll get you to spill something."
ABUELA: Mirabel! If you can't pay attention, I will help you.
"You didn't have to sound so harsh on her," Pedro murmured disapprovingly.
Bruno scoffed. "She never spoke to me any differently than that way after I got my Gift, if you can even call it that."
"It is," Layla insisted. "You just haven't been focusing on the good it can do."
"The good part is non-existent, kid," Bruno sighed. Layla pursed her lips, but stayed quiet, making peace with the fact that at least one Madrigal was being neutral towards her.
MIRABEL: Oh, actually...
ABUELA: Casita!
MIRABEL: (GRUNTING)
ABUELA: As I was saying, we must never take our miracle for granted, so today we will work twice as hard.
MIRABEL: Mm-hmm. I will help Luisa.
ABUELA: Stop.
MIRABEL: (GRUNTING)
ABUELA: First an announcement.
"The tone just did a 180," Leo muttered to his sister, who just nodded in disappointment.
ABUELA: I've spoken to the Guzmáns about Mariano's proposal to Isabela. Dolores do we have a date?
DOLORES: Tonight. He wants five babies.
Mariano and Isabela blushed, but for different reasons. She really didn't want to marry this man, much less have five babies with him! Isabela hoped the film stayed focused in Mirabel so that her fears and secrets wouldn't be revealed because the last thing Abuela needed to know was how much Isabela hated being perfect.
(ISABELA GULPS)
ABUELA: Wonderful! Such a fine young man with our perfect Isabela will bring a new generation of magical blessings and make both of our families stronger.
CAMILO: (MAKES KISSING SOUNDS)
Layla smirked, but it dropped quickly when she remembered that Camilo was still upset with her and Leo.
ABUELA: Okay. Our community is counting on us. La Familia Madrigal!
ALL: La Familia Madrigal!
MIRABEL: La Familia Madrigal! Luisa, hey. What? (GRUNTS) Sorry.
ISABELA: What is your problem?
Isabela cringed. "That...was not my best moment."
"Gee, you think?" Mirabel scoffed scornfully.
MIRABEL: Hey! Luisa, hold up!
(LUISA GRUNTS)
(BELLS RINGING)
SEÑORA OZMA: Luisa, can you re-route the river?
LUISA: Will do.
VILLAGER: Luisa the donkeys got out again.
LUISA: On it.
(GRUNTS)
MIRABEL: Luisa! (YELPS) Wait a second! (GROANS)
"Be a little more careful, Mira," Julietta tutted in concern.
"I'll try, Mama," Mirabel replied with an awkward smile, though Leo thought it was cute.
MIRABEL: You gotta tell me about the magic. What's going on? What are you hiding?
LUISA: Nothing Just got a lot of chores, so maybe you should just go home or find those twins.
"I wonder where we are during this," Layla whispered to Leo.
"As long as it's not with them, I don't care," he responded seriously.
MAN: Luisa my house is leaning to the—Oh!
MIRABEL: Dolores said your eye was twitching, and it never twitches. Something's making you nervous.
LUISA: Hey move. You're gonna make me drop a donkey.
MIRABEL: Luisa, will you just... (SCOFFS) Just tell me what it is.
LUISA: There's nothing to tell.
MIRABEL: You're obviously worried about something. Luisa, if you know what's hurting the magic and it gets worse, 'cause you won't tell me what's wrong...
LUISA: (LOUDLY) Nothing's wrong!
"Clearly," Camilo said sarcastically, but worry showed. Julietta and Agustín shared a look of parental concern.
LUISA: Wow, uh, sorry. That...that snuck out there. What I meant was, um...why would anything be wrong? I'm totally fine. The magic's fine. Luisa's fine. I'm totally not nervous.
"Your eye's—" Dolores tried to say.
"I KNOW!" Luisa snapped. Then she sighed. "Sorry."
MIRABEL: Your eye is doing the thing...
LUISA: I'm the strong one
I'm not nervous
I'm as tough as the crust of the Earth is
"Yay! Another song!"
"Not not a happy one," Layla whispered.
MIRABEL: Okay?
LUISA: I move mountains
I move churches
And I glow 'cause I know what my worth is
MIRABEL: Of course, I mean...hey, where are you going?
"Am I really that scary?" Luisa asked, feeling worse about herself.
"Whaaaaaaaat?" Mirabel waved her hand dismissively, as if waving away the thought. One look from Luisa's face, thought, had her confessing: "I mean, kinda. Only when you seem angry."
LUISA: I don't ask how hard the work is
Got a rough, indestructible surface
"Impressive, Mija," Julietta praised.
Luisa glowed with a nervous smile.
LUISA: Diamonds and platinum
I find 'em, I flatten 'em
I take what I'm handed I break what's demanded
"Okay, I see why you seem afraid," Luisa admitted quietly.
"Hey, it's fine," Mirabel assured her. "I know you'd never hurt me. None of you guys would."
"But we already have," Luisa whispered. Mirabel couldn't think of what to say to that.
LUISA: But under the surface
I feel berserk as a tightrope walker in a three-ring circus
Under the surface
Was Hercules ever like, "Yo, I don't wanna fight Cerberus"?
MIRABEL: (SCREAMS, WHIMPERS)
"Apt reaction, all things considered," Dolores said, pretty shook herself.
LUISA: Under the surface
I'm pretty sure I'm worthless if I can't be of service
"YOU AREN'T WORTHLESS!" Luisa's cousins and siblings shouted, dog-piling her.
Luisa sniffed, not feeling any pain from all the bodies piled upon her own because of her super-strength. "Thanks."
"ANYTIME!" they all screamed back. Honestly, it seemed like they wanted an excuse to be loud.
LUISA: A flaw or a crack, the straw in the stack that breaks the camel's back
What breaks the camel's back?
It's pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop
Whoa
"So! Many! Donkeys!" Antonio whispered loudly. Pepa and Félix smiled—their son had always been an animal-fanatic so his Gift was no big surprise.
LUISA: Pressure that'll tip, tip, tip till you just go pop
Whoa
Give it to your sister, your sister's older
Give her all the heavy things we can't shoulder
Who am I if I can't run with the ball?
"Still Luisa," Julietta and Agustín assured.
"The same one we are all proud of," Pedro added. "I have only just met you, but all my children and grandchildren are incredible and would we even without a Gift."
LUISA: If I fall to pressure like a grip, grip, grip and it won't let go
Whoa
Pressure like a tick, tick, tick till it's ready to blow
Whoa
Give it to your sister, your sister's stronger
See if she can hang on a little longer
"OH, DEAR!" Julietta screamed.
Agustín did his best to calm her by reminding her that none of this was real and the song was taking metaphors literally.
Eventually, she did, but not before dragging her husband to join her daughters, niece, and nephews in the hug.
LUISA: Who am I if I can't carry it all?
If I falter
People gasped, but Luisa reminded them it wasn't really happening. The adults calmed down faster than the kids.
LUISA: Under the surface
I hide my nerves and it worsens
I worry something is gonna hurt us
Pedro and Alma joined the group hug with the babbling triplets. SOmehow, the craziness of it distracted Luisa from the worst of it.
LUISA: Under the surface
The ship doesn't swerve
Has it heard how big the iceberg is?
"Luisa, can the donkeys really play instruments?" Antonio asked cutely.
"I mean, I don't think so..." Seeing the crestfallen expression of her youngest cousin, Luisa hastily added, "But if someone taught them, they probably could!"
"Then I'll teach 'em!"
"Uh...okay, kid. Good luck."
LUISA: Under the surface
I think about my purpose, can I somehow preserve this?
Layla noted how Luisa noticed the little things, like how Mirabel's glasses were crooked and fixed them. Maybe there were some things Luisa hadn't paid attention to, like the lack of recognition Mirabel got, but she was trying. That was more than what could be said for Isabela's behavior towards Mirabel.
Then she forgot what deep thing she was thinking about after seeing Camilo make a funny face to Antonio, who was in front of her. Layla pretended that he was doing it to her, forcing herself to forget that he wasn't currently on speaking terms with her.
Sometimes living a lie was easier than living a truth just because the truth hurt and nobody liked being hurt.
LUISA: Line up the dominos, a light wind blows
You try to stop it topplin' but on and on it goes
But wait
"You like pink?" Camilo inquired with a little surprise.
Luisa looked ashamed. "Yeah. It's...my favorite color."
"Well then, now I know what color to wrap your next cumpleaños present in," Camilo said, flashing her an easy-going smirk.
Luisa sighed in relief, grateful that he wasn't going to tease her for liking something so feminine. Most people wouldn't associate such a soft color with someone as tough and strong as her, but Luisa really liked the light pink color.
LUISA: If I could shake the crushing weight of expectations
Would that free some room up for joy or relaxation?
Or a simple pleasure?
The theater room burst out laughing at the glittery pink unicorn donkeys. Camilo was laughing the loudest and the only one not smiling was Abuela and the twins, but for very different reasons.
Abuela's eyebrows kept furrowing deeper and deeper as the song continued, her mind twisting and turning at the things her grandchild thought but never said. Most of it was unnecessary—nothing would attack the village. The twins had been apprehended and as soon as the blasted film came to an end, the first thing Abuela was going to do was kick them out of the village.
Leo and Layla were having a whispered discussion of what they had to do when the rest of their secret was out. Knowing the Casita well enough by now, they knew that Casita must've known the other thing the twins were hiding.
LUISA: Instead we measure this growing pressure
Keeps growing, keep going
'Cause all we know is
Pressure like a drip drip, drip that'll never stop
Whoa
The dark red color change on the screen seemed to reflect on the mood of the people in the room. Indeed, many people were pale at how helpless Luisa looked because of her strenuous effort to carry so much weight.
They truly could not imagine the half of it.
LUISA: Pressure that'll tip, tip, tip till you just go pop
Whoa
Give it to your sister it doesn't hurt
And see if she can handle every family burden
Watch as she buckles and bends but never breaks
Screams echoed as Luisa seemed to be crushed under the weight of the rocks. Maybe some understandable words might have been exchanged had it not been for the fact that everybody except the twins seemed to be shocked senseless.
The twins were frozen in their seats, their expressions grim as they looked at everything but the Madrigals huddled together. Leo and Layla had seen far worse physical and mental damage happen, Exhibit A being themselves.
LUISA: No mistakes!
The villagers breathed a sigh of relief in unison.
LUISA: Just pressure like a grip, grip, grip and it won't let go
Whoa
The mood softened to something more light-hearted as the donkeys came back in. The baby triplets seemed to be enjoying them as much as Antonio.
LUISA: Pressure like a tick, tick, tick till it's ready to blow
Whoa
Camilo bopped his head to the beat. "Nice dancing, prima!"
"Guess that's the one thing we've all got in common," Mirabel said with a wink.
It was supposed to be something positive, but the more Camilo thought on it, the less happy it became as it she'd the true meaning of itself: all of us are so different, it's miracle we can live under the same roof without it collapsing on us.
If only he knew...
LUISA: Give it to your sister and never wonder
If the same pressure would have pulled you under
Who am I if I don't have what it takes?
No cracks, no breaks
No mistakes, no pressure
(PANTING)
"Luisa we need to talk about carrying less and letting yourself relax," Julietta said sternly.
Luisa nodded slowly.
Julietta sighed, running a hand through her graying hair hair. "We need to learn to communicate."
"Why do you think I did this?" Casita's voice piped in startlingly.
(SIGHS)
MIRABEL: I think you're carrying way too much... (GRUNTS)
"Sorry," Luisa apologized sheepishly. "I forget my own strength sometimes."
LUISA: Maybe I overdo it.
MIRABEL: Yep.
LUISA: Um... There is something you should know. Last night, when you saw the cracks, I felt weak.
"What?" Luisa whispered, taken aback by her own statement. Her strength had never faltered he since she'd gotten it when she was five.
MIRABEL: (HESITATING) What?
MAN: Luisa! The donkeys!
LUISA: On it!
MIRABEL: Wait wait, wait. What do you mean? What do you think's hurting the magic?
LUISA: Don't know, but I heard the grown-ups once. Before Tío Bruno left, he had, like, some terrible vision about it.
"Was it really terrible?" Layla braved a question.
Bruno looked t her silently for a moment, deciding if he should answer the girl's question after knowing the truth about her and her twin. For some reason, he looked to his father for an answer. Even though he'd never known his Papa, Bruno trusted him more than his Mama.
Pedro closed his eyes and nodded.
"It was more confusing than terrible," Bruno finally said. Layla wasn't fully satisfied with his answer, but decided not to argue for more.
MIRABEL: Tío Bruno? What was in his vision?
LUISA: No one knows. They never found it. But if something's wrong with the magic, start with Bruno's tower. Find that vision.
"That sounds like you're saying if something's wrong, Bruno is the first person to suspect," Leo frowned.
"I...I guess I was," Luisa admitted. "Sorry, Tío."
"It's fine."
MIRABEL: Wait How do you find a vision? What am I even looking for?
(DONKEY BRAYS)
LUISA: If you find it, you'll know. But be careful. That place is off limits for a reason.
"You really couldn't just tell me, could you?" Mirabel deadpanned at the screen.
"The not-knowing is what makes this so interesting!" Pedro insisted, being the kind of person to find something positive about anything and anyone.
Before the next scene could begin, Casita's voice was heard...
A/N: I bet you guys are really happy to finally get a reaction to this song, right? I can tell you this much about the next chapter: the song's not going to be We Don't Talk About Bruno.
...
*readers await for more info*
...
That is all!
I love annoying people sometimes. Is it possible to be both a people-pleaser and a people-annoyer? If it isn't, I just made it a thing. *puts on sunglasses and does finger guns*
My sister's, however, are just annoyers—specifically designed to drive me up a wall like Spiderman on crack. *eyeroll of exasperation*
My sense of humor is weird and not a lot of people find my comments funny, so it's fine if you don't think it's funny. I'm used to it, if only because nobody in my family is as invested in fandom like I am.
Almost done with Magnus Chase and Artemis Fowl. Sad to see the Artemis Fowl series go—it was a whirlwind of laughing and crying at the stupid y and wittiness of it all. If anyone knows any good Artemis Fowl fanfics, please comment.
I started watching The Umbrella Academy for no other reason besides the fact that my friend recommended it (yeah, I totally didn't want to see Aidan Gallagher play a character besides Nicky Harper, my favorite quad).
Now, whenever I see Five say anything, my heart goes *insert multiple butterfly emojis*. He's so different from his character on nrdd.
But I'm still on Season 1 Episode 5, so NO SPOILERS, please and thank you!
—MULTIFANDOMGIRL2008