Dos Oruguitas
Chapter 28 - Dos Oruguitas
Hours have come and gone, the Madrigal family spending them trying to look for Charlie. Arackniss even tried at several points to listen for Charlie, futilely hoping for a moment that he can use his super hearing, only to be frustrated not to have it when he could actually use it for more than just gossip for once. Although it became the next day and Razzle, Dazzle, and Niffty were taking notice.
In fact, Razzle had asked, clearly worried, “they haven’t found her yet?”
Abuela Vaggie eventually had an idea as to where Charlie could be, though, and went off on her own at some point. Sure enough, on a thorny branch, there was a distinct red piece of fabric hanging from it. No doubt the missing girl was too distressed to notice a small part of her dress being torn off.
Charlie was sitting at the riverbank, shoving her face into her legs and crying.
“Charlie…”
The blue bow blonde flinched, not expecting her grandmother to have found her. Not sure what to say to her now. As much as she didn’t regret standing up for her siblings or her uncle Blitzo, or for the rest of the family, it didn’t mean it’s not awkward as fuck when meeting up with the Madrigal matriarch after that big calling out.
Although, in a moment, Charlie whimpered out, “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to hurt us… I just wanted to be… to be something I’m not.”
The blue bow blonde went back to crying, albeit softer than before, while her grandmother watches. The latter lady soon settles down next to her granddaughter, her legs dangling over the little cliff from above the river.
The Madrigal matriarch began speaking, looking at the two mountain ridges that formed since starting up the town. “I’ve never been able to come back here.” Then at looking down at the river, “this river… is where we were given our miracle.”
Charlie had looked up, now calmer. “Where… Abuela Millie…”
“I thought we would have a different life. I thought I would be a different woman.”
A flashback occurred, showing Vaggie as a young woman, her hair being long and loose and cascading down her back. Much like Verosika’s, really. There was even a flower decoration in those locks, on the side, albeit a decoration that also had little wings attached to it. Wings kind of resembling that of a moth.
Young Vaggie was walking through a town, one different than the one the Madrigal family have grown up in. She was offered a candle to hold, since there was apparently some kind of event involving people holding candles.
The moth-bowed girl wanted a better look since there was a crowd so she thought of climbing a lamp post. A deep yellow butterfly caught her attention and she kept watching it until it passed another woman who seemed to have had the same idea as her.
This woman on the faraway lamp post was one with long, black hair, a little more unruly than Vaggie's. She happened to notice the butterfly, too, until she noticed next Young Vaggie. Millie.
Vaggie was surprised at seeing such a beautiful woman the way she is and absent-mindedly tried waving. Although she almost fell off doing that since both her hands were occupied with important things and so hastily grabbed the lamp post again. Millie thought of that as charming and waved back, of course being a lot more careful. Millie's bright, gap-toothed smile was a captivating sight.
Then there was a man playing a song out of nowhere and in Spanish, all the while a montage played. At least there are still English words spelled out.
Two caterpillars…
Millie and Vaggie were sitting at the fountain together, eating and talking.
In love
The moth-bowed girl was curling up with the the gap-toothed brunette on the latter’s bed, worried about what she’s going to do. Apparently, she’s been made pregnant, which was a risk in her line of work, and it’s not like she’s going to search for the father. That's regardless of whether or not she knew where to look, too.
Spend their nights and dawns full of hunger
Millie had offered to help Vaggie raise the children so that she wouldn’t have to do it alone. The latter of them teared up in happiness and jumped on the former for a great, big hug and to let out the tears.
They keep walking and navigating a world…
The day of the birth had finally arrived and Vaggie was just about done with her baby. Only to be horrified when Millie later confirmed that she seemed to be having more than one child. The contractions didn't lie, either.
That changes and keeps changing
Some time had passed since the birth of the triplets. At least there was enough time for the birth mother to finally regain the ability to properly walk again.
Two caterpillars against the wind…
Vaggie and Millie were just in mind, the former holding all three babies in her arms and the latter cooing over them.
“As they hold each other with warmth and consent.”
Then the two women noticed some commotion going on outside their window. They turned to see a gang on horseback burning down houses. They were horrified and knew they needed to go.
Keep growing, they don’t know when…
Vaggie and Millie looked at the three little cribs they were leaving behind before holding each other and their babies as they walked away.
To find some corner shelter
The two women were at the front of a group of people who managed to get away. Now everyone were just determined to keep moving, so that they can escape.
The time keeps changing. They are inseparable
Eventually, the group fleeing had made it to the river. The very same river that Vaggie said she was never able to come back to again, until the present day. Until this current moment with Charlie.
And the weather keeps changing
However, even with all the distance traveled, it wasn’t enough. The group saw that four of the gang had caught up with them. They tried fleeing again, as in running, but Millie saw that maybe it wasn’t going to be enough.
Oh, caterpillars. Don’t hold each other any longer
Millie told Vaggie what is it she’s going to do and insisted that she’s got to do this.
You must grow apart and return
The moth-bowed girl obviously protested but relented soon enough when the children came into consideration.
That’s the way forward
The gap-toothed brunette gave a kiss to each child before giving one to her lover.
Miracles are coming. Chrysalises are coming
Millie got a spear, one of Vaggie's, actually, and turned to face the four horse riders. Of course, each one was armed with a sword. While still on a horse.
You must come and construct your own future. Oh, caterpillars
A fight had ensued and everyone watched in horror as it went on.
Don’t hold each other any longer
Vaggie was devastated as she watched her lover fall. Millie may have plenty of hits and cuts in but considering how she was outnumbered, the enemy were on horseback and better weapons, and the gap-toothed brunette was probably worn down by the journey, well…
You must grow apart and return. That’s the way forward
The moth-bowed girl got down on her knees and wailed in agony.
Miracles are coming. Chrysalises are coming
The candle Vaggie had packed in her few belongings, a gift she had received from Millie, no less, it began glowing. It was glowing brighter and brighter until, finally, it made some kind of blasting wave that hit only the enemies on horseback.
You must part…
That’s when the earth rose up and made the border that’s extremely difficult for anyone to cross, including the gang who didn’t think anything of it when killing a parent who wanted her lover and their kids to be safe.
And construct your own future
Vaggie realized what just happened and turned to the remaining survivors. Later, after Vivienne rose and offered shelter to the grieving woman, said grieving woman had sit on the floor in her bedroom. She looked down at her children and knew then that someone still needed to take care of them. The infants won’t even know the significance of their shared loss, not to same extent as the moth-bowed girl herself
Two caterpillars, disoriented
Young Vaggie took a black scrawl, one she wears even to this day. She walked out of the room holding the candle.
In two cocoons. All bundled up
Current day Vaggie had talked, the mystery song ending. “I was given a miracle.”
The Madrigal matriarch passed by an adult Blitzo at his door, who looked at her pleadingly for something. Maybe anything. But there was nothing.
“A second chance.”
Vaggie passed by a present day, perfect-looking Verosika at her door, the latter immediately straightening up and kind of posing. Although it went unnoticed.
“And I was so afraid to lose it…”
The same thing of not noticing shit happened when the Madrigal matriarch passed by present day Ozzie at his door. The muscle-bound crossdresser had also kind of posed as he held a big sack of potatoes over his shoulder.
“That I lost sight of who our miracle was for.”
Vaggie had finally stopped at child Charlie who watched her would-be door disappear on her. The latter turned to the former, hoping for some kind of reassurance or consolation.
“And…” the Madrigal matriarch fought through her tears, her voice still cracking, “I am so sorry…”
The candle in Vaggie's hands had disappeared, along with the flashback.
“You never have hurt our family, Charlie. You never would. We’re broken… because of me.”
Charlie was blown away by all this information. She sat there, processing, until she saw a purple butterfly fluttering by. That winged insect landed on a familiar plant and she realized what’s to be done.
The blue bow blonde got in front of her grandmother. “Abuela Vaggie.”
At the getting the matriarch’s attention, she said, “I can finally see.”
Charlie held out her hands for Vaggie to take, which she did. Then they walked out to the plant with the butterfly together, the former guiding the latter.
“You lost your home. You lost everything and suffered so much. All. Alone. So it would never happen again. We were saved because of you. We were given a miracle, because of you. We are a family, because of you. And nothing could ever be broken that we can’t fix together.”
Vaggie smiled for a bit, cheered up by the words. “I asked my Millie for help.” At holding Charlie’s face, “Charlie, she sent me you.”
The two women got to hugging, one of rejoicing reconciliation. Sunlight had beam brightly down on them and multiple purple butterflies had flown by them. Also, back in the town, the same mystery singer from the flashback had finished the song.
Oh, butterflies. Don’t hold each other any longer. You must grow apart and return
The hug ended and Charlie was looking at all the purple butterflies in awe and wonder, while those winged insects flew up between the two mountain cliffs. That purple was shining so brilliantly in the sun's rays that one would be forgiven for thinking that living colored glass. Vaggie watched them along with her, feeling better than ever.
That’s the way forward. Breaking chrysalises and find your own future