All Of You
Chapter 30 - All Of You
Look at this home. We need a new foundation. It may seem hopeless but we’ll get by just fine
Charlie took Verosika’s hands, the messy blonde letting her guide her through the remains of the doorway.
Look at this family, a glowing constellation
The rest of the family followed suit, noticeably getting cheered up thanks to the blue bow blonde.
So full of stars and everybody wants to shine
Charlie took Mimzy’s hands for a second, squeezing them before letting go.
But the stars don’t shine, they burn
Collin came up to his singing cousin, who knelt down to hold his hand. And the constellations shift
Charlie got up and helped Ozzie with a piece of debris. I think it’s time you learn: you’re more than just your gift
Vaggie interjected into the song, holding Pentious and Mimzy’s hands with both of hers. And I’m sorry for what I’ve done wrong. I’ve been holding on too tight
Mimzy inquired, “Mama?”
The Madrigal matriarch continued, though, explaining to her kids what’s up. I was so afraid of losing what we’ve made. Focused on the dark instead of letting in the light. I lost your other parent far too soon. I couldn’t bear to lose you, too
The ponytailed man and family chef were shocked at this but then smiled. They gave their mother a brief hug to let her know that it’s all right.
Vaggie broke apart from it, turned to her side, and reached out to the side. Pentious and Mimzy were confused again but then shocked again, now at seeing Blitzo gingerly step out from his hiding place and approaching them at Vaggie's urging, all the while the matriarch kept singing.
The miracle is not some magic that you’ve got. The miracle is you. Not some gift, just you… The miracle is you
Vaggie was accompanied by Pentious and Mimzy, the latter two rushing up to Blitzo to embrace him in a hug. All of you, all of you!
Angel was unsure about something, though. Okay, so… we gonna talk about Blitzo?
Collin. That’s Blitzo
Blitzo. Yeah, there’s a lot to say about Blitzo. I’ll start! Okay!
The red poncho guy spun his brother around, until he fell into Molly’s arms.
Penn, I’m sorry about your weddin’. Didn’t mean to be upsettin’. That wasn’t a prophecy, I just saw you were sweatin’. And I just wanted you to know that your bro loves you so
Blitzo had hugged Pentious and Molly for a brief second, before throwing around sand and turning in a circle on his tip-toes.
Let it in, let it out, let it rain, let it snow, let it gooooo!
Molly. That’s what I’m always saying, bro!
Blitzo. Gotta lotta apologies I wanna say
Mimzy as she hugged her previously separated brother. Hey, we’re just happy that you’re here, okay?
But-!
Pentious as he rejoined his brother and sister. Come into the light
But-!
Husk as he comes up behind the triplets and scoops them up in a hug. The triplets all reunite!
Pentious and Mimzy. And no matter what happens, we’re gonna find our way
Arackniss as he nudged Angel. Although I knew he never left. I heard him every day
Then the whole family heard people vocalizing in the distance.
Vaggie got the next line. What’s that sound?
Collin. I think it’s everyone in town…
Sure enough, just as the animal-lover said, every single person in town was coming. From whom the Madrigal family recognized, at the front line, was Alastor, Rosie, Moxxie, Razzle, Dazzle, Niffty, Baxter, Fizzarolli, Vortex, Cherri, even Helsa. Looking behind them, there were One, Two, Ace, Apple, Beelze, Kat, Kiki, Josh, Milky, Coco, Cletus, Keenie, Crymini, Seviathan, Deerie, Summer, Dia, Loona, Loopty, Lyle, Martha, Ralphie, Mayberry, Travis, Tom, Wally… and more. And everyone seemed to be carrying construction tools and materials needed for it.
All the towns people sang now. Hey! Lay down your load. Lay down your load. We are only down the road. We are only down the road. We have no gifts but we are many. And we’ll do any- thing for you!
Niffty took an entire pitcher of coffee and drank it all like it was alcohol. Then she used the hyper energy to whale down on nails with hammers using both her hands.
Verosika sang next while she and her siblings were propping up a pillar. It’s a dream when we work as a team. Then she turned to her brother of the two. You’re so strong
Ozzie. Yeah but sometimes I cry…
Verosika and Charlie as they hugged their brother. So do I!
I may not be as strong but I’m getting wiser.
Verosika. Yeah, I need sunlight and fertilizer. Come on! Let’s plant something new and watch it fly
The three children from Mimzy and Husk's side of the family set up some plants unlike anything that Verosika’s made before. Then they sang the next line together.
Straight up to the sky!
Then Arackniss joined them as he swung down on a rope to help with the pulley system. Let’s go!
Charlie and Vaggie as they went over plans together. Stars don’t shine, they burn. The constellations glow. The seasons change in turn
Angel was passed a shovel but fumbled with it, letting it fall. Meanwhile, Blitzo was laying down the sand for the outline of Vivienne, figuring might as well since he’s lived within the walls all this time; although, once he was done, the red poncho guy put on the bucket because he could just feel all the eyes on him and wanted to ignore that somehow.
Days have passed, everyone hard at work. The members of the Madrigal family would be given shelter at night before they wake up in the morning and get back to rebuilding the house. At one evening, Mimzy and Husk were placing down parts of the house, the former looking up at Charlie and beaming in pride.
The family chef vocalized next. Would you watch our little girl go?
Husk now. She takes after you
Oh, no, nobody heals like her
Charlie was happy to see that Blitzo was taking the chance to get used to being around people, even if he still insists on wearing the bucket. ‘Channeling my Lucifer’, he says. The red poncho guy was still keeping his distance, the only townsperson he’s really letting himself be close to was a girl named Loona, who was another girl he adored ever since said girl was a kid; it was like semi-adoption, by the looks of it. Loona's also the only one he felt comfortable accepting shelter from when everyone had to retire for the night.
Still, the blue bow blonde was happy to see that he was otherwise having no problems as he was helping rebuild the house. So she walked around to check up on everyone else in how they were doing their parts. That’s how Charlie came across Moxxie, who was sitting around with a slumped demeanor, complete with sighing. She knew she had to see what was up.
Hey, Moxxie, why so blue?
The bummed-out guy let out another sigh. I just have so much love inside…
The blue bow blonde had prompted the freckled man to get up as she continued singing. You know, I got this cousin, too. Have you met Arackniss?
Right then and there, that very guy mentioned had sprang up. He even hip bumped Charlie away and gripped Moxxie’s hands as he took over the song for a bit.
Okay, I’ll take it from here, goodbye! You talk so loud and you take care of your parents and make them proud. You write your own songs and poetry every night before you sleep. I've always loved how honest and sincere you are so won't you notice me?
It was a surprise to Moxxie to hear that someone is coming to him and confessing their love, at least during the construction of the Madrigals’ house. However, at hearing at all the things Arackniss likes about him, which have nothing to do with how he looks, the love-struck man couldn’t help but feel very strongly for this quiet and withdrawn guy.
Arackniss… I see you
Arackniss's smile was small but it was no less overjoyed. And I hear you…
Charlie and Verosika were hiding from behind a donkey, the latter quietly exclaiming ‘yes’ and doing a high-five with her sister.
The townspeople vocalized in the song next. All of you, all of you
Arackniss and Moxxie were walking with arms linked, the freckled man going, “let’s get married!”
The more sensible of the two responded, “Slow down.”
The townspeople again, along with Charlie and Vaggie as they settled in front of the construction site of their new home. All of you, all of you
The new house was finally complete, almost seeming exactly like Vivienne, complete with the tower, but everyone involved in the construction knew that the inside wasn’t going to be anything like her. As disheartening as that was.
Charlie. Home sweet home. I like the new foundation
Vaggie. It isn’t perfect
Neither are we
That’s true. Just one more thing, before the celebration
What?
Blitzo came in. We need a doorknob
Then Collin, holding up something in his hands to give to Charlie. We made this one for you
The blue bow blonde saw that it was a doorknob much like the ones to everyone else’s doors, when they get a gift. Should they get a gift. Although it had the letter ‘M’ on it instead of a ‘C’, presumably for Madrigal. There were still no complaints coming from the girl who held this very doorknob.
Charlie was stunned to see the rest of her family gathering together and making a clear pathway between her and the door; the only one really dilly-dallying or whatever was Arackniss, who hugged Moxxie a momentary farewell before joining up with everyone else. It was only when she noticed her hand gripped by Collin and seeing her younger cousin gesturing her to approach the door that the blue bow blonde finally moved. All of the other members of Charlie’s family had something to sing to her.
Pentious, Molly, Arackniss, and Angel. We see how bright you burn
Ozzie and Verosika. We see how brave you’ve been
Husk and Mimzy. Now see yourself in turn
Blitzo. You’re the real gift, kid. Let us in
Vaggie. Open your eyes. Abre los ojos. What do you see?
Charlie as she looks into the doorknob and sees her reflection and then tearfully, happily, clutched the doorknob to her chest. I see… me. All of me…