Work Text:
Antonio loved his gift. He could talk to any animal no matter how big or small. How dangerous or kind.
They all loved him.
The day he learned that insects were included in that mix was one of the greatest.
He could talk to the sugar ants to please leave the kitchen and not eat his Tía's cooking if he promised to give them his leftovers.
He could talk to the fleas about not be so mean to all his animal friends.
He could talk to the caterpillars and tell them which plants to eat on which days to help the village with their crops.
He found them to be excellent conversation and have such fun stories.
He loved his gift and all the new friends it helped him make.
That was until Tío Agustin walked in swollen and down to get an arepa from his Tía.
He looked at his Tío and vowed to help him.
Turns out the bees were not willing to cooperate at first.
"Sorry about that new friend Antonio but that man continously ruins our hives. They take AGES to build and he keeps messing them up."
"Oh...he doesn't mean to!"
"It doesn't matter! Our Queen is becoming exhausted and we can't even make a new one since every time we try the hive is destroyed!.....We don't want to attack him. Stinging is deadly! But we have to protect our hive, our honey, and especially our queen!"
"I understand....why don't you build in an area no one is near?"
"We've tried! The village keeps expanding and the trees and jungle are getting smaller! It's very hard to make a hive when you don't know if the next day the tree could be knocked down."
"That makes sense.....I'll see what I can do!"
"Thank you friend."
So he tries. He really does.
But no one listens to him.
They need the trees. The Encanto is growing and they need the wood and lumber. They plant new ones as fast and they cut them down.
No one really cares about the bees.
They, like all of his insect friends, are seen as pests.
Things to swat and grumble at.
Inconveniences.
He's sitting in the field overlooking their village when he hears someone sit beside him.
"Whats wrong Toñito?"
"Nothing Tío…"
"I don't believe that for a second. Please tell me."
"....I wanted to try to get the bees to stop stinging you. But no one will listen! No one will help them!"
"......Ah…your such a good primo you know that? The bees and I have always been at odds no need to worry."
"I just wanted to help!"
"....You know in the city we had the amazing things called beekeepers."
"...they kept bees? As pets?"
"Ha! Kind of! They would make their hive in a box and use it to get honey and all sort of things from them! Their hive would be nice and protected and it was a good system for the bees and the people!"
"....That's perfect! Can you help me Tío?"
"Ah….sure Toñito. Only if they don't sting me!"
"Of course!"
The bees loved the idea. Their hive was always full of old gross honey and getting attacked by wasps and humans (Agustin smiles nervously at that).
Agustin promised to be careful and very good at keeping their queen safe and their hive in good condition and it was better than Antonio could ever want!
Tía Julieta got to use honey in her cooking making the most delicious treats. (Even though Camilo stole most of them)
The village loved the idea and soon even more bee hives talked with Antonio about Agustin looking after them.
The village make Tìo Agustin the town beekeeper. Finally giving pulling back on chores where his poor accident prone self couldn't be hurt.
One day Antonio stumbled across his Tío looking over the field they had once talked in.
Full of box bee hives filled with a soft buzzing and the most beautiful pollinated flowers and crops that could be found anywhere.
He sat by him quietly and just enjoyed the view.
"Thank you primo. To be honest I suggested it as a silly idea but this was an amazing thing. Look at how vibrant and beautiful it is! All thanks to you Toñito!"
"It wasn't just me Tío! It was both of us! All I did was convince the bees to listen! You convinced everyone else to listen! We've made the Encanto Tío! Thank you for listening to me!"
"Of course Toñito."
They sat in silence as a bee landed on Agustin's knee.
"That one is a baby Tío! Look you can tell by how small it's pollen shoes are!"
"Pollen sho-....oh! Yes I see, how precious. Just like you are Toñito."