Chapter Text
emlia was two when she first came, a light skinned woman with dark black hair
green eyes and a loving smile. tia caldia she would learn later. of course sh wasnt her real tia just a neighborhood old lady who took care of the kids and emlia.was one of those kids, unsurprisingly since her mom was always busy. emlia doesnt remember much from the first time she came day all she knows is that tia put her in the wall and her mom yelling. emlia would learn later that she was put in a fireplace.
then emlia turned three. her mom was once again busy and rosa wouldnt take her in so she went to caldia. tia smilled at her "emlia, can you please grab me the knives" she nodded grabbing her ninja turtles themed knives. caldia chuckled and shook her head "no mija the big girl knives" emlia cocked her head "but momma says not to" tia just smiled "its for a game sweetheart you must learb your knives early if you are to be my hero" she nodded, grabbed a chair, and climbed onto the counter grabbing the 'big girl' knives and giving them to tia.
caldia smiled "good job my little hero, can you cut the bread" emlia grumbled but complied. she could have used her ninja turtles knives for this! she cut the bread and gave it to tia. she just smiled and started to sing in a language emlia didnt know
this went on for a while. when she was four tia told her to poke a snake, fight a pig, learn how to fend for herself.and so on, untill she was six the last time she would see caldia. emlia was happily coloring with her new crayons, drawing the flying ship she kept seeing in her dreams. she was just about to sign her name when the wind blew it away. emlia pouted but she didnt really care. tia just clucked with disappointment "it wasnt ment to be young hero. you will get it back in time. now warm these old bones for me" emlia nodded her hands warming up until they cought fire. emlia giggled she loved fire! tia smiled softly and whispered "i wish i could save youfrom your fate young hero" and tia dissaperd leaving emlia with burnt paper, melted crayons, and her hands on fire.
a couple minutes later she heard her mom screaming and picking her up putting out the fire. Her mom took.her hands checking them for burns, of course there werent any. esperanza sighed "mija fire.is a tool like any other, but fire is dangwrous promjse me mija that you wnt use it unti you meet your father, he'll explain it alll" emlia had heard that for as long as she could remember. her mom wasnt bitter about him though. she had once asked why
and her mom just said "i have you mija and thats enough"
she listed to her mom no using her fire until one day when she was eight
they had stayed late at the workshop one day. her mom worked while emlia played around with the tools her mom gave her. she sat on an empty desk swinging her feet and giggling, she had made a little bird out of the pipe cleaners her mom gave her! "momma! momma! look!" her mom turned around as emlia threw the bird up in the air flapping for a few seconds before gliding back down. her mom grinned ans ruffled her hair "amazing mija were leaving in a few minutes,okay?" she asked in her heavy spanish accent. emlia nodded "okie mami!" She grinned and ran off untill her mom called her back .
they walkeed around thw workshop. her moms desk was at the back of the place so they had to go through the other workers desks. emlia pointed at a photo at one of the workers desks. it was a family picture with a bunch of white people and the blandest looking chicken she had ever seen "de verdad gente hay come eso?" she asked, her mom laughed "amerche!" emlia giggled as her and her mom left. her mom put her hands into the pockets of her jacket "huh i could have swore i had it?! wait here mija" she smiled, emlia didnt know it at the time but that would be the last smile she ever got. her mom put her own jacket around emlias shoulders and walked into the workshop
the door locked on its self. emlia turned around. she saw a balckish brown figure as if she was mde of dirt "hello little hero" she murmerd as if she was asleep. wait she was asleep under her black veil her eyess were closed "tia?" emlia asked shakily . the dirt woman chuckeld not the sweet laugh her mom did it was cold ."i am not your aunt simply a... family resemblance" "whay do you want!" she cried. the woman laughed again "i under stand you love your mother. and you see i have children of my own and i understand that you will fight them i can not have that. i can not kill you yet the fates wouldnt allow it but they do not prevent me from ruining your spirts, young one." the woman smiled sleepily under her dirt veil "i dont want to fight anyone! leave my momma alone!" her hands cought fire. the dirt woman smiled "good then we have not a problem". emlia lunged at the lady. thw woman smiled "good my little hero" she whispered just as she disappeared. all emlia saw was fire
emlia woke up in a ambulance the nursse saw her wake up "hi sweethea-" "wheres my mom" emlia interrupted. the second she saw the nurses face change she understood
her mom was in ashes,
and so was emlias heart.