Neophyte

Faith

September 23, 2015

It had almost been a month since Metztli returned to the modern timeline. She still couldn't figure out how she returned or why, especially at a vulnerable point. Toypurina did tell her that the Tongva's deity had taken her to the past. Metztli still had trouble believing it, but with everything that transpired, it was hard to deny it. 

Metztli still remembered everything that she had experienced. She didn't have scars from when she was lashed. Metztli hadn't been the same since she returned.

Two days after her return to the modern era, Metztli's father died suddenly due to the complications of diabetes and his other health conditions. Her mother was distraught, but Metztli didn't cry; she wasn't even shocked. 

Everything that she had seen and experienced in the past conditioned her to expect the worst. 

She was still with her mother when they had the funeral. During the funeral procession, Metztli spoke her people's language, surprising her community. She sang what she could remember, and in those moments, Metztli felt her grief. The grief of losing her father and of the truth she learned.

Metztli knew that the real truth would not be spoken. She surprised everyone when she refused to go to church and joined an organization that was created by some members of the Tongva, going against the Catholic religion. Also, to teach the true history of the San Gabriel Mission and the other Missions of California. 

Metztli's mother had difficulty accepting the change. Metztli asked her mother if she knew the true history of their family and their people. Her mother was stunned but informed her daughter that her family had always been part of the San Gabriel Mission. Metztli knew that her mother would not entirely believe the truth and what she went through. 

It was best to keep the peace.

Metztli felt true to herself within the group she joined. She taught the group more about the history of their people, the Padres, and the Mission. She also spoke the language of their people, surprising them; documentation began to help preserve the language that the Spaniards tried to erase. 

She also couldn't forget Esteban, her husband, and often wondered if he was buried somewhere deep in the San Gabriel Mission. He saved her life from Federico. What destroyed her was that she couldn't tell Esteban that she loved him. Guilt overwhelmed her, believing that she had caused Esteban's death. 

Would there have been a difference if she had done what was asked of her?

The truth set her free.

There was a possibility that there wouldn't have been a difference. 

 Metztli also wondered if Victoriano survived, given mercy.

Since she was still able to return to her modern era, it showed that her ancestors survived. 

Guillermo and Valentina still died, though.

It was unfathomable to think of the pain Mitena and Victoriano had gone through, and whether they were able to be together. Metztli believed that Bishop Juan kept his word.

Nicolas Jose, from what Metztli learned, was lashed and banished from the San Gabriel Mission, where he was sentenced to six years of hard labor in irons at the most distant penitentiary. There are no records of what happened to him, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he died during his sentence. 

Metztli finally learned Toypurina's entire history, and she learned that Toypurina did survive, but it came at a cost. 

The Padres wanted her executed, but Toypurina was given a choice: face execution or convert to Catholicism and be banished from Mission San Gabriel. She chose to convert. Toypurina was banished to Mission San Juan Bautista, where she surprisingly married a Soldado de Cuera named Manuel. Metztli knew it was Manuel that she had met in history. There were indications that he held feelings for her and wanted to save her life; they had three children. 

Unfortunately, Toypurina died when she was thirty-eight years old and was buried within Mission San Juan Bautista. Historians didn't know where her burial site was since there were no records of it. Historians argued that those who buried Toypurina did so to make history forget her. Others argued that Manuel wanted Toypurina to rest in peace since there were possibilities of Toypurina's body being stolen or destroyed.

Toypurina's body still hadn't been found.

Metztli was currently in San Juan Bautista Mission with her group members, trying to get their tickets. The line was long since it was a special day; Junipero Serra was going to be canonized as a Saint by Pope Francis. Metztli and her group weren't in the Mission to celebrate; one of Toypurina's descendants invited them to do a traditional prayer in honor of Toypurina. 

It was a way to fight against a lie. 

Metztli was currently in the gift shop watching television. She watched as Pope Francis did a mass in honor of Junipero Serra, a man who caused a silent genocide in California. Metztli then reached into one of her pants' pockets, where she took out the rosary that belonged to Victoriano, who gave it to Mitena, who then passed it down within their family. 

She hadn't worn it ever since her return, but she still decided to keep it. 

Metztli looked around the gift shop while waiting for her group members to get their tickets until she saw an individual in the book section, an older woman. She wore traditional-like native clothes. Her long black hair was tied up, and she wore turquoise earrings. "Any good books?"

"Hmm, just one," the woman responded. 

She turned around; Metztli's eyes widened. "T-Toypurina?" Metztli couldn't believe how similar the woman looked to Toypurina, but there were some differences. She had light olive skin with beautiful hazel eyes. The woman had slight wrinkles but still had a youthful appearance, even though she looked to be in her mid to late forties. She wore handmade native jewelry, and her appearance looked upbeat. 

"Hm? I am not Toypurina, but you can say I am related to her."

Metztli gasped. "N-No way, you are actually one of Toypurina's descendants?"

"I sure am, and I assume you are one of the members of the many groups I contacted that have come to visit to give tribute to my ancestor?"

"Y-Yes. It's wonderful to meet you, Ms...?"

"Maria Consuelo, but call me Maria. You are?"

"Metztli."

Both women shook hands until a jolt traveled throughout their bodies. "This might sound strange, but it feels like I have known you for a long time."

Metztli smiled, trying to contain her tears. "Same here..."

Cheers echoed from the television as people cheered for the official canonization of Junipero Serra. Metztli and Maria temporarily glimpsed at the television but then looked at each other; they let go of each other's hands. "Well, I need to start with the preparations. I look forward to seeing you in an hour." Maria then walked outside the gift shop, leaving Metztli. 

Metztli watched the television again as she watched the canonization. She remembered one of the nightmares she had where Toypurina mentioned a word she didn't understand, "Otinempolohque." It meant being defeated.

Shaking her head, Metztli said, "Oc ticahqueh  (We remain)."

Squeezing onto the rosary, she then walked out of the gift shop to the main square of the Mission, where there were many decorations. Metztli looked around until she walked to a small cemetery where there were a few tombstones; it felt lonely. 

There were mountains from afar and small buildings; Metztli closed her eyes to enjoy feeling the air. 

"I need to get to my group." Opening her eyes and turning around to return, Metztli stopped where she saw Guillermo, Toypurina, and Valentina's images.

Their images smiled and nodded.

They looked peaceful, proud.

Metztli didn't feel fear or confusion. 

She smiled.

She cried.