i read about that au of Manolo having to go to Spain leaving Maria and Joaquin in Mexico. I imagine Maria becoming a badass soldadera, and Joaquin becoming a sergeant or something. Joaquin is really impressed by Maria and he think she’s the strongest person ever and he wants to be like her but its all a secret. Maria turned into a soldadera to fight for her people and to show her father that she’s strong too. So, I imagined, what could have happened to Manolo while staying in Spain? Maybe his bullfighting practice got harder and harder until they forced him to kill a bull, or a few, without having the chance to escape or to retreat, so he did it and now he carries sadness shame and anger with him and he doesnt want to go back to mexico because he cant see maria in the eyes, he feels like his hands are covered in blood all the time so he avoids touching anyone, eventhough he wants to do something to be forgiven.

oops