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Chapter Text

For a while... she was loved.

She was Mirabel Madrigal. The youngest in the family for one moment in time. The adorable girl with chubby little cheeks and a love for the color blue. She would happily babble to her mama and papa growing up. A smile always on her face and her glasses perched perfectly on that little button nose. Her parents adored her. Her sisters always played and spoke to her, teaching her English and Spanish and complimenting her attempts at the language. Her Tia and Tio would welcome her with open arms and a smile high to the sky as she was playing in the sunshine her Tia Pepa always made with that stunning smile. Her cousins were sweet, Camilo always managing to make her laugh with their shapeshifting and Dolores whispering jokes. Her Tio Bruno, even though she barely saw him, was so kind. His little jokes and nicknames were always fun and he told her made-up stories before their family dinner. And Abuela. Sweet Abuela. Mirabel was sure for a while that she was the light in her grandmother's life, just as much as she was hers. The older women looked at her as if her skin was made of gold and that at any moment she would break. She cared for her so much, that it almost hurt. Mirabel loved her. She loved all of them. And they loved her back. Everyone was so excited for her. They wanted their precious little princess to get her gift. They wished for her to help them and then see what she could do. There was talk on what she would get. Luisa thought that it would be something with sight, like she could see for far and help people find lost items. Tia Pepa thought that the happy little girl would be able to fly with how much jumping she did. Whatever she got, Abuela said that she would be happy for the little Madrigal. Because she was apart of a legacy. That soon, she would help the community like her mom and sisters did. That her smile would be known throughout the Encanto.

That is... until that day came. Her birthday came and Mirabel was excited for her gift. Isabela couldn't stop placing flowers in her hair. Luisa couldn't stop her bone-crushing hugs. Her mother couldn't stop cooking. While Abuela looked on with pride. Excited for her gift to show. But when Mirabel's hand touched the golden door... nothing happened. It went away. Gone. The poor young girl looked up at her grandmother so confused. Why her? Why was this happening? Why didn't she get her gift? Her Abuela could only stare at her. Just looking on at her. From that day on, it was almost as if her life had changed and she was no longer that happy girl. Abuela always had something else to do than talk or play with Mirabel. Luisa went off to help the town every day and night. Pepa and Felix? They kept their distance. It was like Mirabel had completely changed. The young girl was so confused. She was still her! The same Mirabel! A Madrigal! The one that they all adored so long ago. Mirabel from that day on wasn't her anymore. As the years went by and the young girl blossomed into a beautiful young lady, it had become apparent that no one in their magical home say her as anything anymore. Her sisters were always away or ignoring her. Isabela had become primarily rude to her. The lavender-clad beauty always having a snide remark to her, rolling her eyes or pushing her plates and books from her hands. Dolores, even though she was sweet and kind, kept her distance. Always finding something else to do than speak with Mirabel. But always hearing someone ask about Mirabel's gift and telling them the truth. Camilo stopped making her laugh. Though he was always around, the shapeshifter waved and nodded. Tio Bruno? Gone. He just up and left a week after her gift was never given. Antonio was the only one happy with the presence. The toddler always dancing with her. But it was just him. Once he had gone to be pampered with the same love that Mirabel once thought was unconditional, she was alone. Behind the faded teal door of the nursery that she never moved out of.

The giftless Madrigal that no one cared to check on except her parents. And even then, it wasn't much. Abuela always stepped in. "She'll be fine mi hija. She's fine. Mirabel is always fine."

But she wasn't. She never was. Behind that door she was small. Hidden in the shadows as the tears dripped from her eyes. No one saw her. No one was there for her. Mirabel was the shadow underneath of her perfect and wonderful family. As the years had gone by, the tears had stopped and the optimism has stopped. Her hope that one day, her sisters would change and her Abuela would smile at her and hug her like she always did. The day would never come.

And it was after Antonio's gift was shown that she knew... she knew... that she would never be seen in the eyes of her loved ones again. As the camera flashed, capturing everyone in her home but her. And the flower petals fell on her head, Mirabel knew that she was always going to be on the sidelines. Awaiting her turn that would never come and watching from afar as everyone in her family except for her was loved. Was someone. Was cared for. The girl sniffled, hugging herself. She thought that he would be given a gift and be seen for once. But she was no miracle. Nothing special. Nothing that her family wished for. As she closed the nursery door that night, she looked over at the moonlight. She sniffled, taking off her glasses and fully sobbing. Knowing that Dolores would hear her or any of the other party-goers. But they wouldn't care. No one did. She set her glasses down, falling down on the ground and leaning her back against the bed. She wiped her tears with the side of her palm, looking down at the blurry ground. Casita raised one of its tiles, pushing at her leg. She sniffed. "I'm... I'm fine Casita. Go on. Go help everyone at the party. I'll be okay." she said.

The tile slowly fell down and Casita left her. She sniffled, hugging herself. Behind this door was where she was put and she felt like she should never leave if she wanted to keep her sanity. Months passed since Antonio's sixth birthday and his gift was given to him and just like usual, Mirabel was in the background. At the end of the table silent while everyone conversed in conversation. In her room, while Luisa juggled her cousins and laughed. Just outside in the sun while Isabela was the perfect one. Mirabel exhaled. She would be okay. She would be fine as the unlucky and hidden Madrigal. There was one place that Mirabel happily found solstice. Where she wasn't a burden. And wasn't ignored. And that was in town with the kids. They didn't care that she didn't have a gift. And although their smiles and their hugs made her feel better, nothing would make her feel better about the hole left in her heart about the Madrigal home never going to be her home.

And soon, she reached her breaking point. News traveled all around Casita with excitement. Isabela was going to get married! It was sooner than everyone expected, but then again. The entire home was brought together with excitement. While Mirabel was excited for her sister, she already knew and could see that no one wanted her help. This was her sister's special day. And she wouldn't ruin it. As her entire family helped adorn her sister's hair into beautiful curls and dress her in the finest dress they could buy, Mirabel stayed outside. Just embordering to herself.

"You should be inside you know."

Mirabel turned over, seeing her mother look over at her from behind the corner of their home. "Hola mama."

"Abuela wants everyone at dinner. And I cooked a wondrous meal. And everyone was excited for my buñuelos, except for my daughter. She's nowhere to be seen."

"Abuela wants you at dinner, not everyone." Mirabel said back. "I'll be fine, I'll eat after."

"I wasn't asking. Mirabel. Come." she said, taking her arm.

"Mama, no. It's Isa's big day and I don't want to ruin it." she said, pulling herself back from Julieta's arms. Her mother frowned, placing her hands on her hips.

"Mirabel."

"It's Isa's day. And Isa wouldn't want me to ruin it. And Abuela is excited for a marriage after so many years." she said.

"But honey, just because it's your big sister's day doesn't mean that you can't come. Okay? You are just as exceptional as everyone at that table." Julieta said with a smile.

Mirabel smiled, but only for her mom. No matter how many times she said it, she knew from their actions that it just wasn't true. Julieta pulled her protesting daughter into the house, just as Isabela was coming down the steps. Everyone was waiting for her below, with happy gasps, claps and smiles. Isabela, ever the princess of the family, emulated the royalness about her. Dressed in a long, beautiful, floor-length baby pink gown and live flowers on the train and sleeves. Abuela's jewelry was adorned on her ears and neck, the jewelry she had never wore since being blessed with the Encanto. Her hair was curled and down in a low ponytail to accent her cheekbones and nose. Isabela smiled, twirling for her family.

"Gorgeous mi princesa!" Abuela said. "A radiant flower before me!"

"You look amazing!" her father, Agustin said.

"So pretty... so pretty..." Pepa sobbed, as a small rain cloud formed above her.

Felix exhaled, waving it away. "Ah, mi vida. Happy day. It's a happy day." he turned over, seeing Mirabel in the way back of their small group. "Don't you agree Mirabel?"

Felix never changed. Always trying to make his niece smile. Much like her parents did. Isabela looked down at her. Her smile fading and turned into a frustrated scowl. "You... you look beautiful sis." Mirabel tried to say. She did. She looked beautiful. Anybody would be lucky to have her has their partner.

Isabela looked down at her. "Thanks." she said, as disingenuously as she could. She hummed.

"Are you excited for your dinner tonight?" Camilo asked, looking up at his cousin in awe.

"Very." Isabela said as everyone moved to finish the dinner set up. They moved over to fix the decor and set the table properly. Julieta patted her daughter's shoulder, walking to grab her prepared food from the kitchen. Mirabel turned to find Luisa, but she was already gone. Moving the piano into the dining room. Mirabel exhaled. Because no one went over to her and asked her anything. Isabela walked over to her. "I don't want you to ruin this for me like you've ruined everything else simplona." she said in a low voice.

Mirabel sighed. There it was. That nickname that Isa knew always hit her hard. Simplona. A simpleton in her sister's eyes. The Madrigal that no one cared for. "I won't." she said to her. "I'm just going to go back up to the nursery and-"

"Back to the nursery?" Dolores called, poking her head out from the kitchen. Julieta looked up at as well.

"No. No you won't." she said. "Isabela, your sister just wants to support you. She's here to help make this day perfect for you."

Isabela exhaled, looking over to her side and seeing a vase filled with water. A plant over watered by, most likely, Tio Felix. "Luisa." she called. "This vase is full of water over here."

"On it!" the older girl called, walking over and picking up the vase, like it was nothing. Careful of the water inside of it. As Luisa made her way over towards Mirabel, she waved her hand. The plant's leaves growing to get a bit heavy and the water spilling out onto Mirabel's back and hair. She jumped back as the water seeped into her hair and all over her. The dirt catching on her skin and her dress was completely ruined now.

"Oops!" Luisa called, realizing as she set down the vase. But she didn't bring herself to even look at or help Mirabel.

"Yeah..." Isabela said, stepping down in front of her sister and brushing off a piece of dirt from her shoulder. "Oops."

"Isa!" Julieta cried just as the door knocked.

"The Guzman's are here!" Abuela called, stepping over to Isa. Pushing past Mirabel and hitting her shoulder. She turned over. "Why are you all wet? The Guzman's are here! Are you trying to ruin your sister's proposal? Mirabel-"

"Mama!" Julieta said.

"I'm... I'm sorry..." Mirabel said, sniffling. She rushed up the steps and into her room.

"Mirabel!" she called, as the doors opened by the clueless Agustin.

"The Guzman's! Welcome, welcome, welcome! Gracias por venir!" he said.

Isabela hummed, stepping over to the front door and smoothing out her dress. Mirabel rushed into her bedroom, closing the door slowly so that it didn't slam and alert everyone that she was so upset. She pulled off her glasses, looking down at the puddle of dirty water forming below her feet. She slowly broke down, wiping her eyes as she shed her tears. Her breaths came in very harshly. Like she was choking on air.

This place wasn't for her. She didn't belong. She wasn't supposed to be here. She couldn't stand it. She threw herself onto her bed, covering her face with her pillow and getting her sheets wet. Why her? Why couldn't she get a gift? Why couldn't she just... be like all of her siblings? Why was she cursed to be this black sheep that everyone hated?

Chapter Text

It was the morning after everything had happened, that Mirabel had come to her final decision. There was no thinking too much or too little. Or his conscience talking her out of doing this. No. Mirabel knew that it would be better for everyone if she left Casita and left the Madrigal's. What good was she doing here anyway? Always stuck inside of her bedroom because no one needed her for help and everybody pitied her. No one saw her. No one cared. Even after Isabela's little tip of the vase, the night still went on perfectly for her. The perfect island flower got her amazing proposal and dinner because that's what she deserved. Mirabel had heard the laughter and the cheers and crying while she had to throw away her favorite dress ruined by murky, dirty plant water. Because what she deserved was dirt water over her. She heard whispers of a gigantic and beautiful wedding and names being brought up for bridesmaids. Her name didn't leave the mouth of anyone else. Not even her mother, who had seemed to forget about her daughter and went on into the night. The next morning was the same after Mirabel woke up. Exciting talks about a wedding being planned for Isabela. Color schemes, dresses, cakes, music. Isabela and Mariano was the focus. Mariano had spent the night when Mirabel came down, which she was surprised about. Abuela was always a stickler for respect and old-school rules. And he sat beside Isabela, speaking of the flowers he wished to see his fiancee adorn and the wedding he's dreamed off. She knew that he would take her space immediately and perfectly. Mariano could be giftless and a sencillo all we wished because he was marrying into the Madrigals. However, she wouldn't. Because she was born into it. The man who was just like her, normal, was welcomed with open arms and love and excitement. Not like her. Normal as a born Madrigal was her life sentence of loneliness.

She put her head down as their excited breakfast continued on. Knowing that even if she wanted to join, her seat would be taken and Camilo would have taken all of her favorites anyways.

"Oh! Mirabel!"

She stopped, hearing the deep voice. She turned over, seeing Mariano stand up. Dressed in a bright yellow shirt no doubt borrowed by her Tio Felix and his hair a bit messy. The captain of the village's guard looked good in that color, she could admit it. But he would be dawning lavender and lilac for the rest of his life like her sister. It would be interesting to see him in that. "Buenos dias Mariano." she said back in a low voice. She could already feel Isabela's and Abuela's eyes burning into the side of her face.

"I didn't see you at dinner last night." he said to her, his smile warm and friendly. This man was a huge teddy bear despite his tough exterior.

"She had to take care of something. No matter." Abuela called from her spot at the head of the table, before Mirabel could even get a word in. "Nada de qué preocuparse. Nada de qué preocuparse. Come sit, finish your breakfast. There's plenty of cafe left."

Mariano nodded, but turned back over to lookat Mirabel. The younger girl so much shorter than he was. Mirabel refused to make eye contact with him. "I don't know if you know, but me and Isa are getting married!" he said with a smile.

"Yes! I heard. So great for you... Congratulations." she said back. "I have to go Mariano so..."

"Oh yes! I'm sorry! But I'm excited to be your brother in law! And I can't wait to spend time with you and Luisa. Maybe during all the wedding planning." he said, a happy smile on his lips. "Maybe we can look through the poems I have. See which one Isa would like best for the vows?"

Mirabel looked over, seeing Isabela roll her eyes and Dolores make a chuckle like the sound of a squeak. Camilo snickered as well, but they were more outright with it. Making it more worse was how Luisa said nothing to even defend her or put an end to it. She just sipped on her juice with her head down. Her eyes welled with tears seeing them.

They wouldn't miss her at all.

"M-Maybe." she said. "It was nice to see you again. I have to go now though. So, goodbye!"

She turned, leaving Casita quickly. She closed the door slowly and exhaled, wiping away angrily at the tears that dripped from her cheek and down onto her chin. Mirabel shook her head. "Stop it." she whispered. They didn't care about you. So you shouldn't shed tears for them. Isabela will be thrilled it will be just her and Luisa once she's gone.

She slowly left her home, making her way inside of the village. The morning brings a happy and hustling and bustling mood to the place. The villagers at least smiled at her while on their way to their jobs or the start of their day. Their footsteps making almost synchronized and musical tap with each step, jump and sprint on the cobblestone path. There was a kind smile on the faces of those that came across her. The little ones with more excitement. But Mirabel knew deep down that while some were happy, some just looked down at her with nothing but sorrow for her. The poor Madrigal girl that was given no gift. She exhaled, making her way past the church and the homes and over to the small dress shop. The walls were the same cream as the other shops but instead of red toned flowers, she none. Just a plain building. Mirabel opened the door, being welcomed by the scent of orange and vanilla. The walls were covered with different colored fabrics. Some with different beading, others with shimmer. Some fully prepared dresses were on the wall as well, being held up by beautiful hangers. The shop was gorgeous.

"I'll be just a minute!"

Mirabel smiled. "Take your time!"

Almost as soon as she spoke, a head popped out from behind the back door. "Bell!" the girl cried. She was a year older than Mirabel, close to taking over her family's dress and clothing shop. A spunky and sweet girl. Her skin was beautifully dark with a head of kinky black curls on her head and her eyes the color of honey.

"Hey Lupe. Buenos dias." Mirabel said.

"Buenos dias amiga! Are you hungry? I know my food can't compare to your mom's but, I did make some polvorosas if you want some." Lupe said, picking up the plate of the dessert and holding it out to her with the wiggle of her shoulders and eyebrows.

"Aw, that's sweet. Thank you Lupe, but I already ate." she lied.

But Lupe was none the wiser with the shrug of her shoulders and another beaming smile. "Your loss." she said. "What can I do for the sewing savvy Madrigral?"

"I came to get some things. I need a new dress and a bag. One bigger than this one." she said, pointing at her small purse.

"Not a problem. So, what kind of dress?" she asked. "Is this for the awaited wedding I've been hearing so much about?"

"Oh, you've heard of that?" she asked.

"Everyone has heard of it amiga! You know how lovestruck Mariano has been for Isabela. And it's been so long since a Madrigal wedding. Everyone has been waiting for this moment to happen." Lupe said with a chuckle. "Bastardo enamorado."

Mirabel looked down. "Yeah. I guess so. B-But no. One of my favorites got ruined and I need a new one."

"And what about the bag? What's that for?"

"Oh just uh... hike up the mountain! Yeah. A nice picnic maybe invite Luisa and Camilo and you know the grandkids..." she lied.

"Up the mountain? That sounds like fun. What color dress are you looking for?" Lupe asked, looking around at the multiple dress options they had on display. A lot of yellows, a lot of pinks... a lot of blues. Her favorite color. The color just made her feel happy. Feel safe. Her fingers grazes against the soft fabric of the dresses admiring the blues that she knew she loved. The beautiful hue that reminded her of the Colombian skies and the beautiful color of the river. She pointed to a lighter blue dress. The long skirt of it having an ombre of day to night sky colored blue. She could embroider her favorite flowers on them later, maybe after she left. Since her dress with her name on the hip and the butterflies was completely ruined.

Lupe jumped slightly as she picked the dress from the rack and looked in the back for the other item Mirabel ordered. She sighed, rubbing the side of her arm. This was probably going to be the last time she saw Lupe. Lupe was always kind to her and sweet. The girl always offered her newest dresses and embroidery thread for her to have. Always discounted. But she always had that look when they talked. The I'm so sorry that you were born with no gift in a family of magical people look. That look she's gotten since her failed ceremony. She was sick of that look. And even though Lupe was always sweet, she couldn't stay just for her. She couldn't stay up in that small nursery and under the scrutiny of Isabela and the repulsed look from her Abuela Alma.

The dress was wrapped up and Lupe handed her the biggest bag she carried. She placed the dress inside with a smile. "There you are Bell!" she said with a smile. "Come by again soon, please!" she said, giving her some of the polvorosas she made in the small pocket of her bag.

"I will." she lied. "Tell your parents I say hello."

Lupe waved her goodbye with a wide grin, her curls bouncing up and down. Mirabel exhaled. She would miss Lupe. But she was sure once she was far away from the Encanto, she could write her a letter and explain everything to her. She looked down at the big bag in front of her. She needed to fill it up before her journey. She didn't want to sit around any longer and think about it. She needed to go. She had to leave. For the Madrigals. To her family that she loved so much but didn't love her back. She walked over to the market that opened up bright and early every single morning. Fresh fruits, veggies and fish waiting to greet her and her nose. With a few hellos and twenty-second long conversations, she filled her back with food she knew would sustain her through her journey. She didn't know how it was going to be, but she hoped she had enough to meet the halfway point. She filled her bag up halfway with the food from the market and slowly made her way back towards the house. She needed her clothes and her spare glasses and then she'd be gone. As she approached the path that led to the house, she heard the very loud and clamorous sound of commotion happening. Mirabel turned her head, looking for the source of the sound. Mirabel stood far, like always, watching her entire family outside of their home. The group of Madrigals all surrounding their pride and their joy. Isabela. In her iconic lavender gown shined underneath of the sun. While she stayed in the arms of Mariano. He was practically a part of the family and it's been what... ten hours? His captian's uniform was on and constrasting her sister's signature color. Mirabel tried to keep herself from completely breaking down when she saw her mother plant a sweet kiss against not just Isabela's cheek, but Luisa's cheek as well. Her two girls. The only two girls that mattered. Isabela waved her hands around, making flowers fall from above them as congratulations was given to the two of them. Cheering for Isa like they always did. Cheering for her family... like they always did.

"May the couple be blessed!"

"A magical man for a magical woman!"

"How happy you must be!"

"Amazing for the Madrigal family!"

"Que sean bendecidos con un hermoso matrimonio y docenas de bebés llorando."

"Someone get the camera!"

"Oh yes, where's the camera?"

Mirabel's frown deepened. As the people surrounded them, no one noticed Mirabel. Because no one dared ask or bother to care. Mariano was the newest member of the family. His wide and dashing smile replaced the awkward young woman with her crooked smile and glasses. The camera flashed and captured everyone that mattered. Everyone who was loved. She exhaled, looking down and making her way back up the path.

Let them celebrate.

Let them take their pictures and laugh and smile and be the amazing Madrigal family that the village kids admired. She knew it would be an even bigger celebration once she was gone and out of everyone's hair. Mirabel was nothing to them, and she knew it then as she stepped inside of Casita, her head down low as he moved down the hall. The sunlight shining down. Tia Pepa was happy then. Happy without her. She stopped in her tracks, turning over at the beautiful family portrait painted. From the top there was Abuela Alma and down below there she was. She shook her head, gripping the paper and ripping off her painted image. She was no Madrigal. She was no daughter to them. She was nothing. A plague upon their family. A curse. Mirabel ripped up every paper with her smiling portrait on it. There were no smiles for her. No happiness. Nothing. She threw it aside as she rushed up the steps to her bedroom. There wasn't much she wanted to take. Because everything else belonged to her grandmother. The young woman set her bag down and sighed, placing her head in her hands. She didn't let a word leave her lips. She knew Dolores would hear. And she would snitch to Isabela in an instant. And she didn't want to deal with her sister's nags and bullying right now.

She dumped her pack of embroidery thread and materials, her dresses, her coat and boots (which was an emergency item if Tia Pepa got drunk. She made it snow in the middle of May because of how much coquito she drank). She looked over as she packed, seeing the empty toddler's bed. She frowned, moving her hand against the smaller bed and brushing her fingertips against the soft emerald baby blanket. Her roommate wouldn't notice her gone now that he had his magical gift and was graciously welcomed into the Madrigal's magic circle. He'd forget once he went back into that magical room of his and made friends with the animals. At least he wouldn't be lonely. She turned away, not going to talk herself out of it at all. Mirabel closed her bag tightly, pulling on the straps as hard as she could before slinging it over her shoulder. She adjusted her glasses, looking out at the walls of her room that had become her prison. The place she had cried so much until she had no more tears for the day. She looked down as the tiles moved around her. Trying to move her back and make her stay. "Goodbye Casita." she mouthed to the floor.

She looked up, seeing the window move into a frown-like shape. She frowned as well. She'd miss this house. But the house was blessed and given to the magical Madrigal family and its job was to protect and shelter them. All she was was born with the name. She was no Madrigal at all and everyone had made that very clear. She closed the door with an exhale, looking at the home she knew would be better off without her. She exhaled as she walked towards the door. The tiles moved as if they were watching her go. Mirabel turned her head over as she made it to the front door. Seeing her mama's safe space. Her kitchen. Mirabel let out an exhale. She knew that her mother would be heartbroken to lose her, but she would get over it. It was obvious. She had forgotten Isa's bullying and water assault. She'd forget her sooner or later. But she just... she couldn't leave without something for her. Mirabel moved behind her curls, taking off the dark periwinkle-colored earrings that were a gift on her fifth birthday. She didn't really celebrate her birthday after that. Even then, no one else wished to either. She placed the earrings inside of her mom's rice pot. The bottom has imprints of burnt rice on the bottom, and so it was her mother's least favorite pot. Mirabel moved underneath of one of the cabinets and picked out a piece of paper her mother always had. The usage for her newest recipes or ideas that she needed to jot down when she woke up or she would lose it. She scribbled a not quickly, folding it as small as possible and placing it inside. She closed the lid and left the pot in its spot on the top shelf in the kitchen.

She wouldn't find it immediately, Mirabel knew. Just like she wouldn't immediately care about Mirabel's disappearance.

"Adiós mamá. Adiós papá. Los amo chicos... tanto." she mouthed again, turning her head away and wiping the tears she felt forming and stinging in her eyes. She waved at Casita one more time before stepping out of the home. She looked over, seeing the sun begin to set. She sighed, turning away and running as fast as she could away from the home. Running into the forest behind it. She bit her lips, trying to hide her sobs from her magical cousin. She rushed inside the forest, sprinting as fast as her legs would take her. Especially in her shoes. The dark green trees hiding her from the setting sun. Sweat dripping from her forehead as she just kept going and going and going. She wasn't going to stop. She couldn't. Until she was far away from Casita. Until she was too far that she was lost. Until she was so far, maybe even Dolores wouldn't even hear her, turning. She didn't want to look back. She wasn't going to look back. Mirabel was never going to back. She knew it was better. It was better this way. For them. For her. For the dream her grandmother had. For the miracle they needed to live up to.

As Mirabel turned and started moving deeper into the forest, the home's mystical candle flickered. And for the first time... wax dripped from it's side.

It had become night by the time Mirabel had reached the river. She was sweaty and tired and hungry. All she munched on was an apple during her walk. It was completely dark now. Nothing lighting her way except for the moon. She exhaled, looking at the crashing and comfortable river in front of her. She let out a sigh, trying her best to not make one sound. She crawled up to it, splashing her face with the cool water and sipping some to replenish her strength. She knew that right across would be the way out of this place. The Encanto had to have an exit if she had to keep walking until her feet were bone to find it, she'd do it. Abuela used to tell her stories about the river where she was gifted the miracle that was this Encanto and Casita. It had to be this way. She exhaled, placing her feet into the cool water and walking across the river. The water made her shoes become entirely soaked while she struggled to walk across it with the stream going downwards. Mirabel made her way across the river, seeing the bottom of her dress now soaked too. Just like last night. Her shoes made a low squeak sound as the dry dirt and her shoes made mud under her as she continued her way through the forest. The branches hit her face and her arms with each step she took as the path she took just suddenly become covered with more and more forest life. She hissed as a thorn scratched her arm in her walk. She covered her mouth, remembering that she was trying to be as silent as possible and swallowing her yelp of pain.

She just covered the scratch and walked down the path. The trees suddenly become more sparse and she found herself underneath of the moon and stars again. Only a couple of bushes and animals moving about She looked up, seeing the twinkle of each star. The stars were always so beautiful from Casita, but it didn't compare to here. They were diamonds in the sky now. Mirabel stood up, seeing a star almost blink at her. Slowly it moved. Mirabel noticed how it wasn't a star at all, it was a butterfly. A beautiful white butterfly with blue iridescent wings. It flew over to her and handed on her shoulder. Mirabel took in a deep breath to not gasp at such a beautiful creature on her. He held out her hand to it and smile as it rested on her fingers. "Hello." she mouthed.

The butterfly flapped its wings before flying out of her hand, showing her what she was now standing in front of and her soon-to-be obstacle. There in front of her, was the large mountain that surrounded the Encanto. The rocky path moving upwards. Getting almost stepper as you got higher. She sighed, pressing her back against the rocky mountain and falling down. Mirabel placed her head in her hands, considering sleeping here for the night and starting the climb tomorrow. She was exhausted. From crying. From walking. From being the irrelevant Madrigal. Some rest would do her good. Mirabel as she was about to pull her coat from her bag to use as a blanket when the butterfly appeared before her again. It rested on her back, flapping its wings again. Mirabel raised her eyebrow, looking down at the creature. As soon as she reached out for it again, it flew away and onto the mountain she was leaning against like a wall. As soon as it  touched it, Mirabel felt the rocks against her shift and the ground rumble a bit. She turned around and watched as the mountain itself slowly moved. A small hole craking inside of it and growing into a large door-shaped path. She stood up, clutching her bag as the mountain opened fully. She looked back at the butterfly, which just flapped again and stared. She pressed a finger against the opening. She was shocked it even happened. But there it was. Her exit. She smiled, pressing a hand to the mountain before pressing her forehead to it. I don't know if it's you Casita, she thought. Or the magic of this place. But... thank you. I'll never forget you.

She inhaled, stepping through the opening. It was a long opening. And Mirabel noticed as soon as she entered. The inky blackness surrounding her as she kept going. The teen exhaled and prevailed though and she walked through it. Keeping one hand on her bag and one hand on the rock wall in front of her. Attempting to use it as a guide. Her palm pressed up against it and with her speed, she accidentally cut the palm of her hand. She hisses again, pulling it away. Lucky for Mirabel, she was at the end of the path when it happened. She exhaled, running through it when she saw the moonlight giving her some form of radiance in the dark knight. She looked forward as she exited, seeing more forest in front of her. She smiled. She was out.

She made it out.

¡Ella era libre! ¡Ella era libre! Finalmente, dulce libertad.

She turned to the opening and waved goodbye once again, not knowing who it was or what it was that helped. As soon as she turned away, the doorway closed in the mountain closed up. Mirabel walked slowly in front of her. The path was different. Inside the mountain is was more of a sandy dirt that created the path. This dirt was a bit different. Coarser and thicker. The dirt below her was also way lighter. She stepped down the slanted path, following it. There had to be a reason it was there, right? The trees slowly got more adjacent to each other and became more spread out. Like they were cut to look this way. She stepped over, seeing herself on a high part of a hill or another small mountain. She came to a stop, seeing a familiar sight. Multiple torches emitting an orange glow. A village. It wasn't as big as the one back inside the mountain, but regardless of that matter, it was people. Torches lit and illuminated the way with a few people on their street.

Mirabel looked over, seeing a little boy point at her all of a sudden. Out of nowhere. She pushed her head back a bit shocked. An older man, who was either his dad or another family member, looked at him confused. He said something to her and then turned, seeing her. There were a couple of other people around them as they stood in a clearing in this village. There were people outside of the Encanto? A donkey drawn carriage was with them with some sort of goods. It looked like a spot for fishing, as there was a body of water to close them. "Hola Señorita." he called, making Mirabel jump back at the sound of another person.

The man stepped forward to her, holding out his hand to her with a friendly smile. Mirabel held out her cut hand to him, hissing when he tried to grip it comfortably and helped her down from the raised hill.

"Oh! I'm sorry." he said, seeing her cut hand. He inspected it quickly. "Are you alright? Where did you come from? There's nothing but mountain up there... and you don't have a horse or a carriage..."

Mirabel rubbed her lips together. Not knowing whether she should speak. Would Dolores hear her from here? Where did the magic stop? "I... uh... I..."

"You're hurt!" the little boy said, appearing under her legs and pointing at the cut on her arm. "And cold!"

The man eyed her, seeing where the thorn had cut her and the branches slapped her, leaving slight nicks and bruises. And even though her dress had dried at this point, the boy was right. Her legs were freezing. "You must have taken a fall. Mi hijo is right, you're as cold as ice. Ven, ven señorita. Come, let us go inside with a warm fire."

Mirabel nodded, following him as the boy behind her jumped happily as he followed. As he sat her down on the carriage and started moving it, Mirabel couldn't help but hide her grin in her hand.

Estoy fuera, para siempre.

Chapter Text

The young boy was pretty much all over Mirabel like a rabbit that was given sugar. His eyes sparkled, even under the torch-lit night, looking at this newcomer. Mirabel chuckled. He was very sweet but very talkative. "Where'd you come from? You're very pretty! This dress is amazing! Hey, where'd you come from?"

"Ah come on mijo. You're gonna talk her ear off." the older man called, pulling the cart towards the back of a small cottage. "He's a very hyper boy."

"I don't mind. I once knew a kid that drank Colombian coffee." she joked, thinking about how his mother tried to hide the coffee from him to no avail.

"A boy who drank coffee?" the boy said, his eyes turned into bright suns for a moment. Mirabel chuckled at him as she was helped down.

"Yes. It's a very wonderful bedtime story." she said. "Maybe I'll tell you about him and how he ran all around the world in three days."

If he wasn't hyper then, he sure was now. "Papa! Papa, I like her!" he jumped as they approached the front door.

The man chuckled. "You have a way with kids huh. It's a good skill for a young lady like yourself to have." he said with a grin. "Here, come in, come in, come in."

He pushed the door open, welcoming Mirabel to a very comfortable living room. It wasn't as big as Casita's, but then again Casita had three small living rooms and a massive open entrance hall for both her family and her abundance of guests. The walls were painted a beautiful burnt orange with a few different decorations all over. Her home was usually adorned with pictures of her siblings and cousins in front of their doors. There was lines of beautiful beads hanging against the wall as well as a few flowers. One here and there. It was unlike Casita in so many ways.

And she loved it.

"Mi amor. We're back." the older man called, setting his jumpy son down. "Go and get into your night clothes before bed, okay?"

"Okay papa! Bye pretty lady!" he waved at Mirabel, rushing deeper inside of the home, just as a woman the same age as the men stepped out.

"I was getting worried when-oh!" she called. "Darling, who is this?"

"She's one of the travelers." he explained.

"Oh, your arm. Come young lady. Sit, sit." she said, moving forward and taking her arm as if she had known Mirabel all her life. She sat her down inside of their living room. The couch was blue and soft to the touch. The couple shared a sweet kiss before immediately getting to work. After a few seconds, they returned with a few items. The woman with a tray and a mug and the man with a basket of what had to be medical supplies.

"There you are miss. Here. Beberlo mientras está caliente." an older woman said to her with a smile.

"Thank you." she said as the man looked at the scratches on her arm. "Oh, you don't have to-"

"It's fine." he said, immediately doting on her. Wiping away the dried blood and wrapping it gently with a dry and cool cloth.

"Here, let me take those glasses for you. They're all fogged up. I can clean it for you!" she said, moving out of the main room.

"I don't know if she said introduced herself, but that's my wife. My beautiful Martina. It's been a while since we've had a guest here, let alone a young lady like yourself. She's very excited and protective. It's where my son gets it from." he said with a smile, looking at the flash of green that was her. "My name is Jeronimo."

"It's nice to meet you." she said, sipping the warm drink in the mug. It was some kind of tea. It was sweet. Mirabel liked it.

"And what's your name?" the little boy from before asked. Appearing at her side. Mirabel jumped at bit.

"You scared me." she said jokingly.

"Sorry." he said back.

"Don't be. It's fine."

Jeronimo chuckled. "This is my youngest, Felix."

Mirabel tried to hide how her shoulders moved in. Felix was her Tio's name. And Tio Felix was the life of the party. Loud, exciting. Ready to sing and dance. There was no party in the Encanto unless he was around. She frowned, thinking of how he used to dance with her when she was little. But... just like everyone else inside of the Encanto, he stopped when there was no gift. The stares that he and everyone gave her brought a chill to her spine. They hated her. Mirabel inhaled. She wasn't there anymore. She had left. There was no more Tio Felix or Isabela or Luisa. Just her now. As free as a dove.

Mirabel turned to the two of them again, tapping the little boy on his nose. Making his eyes sparkles ten times as more. "Nice to meet you. My name is Mirabel." she said as Martina came back with her glasses. All wiped down, straightened and clean.

"There you are dear." she said, placing them in her hands. "You said you found her where darling?"

"By the mountains and terrians over that way." Jeronimo said, patching up her cheek. Where Mirabel didn't even realize she had gotten a knick.

"What were you doing out there in the mountains?" Martina asked.

"Oh... I um... I was walking... fell asleep and lost track of time... you know?" she said, quickly lying. A magical mountain opening up for her would probably make her nice hosts think that she's insane.

"I've never seen you around here. This is such a small town. I know pretty much everyone." Martina asked.

"I... um..."

Crap. She hadn't thought this whole thing entirely through.

"Ah, mi eposa. She probably came on the boat from the Caribbean. She's probably a visitor just like the people that come and visit all of the time" Jeronimo said.

"Yeah...! Yeah, that's right! I came on a boat over here. While walking I uh... I fell asleep and lost track of time." she said, going with whatever it was Jeronimo had said.

"Oh. Okay then." Martina said. "It's fine. Things happened. There's no need to be afraid or worried."

"Yes. Don't you worry young lady. We have boats coming in and going out of this village often. Pretty much daily. The next boat should be here by the day after tomorrow." he said. Mirabel nodded. She could handle that. "Until then, you can be a guest here."

"Oh yes!" Martina said.

"Oh no... I couldn't impose." Mirabel started, shaking her hands. She had been a strain on her family and enough of a problem in her own home. She couldn't be to strangers now. Maybe she'd find a nice tree and sleep under the stars.

"No! Stay!" little Felix cried with a happy grin.

"Yes. Besides, you have nowhere else to stay since you missed your boat." Jeronimo said. "It's going to be a windy night and trust me, you'll be sweaty if you sleep outside. Here it's cool and comfortable, and I consider myself pretty great company. We would love to have to company. Please. Stay."

Mirabel smiled. "I... thank you so much." she said to them. "I won't be some lazy guest and take advantage of you or annoy you! I'll do chores or anything to ask. I'll earn my keep here. I promise. I won't be a burden."

"A burden?" Martina said back, before chuckling.

"Papa, what does that mean?" little Felix asked.

"It's too late for you to be up little man." the man said, picking up the young boy and ignoring his question. With a nod, he said goodbye to the two ladies and took his son upstairs.

Martina moved to Mirabel's side. "Where did you get such a silly idea like that about being a burden?" she said. "A pretty young lady like you shouldn't fill your head up with those things."

Mirabel frowned. "Sorry."

"Don't be. I just don't want you to think of yourself in a way that's so horrible. I've only known you for a while, but if my little baby likes you then I do too! You've been very polite so far, how does that equal burden? Listen Mirabel, we love having company and you aren't a trouble to us. In any way, shape or form." Martina said with a smile, pushing her glasses up further on her nose. "¿Entiendes señorita?"

Mirabel smiled at her. Not just because she was being nice, but because for the first time in a long time, she felt like it was a lecture she needed. It reminded her of her mother's positive affirmations towards her. But they had stopped a while ago while her parents were constantly pulled away from her by Abuela Alma and Isabela. Martina didn't have any knowledge of her being the giftless Madrigal. The family shame. She to her was just... sweet little Mirabel who had gotten lost. She was finally someone other than her family's little punching bag. Finally someone for her. "Entiendo. Muchas gracias." she said.

She'd only been in this town for an hour, and away from her home and the Encanto a couple more. But in that short amount of time after fifteen years of her life never amounting to the standards her Abuela and family set, she could exhale. And the breath that left her felt magestic.

"Come now, bonita!" she said. "Let's get some food in you. Have you eaten?"

Her gentle hands held Mirabel's wrists as she pulled her up and into her kitchen. The warm touch of another that wasn't a shove. It was so comforting. Mirabel felt like crying.

Back in the Encanto, it was a downright celebration.

Music played inside of the magical Madrigal home as people laughed and danced, congratulating the couple on their recent engagement. Mariano held Isa in her arms gently as they swayed to and fro to the song. Beautiful fireworks letting up from outside and casting a blue and pink glow on the two that would soon wed. Dolores from the corner of the room, witnessed with a lovestruck look on her lips and face at the couple. Wishing she could be in Isabela's place now or even just one day, while Camilo was having the time of their life, speaking with everyone while shifting as them. Abuela was comfortable in her seat, watching the party unfold around her. Seeing the smiles on her family's faces. Seeing them worry for nothing. Seeing them comfortable. Things were for once... perfect. No fear of attacks. No worry about tomorrow. Her family was happy inside of their Casita and the smiles were so wide, it made her want to tear up.

As the night turned into early morning, the village folk began to leave and the band packed up their items. Mariano bid his fiancee goodbye and followed his mama home while Pepa carried Antonio to his new, jungle-like room. Julieta immediately started on a cup of Colombian coffee to help keep the older ones up to clean up alongside of Casita and the magic. Alma always said that despite the magic, you need to work hard and take care of the problems you created. "Luisa, can you move the piano back to it's place and help the band get their instruments in the cart?" Agustin said to his daughter.

"On it!" she said back, moving to their side and picking up their instruments like it weighed a feather.

"Isabela. I know you are the bride-to-be and the happy one, but this confetti and all of these flower petals need to go." Abuela Alma called, moving her hand at the pile as if no one else could see it.

Isabela sighed. "I know Abuela. I know." she said, trying to hide her whiny tone. Alma nodded, not arguing any more and knowing it would be swept up soon. But she wanted everyone in bed. It was already late.

"I'll get Mirabel to help you." she said.

Isabela groaned loudly. "Leave her up there, I can clean this myself." she said.

"Enough Isa with your rudeness towards your sister. Don't think that we don't need to have a discussion just because you are engaged." Julieta snapped at her eldest, entering their main hall with a huge box for the trash.

"Calmar a mi esposa. Calmar, it has been a long day." Agustin soothed.

"Did she even come down?" Felix called, looking down from the balcony as his wife leaned on him for support. She was an inch close to heading off to bed herself. The drinks were strong that night as well.

"Typical Mirabel." Camilo stated as they snagged a churro off of the dessert tray. Watching as Abuela Alma moved up the steps to towards nursery.

"I don't hear her doing anything else. I think she's sleeping." Dolores said, holding a hand to her ear for good measure.

"Leave her mama." Julieta called as Alma had reached the door. "If she's asleep let her sleep."

Abuela Alma exhaled. "Fine." she said, coming back down. "Hurry along and clean so we can head to bed. Casita, will you help us speed things up?"

The house nodded with its tiles. But it seemed weak and... saddened.

"Are you okay Casita?" Pepa asked as she came downstairs to help. Felix rushing to her side to coax his precious wife to sleep.

Luisa raised her eyebrow.

"Probably tired from the party as well." Isabela said. "Casita was playing with the kids all night."

"That is true." Abuela said, sighing.

"Abuela, come to bed. Come on." Dolores said, helping her grandmother. "Bedtime. Come on Abuela. Come on mama."

The family just moved around after that little conversation, continuing their mission of cleaning up from the party. The door behind the nursey just standing there as usual. No one knocked. No one checked. Not a single person, including Dolores, had even noticed how it was empty on the other side or even cared enough to check. There, the defining silence that they never noticed before from behind the green door. The house slowly rumbled under the laughs and chuckles while cleaning. A hard crack hitting and forming on the room side of the door.

The first time since she was born, Mirabel was woken up without Casita. The home would usually rumble the floor underneath of her bed, signaling it's time to get and started on her day. The tiles would wave at her and the floor would move her shoes in front of her so she would be ready to move about the home and village. This time, there was none of that. The sunlight came in through the window of the guest room. Shining down on Mirabel's face and tickling her nose. The bright sunlight making her dream come to a complete stop. The young girl hummed, opening her eyes and slowly sitting up. The blankets were thick and comfortable over her body, despite how warm it was outside. She picked up her glasses from the small bedside table by her side, slowly getting rid of her blurry world and welcoming in the clear and comfortable one. This room was so much different than her bedroom back with Casita. It looked well kept for a guest bedroom. The walls were painted a foamy cream color. And there wasn't much inside since it was a guest room, other than a small wooden wardrobe. But it was comfortable. And much more comfortable than the nursery she slept in all her life. Mirabel sat up, stretching her arms. "Well... I'm here." she whispered, looking up at the open window and seeing the sun. "I hope you're not mad at me for leaving Abuelo." she said, just as a gentle knock came at the door.

"May I come in?"

Mirabel nodded as she called. Martina stepped into the room, dressed in a beautiful cabernet gown, unlike yesterday's white and blue. Her hair still seemed to be a mess from last night's rest. But she didn't care. She smiled at her, holding a folded pile. "How did you sleep last night?"

"I slept well. Thank you. This bed is very comfortable." Mirabel said honestly. Tapping the mattress unconsciously.

"I'm so glad. Here, I didn't mean to go through your stuff, but I grabbed a dress for you to wear. I started a bath for you." she said.

"You didn't have to do that though ma'am-"

"Oh silencio con esa tontería." Martina said to her. "It's fine. You are a guest. Also... while I was looking for a dress, I couldn't help but notice all of this beautiful handiwork on it! I had to say something about it, it is amazing!. I must say Mirabel, probably the best work I've ever seen!"

"Gracias Martina." she said back with a smile. Her mom and little Antonio were the only ones who noticed her love of embroidery and complimented it. Lupe as well, as he always supplied her with more thread and needles.

"You have quite a gift." she said, rubbing her shoulder.

Gift.

Gift.

Gift.

Gift.

Mirabel had no gift. No magic power. Nothing to offer. She knew it. Everyone knew. The looks she received. The hate she got. The way she was an imposter in her own home. It hurt. She had no gift then... she wasn't a Madrigal. Mirabel forced herself to exhale. She wasn't there anymore. She wasn't a Madrigal anymore. She knew that this feeling was going to stay with her for a while, but right now she needed to understand that a magic bestowed on her family no longer had any hold on her. She was completely and utterly normal. Just like everybody else.

"No... it's nothing. Just a hobby." Mirabel told her, her voice getting lower as she spoke. Gripping the blankets in her fist.

Even though she said all of that to herself, a part of her heart still hated the word. She never wanted to hear it again. Ever.

"Oh please. Something like this is absolutely extraordinary. My mother used to embroider but nothing comes close to this. And these butterflies. Absolutely amazing." Martina said, mesmerized by the colors that Mirabel spent her nights sewing into her dress. There colors faded into each other. The blues and pinks making a gorgeous ombre on what was a plain white and red dress.

She wasn't used to compliments like this. Not used to someone actually being happy with what she had done. Martina's crooked smile was true. Not pitiful like she was sure everyone else's was. She slowly smiled. "Gracias Martina." she said, looking over at the dress herself.

"One of these days, you'll have to make me something." she said with a smile.

"I promise." she said back.

"Come, come. The bath is right there. You get all cleaned up and come down for some breakfast." Martina said.

Mirabel nodded, leaving the room with her. She showed her to their bathroom, where the tub was already filled with warm water and baby pink bubbles. Mirabel let out a huge breath of fresh air as she sank into the tub and relaxed. She didn't take long, washing up and getting dressed as to not let the water go freezing cold or waste time. She met with Martina downstairs moments later, where she was in the middle of placing things into a basket. Martina waved at her, setting down the basket and putting on her shoes. "I have an extra pair that should fit you." she told her with a smile.

"Thank you. You're very kind." Mirabel said as the shoes were handed to her. They were the same as her other shoes. Just a caramel-colored brown instead of the rosy pink. She liked them. They were cute and comfortable. "Um... where is Jeronimo? And Little Felix?"

"Oh. They went out to the market. My husbands sells the fish he catches and Felix loves to go with him. Don't you worry your head about it. They'll be back this afternoon." Martina told her, taking her arm as they left the house. It was much more hustling and bustling that morning. People were walking all around, speaking to each other with smiles on their face. The simplest of conversations that Mirabel heard made her smile widely. No talk of magic. The gifts that her family had. No. It was like any other village. Perfect. Normal. Sencillo. Martina exhaled, looking over at everyone around her. They all seemed so perfect. So happy.

"So where are we going?" Mirabel asked. "To meet them at the market?"

"Not really. We're going to go and meet my other son. He works over at the docks. He comes home late, leaves early. But he never eats breakfast. That niño desagradecido. I want to drop off some food to him, and also you can meet him." Martina said with a smile, walking with her through the path and into the main town. People all around speaking happily in Spanish or English. Little kids running around and playing. As they walked towards the docs, Mirabel noticed the complete opposite of this village. The towns back in the Encanto were more warm and brown tones with beautiful raspberry flowers all over the place, as courtesy of Isabela. And the sunlight shining down and made the roofs shimmer with slight gold. This town had more of a cool-toned aesthetic. The homes were a cream color, the roofs were more of a beautiful ocean blue. Instead of flowers all over the place, there were decorative strings with beads and gems that shined. Ranging from oranges to greys to the same blues that she saw before. It was like something out of a storybook. Mirabel had never left home before, but now she felt more at home here than she ever did.

Martina helped Mirabel down the steps as they reached the end of the village towards the right side and the start of the docks. There was a wide-open space with a few buildings and ships waiting at the sea right next to the buildings. Large and small boats swaying in the waters tied up and awaiting an adventure. There were men moving about. Fixing things on the boats, speaking with others or just joking and laughing.

"Now where is my boy?" Martina called, looking around at all of the people there. Mirabel hummed, trying to look for him with her.

"I don't know who we're looking for honestly-" she said.

"Oh! There he is!"

She pointed forward at a wide ship. It was a white ship. There were no sails, but she was a beauty. Not one thing out of place. A couple of other men on the boat were in the middle of replacing said sails while others were bringing in boxes off the ship. Probably goods and produce they traded. But there were a lot of men there. Mirabel couldn't tell who was Martina's older child. There were ten other men on that ship.

"Ian! Ian!" Martina called with no shame. Mirabel chuckled at her, seeing her jump up and down and wave her hand high in the air. A man on the boat, dressed in a similar red color to his mother, turned around. He smiled.

He said something to the others he was working with and walked over to the end of the dock, walking down the slanted path. "Mama." he called.

"You missed breakfast. And left me without a hug. What kind of son are you? Nevermind, I'm not mad. Here. I told you about working on an empty stomach." Martina said.

"I grabbed something on the way over." he tried to defend.

"Lies! The market is on the other side, there is no way you would have made it here for work on time!" she said, slapping the teen's shoulder in a playful way.

Mirabel couldn't help but chuckle. This banter was so adorable. Ian obviously was joking as his mother worried about him. Her mom might have always been on her team, but she would always forget. She knew that now, she probably didn't even remember by Mirabel ran from the engagement dinner. Their son and mother love was just so true and obvious as a hug was shared between then in between the back and forth. She wished she had had that.

"Ian, here I want you to meet someone. This is Mirabel." she said. Mirabel smiled, waving her hand at him. Ian was definitely a handsome young man. Easy on the eyes, but not like Mariano was. Mariano was more of a war hero kind of handsome. This Ian was scruffy village kid kind of handsome. His skin was a warm light tan like his mother's, and his long brunette hair was wavy like his father's. There was a small scar under his chin and his eyes were a hazel color like highlighted in the sun. There was no denying that he was his mother and father's son.

Ian smiled. "Pleased to meet you señorita." he said with a grin.

"Your father found her last night. She fell asleep and missed her boat back over." Martina said.

"Really?" he asked. "That sounds awful. I'm so sorry."

"Yeah... I'm just really clumsy. You know. I lose track of time so easily!" Mirabel said chuckled, rubbing at the bandage that wrapped her cut hand. She hoped she wasn't giving it away.

"No need to fret. My Ian is a ship captain. I'm sure that he'll be happy to help you get home tomorrow." Martina said.

"Where are you headed?" Ian asked.

Mirabel's eyes widened. "Oh I... um..." she started. "I'm going to... uh um..."

Think Mirabel think!, she yelled at herself. Come on! She said the Carribbean! Abuela used to have family there! She said it once to me... before... before... nevermind that! What was it? What did she day? How did I forget it. It was something with a P?

"P-P-P-"

"Puerto Rico?" the mother and son said in unison.

"Yes! Yes there! I was just about to say it!" Mirabel said with a laugh. She had no idea if that was it but that's where she'd be going apparently.

"Lucky for you, the next ship leaves tomorrow afternoon. I'll be sure to get you there safely. I'll ask to lead it." Ian said with a smile, turning to his mother and taking a hold of the basket she brought. "Gracias mama."

"Now he wants to be a good son."

"Oh! Dammit!"

The three of them turned over at the sound of frustrated cursing. On another ship, there were three men setting down what looked like new sails. A pristine white color that looked so pure to be real. "What's the problem Leo?" Ian called.

"The rats got into the sails again!" he called. "There's holes all over. My hands are too small to fix them."

"I'll order some more. We can be-"

"Or, Mirabel can help you!" Martina called out of her son and the other workers on the dock.

"She can?" Ian asked, his head tilted to the side in interest and confusion.

"I can?" Mirabel asked, just as confused.

"Yes! You can!" Martina said to her with a smile. "Look."

Ian looked down at her dress, seeing the beautiful embroidery. The threads sewn taught and perfect. Nothing out of order. "You did this yourself?"

Mirabel bit her lip. "Yeah, I did."

"Wow! Wow! This is amazing! You have to be really good with threads and needles and that kind of stuff right? Can you help us?" Ian grinned. "I would really appreciate it if you could help us Mirabel." he said.

Mirabel hummed. She was never really asked for help. Whenever she tried to, her family shooed her away. Especially Abuela and Isabela. And even some of the villagers knew that they wouldn't need Mirabel's help if her family was two feet away from her. He actually wanted her help. Her skill. He practically begged for it. She exhaled, clearing her throat as Ian led her up onto the boat. The man spread out the sail for her, showing her the holes that the rats had bitten and chewed through, most likely trying to get to the provisions the sailors kept in the same room or across the room. She exhaled. Nothing she couldn't handle. They were big but not big enough to completely ruin the sail. She had sewed holes in her dresses dozens of times. She'd done so for Lupe a couple of times as well and once for Isabela's dress because her Abuela demanded help. Mirabel turned over to Ian with a smile. "Do you have any thread?" she asked with a smile, holding out her hand

Ian stared at her for a second and nodded. "Leo, can you grab la señora some thread?"

The man did just that, rushing off the boat and over to one of the shops closest to the docks. He came rather quickly with what Mirabel saw as way too much thread and needles big and small. She smiled, sitting down cross-legged on the boat and starting to sew. The man had gotten her plain thread, which she sure would work out better for the ship and its sails. But she was used to the colorful threads on her dresses and the beautiful way she could arrange them. Into flowers, rainbows and butterflies. But this was just as fine. She loved sewing regardless. As she sewed, she thought about how it became her love. Because of her shunning of the Madrigal family. She wasn't needed and wasn't cared for. And so, she took up sewing inside of the room while everyone else worried and fussed over anything and everything else. Usually, she was just in her room. Crying off into the night. She felt most comfortable doing her favorite thing on the days where she wanted to stay hydrated.

She worked pretty fast under the sun. A smile on her face even as the needle pricked her finger. Closing up the wholes with her thread and making a closed spiderweb-like hole around it. She smiled, cutting the thread with her teeth and turning over to face Ian. Who had been standing behind her the entire time.

She also noticed how Martina was now gone.

"Oh. Where did your mother go?" she asked, standing up. Her leg cramping slightly for sitting for so long.

"She went off to the market to meet with my papa." he said, looking down at her stitching. "This is well done. I've never seen someone stitch something like this... and so quickly too."

"Thanks." she said.

"No. Thank you. Now the sails are almost fixed." Ian said to her with a smile. He rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward cough, trying to hide his blushing cheeks. "You truly have a gift Mirabel."

She smiled back. This time, the word didn't pound into her head. "I wouldn't say a gift." she said back.

"I would."

Mirabel smiled again, looking down at the sail. A plain cloth that she had fixed that really helped Ian and his crew. She helped. She had given back. Without the Madrigal name. Mirabel coughed awkwardly as while, trying to hide how choked up she was getting over something like this. Ian smiled. "Uh... I have all of this food my mother brought. How about you and I share it? As a thank you? Have you eaten?"

"Oh, no I haven't yet." she said, forgetting that Martina had shoved some fruit into her before they left her home and she technically lied.

"Then let's share." he said, holding out his hand to her.

Mirabel smiled. "Okay."

Chapter Text

Isabela groaned, turning her head from one side of her pillow to the other. Slowly waking up. Feeling her bones slightly crick. Isabela sat up, running a hand through her hair as she looked out through her window. Seeing the sun pretty high. Isabela raised her eyebrow. She was usually up before the sun rose, for the sake of her Abuela's wishes to help those around her and serve the Encanto. Isabela moved out of the bed, Casita moving some of her flower petals aside so she could touch the wooden floor beneath it. Isabela moved outside of the bedroom, seeing almost everyone groggy and exhausted. Despite getting a goodnight's rest. "Why is it so late?" cousin Dolores called, yawning.

Abuela Alma moved out of her room, wiping her eyes. "Must be the party." she said with a yawn. "Casita, can you help us get ready with some coffee? Julieta-"

"I'm on it mama." she said to her, moving down the steps.

"Why is everyone up so late in the day?" Isabela asked.

Antonio moved away from his brother, knocking on Mirabel's door. "Mirabel! Mirabel, wake up!" he cried.

"She's not in there bud." Dolores said.

"So she's petty today." Isabela scoffed, rolling her eyes. "That bitch."

"Language!" Luisa snapped before her father could, rushing down the steps with a snarl on her lips.

"She probably just forgot. Be nice." Tia Pepa reprimanded, moving down the steps along with everyone else.

Despite the late start, the morning went on how it usually did. The family ate and then moved on with their day. Abuela looked forward at her family, clutching her mug of coffee and ready to instruct them on their tasks for the day. On how their community needed them and what needed to be done. And not only that, they wanted the wedding to be as close as humanly possible and the planning already started and preparation began with the snap of the eldest Madrigal's fingers. Isabela forgot all about the late start and last night and Mirabel, like she always did, excitedly listening as there were talks for beautiful dresses and flowers on her day. Luisa was, of course, was asked to do the heavy lifting. They needed a clearing for the wedding and some trees needed to moved. The strongest woman moved into the forest, nodding and waving to the people around her as she made her way down the village path. She looked down, ignoring practically everyone as she slowly made her way inside of the village. Her thoughts scrambled from the past few days.

"Luisa!"

The tallest Madrigal turned over, seeing the familiar captain approaching her. "Buenos dias Mariano."

"Hey." he said back. "I'm glad I ran into you. I got up early this morning since you and your familia are up early but I-"

"Yeah. Late start." she said. "What can I help you with?"

"I hope I don't sound rude, but-"

"No not at all. What is it?"

"Everyone has been running around, getting ready for the wedding but I really wanted to speak with my soon to be sister in law... sisters in laws." he said. Before groaning. "I'm sorry, it's not that I don't want to speak to you but, I've seen you during the engagement party and during the proposal and I didn't see Mirabel. She's going to be my youngest sister in law and I don't have siblings until... I have kids... but the point is! I really just want to speak with her about all of this and thought she'd give me pointers on joining the family. She talks about you guys like you have pictures in the sky."

Luisa looked down. "She does?"

"Every morning a smile on her face while she talks about her incredibly strong sister Luisa or graceful sister Isabela. And her cousins and her parents. It's like she's telling a story." Mariano said. Luisa felt her heart break at those words. "I haven't seen her. Maybe you've seen Mirabel around?"

Luisa shook her head. "I don't ever know where she is honestly. She's gone one moment, here the next... then gone again." she said, pinching the inside of her palm.

Mariano frowned. "It's alright. I was just hoping she and I could talk. She's so great and planning little get together for the ninos. I hope she and I could talk about the wedding. And she's always been begging to look at the poems I have... do you know if she is okay?"

Truth be told, she knew Mirabel wasn't okay. In the slightest. Her adorable smile had faded over the years and she was always off in some corner. "Why wouldn't she be?"

"She just has this sad expression on her face all the time. I'm just a concerned party."

"I think she's just-"

"Under the weather." called a voice. Luisa rolled her eyes as her sister strolled over, right behind her fiance. Mariano smiled at the sight of her. Taking her and hand and pressing a kiss against the side of her wrist. His cheeks flushing a shade of peachy pink at just the sight of the beautiful Madrigal girl. "Mirabel's just not feeling all too well. That's why she didn't come. Don't bother her with wedding stuff right now. We just want her to get better."

Luisa's nostrils flared. This coming from the same person that called their little sister a bitch for not waking them up like she always did.

"I'm sure she'll be better once she has one of your mother's delicious arepas." he said, turning to Luisa. "If you see her Luisa, let her know I want to talk."

"I will." Luisa said with a faux salute.

"I have to go. I'll see you soon then." he said, kissing her cheek now before making his way back up the path.

Isabela waved goodbye to him. "You and I both know that the wedding planning is already going smoothly. I don't want her to just... get involved and ruin everything like-hey!" she called, seeing Luisa walking away from her. "Hey! Luisa! Luisa! Luisa!"

"I heard you." Luisa said back, not even turning to face her.

"Then why aren't you saying anything? What's the matter?" Isa asked as Luisa gripped a tree and threw it down onto the ground by her older sister. Luisa didn't respond back. "Luisa. Luisa!"

"Por el amor de todo lo que es santo, what Isabela?!" Luisa yelled, turning over to face her. Her face riddened with nothing but anger.

"What is your problem? I haven't done anything to you." she said.

"Yes. It wasn't something you did to me." Luisa said, turning away once more. Gripping a tree and throwing it.

Isabela waved her hand, moving a branch from the tree she was about to move and making it wrap around her sister's middle. Making her spin and turn back to her. "Are you talking about Mirabel?"

"You made me pour water all over her!"

"That wasn't me!"

"Isa!"

"Okay fine, maybe it was me. But it was a harmless little prank."

"A prank is funny." Luisa snapped back. "That wasn't funny at all. It was petty and rude. You did that on purpose because you didn't want her at the proposal. That was unneeded. You did that on purpose. Like you always do. Whenever you don't want her there, you always find a way to make sure she's gone. It was the water than night. Then the yelling and the screaming the other night. Then making her fall in mud. Calling her a bitch for something she didn't even do. " Luisa said, getting in Isabela's face as she spoke. Enunciating each and every syllable.

"All of those are pranks. Except for the cursing part but come on Luisa! Mirabel knows I'm joking. Eres una hermanita demasiado sensible." Isa said, pushing it aside and waving her hand in the air.

"I'm not being sensitive about the fact that you treat our sister like some random person in the town that you don't like."

"Then why don't you say anything about it! You could have done something!"

"I'm not cleaning up the mess you made! I'm not going to apologize to her after all you done to her! And because of you, Mirabel won't even speak to me! Won't even look at me! Let alone anyone, including mama! You need to apologize! You crossed the line with her so many times, it shocks me why she still even tries to help you! If I were I would have stopped trying years ago!" Luisa said. "That's our little sister like she's a villainess."

"You can't blame this all on me! You're just as bad for ignoring her and not speaking to her. You can say she doesn't speak to you all you want but you know just as much as me that you don't take any initiative." Isabela yelled back, moving up and getting in her sister's face. Luisa just stared down at her, looking at her.

Her lips curled into an angry snarl and she turned away from Isabela again, grabbing one of the trees around her and throwing it across the forest with all of her strength. An angry yell coming from her mouth before a loud boom signaled that the tree had impacted with the ground. Isabela jumped back at her sister's obvious frustration. Luisa exhaled, turning back to face her sister. "You are a horrible sister... just as much as I am." she said back, turning away and leaving. Completely and utterly angry. "But at least I don't sit around and pretend to everyone else that it is the opposite."

Isabela stomped on her foot. "Where are you going?!"

"Away from you!" she called back.

"Luisa come on, we can talk about this!" Isa cried, following her. Luisa ignored her, storming back to the house in her anger. Her stomps making the rocks around her jolt up. Alma noticed immediately from her spot outside of the house, where she was picking glassware.

"Ah, mis nietos, ¿cuál es el problems?" she said.

"Nothing, I'm fine." Luisa said, not taking her anger out of her grandmother. She pressed a kiss to her cheek and moved inside. Her stomps now calmer. Isabela scoffed, watching her walk off.

"Ugh!" she cried.

"Isabela, did you get the dress order in yet?" Abuela Alma asked. "Like I asked you to do?"

Isabela exhaled. Her argument with Luisa had made her forget. "I'm sorry Abuela I-"

"You are one getting married and you haven't even gotten your dress order in yet? Ah, what is the matter? You want this to be a disaster? You want me to die knowing your wedding wasn't good?" she said with a scoff. "Do I have to do everything myself.

Isabela exhaled. "I'll get the order in." she said, moving inside the house. "Damn!" she said to herself frustrated. She looked over, seeing Luisa march up into her room. "Luisa, wait!"

Luisa closed the door immediately before she could get a word in. Isabela clenched her fists again, the flowers around her expressing the same emotions and wilting. "Ah!" Dolores called from the kitchen, setting down her water and walking over to her cousin's side. "The flowers prima!"

"Oh." Isa called, exhaling. The flowers slowly going back to perfect bloom.

"Are you going to talk to Mirabel like Luisa asked?" she asked.

"You heard all that?"

"You know I did."

Isabela gave her cousin a look, knowing she was listening in on their argument before she could even think about it. "No. No I don't need to apologize." she said back, crossing her arms. "It was a harmless prank. Just... water"

"A prank so harmless that she hasn't come out of her room yet." Dolores called, snickering. "It was kind of funny though." The two cousin's snickered for a second. "Hey uh... I wanted to say that I'm really happy for you, that you're marrying Mariano. He's been in love with you since we were like sixteen. You two will be perfect together."

Isabela frowned at the name. "Thanks." she said. "I hope he'll fit in here. I mean, a guard captain and the flower queen of the Encanto... would make a perfect fit..."

"What's wrong?"

"I guess... I didn't expect Abuela to move with this wedding so fast. I thought I'd get some breathing room. We already have talk of the venue and the dress, I know mama is already getting started on the cake! And it's been only two days since I got the ring." she said, holding up the simple silver band with a single gem.

"You know Abuela though. She's just excited. She hasn't seen a wedding since my mom's. She's just really happy to see you so happy and so she's going overboard." Dolores said. "Kind of how... you did with the water?"

She sighed. "Maybe I did-"

"Isabel!"

The two jumped, turning over and seeing Julieta standing there. "Mama..." Isa called.

Julieta slammed her basket of ingredients onto the kitchen with a loud slam, staring at her eldest with a snarl and her nose turned up. "Dolores, your mother is calling you to help with moving Antonio out of the nursery." she said. "Go."

"I didn't hear any..." she started, before seeing her aunt's face. The usually sweet woman was filled with rage. "Oh, Oh! I hear her now! Okay then. I'll go! Bye!"

Dolores bolted out of the kitchen, making her little squeaak that she always made. Julieta sighed. "Luisa! Get your butt down here, now!" she yelled. Her other daughter moved down the steps and to her side. "I am... I ... I can't even begin to express how disappointed I am in the two of you! I am so mad, oh if I was your Tia it would be grey skies and rain and thunderstorms! Bullying your sister like that!"

"I didn't do anything mama!" Luisa defended.

"You may not have magically made the plants grow and take up more space, but you let it happen and didn't even apologize!" Julieta called. "And you Isabela! As the oldest I expect better from you! Much better! Much different! Mirabel is your sister. She loves you more than anything and you treat her like a weed in your garden! She wanted to support you on your night!"

Isabela looked down. "I didn't do anything... the plant was big and overwatered. It spilled. It happens."

"You did on purpose and you know it! Stop lying!" Luisa yelled.

"What is with all the yelling?" Pepa yelled from upstairs. A dark grey cloud forming over her head and the home.

"Mama." Dolores said, rubbing her back.

She exhaled for a second, the clouds dissipating. "Lo siento hermana." she said. "Antonio is napping. Please, can you talk outside at least if you're going to be loud? I'm trying to clean the nursery while he sleeps and get his room filled."

"Actually this is the perfect opportunity for the two of you to apologize to your sister." Julieta snapped, pushing the two of them up the stairs. The household chef smiled at her sister as they approached the nursery door.

"Mama..." Isabela whined, not wanting to do this.

"Hush!" Julieta snapped at her.

"Mirabel?" Pepa called knocking. "Mirabel, are you in there? Dolores is she in there?"

"I thought she was all day. I didn't hear her leave." Dolores said with a shrug. Pepa opened the door, seeing the nursery empty. She shrugged, moving to gather her youngest items.

"Her bed is made." Julieta said. "Mirabel doesn't make her bed... ever."

"Casita probably did it mama." Luisa said, calming her already heightened nerves. "Mirabel probably left this morning with everyone like she always does. It's the afternoon. She's probably off playing with the village kids. Right Dolores?"

Dolores held out her ear. "I don't hear her doing that though." she said.

"Then... then maybe she's out there reading..." Pepa said, the worry on her face showing with a small gust of wind picking up inside of the room. "She has been trying to finish that book of hers for two years now."

"She's probably playing some hide and seek game with the kids." Isabela called. "I'm leaving."

She turned on her heel and sashayed out of the room. Luisa scoffed at her. "I'll go out and look for her after my chores." Luisa said. "Don't worry mama. I'm sure she's fine."

Julieta sighed, leaving the room with her daughter. Pepa gathered Antonio's items and left with Dolores by her side. No one noticing the giant crack in the door. Casita's tiles shaking as the crack slowly got bigger inside of the room now that she was no longer there.

The night slowly fell. Dinner was served and once, practically everyone forgot about Mirabel and her disapperance. Mariano took her place at the dinner table and made everyone smile as he ate his mondongo. His place was practically made without the wedding even happening yet. The night slowly ended and Abuela insisted that the tall man spend the night. Of course, the man couldn't and wouldn't say no to his soon-to-be family. As everyone slowly begun to get ready for a good night's rest, Luisa couldn't help but look out at the nursery door. Did Mirabel come back? Was she okay? She hadn't come to dinner. She hadn't even let anyone know that she was back. Luisa knew now that she couldn't be okay. Despite everything, she had always let her family know that she was here. That she was okay. Not a word from her mouth, of course she was not okay. That she was behind that door, depressed. She exhaled, just wanting everything right with her little sister. She slowly moved up the steps and walked to the nursery. "Mirabel?" she called. "It-It's Luisa are you hungry?"

There was no response on the other end. Of course. Why would Mirabel speak to her after everything. So many years of nothing from her or anyone? She had every right to ignore her.

"Mirabel... there's dinner downstairs. Waiting for you." she said, her head and voice low. Again, nothing from behind the door. "Please. Mirabel, I want to speak with you. Please, open the door."

"Luisa! Leave your sister alone. Come and help us clean up from dinner." Abuela called from below the steps. Seeing the tallest Madrigal just looking forward the emerald green door.

Luisa ignored her, knocking on the door a bit harder. "Mirabel? I want to speak with you." she said again.

"Luisa!" Abuela called. "Come down here this instant!"

"Luisa, she's probably sleeping..." Agustin called to her daughter.

"Without eating?" Julieta said. Agustin sighed, knowing now that he had made it worse and now his wife was worrying.

"Mirabel? Open the door." she called, as everyone gathered downstairs below her. This time, slamming her fists against the door.

"What's going on?" Mariano asked, seeing all of the commotion in the home.

"Nothing. It's nothing! " Isa said to him. "Luisa, enough!"

"Is Mirabel alright?"

"Please open the door hermana." she called, just as Dolores let out a gasp. Luisa turned around at the sound, seeing her dropping the plate in her hands. It shattering below her feet.

"Cariño." Felix called, moving to her side. "What happened? What's the matter?!"

"She... I didn't hear her come back." she whispered to her father. "I don't hear her in the room."

Luisa's eyes widened, turning over and kicking the door open. The doorknob breaking immediately on impact as it fell down on the ground. The room was just as empty as before. "She's gone!"

Julieta rushed up the steps, seeing the room still empty. "Where... where is she?" she gasped.

Isabela stomped her foot. "Are you guys being serious? You're all overreacting. Mirabel probably fell asleep in a tree somewhere like she always does." she said.

"Isabela's right. You know Mirabel. Free-spirited with her head in the clouds." Abuela said.

"Mama!" Pepa called, seeing how completely ignore the situation at hand.

"But I don't hear her... I don't hear her anymore..." Dolores said. "I don't hear her at all. No breathing, no... footsteps. She's not here..."

Finally, Isabela's and Abuela's face shifted. That wasn't possible. Mirabel was always here. She was always there inside of Casita. It was not possible that she couldn't be here. Mirabel, the spunky glasses girl, loved Casita. Why... why... no. She couldn't be gone. It wasn't possible. Her eyes widened. "She... she what..." Isabela gasped.

"I'm going to look for her." Luisa said, moving past her grandmother once she descended the steps.

"I'm coming with you." Mariano called. Just as she called to him, the house started to rumble. The candles that illuminated the home during the night started to flicker, a few of them blowing out completely. Cracks hitting inside of the home's foundation. Roof tiles falling down above them and the floor tiles shaking like leaves.

"Casita?" Antonio called, looking down at his home. He's never seen it like this. No one has.

Luisa stepped back, grabbing her mother and pulling her back as one of the huge roof tiles almost fell by her. Dolores gasped as rubble almost fell on her before Camilo grabbed her and pulled her back into a protective hug. Mariano turned around, covering Isabela as dust and rubble fell on them. His back catching the brunt of the hit. The house slowly stopped its rumbling. The family all let out a breath they had been holding and slowly letting one another go. Worry still evident on their faces.

"Mariano, your back!" Dolores called, seeing his shirt ripped from the brick and scratches among them.

He let out a hiss. "I'm fine. I'm fine."

"No you're not." Isabela said.

"Tia Julieta!" Dolores called.

"Here, eat." she said, to the table and looking for the roll that wasn't touched by rubble before shoving it into his gob.

"What was that?" Felix asked, looking at his wife.

"Abuela, what's happening?" Isabela cried.

Abuela just stared at the group in front of her. Shock was written all over her face as a tear slipped down her eye and down her cheekbone. A shock that hasn't been there since she had lost her precious Pedro. She moved up the steps, ignoring the cries from everyone around her that were so worried about the home and what was going to happen next. She moved as Casita made bigger stairs for her, rushing over to her bedroom as fast as she could in her dress. "Mama!" Julieta cried, running after her.

Abuela rushed into her room, walking past her bed and her vanity and up the steps into her small private patio. Where the candle resided. The gasp that left her mouth scared Dolores and Julieta alike. The candle was dripping wax all over its stone holder and had melded onto its right side. The wax still slowly dripping down. The fire itself had stopped emitting its magical, golden glow. It was just a candle again. The butterfly imprints were melted over now and gone. "The magic..." she gaped, touching the candle and hissing as the hot wax hit her fingers. It burned her. For the first time since she was in the middle of the river, cradling three toddlers, the candle actually burned her.

Julieta's hands covered her mouth in shock. Looking at her mother.

"The magic is fading?" Dolores said, repeating her grandmother from downstairs.

Luisa's face turned red with worry as she scoffed, turning away. The worry and sadness on her tia's face immediately made a rain storm happen. "L-Luisa!" Isabela called. "Luisa wait!"

"I'm going to find Mirabel." she snapped at her, rushing out in the rain looking for the doe-eyed girl she knew as her baby sis.

No one slept that night, waiting for Luisa to return. Hoping and praying that she would come back with Mirabel. Safe and sound. They didn't care if she was hurt. They didn't care if she was sick or wet or even unconscious. They just needed to know that she was okay. The rain continued as Pepa's worry started to get worse, much like everyone else. Isabela sat right in front of the house on it's front steps. Her knees pulled into her chest as she looked out on the path that led her family and others to town or back. Casita covering her from the rain with the tiles on the roof sliding to make an awning. The flowers wilted as she hugged her knees, just looking out for any sign of her sisters. Camilo stayed right near her, tapping their foot nervously. They were shapeshifting hiccuping. Turning into a different person with each tap of their fingers or biting of their nails. Mariano walked over to her, seeing how she hadn't moved since the house started to shake. And how she was shaking too. He whispered something to Camilo, taking their place as Isa's companion and sitting down right near her. "Your mother asked me to bring this to you." he said, holding out a small plate with a small pastry on it.

Isabela didn't even look up at it, still looking out at the rainy village before and seeing the trees sway in the wind. Mariano hummed, setting down the plate he had. Looking out at the village too. "Luisa will be back soon. I'm sure of it. With Mirabel too."

Isabela looked down. "I just don't understand... why... why is this happening? Why did she go? Where did she go? I'm so worried. What if she's hurt? What if she's stuck somewhere and that's why Dolores couldn't hear her? What if she's really gone?!"

"Isabela..." Mariano called gently, moving over and taking a hold of her shoulders. "Mirabel is one of the craziest ladies I've met... in a good way! In a good way! I'm positive that she's fine. I'm sure of it."

The captain looked down, seeing the scrapes on her arms from the rubble falling. He pushed the treat to her again. Isabela smiled, taking it and biting down on it. "My mom make this?"

"You know it." he joked. Isabela took a bite from it, her scratches slowly healing. "Isabela I-"

Unfortunately, the captain was silenced as the two turned over when they heard the heavy footsteps that could only belong to Luisa. Isabela stood up, hoping to see her and Mirabel together. But no. Luisa slowly approached the house, completely soaking wet. Alone. Her short hair out of its usual bun and dripping down from her ears. "Luisa!" Isabela cried.

"Luisa!" her mother said, looking over and seeing her daughter again. Everyone else shuffled over. The rain stopping as soon as Pepa laid eyes on her niece. Antonio cradled in her arms, struggling to stay awake. Tear tracks on his cheeks from the news of Mirabel's disappearance.

"Did you see anything?" Agustin called.

"What happened?" Abuela Alma cried, trying to move to her niece.

"Luisa..." Isabela cried, moving to her side and pressing a hand to her arm. As soon as her fingers grazed the small hairs on her arm, Luisa yanked her arm away harshly. As if Isabela's hand was poison.

"This is because of you!" she yelled.

"Luisa!" Julieta cried.

"This is because of all of you! She's gone now!" Luisa yelled.

"What are you talking about?" Isabela called as Mariano moved to her side.

Mariano moved his hand up to Luisa, trying to calm her down after seeing how obviously upset she was. "Luisa, please."

"Mirabel did nothing but love each and every one of us and we all treated her like she was beneath us... m-me included. Now she's gone. I don't know where she is and I've looked all over!" Luisa said.

"She has to be here somewhere." Felix called, looking at the shock and worried look in his brother in law's face. "Agustin. Tell her! Please."

"Luisa... Mirabel could still be out there somewhere. She has to be." he said, looking at his wife so worriedly.

Luisa scoffed moving inside of the house. Puddles following her with each and every step. Alma moved in front of her. "Luisa, dear-" she called.

"Don't!" she yelled. "Don't!"

She turned away and moved up into her room. The door slamming behind her. Julieta immediately started to cry, turning away and running off to her own room. "Mi amor!" Agustin called, following her.

Antonio looked up at his mother. "Mama..." he said, his lip wobbling. "Is she really gone? She can't be gone. I want Mirabel." he sobbed. "I want Mirabel!"

"I... oh honey..." she said, starting to cry in unison with her son and the rain starting up again. The water coming down on her, her youngest and her husband. Mariano turned to his fiancee and pulled her back inside of the house. Casita closing the doors for them.

Isabela's eyes widened. The shock in her eyes as her hands shook. "M-Mirabel..." she gasped, her hand going to her mouth.

"Isabela, breathe." he called, taking her arms in his hands.

"No... no, no, no, no, no!" she cried, taking a hold of his shoulders. The flowers all dying around her as she slowly fell down onto her knees. "No... no Mirabel!"

"Isabel!" Camilo called, moving to her side.

"¡Ella estaba aquí!" she sobbed. "¡Ella estaba aquí!"

She was just here.

She was just here.

Just here and the same as always invisible. And suddenly, she was seen when she was finally gone.

Chapter Text

Ian and his crew were the kindest men that Mirabel had met in a long time. And even though the men and generally almost everyone else outside of her immediate family and outside of Casita were nice, it was refreshing coming from them. Their smiles were genuine and happy as they walked past her on the boat, asking if she needed anything or if she needed a break. Just, kindness without the need to be. Not knowing her as Mirabel, the giftless Madrigal in the very important and magical family. Just Mirabel. The young helpful girl. They were so grateful for her help and amazed with how skilled with was with a needle and thread. All of the sails that had been bitten up and chewed to bits by the rats had been sewed up and together and ready for the ocean once again. She sat there on the dock, nodding at everyone as they thanked her again and again and again, watching them fixing their sails happily. Mirabel smiled at each person that even spoke her. "Here." Ian called, holding up a cup of water.

"Thank you." she said back with a smile, taking it from him and adjusting her skirt which had got caught in itself.

"I can't thank you enough for helping me and the guys." he said with a grin. "We're already behind on traveling and this shipping situation would have ruined us for days!"

"It's not a problem." she said back with a chuckle. "Not at all."

"So, I hope you don't mind he asking."

"No. Ask away."

"I was just wondering, why are you heading over to Puerto Rico?"

Mirabel chuckled awkwardly. "I'm just... going off. I'm starting a new life."

"A new life? Are you from Colombia or did you come from somewhere else and get on the wrong boat?" he asked.

"Oh no, I'm from here. I was raised here. I love it here. But I just need to branch out. Find myself. Learn about myself. Start something new with myself. I just... missed the boat out of here." she explained.

Missed my chance.

"Ah. I get it. But if you love it so much and why would you want to leave? Maybe it's me, but I love it here too. Colombia is my home and I couldn't imagine being away from here. My family. The food..." he said.

Mirabel shrugged as she chuckled at his joke. To be honest, the food here was something she'd probably never get over. Especially her mom's food. "Because you have good memories." she said. "Therefore, you'll miss the place where you were at your happiest. If not one of the happiest."

"And you don't have good memories?" he asked. "You weren't happy here?"

Mirabel turned over to Ian. He gave her a warm smile. "I guess you can say I just... haven't gotten anywhere. I've always been stuck in the same place since I was five or six... while it was almost as if everyone else in my family is just so important. Way more important than me. Everyone sees them. I'm always behind closed doors."

Ian nodded. "I'm sorry. I had no idea. Lamento que tuvieras que pasar por eso."

"It's fine Ian, you didn't know. How could you have?"

"I'm sorry. But, if they couldn't see how absolutely exceptional you are, it's their loss. I mean, this embroidery? It's absolutely amazing. I mean, I know the ladies of Puerto Rico would love to have a dress like yours." he said, his hand moving to the pink butterfly she had sown onto it and dragging down to the vines that went all the way down to its bottom hem.

"Thank you. But you're just saying that." Mirabel said.

"No, I'm serious. Look at this! It's amazing!" Ian said, his hand moving to another butterfly, but this one closer to her shoulder. "Oh! Lo siento, lo siento, I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine." Mirabel said, moving a curl out of her eyes and adjusting her glasses. Licking her lips. "Thank you."

"Here." he said to her, seeing her done with the water she gifted him. "You're a guest. I shouldn't keep you here to work." Ian helped her up and grabbed her bag with a smile. "Did mama let you look around the village or did she immediately bring you here?"

"She brought me here." Mirabel chuckled.

"Then I'll be your tour guide, lovely lady. Come. I'll show you my village before you have to go." he said, motioning her out of the docks. "What was your village called? Maybe I've been to it?"

Mirabel shook her head as they walked. "Oh no, no, no, no, no, no. You've never been there or have heard of it. Trust me."

"Try me." he said back, wiggling his eyebrows.

Mirabel chuckled. She could play with game with him since he wasn't going to know he answer. "Fine. We always called it, our Encanto."

"Encanto..." he repeated. "Ese es un nombre muy hermoso para un pueblo. You got me there, I haven't been there or heard of it."

"See, I told you." she told him, following him down the village. It was now later in the day. The orange glow of the sun now closer to setting cast down on everyone inside of the village. And even though the light kind of blinded her, she couldn't help but admire. It felt like the roofs had some kind of crushed pearls on them as they shined under the closer sunlight. The sky turning a beautiful lilac ombre with the blue. And the hustle and bustle of the place seemed to grow. Music was being played by a band in the town center as people moved up and about.

"Welcome to Tranquilidad." he said with a smile. Placing his hands behind his back as he walked beside Mirabel. Mirabel loved all of the colors of the village and the music of this place. There were all smiles as they spoke to one another and chuckled. Ian chuckled, seeing a bunch of kids moving around and dancing about. It made Mirabel think of Antonio. The silly little boy. Her precious little primo. Always so obsessed with animals and with his chubby cheeks puffy out with each smile he had. She missed him. Antonio was the only person who wasn't entirely wary of her. He might have been too young to understand, but he could have just never cared. But she knew eventually that her sister or Abulea Alma would have just pushed him from her as he grew up with his new magical ability. One of the kids ended up tripping in front of her, breaking her from her thoughts about her family. And thankfully, making her focus on something else so she didn't break down and start crying over the youngest in the Madrigals.

"Oh! Are you okay?" she called, helping her up.

The little boy's eyes widened as he looked up at Mirabel. "Wow." he said in a long and drawn out whisper. "You're a very pretty lady."

Mirabel was shocked at the sudden compliment but chuckled. "Thank you." she said, leaning forward and pressing her hand to her knees to be at his level.

"Come dance with me!" he said, pulling her over into the circle. The other kids, just like him, instantly fell for the teen girl. Taking her hands and forming a circle as they jumped excitedly. Mirabel looked up, looking at Ian for help. But he chuckled at her, waving his hand jokingly as a sign to just roll with the punches. So she went with it. Going along to the music and swinging her arms with the kids and dancing with them. The other kids walking by noticed the fun and moved to join. The dance circle getting bigger and bigger. The parents watching this young girl dance with their kids so happily and be so free with it. Her dress twirling around and around as the kids spun her. Mirabel chuckled, placing her arms in the air and swaying.

She felt so free now.

She finally exhaled the breath of sweet air that she had been missing up in her room.

"Mirabel, you don't have to."

"But I want to. Please. Let me help. My mama taught me how to make these." she said back with an excited smile. Martina smiled at her, not wanting to tell her no at all. With a grin, she nodded, picking out the ingredients from the basket that Martina had brought. Ian smiled, seeing the young girl fit right in with her mama and fit right in in his childhood home. Her hands moved swiftly as she helped Martina make the dough. Within a few minutes, the kitchen smelled warm and homey. Spices evolved in the air as each empanada came out of the oil perfectly crisp and delicious.

"You had to have grown up in the kitchen to be able to cook like this." Ian called, reaching for one.

"Ah!" his mother called, slapping his hand away with the wooden spoon. "You wait like everyone else."

"Okay, mama. Ah, jeez." he said with a laugh that Mirabel shared.

"This one." Martina said to Mirabel with a small giggle from her lips as she moved some of her kinky curls behind her ears.

Mirabel chuckled as Ian shrugged his shoulder like it was nothing. Soon the food was set out on plates and arranged in a manner where everyone could get to the food. As Mirabel moved the bowls of rice, Ian insisted to lend a hand, helping her with each side dish as well as getting the glasses. Saying again to her that she'd never let a guest do all of the work. Jeronimo returned as soon as everything was set up, with fresh food and fish from the market and a very hyper little Felix. Martina took the fish immediately to cook while little Felix moved to Mirabel's side. "Mirabel!" little Felix cried.

"Hey!" she called.

"I missed you!" he said.

"He was talking about you the entire trip." Jeronimo said with a laugh as he moved to change his clothes stained salty from being by the docks.

"What about me?" Ian called, seeing his younger brother.

"No!" he said back. "You're never here. I wanna play with Mirabel."

"So first you steal the hearts of my crew, now the heart of my precious hermano." Ian joked.

"Dinner first baby. Come. Come sit." Martina called, moving everyone towards the table as she called her husband downstairs. She had Mirabel sit at the head of the table with a smile. "Ah, okay, okay, okay. Asegúrense de que esas manos estén limpias familia." she said.

Jeronimo looked up at Mirabel as he smoothed out his clean tunic. "Mirabel, did you pray over the food back at home?"

Kind of, she thought.

She used to thank Casita with her family before a big meal. For a wonderful place that was her home and for the gifts they were given. But Mirabel wasn't a Madrigal anyways. She didn't have a miracle and she wasn't blessed like all of the other children in her home. The conversations on helping the community weren't about her, because she was always asked passive-aggressively to stay out of her family's way. So why did she take part in it?

"Uh... no. Exactly we didn't. We'd do a group thank you to... to the cook or the host. And then we'd eat." Mirabel lied, smiling through it. It was the truth. Casita was their home and host.

"Then let's do that." Jeronimo said with a smile. "Let's join your familia's tradition."

Everyone let go of their hands and turned to Martina. "Gracias por esta maravillosa comida Martina." Mirabel said.

The rest of the family nodded, and following her afterwards in unison. "Gracias por esta maravillosa comida Martina."

Ian turned to Mirabel. "Gracias por esta maravillosa comida Mirabel." he said with a slight tilt of his head. The family met eyes and nodded, following suit and repeating him in perfect unison.

"Oh... no, no, not me." she said, shaking her head. "I only-"

"Of course you. You helped. In fact, you helped quite a lot today." Martina said. "At the docks, with dinner, with making sure my boy came back for a hearty meal on time."

"Mama, please." Ian whined jokingly.

"You have every right to be thanked. Now, let's eat."

"Yes." Jeronimo said with a smile.

"Papa, I want some rice!" Little Felix called, clapping his little hands together.

Ian picked up the plate of empanadas and placed the biggest looking one onto Mirabel's plate. Mirabel looked down at it as everyone around the table helped her get her fill. Dinner's at home were awkward for her. Her grandmother always made Casita move her seat so she couldn't speak with Camilo or play with Antonio. It was distracting, she would say. Her favorites were given to Luisa so she could bulk up or just eating alone in her room to avoid Isabela's judgmental stares. This was... so nice.

She didn't realize when she started crying.

"Mirabel!" Ian called. "Are you alright?"

"Are you okay?" Felix called as well. His eyes wide with worry.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. I'm fine." she said back, wiping her eyes. "God, I don't know why I'm even crying right now. Lo siento. Lo siento."

"Don't apologize." Ian and his mother said in unison, rubbing her shoulders to comfort her.

"I just... I haven't had a meal like this in a long time. With people around. Fun banter, calming atmosphere. You guys are so kind to me. I really... I really can't thank you enough for the hospitality you've shown me." she said with a smile.

"Don't thank us at all jovencita." Jeronimo said to her.

Ian turned back to her, giving her a small grin. Pressing a fist to her shoulder and shoving it lightly.

"You are just as deserving as kindness as everyone else is." Martina said, pushing some more rice onto her plate. "I will say though, you have to eat more! Frail young lady you are. Here, here, eat some more."

Ian chuckled under his napkin, taking a bite of his own rice. Mirabel snickered as well, moving forward and taking a bite from the ample dinner. The dinner continued between the five of them. Small jokes were shared between them and Martina's constant stories about her son. Soon, the rain started to fall and dinner started to be cleaned up. Mirabel couldn't help but be excited to see the rainfall. With little Felix by her side, she stood outside underneath of home's awning as the rain came down. Drawing the atmosphere outside with him. As the young boy babbled about his day and his friends, Mirabel couldn't help but notice the downfall. Every time it rained back home, it was because of Pepa and her emotions. This had to be real rain. Rain that happened just because and no one had an explanation. Little Felix watched as big puddles of rain came down from the awning and dripped down. He threw down his drawing and moving into the rain. Not caring about getting wet and gleefully stomping, making a splash in one of the puddles. "Come on! Come on!" he called to Mirabel.

Mirabel laughed, setting down her own drawing. She stood with him underneath of the rain. Smiling wide as she spun with him under the droplets hitting her curls and her dress. She held her hand out to catch a few droplets in her hand as she and little Felix made a huge splash. She didn't care about getting her shoes wet, or her hair wet. What Abulea would say about how she looked and how that would affect the family. This wasn't a dream. It was real. And she was just her.

"Enjoying the rain?" Jeronimo called, peeking his head out from the front door.

"Yes papa!" his son said, shaking his hair like he was a dog getting dry.

"Yes. I hope you don't mind." Mirabel told her as Little Felix rushed to his father with grabby hands and a happy grin. Jeronimo picked him up with ease and smiled back, pressing a kiss to his lips.

"It's time for bed for you little man. And you Mirabel, you can stay out as long as you want. But it will get windy with this kind of rain. Don't want to sick on the boat." he said.

"Thank you." she said. "But I think that I'll come in too."

"Papa, I want a story before I go to sleep." his son called.

"It's already so late though mijo." Jeronimo said with an apologetic frown.

"I can tell him one." Mirabel piped up, standing up from the steps. "I don't mind. It's the least I can do."

Jeronimo, with a smile her way, nodded. After the two of them took their separate baths and changed in dry and warm clothes, they made their way to the young boy's bedroom. His room was painted a beautiful rose pink shade and so many toys were laid up against the ground. His bed was messy and some books scattered all over, but that was every child at his age. Jeronimo set his son down and gave Mirabel a wink before he left to help his wife clean up from dinner. She chuckled, kneeling down by his bed. "I know a really good one..." she said. "It's about a magical home and a magical family..."

"I like magic." Little Felix called, hugging his blanket with bright starry eyes and an interested smile.

"I like magic too." called Ian from the doorway, his arms crossed.

"Ian! Bedtime story is for little kids! No big ones! Vete hermano, vete." he cried.

"Isn't Mirabel a big kid?" Ian asked, making Mirabel chuckle. "How's that fair?"

"Because you leave for a longer and longer time!"

"I'm sorry hermano. Can't I just listen in?"

Little Felix pouted. "You have to be quiet." he said back.

Ian slowly closed his lips and pretended to lock it with a key, leaning against the doorway and winking at Mirabel as a sign to start. She smiled, laying Felix back down. "Many years ago, there was a riverbank. Against the riverbank, came a group of people. Hundreds of them. Seeking refuge from rogues. A woman, holding a candle and her babies, all of a sudden noticed her candle burn brighter and brighter. The candle exploded with wonderous light, and the rogues chasing her and her familia y amigos were pushed away. Around the riverbank, a town was created and a beautiful home for the woman and others for those seeking refuge. And as for her babies, that same light that gave her a new home and a safe island, blessed the children with magical gifts."

"Magic powers?" he repeated, looking on in awe.

"Yes. One baby was given the power to control the weather. Another, the ability to see what would happen the next day. And the eldest of the siblings had the power to heal the sick and the hurt. The town flourished as the magical family helped those around them without having to be asked. A few homes turned into hundreds and people felt safe under the care of the magic candle and the magical family. Soon, the magical triplets, gave birth to their own children. Who had their own powers. The triplet with weather fell in love and married a musician and had three kids. Their powers each special as well. One could hear everything and know when someone was in trouble or if a secret was being shared." Mirabel said, whispering that part and leaning into the young boy's ear. Making him chuckle. "The other the power to shape shift into any one and make anyone laugh with one grin. And their youngest... had the ability to speak to every animal."

Little Felix gasped at the story. Looking at his brother. Ian was mesmerized just like his brother, slowly moving from the door and sitting beside his brother's bed and Mirabel as she spoke.

"And the healer fell in love with... a klutz." she said, smiling. "Making her and him a perfect match. And they had... two daughters. One with the flick of her hand could make flowers bloom and plants grow. And the other was strong enough to carry the island on one pinky."

"Wow..." Little Felix gasped, trying to stifle his yawn.

"This family of magical people every single day from sunrise to sunset would happily help the community that was blessed to them while helping one another as well. One day, the girl of flowers met a handsome captain."

"Is this a love story?"

"Only if you make it out to be."

Felix chuckled. Ian stared at his brother for a minute, rubbing his thigh to help coax him to sleep as he looked back at Mirabel. She stared down at the young boy with a smile as she told her story. "I... I like love stories... sometimes..." Little Felix said.

"Me too." Ian added in the same low voice.

"Good." Mirabel said. "The captain, though one of the toughest men in the village, had a soft spot of her. Writing poetry in his home and wondering what the girl felt for him. While the girl, would get so nervous around him she'd..."

Pour water all over his little sister to avoid having her perfect night ruin?

Ignore her name from the wedding entirely?

Just... ignore her?

Mirabel smiled through the thoughts. "She'd hide in a piles of petals and hide in the trees." she said. "One day, the captain worked up the courage to ask the flower girl to marry him. And once they were wed, the family was complete. The magic was stronger than ever and the townsfolk watched as the candle that started it all erupted into beautiful fireworks as their union was celebrated with a kiss."

Felix eyed Mirabel, so entranced with the concept of magical powers.

"Did the flower girl and the captain have a kid with powers?" Ian spoke.

"Hermano...!" Little Felix called, yawning louder as he closed his eyes for a second. "Quiet...!"

Mirabel smiled at him. "I have never got that far in the story before. I wonder if they do." she said, seeing Felix start to fall asleep. She rubbed his head again and slowly stood up. The pattering of the rain outside almost making a melody for the young boy to sleep to. Ian stood up with her, brushing his pants clean and following her out into the hallway.

"Cook, sew like a royal and you can write too? Is there anything you can't do?" Ian asked her with a chuckle.

"Play the banjo." she joked.

"I don't think anyone can play the banjo anyways." he said back, chuckling with her. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah."

"In the story, the man that could see the next day... I didn't hear about him having kids. What happened to him?"

Mirabel hummed. Her family never spoke of her Tio Bruno. One day, his happy smiles and tickles just vanished and no one spoke about him after a couple of weeks of mourning. Mirabel for a long time thought that her uncle had left because of her. Because she had no gift and he thought he'd never have another niece or nephew with one. Tio Bruno was somewhere, but she didn't know where. Did he leave like her? Or... was his fate something else? Or maybe he'd finally come back when he saw her gone. Maybe he had a vision of it before and was waiting for her to be out of Casita's doors before being back in the arms of his mother and sisters.

"I shouldn't spoil it." she said instead.

Ian crossed his fingers together in one fist and shook it. "Please... please... I'll do anything..."

Mirabel chuckled. "In my story, the man who sees the future is happy with the family. Using his gift to stop injuries and thefts. He just never met the right girl."

Ian nodded. "Thanks. For the story, for getting my brother to sleep, for dinner... it has been an interesting day with you Mirabel. And I've only known you for a couple of hours."

"I hope it was all a good impression." she said.

"The best." he smiled, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Have a good night. Sleep well for tomorrow."

"Thanks. You too. Good night." she said, turning to the guest bedroom she was given. With one last wave, she took off her glasses and closed the door. Leaving Ian standing out with a grinning happily like an idiot.

Mirabel pressed her forehead against the door, exhaling. She wondered if Mariano and Isabela had married yet? If not, how was planning going? She turned leaning down on the bed. She knew that she wouldn't have been considered for an invite anyway. She was barely even considered for the actual wedding party. She exhaled, kicking off her shoes. It would be a beautiful wedding knowing her sister. Isabela would have an amazing night and an amazing life with Mariano. Their own perfect life and soon their own perfect magical children and the happy ending that Abuela always wanted for her.

And as for her, she was going to have her own happy ending as well. And she couldn't wait until she started it far away from the Encanto that made her feel like a burden. As she laid down against the pillow, she smiled. Tomorrow was the start of the rest of her wonderful future.

Chapter Text

"Oh no. I made them as a surprise! For you!"

Mirabel saw the look on Abuela's face. Hoping to find a look of happiness on her face. Admiring the beautiful candle and candleholders that she had placed. Adding some kind of decoration to the place that everyone else had already contributed to. It took her days to make. And she hoped that everyone liked them. But that look on her grandmother's face. That look when she was trying to fake a smile and it ended up just conveying her disinterest or her frustration with something she didn't like or agree with.

"Mirabel, I know you want to help. But tonight must go perfectly. The whole town relies on our family, on our gifts. So the best way for... some of us to help is... to step aside. Let the rest of the family do what they do best." her grandmother said to her. Not smiling or putting it in a friendly way for her. "Okay?"

Mirabel just nodded back at her. "Okay..."

"And Mirabel, tonight is Antonio's night. He's excited to get his gift. After everything, I want you to let him shine." she said.

"What-"

"I want you to just... find something else to do during the ceremony. Make the snacks, go for a walk. Something. But for the party, you can come. Let Antonio be happy for his day." Abuela Alma said to her. Her words not even affecting her. No real realization or care what those words meant.

"I'll... I'll stay behind." she said. "I promise."

As she turned, her grandmother picked up the candle and its holder. Blowing out its flame. Her nose turned up at the burn and it in of itself. Not finding care of the gift Mirabel had created. "Camilo, come and clean these up." she called.

As Mirabel trotted to her room, she saw her cousin picking up her holders and chucking them into the trash. "Why am I throwing these away?" they asked.

"Do they match everyone else's decorations?" she said back. "Don't ask questions you know the answer to."

Camilo, without more protest, picked up the holders as they were asked. Mirabel sighed, slowly opening her bedroom door. "Mama, be nice to Mirabel. You know today will be hard for her."

"If the ceremony doesn't go as planned. Tonight will be hard for everyone. Mirabel needs to understand that there are things more important than her feelings."

As the door closed behind her, Mirabel looked out into her bedroom. Seeing it not as she remembered for left it. Ever. A wide hallway stood in front of her. The entire place was pitch black in color and shadow. Some open doors awaiting her, glowing gold like the precious candle that her grandmother watched over. Mirabel looked to her left, seeing through the first door. She saw her. But younger. Her fifth birthday. That white dress haunting her as she watched herself move her hand forward to the door. Mirabel turned away, not even wanting to look at it. She turned her entire body away from it. Then looking through the door across. She saw her again. A week after the ceremony. Sobbing in her bedroom while cradling her stuffed animal. Missing her uncle. Who had apparently left. Mirabel exhaled. It was never really explained why he had left. But deep down she felt and knew that she had left their Casita and the Encanto after what happened at her ceremony. That's where she had seen him last.

Mirabel shook her head, walking down. Each door, she saw herself at a different age. Saw a different situation. Saw her family slowly walk away from her like she was a curse. Despite what she did.

One a few months afterwards, she just wanted to play in the gardens. She held the ball in her hands, looking out at her cousin. Camilo was so far from her, rushing away as fast as they could. When Mirabel moved to follow them, a smile on their lips with excitement at a playmate, Camilo pushed her back screaming NO at the top of their lungs and running into the arms of their Abuela.

Mirabel hummed her lips, looking down. She remembered crying into her mother's arms that day. She didn't understand why he did that. As she looked out, she saw the look on their face as they stood in front of Abuela Alma. "Go play with someone else." she said to them.

"But I wanna-"

"Someone else!"

One where she was eight. She was trying her best to help around the house. Be apart of the family and their endless will to be good to others. She was simply trying to help put away the dishes from breakfast. And accidentally, one slipped from her fingers. Even though the tip of her finger had gotten grazed and was bleeding, snickers came from Isabela's lips. "Maybe being clumsy is your gift." she snarled.

She was ten in the other door. Just trying to speak with her older sister. Mirabel just attempted to ask about how her sister's day was. Luisa ignored her, walking ahead of her faster. When they had gotten home after a day of trying to speak to her sister, Luisa just went on and acknowledged Dolores' wave... instead of her continuous talking. She stood so surprised.

And then... the most recent ones. All of the bullying and talks. Twelve-year-old Mirabel being led on a wild good chase by Isabela so she didn't come to a fireworks show. And when she came back covered in mud, her grandmother sternly telling her that she was making her family look bad. Alma always telling her to leave her siblings alone in town, when she just wanted to help. Thirteen-year-old Mirabel for a whole month, being asked to clean the entire Casita while no one else helped. Never being noticed when she started to visit the village children. And of course... the complete and utter silence.

Mirabel watched her uncle, her fun uncle, just slowly stop his words. Only hey there and can I have this? Tio Felix was always fun to everyone else, including her at one point. No longer. She watched through the doors as he and his wife just kept their distance. Eyeing her like she was a curse that would be passed on to them. The same with everyone else. Dolores not even looking her way after the ceremony and continued until she became a preteen. Camilo stopped playing with her, and even though forced to apologize for pushing her, just kept his talking brief. While his pranks were just turning into her and calling her giftless, it didn't move to the extent of Isabela's cruelty.

Always spilling her juice on her lap. Her bag filled with embroidery thread once filled with milk, forcing her to throw it all away. And then Isabela telling Alma and Mirabel getting in trouble for wasting food. Shoves as she walked past. That damned nickname. Simplona. What started as an insult from Isabela's lips became a title. Something burned into her mind and body. Mirabel bit her cheek, seeing Isabela at each door as she continued to walk past. Only her. Her nose upturned like she was looking at something covered in slime. And that sly smile on her lips.

"Simplona." one said.

"Simplona." the other Isabela said in unison.

"Simplona."

"Simplona."

"Simplona."

Mirabel couldn't get away from it. The word getting louder. She sniffled, wiping her eyes as she picked up the pace, trying to get away from her sister and that damn word.

"Simplona."

"Simplona."

"Simplona."

"The giftless one."

"Look at what's she's doing to us."

"Ruining us."

She looked up, seeing a new family member at each door this time. Luisa, Dolores, even her own mother sharing that same look on her sister's face. "Annoying." Tia Pepa said.

"Repulsive." Dolores said with her signature little squeak.

"She doesn't have a gift and that's all she talks about." Luisa added with an eyeroll.

"Why did I have to have a daughter like you?"

Mirabel froze in her sprint, looking at the door across from her on the left. Her mother's arms crossed, looking over at her. Mirabel looked at her. "Mama..." she called.

"Why did I have to have a daughter like you?" her father said from behind her. Mirabel turned to him, seeing his begin to laugh at her. Mirabel pulled her glasses off, wiping her eyes as she started to run away. More people filled each doorway. Townsfolk now along with the Madrigals.

"Why did I get stuck with a sister like you?" Isabela snarled.

"Why did I get stuck with a friend like you?" Lupe said.

"Why did I get stuck with a sister like you?" Luisa said.

"Why did I get stuck with a roommate like you?" little Antonio said.

"Why did we get stuck with someone like you?" the three young kids in the village said.

Mirabel sobbed loudly, wiping her eyes with her arm as she started to run faster. She turned, finding herself at the end. And bumping into Abuela Alma. She turned over to face her. "Are you not looking where you are going?" she snapped.

"Abuela-"

"Of course, after all I've done for this family, I get the one with no gift." she said. "I am so glad that you are gone."

Mirabel stood up turning around, looking back at the doors and hearing the voices fill her ears. She slowly fell down onto the ground and hugged herself in a ball as she sobbed.

"I'm glad you're gone."

"I'm glad you're gone."

"I'm glad you're gone."

...

...

"Mirabel."

Mirabel sniffled, looking up from her ball. She saw the dark hallway gone. And the bright sunlight casting down on her. And a familiar face. A scar under his chin, brunette hair and a red shirt. He smiled. "What are you doing down there?"

He took her hand and helped her up. He smiled. "Ian?" she coughed.

"Come on superstar! Everyone's waiting to see you!"

He pulled her by the arm, leading her through this new place. It seemed endless. Patches of perfectly cut and emerald green grass. Not a cloud in a sky. Beautiful golden butterflies flying around her. Mirabel ran with Ian as he ran with her. A smile on his face. "Ian, where are we going?" she asked.

When she turned to see him again, he was gone. And the grassy fields was now gone. She looked forward, seeing that she was instead on a large beach. She looked at the beautiful sand and the waters that shined like diamonds. Mirabel stepped towards the ocean, placing her feet inside of the cool water. With a smile, she let out an exhale. They were all behind her now. Physically and she just needed to get there mentally. Mirabel smiled, adjusting her skirt as she looked up at the sun in front of her. She was no longer the burden of the Encanto and the Madrigals. This was her paradise. A brand new start for her. She took in a deep breath, closing her eyes for a second and reveling in this. Reveling in that had left. That those words, and those nicknames were behind her.

When she opened her eyes, she saw more faces. Ian and his entire family. The town of Tranquilidad. Faces of just these random people. And their smiles. The kindness. Something her family kept from her for a while. They all just smiled and cheered for her as she stepped deeper into the water. And for once, she felt her heart fill with love and hope for tomorrow.

The next morning, thank goodness, wasn't rainy. There was a grey fog around the village and the town. So it made the usually warm town a bit cool and chilly. The trees and bushes outside were damp with the morning dew. Mirabel slowly raised up from the guest bed, feeling completely amalgamated with her emotions. It was both a nightmare and a dream last night. She could see that hallway almost clear as day. It was kind of concerning that that was the kind of dream that she had. But she knew now, thanks to what she said and the words she heard, that she had no more problems with herself leaving. It was a toxic environment being inside of Casita, not Casita itself. But now she was able to let that go and push that weight from her shoulders.

The room was a bit chilly now, and she was able to wrap herself in the covers for a couple of more seconds in the warm and half-awake bliss of waking up in the morning for just a couple more seconds. She sat up after twenty minutes of enjoying the warm blankets and pillows and then decided to not take advantage of the hospitality of her house guests. Mirabel got dressed and went downstairs, meeting with her hosts. "Mirabel, good morning!" Martina called with a smile.

"Good morning." she said happily.

"Did you sleep well?" Martina questioned with a grin.

"Oh yes. I did." she said. Even though the nightmare had shaken her up, she still slept like a baby in a warm crib.

Ian appeared from the kitchen, two mugs in his hand. "Mirabel." he called with a smile. "Buenos dias."

"Buenos dias to you as well." she said back.

"I hope you don't mind, but I prepared some things for you. For your boat trip." Martina said with a smile. She clapped her hands, walking into the kitchen and searching for something.

"Just let her." Ian said, pushing the mug her way before Mirabel could protest. Martina came back with a pretty hefty sized basket. She set it down in Mirabel's lap with a smile as they sat down at the dining room table. Mirabel smiled, looking at this present that she didn't think she even deserved.

"I have some family over in Puerto Rico. The port you'll be landing in should be close to their village. My brother and his wife, I wrote them a letter. They should let you stay with them in case you need a place to stay." she said. "I also got up early to make you some food for the journey. Here, they should all stay warm in here. The food on a boat can be good or bad, and it's usually the latter. This should sustain you for your journey. I also... I spoke with the dressmaker. She made some arrangements and I have some thread and cloths. In case you get bored there or cold, you can use those magical fingers and make something."

Mirabel looked down at the basket, seeing so many other treats and gifts that she didn't list. She was the one always giving and giving. And now, it was nice to be given something. "Martina... thank you so much." she said, moving forward and hugging her.

"'No lo menciones mi nueva amiga." she said back moving to her son and giving him a sweet kiss.

"Thank you so much. I really appreciate all that you've done for me. But... I can't accept this letter. As much as I appreciate what you've done for me, I want to start all new in Puerto Rico. I want to do my best on my own and start a new there. So please, while I appreciate the letter, I can't accept it." she said.

Martina smiled, taking the letter as Mirabel took it back. "You're still sweet about it though." she said. "Alright then. That's fine. I hope that you find what you're looking for there regardless."

"Thank you."

"Ian, have you said goodbye to your papa and brother?"

"I was just about to." he said as Martina rolled her eyes in a joking manner. She quickly coaxed Mirabel into having some breakfast as Ian walked off to do as he was asked to.

Mirabel pit into her cayeye, looking at the older woman. "Mirabel. I just... I wanted to say that I'm glad that you came and stayed with us. Regardless of if you came with injuries and an empty stomach." she said.

"Thank you for having me that day." she said back.

"Mirabel... I've always wanted daughters. I thought I would have some by now but... it is only Ian and my energetic Felix. And Ian is practically all grown up and sailing for work. I can't have anymore children unfortunately... but I am really glad that you stayed! Even for a little while. If I had a daughter like you... god, I'm just so glad that you came here! Mirabel, I hope you don't mind that I consider you like a daughter to me. " she said. "I hope that... that you'll come back and we can see each other again."

Mirabel smiled. "I'd like that very much." she said. "And I don't mind that you consider me like the daughter you never had. I think it's really sweet."

Martina's eyes welled with tears as she threw her arms over the young woman. Mirabel chuckled, hugging her back.

"Ah, mama! I can hear your crying from outside!" Ian called when he stepped back inside with his brother in his arms and father behind him.

Jeronimo smiled, seeing Mirabel. The light pink contrasted with the green vines on her sleeves and the bottom hem of her dress and of course, those beautiful circular glasses. All dressed and ready.

"Jeronimo, I can't thank you enough for the kindness you showed me-"

"No need for thanks." he said with a smile, clapping his hand gently on her shoulder. "Mirabel you obviously came into our lives for a reason. I mean, look at my dear wife. It was lovely to have you in our home Mirabel." he said, taking her hands in his. "You were a wonderful houseguest. It felt like you were a part of our little familia. Like you were meant to be here."

"Will you come back?" Little Felix called, looking up at him with a smile.

"Come back? Of course. You need to know what happens to the girl of flowers right?" she joked, ruffling his hair. He smiled even wider, his eyes getting a twinkle like one you would see in the sky. She wasn't lying. She would love to come back here one day. Visit Martina again and her lovely family. They were kind and she wanted to one day come back and repay their kindness with just her sweet presence. It obvious to her that her aura made them happy and she would love to make them smile again.

"Bye-bye Mirabel." Little Felix said back. "I'm going to miss you."

"Bye pequeño." she said to him. "Good bye Jeronimo."

"Our home is welcome to you at any time. Any time at all." Jeronimo said to her with a smile. "It has been a pleasure to have you here."

Jeronimo, despite being a huge man, pulled the Mirabel into a tight hug. Squeezing her so she understood how much he was going to miss her presence. Mirabel smiled at them one last time, waving as Ian led her out of the door. "Do goodbyes get easier for you?" she asked as he closed the door.

"For my family? It is hard. I'm usually home for a few days and then off on the next ship. But they know that I'll do everything in my power to come back." he said to her with a smile. He adjusted his shirt and led her through the village again. The kids from before smiled widely when they noticed her.

"Hi Mirabel!"

"Mirabel!"

"Hey!" she said back with an even more enthusiastic wave and smile.

"Kids seem to like you." Ian said.

"I guess that I've always had a spot for them. Back home I was pretty close with the village kids too." she said. "I'll miss them. And here."

"My town?"

"That and the kids." she said with a chuckle, knowing what she meant in actuality. She'll miss Colombia. She'll miss the Encanto. She'll still miss her family.

"Well, the town will surely miss you too. My mom even more." Ian joked as they moved down onto the docks. The ship they would be taking was pointed out to her. There wasn't any large bodies of waters back home, so she was excited for her first trip on one. It was made of dark wood like was so deep in it's shade that it looked cherry red. Some barnacles growing on the side of the wood that the water consistently splashed against. Ian walked her up on the slanted plank. His hand holding hers very gently. "Here. This ship is good for crew and couple of passengers. The journey to Puerto Rico isn't long. Three days with good weather. And once we leave the coast of Colombia, I promise you the weather will get better and the fog should completely be cleared.."

Mirabel smiled. "Gracias Ian."

"So sit tight. I'll be a long ride." he said.

Mirabel nodded as Ian saluted her jokingly and went off to take care of the duties of a ship captain. She smiled, looking across the boat and seeing the beautiful blue waters in front of her. Soon, she would be surrounded by the beautiful ocean and the salty air. It was comforting. Three days at sea and then hopefully, her new home. She smiled. It was slowly starting to look up. The ship slowly left the dock an hour later. Mirabel was just looking out at the sea in front of her in absolute excitement as they slowly left the shore. The dock of the village slowly went away. Becoming a small speck. Mirabel smiled, looking forward as the wind picked up against her. Her curls slowly moving in front of her face. Ian couldn't help but notice her from her spot on the ship. Seeing the excited look in her eyes. Ian was right, soon the ship passed the fog that covered Colombia and she was welcomed with a clear sky that was something out of a folk talk. The sun shined down on her with a smile.

Puerto Rico, here she comes.

Chapter Text

"Mirabel... hey... Mirabel. Wake up."

With the gentle shake of her shoulder, Mirabel was slowly pulled from her sleep. And unlike last time, it was dreamless. Just the sweet and calm feeling of rest washed over her instead of seeing her old home and hearing the voices of her loved ones sneer. She looked up, seeing her vision blurry and things unclear. But a familiar teal was in her line of vision. Ian. The young captain chuckled, reaching forward and handing her her glasses. Mirabel thanked him in Spanish, placing them on her nose. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." he said, holding out a hand to help her stand. "Sleep well?"

"Actually, yeah." she said, which was surprising has sleeping on old and damp wood would probably be uncomfortable for anyone else.

"Sorry to ruin that good sleep. But we're about to make a turn towards Puerto Rico and I didn't want to run the risk of you falling over and... drowning." he said, scratching the back of his neck.

"Oh. It's fine. Thank you." she said, following Ian away from the edge of the ship and it's railing. They walked to the center of the boat, where the main sail was held up and leaned against it's pillar as they sat. "I don't want to keep you from your job."

"It's fine. Being a captain has it's perks."

"Like what... all the... the ale you can drink?"

"How old do you think I am?"

"Old enough to be a captain?"

He chuckled. "First of all, that ale thing is just a story. And those are for pirates not travelling ship captains. And I'm not old enough to even sip. In fact, I don't even know how old you are."

"I don't know how old you are either. How about we play a little game then. I'll ask you three questions. You ask me three questions." Mirabel said with a smile. "Whenever the kids got together, we played this game to get to know each other."

"Interesting game. Okay, let's play." Ian said with a smile.

"Okay." Mirabel said, holding up three fingers. Ian followed suit, not wanting to mess it up. "Ian, how old are you?"

"I just turned sixteen last week." he said, seeing Mirabel push down one of her fingers. "Mirabel, how old are you?"

"I'm fifteen. My birthday isn't until the summer." she said.

"Well, happy early birthday. Even if it isn't for months." he said with a grin, putting down one finger himself. "Am I doing this right?"

"Yes, you're doing great."

"Okay. Your turn?"

"Yeah. Okay... Ian, what is your favorite food?"

"Easy. Chicharrón. Next time you visit, I'll force my mom to make it." he said with a laugh as Mirabel pushed down one finger. "Okay. My turn. Mirabel, can you tell me how your bedtime story ends?"

Mirabel raises her eyebrow. "W-What?"

"You told Felix and I that after the wedding, you've never gotten that far. You either told it and never got to tell the ending, or you just have been keeping it a secret in that creative head of yours." Ian said with a smile, putting down his other finger. "I'm not much of a reader and I didn't listen to my mom's bedtime stories when I was younger, so if someone like me wants to know the ending to a story, you can bet that it's pretty good!"

"You want to know what happens next?" she asked again, her voice low as she dropped her hand.

"Yes! Please, I promise that I won't tell my brother."

Mirabel looked down, moving her skirt to the side and setting her legs down on the boat straight. "I would tell you how the story ends, if I knew."

Ian raised his eyebrow. "You haven't come up with an ending yet?"

"No. It's not that. It's just, I don't know how the story is going to end because I don't know the ending. I haven't lived through it enough to tell it. The story is still going..." she said. Ian opened his mouth to speak, but she reached over and rubbed his shoulder to stop him. "Let me start the story again for you. I left out some things... for Felix's sake."

"Okay." he said. Closing his lips and giving her his upmost attention.

"Many years ago, a group of people were fleeing their home. Escaping something or someone. The group, holding all that they could carry, were looking in hopes for a new home. There was a woman, who only had herself, a single candle and her three newborns. After an already long journey, and losing people left and right, the woman wanted to give up. Luckily for her and everyone else, the candle exploded with wondrous light. Around the riverbank, a town was formed and a beautiful home for the woman and others for those seeking refuge. And as for her babies, that same light that gave her a brand new house and new and safe land to call home, blessed the children with magical gifts. One baby was given the power to control the weather. Her brother could see the future at any second he wanted. And the eldest of the three had the power to heal the sick and the injured with just one meal made by her hands. With the magic from the candle and the powers they had, the miracle that was gifted to them they helped turned a scared and confusion group of people into a glorious community where they were able to help others. Soon, two of the children grew into strong and beautiful women. They met kind men suited for them, fell in love and had their own kids. The woman with the magic for the weather married a kind and funny man and they had three kids of their own.

"One of them could probably hear us talking to each other from the docks, the oldest. Any secret shared or conversation she could hear from a mile away. The middle one, the ability to turn himself into anyone he wanted. And the youngest... the youngest could communicate with animals. Land or sea. And the healer fell in love with-"

"A klutz." Ian finished with a chuckle.

"Yeah. A klutz. A match made in heaven. And they had... three kids." Mirabel said.

"But, but I thought that you said that they only had two."

"I kind of lied on that part. They had three daughters. One was absolutely perfect. The light of her mother's and Abuela's and... basically her entire family's lives. She was everything they wanted and more. Señorita Perfecta. With the twirl of her hand, she could create beautiful, dazzling and lavish flowers in perfect bloom. While her sister was the absolute strongest person in the world. Without even breaking a sweat or even trying, she could lift bridges, mountains, entire islands. And then there was their youngest."

"You."

Mirabel looked up, blinking her eyes. She had turned her head to him so quickly it was almost as if she had gotten whiplash. Silence fell before the two of them. The sound of the crashing waves against the boat's wood was only the two of them. "How could you-"

"When you told the story to my brother, you kept stopping every so often, and I could tell that it wasn't for dramatic effect. It was almost as if you were recalling something from your past. Dwelling on memories."

"Oh..."

"So, this magical family in your story... that's your family?"

"Yes. They are."

"I must say Mirabel, if I thought that you were talented before that's changed now. You're way more talented than I thought. I don't know if there is a word beyond talented but you're that! It's a beautiful metaphor. Their powers matching their personality." Ian said, smiling wide.

"Yeah... metaphor..." Mirabel said in a low voice.

If you saw just what my sisters could do, you would freak out. It's anything but a metaphor.

"So what happens to our heroine?" he asked.

"Is this you using up your last question?" Mirabel asked.

"If I am going to figure out how this story ends and if Mirabel gets your happy ending, then yes. I am using my last question." Ian said, closing his fist as he laid down his last finger.

Mirabel chuckled. "It's not." she said, moving to his fist and moving up the very last finger back up. "Let me use mine. Do you want to know what happens to the story's heroine?"

"Yes?"

"I already told you what happened. Isabela-"

"Who's Isabela?"

"The girl with powers over flowers."

"That's not who I was asking about."

"Then who-"

"You!"

"Me?"

"Yes, Mirabel! If you're in this story, you are the heroine in my book. I want to know what happens to you."

Mirabel smiled at him, looking down. "She wasn't enough." she said, Ian's joking smile slowly left his face. Replaced with one of genuine concern. "Her family all had these magical gifts while she... she didn't. She was normal. And being normal was like a curse when there was magic rampant in their blood. And so without that spark and magic that everyone else had, I... she... was pushed to the side. She wasn't good to be seen or heard. Away in her bedroom when they all got to shine."

Ian stared at her. "Mirabel... are you serious?"

"It's not a metaphor this time."

"Is that why you left? Did they... did they...?!"

"No! No! No, no, no, no! They didn't hurt me... not physically at least. It's more of an emotional wound." she said. "Behind those doors, that's how I got so good at sewing. Just me, myself, my needle... and I." Ian sighed, looking down. The two once again engulfed in silence. "I'm sorry, I know that's not the ending that you were looking for or the story of-"

"I think that you need to fix that story of yours." he said, turning over and looking at her. His smile returned. Warm and real. "Because whatever they led you to believe isn't true at all. And I know the perfect way to fix it. I can't change what they did or make you change how you feel. But I can help you get to the ending that we both want. By just making the heroine actually you. And writing those that hurt you out of the story. They may have started it, but only you can end it. And unless they are uplifting you to the end of your story, you have every right to write them out. It's your story. Your happy ending. And they aren't getting you there, so why have them waste space in a story all about you? Mirabel, you are a talented, strong and very resilent woman. They couldn't see that, so why have them be in your story? You set the path you're on. And you don't have to keep them there if they're weighing you down."

Weighing you down, Mirabel repeated to herself in her head. She hugged her knees again, thinking of all that she had done now. She had let them go. They were behind her now. Back inside of the Encanto. However, their words and their thoughts towards her were still in her head. No matter how much she still loved her family, she knew that Ian was right. Deep down, she had to let their words leave her. She needed to leave that part of her behind.

This was her story.

And they weren't going to be in it.

Mirabel's eyes well with tears. Ian eyes widened. "I'm sorry did I-"

"No. No. It's fine." she said to him with a smile. "You're right. It's just, it's just been a while since I've gotten advice like that. Other than your mom when I first came here."

"Of course my mom gave you advice." Ian chuckled. "I'm assuming she said something similar?"

"Yeah. She did. And you're right." Mirabel said with a smile, turning over to him with a smile. "I think that I'm going to have to do some revisions to my story."

"I hope I can be the first person to here the new tale." he said with a smile. Mirabel leaned forward, hugging Ian tightly. Ian smiled, hugging her back. "Your family didn't deserve you Mirabel. I'm so sorry."

"It's fine. Thank you." she said.

"Captain!"

The two pulled away from one another, turning back and seeing one of the crew members standing right by the helm of the ship. "I'll be right there!" he called, turning to Mirabel. "There's quarters downstairs. The better ones are on the right. You should get some rest."

"I think that I'll stay up for a few more minutes. I really want to look at the stars and... revise my story."

"Okay then. I'll be up there if you need me."

"I'll be here." Mirabel nodded, slowly walking back to the edge of the boat where she was before as Ian moved towards his fellow crewmates. Mirabel exhaled, leaning her elbows against the railing and taking in a deep breath of salty sea air. Noticing how the moon shined down on the waves below in a beautiful glimmer. As she moved to take off her glasses for the night, she noticed a bright shine once more around her. She placed the glasses back on, looking over and seeing a familiar sight. A beautiful white butterfly with blue iridescent wings. Flapping its gorgeous wings in the middle of this place as if it belonged. "Hey you..." she called, reaching her hand out to it. Without any fear or hesitation, the butterfly landed gracefully on the back of her palm. She smiled, looking down at the way their wings shined beautifully in the moonlight. Just like during the night when she ran away. "It's been a while huh? I thought that I would never see you again."

The butterfly flapped its wings in response.

"How did you get all the way here?" she asked.

The butterfly flapped its wings again. Twice this time now, then taking off her hand and flying over her head. Mirabel raised her eyebrow confused, following it as it flew towards the top of the ship where Ian and his crewmate were standing. "Captain, look! See! I saw land, I'm telling you!"

Mirabel raised her eyebrow, listening to their conversation now.

Ian crossed his arms across his chest as he gave him a confused stare. "Impossible. It's only been a few hours at sea! We shouldn't reach the coast of-"

"Come on! Just look!" he called, pointing ahead.

Ian exhaled, turning over. He opened his mouth to dismiss his claims again but stopped, looking over from where his crewmate stood. There, he saw land. From the distance, a huge piece of land. "How the-"

"Uh, is everything okay?" Mirabel called.

"Uh... yeah! Yeah, everything is fine." he said, looking over at her from his spot. "I must have messed up the trajectory. It seems we'll be there by tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow?!" Mirabel cried, her excitement evident in her voice.

"Yeah, actually."

Mirabel smiled widely, looking over and seeing the butterfly fly away from the two men as they started to freak out and landed back on her wrist. Mirabel smiled at it. "Thank you. Again." she mouthed to it. She was just a few hours closer to her new life and her journey. She moved her wrist up, watching as the butterfly flew away again.

The next morning came quickly. As soon as her head hit the pillows of her quarters, she fell into a comfortable sleep. And the swaying of the boat made it even more enjoyable and snug. Once again, a completely dreamless sleep. No more nightmares. She woke up to the muted voices above her, speaking on the issues of the boat or just having conversations. She dressed quickly and made her way to the top of the boat. The sun blinded her for a second, but she saw the beauty of the sky. A periwinkle colored sky with only a few clouds. Like looked like soft cotton. She turned over, seeing the beauty of the island that the boat was docked at. There were beautiful trees just like at home, but the green seemed so much more vibrant. She didn't know if that was because they were a different kind or because she was in a different mindset. Mirabel smiled, pulling her bag closer to her chest and hugging it. She had made it. With a kind thank you to the crew, she slowly made it off of the boat. Meeting with Ian. Who was instructing where certain boxes should go off and what needed to be loaded on the boat.

As soon as they met eyes, they greeted each other warmly. "Here. Let me help you." he said, taking a hold of her hand and helping her down.

"Thanks." she said. "Sleep well?"

"As much as a captain can? I'll sleep on the journey back." he said. "Well... welcome to Puerto Rico." Mirabel's smile stayed on her lips the entire time. She was so thrilled to be here. "Someone looks happy."

"That's because I am. I am! You have no idea how... agh! I'm so excited to be here! To start a new!" she said with a smile that could have ignited fireworks. "Ian, I can't thank you enough for taking me here."

Ian rubbed the back of his neck. "It's my job..." he said with a chuckle.

"But you still didn't have to take me here and look after me and speak to me the way you did. You're a true friend and I haven't had one of those in a while." she said.

"Of course Mirabel. Of course. You're a true friend to me as well." he said, clapping a hand on her back with a smile. "I... I need to uh... I need to start unloading the boat and-" he called awkwardly.

"Right, right of course." she said back, just as awkward.

"Listen. You'll love it here. Beautiful beaches for you to sit in and explore and everyone that I know has a heart of gold like yours." he said. "You'll fit in just fine Mirabel. I know that everyone here will be glad to have someone here like you. And I know that your story will be even grander with a new setting."

Mirabel smiled. "Thank you... for everything." she said to him. "Here."

She smiled, moving into her bag. She pulled up one of her dresses, with a beautiful teal butterfly sown onto it in an almost 3D effect. She yanked it off as carefully as possible, keeping it together and handed it to the teen in front of her. Ian looked down at the little gift, rubbing the soft embroidery. "Mirabel-"

"I want you to have it." she said to him. "Especially consider that I don't have that much money to begin with."

"Don't worry about it. I'll... cherish this. I'm sure mama will want to frame it when I return to Colombia." he said with a smile. "Good luck on your journey Mirabel."

"I hope you get back safely."

Ian nodded, turning away from her. Mirabel doing the same. The two made it three steps away from each other before turning over. "Hey." they called in unison.

Mirabel and Ian chuckled at how awkward it had suddenly became between them. "You go first." Mirabel said with a smile.

Ian cleared his throat. "Will you write?" he said. "I may not be coming back here every four days. I'll be gone across the Latin Americas. Will you please write to me and my family? I'd love for some updates before you become rich and famous."

"I doubt that will happen, but I always intended to write to you all. I promise. You'll get a letter from me." she said.

"And what did you want to say?" Ian asked.

"I wanted to ask the same thing. If I would hear from you again too?" she said, moving her thumb finger up and down from her bag strap.

"Of course. I'll write you back and even come see you after trades are done and goods are delivered. I promise." Ian said.

Mirabel and Ian turned to each other with a smile. They moved back those three steps and hugged. Sincerely wishing each other well with that one motion. "I'll see you again... very soon." Mirabel said with a grin, squeezing the friend she hadn't had in a very long time. Ian smiled, hiding how red his cheeks as he squeezed her back, careful of both her and of her present. They slowly pulled away. With one last smile, Mirabel gathered her things and slowly left the docks. Ian smiled, watching her go. Slowly looking down at the butterfly he was gifted. While Mirabel moved off the cobblestone and onto the beach. Ready.

Chapter Text

There was a shift in the mood almost immediately once everyone found out that Mirabel has gone. Her voice or her happy, dancing footsteps gone from the beautiful island. She didn't turn up, three days in a row now, to read the children stories and teach them how to sew or bring her bright and happy personality to the people of the Encanto. The villagers noticed the girl's happy and go-lucky presence gone and her wonderful singing voice left a horrible and plain echo throughout the main square. The sky, which always was a beautiful blue with cotton candy clouds was hidden with fog and angry and huge grey clouds. Pepa's mood resonated throughout the place. The raspberry and purple flowers that covered the entire Encanto and its village had all wilted. Their dead petals leaving a trail around the homes. And their precious Isabela hadn't dared show up to make them bloom fresh and colorful again. And the Encanto's guard, which was only ever used for small matters, seemed to be bigger than expected. Soon, they were all over. Their horses had left the village in groups in the early morning and a couple of the guards were even searching homes and businesses. Everyone was talking about it. Dolores could hear their whispers filled with concern for not only their family in general but for Mirabel. What was happening? Things like this never happened. Encanto was a paradise. The place was so happy and grand. How could someone just go missing like this? Children had wandered off sometimes, but they were always found within hours. Mirabel had been gone for days now with no leads, no sign of her.

How could something like this have fallen upon the family that does nothing more and wants to do nothing more than help others? For more than fifty years, something broke behind that perfect family and that feeling of concern radiated all over the Encanto.

As Mariano stepped into Casita, he could sense the pain and woe as a chill moved up his spine. The tension inside of the home was thick. Suffocating. He needed to take a second to breathe it in and get used to it. His eyes saw the cracks on the home's floor and walls as he walked inside. Small pebbles of rubble on the ground being swept up by Camilo, and paint chips sticking out from where the crack had laid it's head. There were barely any candles lit. This darkness harboring over them seemed to go ignored as they worried for their Mirabel. Only three were lit and they were all coming from the kitchen and dining area. Mariano looked up, seeing Dolores sitting on the steps in the dark. The mustard color of her dress sticking out to him despite the inky blackness that consumed her. Her ears cupped and covered by her hands as she looked down at her knees. "Dolores..." he called.

She looked up. Her eyes were puffy and red and her hands looked scratched to all hell. "Oh. Buenos dias Mariano. It's a bit early isn't it?"

"Buenos dias. I just stopped by to share news." he said honestly

"Is it good?!" Dolores cried, her eyes wide with hope. But Mariano's frown stayed and he shook his head at her.

"I'm sorry." Mariano spoke, shaking his head. "I'm so sorry."

"It's... it's okay. Thank you." she said, her shoulders slumping back down with utter disappointment.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"There's been a lot of... talking. Everyone's worried. Everyone's so confused. They're so loud and with everything else here in Casita it-it just won't stop. And now my own thoughts. I'm so scared. Mirabel should have been found by now if she was still here. But I can't hear her. I hear everyone else... but her. I can't hear her. I can't feel her." she sobbed, grabbing a hold of her chest.

Mariano's eyes widened at the honest and heartfelt confession and rushed over to her side. Sitting next to her on the step and pulling her hands away from her chest. "Don't cry. Please don't cry." he said, his hand gently wiping the fat tears coming down her cheek. Under normal circumstances, Dolores would have been over the moon to see Mariano holding her like this. Now she was glad that someone was there to console her as she prayed for Mirabel's safety. "There. Breathe."

Dolores sniffled. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize." he said, moving to his pant pocket and handing her a handkerchief. She wiped her eyes with it as gently as she could. Mariano watched as she did, seeing the scratches and dry patches all over the back of her palms. "What is this?" he asked.

Dolores stopped wiping for a moment, looking down at her hands. "I don't want to cry..." she said.

"You don't have to scratch yourself to stop yourself from crying. When I say it it's because I just don't want to see you said. I can't bear it. But you have every right to be upset and emotional. Please don't hurt yourself or blame yourself from now on, okay?" he said. "Listen... please. We can't help and find Mirabel, if you don't help yourself. Okay? You're going to be fine. But please, take care of yourself."

"I don't know what to do though! She's out there and I can't hear her and-"

Mariano silenced her, moving his hands over her ears. He looked down at her with a kind smile. Despite the fact that he didn't stop what she was hearing, Dolores looked over at him giving him all her attention. "Dolores. Please." he called, his voice low and calm. "Big deep breaths. Relax. I know I can't stop you from hearing what everyone says... but... I'm here for you and your family. Please, I need to know that you're okay too."

Dolores cheeks flushed red, seeing the handsome man looking down at her and smiling. "I'm... I'm okay. It's not about-"

"Dolores. I need to know that you're okay." he said again with a smile.

Dolores nodded. Feeling the warmth of his hands on top of her ears. And for a split second, all she could hear was him.

"I'm okay."

"I'm glad." he said, slowly moving his hands away from her ears. "I'm here if you need me. Anytime. Okay?"

"Okay." she said a nod. "Mama! Tia! Mariano is here." she called. "They're in the dining room."

Mariano nodded a thank you to the young woman and looked out, seeing the parents inside of the main dining hall just as she had said. Julieta was in her husband's arms with her head resting on his shoulder. Both of their reds puffy and red. Agustin didn't even bother to wear his glasses. Her curls a complete frizzy mess and deep dark circles under her eyes. Mariano hummed when he saw her. He felt for the woman. It had only been three times that a kid had wandered a bit too far and ended up lost in the forest, and whenever Mariano brought them back that overjoyed look was so genuine. Real. That look on her face, of complete and utter fear... it was going to be in his nightmares. She was gone for days. And the odds weren't looking good for the fifteen-year-old. Pepa smiled as best she could at the captain. But she didn't look any better than her sister. A cloud hovered over her head. Thundering every now and then. The deep grey color looked like something that could sink a ship. Tear tracks rested on her face as Felix rubbed her shoulder in hopes of comforting her. "A-Anything?" Julieta cried. Her voice was coarse from either her crying or screams of pain.

Her daughter was on her mind. She desperately wanted her back in her arms.

Mariano shook his head, looking down. He couldn't even bring himself to look at the family, knowing he had came with nothing promising for their aching hearts. "All of my men are looking all over the Encanto, the woods, the mountains, I promise you. But as of right now with our investigation there is no sign of her. I am so sorry." he said with his head down. "I wish I had better news to share ."

Pepa looked down, Felix rubbed her back as she tried to keep in her tears. A slow drizzle coming over her head and the town. Audible from all of the shut windows. The rain startled Mariano for a second, but he couldn't judge. It was an emotional and scary situation. Julieta however said nothing, still looking down in complete and utter disbelief. "Thank you so much Mariano." Agustin said in her stead.

"Yes." Felix said. "Agradecemos su ayuda capitán."

"Don't thank me yet. Don't worry, we'll bring her home." Mariano nodded, turning on his heel.

As soon as he left the room, he heard the unison sobs of the two triplets and the rain outside fall even harder. Pattering down like beats on a drum. "Please don't cry mi vida. Please don't cry." he heard Felix and Agustin coax in unison before he left the Casita. Determined to look harder.

"Girls, be very quiet. Okay?" Agustin called, looking down at his two younger daughters. Isabela was holding onto Luisa's hand tightly as they followed their dad up the steps of Casita and to the familiar teal door. Isabela and Luisa met eyes and nodded as their dad stopped at the door.

"Yes papi." Luisa whispered.

"Yes papi." Isabela repeated.

Agustin smiled at his girls, tapping their noses with his thumb before slowly opening the door. The nursery had a wide bed set up in there. Luisa's bed was moved for their heavily pregnant mother's comfort and she moved into Isabela's room for the time being. A week with her sister wasn't that bad when she was getting a new one. The huge pristine mattress was filled with pillows and blankets for Julieta, who was laying down comfortably. Her hair was frizzy and messy, sticking to her forehead with sweat. In her arms was a bundle, wrapped up in an aquamarine-colored blanket. Isabela let out a small gasp, gripping onto her sister's arm in excitement. "Look!" she cried excited. "Look, look, look Luisa!"

Agustin shuffled the girls closer to the bedside. Casita moved the bed down slightly so that the little girls were able to look up at their mom. "Mama." Luisa called, her little eyes wide and excited.

"Hey my big, strong girl..." Julieta said in a low voice. Agustin moved to her side, moving the pillows up behind her to help her sit up.

"Are you okay mi amor?" Agustin asked his wife.

"I'm fine." she said as he ran a hand through her hair and planted a sweet kiss against her forehead. "I'm sweaty love."

"I don't care." he said back with a chuckle. "You're still just as beautiful."

"Papi, ew." Luisa cried with a chuckle.

"Girls. Come, come." Julieta said with a smile, slowly moving the blanket closer to her two older daughters. Their eyes were wide as they looked down and saw the bundle their mother was holding. Rosy and splotchy cheeks. Tiny hands curls into tight fists as she held onto the edge of her blanket. Already on her head, a tuffet of hair on top of her small head. Isabela and Luisa let out identical gasps, looking down at their just born sister. "Isabela, Luisa. I want you to meet your little sister. This is Mirabel."

"Mirabel..." Luisa repeated. Her little puffy cheeks poked out with the pronunciation of her sister's name. She smiled wide. "She's so tiny mama!"

Isabela smiled, reaching her hand over and tapping the young girl's nose like her father did her. A small flower appears at the touch. "Oh. Sorry." she said.

"It's okay." her father called. "You're still getting a hold of those powers of yours."

Mirabel adorably sneezed off the flower and let out a coo.

The two girls watched as their mother doted on their littlest sister. "Is she okay?" Luisa asked. Seeing the way Mirabel just laid there in the comfort of her blanket and her mother's arms.

"She's... she should be just fine." Julieta said honestly. "She just came a bit... a bit too early. That's all."

"Too early?" Luisa repeated. The two sisters met eyes. Remembering how suddenly while cooking, their mother had fallen to her knees while cooking and there was nothing else that she could do but wait for the bed to be prepared for a long birth.

"She's fine my loves don't worry." Agustin said to his daughters with a smile. "She'll just need some extra rest."

"Mama or the baby?" Isabela asked.

"Both of us." Julieta said. "Now don't worry about me. Here, here, here, come and hold her."

Isabela shook her head at her immediately. Her sister was small and only a few hours old. She didn't want to do anything to hurt her. She protested, shaking her head. Not wanting to hold her and immediately cover her in flowers. What if she was allergic to them? What if she swallowed one?! What-

The what ifs came to a stop as with her father's help, baby Mirabel was placed into her arms. Mirabel's hands opened for a second as she yawned and got used to this new space. "There you are. Support the head. Good job Isa." he said with a smile. Isabela looked down at her sister. Mirabel's eyes were shut tightly as she slept. Her lips pursed upwards. She couldn't help but just stare at her face and her cheeks. So tiny and yet so beautiful. Luisa moved over to her side, looking down and looking down at her precious little sister. Mirabel let out a small coo and smiled.

"She's smiling mama! She's smiling!" Luisa said with a smile. "Hi Mirabella!"

Isabela smiled as well. Feeling herself start to get sad now that her sister was here and now here in her arms. "Hi Mira..." she said back.

"Isabela, you've done such a good job being a big sister already. But I'm going to ask you to do more now. And you too Luisa. Being a big sister is so important." Agustin said, kneeling in front of his girls.

"I should know." Julieta said with a chuckle, leaning back into her pillows with an exhale. "I trust you girls to help your sister when she needs it and take good care of her. Real good care of her."

"I'm a big sister now?" Luisa asked, looking back at her papa. Who smiled at her and nodded. Luisa looked so proud to be given that title. She smiled wider, puffing up her chest as she looked down at the sleeping baby. Isabela was utterly entranced however, staring down at the baby in her arms.

"Can you promise us that you'll be good to Mirabel? Take good care of her and treat her when you can?" Julieta called.

Luisa nodded immediately. "I promise mama! I'll be the bestest big sister ever!"

Isabela looked up at her mom proudly. "I promise mama."

Isabela jolted upwards, feeling the back of her neck slick with sweat. She gasped, looking down at her legs, covered by her lilac blankets. She rubbed her eyes, seeing no sunlight rise through her window. The clouds from Tia Pepa cover the shining morning light. Her heart was hammering in her chest so hard that she could hear it in her ears. She was so small then. Even then she was small now. Smaller than her. Always looking up at her. When she was in infant, she looked up at her sister with interest. Now, Mirabel had looked up at her with hope. Despite everything, she still loved her. Why? How could someone look at her and still smile? She was horrible to Mirabel. Absolutely horrible. And now... no one knew where she was. Or if she was even okay. If she was even alive.

Isabela started to sob, covering her face with her hands as she looked down at her wrinkled blankets. She had broken her promise.

It had started drizzling soon after Mariano visited the Madrigal's and their home. The hard rain coming to a stop as Felix was finally able to get his wife to nap. It wasn't without sad dreams, but it was better than nothing. Even though lunch was being served and warm food is given out, silence befell the Madrigals. No one wanted to speak. No one wanted to do anything. The food was barely even eaten, it was picked at. Bowls of soup left to get cold and conjelled. Fresh soft rolls became hard and cold juice went warm. Isabela looked out at her family, seeing how they couldn't even lift their heads to look at each other, grief had overtaken them so. Isabela exhaled, slowly stepping out of Casita. The windows all shut tightly. Not one speck of fun or life inside of the home. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Isabela was left to her own devices, sitting in front of the home and staring off into space. Hoping that she would see Mirabel just wandering back. Casita attempted to bring her water and food multiple times, but she refused. She wanted her sister back more than anything. To envelop her in her arms and assure her that she was so sorry for everything.

Luisa looked at her sister, seeing her sitting on the front steps and looking out at the muggy weather as if this was another day. The rage in her heart was overflowing. She wanted to scream at Isabela. Scream at her Abuela. Scream at everyone at the top of her lungs until she found her precious Mirabel, brought her back safely and kept her safely in her arms where no one could hurt her again. Luisa exhaled, turning away from the front door and hugging herself. Things were looking bleak for Mirabel's search and rescue, and she already knew that if Dolores couldn't hear her then she wouldn't find her at all inside of the Encanto. Luisa rubbed her lips together. She didn't want to worry anyone else more than they were, but she needed to leave. No one else was going to able to find Mirabel but her own family. And while everyone else was stricken with grief, she knew she needed to take charge. With a determined and small stomp from her foot, Luisa slowly walked up towards her uncle's old tower. The wood creaking more and more as she stepped towards the doors. Luisa exhaled when she came in front of it. His door didn't glow anymore. Just normal old wood. Creaked and cracked with age. She jumped, hearing the sounds of the walls begin to crack even more around her. Luisa didn't know how much more the candle would last but everyone knew that at this point, it was melting even more. Luisa slowly pushed open the wooden door, being welcomed by the tall waterfall of pale yellow sand. The continuous sound of the particles hitting the pile below and a dust forming around her. Luisa exhaled, not wanting to suffocate when she stepped inside.

"Luisa!"

The strongest woman jumped from fright, banging her head against the wall above her. "Ow! Dolores!"

"Sorry! Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you!" Dolores called. "You're going in there? Into Tio Bruno's tower?"

"Yes. I am." she said. "Before he left, I remember him talking about a vision he had about Mirabel. Maybe... maybe it's still here. Maybe I can see it and see if it can help us find her or find if she's okay." Dolores hummed, looking down. Luisa raised her eyebrow. "What have you heard?:

"Heard? N-Nothing." she said back. "I'm... I'm just... I really want Mirabel to come home and I want her here safely. I think I can help."

"And by you think does that mean you'll come with me?" Luisa asked.

Dolores nodded. The two cousins slowly stepped inside of the room. Luisa pushed through the door easily, but it had give. The door's hinges weak and rusty from its lack of use. There was an hourglass made in the room's walls like another doorway. Carved magically from stone. Dolores looked around the small entrance and exhaled with a small grin. "It's like my room..." she said with a smile. "It's... it's quieter."

"You can't hear everyone else now?"

"No. I can still hear voices. But they are all muted now. I can hear my own thoughts for a bit."

Luisa nodded, happy for Dolores for a second. She looked forward at the waterfall of sand, holding her hand out to it. As the sand piled up into a small hillon her hand, she looked through. "Okay. It's like a slide of sand." she said with an exhale. She picked up Dolores and jumped through. The two cried out as they slide down on the sand. Dolores coughed from the sand all around as Luisa pulled her hair out of her bun to slap the sand off and out. The two stood up, looking forward at the tall structure that was the room in it's circular state. "How do you even sleep in here?" Luisa asked.

In the corner of this huge and circular tower, there was another stone sculpture. It was the form of a hand, and written on it YOUR FUTURE AWAITS. With one finger pointed upwards. And tons of stairs formed inside of the tower's cave like environment awaited them. "Woah." Dolores called.

"That's a... a lot of stairs." Luisa said.

The two jumped, hearing a loud yet girly scream come from behind them. They stepped back, Luisa moving an arm around her cousin protectively. A flash of lavender fell onto the huge pile of sand from the magical waterfall. Luisa exhaled, annoyed, turning away from her sister as she moved her hair out of her face. "What the hell is the point of all of this sand?!" she cried aloud as she sat up.

"What are you doing down here?" Luisa asked, not even looking at her.

Isabela didn't even question her sister's coldness. She stood up, brushing the sand from her dress. "I saw you when I was outside. I wanted to talk and then, you both came in here? Why?"

"We're-" Dolores started.

"Don't bother." Luisa called. "It's none of your business."

"If it's about Mirabel and finding her then I'm in. I want to help."

"I don't need and want your help. I'm going to help Mirabel on my own... no offense Dolores."

"None taken." she called waving her hands at the two and stepping back to allow the two sister to have their little squabble.

"I don't understand why you think I don't want to help too!" Isabela cried.

Luisa groaned. "Are you serious right now? You know exactly why! Ten years worth of reasons I can list right off the top of my head alone."

Isabela exhaled, licking her bottom lip as she looked down. "I... I know that I wasn't a good sister. Hell, I was barely a sister. But Mirabel is out there somewhere and I want to help bring her home! I'm willing to do whatever it takes to prove it to you and to Mirabel." she said. "Besides, I can help!"

"Help how?" Luisa asked.

"Don't tell me that you honestly are going to go up all those steps right?" she said, rubbing her hand together and pressing her hand to the sandy floor. As she raised it, a tall vine started to grow. Mini purple and pink flowers growing from it and sporting beautifully. Isabela turned to her sister and cousin with a smile. She moved her hand over, one of the vines moving around her waist and pulled taught to show it's strength and safety. "Here. Come on."

Dolores turned over to Luisa. Her face was still filled with anger as she had her arms crossed over her chest. "It's better than climbing up all those steps." she said

Luisa, with a very defeated groan, moved with Dolores to the giant vine stalk. A vine wrapped around their middle's similar to Isabela's. She moved her hand and slowly the stalk grew taller. Carrying all three of them up to the top of the tall mountain. The vines moved away from their waists as Isabela moved the stalk down slight from the top. The three of them looked inside of the opening to Bruno's cave. It was long, cold and damp. The only light for it being the light from outside. Casting a warm colored glow over the place. The stones on the outside curved into an arch like shape. Etchings of lines and triangles embedded in all of them. Like an entrance to a tomb. Piles among piles of sand were leaned up against the walls when they stepped inside. Hiding or resting over jugs made from clay. Dolores eyes wandered, seeing the statues of what could only be her uncle. Pressed up against the wall. His face looking eirely creepy, with their mouths wide open."H-Have you guys... uh... ever b-been up here before?" Dolores asked, shivering from fright at the way her uncle looked.

"No." Luisa said.

"No. Mama never allowed me up here." Isabela added.

The three of them moved to the end, seeing a huge circular door creaking back and forth from the wind inside of this place. "Why is this place like this? So many stairs... and so... creepy." Luisa asked.

"I have no idea. Maybe Tio Bruno liked the... quiet?" Dolores said, shivering from fright. She turned around at the sound of something inside of the walls. "Careful! I hear rats!"

"R-Rats?" Isabela stuttered.

"Let's just get this over with." Luisa called, pulling the door open as if it was made of cotton and feathers. The hinges on it, despite being old, broke from her strength and she set the door on the side. The room was way darker. No source of light inside of the place at all. It was a circular room. With similar etchings on it's roof like outside the tower and outside this strangely crypt like room. Luisa stepped in first, looking for anything of danger. "There's no one inside..." Dolores said. "But the rats."

Luisa nodded, helping Dolores and Isabela step inside. Despite the fact that she was mad at her sister, she was taught about respect and wanted nothing more than to show it. Isabela licked her lips, looking around this place. It was dark and terrifying. "How could Tio Bruno stand to stay here..." she said.

"I don't know." Dolores said. "Okay... we're here. Tio Bruno had a vision here before he went missing too. How do we find it?"

Luisa looked down at her feet. Past the particles of sand that rested against her shoes, she noticed a bright green glow. She moved her foot to the side, leaning down and picking up the piece of emerald glass. It giving light inside of the room. Isabela and Dolores noticed her picking it up and immediately moved to her side. "Woah." Isabela said.

"Yeah. Woah." Dolores called.

Luisa eyed the piece carefully. Seeing the cracks and the ridges on the side. This kind of glass couldn't be natural. It was broken from a bigger piece. She turned over, seeing more lights peeking through the sand under them. "Look!"

The two turned over, seeing more lights under them. Isabela was the first to pick one up. One behind Luisa. She handed it to her sister with a gentle smile, but Luisa wasn't going to return it. She rubbed the piece in her hand, moving the two of them together. They fit in perfectly. She noticed the outline of something inside of the glass. The lower half of a body and a familiar looking dress. Dolores handed her one more and finally, the picture became clear. She noticed something. She noticed something and someone. The face of her little sister. "Mirabel." she gasped.

"Válgame Dios." Isabela gasped, looking down at the shards. Dolores shook, hearing the sound of rumbling. She looked up, seeing some sand falling up. It was small, but only she could hear and notice it as Luisa and Isabela picked up more shards.

Dolores slowly removed her headband as more and more shards were pulled from the sand. Slowly, they stepped back outside of the crypt. Dolores holding all of them in her small homemade sack. They slowly made their way back down from the huge mountainous structure and left Bruno's tower. The door slamming shut behind them. Luisa turned over to Dolores, who let out a squeak. "Everyone's waking up." she said to them.

Luisa licked her lips, taking the sack from her. "I'll hide these in my room." she said. "Don't bring it up. With anyone."

"If we-" Isabela started.

"With anyone." Luisa said back, moving past her sister and into her room. The door slamming behind her. Isabela flinched at the sound, rubbing her arm. Dolores exhaled, looking over at her cousin.

"Just... give her some time." she said.

"She doesn't need time. The world could end and she would still hate me." she said. "I deserve it though. I hate myself too... for what I did."

Chapter Text

Mirabel looked over at the docks in front of her. Aged wood with its characteristics of dents and cracks and barnacles. It was a lot smaller than the docks back over in Ian's village. She slowly moved down the steps off of the docks, clutching her bag tightly as she admired her surroundings. The dock's pier hovers over a gorgeous white sandy beach. Mirabel couldn't help but admire and grin. The Encanto was away from the beaches of Colombia. She's always wanted to see one. Now, she was here. On a beach and not looking at a painted picture. She smiled as her feet touched the sand. A chuckle coming from her lips as some of the sand managed to bury itself inside her shoe.

There were a lot of people on the beach currently. Tall and strong men and women, moving items onto or off of small boats. Mirabel smiled. Their clothes were similar to the ones she wore at home. The colors were absolutely beautiful, despite how simple they were. Vibrant and alive. The men and women moving packages off the ships that came, mostly likely from Ian's ship or one of the many others, while some of the others were preparing fishing lines. Mirabel noticed how kind and civil they were to one another. Working with smiles on their lips even if they weren't speaking. And those who were speaking were talking in a very calm and peaceful manner. With a quick little question on direction from some of the fisherman, Mirabel walked away from the beach into a simple dirt path that led her towards the closest village. This one was just as lively as the one outside of the mountains in Colombia. The cottages and homes more on the outskirts of the main village. A bit more private with what looked like a quick walk in order to get to your neighbors. Mirabel looked around with intrigue and glee. Shops were so close together in a friendly-looking way. Oranges and teals painted on the walls with vines and flowers against the ground and cobblestone path.

There was faint music playing from the town's main square as people from all shapes, sizes, ages and colors walked along. Doing their tasks and their jobs while they sung along to the song or joined into a short dance. Mirabel came to a stop as she noticed the flag in the corner of one of the shops. Painted beautifully. She smiled. "Puerto Rico." she said to herself, her fingers grazing against the walls of one of the places. "A fresh start." Mirabel moved a lock of curls out the way of her glasses and slowly continued down the path. More and more people passed her by. A couple of them seemed quite excited when Mirabel took the second to take notice of them. Smiles on their faces as they moved about the path. Mirabel couldn't help but notice a few frowns on the faces of some women. There was worry across their brows as they whispered to one another. Unconsciously and out of her youthful curiosity, Mirabel turned her route around and followed them away from the main path and towards one of the homes in the forest and on one of the semi-tall hills. As soon as she had stepped close to the home, she heard the loud sound of very emotional wailing. The two women that she had been following met eyes and cursed, rushing into the home. Mirabel didn't enter the house, but the front door was left open just a bit. A beautiful orange color with dents and cracks in the door sticking out from wear and weathering. Mirabel looked inside, seeing a group of people surrounding one. A woman was sitting down on the ground, her head in her hands and loud sobs racking from her lips.

"Oh my love! Please don't cry." called an older looking woman. The woman started crying louder. Mirabel looked to the side, seeing the crying woman dressed in a beautiful white dress. However, there were tears in the side and rips all over the place. Brown stains at the bottom.

"It's ruined mama! It's ruined!" she sobbed louder.

"Don't cry mi amor preciosa." an older man cried as well, seeing the woman so distraught. Mirabel instantly inhaled and cursed. Realizing that this was a wedding. And she shouldn't intrude on such a private matter when she was so upset. She hadn't been to a wedding before. The closest thing that she had gotten to one was Mariano and Isabela. But it was obviously from that moment inside of Casita with that water and the years of emotional turmoil that that would be a wedding no one would want her to attend. But she wanted her sister to have a happy day and she hoped that now that she was gone, her sister's wedding day was going to turn out as perfect as she was. As Mirabel turned on her heel, one of the women from before that she had followed noticed her lingering.

"Hey! Hey you!" she called, her voice a little deeper but sweet nonetheless.

Mirabel froze in her tracks. Slowly turning around. Everyone was now staring at her, including the bride. She gave an awkward smile. "Hi... I'm... I'm sorry I shouldn't-"

"Your dress." the bride called, standing up. Mirabel could see the extent of the dress's wounds. Rips at the bottom along with mud and dirt. "It's... It's really pretty." she said, trying to stop the sobs from her lips.

"Oh. Thank you." she said back. Mirabel looked over at her with a smile, trying to make up for her intrusion on her situation. "Are you okay?"

The bride nodded. "I just went on a walk to clear my head... and fell and now... my dress is... ruined. And my wedding is in a few hours!" she said, full on sobbing now.

"Please don't cry." the older man called again to her.

"Joaquin is going to be so disappointed! ¡Me va a odiar cuando camine por el pasillo así!" she said.

"No! No! No! It's... It's an easy fix!" Mirabel said with a smile. Hoping to cheer up this obviously upset and emotional woman.

Hearing that, she stopped her wails. "It-It is?"

Mirabel inhaled. "Do you guys have a sewing machine and white thread?" she said. "How long until the wedding?"

"She has a good three hours." the man said.

"Then I am completely confident that I can fix it for you!" she said so excitedly. She hadn't sewn clothing in a while. It would be fun to do it again. Especially for something of this magnitude.

The bride eyed Mirabel up and down, her eyes sparkling. "Really?!" she said, pulling her into a bone crushing hug. It was so tight that she felt her arms crack a bit. It reminded her of Luisa's hugs. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

"It's a wedding day miracle!" the two women called in unison.

Mirabel smiled at her, happy that she was happy. She had left for a few moments and returned with the folded up and ruined dress. Everyone else expect her and the older woman left the home to continue their preparations. "What is your name by the way?" she asked.

"My name is Mirabel." she said to her with a smile as the bride pulled up a table and everything else she needed.

"That's a beautiful name! Sounds magical! Like you are to me right now." the bride called from her spot. "I'm Catalina. This is my mama, Isadora."

Isadora smiled, eyeing Mirabel's beauty along with the dress. "You did this to your dress? All by yourself?" she asked.

"Oh, yes. I did." she said, pushing her glasses back up onto her nose.

Catalina smiled. "It's gorgeous." she said. "I haven't seen you around here before."

"Oh. I just got here by boat." she said, sitting down at the table.

Catalina hummed in interest, still admiring the wash of color that Mirabel had on in just one dress. "Mama, can you go and check on the wedding please?" she asked. Isadora nodded, picking up her shoes at the door and leaving the home. Catalina smiled as Mirabel took the dress towards the basin and tried her best to rinse off the dirt before sewing. "I really appreciate you doing this for me. You don't have to-"

"No. I want to. Besides, it's your wedding day. It's going to be the most amazing and most beautiful day! And you deserve to look and feel your best." she said to her with a smile, taking a hold of the thread and slowly sewing the rips at the bottom first. Catalina watched her with awe and excitement.

"Mama tried to teach me how to sew when I was younger. I kind of regret being a kid and not caring. It seems like a wonderful skill to know." she said.

Mirabel nodded. "I taught myself. I spent a lot to days up in my room... and I... I had nothing else to do." she said.

Catalina raised her head. "Up in your room? What are some kind of damseled princess?" she tried to joke. "If I were you I would have shared this talent with my entire village! I mean, look at your dress alone! I am sure that if you did sell them, everyone in town would pay top dollar!"

No one really noticed her dresses before. Apart from Lupe. She would cheer when she entered for a new thread. Or happily compliment her newest dress. She would look at the work that the young girl did an congradulate and compliment. She would do it at first, try and share her dresses and her sewing. Adorning the dress with the beautiful flowers made from thread, identical to the ones that Isabela showered around their Casita. She'd sew and sew to create the candle and the lights that the magic flowed on her skirts as an homage. She was proud to showcase her family in her dresses. Her family, not so much. The flowers slowly stopped and she would just sew the flowers she read about. No more pinks and purples that were Isa's. No more candle and glowing shine and all of the yellow and gold thread stayed in Lupe's shop. She looked up at Catalina. "Do you really think that... that this is a gift?" she asked. No one else seemed to notice it. Unless it was magical... no one really noticed in the Casita.

Catalina chuckled at her. But when she looked over and saw her face and noticed Mirabel's seriousness towards the question. "Listen, I don't know what it was that kept you up in that room or who made you feel this way, but I think that you are strong and talented. This?" she said, motioning to the dress Mirabel had on. "This is a gift! But it's more than that. You were so quick and willing to help us that you followed my cousins here when you saw them in distress! That thing in your heart? That willingness to help and the kindhearted nature? That's something so cherishable and worth being rewarded and acknowledged." she said, moving her finger and pressing it to her chest where her heart would be.

Mirabel stopped sewing. Tears dripping down her eyes. She hadn't even realized she had been crying. "No one has... has been kind to me in a really long time. Not like you have or... or my friends back in Colombia. No one has actually sat and given me this kind of... this kind of generous aid. I've always just felt like a-"

Catalina reached forward. "No." she said. "If a bad word is going to come from your lips, I don't want to hear it. What comes from those lips should be blissful and joyous and should be your holding yourself up. That's what my papi told me since I was young. Even just know... when I... had my meltdown." she chuckled. "Mirabel, you are young and obviously skilled. Whoever put you down like that and made you feel like this, because I have a feeling that you weren't up in that room because you wanted to, they didn't deserve you. At all."

Mirabel smiled. "Thank you Catalina..."

"De nada amable extranjero." she said back. "How does a cup of juice sound while you work?"

Mirabel grinned back at her. "That would be great."

It had slowly turned from a bright and happy morning to a crisp, clear and tear filled evening. The navy blue sky had beautiful stars twinkling in it with only a few clouds in sight. There in the town's church, there was nothing but pure happiness radiating. Family members were all in delightful moods and cheerful as they spoke of the future for the couple. The walls were adored with flower braids, no doubt made by the bride and her wonderful family. Mirabel smiled wide when she took in the place around her. It was absolutely beautiful. She had never been able to attend a wedding before. She was sure that she went to one when she was an infant, but she couldn't remember it. Simple elegance is what she could do to describe the church and this wedding. "Oh, oh! Mirabel!"

She turned away from the entrance, seeing Isadora waving at her from the front of the church. She looked gorgeous in deep green. She rushed over, her gray hair shining more of a silver underneath of the candles inside the church. "Buenas noches señora." Mirabel said to her.

"I can not thank you enough for helping us." she said, taking a hold of her hands in hers and rubbing her knuckles happily. "You are an absolute godsend dear, a gift. Come, come sit with us."

"Oh, no. I shouldn't. I shouldn't." she said, shaking her head.

"Nonsense." one of the bridesmaids called with a smile, pushing her flowers into one hand and waving at her kindly as the doors to the church begun to open again.

"Vamos, joven regalo del cielo, siéntate. Aquí Mirabel, siéntate." Isadora said, sitting Mirabel down on her left and taking a hold of her husband's hand on her right. The doors to the church opened and Mirabel turned and watched the groom walk inside of the church. He was incredibly attractive. Black hair pulled back down behind his back and brushed down his shoulder. Mirabel couldn't help but chuckle at herself when he looked at him. He looked incredibly similar to Mariano. Like, extremely similar. High cheekbones, two moles above his eyebrow and upper lip. And his copper frames rested on his nose adorably. His guayabera highlighting his deep, caramel-toned skin. He walked to the front of the church with his groomsman. The man clapped his back happily, whispering a good affirmation to him. The doors opened once again and everyone stood up. Mirabel stood up, fixing her own glasses and looking over at the doors. The gasp that shook the room made Mirabel's heart flutter. The ruined dress from before was completely unrecognizable. But in a good way.

It was better.

Way better.

Her long dress had been fixed at the bottom, along with its train. However, even though it was a slightly different colored white, you could barely notice it. Adorning from the bottom hem, the train and high up to her thighs, the dress was covered in embroidered flowers. Roses and orchids made from the thread looked beautiful as they trailed their way up the gown. Catalina was a beautiful bride already. And now the dress elevated that natural beauty. On her bust was one single embroidered rose, that matched the mantilla she had on top of her head. Catalina smiled widely, seeing her fiance awaiting her at the front of the church. Her soon-to-be husband turned away for a moment, pulling off his glasses and wiping the tears in his eyes. Mirabel smiled. She looked so happy. He looked so happy. Everyone seemed so happy inside this room. The wedding was short and sweet. Catalina was just so happy and excited to be married. The two of them sealed their marriage with an amazing and beautiful kiss, earning a happy cheer from the crowd attending. Mirabel had to wipe the tears of Isadora with a happy grin. The couple and the crowd left the church and almost immediately, music began playing from outside. The town itself, even though they weren't close with the couple or probably didn't know them, were ready and happy to celebrate the newest union with them. The drums and the guitars began to play as Catalina was dipped by her husband into another kiss. He was sauve and Mirabel couldn't help but applaud his actions. The couple danced with one another happily. Mirabel watched them, clapping her hands to the beat of the song. Admiring the union. As she did, she couldn't help but see her sister in that dress. Imagining for a moment that this party before was back in the Encanto. That the bride and groom were big sister Isabela and Captain Mariano. Isabela would have made a beautiful bride. Everyone would have been so happy for her. Mirabel looked down. That was behind her now, literally and figuratively. Isabela's wedding will be better without her anyways. She exhaled, stepping back and turning away. She needed to find a place to rest. With some of the money, maybe she could get a room for the night.

"Hey! Hey, where are you going?"

Mirabel turned over, seeing Catalina rush to her, smoothing out the skirt of her dress with a smile. "Oh. I just wanted to give you all some privacy." she answered honestly.

"Nonsense! Come, come, come. Come and meet my husband." she said, taking her hand with a grin. "Joaquin! Love! Here, this is her! This is Mirabel!"

The groom, Joaquin smiled wide. He pulled Mirabel close in a huge hug automatically. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" he said.

"Woah! Hey! You're a hugger!" Mirabel cried, shocked that he was so open.

"Oh. I'm sorry!" he called, setting down. "You... you saved the wedding! I mean... I wouldn't have cared if my precious Catalina walked down in a pigskin-"

"Joaquin!"

"I wouldn't have amor, honestly." he said, pressing a kiss to her temple and brushing his thumb against her chin. Mirabel noticed how she melted under his touch. "But she was so distraught and upset and you did this! Made her smile. I'm so happy that you were able to make her happy. And this dress! I mean... I mean look at it! She shines in it! You're amazing young lady!"

"Thank you. Thank you so much." Mirabel said, crossing her hands together at the praise.

"No. Thank you." Catalina said, pressing a hand to her shoulder. "Mirabel... you deserve something for what you've done for me."

"No I-"

"You're not getting out of this no matter how hard you try." Joaquin said with a smile as Catalina handed him her wedding bouquet and took her arms, leading her away from the huge celebration. Mirabel protested the entire time, but to no avail. Catalina happily brought her in front of a shop, paint deep blue like the sky. Wiggling her eyebrows excitedly at Mirabel. She opened the door happily. She walked over, igniting some of the candles. Mirabel looked over admiring the place. The walls were painted the same color on the outside and the floor was a deep, warm-toned maroon wood. Catalina smiled, showcasing and showing off racks filled with beautiful fabrics, beads and needles and sewing machines.

"Woah." Mirabel said. "This place is beautiful."

"It's my mama's." Joaquin said from the door, adjusting the necklace he was wearing.

"Your mother's?" Mirabel repeated.

Catalina nodded happily. "That's why I was so worried about the dress." she told him with a smile, adjusting the mantilla on her and throwing it over her shoulder. "She had made it for me and I was so scared that she would hate me if I ruined it."

"She would never hate you." Joaquin added with a wink.

"And... you helping me was just a gift. My mama-in-law owns this place. Only me and her work here. And so I was thinking, since you just moved here to Puerto Rico and this village you can work here as well. There's a second floor that we rarely used and it used to be storage, but we can clean it out for you and have it be your very own little place! It would be perfect for you! And you wouldn't even have to pay for room and board!" Catalina said, clapping her hands together and jumping with her excited mood.

Mirabel looked around the place in front of her. The store was a dream come true. Everything about it was a dream come true. It was all she wished when it came to coming here. A fresh start. "I... I don't know what to say." Mirabel said to her, covering the bottom of her mouth with her hands.

"You don't have to say anything at all. Look at this talent of yours!" Catalina said with a smile, twirling as she showed off the flowers sewn onto her dress's train. "You need a place to show off that beautiful talent of yours! Please, Mirabel, stay! Work here! Por favor Mirabel, quédate."

"Yes. Por favor Mirabel, quédate." Joaquin agreed.

Mirabel grinned, looking over and seeing the beautiful setup before her. "I can really stay here?"

"For as long as you wish!" Catalina said with a smile, taking the young girl's hands in hers. "Please..."

Mirabel smiled. This shop was beautiful. And she knew that here she would be helpful. She knew here... no one would cast her aside. No one would ignore her. And she'd make someone deserving very proud. "Okay... okay I will. I'll stay! I'll stay! But only if you go back right now and enjoy your wedding reception."

Catalina nodded, hugging Mirabel quickly before rushing out the door. "I'm so glad!" she said. "I'm going, I'm going, I'm going!"

Joaquin chuckled, seeing his wife with such a gleeful look in her eye and pep in her step. "You really are amazing! I can't wait to see you more. Oh! And welcome to Puerto Rico."

Mirabel smiled as he left. Mirabel covered her face with her hands, seeing the beautiful fabric and threads. All for her to use to her heart's content. With a happy squeal and tears dripping down her cheek, she felt something. She found her place. She found her spot.

This was her new home.