The invitation was written on thick paper with a pattern of butterflies around the edge. Mirabel studied it closely as she ate her breakfast, the careful swooping of the letters that made up her and Abuelo Oscar's names.

It had been two years since she'd last talked to anyone from her birth family. She avoided them on the streets, turning the other way when she saw Luisa picking up donkeys or Isabela making flowers bloom where they were holy unneeded. But invitation, this was something she had not expected.

"Hope you don't plan on going to that," Oscar grumbled as he sat down at their small table, drinking his steaming cup of black coffee.

"We were invited. Why shouldn't we go?" Mirabel countered, fiddling with a curved corner of the paper.

"I ain't trekking up that hill with this thing." He waved his curved cane angrily. "And you haven't even met that one."

It was true. Mirabel had never been back to Casita and her littlest cousin Antonio rarely left the magical home. It seemed like Pepa was very protective over her baby.

"Besides, I need you here. I'm not as young as I once was, mija."

Mirabel refrained from rolling her eyes. "It's one night-"

"That you shouldn't attend," Oscar cut her off. He placed his calloused hand on hers, his eyes filled with rare warmth. "Mirabel, I know how hard you have worked in the Encanto. I already lost my son to the Madrigals. He never is given gratitude or thanks, except from Julieta. And I do not want that life for you."

Mirabel nodded as her Abuelo went back to his coffee. But despite his warning, a plan was forming in her mind.

Oscar was asleep. His snoring filled their home. Mirabel had brushed her curls and was wearing her teal skirt that was filled with embroidered flowers and swirls of the Encanto. She readjusted her glasses one last time in the mirror before she opened her window. The boards throughout the house were notoriously creaking and any stray sound would for sure wake her Abuelo. Luckily, Mirabel was limber enough to scramble out the window.

Once her feet hit the grass, she took off up the hill. The town was already all at Casita, as the ceremony had definitely already happened. But she'd had to wait for Oscar to fall asleep.

Finally, she arrived. She walked along the stones leading the magical house and looked up at it for the first time in years.

Flowers decorated every inch and donkeys were corralled to the side. Music and light was streaming from the house, as if it simply couldn't contain it. And there was not a person in sight.

Mirabel slowly walked up the steps, her hands trailing across the stucco walls. As she stepped in the courtyard, she saw it. The new door.

It glowed brighter than the others, it seemed. Antonio's name was curved across the top and an image of him with animals glowed in the night. The music and laughter was coming from there so Mirabel supposed the party had moved to his wonderful new room.

Mirabel stared up longer than she should have as tears pricked her eyes.

So it was really her fault. If her younger cousin had gotten a gift then it had definitely been something about her.

For a moment she debated going back and sleeping soundly in her bed but something drew her forward. She took a step into the courtyard…

Then a stucco tile fell right in front of her.

Mirabel jumped and glanced around the courtyard. No one was there. She crouched forward and picked up the tile. Was Castia trying to hurt her?

Her fingers stroked the edges, but it slipped, cutting her hand. Mirabel winced as it shattered on the ground.

Suddenly, the stones in the floor began to shake.

"What the…?" Mirabel gaped, reaching forward. The house being alive was strange to her, having been gone so long.

As her hands grazed the stone, a crack suddenly sprang from her fingers. Mirabel fell back as it spread across the floor. They raced to a nearby wall and sprung up, inching their way to the second floor.

Mirabel was on her feet, spinning around, watching the cracks as they sped past the doors, their glows flickering. They moved higher and higher, seeming to claw their way to the candle.

Mirabel was shaking every inch, eyes wide as the flame flickered.

"No!"

"Mirabel!"

She turned and saw Julieta looking out of the kitchen door. Mirabel raced toward her, pushing her further into the kitchen and slamming the door shut.

She was gasping for air as she turned to face her mother.

"Are you alright?" Her brow was creased with worry.

"Did…did you see the…?" Mirabel gasped but couldn't get the words out. She moved to point toward the door but flinched at the pain in her hand.

Julieta noticed and grabbed it, flipping the palm open so she could see the cut.

"Oh dear. Let me see if I can fix that."

She turned back to the platters of food on the counter. As she moved ingredients around, Mirabel slowly opened the kitchen door and peeked out.

But…the cracks were gone.

"What?"

"Here," Julieta thrust and arepa con queso into her non-injured hand. "For the cut."

Mirabel blinked at the food before she remembered her mother's gift. "Oh. Thank you."

"I'm so glad you decided to come, Mirabel," Julieta said with a soft smile. "I was just getting more food for the party, they seem to be going through everything so fast."

"Right. The party." Was she going mad? Had she only imagined the cracks?

"You missed the ceremony but that's alright. I imagine…that would've been hard."

"Hard. Yes."

"Julieta! Julieta!" A figure suddenly burst into the kitchen, shoving Mirabel aside. "Did you see? Did you see the…?"

He stopped when he realized Mirabel was there.

"Bruno. Hello," Mirabel greeted him, biting into the arepa. She watched as her cut healed in an instant. But the phantom pain lingered.

"Mirabel. What…what are you doing here?" he gaped.

"I was invited," she replied, flashing the paper that she'd stuffed into her pocket. She wasn't sure if they were needed for entry.

"But who…?"

"I invited her," Julieta replied, arms crossed. Bruno turned to his sister, eyes wide. "She is family, after all."

"Mami would not be happy about this," he whispered to her. "Don't you remember the…thing?"

Julieta just frowned and shook her head. "She is my daughter. And I wanted her to come."

Bruno pressed his lips into a line before he turned back to his niece. "Well then, welcome Mirabel. Antonio…he's in his room at the party if you want to congratulate him. Animal communication, I mean, wow, pretty impressive."

Mirabel just crossed her arms. "If I'm not wanted, I can go."

"No, no," Bruno laughed in a painfully fake way. "You're still family."

But something seemed to crack in her chest, just like out in the courtyard. "No, I'm not. You decided ten years ago that I am not family."

She turned sharply on her heel and started walking away. She had been so wrong to come here. What had she been thinking?

Mirabel was nearly out the door when Julieta grabbed her arm.

"Mirabel, wait, please," she pleaded. "Come to the party. Antonio would love to meet you and I'm sure your sisters will…"

"Will what?" Mirabel snapped. "Be happy to see me? I doubt it. Isabela was more than happy to be rid of me and Luisa never talked to me after you threw me out. And why did you invite me? You never wanted me here, never fought for me when Abuela kicked me out!"

"I…I wanted to," Julieta replied, barely audible.

"So why didn't you?"

"I…I wish things were different."

But Mirabel just shook her head. "You wish I was different."

And she turned sharply, leaving the Casita, not even noticing the small crack that were left right where she had been standing.