AUTHOR'S NOTES: One of the things I really wanted to explore with this story was 'Isabela as the protective oldest sister' idea, so this chapter has that in abundance.
Waking in the middle of the night from a terrible nightmare involving the entire house falling down around the family as the candle burned out, Isabela quietly got up and checked on Mirabel before going to the door and slowly opening it, looking up at Abuelo's window where the candle was kept. Its glow was steady, like a lighthouse at sea, but Isabela still slipped out of Mirabel's room and used her vines to help her up to the roof, creeping along until she was just below the window.
Hearing someone coming up to the candle, Isabela pressed against the wall, listening as she heard Abuelo talking to Alma as he looked at the locket which held her picture.
"Mirabel knows about the vision, mi vida," Pedro murmured, softly. "She saw the cracks in the house... our candle nearly going out... How do I protect her from her fate? She's a child. And she's so afraid that this means that she'll destroy our family."
Isabela stifled a gasp as she eavesdropped. One of Bruno's visions featured Mirabel, the house breaking, and the magic dying? No, it couldn't be what it sounded like. No one loved the family more than Mirabel. But as Abuelo went on, talking about when Bruno had shown him the vision, it sounded like the vision had actually had two possible outcomes.
When Abuelo finally went to bed, Isabela moved so she could see the candle and as she watched it flicker, she straightened up as she made a promise to both her grandparents. "I'll look out for Mirabel. And I will save the miracle."
Making her way back to Mirabel's room to check on her once more, Isabela made sure her little sister was still sleeping before heading to her own bedroom, already coming up with a plan for the next day. This apparently all began with one of Bruno's visions, so as soon as she could, she'd sneak into Bruno's tower and try to find it.
'And what then?' a voice in Isabela's head asked. It was a voice that always made her think of Abuela and ever since she was a child, Isabela had believed it was her grandmother trying to talk to her and guide her. 'How do you plan to save the miracle?'
"First things first," Isabela said, aloud, for herself as much as her abuela's spirit. "Find Tio Bruno's vision. If it's as important as Abuelo says it is, then it's probably in his vision cave, since he doesn't let anyone in there. After that... I'll figure something out."
X
The next morning was sunny and not too hot, so the family gathered for breakfast outside, enjoying the weather.
Antonio was having a conversation with several of Bruno's rats while Camilo, Bruno, and Delores discussed Bruno's rat telenovelas.
Looking at Louisa, Pedro sipped his coffee as he asked, "If you wouldn't mind, Louisa, several villagers are having problems corralling the donkeys again. Could you help them gather the animals and assist with the fencing?"
"I can go with you!" Antonio offered, eagerly. "Maybe I could talk to the donkeys and find out why they keep leaving their pens!"
"That sounds like an excellent idea," Pedro agreed, nodding. Turning to Delores, he gave her a wink as he inquired, "I don't suppose you've heard anything of interest from Mariano Guzman lately? I've heard rumors that he's been asking the village jewelry maker about rings."
Delores blushed furiously as she muttered, "I-I haven't heard anything."
"I'm sure he's just as nervous as you are," Pedro soothed, smiling. "And perhaps, he's keeping it quiet so as to not spoil the surprise?"
As the rest of the family spoke about their plans for the day, Isabela kept silent, trying to figure out the best time to try and slip into Bruno's tower and find the vision about Mirabel. But as she thought of her youngest sister, Isa suddenly noticed that Mirabel was absent from the table.
"Mama?" she asked, looking at Julieta. "Is everything alright with Mirabel? It's not like her to skip breakfast."
Although the question was out of genuine concern, Isabela had also posed the query as bait to see if her mother knew anything about the vision. And judging by the exchange of looks between Julieta, Abuelo, and Bruno, Isa's suspicions were correct.
"We can talk about it later, Isa," Julieta replied, quickly. "But now that you mention it, would you mind taking some juice and a couple arepas up to your sister?"
"Of course, Mama," Isabela agreed, finishing her own breakfast before heading off to bring food to Mirabel.
Once upstairs, Isabela quietly ducked into Mirabel's room where her sister was, surprisingly, still asleep. Not wanting to wake her, Isa left the arepas and juice on the nightstand and headed back out just as silently, sneaking down the hallway and up to Bruno's room, slipping inside before anyone could spot her.
The curtain of falling sand that separated the room's foyer from the rest of Bruno's bedroom parted, allowing Isabela to head down the small flight of stairs and towards the winding staircase that led up to her tio's vision chamber.
Once at the top of the stairs and across the bridge, Isa felt a sudden sense of foreboding as she walked towards the vision cave. She'd only been inside of it once and Bruno had become quite upset about it.
Hearing several of Bruno's rats squeaking nearby, Isa whispered to the rodents, "I don't suppose you'd know where Bruno's vision of Mirabel is, would you?"
To her surprise, the rats led her away from the vision chamber and back down the stairs, scurrying towards Bruno's actual bedroom and an old cedar chest pushed up against one wall.
Kneeling in front of the chest, Isabela lifted the lid, looking through a jumbled mess of blankets, assorted keepsakes, and pictures that she and her sisters and cousins had drawn at various ages.
Pulling out one drawing in particular, Isa inhaled sharply as she saw Mirabel's image of her 5-year-old self standing in front of a door with her name on it with butterflies all over.
The night Mirabel's door had faded away, Isabela had watched the villagers look from her sister to Abuelo who tried to explain what had happened.
Isa, Louisa, and their mother had gone to Mirabel, trying to soothe her and explain that she'd done nothing wrong.
The past ten years, Isabela had done everything in her power to make Mirabel feel included in the family... to feel special... But looking at her little sister's old drawings, it was clear that the lack of a Gift was something Mirabel viewed as a curse or punishment.
Eventually, Isa straightened up a bit as she heard the clink of a vision plate hitting something and she pulled it out, studying it intently. Standing up, she closed the lid of the cedar chest, sitting down on it as she examined the glowing green glass.
She'd tried telling herself that what she'd overheard wasn't true.
She'd run through the mental list of all Tio Bruno's visions that hadn't been accurate.
She'd reminded herself of all the times Mirabel had gone out of her way to help the family in one way or another.
Despite all of that... Isabela still found herself staring at an image of her sweet, wonderful, precious little sister standing before their casita which was covered with cracks.
"It's not true..." Isabela whispered before looking up. "Abuela... God... Tell me this isn't..." But as she tilted the vision, her eyes widened in surprise as the cracks disappeared.
"What are you saying, Tio?" Isabela said to herself, looking at both angles of the vision. "Is Mirabel going to fix the cracks, or... Or is she causing...?"
Hot, angry tears stung Isabela's eyes and her hands trembled as she fought the urge to break the vision plate. If it was broken, there would be nothing to worry about, right? Steadying her grip on the vision, her expression was resolved as she stood. If she took the vision and hid it where no one would find it, then there was no way anyone could prove what was in it. She could insist that Tio Bruno had embellished what he had seen and that everything was just blown out of proportion.
Hurrying out of Bruno's tower, Isabela made a beeline for her own bedroom, bumping into Delores who has been dashing across the mezzanine looking elated.
The two eldest Madrigal grandchildren stopped, staring at each other for a moment before blurting out their news at the same time.
"I snuck into Tio Bruno's tower, and he had a vision of Mirabel!"
"Mariano wants to come for dinner tonight! I think he's going to propose!"
Delores blinked at her prima before turning her attention to the vision plate. "Tio Bruno had a vision about Mirabel?" When Isabela nodded, Delores grabbed her arm and pulled her into her own bedroom. "Show me," Delores implored, quietly.
Isabela handed the vision over, looking pleadingly as she asked, "What do we do? We have to keep this a secret. I know Mama, Tio Bruno, and Abuelo already know about it, but if the others found out...? And what about the rest of the encanto?"
Delores set the vision down on her desk after looking at both angles and looked at Isabela. "Mirabel already saw the cracks in the house, right? That means that the vision is already coming true. If we hide this..."
But Isabela wasn't to be deterred and she crossed her arms, looking resolved as she spoke. "You'd do anything to protect Camilo and Antonio, right?" When Delores gave a small, affirmative squeak, she shrugged. "I'd do anything to protect Mirabel. I don't care if this vision is her destiny. Destinies can be changed, right? They're not always set in stone." Pointing to the vision plate, she went on. "And this showed two outcomes. So maybe we can fix this and keep Mirabel from... from..."
Delores could hear the crack in Isabela's voice, and she stepped closer, hugging her prima.
"If it all falls apart," Isabela pressed, sounding slightly desperate. "Mira will never forgive herself. I have to save the magic. For Mira."
"You mean we have to save the magic," Delores corrected, pulling away and giving Isabela a conspiratorial look.
X
Mirabel finally woke up around noon and after scarfing the food and juice left for her on the nightstand, she changed clothes and slipped out of her room, going to the second-floor entrance to the wall space and making her way to Bruno's den, sitting on the sofa and looking about the comfortable space. She couldn't remember how long this room had been in use and Tia Pepa always made it sound like Bruno had used it since he was in his teens.
The only downside to hiding in the den, Mirabel realized, dismally, was that it wasn't exactly a secret place and eventually, everyone would figure out where she was.
Still, it was the best option she could think of at the moment. Being around the family wasn't what she wanted, and yet she couldn't bear to leave the house.
One of Bruno's rats joined her, and Mirabel recognized him as Alonzo. Picking up the rat, Mirabel leaned back, petting him. "I just don't know what to do, Alonzo," Mirabel said after a while. "I love my family. And I have tried so hard to... to make everyone proud of me... And now I find out that I might... that I might somehow be hurting my family. And maybe it would be better for everyone if I just left, but... I know that would hurt everyone, too."
"I'm sorry," Bruno murmured as he entered the den, pulling a chair over by the sofa and sitting down. "I don't know why I saw you in the vision. A-And I don't know why it had two endings." Seeing Mirabel sit up straight, he explained. "The cracks would appear and then disappear. That's why Abuelo, Julieta, and I kept it quiet. We didn't know what it all meant. We don't know if..."
"If I'll fix the cracks or cause them," Mirabel concluded, slumping back again. After thinking hard about the current situation, she sat up again. "Tio Bruno... I can't stay here. I can't stay in the house," she elaborated when she saw that her uncle thought she was talking about hiding in the den. "Even if I stayed in this room, everyone would find me eventually. They'd wonder why I didn't want to be around anyone. I have to leave the house... maybe even the encanto."
Bruno's heart broke as he stared in dismay and disbelief at Mirabel. "Wh-What if my vision was all wrong? Wh-What if you're not hurting the magic? I-I-I mean, if you leave... Do you have any idea how much you being gone would destroy your mother?" Shaking his head firmly, he said, "I can't do that to Julieta."
"You don't have to cover for me," Mirabel insisted. "I'll run away on my own."
Leaning forward and taking Mirabel by the shoulders, Bruno looked pleadingly at his sobrina. "If you run away, the family is never going to rest until they find you. I know you're upset, and you want to avoid dealing with all this... avoid hurting the family, but... But-But if you leave... that's going to hurt all of us in ways you can't even imagine."
"Well, then tell me what I can do to fix this!" Mirabel cried, jumping to her feet. "There has to be something else that you can tell me!"
Bruno closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he thought about his very limited options. Anything involving Mirabel leaving the house or the encanto was out and he didn't even want to think about Mirabel faking her own death. Just the idea alone made Bruno feel sick.
There was only one choice.
He would have to try and have another vision. Maybe it would give them more information.
Or maybe it would confirm Mirabel's worst fears.
But as Bruno looked up at Mirabel, he didn't see the devastated teenager standing before him. He saw the little 5-year-old girl looking up at him with wide, fearful eyes as she asked him if she'd done something wrong.
Letting out a deep sigh, Bruno stood and said, "There is something we could try."
X
"Papa? Are you alright?" Julieta asked as she found her father sitting on the patio looking pensive.
"Should we have told the rest of the family about the vision?" Pedro wondered aloud as he looked out at the yard. "Or did we do the right thing in keeping it a secret?"
"I honestly don't know," Julieta replied, sitting down next to her father. "It's always been hard making sense out of Bruno's Gift. I feel like we're always just fumbling with prophecies we don't understand."
"True," Pedro agreed, nodding. "If we knew what was causing the cracks, it might give us a clue, but there are no answers that I've been able to discern... only more questions." After a few moments, he went on. "I've been thinking about your mother a lot lately. I truly believe the Gifts came from her, somehow, but..."
"But if they did," Julieta mused. "-why would she make Bruno's so hard to decipher? I've had the same thought myself."
"Mama!" Isabela's panicked voice cut across the house, bringing the majority of the family to the courtyard where Isa was standing with Delores who looked even more alarmed.
"Isa, what is it? What's wrong?" Julieta asked, looking from her daughter to her sobrina.
"I'm losing my Gift!" Delores exclaimed, her voice much louder than usual. "Isa and I were talking in my room and all of a sudden, I started having trouble hearing her!"
Pepa caught the look her sister gave their father and she felt a thundercloud forming as she demanded, "Juli, what is going on? Do you and Papa know what caused this?"
Julieta let out a long sigh but before she could explain things, Isabela spoke up first.
"Tio Bruno had a vision of the magic in danger," Isabela blurted. Turning to her grandfather, she went on. "Abuelo, I'm sorry. I know you wanted me to keep it a secret, but it's affecting Delores now." Looking at the rest of the family while ignoring the warning in her mother's eyes, she said, "The vision showed cracks in the house appearing and disappearing."
"But I don't understand," Pepa pressed, urgently, as her cloud began to exhibit lightning flashes. "What's causing it?"
"We don't know, exactly," Julieta said at once. "But-"
"But we do know that I was in the vision," Isabela told her tia.
Everyone stared at Isabela in astonishment and Agustin's jaw dropped as he looked at his oldest daughter.
"Isa, that's not..." Julieta began as she took a step towards her daughter.
"I don't know why I was in the vision," Isabela insisted, suddenly feeling like she was a bug everyone was wondering how to get rid of. "-But we'll figure it out. We're Madrigals, right? We always stick together." There was a slight questioning tone to the statement and before a proper inquisition could commence, Julieta grabbed Isabela's arm and pulled her away to the bathroom, closing the door behind them.
"What are you doing?" Julieta hissed, anger and fear heavy in her words.
"I'm protecting Mirabel!" Isabela retorted, making sure to keep her voice low. "I don't care if everyone is angry with me! As long as Mira is left out of this, that's all that matters."
"Ai, Dios Mio," Julieta breathed, rubbing her face with both hands. After a moment, she lowered her hands, giving Isabela a pleading look. "This isn't like taking the blame for a broken vase, Isabela! We are talking about the possible loss of our family magic and the destruction of our home!" Grabbing Isa by the shoulders, Julieta's eyes shone with tears as she implored, "We have to tell them the truth. We can protect Mirabel-"
"No, Mama!" Isabela insisted, batting her mother's hands away. "I've seen the vision! I'm not letting it get blamed on Mirabel!"
"You what?!" Julieta exclaimed, her jaw dropping.
"I... I snuck into Bruno's tower and stole the vision plate," Isabela explained, quickly.
Julieta leaned against the sink, the urges to throttle her own daughter and hug her battling each other. Without meaning to, Julieta began laughing softly, shaking her head. "Isabela Sienna Madrigal... I don't even know where to begin." The hug instinct won out and she pulled Isabela close, murmuring. "I really don't know what I did to be blessed with such an incredibly brave, selfless daughter."
Isa hugged her mother back, whispering, "I take after my incredibly brave, selfless Abuela."