A/N : I KNOW ENCANTO ISNT ABOUT LGBT. WE ARE STILL ALLOWED TO EXPAND ON THE WORD WITH HEADCANONS. THIS STORY FOCUSES ON TRANS CAMILO. IN THIS STORY, FELIX IS A TRANS MAN AND PEPA AND ISABELA ARE TRANSFEM IN THIS! THIS IS MY HC. DO NOT COMMENT HATE ON IT.
Ever since he was little,Camilo was a known talker. As a baby he'd babble nonsense. Soon the babbles turned into his first word. Mami. Pepa lit up in joy at each syllable. She told Camilo to repeat the name. Joy when recalling Dolores' first words being 'No.' rather than Mama or Papa. The word Mami should have been expected as Camilo was very attached to Pepa. He called for her attention or crawled towards her. Félix did find himself jealous. Not used to the lack of attention from his child compared to when Dolores was younger. When Félix took care of Camilo, he'd often repeat the words Papa, Padre, Papi. A few days passed when Camilo next words were Pa. Camilo became attached to Félix for the few weeks to come. Crawling or crying out to Félix. A needed break for Pepa. Camilo was a handful at times. He was full of energy and he cried very often. The parents did their best to understand their son. Luckily they had Agustín and Julieta for help. In return Pepa and Félix helped with Mirabel. A known klutz with too much curiosity for her own age. Pepa missed her bebe. She snatched Camilo away from Félix.
Camilo's words grew until he began to talk everyone's ears off. Camilo had a lot to say about everything. Even if that everything involved nothing. It was good to have another child of Camilo's age in Casita.
The primos would talk, play, argue, wrestle and make up. Camilo and Mirabel were close and the time shared in the nursery strengthened the bond. It turned into a problem when the two started to copy each other. Known as the Madrigal twins until the correction was needed that their Tia's and Tios were not their Mamas and Papas too.
Camilo loved his many primas and hermana. He often seeked out their attention. Camilo loved playing with the other kids in The Encanto more. There were no boundaries between genders. Everyone would play together. There were times the kids broke apart. The girls would have their own bonding time. The boys have their own. The four to six year old girls in the village would gather around the same little tree by the hill. Camilo picked the hangout spot due to the best shade. It gave the girls enough privacy to talk without the pesky adults overhearing. The boys argued they wanted the spot before but the girls were not giving it up.
Despite just being four, Camilo became the new leader. Daniela tried to fight Camilo about it. Camilo proclaimed that as a Madrigal he got the right. No one questioned the logic. The girls rather have nice, adventurous Camilo than Daniela. Mirabel was second in charge.
Camilo usually chose the activities. They would talk, color, explore, argue, do their hair, play pranks, use their imagination and so on. Camilo loved each one of his girl best friends dearly.
When the boys came to play with them Camilo found himself craving to be around them more often. Even if they weren't the nicest the be around. Camilo really wanted to play football with them. There were girls in the village who played sports too. Daniela, as mean as she was, was much better than anyone their age. The boys were much stricter in their "No girls allowed." moments.
"Well they are lame and we'll do the same back. For the next few days it's a girls only club." The girls decided for themselves. Camilo felt the need to disagree but it was one of those moments where a majority won.
Camilo set the oath to stone as the leader.
An oath that caused confusion at home when Mirabel and Camilo started to ignore their Papas. The Papas were heartbroken but the Mamas simply laughed at the silly predicament.
"Give them a day. They are bound to run to you both with open arms."
Mirabel was the first to break when Agustín asked what she was drawing. A known artist for her age. Mirabel opened up about wanting to sew the designs. Agustin kept quiet about the broken oath. Camilo walked by to see Mirabel in Agustín lap showing off the sketchbook. Camilo stopped. He ran to his own Papa who was in the middle of fixing a crack on the wall. Camilo jumped onto Félix's back. Camilo spent the rest of the afternoon by Félix's side.
The next day, Agustín was going to pick up art supplies for Mirabel. He wanted ask Senora Lydia if she could give lessons in tailorimg to Mirabel. It was put on hold when Agustín fell down the stairs. Julieta's food healed the broken leg but Agustín needed a moment to catch his breath. Dolores said she could get the supplies. Dolores usually remained in Casita due to her gift. Yet when Dolores was in a good mood, the noise was at normal level. All she needed to do was open her ears to the world if she wanted to hear more. Dolores was in a very good mood today. Camilo went with her. He held her hand tightly as they walked.
The stand owner was giving away more than expected. They should have brought a wagon. As the adult and Dolores looked for a borrowed wagon, Camilo stared at the three boys playing football. He wanted to come over but remembered the deal the girls made. "For the next few days it was a girls only club."
How many days were set exactly?
Camilo felt something hit him in the side of his head. His head throbbed with pain and was dizzy. Camilo fell and threw up. A crowd gathered. Julieta's name is repeatedly called. There was the sound of someone crying. Multiple apologies. Camilo was handed something to drink Julieta made. The throbbing ache went away. Camilo stood up.
It turned out that Camilo was hit in the side of the head by a football. The culprit was Marco. Marco's Papa, José, apologized for his reckless son. A scolding for Marco to be more careful. It was an accident and things were forgiven. Marco was still crying. A fear that Camilo was going to die.
"I'll feel better if you do me a favor." Camilo finally spoke when the crowd went away.
Marco agreed to whatever the favor was.
"You let me play football with you and the other boys."
Julieta and José laughed at the sweet question. Marco on the other hand looked uneased. A reveal that the reason he never played with the other boys. Marco was scared to ask as some of the boys tended to be mean.
"Some of the girls are mean too but I don't let that get to me. You can practice with me. We will beat them in a game. They will never be butts again and play with us." Camilo decided.
It turned out Camilo was not good at football. It frustrated Marco at first based on the promise. The frustration went away as Marco loved spending time with Camilo. They would play whatever game Camilo had in mind. Marco would listen to the many words Camilo had to say. Not quite catching all of it but Camilo excitement made Marco excited.
Marco now had a new fear. If the final showdown came, would they stop hanging out like this?
The girls found out Camilo spent most of his time with Marco. He broke the oath. They wanted to appoint a new leader. Mirabel was decided. Camilo kept quiet that Mirabel broke the oath too.
Camilo and Marco practiced one last time in the afternoon. He took Marco by the hand and walked towards the other boys.
"When my gift ceremony comes I'm going to look just like you. Except I'll be stronger and taller and cooler and better and I'll have an amazing gift to top it off. I'll be a boy too. Me and Marco will be your new leaders." Camilo stomped on the floor. The stomps splattered mud on his new skirt. A pretty, fluffy one that was sure to give everyone back home a heart attack.
The words caught the boys by surprise. Camilo turned away before he could see their reactions.
"Is that true?" Marco asked.
"Yes. I had a vision from Tio Bruno." Camilo lied.
Marco jumped in excitement. The original goal was that they practiced until they were so good they beat everyone. Now it was to be the new leaders. Camilo was going to be the leader of both the girls and boys group.
Camilo told Marco to keep what he said a secret. He was going to surprise everyone. Even his family. Camilo would sometimes overhear Alma wishing she had a neito. The family members would say that the neitas could make an announcement at any moment. Pepa made her announcement when she was about sixteen.
The gift ceremony day made its way around the corner. The ceremonies grew bigger with each grandkid. A white and gold dress was commissioned. Senora Lydia was hesitant to make one because of how many times Camilo ruined her hard work. There was a promise of Julieta's baking for her and their daughter, Josephina. Senora Lydia agreed when she saw her daughter light up at the offering.
Hours before the ceremony Félix's mama came to Casita. Dolores and Camilo ran Abuela Antonia at full speed. Shouting "¡Abuelita! Abuelita!" along the way. Antonia opened her arms wide for her neitos to crash into her. Antonia was an women three years Alma's senior. Her skin darker than her hijo Félix. Coily hair in styled twists. Yellow tassles for earrings
"C'mon. I may be young at heart but you're going to break my bones." Antonia tightened her hug.
Antonia was aware of the jealous glint in Alma's eyes. Their neitos were always more excited to see Antonia. Antonia couldn't help but find glee in it.
Félix asked Antonia to see if she could braid Camilo's hair. Félix was good at braiding but his fingers tended to get tired by how long Camilo's hair was. Camilo never stayed still. With Antonia over, Camilo was sure to. He'd want all Antonia's attention.
Antonia agreed. She wished she could have been this close to Dolores during her ceremony. Both Dolores and Isabela's ceremony was more of a display to show what happened to the triplets for their gifts. A simple touch of a door. Antonia would never forget the ache she felt seeing Dolores clutching her ears in pain.
She hoped nothing similar would happen to Camilo.
Antonia asked for time alone. Camilo talking would keep her distracted enough. She didn't need a crowd.
"What if I touch my door and the magic makes the braids disappear." Camilo randomly said after a repeated story Bruno told him of La Madremonte. Antonia believed the myth. They lived in an enchanted village after all. She didn't like the way Camilo talked as though he'd go to the woods himself to find out. She feared Camilo would up and disappear one night in chase of these myths. He'd probably bring Mirabel along with him toom
"Then why would you have me doing all this work if you're going to go around asking questions like that?" Antonia finished another braid.
"I like how it feels when you do it." Camilo replied.
Camilo loved how easily Antonia could detangle the hair he always messed up. There was still a tug or two. A scolding of "Stay still!" It was nice to spend time with his Abuelita. Camilo loved his Abuela Alma. Yet he found Abuelita Antonia more fun to be around. Antonia shared his sense of humor. She had a lot of things to say about everything too.
The family would say Camilo got those traits from Antonia.
"If you like it so much you wouldn't want it to change?" Antonia asked.
"I had a dream that when I touched my door my dress turned into a poncho like the one in Papi picture when he was younger. That my hair got shorter." Camilo was not lying. He had a dream last night. It was very vivid.
"Then we could have cut it. It would have saved the work."
Antonia finished the last braid. She flexed her fingers. She kept the secret that her hands began to ache more often. Her body was weary. Julieta food did not help as often.
Both nieto and Abuela stood up. Antonia noticed a stain in the bottom of Camilo's dress. Antonia didn't mind messes. Having all boys herself. There was a tad frustration at the stain. There were sure to be complaints. Antonia helped take out the stain with the spray of water she was using for Camilo's hair.
The way Camilo began to tug at the dress sprouted an old memory in Antonia's past. The similar way her son would tug on his dress.
"You look very handsome." Antonia tested her theory.
Camilo lit up at the compliment. Antonia pieced together the clues. It wasn't her right to tell anyone about her conclusion with Camilo. He would tell others himself in time.
Once downstairs, the family members buried Camilo in compliments. Camilo loved the attention as always. Before the ceremony was to start, Alma took Camilo to the nursery. There she would tell him the story of the Miracle and Abuelo Pedro.
Alma never told the whole truth to her neitos. She wished they never had to know even a glimpse of the past. To tell the story made her ache and numb. A reminder how she got the miracle to begin with. The loss of her home and Pedro. Still, it was important to remember why the miracle was so important. To never take it for granted. Her neito in her lap was enough to ground herself to reality. Alma prayed no harm ever came their way.
"So the candle never goes out?" Camilo asked. Alma nodded. She smiled at Camilo's little gasp.
Camilo hoped off her lap. He went to blow out the candle. Alma pulled him away. Horrified at what Camilo attempted to do.
"See. Now you don't have a gift." Alma attempted to spook Camilo as a lesson.
Camilo's heart pounded. The words he told the other boys raced in his mind. His own wish to be a boy. It all came crashing down because of his own curiosity. Camilo bursted into loud sobs. Alma tried to calm him. Camilo was always hard to calm down in these moments.
Alma called for Pepa and Félix. Pepa managed to calm Camilo down with her hugs. Félix with his words. Pepa thundered at Alma. Unaware of what her Mama could have said to have her bebe react so badly. Alma explained.
"Don't worry. You're going to have your gift and it's going to be the best one." Félix told Camilo.
Camilo tried his best to believe his Papi. Alma was the most connected to Casita and the candle. She had to be right.
The ceremony started earlier. As Camilo walked down the aisle, he tried not to look at any of the boys. Especially Marco. The surprise was bound to fall apart because of curiosity for the best of him. He tugged at the long braids. The uncomfortable dress. He tripped around the last step.
Finally at the top, Camilo swore on the candle that he would serve the community.
There was hesitation to touch the doorknob. Camilo looked at his Mami and Papi. They could tell just how nervous their son was because of the earlier incident. They smiled and nodded.
Camilo touched the doorknob. It glittered and shone bright like it did prior to others. Except the glittering shine swirled around Camilo. Camilo felt warmth all over. It blinded everyone.
Once the light died down. Camilo no longer had the many braids and white dress. Camilo had a yellow poncho, pants, sandals and shorter hair. Senora Lydia was visibly upset over the dress. Antonia was upset over the hard work of braiding. There was confusion. A new look was his gift?
Camilo looked down on himself. He wore a poncho like the one in Félix old pictures. He felt his hair. The braids were gone and it was shorter. Camilo could swear he was taller too. His dream came true. He was a boy. He giggled in glee. He looked at his Mami and Papi. Camilo felt himself get taller. He felt much lighter. His skin was now paler and he wore a yellow dress similar to the one Pepa wore. Camilo looked at Pepa, who jumped back in surprise. Murmurs spread through the crowd. What happened? Camilo turned to Félix. He felt himself shrink. His skin was much darker. His clothes were different. Camilo panicked. Camilo turned to Alma. She must have known what was happening. Camilo changed once more. A purple long, sleeved dress. Old lady hands.
Camilo knew what was happening. He jumped up and down in glee. A wild site at seeing another Alma in such a hyperenergetic state.
"I can shapeshift." Camilo went back to his normal self. Still with the poncho and short hair.
The miracle gave Camilo two gifts.
With that was a cheer. A celebration to come. A room with a big canopy bed with many pillows. A spiral staircase that led to a stage and curtains like in his storybooks. A strange mirror maze with warped reflections. There wasn't much room to party inside. Still, the ceremony was going to be so wonderful.
"I told you so. I'm a boy now too." Camilo bragged. The boys were still in shock. There were still side notes that Camilo was not taller or muscular.
"Tio Bruno gave me a vision and said it's when I get older." Camilo lied.
The boys believed Camilo as he did not lie about the ceremony.
Camilo began to brag about being a boy and Bruno's 'visions.' The Madrigal adults gave each other a knowing look. They were going to talk to Camilo when the party came to an end.
Camilo shifted into each person he was asked to. Some freaked out at their own reflection. It wasn't always the perfect replica. Camilo still needed to practice. The adults left the kids on their own. The kids requests turned more began to feel strained. He shifted into Mirabel once more. He ended up lopsided. It earned a bunch of ewwss, screams and even a COOL!
Camilo shook himself.
Camilo shifted back. He felt lighter. The other kids around Camilo went wide eyed.
"So were you just playing a game thing whole time?" One of the kids said.
Camilo was confused by what they meant when he looked down. Camilo was once again wearing the white ceremony dress, long braids, and flats.
There were more words of confusion.
"Leave him alone! He wasn't lying." Marco yelled out.
"I'm not lying. I can prove it. I can prove it." Camilo panicked. He tugged at the braids harder. Camilo broke out in big tears with his usual snot.
Mirabel took the curtain sandbag on the floor. She threw it at the kids who accused Camilo of lying. There was a scream at the painful impact. The sand exploded everywhere. Adults turned their attention to what was happening with the unattended kids.
Camilo ran off.
Camilo was a boy. He's a boy. The miracle gave him two gifts. He just needed to shift back. Camilo was too exhausted to shapeshift. There has to be another way. He just needed to find clothes and cut his hair. He could lie and say he shifted back magically. Would Félix and Agustín clothes even fit him? Camilo panicked more. Hair was easy. He just needed scissors. Where did they keep the scissors again? Camilo's feet wandered to the kitchen where he spotted the knife that was used to cut the cake.
Camilo shook as he placed the cake stained knife towards his hair. The knife pulled out his grasp less than half way through the cut.
"¿Quién te dio eso? Eso es peligroso. ¡Pepa! ¡Félix! ¡Doña Alma!" The man who took the knife away shouted.
A crowd gathered at what happened. Félix, Pepa and Alma were already looking for Camilo. The Madrigals happy to have found him. They should have never left him unattended for that short amount of time.
They guided a crying Camilo to his room. Where everyone except the familia was told to leave. A very needed conversation to come.
Camilo buried himself in his blankets.
"Mijo." Félix did not dare say Mija as Camilo had been using masculine terms throughout the night. Not sure what to call Camilo by his given name due to the lack of one in the door.
Camilo stirred at the response but he remained in the blanket.
"We have to ask you a question. What did you promise the other boys in the village." Félix asked.
Camilo did not answer.
"I wont be mad. I'm not even thundering." Pepa tried her best to warm the room. The thought of how happy her son was earlier when he got his gift did the trick. Camilo stuck his foot out to cool himself. Pepa tickled the foot. Camilo giggled. He tossed the blanket away due to the heat. He wrapped his feet around with the blanket to stop any further tickles.
"I told them that I was going to be a boy too. I kept it a secret from everyone because I wanted to surprise you. I hate when you all call me mija and get me all these dresses I hate. I want to be like them. Mami. Papi I'm not lying. I swear Im not. The magic showed Im not a liar. I tried to blow out the candle so it took it away." Camilo pleaded for them to believe him.
Camilo came out at a very young age. Younger than anyone they knew. There would be only acceptance and understanding. In the acceptance they would have to solve some issues. The first issue at hand was the hair. Camilo tried to cut it with the kitchen knife. They could not risk that again.
"We'll ask Senor Murillo to cut it tomorrow." Was the first decision.
"We'll also get you new clothes." Was the second responses
Camilo looked up. They expected smiles and giggles. There was only more crying.
"Is that not what you want?" Alma finally spoke. Lost in the harm she caused by her own words before the ceremony.
"What if no one believes me because I shifted back to this." Camilo resisted the urge to tear the stupid white dress into pieces. He couldn't because Mirabel was to use it in a couple of months.
"Then expect a lot of lightning to anyone who has anything to say about mi hijo." Pepa answered.
Sleep was what was needed for the next day to come faster. Camilo was changed into the night gown. Worry if he hated the nightgowns like he hated the dresses. Camilo never did as he was always too tired to care what he wore at night.
"Can Mira stay for tonight?" Camilo remembered his sudden fear of the dark.
There was no denial. The primos were close after all. It would take a while to separate them. An all nighter was not going to happen based on the way the primos' eyes drooped.
With a kiss on the foreheads and a candle to illuminate the dark. They were wished a buneos noches to attend the party outside. The adults were to explain to others about Madrigal's first neito.
Mirabel turned to Camilo.
"So am I the official leader of the girls group now?" Mirabel asked.
"No. I'm still the leader." Camilo pulled the fluffy blanket closer.
"But you're a boy now."
Camilo was a boy but he didn't want any of his best friends to stop talking to him.
"Let's make our own club. Me, you and even stinky Marco. Let's make a better club." Mirabel continued.
"Marco isn't stinky." Camilo replied. He liked Mirabel's plan though.
"He's not because it's you out stink him." Mirabel hit Camilo with a pillow.
Camilo settled into sleep as Mirabel continued to hit him. This time it was Mirabel's turn to talk his ears off.