Chapter 6:

(Isabella POV)

- 5 years later -

I looked myself over the in the mirror. I wore a long blue dress that I had died with my flowers. I had done this with all of my dresses and none of them were exactly the same anymore and I loved changing them depending on how I was feeling. I braided my hair over my shoulder integrating different flowers into my hair. I also died a streak of my hair the same way that I did my dress. I started to wear my hear like this not long after everything that happened I needed to change and my appearance was the only way I could let everyone know I wasn't the Perfect Isabella anymore. I looked down at the vines around me and used them and the plants to make a bracelet form on my wrist. I was satisfied with how I looked.

I also looked around my room. It had become an array of different flowers and plants all that would change from day to day depending on how I felt. One of the many changes from what life was like before was that I no longer needed to worry about all of the people in town and making them happy with what I grew. Don't get me wrong I didn't just grow random stuff whenever I wanted in town and I did still help out when needed, especially with weddings. But, I did stop making daily appearances in town, smiling and waving and making every single person besides myself happy with everything that I did.

I made my way downstairs and waved to my family before stopping to see Mirabel, "What am I doing today?" I asked and she smiled at me, "Well you are covering patrol again but other than that you are free." I smiled, "Ok I might hang back for a while in the jungle." She smirked, "You always do. Are you going to be in town at some point?" I shrugged, "I'll probably make an appearance, why is something going on?" She smiled, "Nothing in particular but a lot of the family will be there." I smiled, "I'll see what I can do." I waved again to the family and left heading out to the jungle.

Everyone in my family was so happy. Dolores and Mariano and were expecting their first child, Camilo was engaged to Olivia, Mirabel was the new candleholder, Luisa was dating someone in town, and Antonio got to be a kid. I was becoming more and more independent from my family and began spending more time away from town and Casita. Dolores couldn't walk along the border to listen if anyone was coming towards Encanto due to how far along she was in her pregnancy, so I had taken over. I loved being surrounded by the jungle and all the different plants as they called out to me.

I would brush my fingers against all the different plants as I passed by and left a trail of cacti wherever I went just in case someone tried to come in after I walked by. I never liked the crowds or all eyes upon me that usually came with being a Madrigal and being out here away from it all was really nice. I would use vines to swing from trees every now and then. I loved my family and I loved their partners and the way that our family was expanding. What I didn't like was that men in town still tried to marry me daily. I didn't want to get married, not any time soon at least. I don't get why they continued to ask me almost like they are trying to badger me into changing my mind.

I looked at the whole in the mountain of Encanto and sighed. Sometimes I wanted to leave start over somewhere completely different where no one knew I was a Madrigal or that I used to be perfect. I sighed and started mimicking people in town, "She just needs a good man and she will go back to being perfect." "This rebellious phase is adorable it is good she is getting these wild oats out before she has kids." "She is 27 she should be married already." I sighed as I used a vine to pull me up higher into the tree. I looked over the cavern that led to the outside world but then I looked back at Casita where my family was. I made a promise that I would always be there for them and I never break my promises.

I knew that I was going to head back soon so I went to the cavern and began growing vines across them. I did this almost everyday. It wouldn't keep anyone in or out, but it would just let me know if things change. I had them hanging over each other in the mid-section of the cavern knowing someone would need to cut themselves out. I smiled to myself as my hand brushed over them and I began to walk back the cacti shrinking back into the ground as I passed them.

I went into town and saw Camilo and Olivia together. They were so adorable together and I didn't want to interrupt. I just sent some flowers my primo's way and hoped he took the hint. He did. I went over to Luisa and came out from behind her, "Hi." She smiled at me, "What are you doing in town?" I smiled, "Seeing all of your lovely faces of course. Plus Camilo is still in desperate need of making up all the lies he ever told Olivia and if giving him flowers to give to her will make him realize that, I as his plant gifted cousin must help." Luisa laughed rolling her eyes and I did too. "So what did you do today?" She shrugged, "Not much. Especially now that Abuela doesn't let the donkeys out once a week when she wants to show the strength of the gift Mirabel cut me back even more. Told me to enjoy myself." "Well you should, especially with that 'friend' you have out in the fields." Her eyes widened, "Who..." "Dolores' hearing has been all over the place since she got pregnant, you know that" I smirked giving her the side eye. "How much does everyone know?" I smiled, "Not much, for the most part we are respecting your privacy." She sighed and I shoved her arm, "Are you going to tell me anything?" She shook her head, "Not right now. Right now we are friends, ok?" I nodded my head, "Yeah. I mean the last secret 'friend' to someone in the family was Olivia and we all love her so I guess I can wait."

I made my rounds with the rest of the family that was out in town before sneaking away into the fields. I went to an old field out back that was almost completely abandoned. I began trying to grow the different crops that we had in Encanto. I had been practicing with my gift more and more. I spent so much of my life mastering flowers and vines, now I wanted to see if I could grow fruits and vegetables. They were mostly feeble attempts but they were growing. I just needed to practice them more. I looked up at the sky and saw that it was getting late. I made my way back Casita, who was waiting for me as the shutters waved for me to come home. I entered Casita and smiled as I saw the family at dinner. Everyone was so happy and living a good life. It made me think about myself: was I happy?

Compared to before I was a lot happier. I got to be myself and got to be free of everyone's domineering expectations of me but, something was missing. I didn't know what it was but it felt like I was almost happy just not there yet. As I was contemplating this Casita slid me forward in front of everyone to let them know that I was home. Mama came up to me, "Isabella, go make yourself a plate and join us." I smiled nodding my head. We all talked around the table laughing and smiling having a genuinely good time. Dolores and Mariano excused themselves first because Dolores was exhausted. Soon Camilo and Olivia left because he had to walk her home. I watched as everyone slowly went off and I realized that I was all alone. Everyone else in my family knew who they were and what made them happy and I was stuck in almost happy. What did I need to do to get myself to the same place as everyone else?