Being born a Madrigal was supposed to be wondrous, it was supposed to be grand. It was supposed to be full of magic. But for Mirabel it was everything but that. They do say what some find a blessing others may find a curse a statement Mirabel related to well. She should be happy being from magical family living in a secret paradise in the mountains of rural Colombia. It sounded like a fairytale something to good to be true but it was real.
Yet despite the legacy she was born into Mirabel found herself sitting in the rafters of an old barn that stunk of donkeys and manure and she called it home. It had been for the past ten years, thrown from her home at the tender age of five. Just a baby and her own familia kicked her out to fend for herself and it was either this barn or die from exposure to the elements. All because of the...incident.
Just the thought of her family raged Mirabel, those damn Madrigals. She hated each and every one of them especially the one called Alma Madrigal...her abuela but she did not deserve that title. What kind of abuela would put a candle over her baby nieta? And what kind of madre would just stand back and obey? Apparently hers did, ten years...ten damn years since Julieta made any contact with her all on the word of Alma..that perra.
All because of she didn't get a stupid door and a stupid gift from the stupid candle. Everything changed that night..everything. Bruno's stupid vision involving her standing in front of the stupid house as it fell apart. The pride she saw in Bruno's eyes as Alma praised him for the service he has done for the family sickened Mirabel even to this day. The scorn in his eyes when he looked at her as he proudly displayed the vision to the rest of the family.
In a fit of rage and confusion the overwhelmed Mirabel made a lunge for the candle in Alma's hands only to be hit by a magical blast and knocked flying back so hard and laying so still afterwards everyone thought she was surely dead. Only for the little girl to groan and sit back up mouth open in a silent scream. Both eyes were now terribly scarred the left side reaching down to her cheek and branching off down her neck to her shoulder where her dress covered anything else. Another smaller scar ran from the top of her bottom lip to the start of her chin. And to Mirabel's utmost terror she was having trouble seeing. Mirabel was expecting comfort but she got nothing of the sort. Almost at once everyone was calling for her to be thrown out Alma, Bruno, Pepa, Félix and worst of all her own father...he sided with them. She was disgusted to be related to such a cowardly man he may of fathered her but he had lost all right to be called that on that night.
Julieta protested as she held onto her little girl trying to heal her face to no avail. Who knew injures caused by magic couldn't be healed with magic? Well Mirabel knew that now. But even after a while Julieta stopped fighting for her caving in to the rest of the family and stepping aside as Mirabel was dragged down the stairs, shoved out the door and left the door slamming shut behind her.
Mirabel stood outside that door as a storm began brewing no doubt thanks to her Tía- no not her Tía anymore that weather witch Pepa. She had no idea how long she stood there getting soaked by the rain, her white ceremony dress she was so excited about getting completely ruined. Turning on her heel she ran not sure where she was going. She needed to find shelter that's all she knew. She stumbled across a barn and without thinking flung the door open and slamming the door behind her the donkey residents turning in surprise at their late night visitor.
Finding herself a corner she buried herself in hay to try and bring herself some warmth and let herself break down. This was not how tonight was supposed to go, why her why? Her own family sent her away in the night. Alone..scared..hurt..angry.
Mirabel knew the person she was died that night, the person she was now almost unrecognisable. Her marred face a permanent reminder of who she now was the scar extending down to her forearm and at the shoulder went down towards her chest, her ribs poked through the skin from the years of starvation Mirabel being forced to rely on what she was able to steal to survive. Julieta would drop her off some food..but that only lasted a few weeks before without explanation she just stopped coming though Mirabel had no doubts it had to do with Alma. Even then she would just leave it outside not stepping one foot into the barn to face her daughter.
Julieta lost any right to call herself Mirabel's mother choosing to obey Alma over actually being a mother to her youngest. She hated them, she hated them all. The Madrigals were revered, worshipped, celebrated while Mirabel was left to rot no one seeming to care wherever she was alive or not. The rest of the town taking the family's lead and ignoring her existence for the most part well most the town for a reason she couldn't understand children loved her always bringing her a torn piece of clothing for her to patch up Mirabel having taught herself to sew in order to make herself clothing from whatever material she could get her hands on.
Mirabel did like to take pride in her appearance just because she lived in a barn doesn't mean she had to dress like it. Wearing a top she made with materials she gathered that showed her stomach and exposed her shoulder having embroidered some colourful designs on it, her skirt purple with gold intricate design the most notable thing being the golden dragonfly, all this usually paired with a rauna that matched the skirt the large dragonfly on proud display on her back. And was she Mirabel without a bow in her hair? And of course that had to be the matching purple and gold. Why wouldn't it? The local children liked to call her 'dama libélula'-Lady Dragonfly. From butterflies to dragonflies. It was a symbol of the change, her transformation. She wasn't a gentle little mariposa anymore. The only thing that remained the same were the round green framed glasses.
Her stomach growled as she stared out her little hole in the roof that allowed her to obverse the town though with limited vision. The candle destroyed her eyes beyond repair and without glasses she was good as full blind and what was left of her vision wasn't great..but at least she could see. Clutching her stomach as it growled again she hissed, starvation was something she was used too looks like she would be headed into town today so she can see what she can steal. Climbing down from the rafters with practiced ease she looked at the donkeys all resting comfortably in her stalls as with a chuckle she went from stall to stall unclipping the ropes that served as barriers to keep the animals contained setting the animals free.
"Have fun, Luisa." she laughed making her way out the door grabbing her bag as she did. Nothing entertained her as much as watching her sister..no not sister round up the stupid donkeys day after day. Always obeying like the good little worker she was. She stepped back as the donkeys filed passed her scattering in different directions "Three...two...one..."
"Luisa! The donkey's got out again!'
"On it!"
"Never gets old." Mirabel chuckled continuing on her trip towards town, as per usual everyone acting like she wasn't there. Good she liked it this way. "What to eat...what to eat..." Mirabel wondered as she entered the bustling town her eyes landing on the wagon a local farmer sold his fruit out of "Perfect..." sneaking her way pass she waited until the man turned away to greet a customer to quickly fill her bag with as much fruit as she could stuff into it slinking away again like a stray dog. She did not run to not raise suspicion just walked towards a favoured tree to sit and enjoy her stolen feast. She ate the first two pieces like a wild animal, she was famished she couldn't remember the last time she felt full...really full. Once she had stolen some food she made it a goal to spread it out, some days not even eating at all just to make it last longer. Sometimes a villager would show her some pity and give her some food but she couldn't depend on that.
Julieta would have her stand set up everyday but Mirabel didn't want a damn crumb of her food, she would rather starve then go begging to to the mother who abandoned her. Sometimes they would pass each other on the street treating each other as total strangers. Even if Julieta came pleading for forgiveness she wouldn't forgive her. She was a spineless woman and an insult to mothers everywhere. The whole family was pathetic oh how she longed to rip that candle from Alma's grasp and crush it under her foot. How she longed to see Casita crumble and fall. See them lose everything. Oh wouldn't that just make her day. She wanted to hear their screams. Hear their cries as they lost everything. That was her dream...the one that kept her going. The downfall of the Madrigals. No more magic. No more wonder. No more miracles. Yes it was a very pretty picture indeed.
But how could she-just one malnourished as good as blind fifteen year old take down a whole family? She bit into her fourth piece of fruit in anger, surely there had to be a way..after all wasn't that what they stupid vision was supposed to be about? Her destroying the miracle? There had to be a way. Finishing her fruit she went to reach for another before deciding to save the rest for another day her hunger pains lessened for now.
Standing back up she put her bag back over her shoulder headed back towards the town pausing with a frown when she saw Camilo entertaining the crowd with his shapeshifting. "You were my best friend...traitor.." she growled under her breath "I will never forgive you. You're just like the rest of them." with a snort of disgust she continued on her way only pausing to send a death glare at Alma as they passed by each other. Alma treating her as if were nothing more than a ghost that haunted the streets of the Encanto. And if Mirabel was honest that's what she felt like somedays. A ghost not a real person.
She had became the village recluse choosing to spend her days in the barn avoiding the town unless it was to pick up supplies. She didn't wish to take part in admiring the Madrigals she would rather be alone. That was her life no real friends and no family. Returning back to the barn she put down her bag and retreated to her pile of blankets. She was thankful that the barn owner let her stay upon being discovered she knew she was just an uninvited guest here and could be thrown out anytime. But since she kept to herself she was allowed to stay often watching from her corner as they went on with their business. Never speaking just watching.
Mirabel could feel the restlessness building she couldn't live like this much longer she would either starve to death or die losing her mind and all sense of reality. No she didn't have to take this. What was the thing they said about Bruno's visions? Your fate is sealed once your prophecy is read? Or something along those lines. She glanced over to the few things she owned besides the blankets she sat on and the clothes on her back all she owned was some sewing needles and thread all her other belongings still in Casita and Alma refused to let her in to collect them and refused to let someone just drop them outside the barn for her. That bitch. Her fear for her little flame caused Mirabel ten years of living in a lonely hell. With no one for company but her own thoughts. The family not sparing a thought for one of their own living a life of isolation. Well all but one.
Antonio.
Born five years after her exile from Casita Antonio was still sheltered from the reality of this world, though he was her primo he didn't know that. Antonio knew her the same as the other children did, the lady with the dragonfly clothing who will mend your clothes for you. Sweet child but man did his constant bragging out how he is going to get a magic gift annoy her. It was cute at first but now it just felt like rubbing salt in her wounds. She had been replaced that much is obvious. A sick part of her wanted his gift ceremony to fail just so for once someone else could feel what she felt, that feeling of rejection and having everything ripped from you. The more reasonable part of her knew it wasn't Antonio's fault but still the bitterness she felt that this little brat would get the birthright that should of been hers consumed her.
"But what do I know.." she muttered to herself "I'm just the tainted Madrigal..the broken one...a flaw in a otherwise perfect family. Alma only wants perfection...therefore she has no use for me. Why not replace me? Why not indeed...but still...it is such a pity." Mirabel studied her hand "The question I ask. Would such a perfect family treat one of their own this way? I would to think not. Should I be blamed for my heart turning so cold? With such a toxic family what else can one do? With a family like that I don't need enemies."
The Madrigals without their precious gifts were nothing they built their whole identity around them. It was almost pathetic really if she destroyed that candle she could watch them realise just that. Their lives would mean nothing. The thought of it made Mirabel smile. The Ordinary Madrigals...it had a real nice ring it to.
Mirabel wasn't sure how she how she was going to do it, but if there was one thing she was going to do before she died it would be seeing that candle go out-forever. They took everything from her so it was time to return the favour.
The Madrigals were going down.
-T⃫-
Mirabel is going off again. Dolores had been listening to Mirabel's muttering and mumbling for the past ten years. Listening to her whimpers of starvation. Listening as she stumbled around that barn ranting and raving to herself about the family. Not like it's her fault after all she did hear everything and she had been ordered to keep an ear out for Mirabel and report if she heard anything that caused alarm. Quite a few times she had heard Mirabel try to approach Casita allowing her to warn the family and drive Mirabel off.
She knew all of Mirabel's little habits, she knew all about her little theft today but she wasn't going to trouble herself with reporting it. The girl had to eat somehow and besides having to listen to Mirabel's stomach growl was really starting to get to her. And she really did have better things to do than report every little thing Mirabel did not there was much to report. Mirabel mostly stayed in that barn repeating the same nonsense over and over.
It felt weird knowing for ten years she has been basically stalking the younger girl but without actually meeting her face to face. She won't deny it she got out a chuckle every time she listened as Mirabel purposely set all the donkeys loose for Luisa to round up. If after all these years Luisa still hasn't figured it out than more fool her. She was the one who kept collecting them taking part in Mirabel's game.
Mirabel was not a good person, Dolores knew that if her rantings had anything to go by. And boy did it get repetitive, same thing everyday. Of course she didn't have to listen it wasn't as if Alma would be any wiser but it was either listen to Mirabel or listen to random people talk about things that bored her to tears. Oh sure sometimes she would hear something very interesting. Sixteen years worth of dirty little secrets were stored in her mind. Of course she could never speak them out loud, from day one she had it drilled into her to remain loyal to Alma. To commit her life and gift to serving the community.
Dolores wasn't stupid she saw the looks people gave her fearing she heard something about them. Dolores learned a long time ago to keep her mouth shut unless it was actual threat, her warnings of Mirabel earned her Alma's praise but all it did was make Alma force her to listen more and more.
She was a Madrigal that fact alone got her the respect of the whole town, she was the granddaughter of Alma Madrigal the towns guardian, saviour and keeper of the flame. She was daughter of Pepa Madrigal who could control the weather with her mood. Niece of Julieta Madrigal who could heal you with a meal and Bruno Madrigal who could see your future.
Bruno...she hated Bruno at least the man he had become. The praise Alma lavished onto him for Mirabel's vision got to his head and changed him. No longer was he the shy but sweet Tío Bruno she once knew. He had grown selfish and arrogant boasting how his gift saved them from whatever Mirabel would of done. He was the golden child of the triplets after Julieta fell from favour during her period of rebellion sneaking food off to Mirabel. The way he would look at her gave her the creeps...there was something about him she just did not trust.
She had a whole family but at the same time she had no one. Camilo had no interest in hanging out with her, Antonio was just a four-five in a few days year old. She hardly ever saw Luisa outside of mealtimes and Isabela was just a bitch.
Her family shouldn't feel like she was living with strangers but it did. She knew she was the least favourite of the grandchildren..Mirabel would be but since she was no longer included in that Dolores took that spot. Isabela was the favourite the perfect flower growing princess had always been Alma's favourite. She was the golden child of the second generation she could do nothing wrong in anyones eyes. Luisa would have to be second due to the usefulness of her gift..a person who could lift and carry a whole building by themselves is pretty useful. If Isabela was the princess Luisa was the workhorse day in and day out. She supposed Camilo would claim third, the first grandson Alma took full advantage of his gift sending him in to babysit posing as the baby's mother for hours on end.
Then came Antonio higher than her because he was the family baby but lower than others because he was not useful...yet. But his position could change depending on how his gift ceremony went. And in last place came Dolores..all she could do was listen to things. How was knowing who was going on a date with who help her? Why should she even care? Not to mention at times the sound became almost torture.
This upcoming party was going to be torture. But she would be there for Antonio's moment and pray there's not a...repeat of last time. Can't love someone who is born into the family and not be magical after all, oh no. Only people who marry in get a pass on that. If Antonio doesn't get a gift she would be forced to shun him and no one will see anything wrong with it.
Toxic. This family was toxic. And either everyone else was to stupid to realise or they just didn't care and were happy with the way things were. Just shut up and suck it up that's all she had to do. It's not like she had a choice.