The next morning Mirabel lifted open her eyes getting the faint image of a girl overlooking her head and soon it became clearer until Mirabel was able to make her out as Jasmine. "Met the prettiest girl last night and now I'm dreaming about her..." Mirabel let out clearing her eyes and was met with Jasmine's face causing her to jump up surprised after realising that she was not dreaming and what she had just said. Her face went red in embarassment not helped as Jasmine giggled behind her hand; even in a different land she was embarrassing herself.
"Sorry about startling you; it's just that I awoke to Shirin and Ahmed leaving to go about their days and so I wanted to wait to see if you had anything to do today that I could accompany you on." Jasmine said apologetically as Mirabel caught herself.
"That's fine and the two like to go about their days out on the street finding what they can do; I wanted to talk to them actually as it feels like they don't want to burden themselves in my schedule. But as for said schedule; I plan to get some breakfast and go about doing my music to earn some money. You are free to come along; the more the merrier they say." Mirabel said gathering her stuff including her accordion with Jasmine in awe as Mirabel gave a little demonstration.
"I never seen or heard anything like that; I hope you can pardon me for asking but I don't think that you are from around here; are you?" Jasmine asked and Mirabel sighed as she shook her head.
"Nope; I am from an Encanto... That's a village covered by mountains and filled with trees... It's a long story if you want to ask about how I got to Agrabah and the desert in general..." Mirabel explained hoping that she wouldn't have to explain about said long story.
"Mountains and trees? I have never seen anything like that; I hope you can tell me about what it's like at your home..." Jasmine replied in awe and Mirabel thought that off course the people here wouldn't see anything quite like that here in the desert. Jasmine followed Mirabel out as they then walked around the busy streets to the market. On the way Jasmine looked around and was shocked when she spotted people who looked like they were hungry and tired.
Mirabel got her usual loafs of bread and turned to see Jasmine looking down at a hungry little boy and took one of the apples from the cart to give to him; the seller didn't quite like that as he grabbed her wrist threateningly. "Hey now; let's not do anything drastic... Here you go!" Mirabel said cutting in front of Jasmine getting the apple seller to let go of Jasmine as Mirabel handed some coins over. The seller looked to the coins and gave a nod letting them leave.
"I appreciate the gesture but pro-tip; the sellers here don't really take kindly to thieves. There is one who seems to set the entire guard after him whenever he makes a move." Mirabel informed Jasmine who looked back managing to spot the boy that she had given the apple.
"Sorry about that Mirabel and requiring you to to help me out there; I don't have much experience in the market..." Jasmine said apologetically looking around and Mirabel could believe that from how Jasmine went about that situation. "It's just that...Seeing people hungry like this... Is fa... the Sultan not aware of how conditions for the poor are like? They are his subjects who depend on him!" Jasmine asked concerned and Mirabel sighed feeling where Jasmine was coming from but she didn't have enough knowledge of the Sultan or how he runs Agrabah to have any sort of informed opinion.
"Your guess is as good as mine; maybe running the kingdom takes a lot of work so this point unfortunately escaped his notice... Maybe he is too busy inviting stuck up bully Princes to be a suitor to his daughter." Mirabel replied and Jasmine gave a look at this.
"Are you referring to Prince Achmed? The Princess... from what I have heard made him feel as welcomed as he deserved. Good luck to the poor maiden who ends up as his wife one day." Jasmine replied and Mirabel gave a big laugh at this.
"Sounds like the Princess has decent taste at least of what to steer clear from." Mirabel said as she took a loaf of bread to snap in half in order to offer one half to Jasmine. "The rest for our little roommates when I find them again, how about you join me as I show Agrabah my music?" Mirabel offered as Jasmine accepted the bread half and gave a quick thanks as she followed Mirabel to her usual spot.
That morning at the Madrigal home; it was with the same dreary depressing atmosphere as it was with every morning. Pepa was standing away from the table as she held her plate to eat her breakfast with the small storm cloud that was just now always over her head now. Alma looked around with a sigh but upon noticing something asked "does anyone know where Antonio is?"
They noticed the abscence of the youngest Madrigal and were just about to assume the worst now; that something happened to Antonio now which would only make things worse than it already was somehow. However Dolores listened closely and said "he is in the nursery."
Anything that even slightly resembled good news brought a sigh of relief as Pepa and Félix went to go get him but Camilo got up saying "Madre, Padre... Let me..." Camilo then left and went upstairs to go and see to his brother.
Truth be told; while he was a jokester he was nonetheless no less worried about Mirabel than everyone else. Plus he wanted to feel useful; while his gift could bring joy to the children he kind of felt useless in the search for Mirabel.
His tía could heal her daughter's state with her cooking, Dolores would be able to hear Mirabel if they got close to her, Luisa could take care of any obstacle in their way with her strength, Isabela could end up almost as useful in that department with the plants she summoned, plus thunder from his Madre could do the same and Antonio could easily find something useful talking to animals if the situation called for it.
If they found Mirabel and if she was in danger; what use was shapeshifting going to do?
"Antonio?" he called out as he entered the nursery but couldn't find anyone in there; after some searching he found him curled up with his toy jaguar underneath his bed. Said toy jaguar as the family learned was stitched together by Mirabel and given to Antonio as a birthday present; ever since she went missing he refused to let it leave his side.
"Hey there. Everyone is waiting for you downstairs for breakfast. You need to keep your strength up for when we find Mirabel!" Camilo said putting on a smile but mentioning the name brought tears to his brother's eyes much to Camilo's panic.
"Do you think Mirabel left because of me?" Antonio asked causing Camilo to pause in confusion, whatever could give him that idea? "Before my Gift Ceremony; she told me that I was going to get the best Gift ever and if I didn't get one then I could just stay there with her... She helped me to my door but seeing everyone excited about my Gift... Did she come up with an excuse to the Candle to go away because she thought I was going to abandon her?" Antonio asked as Camilo was open mouthed.
"Off course not... Mirabel loves you and was as happy for you as everyone else... She would never think that you would abandon her... You probably mean the most to her." Camilo tried to comfort Antonio with it fully setting in how much his little brother must look up to their cousin. Be because Antonio spent his life in the nursery with Mirabel as a roommate and how she would look out for him...
They were much closer to eachother than Camilo was to Antonio probably. Not intentional as it was a big family and like everyone Camilo was kept busy entertaining the kids around the Encanto. He did feel like jealous when he thought that Antonio would probably see Mirabel as more of a sibling than his actual siblings.
"You are not alone as we all miss her... I took her for granted... Do you know I felt jealous for her... Always having to be somebody else and she was free to be herself... I think we never could understand what being the Giftless one was like..." Camilo admitted much to his brother's surprise and it was true.
Pretending to be someone else and acting the part; seeing Mirabel and thinking that she was free to be just herself.
"Is it hard using your Gift to help the community..." Antonio ended up asking and Camilo sighed; he liked entertaining the kids but he did feel like he could use a break more often.
"Not going to lie... It does feel hard... I don't know what jobs you could be doing in the future with your Gifts but it might be exhausting..." Camilo had to admit. Antonio was silent as Camilo stood there looking over the bed. "You think that you are ready for breakfast?" Camilo asked and Antonio looked up.
"Will you promise that Mirabel will be safe and sound?" Antonio asked and Camilo gave his best smile as he mustered up the will to nod.
He led Antonio down to breakfast mentally hoping beyond hope that he won't be made a liar to his little brother.
Later that day in Agrabah; Shirin and Ahmed joined the audience for Mirabel's music and got their bread, Mirabel was now packing up as she counted her earnings for the day. "Another day, another pile of coins that should let me stay here comfortably in Agrabah..." Mirabel spoke only for her to look at Shirin and Ahmed concerned as they were pointing at something afraid. Jasmine silently gasped and went to hide and Mirabel looked up and saw that the guard being led by the Captain was coming towards her.
"Oh look; it's the musician with the weird clothes and instrument..." said one of the guards but the stern glare from the imposing Captain shut him up as Mirabel gulped while putting on her best smile.
"How could I help you fine members of the Guard?" MIrabel asked as the Captain put out a hand to one of the guards who was carrying a bag; the Captain then pulled out a poster to hand to Mirabel.
"We hope that you could keep your eyes open for you see the Princess herself has been missing since last night. The Sultan would be most grateful for any information that could lead to her safe return." the Captain explained as the poster had a fancy illustration of the Princess's face as well as details about the reward.
"Woah... I would never have to worry about money for the time being... If I didn't enjoy playing my music for Agrabah that is..." Mirabel stated but then looked closely at the illustration as the guards were turning to leave.
Didn't it look like Jasmine?
But she was just visiting a relative...
When she left the Palace last night...
The poster stated that her name was Jasmine.
"Wait... Couldn't be..." Mirabel spoke louder than what she intended catching the attention of the guards as Shirin and Ahmed came over to take a look at the poster and their eyes widened.
The Captain was now looking at Mirabel who was gulping; "Is there something that you would like to share with us... Ms Mirabel isn't it?" the Captain asked calmly and Mirabel didn't know what to do as saying anything could feel like betraying Jasmine.
She never really felt this scared being faced by someone before; while she hated the idea of disappointing her Abuela when faced with her, the thought that her Abuela could threaten harm to her would never cross her mind.
Even wild animals out in the forest would scamper as soon as Luisa cracked her knuckles at them.
Jasmine then ran in front of Mirabel pushing her back; "Captain Razoul; I ask that you not threaten my friend. She offered me shelter and knew nothing of who I was." Jasmine said firmly putting down her hijab to show her hair being neatly tied up and with a tiara with guards kneeling down.
"Woah... The drawing almost does her justice..." Mirabel muttered as she got a look at her full face and hair before catching herself.
"Do you like Jasmine; Mirabel... As in like how moms and dads like eachother?" Ahmed asked with him and his sister looking excited at the idea but Mirabel quickly went to their ears.
"Don't be silly and I would appreciate it if you can please keep quiet about the guards who might have a harsh punishment for any unwanted admirers towards the Princess..." Mirabel told him as one of the guards got her up.
"Ms Mirabel; I believe the Sultan will want to thank you personally after hearing this news." the guard said as Jasmine shook her head feeling like it would be an uncomfortable meeting.
Mirabel looked down at her two young friends and asked "You think that you could allow Ahmed and Shirrin here to come to the palace as well? I promise that they will be on their best behaviour!" Their eyes widened up as the guards looked towards Razoul who sighed and nodded.
The young children gave an excited cheer as they followed Mirabel, Jasmine and the guards to the direction of the palace. "So Princess Jasmine?" Mirabel asked Jasmine calmly who sighed.
"I wasn't fully honest with you and I needed to clear up the situation. I am sorry." Jasmine told Mirabel apologetically and Mirabel thought that she could wait to hear the whole story later.
So not only is she in a different land far away from the Encanto; but after only a few days she would be meeting the kingdom's ruler.
She expected to be on an adventure to find what was failing the magic so expectations were still not being met...
True story the idea of the joke of Mirabel being afraid of any penalty for liking the Princess like that? Back in my High School days; there was a pantomine of Aladdin that the students performed and I had a homemade DVD copy bought of the 2 performances (true story I could always swear in my mind the teacher that was in charge of selling the DVDs looked like Batista). In there EVEN looking at the Princess caused Aladdin to have the guards after him to put him to death. I am sure no actual version of the story would go that far and I know I still that DVD somewhere.