Chapter 28: Transformation

4 years before Encanto

Pepa sat in the long grass with Felix, back to his chest as Felix braided her long hair. They watched Alma showing their boys something in the tree, sun shining over them.

"They stay in these cocoons most of their life." Alma explained, holding Antonio close to the branch so he could see. Camilo stood beside Abuela, watching with bright eyes.

"They don't know if life is going to get any better than that." Alma told them. "If they're going to get any better. They just live each day in the dark, even when most of the time it doesn't feel like they're living at all." She sighed, glancing down at Camilo with a smile, rubbing his hair. "But then one day, they come out again, and see the world again. And when that happens, they transform into something new. A better version of themselves. And this time, they fly."

"Mama, if you are talking about yourself," Pepa called out, "I will come over there and squash that bug."

Felix hugged Pepa tight, his shoulders shaking with laughter. Pepa turned to him with a grin.

Alma frowned at Pepa. "I was talking about the family."

Pepa gave her an unapologetic shrug, attention on Felix now.

"So cheeky." Felix chuckled, kissing Pepa as she pushed him down onto the grass, playfully climbing on top.

"Hm. I have to be." Pepa explained, long fingers gently stroking Felix's chest. "Mama is like a big plant. You have to trim her down, otherwise she will become tough and unruly."

"You have always been good with the crops." He smiled, and Pepa rolled her eyes in agreement. Felix spoke quieter this time. "And how is that crop treating you? Are you okay?"

Pepa smiled, giving him a quick kiss as she leaned closer, her own voice quiet too.

"Ay, but Mama is no crop." Pepa muttered. "She is a strangler fig. Smothering tight, squeezing life from the other trees."

Felix searched her eyes in concern. He knew Pepa loved her Mama and they had both worked hard to repair their relationship over the years, but Felix worried for Pepa.

"So what will you do?" Felix asked quietly.

Pepa glanced over at Mama, then turned back to Felix with a smile. "I continue to grow." She gave him a cheeky grin. "To spite her."

Felix chuckled, fingers tracing along her back. "And what plant are you, amor? A sunflower?"

Pepa laughed. "I am Pepper."

Felix grinned at Pepa, loving the way the sun shone golden against her hair. He ran fingers through it and she smiled, leaning in to kiss him.

Alma glanced over, but seeing her daughter busy she quickly turned away again. Dios.

"That's a caterpillar, Tonito." Camilo encouraged his little brother. "Can you say it?"

"Capap." Antonio laughed, and so did Camilo, while Alma watched them with an adoring expression.

Antonio had changed their lives for the better, his sweet disposition making the sun shine for Pepa, and the candle burn brighter. Antonio had brought hope to their family.

"Put out your hands." Alma told Camilo, sun shining as she gently lifted a caterpillar from the branch to place in his palm. Camilo's eyes were bright as he watched.

"They're like me, Abuela." Camilo told her. "I can transform too."

"That's right, mi vida." Alma's eyes were warm with love. "You do. And you transform our lives for the better."

Camilo gently returned the caterpillar to the branch, then came over, hugging Abuela.

"Hola, hombrecitos!" A familiar voice called out, and Camilo quickly let go of Abuela, his face lighting up.

Mirabel skipped through the fields, curly hair bouncing and skirt swishing. She did a spin, dancing as she made her way over.

Antonio changed from quietly hugging Abuela to bouncing and reaching over her shoulder. "Mira Mira!"

"There's my little man!" Mirabel grinned, taking Antonio into her arms and spinning him while he laughed. She brought him in close for a cuddle. "Best roomie ever."

"Hey!" Camilo nudged his cousin, then switched into a smaller version of himself, the chubby toddler that used to share the nursery with Mirabel.

"Forgot about me?" Camilo asked in a little squeaky voice, but was immediately surrounded by rainbows.

"Ay que te amo!" Pepa rushed over, dropping to her knees and squishing his fat cheeks, covering his face with kisses. "I love when you make this one." She said with an adoring smile. "Love love love."

Felix chuckled, hugging Pepa and lifting her up along with Camilo.

Camilo beamed, cuddling Mama while Pa squished them close, rainbows sparkling.

Mirabel watched with a grin, then turned to Abuela who was standing there in silence. Everyone was being so affectionate and she didn't want to get in the way.

"Hey Abuela." Mirabel gave Alma a kind smile, then a hug. Alma awkwardly patted Mirabel's back while her granddaughter embraced her.

Mirabel was always trying to please Alma. She felt like if she was extra helpful, Abuela would notice that she was special too, in her own way.

But Alma didn't always know what to do with Mirabel. No matter how much she loved her granddaughter, Mirabel's face was a constant reminder of one of the worst times of their family's lives, and where Alma had ruined everything. The family had done well to shield Mirabel and Camilo from most of the hard truths from that time, but Alma remembered perfectly.

Just the sight of Mirabel filled her with shame and reminded Alma of her failures, which were only amplified by the fact that Mirabel was just so loving and affectionate with the family, in a way that Alma never could.

Mirabel tried again to connect with her Abuela. "What have you been up to?"

"Capap." Antonio explained to Mirabel, little hand touching her glasses.

"Oh! Of course." Mirabel grinned, then turned to Camilo with an exaggerated whisper. "What's capap?"

"Caterpillars." Camilo laughed, calling from his Mama's arms as she cuddled him. He'd returned back to his normal self, but Pepa still wouldn't let him go.

"I love caterpillars!" Mirabel told Abuela. "Butterflies are my favourite, Abuela. Just like you."

Alma hesitated, trying thinking of the right thing to say back. She took too long, and Mirabel's smile stared to fade.

"That's great, Mirabel!" Felix called out, while Pepa gave Mama a warning look.

"Yes, yes very good." Alma agreed, patting Mirabel's back once more.

"You know, they stay in the cocoon almost their whole life?" Mirabel smiled. "They don't get to fly until the very end. They don't even think they'll get wings. The transformation comes later, when they least expect it."

Mirabel turned back to the tree, her expression hopeful as she watched the caterpillars. They made Mirabel wonder if she would get her wings later in life, too. Maybe she just had to be patient, and wait for the miracle to happen on its own.

Alma glanced at her pocketwatch, realising she needed to be at the town meeting very soon. She turned back to Mirabel, who was watching her with bright eyes.

"You have fun with the caterpillars and your primos." Alma told her. "I must go."

Alma went to leave, but Mirabel's face lit up. She handed Antonio back to her Tio, waving goodbye and hurrying after Abuela.

"To the meeting?" Mirabel asked, stepping in time with Alma. "Can I come too?"

"You are a child." Alma told her. "This is for adults. You go and play."

"Ugh. But Abuela!" Mirabel groaned, throwing her head back as she continued to follow.

"I want to help!" Mirabel insisted. "Besides, Luisa said she was going to meetings at my age. Cmon, let me help too!"

"It's different with Luisa."

Mirabel rolled her eyes, unimpressed, then skipped forward again to keep up.

"Cmon, Abuela." Mirabel grinned, clutching Alma's black shawl and tugging playfully. "Please! Just once?"

"Pepa!" Alma turned to her daughter. "Take Mirabel."

"I'm not your dog, Mama!" Pepa called back, not getting up. "If Miraboo wants to go to the meeting, you should take her." She threw a hand. "Everybody in that town loves her."

Alma turned back to Mirabel with a sigh, and was met with a shining and hopeful smile.

Later

Alma took her place at the head of the table and Mirabel quickly sat beside her, unknowingly taking Isabela's seat right out from under her. Isabela threw her hands up in frustration, sending flower petals scattering.

"You're in my seat." Isabela seethed. She had no patience for her little sister, who seemed to enjoy messing things up for Isabela, whenever she got the chance. Isabela was working so hard to be perfect and make sacrifices for the family, while it felt like Mirabel danced through life, waving her free pass in Isabela's face.

"Mirabel." Alma spoke in the strained but pleasant voice she got whenever she was scolding in front of the town. "Please give Isabela back her seat."

Mirabel looked a little hurt. She was really looking forward to sitting with Abuela and helping with the meeting. She wanted to show Abuela how helpful she could be.

"But I was here first." Mirabel told Abuela. "Tell Señorita Perfecta to sit somewhere else."

Isabela's face burned up, flowers appearing in her hair. A couple people chuckled and her eyes quickly turned, filling with tears because she felt hurt and humiliated.

"Mirabel." Alma's tone was strong now, hand rubbing Isabela's arm to comfort her. "If you want to be at this meeting, go and sit somewhere else."

"Where?"

"Anywhere." Alma sighed. "Just out of the way. Your sister is already upset."

Alma immediately regretted her words as her granddaughter's smile faded. Mirabel's gaze dropped to the floor and she stood up sadly, moving aside.

Alma went to say something more, but then Isabela sat down between then, giving Abuela a grateful smile.

Mirabel looked out at the crowd as she walked, her mouth a little wobbly, but then Mariano stood up, the Guzmans all smiling and waving to her. "Mirabel! Come sit with us."

Dolores made a soft peep and smiled.

"He is perfect for you, Isabela." Alma praised, brushing petals from her granddaughter's sleek hair. "A perfect match for a perfect girl."

Dolores sighed, turning back to her notes.

"You made a good choice, Abuela." Isabela smiled in agreement, though only Dolores could hear her racing heart.

Mirabel made her way through the crowd, but was stopped by a familiar voice.

"Mirabel! No one told me you'd be here."

Mirabel grinned as she saw Valentina arrive, flower in her silver hair and wearing snakeskin boots. Ever since Mirabel's gift ceremony Valentina had made a point of wearing them to town meetings, out of spite.

"Abuelita." Mirabel embraced Valentina, who kissed Mirabel's forehead.

"You're late." Alma muttered.

Valentina turned with a grin, and Sofia pulled up a seat for them, not wanting to miss the exchange.

"Apologies." Valentina spoke casually, helping her granddaughter into the chair, then sitting beside her. "Manuel and I were writing our next show, and one of the choruses wasn't sitting right."

"A tragedy." Alma spoke dismissively, then turned back to Dolores and Isabela. "Anyway, lets begin. First item on the agenda..."

"What wasn't working, Abuelita?" Mirabel whispered.

Valentina leaned in, stroking her granddaughter's hair. "It was missing your accordion."

Mirabel's face lit up into a grin.

Later

Julieta came over to the kitchen bench with the next batch of mix, sprinkling flour over the bench to prepare the area.

A tile on the bench flicked up, tossing flour into Julieta's face. Casita shook with laughter while she sputtered.

"Casita!" Julieta laughed too, grabbing a handful of flour and tossing it at the wall. She then sighed, realising she'd have to clean that up later. Casita bounced the floor under Julieta, spinning her to make her smile again.

The shuttered banged in a rhythm, and Julieta began to dance with it. Casita rolled plates along the bench, spinning them around to encourage Julieta, who grinned and spun too.

From Alma's bedroom windowsill, Candle glowed bright as it watched Julieta and Casita dance together, enjoying seeing her happy. Since Mirabel's ceremony, Candle was kept in Alma's room to stay safe, though it longed to be with the family. Finding Candle dim and trickling wax, Alma tried everything to help it, but in the end the thing that made Candle happy and bright again was putting it up on that windowsill so it could see the family, even if from a distance.

Hearing the front door open, Julieta quickly put hands onto the plates to stop their spin. She returned to work, wiping flour from her face as she did so.

Casita bounced again and Julieta smiled, but kept working.

"Hola mija." Alma came over, kissing Julieta's head, she then recoiled with a laugh, dusting flour from her daughter's hair. "Dios. I did not think your hair would turn whiter than mine so soon."

"It's on its way." Julieta sighed, continuing to work. She had a civil relationship with Mama now, though they still had a lot of unresolved tension beneath the surface. Julieta loved her Mama, but she didn't always like her.

Alma gently dusted her daughter's hair while Isabela and Mirabel entered the kitchen. Isabela smiled at the sight of Julieta, but before she could go to her, Mirabel got there first, accidentally barging into her sister as she ran. Petals scattered from Isabela and she frowned.

"Mi vida!" Julieta's face lit up at the sight of Mirabel, holding arms out so her daughter could run into her embrace. Julieta's heart went out to Mirabel not getting a gift. She remembered how devastating it had felt at that age, to be the only one without magic. Julieta felt determined to compensate for Mirabel being left out by showering her with extra love, encouragement and attention.

"You need fresh flowers for your bench, Mama?" Isabela spoke up, seeing Mama hugging and fussing over Mirabel and feeling unimpressed. She waved a hand over the bench and made a new arrangement. She made sure to include shades of blue, as she knew Mama liked that.

"Thank you, linda." Julieta smiled, still holding onto Mirabel as she glanced up at Isabela.

Isabela covered her jealousy with a smile. "It's nothing, Mama. Anything for you."

"Mama, guess what!" Mirabel spoke up brightly, and Julieta turned back with a grin. "I went to the town meeting."

Julieta gasped, wanting to show she was impressed.

"Wow, mi vida!" Julieta smiled. "Were they nice to you?"

"Mm-hm!"

"And did you get to speak?"

"To the whole town." Mirabel agreed.

"They must have loved that." Julieta praised. "You are so valued, Mira. By this family, and everybody in town. I always have children coming to our door when you are out, asking for you."

"Well the thing is I love them too, Mama." Mirabel smiled. "We're so lucky to live in such an amazing place, with such amazing friends, and amazing family."

Alma noticed Isabela turn away with a sigh. Alma put a hand to her granddaughter's cheek and Isabela turned back.

"Come on." Alma smiled to her. "Let's go do your hair, mi vida. We can talk about our plans with Mariano."

Isabela smiled back and nodded. "Sounds great, Abuela."

Even though Abuela's attention was on Isabela's achievements and gift, it was still attention, and Isabela craved it. As the years passed she became more and more obsessed with pleasing Abuela, finding comfort in the knowledge that she was the best, at least in Abuela's eyes.

When they reached Alma's room, Candle glowed brighter to see them. Alma came over to Candle, gently stroking it, then placing a hand to the windowsill.

"How was your day?" She quietly asked her friends, while Isabela sat at the dresser. Candle glowed, while Casita wrapped a curtain over Alma's shoulders in an embrace, then flicked it to tell her Isabela was waiting.

"Of course." Alma smiled, hand running along the windowsill as she went to Isabela.

Alma came over and kissed her granddaughter's face while Isabela stared at their reflection. Their eyes met in the mirror and Isabela smiled.

She hesitated, her breath catching because the sight of Isabela's reflection reminded Alma too much of her sister. Alma closed her eyes, taking a deep and slow breath as she tried to remind herself where she was. Her mind kept flashing back to her Mama's house. She could almost feel it. Herself at Isabela's age, looking into the mirror to see Cora.

Alma was certain her sisters would not be proud of who she had become. As the years went by Alma had transformed into something she didn't recognise anymore.

Candle flickered, trying to reassure Alma, but she did not open her eyes.

Her hand slipped slowly into her pocket, fingers closing around the little gold container with Pedro's picture. Help me.

She knew if he were here, everything would be okay again. Pedro would know what to say, how to fix things. He would heal their family, and undo the damage Alma had caused.

At the smell of flowers, Alma was brought back to the present. She opened her eyes to see Isabela standing before her with a caring expression.

Alma realised she'd been crying, so she took a sharp breath, quickly wiping the tears away.

"It's okay, Abuela." Isabela said in a comforting tone, taking Alma's hand in hers, then with the other she gently wiped away her Abuela's tears. "Are you sad about Abuelo?"

Alma took a shaky breath, then nodded. She felt ashamed that she'd let Isabela see this side of her, but Isabela felt special that Abuela trusted her enough to share this moment with her. She liked to think she was the only grandchild who was allowed to see Abuela like this.

Isabela hugged Abuela, and Alma relaxed into her embrace. Beside them, Candle glowed brighter than ever.

Alma felt like no matter what, Isabela would always accept her, always love her. It was like the relationship she used to have with Julieta, before Alma ruined it. She swore not to make that mistake again.

"I love you." Alma told Isabela quietly. "I am so grateful that I got things right with you." She kissed her face, eyes warm with love. "My perfect Isabela."

Isabela watched Abuela quietly, working up the courage to ask.

"Am I your favourite, Abuela?"

Alma looked back at her in surprise.

Behind Isabela, Casita waved in warning. Alma noticed, but didn't say anything.

"Well..." She began, then stopped, her heart sinking as memories resurfaced.

'We shouldn't have favourites, Mariposa.' She remembered Pedro's words, and the way the candlelight had danced golden across his beautiful face. "They're special in their own way."

Alma swallowed, closing her eyes as sadness once again took over. Dios. Why was she like this?

Isabela's smile faded a little, because Abuela had taken too long to answer, and Isabela knew silence was an answer, too.

"It's fine." Isabela reassured Abuela. "I shouldn't have asked." She rested her head on Abuela's shoulder, hugging tight as she put on a brave smile. "I love you, Abuela."

"Love you too, mi vida." Alma sighed. She kissed Isabela, gently stroking her long hair. "So very much."

Isabela hid against Alma.

Alma held her granddaughter, staring ahead and unsure if she'd got it right.