Chapter 1

5 years before Encanto


"I'm trying!" Pepa cried, thunder crashing and lighting up the room.

"Ay and you are doing so well, mi amor!" Félix smiled encouragingly, clutching her hands tight. "Breathe with me now, ready?"

Pepa watched Félix take a deep, exaggerated breath and she tried to follow, but it hurt too much. Pepa moaned, dark clouds swirling around them.

Abuela stroked her daughter's hair away from her sweating face, shushing her.

"Clear skies, Pepa." She reminded gently. "You don't want to hurt the baby."

Pepa sobbed, rain pouring down as her tears fell.

"Pepa!" Abuela exclaimed, gesturing at the rain.

"I know, Mamá!" She shouted weakly, her voice strained. "I told you I'm trying!"

Pepa closed her eyes, trying to control her emotions.

"Clear skies, clear skies, clear skies-" She whispered under her breath. Pepa stopped to cry out again in pain. Thunder crashed.

Julieta rushed to her sisters side in concern.

"We are almost there." Abuela said encouragingly. "Almost there, Pepi. Just a little longer."

Julieta placed a hand to Pepa's forehead, then her cheek, looking into her eyes.

"She's in a lot of pain, Mamá." Julieta said softly. "I don't think we should wait."

Julieta took an arepa from her bag and brought it to her sisters mouth. Pepa's eyes widened at the sight of it. She quickly shook her head and turned away. The thunder crashed louder.

"Julieta, not yet." Abuela reminded her, taking the food and putting it aside. "Remember the vision."

Thunder crashed again and paintings were knocked from the walls by the wind which swirled furiously at mention of the vision. All eyes turned to Bruno, who stood meekly in the corner, unsure what to do.


After Mirabel's gift ceremony, people started to talk. Abuela was determined that they should have another grandchild, to prove to the town and themselves that the magic was still strong. Abuela knew that if they could not keep the miracle burning, the Encanto would be lost. They could not let that happen. They could not lose their home again.

Isabella and Dolores were too young, and it couldn't be another from Julieta, so with regret, Abuela placed the fate of the miracle and the future of the family on Pepa.

Pepa had already found it hard to become pregnant in the past. Most of the time nothing would happen, but if she did fall pregnant it would storm furiously for months, until eventually she would wake up in blood and snow, and the baby would be gone.

Camilo's birth had been extremely difficult for Pepa. If not for Julieta's healing powers she's not sure if Pepa or her son would've made it. After that day, Felix and Pepa had agreed that enough was enough.

The next ten years were spent peacefully, until the day Mirabel's door disappeared.

It was already raining when Abuela came and asked Pepa for another child, because Pepa knew it was coming. She had considered saying no to her mamá, but as soon as that thought arose it immediately stormed. She couldn't let down her family like that. What if the candle burned out because of her? What if the family broke apart because of her?

It rained a lot after that day.

People in town would ask Abuela if everything was ok, as they noticed the lack of sun and were worried about her daughter. Others would mention the crops were getting flooded, and expressed their concern for the village, and how they needed the sun to shine so they could keep making food for the Encanto. Abuela would just smile and assure them that everything was under control.

"Clear skies, Pepa." Abuela would say when she returned home. "People are starting to talk."

"Sorry." Pepa would mutter, running her hands anxiously through her braid and going into her room. The clouds would follow her in there and she'd close the door behind them, the rest of the house and Encanto now sheltered from the thunder and rain that was contained behind her magical door.

Pepa would sit in the rain and cry. She was so scared, but she had to keep the miracle burning. She had no other choice.