Chapter 12

5 years before Encanto

9 months after Bruno left


Abuela stood by the warm glowing candle and stared out at the mountains, memories of her children's younger days bringing a sad smile to her face.

She often came up here in the early hours of the morning to look out over the mountains, just in case she saw him.

Abuela was too afraid to admit it out loud, but she did miss Bruno.

But Abuela was also too proud to admit to herself that she was afraid. As the months passed by and her son still hadn't returned home, she found herself shutting out her feelings more and more.

She sighed. Today was going to be hard. It was the first time her children had spent a birthday apart. Abuela swallowed as she felt sadness rise in her, but she refused to cry. She had to be strong for the family, especially today.

The curtains of the window blew and wrapped gently around Abuela. She put a hand to it gratefully.

"Thank you, casita."

Abuela sighed, recomposing herself before heading downstairs.


"Hands curved, mija." Agustín reminded his daughter with an encouraging smile, slipping a finger under Luisa's palm and lifting it. "Like you're holding an avocado, remember?"

"Right." Luisa nodded, turning back to the piano. She hesitated, her brows furrowed in concentration as she stared down at her hands, carefully lining them up to the keys, then readjusting her posture, then lining up her hands again. Agustín smiled as he watched, knowing his daughter was overthinking it. He watched patiently.

Luisa readjusted her hands again, staring down at them for a moment before suddenly letting them drop by her sides. Luisa turned to her papá.

"What if Mamá doesn't like it?" Luisa asked, her eyes and voice filled with concern. "I mean, maybe I could just hold the piano, you know? You could play for her. I'm better at holding it anyway."

"You can do this." Agustín smiled encouragingly at her.

Agustín liked to share activities with his daughter that didn't always require her strength. He was worried that Luisa might start to think that being strong was the only thing she was good at. Agustín wanted Luisa to see all the other wonderful and special qualities that she had too.

"How about we play together?" Agustín suggested, and Luisa nodded, shuffling over so they could both put their fingers on the keys. Agustín grinned. He loved sharing his gift with Luisa. It may not be a miracle gift, but there was still a certain magic to it.

Agustín played the opening of the song with Luisa, then eased off so she could continue playing on her own. He chuckled, watching proudly as Luisa's hands skipped lightly over the keys and played the whole melody by herself, before realising Agustín wasn't playing anymore and quickly stopped.

Luisa's expression softened as she turned back to her papá, looking at him with bright eyes. Agustín put a hand to Luisa's cheek and kissed her forehead.

"So clever." He said adoringly. "I'm proud of you."

Luisa quickly turned back to the piano to hide her smile.

Sizzling came from the kitchen nearby as Isabela and Dolores cooked together. Dolores stood over the frypan with a spatula, listening for when the eggs were ready, while Isabela cut up the vegetables beside her.

"Smells great!" Mirabel said as she entered the kitchen. "You save some of those eggs to crack on Mama and Tía's heads?"

"Got them." Dolores replied, holding an uncooked egg up with a smile.

"Awesome!" Mirabel grinned, before turning to her sister. "And, uh, how's it going over here...?" Mirabel voice sounded strained as she attempted to make conversation with Isabella, sliding in next to her to try and help. Isabela groaned.

"Better if you'd get out of the way!" She replied, bumping her younger sister away with her hip.

"Hm. This could use more cilantro." Dolores commented, sniffing the pan. Isabela waved her hand over the pan, sprinkling herbs into the dish with her powers. When she turned back Mirabel was there again, cutting up vegetables. Isabela groaned, rolling her eyes.

"I told you to get out of the way!" Isabela exclaimed in an annoyed voice.

"I am out of the way!" Mirabel replied from behind her.

Isabela turned in confusion, before turning back to see Camilo. He laughed, jumping past Isabela as she tried to grab him. He pulled a face, putting an arm around Mirabel as they both skipped off together.

"Unbelievable!" Isabela exclaimed, as Dolores hid a smile.

Abuela entered the room and gasped softly, smiling at the heartwarming sight of her family all coming together. The room was decorated with flowers, candles and handmade decorations.

"Morning, Mamá!" Félix grinned over at her from where he stood, one arm holding little Antonio to his waist and the other hanging up a banner. Camilo hurried over, turning into a copy of his dad and hanging up the other side.

"Morning, Mamá!" Camilo repeated in the same voice.

As the banner lifted, it revealed the words Feliz Cumpleaños painted along it, surrounded by colourful paintings of butterflies.

"Just look at you all." Abuela smiled gratefully as she came over to join everyone. "Thank you. Our family could not be stronger."

Abuela put an arm around Isabela and kissed her forehead, before turning to the others with a smile.

"La familia Madrigal!" Abuela called out.

"La familia Madrigal!" Everyone repeated proudly.

Camilo and Mirabel glanced over at eachother and grinned, happy that the day they'd planned for their mamás had gotten off to a good start.


Julieta's head rested on Pepa's chest as her sister gently stroked her back. They lay together under the shelter of the pillow fort Camilo had built, quietly watching the rain fall around them.

Julieta hadn't been able to sleep at all last night, and eventually she'd come knocking on Pepa's door, asking if she could lay with her. Pepa had nodded quickly, relieved at the sight of her sister.

Julieta's arms wrapped tightly around Pepa, feeling grateful to still have her in her life. She sighed softly as Pepa's fingers stroked up and down her back, then gently up through her hair as Pepa rubbed her head. Julieta closed her eyes, feeling comforted. She had such a bad headache today.

"I miss him." Julieta spoke up sadly.

Pepa's hands immediately stopped and her body became tense at the mention of their brother. She held her breath in an attempt to remain calm, but she could feel her chest tightening. Outside of the shelter, clouds began to thunder. Julieta sat up and turned to face her sister. Pepa stared back at her with a pained expression.

"Hey... It's ok to miss him." Julieta reassured Pepa, but her sister shook her head.

"Don't." Pepa frowned.

"Talk about Bruno?"

She winced at the name. Rain starting to pour heavily around them. Pepa covered her ears.

"Pepa, it's his birthday too." Julieta sighed sadly. "I don't want to just forget. I want to talk about Bruno."

The cloud thundered, louder this time. Wind started to blow in gusts through the room, blowing sheets of rain into the pillow fort and soaking them. Pepa groaned.

"Great." Pepa muttered with a frown, taking a pillow and putting it over her books to protect them from the water. She then turned to the cloud, her breathing very slow and deliberate. Julieta watched as her sister twisted her hair in her fingers, whispering under her breath.

"Clear skies, clear skies-"

The cloud thundered and Pepa glared up at it.

"Hey." Julieta spoke up. Pepa glanced at her in frustration before turning back, continuing to whisper at the clouds.

"You don't need to do that today." Julieta said in a kind voice. "You don't need to hold it in."

Pepa scoffed, rolling her eyes at the audacity of that sentence.

"What if today we just let it rain?" Julieta smiled gently. "Just have a good cry together and let it all out?"

"Easy for you to say." Pepa muttered angrily, her breathing becoming heavier. "You don't make a thunderstorm every time you cry!" Pepa waved a hand at the clouds to emphasise her point. She continued stroking her hair, her eyes wide with stress. "They're gonna want a party, and it's gonna have to be perfect, and they'll want us to be happy, and-"

"Why should we be happy?" Julieta asked in a serious tone, feeing anger rise up within her. "Im not happy... Are you?

Pepa's hands stroked her hair faster as the wind began to swirl around her. Clear skies.

"Do you think Bruno's happy?!" Julieta continued, her voice starting to shake as she finally let out the words she'd been holding onto for months. "Im sick of pretending everything is fine, while he's out there somewhere, all alone! What if he's scared? Or hurt? Or d-"

Thunder cracked and the room lit up with a sudden strike of lightning. Julieta jumped in surprise. Pepa glared at her sister, her cheeks burning.

"We do not talk about-"

"I don't care!" Julieta shot back. "I think we should."

Thunder crashed again and a painting fell from the wall with a smash. Wind began to blow in gusts, circling their shelter dangerously as Pepa stared Julieta down with furious eyes.

"You don't scare me, Pepa." Julieta said in a strong voice. "I think it's important we acknowledge him today. I think it's important we don't force this down."

"We don't talk about Bruno!" Pepa shouted, tears running down her cheeks and her chest heaving. She felt betrayed by Julieta for making this so hard. It was already so hard. Why was she making it harder?

Julieta also felt betrayed. Her whole life she had always put Pepa first before her own feelings, and the one time she needed that reciprocated Pepa was throwing it back in her face. She had always cared for her sister and looked after her, but today she really needed Pepa to do the same for her.

Julieta felt tears welling up inside. Pepa's storms were so loud that people often forgot Julieta had feelings too. It stormed for Julieta every day since Bruno left, even if nobody saw her clouds.

As the wind picked up around them, the blankets of the shelter flapped in the wind and the table and bookcase that supported it groaned and began to shake.

Pepa held onto them, trying to stop them tipping. She looked around in horror at the storm she'd created. No, no - Not again... Her mind flashed back to the hurricane at the marketplace, the fear in the people's eyes, mamá's disappointed face... She was doing it again. She was always doing it. Stupid storm. Stupid Pepa.

The wind spiralled with her thoughts as Pepa began to panic. It wasn't fair. She had been so good. She hadn't had another disaster since the hurricane. She thought she was getting better at keeping in control. She didn't want another big storm to disappoint everyone again. Pepa was tired of always being a disappointment.

The shelter shook and thunder crashed angrily. Pepa's arms twisted around her body anxiously before putting her hands back onto the shelter. She heaved for breath and felt the tightness in her chest growing as she thought of Bruno, a floodgate of feelings opening. Clear skies, Pepa. Clear skies. Not today. Clear skies.

"Pepa! I'm sorry!" Julieta called out over the howling wind, tears running down her cheeks as she tried to help Pepa hold their shelter together.

Hearing her sister's apology, Pepa's mind flashed back to her wedding day. People running in fear, shards of stained glass floating in rainwater, the shame on mama's face. Bruno calling out to her over the wind, telling her he was sorry.

At the image of Bruno's face, a fierce gust of wind blew the shelter from their hands, the table and shelf smashing against the wall and breaking.

Lightning struck down and Pepa gasped, grabbing her sister and pulling her forward as the lightning hit the floor where she'd just been.

Julieta fell forward against her sister and Pepa wrapped her up into a protective hug. Julieta hugged her back. They stood together in the storm, holding eachother as the wind and rain swirled in circles around them.

"I'm sorry!" Pepa sobbed, feeling Julieta shaking.

"Me too." Julieta gasped, hiding her face against Pepa.

The door slammed open suddenly and Abuela stood there, her eyes wide with concern. Behind her stood the rest of the family, all looking shocked and worried.

Pepa took one look at the family and ran. She pushed past Abuela and rushed out the door, the storm following her. Félix immediately handed Antonio to Dolores and ran after his wife. Camilo tried to follow too, but Abuela took his hand protectively. He turned back pleadingly but she shook her head.

Luisa hurried into Pepa's ruined bedroom and picked up Julieta, carrying her out into the hall. Julieta buried her face against her daughter and sobbed softly in her arms. Luisa kissed her mamá, watching sadly as she cried. Agustín, Mirabel and Isabela gathered around too, putting their hands to Julieta.

"Where is she going?" Abuela asked Dolores quietly. Camilo pulled at Abuela's hand again with a frown, but she wouldn't let go.

Dolores hummed quickly, holding Antonio in her arms as she listened. Antonio reached for the bow in Dolores' hair.

"Mamá's running away." Dolores replied softly. "But she's telling me she's ok. She says she needs time alone."

Dolores listened to her mamá's voice from a distance.

"I love you, mija... I'm sorry."

Dolores sighed. I love you too, Mamá.

The storm faded away as Pepa made more and more distance between her and the casita, until the rain was completely gone.


The rest of the day was quiet. The family spent a lot of time with Julieta, who put on a brave face. She thanked everyone for all the efforts they had made, and spent the day enjoying all the thoughtful activities that Mirabel and Camilo had planned. Julieta didn't try to talk about Bruno again.

Dinnertime eventully came, and they sat at the table together. Julieta held Antonio in her lap, Mirabel and Isabela on either side of her as they watched Agustín and Luisa play the piano together. Camilo sat next to Mirabel, his eyes looking lost as he stared ahead. Mirabel took his hand in hers and he glanced over, his face softening into a sad smile. Mirabel smiled back, then rested her head on his shoulder.

Abuela sat at the table, her mind consumed with worry about Pepa, and what might happen to their family if her daughter didn't come home either.

Dolores perked up suddenly, as she heard something in the kitchen.

She silently got up and walked over, finding three rats sniffing around on the bench and waiting for her. Dolores approached and gave them a small and knowing smile as they looked up.

Glancing over her shoulder, Dolores reached into her pocket and pulled out a small package that was wrapped in a little bow. She handed it to one of the rats.

Dolores then took the birthday cake from the bench and cut off a small piece, handing it to the second rat. The third one waited and she smiled, handing it an uncooked egg. Dolores silently tapped the top of her head with her finger.

As the rats scurried off with the gifts Dolores watched them go, pouring herself a glass of Aguapanela before returning to the table.