Ten years...

Bruno has lived withing the walls of Casita... For ten years.

He has been living with rats... For ten years.

This means that he "left" the family when he was 40, because as far as I'm concerned, the triplets (Pepa, Julieta, and Bruno) are all the same age. And that age, reader(s), is 50. "You never left." Mirabel said. "Well, I - I left my tower, which was, you know, a lotta stairs, and, uh, in here, eh? Kitchen adjacent!"

I guess... In here, you're not exactly near the kitchen...

"Ooh, plus, free entertainment!" Bruno showed us cardboard cut-outs that the rats poke their heads through, unkowingly enacting little plays. "So whattya like? You like sports? Game show? Telenovelas?"

Um... none of the above...? I don't know how to react to this. "Their love cold never be."

"I don't understand." Mirabel said, looking around. Me neither. "Well, because she's his aunt and she has amnesia, so she can't remember that she's his aunt, you see, it's like a very forbidden love kind of-"

Don't you just love when a creator of rat telenovelas makes fun of his own telenovelas? Or just telenovelas in general?

"I don't understand why you 'left,' but didn't 'leave?'" Mirabel asked. Bruno seemed uncomfortable at the question. "Oh, well... because, you know, the mountains around the Encanto are pretty tall... and uh - you know, like I said, free food... and everything." Bruno answered, avoiding eye contact. Where he moved away was where We saw a shaft of light. Curious, I peered through it to see... the dining room? And next to me was... a drawn-on plate on the table?

This says a lot about how badly he still wanted to be a part of the family.

"My gift wasn't helping the family... but, uh, I love my family, y'know... I just don't know how to... I just don't know how to..." He looked down and saw me with one of the rats in my paws. Probably thinking I was gonna eat it, he screamed, almost falling backwards. "Ah! Cat!" He screamed. Confused, I dropped the rat. "Tío Bruno, it's okay!" Mirabel said, picking me up. "Oscar's not gonna hurt you." You'd think he's seen a cat before and know that domestic ones, such as myself, aren't dangerous. Apparently not.

Tentatively, Bruno reached his hand out to pet me. I immediately rubbed my head against it, purring. He chuckled a bit, not expecting the reaction he got. THEN I did something that I only do with people I trust with every fiber of my being: I hopped up on Bruno's shoulders and laid down."What's this? What is he doing?" Bruno asked Mirabel. "He does that when he trusts you." She answered with a sweet smile at my gesture. Bruno looked at me. "You... you trust me?" He asked, not entirely believing what Mirabel just said to him. This must mean that he hasn't been told that he's trusted often, or at all. I nodded, "I do." And with that, Bruno smiled. Looks like he's not afraid of me anymore. Unfortunately, his smile didn't last vry long, and he handed me back to Mirabel.

"Well, anyway, I think you two should go, because, um... well, I don't really have a good reason but if I did, you'd be like 'I should go', 'cause that's a good reason." Bruno said, sitting down. I shook my head gently, hopping up and laying on his lap. "Why were we in your vision, Bruno?" I asked. He seemed a bit shocked to see a talking cat. "We just... wanted to make the family proud... just once. But if we should stop... If we're hurting our family... Just tell us." Mirabel whispered. Bruno looked at her, seemingly debating on whether or not he should tell us or not.

"I can't tell you... because I don't know." Bruno answered, taking out the shards of his vision and assembling them. "I had this vision the night that you didn't get your gift. Abuela worried about the magic, so she begged me to look into the future, see what it meant..." He paused for a moment. "And I saw the magic in danger... our house... breaking.. and then... I saw you and Oscar. But the vision was different. It... it would change... and there was no one answer... no clear fate. Like your future was undecided. But I knew how it was gonna look, I knew what everyone would think, because I'm Bruno and everyone always assumes the worst, so... so..."

"You left... to protect us?" I asked as Mirabel manipulated the vision, seeing it transform from cracks spreading to cracks disappearing. "I don't know which way it'll go.. but my guess... the family, the Encanto, the fate of the miracle itself - it's all gonna come down to you two."

This is a LOT to take in, you guys realize that? Because, I still don't quite understand how we're hurting the magic, if we are. Yet, at the same time, I understand why... But I don't. HOW are we hurting the magic? You see the bind I'm in.

"Or maybe I'm wrong." Bruno said with a shrug, snapping me out of my thoughts. "You know, it's a mystery, that's why this vision is *fart noise*" He then walked us out the door. "Look, if I could help anymore, I would, but that's all I know. Good luck. I wish I could've seen more." He closed the door, leaving us in the dark hallway. Well now, that could've gone better...

Hold on... Hold on...

He said he wishes he could see more... So...

Ohoh, Oscar and Mirabel Madrigal, you are GENIUSES!

Thinking the same thing I was, Mirabel kicked the door down, scaring Bruno. "You 'wish you could've seen more,' so see more! Have another vision!" She said "Oh, uh, no, see, I don't do visions anymore." Bruno said, nervously. "But you could." I said.

"But I won't." He blocked us with a broom. "You can't say 'the weight of the world is on your shoulders, the end.' If our fate's up to me and Oscar, me and Oscar say have another vision." Mirabel reasoned as Bruno fell backwards on the table, then got back up again. "Look, even if I wanted to, which I don't, you two wrecked my vision cave. Which is a problem because I need a big open space."

He seems weirdly offended at us destroying his vision cave...

"We'll find one."

"Where?"

"Use my room." Mirabel, Bruno, and I turned to see coatis, a tapir, a capybara... and Antonio. "The rats told me everything - Don't eat those." Parce was about to eat a couple rate before Tonito called him out. Anyway... "Tio Bruno... I trust you. Not only because your family... but because you've had to live in the walls for a decade. Nobody should have to go through something like that. " I muttered gently. He didn't seem entirely convinced, though... "Our family needs help. And you need to get outta here." Mirabel added.

Yeah, to be fair, if I had to live with rats for ten years, I'd go nuts... But I'd probably eat the rats first, so...


I'm not one to determine if you can handle emotional moments... But you've been warned.

So... Instead of following Mirabel and Bruno to Antonio's room, I felt the compelling urge to check on the rest of the family and see how they're doing. The answer: Not too great.

"You should have told me the second you saw the vision! Think of the family." Abuela said to tío Agustín. "I was thinking of my daughter." He told her. Good answer! He's an awesome dad, standing up for his [youngest] daughter like that. I like that, I respect that.

A gust of wind blew snow across the room. Surely enough, Pepa was on the other side of the foyer, covered in snow from the cloud above her. "Pepa, calm down," Abuela called from the other side of the room, face drawn taut as the flurries of snow drew her attention from Julieta and Agustín to her other daughter, who was sitting on the stairs as her husband, Félix, tried to shield her furthermore from the flurry with a hat.

"I'm doing my best!" she called back, her arms waving around her manically as she tried to calm herself, but too much was happening all at once and the clear skies just would not come. "Yes." Félix defended. "You're lucky it's not a hurricane!"

And, there goes the hat.

She clenched her hands tightly around her hair, eyes closed tight. "Cielos despejados (Clear skies)."

I used my speed to get behind her, and without anyone petting me first, I kneaded my paws against her shoulders, comforting her immensely, as did the words of reassurance that I whispered into her ear. However, the paws I used to untangle her fingers from her hair caused her eyes to shoot open and instantly soften as she saw me smiling back at her. "Tía Pepa, it's okay," I said softly, taking her hands into mine and squeezing them gently.

Pepa pulled me towards her chest, running her fingers through my silky coat as she closed her eyes and began to hum softly. She seemed to calm down. No matter her mood, the one thing that never failed to bring a smile to her face was me and her children. Dolores, with her soft and kind nature. Camilo, with a constant bright smile on his face. Me, one of the biggest lover-bugs to ever exist. And sweet, playful Antonio. They, along with her husband Félix, were her world. I know, because she told me that herself.

"Mi dulce gatito (My sweet kitty)." She whispered, pressing a kiss to my cheek, and doing it again as I laughed and pulled back. Suddenly, a loud rumbling noise sounded as the house began to shake and a large crack ran down the center of the stairs, breaking the ground around us. Pepa stood up quickly as she watched me stumble backwards, losing my footing. I hissed in fear. "Look around!" Abuela shouted to Julieta and Agustin, hands gesturing towards the crack running down the sides of the yellow walls.

Pepa paid her no heed as she rushed towards me, but I thought using my super speed would help me out. It did. Worked a little too well. I almost bumped into another wall. As I ran back, I could feel my gift fading away. My running speed kept changing erratically, and by the time I made it back to the stairs, I tripped, falling on my rear. My ears drooped, and I sighed. Not because my gift was fading, but because I just embarrassed myself. Cue Abuela falsely accusing me of things I'm not doing wrong...

Just as Pepa was about to reach out to me, she was stopped when Abuela walked towards me and looked down with a stern look. "Oscar, this is no time for your immaturities." she said, her arms crossed tight. "We are the Madrigals. Our gifts are to be used to aid the village and its people. We cannot afford for you to constantly be a nuisance and abuse your gift."

W... what? "Immature? A nuisance? Is that how you see me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. No lie, I'm on the verge of tears. Is this how my Abuela feels about me? "Well, I'm glad I could be of inconvenience to you, Abuela!" I spat the name out sarcastically like it was a curse word. "I'm always happy to be a thorn in your side! An extra burden for this family to carry! Doesn't bother me none!"

All of a sudden, there was rumbling and bright flashes. The house shook as Casita fought with itself, the lights flickering on and off and the falling furniture and objects jumping back into place before they fell to the ground. Another loud crack in the air caused me to look up and discover that it was not the house or the failing magic that was causing the disturbance, but my tía.

"Excuse me – what did you just say to our cat?" She all but growled, her eyes dark with anger and the black cloud that was now filling the air lit up once again before releasing the torrent of rain it was holding. "Pepa, calm down." Abuela sighed, the heavy rain soaking her instantly. "Calm down?" Pepa said each step she took forward accentuated by a clap of thunder and a flash of lightning. "How could you call Oscar a nuisance, mamá!?"

"No, she's right, I'm the bad guy here, so I'll just be going." And with an annoyed grunt, I took off running, ignoring Pepa calling for me. I'm glad that's how Abuela feels about me! Immature! A nuisance! Abusive to my "gift!"


How ironic that I contemplates the reality check Abuela just said to me long enough to meet Mirabel and Bruno on the balcony. I dried my eyes just in time. "Soo... How'd it go?" I asked. Mirabel didn't seem very satisfied. "We have to... hug... Isabela." She acted like she REALLY din't want to. "Oh... Cool."

"Why would 'embracing Isabela' do anything?" She asked Bruno. "I dunno, our family got a miracle, how do you help a family miracle? You hug your sister." Bruno said. Yeah, it... sounds pretty straightforward to me.

"Mirabel!"

We ducked down and saw my ruana bro in the courtyard. "Ugh, Mirabe-" His gift was getting out of control, and he involuntarily shapeshifted into... A baby's head with a man's body and tiny hands. He looked SO DONE with everything. "MiraBEEEEL!"

"I think we're running out of time here." Bruno pointed out nervously. "It's not gonna work. She won't hug us, ever, okay? She hates us. Also, I don't know if you heard, but I ruined her proposal. Plus, P.S.-"

"Mirabel?"

"It's just annoying, of course it's Isabela-"

"Mirabel."

"And what's her problem with me, anyway, she's the one with roses coming out of her-"

"Mirabel!"

We flinched at Bruno snapping. "Oh, sorry, sorry. You see, you're missing the point. The fate of the family isn't up to her, it's up to you and Oscar. You two are exactly what this family needs. You just have to see it." Bruno said with a reassuring smile. I smiled back. "Thanks, tio."

"By yourselves, after I leave."

... Okay, then.

"What? You're not coming?" Mirabel asked as Bruno moved a flower pot, hiding himself as he waddled to the portrait that ld to that secret passageway we came out of moments ago. "It was your visions. Not mine." He said ominously.

"You're afraid Abuela's gonna see you?" I asked, even though it wasn't really a question. "Yep, I mean yes, that too... Hey, after you save the miracle, you two come visit."

Mirabel grinned, in a determined manner. "After we save the miracle, we're bringing you home." She said. Bruno gave us a nod, knocked on wood one last time, then tipped himself backwards into the wall.

Alright... We're saving the miracle with a hug... From Isabela... Why am I not excited? I love hugs!


We entered Isabela's room, cautiously. Basically a giant flower garden... She's a fan of pink. That's... all I have to say. No Isabela to be seen. "Isa? Hey!" Mirabel started. "I know we've... had our issues... but I'm..." She is HATING having to say this. "Ready to be a better sister. To you."

"And I'm ready to be a better kitty!" I added.

"So we should just... hug... Let's hug it out. Eh?"

I really shouldn't he nervous about seeing my prima, but she's pretty intense when she's angry. However, she's almost never gotten angry with me. But I have seen her angry. It wasn't a pretty sight.

Oh, and while I'm here... I've been thinking about finally giving her a piece of my mind. Like, Isabela has always been treating me as though I was royalty, but she treats her baby sister like the gunk on the bottom of her zapato (shoe). It's not that I don't love her, but it's been driving me crazy for years.

AND BEFORE ANY OF YOU TELL ME THAT SIBLING RIVALRY LIKE THIS IS COMMON...

I know!

But she should be able to treat her sister the same way she treats her cat! And that was clearly worth all the time I've spent venting!

Meanwhile we saw Isabela's bed descending to the floor. "Luisa can't lift an empanada. Mariano's nose looks like a smashed papaya. Have you two lost your minds?!" She shrieked. Oh man, she's angrier than I thought. I'm kinda scared... But not too scared!

"Oh... Mariano's nose... Was Mirabel's fault?" I asked with pure sarcasm. "Oh, all this time I thought it was your vine that damaged his nose! I am sorry, my mistake, you self-absorbed son of a-!" Mirabel covered my mouth before I could finish.

"Isa, I feel like you're upset... and you know what cures being upset? A warm embrace!" Mirabel said, approaching her sister. Vines held her back from getting any closer, though. "Get out." Isabela said, pointing to the door. Just before Mirabel was about to protest, a flower popped out of the vine, covering her mouth. "Everything was perfect! Abuela was happy, the family was happy. You wanna be a better sister? Apologize for ruining my life!" My ears flattened as I silently growled. Esta pomposa pavo real (This pompous peacock)... "Go on. Apologize."

I ignored the room shaking a little bit, growling louder. "I... am... sorry..." Mirabel said. Isabela's smug look. I'm sick of it. But them Mirabel shot back with "... That your life is so great!"

"Out."

With a wave of her hand, the vines dragged Mirabel backwards, towards the door. I was whisked off her shoulder. "And I'll take you, my sweet little kitty/" Isabela cooed, picking me up. Normally, I just CAN'T decline to someone picking me up for cuddles, but this time's different. This time, I actually growled when her arms reached for me. "Oscar, what's the matter?" She asked, like nothing even happened. Then I spat "Your attitude towards your sister is what the matter is!"

"Oh, please, she-"

"She's done nothing wrong!" I hissed. "You're doing the same thing Abuela's been doing; disowning her! Telling her she's in the way when she's trying to help! Do you know what it's LIKE to be giftless? Let alone having a gift that doesn't benefit you much?!" I roared. She just held me at arms length, in awe, as I vented. "Something's telling me that you'd be the same way if you and Mirabel's roles were switched... But hey, you're just the selfish little princess that you are, huh?" Isabela gasped at 'selfish.' "You wouldn't think about something like that."

"Selfish?!" Isabela shouted, ungracefully dropping me (probably unintentional, knowing her). "I have been stuck being perfect my whole entire life," She turned to Mirabel, who was still being dragged towards the door, fighting the vines that were restraining her. I chewed on the vines as the two conversed. "And literally the only thing you've done for me is mess it up!"

"Nothing is messed up! You can still marry that big dumb hunk."

"I never wanted to marry him! I was doing it FOR THE FAMILY!"

And in that moment, the vines stopped dragging Mirabel, and in between us, a small cactus popped up from the floor. I was just about as shocked as she was. So, the whole engagement... It was like an arranged marriage sort of thing, without her actual consent? If there's one thing I hate, it's arranged marriages. Abuela is forcing this on Isabela, and she has to act like she wants to marry him. That stinks. I honestly feel bad for her. She should be able to marry who she wants, if she wants to.

"Isa, I need you to think about something for a bit: About that engagement dinner. You said that Abuela and the family was happy. But what I wished you'd thought about before is... Was Isabela happy? Hm?" I asked her. She MIGHT have listened to me, but her eyes were locked on the cactus on the floor. Mirabel, however... "Oh my gosh... Isa... that is a very serious confession."

Uh, YEAH IT IS.

She stood up, took a deep breath, and extended her arms for a hug. "Okay, get over here, bring it in."

Doesn't give a single crap about the cactus on the floor. Isabela is TRANSFIXED.

And then...

Isabela: I just made something unexpected

Something sharp, something new

I tilted an ear. Please, dear cousin of mine, do go on. I am very much intrigued. "Isa, this is the part where we-"

It's not symmetrical or perfect, but it's beautiful, and it's mine

What else can I do?

Mirabel: Bring it in, bring it in

Good talk, bring it in, bring it in (Isabela: what else can I do?)

Let's walk, bring it in, bring it in

Free hugs, bring it in, bring it in

Isabela: I grow rows and rows of roses

Flor de mayo, by the mile

I make perfect, practiced poses

So much hides behind my smile

What could I do if I just grew what I was feelin' in the moment?

(Mirabel: Do you know where you're going? Whoa)

What could I do if I just knew it didn't need to be perfect?

It just needed to be? And they'd let me be?

A hurricane of jacarandas

Strangling figs (big), hanging vines (this is fine)

Palma de cera fills the air as I climb

And I push through

What else can I do?

Can I deliver us a river of sundew?

Careful, it's carnivorous, a little just won't do

I wanna feel the shiver of something new

I'm so sick of pretty, I want something true, don't you?

Oscar: You just seem like your life's been a dream (whoa)

Since the moment you opened your eyes

(Isabela: How far do these roots go down?)

At that moment, she dropped to her knees. Now, if you ask me, it's now when she seems to fully realize the burden/pressure applied by Abuela, being her "golden child." Her position as the inadvertent surrogate for Abuela's youth, and how so much of Isabela's personality and passions were unexplored as a result. It's what makes this more intriguing and beautiful to watch. First Luisa opened up to us... Now Isabela.

Mirabel: All we know are the blossoms you grow (whoa)

But it's awesome to see how you rise

Isabela: How far can I rise?

All three: Through the roof, to the skies

Let's go!

A hurricane of jacarandas (woo)

Strangling figs (go), hanging vines (Oscar: Crecer!)

Isabela: Palma de cera fills the air as I climb

And I push through

Oscar: ¿Qué más? ¿Qué más?

Isabela: What can you do when you are deeply, madly, truly in the moment?

(Mirabel: Seize the moment, keep goin')

What can you do when you know who you wanna be is imperfect?

But I'll still be okay

Mirabel: Hey, everybody clear the way, woo

Isabela: I'm comin' through with tabebuia (she's comin' through with that boo-yah)

With all of the pollen from her various new plants, Isabela's once pastel purple/pink dress is now a navy-blue type of color, with her hair in streaks of different colors, primarily the colors of our country's flag. Allow me to introduce you to: The new and improved Isabela Madrigal!

Making waves (Oscar: ¡Haciendo ondas!), changing minds (Mirabel: you've changed ours)

The way is clearer 'cause you're here, and well

I owe this all to you

Aaaand during that one line, the three of us hugged. And just like Bruno predicted, the candle burned brighter, and the cracks around it disappeared. All right! Here's to a productive day!

What else can I do?

(Show 'em what you can do)

What else can I do?

(Oscar: There's nothing you can't do)

What else can I do?

We landed in a giant pile of flowers, the two sisters now giddy and exhausted. "You two are bad influences." Isabela said, flicking a flower in Mirabel's face. The two laughed together. Me, though? I was about to burst into tears. A sniff caught both of their attention. "Oscar? What's wrong, mi vida?" Isabela asked, pulling me towards her. I wiped an eye. "Nothing, Isa. It's just... You deserve to be happy."

"Oh... Get over here, you two!" Isabela pulled Mirabel and me into another hug. "And... I'm sorry. I should've been a better sister. And a better cousin." She said, looking upset. But before I could respond, Mirabel hugged tighter. And so did I. "¡Disculpa aceptada (Apology accepted)!" I meowed. Isabela trembled a bit before hugging us tighter. All these tight hugs today! I love it!

And I was basking in all of this cousin-ly love, up until...

"What is going on?"

Aw, crud. This won't end well.