I can't believe this chapter only took me FIVE DAYS TO WRITE! Sometimes I impress even myself! This is called "engaged writing."

At lease that's what I call it... *ahem*

Taking place immediately after the previous, you've got two new OCs to meet in this chapter!

1. Ignacio: Oscar's arrogant, verbally abusive, and neglectful biological father who is half serval. Voiced by William Shatner.

2. Tawney: A 3-year-old mountain lion who used to be a friend of Ignacio. Voiced by Gael García Bernal.

This chapter starts with a song, and has three songs in it. "My Once Upon A Time" from Descendants 3 is the first one (the second one being "Do What You Gotta Do").


Here I am alone, and I deserve it

Casita has collapsed, and that's on me

I had a cause to serve, but did I serve it?

Or did I see myself in a way that wasn't true?

This is not my father's fairy tale

And no, it's not Abuela's fault I failed

So when my story comes to light

Make sure the story that they write goes

Once upon a time in Colombia

Once upon a time, I feared the worst

Once upon a braver choice

He took a risk, he used his voice

And that will be my once upon a time, this time

Why tell all those lies? I feel unworthy

Like there isn't solid ground for me to stand

But a stack of lies is not a firm foundation

You cannot build a castle on a mountain made of sand

This is not my father's dark desire

And no, it's not courage that I require

Turns out it's me who's not awake

So if there's change you wanna make, take

Once upon a time, he fought a jaguar

Once upon a time, that beast was me

Once upon a misspent youth

He faced himself, he spoke the truth

That's how I see my once upon a time this time


I'm hoping you remember exactly what happened. Yesterday... The events of yesterday.

I do.

Starting with finding "Dolores..."

"Dolores, hey. You know, out of all my older cousins, you're like my favorite cousins, so I feel like I can talk to you about anything, even though you can talk to me about anything. Like the problem with the magic last night, that no one seems to worry about, but maybe you heard about, that maybe I should know about."

"Camilo! Stop pretending you're Dolores so you can have seconds!"

"Worth a shot."

To finding out about the anxiety Luisa's been harboring...

"Why would anything be wrong? I'm totally fine. The magic's fine, Luisa's fine. I'm totally not nervous."

"Uh-huh. That's why you're eye's twitching."

The heartfelt moments Mirabel and I had when we were finding Bruno's vision... Remember, all of these highlights I'm mentioning happened in the same day.

"Face it, Mirabel. I can't help you if I'm gonna be the coward everyone knows I am."

"Yes, you can. Look, you are so much braver than you think you are. And even brave people, or cats, get scared sometimes. But I need you to not run away. I need your help."

"But... I can't..."

"You won't be alone. You'll have me. You've always had me. That is, if you're willing to— Aww! I love you too!"

"I'm ready, Mirabel."

Meeting my uncle, Bruno...

"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..."

Abuela reminding me of where my role was in the Casita...

"Oscar, this is no time for your immaturities. 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."

All that leading up to us learning about Isabela's struggles...

"Selfish?! I have been stuck being perfect my whole entire life, 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!"

"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?"

And the icing on this emotional cake...

"The cracks started with you two. Bruno left because of you two. Luisa's losing her powers. Isabela's out of control. Because of the two of you! I don't know why you weren't given a gift, Mirabel, but is is not an excuse for you and Oscar to hurt this family!"

Sure, it was a very eventful day... But it only took me one day to realize that what Abuela said about me was true. It was my fault that the miracle died.

It was my fault that I'm too much of a coward to try new things.

It was my fault that my uncle had to live in the walls.

It was my fault that I wasn't fast enough to try and save the miracle when it was already close to dying.

It was my fault that my own father didn't want me around...

It's my fault that Mirabel ran away... and I can't find her anywhere... I spent the majority of the night trying to find her. I didn't wanna rest until I found her. But my limbs thought otherwise. They just... Gave out while I was walking, and the next thing I knew, I was asleep. But I didn't want to be asleep! I wanted to find my cousin!

That's really sweet of you... but that doesn't make sleep deprivation an okay thing to do.

I understand that. I was putting my cousin's needs before my own because... she needed more help than I did. She's out here in the woods somewhere, probably loathing herself for what happened. I can only pray that the rest of the family is looking for her as well.

They're her family. I'd hope so, too.

Well, anyway, I fell asleep, having not a clue what time it was... and I woke up to see your nose in my face.

I didn't mean to scare you awake like that.

I know you didn't...

So, you said you came from the Encanto?

Yeah... I'm probably miles away from the Encanto now. It's nowhere to be seen. I can't smell anybody anywhere. And to make matters worse, I can't smell Mirabel anywhere. Oh, and while you're here... What did you say your name was?

Oh... I'm Tawney.

"Tawney. Alright, then, Tawney, thank you for taking all of this time to hear my stupid sob story." I told him. "Oscar, it wasn't stupid. I wanted to hear your backstory with the Madrigals." The cougar said. "I wanted to know why you were crying." I grinned. "Thank you. It's actually kinda convenient that I found someone to vent out my feelings to." Tawney just laughed. "I have no fixed abode. I just roam around these Colombian forests."

A screech interrupted our moment. Then a flapping noise. I was nervous for a moment, clinging onto Tawney's front leg. Until I looked up at a tree branch and saw a guacamaya roja (scarlet macaw) perched up on it, staring at us. "Huh." Tawney said, his head tilted a bit. "Usually I get startled by a toucan."

"Today, it'll be more than a toucan that scares you."

I froze upon hearing that voice. Could that possibly be...?

"Well now, if it isn't my son, Oscarito." That same voice said. Then, emerging from the bushes, was a bright yellow, serval-looking cat. In his ears was long, crooked, coarse gray fur. His whiskers were also crooked, tinted with white. I was oddly uncomfortable, he looked exactly like my father before he left me. I felt my heart rate increase. "Dad?" I asked, scared. "That's right. You've gotten more and more smart since I left you. Came to learn more about the wild?"

"Absolutely not!"

"Good, because I've actually been waiting for your return. So, let's go." Ignacio told me, grabbing me by the ear. I was baffled. "What? You can't be serious." I said, questioning what he planned on doing to me, besides being verbally abusive and neglecting. "Do not talk back to me, son, now let's go." So that's my rank in this social order. I'm the son, ergo what I say doesn't matter? What kind of oppressive behavior is this?!

"It's not a big deal, dad, I'm safer here with Tawney. I don't need to—" I tried to reason. I didn't want to go with him. But Ignacio cut me off. "Wait, I forget. Are you Ignacio's son? Are you?" He rebuked sarcastically, as if he didn't want to hear any of it.

"Well, honestly, no—"

"Are you the one who took down a defensive coati single-handedly and square up against a jaguar? Are you?" I was scared out of my mind back then! I was five months old when that happened! That's right, my father expected me to be a vicious killer BEFORE I TURNED ONE YEAR OLD! Ridiculously impossible, isn't it?

"Please, man, no, I'm not—"

"Well, aren't you just an adolescent coward that being a disobedient little kit right now!"

"That is enough!" Tawney roared, getting in between me and my former father. I was happy he intruded, but Ignacio wasn't. He was actually confused. "Uh..." He uttered, speechless.

"What? Got nothing to say? Bet you didn't expect to see me again, huh? Yeah." Tawney said to my former dad. "I don't think we know each other." He said. Tawney chuckled in the most sarcastic way possible, "Oh, really? You don't remember having your mountain lion buddy venture out to Brazil a year back? You don't remember, when we were stuck at the Amazon river? You don't remember LEAVING HIM THERE TO DIE WHEN HE NEEDED YOUR HELP THE MOST?!"

Ignacio plastered a fake guilty look. "Geez, man, I'm so sorry—" Tawney cut him off. "Save it. You should've apologized sooner, like when you swam to the other side effortlessly while I almost bled to death!" He shouted.

"I had no idea—"

"Yeah, didn't seem to care much at the time did you? Just walked away, probably went to the nearest vet and got all healed up real nice... well NOBODY took me to a veterinarian, I'll tell you that much!" Tawney roared. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that anybody in a mile radius couldn't have heard him screaming.

"Listen to me, if—"

"I do not want your goddamn pity! Just get out of our sight!"

My father... Ignacio stood there for a moment. "Hold that thought..." Then his look turned into a livid one as he took steps backwards. I leaned forward, eager to see what was about to happen next. Yet again I was also kinda nervous. When it comes to Ignacio, it almost always comes down to a fight.

But, to my complete and utter surprise, not this time.

Ignacio: Listen, concolor, you're talking to a God, and I don't wanna hear the drama

Kindness ain't my brand

Tawney: Oh, I guess that's why you ran

Ignacio: Try being father to a coward!

Tawney: You stink at being a dad

Ignacio: Poor Tawney, are you sad?

Tawney: Not as sad as you without some morals

I didn't come to fight, for once, do something right

Ignacio: I've stolen lives, were you expecting flowers?

Tawney: I only need you 'cause I came here for something

Ignacio: I've given you everything,

Both: by giving you nothing!

Ignacio: I did what I had to do (ooh-ooh-ooh)

Tawney: No, you only do what's best for you

Ignacio: Well, you could learn a thing or two (ooh-ooh-ooh)

When push comes to shove, you do what you gotta do, yeah

Tawney: You were never there, guess you don't have a clue, you never came to say, "I'm sorry"

Ignacio: Ha ha ha, are you kidding? Is this a joke? You need to let it go

He's stronger with those daddy issues

Tawney: Oh! Good to know!

Ignacio: Show me some respect, it ain't easy to neglect

My attention would've made him stronger

Tawney: Oohoo! Should he be proud? Don't turn this thing around

Ignacio: I guess he is the scaredy cat here, ha, ha, ha

Tawney: Don't think he needs you, he just came here for something

Ignacio: I've given him everything,

Both: by giving him nothing!

Tawney: He did what he had to do (ooh-ooh-ooh)

He made it on his own, no thanks to you

Ignacio: Well, he could learn a thing or two (ooh-ooh-ooh)

When push comes to shove

You do what you gotta do

How 'bout I go with him and we'll spend some time?

Oscar: How 'bout you stay here 'cause you're out of your mind!

Ignacio: Let's make new memories, he can show me the town

Oscar: No, you can keep your memories now

Ignacio: Get over it.

Oscar: I am over it!

Both: I'm over you being over it!

Ignacio: Let's dance!

In the thirteen-or-so seconds long music break, Ignacio tried to dance while getting into fighting stances. Did he want to dance or fight? Or both? Either way, it ended when an annoyed Tawney knocked him into a wax palm.

Tawney and Ignacio: I/He did what I/he had to do (ooh-ooh-ooh)

No, you/he only did what's best for you/him

Well, you/he could learn a thing or two (ooh-ooh-ooh) *the two butt heads*

When push comes to shove, you do *butts heads again*

When push comes to shove, you do

When push comes to shove, you do *Tawney trips Ignacio with his paw* what you gotta do, yeah

"Was that... about me... Or the vendetta you two had against each other?" I asked, confused. "A little bit of both. You see, Oscar, I was there when you were born. I was actually the one who showed you the world when you finally opened your eyes. You were too young to speak yet. I showed you an amazing view on a mountainside. I distinctly remembered the look of sheer awe on your little face."

"Really? Was it... high?"

"Uh... Yeah, actually. It was. You backed up when you looked down."

"I guess that's the origin behind my fear of heights."

"Yes."

"Well, maybe I shouldn't have let a former ally of mine babysit!" Ignacio roared. "I couldn't trust you to attack those humans, so I haven't a clue why I trusted you with my son!"

"Me neither, especially since you couldn't even do something as simple as feed him! I had to!"

Tawney and Ignacio glared at each other for a few moments.

"He's not ready to live in the wild! You can't just force it on him!"

"No. I can't. Because he made the cowardly decision to live with those Madrigals instead of trying to thrive out here. As usual."

I did TRY! He just doesn't know true effort when he sees it. Just because HE'S not afraid of anything doesn't mean I have to be. An actual parent of mine would support the decisions I make. Your family is supposed to support you, right? But he never will... Just the thought of that brought tears to my eyes. I sniffed, trying to hold back the tidal wave of tears that have yet to fall.

"Oh, great, look what you did!" Tawney hissed, rushing to my side. "Don't listen to him, hombrecito. Deep breath in, deep breath out." He rubbed my back as I made an attempt to steady my breathing. Ignacio just stared at me like I was the scum of the earth. "Llorón (crybaby)." He muttered, but we both heard him. Tawney was furious. "GET LOST!" His scream echoed into the forest, scaring several various birds. Looking genuinely scared, Ignacio hit the ground running. Gotta say, that was easy.

Doesn't mean I stopped crying. "How could my father, a blood relative, say such hurtful things to a child?" I asked through the lump in my throat. It just made me feel worse. It's like I wasn't even meant to exist! "How could he? Because he's a deadbeat father, it's as simple as that. If he can't handle the responsibilities that come with raising a kid, then he shouldn't have been a parent to begin with." Tawney answered bitterly. Even though the bitter attitude wasn't directed towards me; it was in the direction Ignacio ran off. "He'd better not come near you again, or it'll be the last thing he does."

"Tawn, please, can we not resort to violence? He might deserve a good bonk to the head, but... I don't necessarily want him dead."

"Nor do I, mijo. But he's pushing it—"

Did I hear what I thought I heard?

"Wait, what did you just call me?"

"Oh..." Tawney became flustered. "Well, I know we've just met after a couple of years of not seeing each other, but... I'm the closest thing you're gonna get to father now, so..."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but if I can be honest, I like you better as a friend than a dad." I trailed off a bit. "You do?" Tawney asked. I nodded. "And you like me better as a friend than a tag-along, right?" Here come the stupid tears again. He sighed, pulling me towards him. I buried my face in his front leg. "Of course I do. You know you can trust me to keep you safe, right?" Another nod. I pulled away from Tawney's leg and wiped my eyes.

*Count On Me: sung by Tawney (Gael Garcia Bernal) and Oscar (Wyclef Jean).*

Oh-oh

If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea

I'll sail the world to find you

If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't see

I'll be the light to guide you

We'll find out what we're made of

When we are called to help our friends in need

You can count on me like one, two, three, I'll be there

And I know when I need it, I can count on you like four, three, two, and you'll be there

'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh, yeah

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah

If you tossin' and you're turnin' and you just can't fall asleep

I'll sing a song beside you

And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me

Every day I will remind you, oh

We'll find out what we're made of

When we are called to help our friends in need

You can count on me like one, two, three, I'll be there

And I know when I need it, I can count on you like four, three, two, and you'll be there,

'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh, yeah

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah

You'll always have my shoulder when you cry

I'll never let go, never say goodbye

You know you can count on me like one, two, three, I'll be there

Oscar: And I know when I need it I can count on you like four, three, two

And you'll be there

Tawney and Oscar: 'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh, yeah

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh

You can count on me 'cause I can count on you

Tawney and I shared a nuzzle, and finding someone to keep me safe while I ponder on what happened back at the Encanto, I never wanted this nuzzle to end.

"Just so you know, whenever you're ready to head back, I know exactly where it is. You wanna go back, I'll take you back." He said as I hopped up on his back. "You're the best, Tawney." I said. Tawney chuckled, then said modestly "I know."

Obviously, I'm not ready to go back. Not yet. But hopefully I'll know exactly when. One thing is for sure...

When I am ready to go back, knowing the Madrigals, it's gonna be the biggest reunion ever.

That will be the day.

But for now, I have Tawney to keep me safe.


In case anyone's confused, Oscar has been telling Tawney the story of what he's doing in the forest. He has been in the forest the whole time. Telling his "life story" to a VERY patient Tawney. I figured this would be a cool way to tell a story. I've never tried this before, and I haven't seen it much, or at all, in movies, books, or TV shows. I wonder what form of storytelling this is called...

Anyways, as some of you probably know, unfortunately when it comes to original chapters like these, they appear rushed and not very detailed. Normally I'm a pretty meticulous writer, but when it comes to fan fiction... Eh. It's okay, I guess. I leave the judgement of my writing skills to the people who are kind enough to review this story.

Shoutout to Luna2023 if you're reading this right now. I just wanted to say, nobody has reviewed on any of my works this many times. I want to thank you for leaving a review on each up-to-date chapter that I've published. You are awesome, and you are appreciated!

Form here on out, the time frames range from one week to a couple months. I've asked several people how long they thought it took to rebuild the Casita, and nobody answered me, so...

The next coming chapters might be on the short side.

I'm hoping to introduce my villain OC in the next chapter...