After that entire goldfish fiasco. It was a very easy decision to make… Don't go into the Encanto!

It would be more trouble than it was worth! If anybody in Casita needed anything someone else had to go! Bruno would just screw it up. Somehow.

He could go to the woods where he could be alone. Sometimes ride the horse out there. He could crawl up his tower claiming someone had asked for a vision even when that wasn't true.

Just… Don't go to the Encanto!

Whenever someone asked. Bruno would make an excuse. Any excuse.

"I promised Isabela to help her with her flowers!"

"Mirabel wants to try and sew this thing and you know how it is... A four year old shouldn't be alone with needles. I better watch her."

"Oh erh. Felix asked me to fix the pipe! So I'm just going to go do that."

"It's my turn to do the dishes. So… yeah."

Around half of these were all lies… And Bruno hated lying to his family. But what else was he supposed to do? If he went to the Encanto he was going to screw things up.

Thankfully there was one bright spot in Bruno's life that would not be taken away… The children.

They all loved playing with him. Watch Television with him. Dolores liked it when he would merely sit with her and not ask any questions about what she heard.

And they all still liked his stories. Even Isabela that sometimes insisted she was too old now. Would still sneak into the nursery as Bruno put Camilo and Mirabel to bed.

Mirabel liked adventure stories the most. She wanted to hear about places away from the Encanto. Places Bruno himself had only read about in books or seen on television. But thankfully he had a good imagination.

And Camilo loved scary stories! They would all scream in delight as Bruno held up his hands and made a big grin pretending to be a scary monster.

"And then… In the darkness." Bruno whispered. "Yellow eyes were shining!"

"What is it? What is it?" Camilo asked.

"It was…" Bruno gasped. And then rose up his hands making them look like claws. "A seven foot tall Abuela with sharp teeth and big shiny yellow eyes!"

"AAAAARHHH! That's so scary!" Camilo shouted and Mirabel laughed into her hands as Gabriela ran all the way up Bruno's back so she could sit on his shoulder.

"And she said…" Bruno whispered. "Go to sleep. Or you will be scrubbing all the dishes for the next month."

"Yuck. That sounds awful." Camilo grimaced.

Bruno smirked at him. "Well you know what happens to naughty children who don't go to bed on time right?" he asked and then he grinned, showing his teeth as he held up his hand. "They'll have to scrub dishes for a month and sweep all the floors."

"Oh no!" Camilo gasped.

"And then... And then." Bruno paused for dramatic effect. "And then I'll eat ya!" he exclaimed and suddenly his hands were all over Camilo tickling him and Camilo screamed in delight.

"Stop Tio! Stop!" Camilo laughed.

"You'll go to sleep then?" Bruno asked.

"Fine," Camilo exclaimed and Bruno let go as Camilo laughed.

Bruno shook his head. Then gently pulled Camilo's blanket over his shoulders.

Camilo grinned. "Tio… Can't you just tell me what my gift is going to be next week?" he asked. "Please?"

"That would be spoiling the surprise wouldn't it?" Bruno asked trying to keep his voice optimistic.

Camilo pouted annoyed. "Just a little look into the future! Pleeease."

"No," Bruno said and then sighed deeply. "Look… Camilo. These gifts as amazing as they are. They need to be used responsibly. I don't do future readings for family members for a reason."

"What reason is that?" Mirabel asked and Bruno smiled fondly at her. Then his smile faltered…

What if he ended up giving one of them a future they didn't like? What if he was the cause of their bad fate…. What if… Bruno lowered his head.

"What reason is there?" Camilo asked. "Why won't you do readings for us? I want to see it! It sounds so cool."

Bruno shook his head. "You need to go to bed now," he said. "We have a long day tomorrow. Preparing for your ceremony and all of that."

And Camilo grinned. "I want there to be lots of food!"

"There will be lots of food," Bruno promised. "And all of your favorite things too," he said as he stood up and turned to Mirabel to tug her in too.

"Tio!" Mirabel shouted as Bruno was about to stand up. "Kiss Froggy goodnight," she asked holding up a homemade stuffed frog she had made all by herself. It was a messy piece of work. Made by the awkward stitches of a four year old. And two button eyes that didn't even match. But it was very Mirabel and Bruno smiled as he bowed down to kiss the frog. Only for Mirabel to jump up and kiss Bruno on the cheek. Then laughed mischievously.

"You little rascal," Bruno smirked.

"Mama always kisses me on the cheek when I'm sad. You looked like you needed it." Mirabel said.

Bruno swallowed. Honestly touched. "Thank you. That's very sweet," he said as he pulled up her blanket and stood up. "Good night you two," he asked as he turned off the light and quietly walked out of the nursery closing the door behind him.

As he walked past all the glowing doors Bruno smirked a little as she saw that Dolore's was just slightly open. She did that so she could hear his stories. Inside of her room when the door was closed she was free from the sounds of the Encanto and was offered gentle winds and running water instead to listen too. Gently Bruno grabbed the door handle and spoke. "Good night Dolores. Sweet dreams." and then closed the door for her. Making sure it was shut tight.


A week after Camilo got his gift. The power of shapeshifting. He could change into anyone in just a second and he was beyond excited and happy.

He could tell any kind of story now and play any sort of prank. Mirabel was wide-eyed gaping at the entire thing and then beamed happily.

"I'm up next!" She shouted excitedly. "I can't wait!" Mirabel grinned as she grabbed Bruno's hand.

Right… The last one… Sweet little Mirabel. Well, there was still a little time left before she had to grow up too.