Isabela Madrigal, eighteen years old, oldest of the Madrigal children.

Her role was to be perfect. She had to be perfect. Her family was the face, the glue, of the entire Encanto. And Isabela as the oldest child was the face of the new generation.

A role model to look towards, an authority figure, a hope for the future. Everyone counted on her. Especially her Abuela.

And now Isabela was at that age where she was almost considered an adult, and more than ever it was her job to behave like one as she walked down the street in her delicate pink dress. Walking with a straight back and taking care that no dirt would smudge the expensive dress Abuela had gotten just for her.

"Oh noo." A sigh sounded from Isabela's left and Isabela turned to see the old Senora Cuvira was looking at her wall where the paint had started to peel off.

"Oh don't you worry." Isabela smiled as she reached up a hand. "Nothing a little green can't fix!" she said and the roses just sprung out of the air and soon the wall was a beautiful patchwork of veins and flowers.

"Ah Isabela. Thank you." Senora Cuvera smiled and Isabela smiled in return as she returned.

Later she used her vines to help a cat down from a tree and the children beamed. "Thank you, Isabela!"

Flowers for the big birthday party at the Guzman's, flowers for the church ceremony. Wonderful pink flowers.

Pink upon pink, upon pink, upon more... Bloody... Pink! And Isabela kept smiling... Just smile. Smile and be perfect! Just as she noticed a smudge of dirt had gotten on her dress.

"Oh no!" Isabela gasped as she immediately bowed down to brush it off. This wouldn't do! Her dress was expensive and it had to be perfect! Her image had to be perfect! The entire Encanto looked towards her and her Abuela counted on her.

Just then, laughter sounded from the other end of the street and there was Mirabel… Her sister.

Covered from head to toe in mud and running around with a group of children her own age playing tag.

….. It wasn't fair.

Isabela, from the day she had received her gift, had to work to help the Encanto and be that image that they could all look towards. Something everyone could be proud of.

Mirabel however… Mirabel got to do whatever she wanted.

She got to climb trees, jump in the mud, play tag, wear old worn out dresses she got to customize and change to her own liking.

Right now sporting an old yellow skirt that had once been Dolores with big purple flowers sewn on it that clashed horribly with the yellow color. Not to mention her green glasses didn't go with any of it. But no one cared… And no one cared if the skirt got ruined because it was old anyway.

And there Mirabel was, screaming and laughing with the children her own age. Not a care in the world, no chores she had to do.

It… Wasn't… fair.

But Isabela inhaled a deep breath, and she exhaled. She could not let her annoyance show… She had to be perfect. Her family counted on it.

Her mother was always so busy making food and her father could hardly even take care of himself. No… It was up to Isabela. She had to be perfect!


Dolores Madrigal carried quite the hefty burden for such a young woman.

She knew everything that was going on in town.

She knew that Juliana had a crush on Frederico, but Frederico was only interested in Juliana's older sister and was considering dating Juliana just to get closer to her sister.

She knew that Old Senor Gustavus hated his wife's famous raisin bread though he would proclaim loudly that he loved it whenever she gave him a newly baked loaf.

She knew that Senorita Lenora often had trouble breathing and would forget her medicine more often than not.

She even knew that her Tio Bruno was still living with them inside the walls of Casita.

Though the thing was that when Dolores tried to tell things to people, they didn't always want to hear it.

An obvious one was that no one wanted to hear her say that Tio Bruno was still in the house… They would always just snap at her and remind her that she was not supposed to mention his name... Which was stupid. His image was in the dining room on the family tree. Also was he on the big mural in town and his door was in the house. Clearly there had been a Bruno! And everyone could see it. But the rule was to not mention it. So Dolores didn't... Unless asked. But that didn't happen so that was fine Dolores supposed.

Once Dolores had tried to tell Juliana that Frederico just wasn't interested and it made Juliana very mad… Just like when Dolores had told Senora Gustavo that her husband might be happy if she didn't always make that same raisin bread.

Sometimes… Quite often in fact. People just didn't want to be told… At all. And yet they would ask… They would always ask.

What did he say? What did she really think? Do you think he likes me?

Dolores was very bad at lying. She would usually just blurt out the honest answer and… Well…

She sighed deeply. She didn't mind keeping tabs on the Encanto, it was fun in a way to listen and know of people's lives. But it was painful when people would ask and then get angry over the honest answer.

It was Dolores's job though… To answer the questions. Her gift was meant to serve the Encanto and help everyone. That's what it was for.

It just… Wasn't always easy being the one who knew… And sometimes heard things she really wasn't supposed to hear. And certainly not supposed to say… Oh well. She was fine.


Luisa's gift was incredible strength.

She loved her gift. Her gift meant that she could protect everyone. And help everyone! And people would often gather around her and smile. Then remind her of all the things she had promised to do.

The bridge needs to be moved before the flood comes!

Have you remembered? We are building a new house we need the bricks moved over there.

This tree has gone out. We need it removed.

My horse broke its leg, can you carry it home for me?

Request. Upon request. Upon request… It never ended. And sometimes it made Luisa's head spin.

But it was okay. Luisa liked helping. Her family was so important, they were what kept this entire Encanto together and Luisa was very proud of her abilities and had made it her goal to help everyone who asked. With a smile on her lip an assurance it was no big deal.

How could it be? For someone with her amazing gift?

Even if her head was sometimes spinning, her heart rate seemed to grow as she realized she couldn't even remember how many things she had yet to do. Or sometimes she was so busy doing one thing that she forgot another and it would make her heart almost stop in shock.

No, it was fine. Luisa could not burden her family with any of this. They were all busy and she was the one with the strength. It was fine…. It was all fine. She would not burden her family. She would protect them! Always!


Camilo Madrigal was a boy of many talents. Of course, his greatest talent was his ability to turn into anyone.

In a flash, he could become anyone in the Encanto. And it was Camilo's job to keep the mood high.

He would entertain the children and he would entertain the adults, he would be everywhere and shapeshift while grinning.

It was fun entertaining the children. Camilo didn't mind though sometimes… He did wish he could just retrieve to a corner and be himself…. Just for five minutes.

But no… Camilo was a Madrigal, they had magic gifts so they could serve. And his gift was meant to bring a smile to everyone's faces! And keep the mood high and he would do it.

The Encanto looked to them. And he would joke and smile when asked and not complain. Just like always.

And it was fine. He was completely fine.


Mirabel Madrigal was the youngest daughter in an amazing family.

Indeed she loved and adored her family. They were all amazing and had such amazing gifts! Camilo was funny and could make children laugh! Luisa was strong and everyone relied on her! Dolores could hear everything and could warn people when something was wrong. Isabela was….

…. Mirabel elected to not go any further with that thought.

Her Mama could heal people, it was so amazing! And her Tia could make the sun shine or the rain fall with a thought.

Everyone was amazing! Everyone was so amazing. And they made the Encanto run! Everyone relied on their gifts and their abilities to help the Encanto strive!

And Mirabel was just…. She was just… There.

Often Mirabel would look at her family and how her Abuela smiled at them and praised them to the skies making her family members smile.

Mirabel just wished she could be of use… Somehow. She did her best. She always set the table in the morning. She looked after little Antonio when the others were busy. She mended their clothes and she had become really good at it.

She cleaned the kitchen, sewed them new pillows, helped her Mama in the kitchen, and proudly showed what she had done to Abuela.

But every time… Abuela's eyes would be cold.

Her eyes would be on Mirabel, she would say nice things, but her tone would be short… And there would be no light in her eyes.

It had been different once… or so Mirabel thought. Before she had not gotten her gift. Everything had changed that night.

Abuela always made sure that everything ran smoothly and perfectly, she was the backbone of the Encanto itself. So she was always under so much pressure.

Whenever there was trouble in the Encanto people went to her. They went to her Abuela Alma. And her Abuela would answer. Trying to fix the Encantos problems.

Mirabel didn't want to burden her any further… Her Abuela was such a busy woman with so many responsibilities.

Mirabel just wished that… She could help somehow. That her Abuela would smile proudly at her like she smiled at the others.

Mirabel just didn't know what to do… Her family was so amazing. How… How could Mirabel ever hope to fit in? When she couldn't do anything... It was fine though. It was just... Fine.


Hopelessly Bruno looked at the cracks… So many… There were so many. He lifted a fist, and then hammered it towards the wall as he squinted his eyes.

"It's not working." he gasped. "What am I even doing?" he asked as the darkness all around him seemed to close in. "It's hopeless…. It's all hopeless." he covered his eyes as his knees buckled under him and Bruno dropped down on the ground. Gasping for breath.

"Hernando… He fears nothing." Bruno gasped as he rocked back and forth. "There was a time… There was a time." he stammered. "A vampire moved in next door… Everyone was scared but not Hernando. Because he fears nothing." he squinted his eyes and pulled his hair down, so much that it hurt. "He just grabbed a bundle of garlic's and a rosary and walked right up there…" he gasped "Knock-knock-knock… On the door. He knocked on the door." he stammered and knocked on the wood right next to him. "And then as the door swung open by itself… Hernando said… Hernando said." his lips quivered. "Hey Mr. Vampire. Your door needs oil, it seems to be creaking."

No one was laughing at Bruno's joke. There was no one here to laugh at it. The rats in his ruana didn't understand so it was just Bruno.

"It's fine." Bruno swallowed. "Things are fine…. It's all fine."


Outside the walls. In Casita proper. Alma as always had to pass Bruno's door to get to her own room. But she refused to look at it… She would not look. Like she wouldn't look at the mural in town or the family tree in the dining room.

She was always sitting with her back to the family tree so she wouldn't see.

And she would keep the Encanto running! Keep the magic strong! The magic protected them, protected her family. She couldn't let another thing go wrong. Not ever! Things had to be perfect so they could continue living their happy lives... She had to protect her family!

Julieta cooked food like she always did. For her family and for the Encanto.

Pepa was forcing a smile. Forcing the sun to shine even though she wanted to scream.

And they all assured each other… It was fine. Things were fine!

And yet another big crack formed.