The miracle was gone. And thus were the magic gifts of the Madrigal family.

This made the search more complicated. Dolores couldn't just listen to the furthest reaches of the Encanto. Luisa couldn't just lift boulders up to open a pathway for them all. Nor could Antonio ask the animals or Isabela lift herself up with the vines to look.

But it didn't stop them from searching.

The town was in chaos. Broken… There were cracks splitting open the streets and multiple houses had broken.

Most startling of all. The mountains that protected them all, had split right open.

For the entire night, the family searched. And it gave Alma plenty of opportunities to reflect on her own regret.

She had not wanted to accept the truth… The real reason for Brunito's vanishing act.

Pedro had entrusted her with their children and yet… Their son had been slipping away from her. Like sands between your fingers.

And Alma hadn't known what to do. Brunito was wonderful. Kind and caring, protective and thoughtful.

And yet he seemed to slowly disappear, vanish into himself… Alma had thought that maybe. If he had someone else to look after him. Then he would come back out.

Maybe… If Alma helped him find a place and purpose in the Encanto. Made him go out like the others. He could find stability.

Their job was to serve the Encanto and it was a wonderful thing. Surely he knew that.

If only… If only.

But for every attempt and every push. He had only seemed to get even further away… Until he was gone.

Maybe Alma had always known the truth… She just didn't want to admit it. Because it was horrible.

She had no idea what had happened to her son. For all she knew he had died out there… Cold… hungry… suffering… alone.

And it was all because of her.

… Pedro.

As the sun slowly started to rise Alma lifted her head towards the mountains that had split open and she gasped for breath as the thought occurred to her.

Alma glanced at the family next to her and then took a turn, leaving the rest of the family as she walked towards the split mountains.

On her way there Alma saw a bright thread caught on a branch which told enough, she had been right and she picked up speed as suddenly a sense of deja vu came over Alma.

She knew this place… It had been fifty years. But she could never forget.

The place was tranquil now, the greenery looking so innocent and the water running quietly and yet… All Alma could smell when being here was blood.

And Pedro's body. Lying face down in the water.

It didn't matter… It was the past. What mattered was.

Then Alma heard it. Small sniffs and she gasped as she rushed forward and finally… There she was. Mirabel!

Sitting at the shore, clutching her knees as she cried her eyes out.

Alma gasped. "Mirabel."

Mirabel swallowed and then sniffed. "I'm sorry," she spoke in a broken voice. "I didn't want to hurt us… I just wanted to be something… That I'm not." and she sniffed again.

Alma's heart broke. Alma had blamed Mirabel and now finally… Mirabel was blaming herself too and Alma closed her eyes. Then slowly… Slowly she moved forward. And quietly sat down beside Mirabel.

Facing the river in front of her and… The place where Pedro's blood had once colored this very river red. Seeping from his body, right next to the waterfall.

"I've never been able… To come back here." Alma admitted. "This river… Is where we were given our miracle."

Mirabel quieted then turned to Alma. "Where… Abuela Pedro," she whispered.

Alma closed her eyes, then she looked up again. She opened her mouth and then she told.

The truth.

Nothing else. Just the truth. Her wonderful youth and her childhood. The promise of her and Pedro's life together.

She talked about Pedro. His warm eyes and his kind smile.

She talked about having her three children and how much Pedro loved them.

She talked about the soldiers. The burning and the death.

She talked about how scared she was that anything like that would ever happen again. She talked about how it terrified her, the thought of losing just a single one.

Things Alma had never said out loud before. It had always been her job to be the strong one. The backbone of the family and the Encanto. Who could not allow her fear or weakness to hurt them.

Now though. Alma talked… And Mirabel listened.

As Alma talked realization and recognition fell over Mirabel's eyes, as well as acceptance.

Alma even talked about Bruno. For the first time in ten years. What a kind soul he was and how he would look out for the family.

She talked about her mad escape from the soldiers that had led them here and she talked about seeing it happening right in front of her eyes.

Pedro's life taken… his light snuffed out. Never to shine again.

And Alma confessed… It was her. She had been so afraid of losing that she had held on too tight. It had never been Mirabel. It had been her.

And finally, Alma looked up only to see Mirabel standing in front of her.

Mirabel's eyes were right at her, but there was no hate or anger. Instead, she spoke.

"Abuela" Mirabel whispered as she offered Alma her hands. "I finally see… You."

Alma gasped as she accepted Mirabel's hands and allowed Mirabel to pull her out into the river. To where Pedro had been.

"You suffered so much." Mirabel swallowed. "All alone… So it would never happen again." she held unto her hands. "We were saved… Because of you."

Alma's eyes watered. Her heart tightened.

"We were given a miracle because of you." Mirabel gasped. "We are a family. Because of you. And nothing could ever be broken that we can't fix. Together."

Alma looked at her granddaughter. And she saw her… She saw the child.

Pedro wasn't gone! Pedro had given Alma three beautiful children and because of those children, there were now grandchildren. And there was her.

Alma gasped. "I asked my Pedro for help." she sniffed and then smiled as she held Mirabel's face. "Mirabel!" she gasped. "He send me you!" she cried and finally, hugged her granddaughter close as Mirabel hugged her back and cried.

And both were holding each other tight as they cried and finally. After so long. They both saw.


Bruno was terrified! The house had broken down to the ground. The magic was gone and he already knew who his Mama was most likely to blame!

He would not let her! He would not.

It had been tricky, trying to find Mirabel before the others did. Bruno had managed to pick up a horse which enabled him to quickly ride the other way when he heard the shouts from other search parties and then he realized.

The cracked mountains! It had to be there!

Bruno rode through the sunrise, towards the running waters, and there… Finally, he saw two figures in the far distance.

It looked like… Oh no! MAMA HAD GOTTEN TO MIRABEL FIRST and he screamed. "She didn't do this!"

Alma was shocked, she just froze as she stopped and suddenly looked up. Mirabel as well gaped as Bruno burst through the bushes and gasped. Desperate.

"I gave her a vision!" Bruno exclaimed as he jumped off the horse… Well fell off the horse and was still stuck. Didn't matter! Mirabel needed him!

"I told her to go." Bruno gasped stepping forward only to fall down on the ground. Didn't matter! He jumped right up again as he continued. "But she was just like. Pff! She only wanted to help!" Bruno stated now actually feeling his courage build and it was true! He meant every word. "I don't care what you think about me," he stated in a serious voice. "But if you are too stubborn to…"

Bruno did not get a single word more in.

Alma just broke together crying as she stormed towards Bruno and pulled him into a crushing hug. "Brunito!"

Bruno halted… Just halted and wide-eyed looked down. "Mama?" he asked confused.

And Alma sniffed. "Is it really… Can it be?" she asked as she let go of him only to grab Bruno's face and Bruno was faced with his mothers tear filled eyes. "Am I dreaming?"

Bruno blinked. "Erhm… No?"

"Where have you been? All of this time?" Alma cried. "Oh god!" and she hugged him close again… And she was crying. Alma was crying… Mama was crying. She never cried… For all of his life, Bruno had never seen his Mama cry! What was going on?

Wide-eyed Bruno looked at Mirabel. "I feel like I'm missing something important." he finally said.

Mirabel smirked amused. "She missed you."

"What? No." Bruno shook his head. "Why would she miss me?"

And Alma gasped as she let go of Bruno. "Is that what you think?" she asked. "You thought I wouldn't miss you?"

"Well… I mean… I…" Bruno swallowed, his own eyes growing misty now. "It's not like I brought anything but trouble to the family and I." he sniffed as his voice broke. "Sorry." he wiped his eyes. "I just…"

"It's okay. It's okay." Mirabel smiled amused as she stepped between them. "You two just need to be honest with each other now. Okay?" she asked. "Be honest. With yourself. And each other. GO!" she stated and took a step back so now the two were in front of each other again.

Bruno's eyes widened as she was faced with his mother and Alma swallowed.

"Brunito…" Alma whispered. "If I ever made you feel unwelcome. Or like you weren't good enough… I'm sorry." she whispered. "I worried about you. And I love you," she whispered.

Bruno gasped.

Alma sniffed. "There didn't go a day by where I didn't… " she swallowed. "I always thought about you."

"Oh no. Mama I'm sorry!" Bruno gasped as he stepped forward with his hands raised. "I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you." he sniffed tears now falling down his face as he shook all over his poor thin body. "I just didn't know what to do! I… I messed things up. I'm always messing things up! And made things worse for everybody. And then that vision… And I couldn't let them blame her! Mirabel didn't do anything wrong! Those cracks are way older than her! And I didn't know what to do and I… And I… Mirabel what do I do?" he asked hopelessly.

"You hug," Mirabel instructed.

Bruno gasped, then swallowed as he stepped forward and gently… Gently pulled Alma into a hug.

"I love you too Mama," Bruno whispered as his entire body was shaking and tears were spilling from his eyes. "And… I missed you."

And Alma cried loudly, clinging unto her son. "It's a miracle," she whispered. "It's a miracle!"

Mirabel smiled. "Sorry. We can't stay too long. The others must be worried."

Bruno looked up. "What?" he asked and Mirabel smirked.

"We're going home." Mirabel simply stated. "All of us."

And Bruno's eyes widened, but then felt his crying mother in his arms and pulled her a little tighter.

Really? … Home?