Was he crazy for even trying? Camilo didn't know anymore.

It was the next morning and he stood there half zonked out as he had had a terrible night of sleep. He had tossed and turned so much as he dreamt – nightmared – about what would happen if things went south – failed.

He had dreamt about being cooked up like a chicken, being roasted on a spick on a fire. Somehow this all centred back on what he had promised to do today.

But now, at this very moment, whenever he blinked his eyes, it felt like he'd fall asleep in exhaustion and slam to the ground.

"No, no," He said to himself quietly, rubbing his sore eyes and seeing his reflections do the same, "I can do this... I am brave – for goodness sake! I only wrestled a mule two days ago! And BECAME ONE!"

That was all true, he had a lot of stuff he could put in a CV. Granted, he didn't need to, but the option was always there.

He was leaning on a crane, trying to keep his balance and he slowly nodded his head.

His body parts began to jiggle, his clothes and exterior changing shape. He had to practice this shapeshift before he did it in public, in case something went terribly wrong.

When he turned into the creature he had been focusing on, he gasped as he saw himself reflect in each mirror as a long-haired shabby dog.

"No way!" He said, but when he spoke those words, they came out as barks. He didn't realize this though. He grinned a very giddy dog grin with his long snout and slowly began to try to transform back into his real self once more.

His body jiggled, his muscles trembling inside... but...

Nothing happened.

He was still a dog.

"That's not funny..." He whispered to himself, and tried again. He closed his eyes tightly and tensed his interior. Even though his body molecules were vibrating... they seemed not to know how to change back.

This was REALLY not good.

He began to panic. He rushed over to the door, trying to open it but the second he reached it in his dog form the door rammed open and he jumped as nearly as high as the roof in fright!

"Hello...?" That curious voice chimed intrigued and the shock had been enough to get him to shift instinctively back to his original form. He slammed to the floor like he was doing a belly flop and he only groaned there in pain. He looked up slowly, seeing her there, Mirabel.

"...thanks." Is all he said, hurting all over.

"What were you doing on the roof?" Mirabel asked quickly, and he glared at her, annoyed she wasn't sympathetic to his pain. Mirabel then clapped her hands excitedly as she asked, "Were you practicing? Were you a giraffe? Or- or- AN ELEPHANT!"

"Neither..." He said begrudgingly and slowly got back up on his feet. He then looked at her warmly and gave a relieved sigh before smiling at her.

"You saved me, cous."

Mirabel looked at him lost, an eyebrow arching up her forehead and Camilo laughed uncomfortably.

"I almost think I was going to live my life as a dog."

"Man's best friend."

"Would people stop saying that already?" He snapped at her then and she flinched back, surprised and slightly scared of his small temper.

"Jeeze, sorry..." She said back defensively. Camilo only rolled his eyes and raised both his arms up, Mirabel grew frightened, "What are you doing?"

"Bring it in!" He said, about to give her a thankful hug and she only sliced her hands through the air, warning him off.

"Another time-"

But he hugged her, shapeshifting into Luisa to give more air squeezing bear hug. He said to her in relief, "Really, thank you, Mirabel..."

He said her name? He never said HER name... was Camilo finally warming up to her again like when they were young kids.

He slowly let go of her and winked saying as he suddenly pointed his dark finger at her.

"Tell anyone I hugged you and I'll MAKE you disappear. Okay, cous?"

"Kay!" She peeped with a fake agreeing smile. Camilo nodded his head and turned his eyes back at the mirrors, seeing himself in them and knowing what he had to do.

Or more so, what he shouldn't.

He shouldn't shapeshift into an animal ever again... he could, but he shouldn't. He shouldn't ever again.

Man! Was he going to be eating his words when it came to showing off his abilities to his siblings.

He sighed out heavily, and Mirabel could sense the change in his mood.

"What's up?"

"I nearly stayed a dog... a dog forever I almost feared."

She looked at him silently as he said this scared words.

"But I... I shouldn't fear anything... I'm a Madrigal!"

"It's okay to be afraid-"

"No, cous... not over something like this. No."

"So what are you going to do then?" She asked the simplest of questions and Camilo slowly began to grin as an idea was born in his mind.

"I shifted back when I got frightened... surprised..." He looked slowly over to his cousin, stroking his chin with his hand as he leant a bit more to the side of his foot and looked at her daringly.

"I'll do it again... just once more for Dolores and Antonio. You scare me and then I'll shift back and I'll be seen as the GREAT and MAGNIFICENT CAMILO! HA HA!" He laughed, flexing his arm and showing a little bit of muscle in his biceps. Mirabel blinked plainly at him, "This is where you applaud me."

She slowly stared at him before clapping her hands together twice. She then turned around and began to head out.

"So, we have a deal, COUS!?"

She didn't say anything for a moment as she stepped out to the hall and only rolled her eyes, replying as genuine as she could, "Yeah, sure, Camilo... we have a deal."

Deal or no deal, he was going to do this... just once more.

But sometimes, doing something once more could change everything. This was something he was sadly going to find out.

So sorry for the late chapter – I was on holidays over seas and had no computer on me. I thought I'd end the year with this present chapter, and will begin writing more regularly again in the New Year, 2022.

Anyway! Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year's Eve to you all! Bye!