I own nothing. Takes place in the year 2009


I have been told the same fairy tale since I was young and I remember parts of it. I was small before I came to live with the Madrigal family. Some of my earliest memories were of My mother and I live alone in a small house just outside of town. My mother was a simple woman she had long curly hair and glasses like me, I still have a picture of her so I know that I am a spitting image of her. Our house was a 1 bedroom cottage covered in vines and flowers from Mami's garden. It had a small kitchen to the left when you walk in with a small dining set for 2 people than on the right was a small sitting area with an old couch, an old tv, a tall worn bookshelf covered in books, toys, and Mami's sewing supplies then a short hallway in between them that lead to a small bathroom on the right and our bedroom on the left. Mama had the twin bed while I had a hammock in the corner.

Every morning Mami and I would make breakfast together then eat together talking about anything every day we would have 2 eggs and 2 slices of bread Mami would have water while she gave me milk to make me strong, then she would take me to the town market where she had her job as a seamstress at the dress emporium I watched her work while they had me be a dress stand for children's dresses that needed fixing. Mami always said we couldn't afford much but we were able to get by well enough. Especially thanks to Papi, I couldn't hate him because he was always so nice and he came by to visit often enough.

"Hello Esmerelda," He said as he entered the house once Mami let him in, the evening sun had already set and all that was left was the striking blood orange color.

"Hello, Agustin." She said politely. Mami didn't hate him either and I knew that she still harbored feelings for him, but Mami always said that their love could never be.

"Here, this should get you through the month," Agustin said handing Mami a thick brown envelope. Mami looked in it and nodded appreciatively.

"Is she awake?" Agustin asked before turning towards the bedroom with a smile and he spotted me hiding in the shadow of the doorway.

"Yes," Mami said as she pocketed the envelope.

"Good Morning Mirabel," The tall man wearing glasses said as he held out a teddy bear. It had brown hair with black eyes and a pink ribbon. I walked out joyfully and wrapped the stuffed animal in my arms before coming to hug him.

"Hola Papi," I said as I hugged him happy to see him again.

Mami always loved to tell me the story of how I came to be. Before I was born my parents were still in school when they fell in love, they planned to marry and were excited to be together and they got started on having a family before they were ready. But it wasn't to be, Papi didn't know that he was already engaged to someone else a Madrigal, his parents had never told him. He was chosen when he was a baby and had his gifting ceremony at age 5 but he didn't remember. He tried to be strong and marry my Mami who was already pregnant with me but when his betrothed came around to talk to him he said that he felt his heart leap out of his chest. He always felt bad for leaving my Mami but he knew that his betrothed was the one for him and Mami said that she understood as well, she saw the way he looked at her and it was in a way he never looked at her.

I had met her a few times and she was always nice to me, Papi called her my step-mother, and I was told to call her Mama Juli. She is an amazing cook and had loving and kind eyes. I couldn't hate any of them since they showered me with love.

My childhood was easy and I loved it, but I was 4 when things started to change because the next visitor that came just 2 weeks later was the old scary woman, she wore a magenta dress, her silver hair perfectly pinned back in a bun and a black shawl. Mami had put me to bed earlier yesterday and had woken me up at midnight so at 3 AM we were ready for her visit.

"Buenos Noches, Senora Madrigal." Mami said letting the old woman in the house. I was sitting on the couch wearing a pink dress with matching shoes as the woman came closer and stared down at me scrutinizingly but not giving a feeling of wickedness.

"You both are thriving well?" She asked Mami who wore a deep purple dress of her own with her curls pinned back.

"Yes, ma'am," Mami replied as she brought over our cheap blue-colored tea set.

"Good Morning Mirabel," She said with a small smile at me and I returned it with a smile and a nod.

"Good Morning, Senora Alma," I said politely.

"Have you prepared her for her birthday?" She asked as she was handed a steaming cup of tea.

"Yes, I tell her the story every day," Mami replied sitting down with her own cup.

"Very well, Mirabel tell me the story." The old woman said looking at me gently but without a smile. I swallowed and looked at Mami, she smiled and nodded at me to go ahead.

"Once upon a time, a simple peasant had a baby but this baby was destined to be a Princess because she was engaged to be married to an Emerald Prince. The day she was born The Emerald Prince bestowed his mark to the baby as a sign of the engagement." I explained before I turned my wrist over to show the mark. Senora Madrigal looked at my mark and nodded. I loved my mark because it reminded me that the fairy tale is true I always love looking at it, the pale green shade of the hourglass with magical swirls and stars around it made it look so unnatural though you would be able to see it unless you really looked for it.

"So then The Emerald prince returned to his tower where he waits for his Princess to grow up. When the Princess turns 5-years-old he shall descend from his tower once again when she is presented to him in a gifting ceremony, where she will be given a gift by The Emerald Prince to seal their bond and be announced to the whole Encanto of their engagement. Then The Emerald Prince will return to his tower awaiting the day his Princess turns 18 and she will be given to him officially as his bride." I finished the story proudly as Senora Madrigal nodded with a small smile towards me then to Mami making her smile.

"It will due considering her age," She said as she placed her now empty cup on the tray.

"I kept to the basics, I figured I can tell her more as she grows older," Mami said proudly.

"I agree, we don't want to scare her." She replied standing.

"The preparations for her gifting ceremony are nearly finished. You will be escorted to Casita at 6 pm right after sunset." She said as the red color of dawn was lighting up the sky.

"I look forward to it," Mami said as our visitor went to the door and left. Mami let me go back to bed for a little while as she cleaned up. But I didn't know how bad Mami felt I knew that she was getting pale but I couldn't imagine the worst-case Scenario.