Chapter 4: Doom-theories and lingering resentments.
Part 1: The Conservation
2 days ago: Julieta´s Pov:
It was a discussion we had after the official Conference was over, the kids all went to complete their chores for the day, while we adults had still some things to discuss, particularly the one thing that was weighing on my mind and heart right now.
Although it had already been about an hour by now, the bombshell my mother had dropped still was hard to stomach for me, or for anyone at this matter.
"Ay Dios Mio…., Mirabel becoming the next Matriarch and her even getting a gift…, my heart is not prepared for such surprises and shocks, I am getting too old for such." I stated to myself, as I looked at my mother.
"I can understand, that things might become weird and uncertain for you, believe me I was just as surprised, but that´s how the candle has chosen and until now she was always right." Mother stated as she held my hand.
"Are you certain you understood her right, I mean she is kinda new, compared to the old Candle, now she looks just like any ordinary Candle to be honest….
And I know this might sound wrong but…, is this for real because ei don´t want to see her cry…, I bet Julietta and myself we are of the same though when I say that I don´t want to see her being disappointed once more.
So can you say with certainty, that what you have…, conversed with the candle…, is really true?" Pepa asked and I knew she was concerned, even though it was not her child, which this whole ordeal was about.
It just showed, that she too began to take a look at her own behavior infront of Mirabel, maybe she has not always been strict or unsupportive of Mirabel but she also did not seemed to truly acknowledge her effort of trying desperately to be of help.
Perfection was also soothing for Pepa, since it made her take her mind of unnecessary fears, after all, if things were perfect, there was nothing to worry about, no need to trigger her gift.
However, she did liked Mirabel, very much so, especially since the same almost constantly took care of Antonio, ever since he was born, which surely was not an easy time for her, not only due to him and her sleeping in one room, but also because Mirabel generally could get along far better with Children than with people her own age, so when none of us had much time to really take care of Antonio, or when Pepa was in a sour mood and did not wanted to risk any lightning bolt to hit her son, Mirabel was asked to handle it, since Dolores was unable to do so due to her gift, if Antonio would start crying.
Camilo was often called to help with work, having to shapeshift into someone else by mother's demand so even if we were to go out trying to find him, it was near impossible, unless we see him and the person he had transformed side by side.
And Isabella and Louisa, well one was always occupied with something and the other couldn´t care less for taking care of a child, she had enough to do with trying to be perfect enough for her Abuela.
In the end it was left to Mirabel to teach Antonio how to walk and talk, read and write and for that Pepa was most grateful even if she not always showed it.
To be honest, properly going to School was not really a big theme in the Madrigal Household, as it might have been for any other family, as most of us were homeschooled by the time we got our gifts.
Although there was a time me and my siblings indeed went to school…
Once the Encanto began to grow, with more houses and other facilities being build, of course also a school house was built.
In the beginning both me and my Siblings went to school like any other child…, but it all changed when we got our gifts.
Both Pepa and Bruno one day, a couple of years after our ceremony, just declared that they would no longer go to school…
As a kid you sometimes have phases like that, true, but for both of them it was more than just a phase, it was a definite decision.
It was no secret that both were bullied at school, and both received such due to their gifts.
Whenever Bruno predicted some bad future for one of his classmates, be it themselves or someone they know, maybe even a family member…, in the end it was Bruno who was hated for the future he predicted, made responsible for it all to come true, just like in later years.
The bullying shaped his timid and fearful character, the way he conducted himself, the way he held himself in the background until he was asked something.
His self-esteem was broken from Childhood on and even I as his older sister had a hard time defending him against this form or mobbing, especially when I had another sibling to stop and rein in.
Of course, was Bruno not the only Sibling which either was at the core of a crisis or who incited the crisis in the first place.
More than often, Pepa brawled with boys and girls alike and more than often, she simply unleashed her gift in a fit of rage.
Many students and teachers had gotten the brunt of her `gift´ and she was more often called to the principal, than any other student.
But she was Alma Madrigal´s child, my sister.
The fear of the people to lose their source of recovery-meals, if I were to decide that way, because they hurt my siblings psychically or physically and the fear of losing the respect of my mother, the de facto new Mayor of the town, whose Magic Candle conjured their save haven, was of course the reason why Pepa never truly was punished, but this also really pulled on her strings, when others called her out due to that reason.
She knew when she did something wrong, when she ignited arguments and started a fight, everyone knew it, so for only her not to be thoroughly punished because of being her mother´s child, quickly earned her the spite of her fellow peers.
There I was, alone in a class of Kids with my two hated Siblings, there was pity in the eyes of the other Children and shame in the eyes of my Siblings, more than often Bruno came crying to me because of the mobbing, more than once Pepa came ranting, because Mother reprimanded her for a fight, which she might not have even started, but with her gift ended in a, for a child, rather brutal way.
Of course, this also included the times when Pepa stood up for Bruno, when she witnessed him being mobbed by others, it got so bad, that one time the doctor had to take a child back to his office, to give it treatment over the course of a week.
This was the straw that tipped the scale down and Pepa was about to be expelled no matter the consequences, but, maybe understanding the atmosphere and the fear of the adults, Pepa decided, alongside with Bruno, who simply had enough of this hostile environment, that it was better to leave the school freely.
Of course, this however meant that I wanted to stay with my Siblings, but I was not allowed to do so, mother insisted that at least I would stay in school, for at least one of her children to get a good education.
We had a long and rather harsh fight about it, I think I was 7 or 8 at that time, so from the standard of a child, it was obvious, that arguing with mother was both agonizing and frightening, for it disappointed her, I knew it, but this was for the sake of my siblings after all…
In the end, both Pepa and Bruno insisted that I should keep going to school, that I should not have to decide against a good education, in favor for them.
Mother than decided to instead homeschool Pepa and Bruno, seeing for herself how good her children were, educational-wise.
Of course, this ignited wild rumors and back-slandering from my classmates, who laughed about the whole situation, while I was so short of throwing it all away myself, my siblings and I, we had always done everything together and suddenly I was separated by them, due to school and my stupid classmates.
But I was afraid of disappointing my mother and the expectation which both Pepa and Bruno had in me, so I kept a smile in spite of my internal frustration.
When our daughters were born, Pepa insisted that for the years before their Gift Ceremony, the children should all be home schooled and once their gifts appeared we adults should decide whether to send them to school or not.
When Dolores enhanced hearing became apparent, Pepa immidately decided to homeschool her much to the anger of our Mother.
But she explained it, that poor Dolores in a school full of screaming and hollering kids, it would not work.
On the insistence of her daughter, to try it first before definitively deciding, Pepa let her go…, only to bring her back home 2 hours later, because of intense headaches and strained eardrums, no matter how often the teachers asked the children to keep their volume in check, none of them truly listened, since most of them weren't aware of Dolores´ gift and met her the first time, trying to get any information out of her, burying her under repeating questions, hollering and shouting…, it was all too much for her and then she fainted.
Sensorial Overload, as the doctor said.
Pepa argued with mother but in the end, Dolores was not send back to school ever since, not that she really wanted to go back, according to her it was all just way too loud, instead Pepa homeschooled her just the way Mother did to her.
The only one else who also not had to go to school was Louisa, since her bare force and strength was too great to handle for the other kids, in ball games she tended to get too excited and use her full strength, which knocked more than one kid out, and when she ever got in a fight, it was one-sidedly handled by her and over in a minute.
This went on so long until one day a gang of boys ganged up on her, although she struggled much and had to take many punches herself, she still managed to defeat all of them and let me tell you, they were 1 to 10 outnumbering her, while they laid on the ground in pain, Louisa stood there, nose bleeding, a scratch her and there, but still standing victorious.
Ever since the other children became afraid of her, which might have had a part to play, with how Louisa never tried to suppress anyone with her strength, later on.
When her former friends began to distance themselves from her, in fear of being pulled in as hostages by the boys, Louisa understood that she too had no longer a place at school, so she one day walked up to me and asked to be homeschooled as well.
Camilo too came and got homeschooled, but I never got to know, why he decided this way or what happened before that decision.
In the end from then on, every Madrigal Child, even Isabella, who never had any problems at school, was ordered to be homeschooled.
With the years going by, the Class began to disperse, Louisa was more and more put to work due to her physical strength, Isabella was being molded by Abuela to become the perfect Golden Child, Dolores learned more from listening to the conversations in town, than she did out of the books, which soon were no longer of any use to her.
Camilo sneaked out far too often, then getting pulled in things he should have no business in yet, like that one time when he shapeshifted into Michelangelo, the Baker-apprentice.
He was caught by the Baker, who was furious to see his apprentice wandering through town, when he just called in a sick day in the morning.
Back then Camilo could yet not shift his form as quick as he can nowadays, especially not under fear and pressure, so he was instantly put to work under the watchful eyes of the Baker who taught him how to make simple breads and other bakery products.
The mistake was finally uncovered when he accidentally dropped a sack of flour on the ground and had to sneeze so hard, he shifted back to being Camilo Madrigal, the shock of the Baker and the customers was great…
But not as much as the shock of Camilo, when he saw his mother that evening…
Yes, school was something not many Madrigal children cared much about, in the end all who were left, were Mirabel, who had no special gift to truly help other people, other than trough her own talent, and Antonio, who was simply too young to be put to work in the first place.
Caring for him and telling him things when it was hard for him to understand became one of the main chores Mirabel usually did in the week, unless it was weekend, like back on Antonio´s Gift Ceremony.
The disaster-weekend, as the children called it.
So, seeing that her sobrina might return to be devastated and depressed, now that Mirabel finally seemed to be fine and being accepted by most of them, was hard for Pepa, as hard as it was for me and Bruno, who also doted much on Mirabel.
"If this candle is new, then in how much is she similar to the old one, what if she just jokes around, Mirabel will be hurt again, I could not bear to watch that, I might even go as far as to drown the candle in the next well." The same stated with fiery eyes, taking mother aback.
"Yes, I am positive…, I think that her blank look is just so, that she can imprint herself on the next Candle holder, mine was the Butterfly, which symbolized hope, change and transformation for me, I wonder what it will be for Mirabel, maybe something representing a vision for the future?
Also, even though this Candle is considerably younger than the old one, has she just as much Magic, so it seems, otherwise you would not even be able to use your gifts anymore." Mother stated much to Pepa's chagrin, which invited a cloud to form herself.
"To be honest, I would have very much preferred that, it would make things so much easier again." she stated, as she tried desperately to chase the cloud above her head, away.
Once the Miracle, as well as the Magic returned to the Encanto, all of our Gifts did as well, the easy uplifting ones, like my healing power and Louisa´s super-strength, but also the difficult and undesirable ones, like Pepa´s gift/curse of manipulating the weather with her emotions, or Dolores´ enhanced hearing-sense.
"Don´t say that Child, I know it can be hard sometimes but you should be grateful to have one, look at what Mirabel had to go through…" She stated but was cut off short by Pepa´s angry glare, the same she used during the Conference, though her glare was nowhere near as piercing as my own, but I kept my wrath inside, for I knew I would blow up in rage, if I were to say something now, Pepa was angry enough for both of us, right now.
"Alright, firstly, how would you know how I feel, since you haven't ever had, and still don´t have a gift to even compare, with what I have to deal with, on a daily base, and secondly, Mirabel had to only ever go through so much, because you basically pulled her through that…
Who was it again who accused her of being in the way, of hurting the family, just by trying to actually safe the little bit of true Relationship, which still held this family together?" Pepa asked in a sharp tone and although the second part should have rather been my line, did I really appreciated her defending her Sobrina.
"Sigh, yeah I know, and I cannot apologize enough for it." Mother stated, but now Bruno was the one who talked.
"Just apologizing isn´t enough mother, for me it might already be too late, since I know you like that, ever since 45 years…, but Mirabel is still in that age in which she is easy to impress, but also easy to depress.
Her soul is still in the molding-phase, and currently it is on a rather fragile layer, if we are not careful, the whole thing will break beyond recovery, if anything were to go wrong on her new Ceremony Day, it could damage our Mirabel in an irreparable way, even more than ever before.
If you really want to make it up to her, you need to really show it to her, not just with a new gift and a few words in apology.
You controlled most of us for all our lives, You basically conducted the entire life of Isabella and if it hadn´t been for this whole incident, She would have been married to a man, whom she did not even liked that way, just to satisfy you and your perfectionism.
Louisa finally has understood the appeal of taking a breather, the irresistible appeal of just taking one or two days off to relax and do whatever she likes, rather than what other people want her to do, or expect from her.
And thanks to her Hermana, she now also knows how to make Money with her gift, I swear, if I had thought of that opportunity myself, I would have taken it with both hands.
But I told myself, that I won´t make any meaningless prophecies anymore anyways, only the really important ones and for them I can hardly ask for money, I would be more hated than I already am." Bruno explained.
"No one hates you, at least not nowadays, Brunito, why would they?" Mother asked in shock.
"Ahem, have you ever seen me going outside, as myself, ever since our gifts are back?" He asked.
"I … don´t think so?" Mother wondered.
"And that's exactly why.
There are tons of people out there, who still hold on to their grudges against me, for some of my Prophecies, seeing me still as responsible for all their misery, instead of taking a deep look at themselves." Bruno stated and for a millisecond, his eyes met with Pepa, who sighed before crawling her neck.
It was an obvious stab at her role in the `we don´t talk about Bruno´ doctrine.
"I admit, that one was on me." She stated sheepishly.
"Same as the Priest´s hair." Bruno exclaimed.
"Huh…, what do I have to do with that guy´s hair-loss, it was you who predicted it, didn´t you?" Pepa asked accusingly.
"Yeah I did, but I did not nearly give him as much stress before that happened than you, remember your Wedding preparations, the poor guy was so on edge the whole time, thinking you might flood the church with a monsoon again, if anything were to upset you." Bruno replied calmingly sipping his tea.
"What do you mean, again, I never did such a thing?" Pepa asked confused and take aback.
"Oh, por el amor de Dio, Pepa don´t do so innocently, you know exactly what he means, how often did you loose your composure when in the church, every time we held a wedding or a funeral.
Remember my own wedding, back then you got so emotional, that the weather switched between snowstorm and monsoon." I stated and Pepa looked with narrow eyes.
"Thanks for having my back sister." She mumbled with dripping sarcasm.
"Anytime, dear sister of mine." I replied but she only stuck out her tongue, which I simply ignored, even I can be sassy.
"Well, I guess the Hurricane gave his hair the rest, though." Bruno stated.
"Oh c´mon, now that is my fault too or what?" Pepa asked, her cloud thundering dangerously.
"Actually yes, who else would it be, I cannot let a hurricane appear, never have…, but you can and you did…, because it seems that I cannot even make a joke around you, without you misinterpreting anything and going full on worrywart." Bruno replied with a deadpanned expression, before taking a sip from his tea.
Other than me and Pepa, Bruno never really liked Coffee and appreciated all kinds of Tea instead, according to him it made him too aware of his surrounding and the people around him.
Then again, in my opinion, Tea and Coffee were basically the same, you pour hot water over something to give it a better flavor, so what´s the big difference there?
I drink both anyways.
"Geez, then what is your fault?" Pepa asked Bruno in frustration.
"Do I have to be at fault about something?" The same asked, sightly disappointed in his Hermana.
"Oh I know, telling Dolores that the man of her dreams would be betrothed to another, poor girl has been sad and anxious all the time…, I still have to get a punch in for that." Pepa stated in triumph.
"Well technically seen, Mariano Guzman was betrothed to Isabella, however my vision back then said no thing about them also getting married, or did it…
All I did was telling the truth, as I said, people just have to learn to cope with it, or they better not ask me to foresee anything for them in the first place, right?" Bruno asked still calmly sipping his tea while Pepa´s face fell from triumphant to dismayed.
"Damn…, I guess that really wasn´t your fault then either." She mumbled.
"Of course not, all my predictions are always up to the future in that moment, if something strays from the path the next moment, the future will change, and just because I said a prophecy about a certain event, doesn't mean that everything that happens after that event, is going to be bad as well, it´s always up to interpretation.
My Sobrina Dolores interpreted my Prediction that way, that it was hopeless for her to even try, however all she really had to do was to wait and see how things would unfold, and even if those two would have married, then she at least knew about it beforehand and can move on from there, I am sorry but life goes not always how you want, I know that better than most." Bruno explained and Pepa sighed in frustration, letting herself fall back in her chair, blowing off a lock of hair that got in her way.
"Anyways to get back to the conversation we had before this stupid routine of yours…, which hasn´t even changed after 10 years…, what can you say about this whole ordeal with Mirabel, what are your thoughts about the matter Bruno, back when we talked under us adults, during the building of the house, you mentioned Mental Manifestation, you loosely explained something to us, but you have yet to truly explain what you really meant with that…
You said that Mirabel´s emotion caused the cracks to appear, like cracks in a heart, when it gets too emotionally damaged?
We cut the conversation short back then when we heard that the kids returned, but I am certain that Dolores can hear us anyways…, maybe we should include her in our talk?" I asked Bruno.
"Maybe we should…, Dolores, if you can hear us then please come to Abuela´s room and knock, but come alone, you hear me." Pepa stated.
It was honestly rather uncommon for us to call for anyone, neither my daughters nor my nephew and nieces, when we adults were talking, but I think it is high time that we include Dolores as well, not only was she 21 after all, but would probable hear anything about it anyways.
"Should we call Isabella as well, I mean she too is 21?" Bruno asked unsure.
"Maybe we should" Mother said.
"No, we shouldn´t!" I replied rather quickly, which shocked all of them.
"Why…, Why would you say that?" Mother asked bewildered.
"Isn´t it obvious, Isabella is immature." I stated and it sure was harsh of me to say that of my own Daughter, but that is the sad truth.
"Why would you say that about your own daughter, have you no trust in her, she is an adult just like Dolores?" Mother kept going but I just waved her off with a hand, telling her to stop.
The look on my Mother´s face was priceless, if it were any funny topic we would be talking about, which it was not.
"Mother, in all honesty, it hurts to say that about my own daughter, but you and your demeanor in the last 20, no the last 16 years, has completely changed Isabella, from the girl with the huge excited eyes, to a spoiled brat…" I explained and both mother and Pepa gasped in shock, just when Dolores entered.
"Hah…, finally someone who says it out loud, it´s about time…, though I guess Mirabel already did that more than enough." She stated obviously having heard my commentary.
"Why…" Pepa began but I shook my head.
"It isn´t just Isabella, Louisa also did no longer respond to anything I really said, I could tell her as often as I wanted to take a break or even a day off, to not work so hard, to take it easy for once…, do you think she would have listen…, no, everytime it was just `but Abuela here, and Abuela there`…
She barely cared for her own health, if I would not have brought her lunch every day, the poor girl would have worked herself ragged sooner than later.
Then again, maybe my care for her was what actually made her be able to work harder..., if I wouldn´t have given her any healing food, maybe she would have one day reached her limit, collapse somewhere in town for all people to see, so that she finally understood that breaks and relaxations exist for a reason.
Anyways, back to Isa, as I have said so in the Conference has Isabella made an 180 degree turn from how I hoped to raise her, to become selfish, obnoxious and quite spiteful to a fault.
Selfish as in that she only ever looked and listened at what her Abuela wanted, she tried to please you in everything she did, but this also meant that she ignored her own chores and tasks I gave her, always with the excuse, that her Abuela told her to do anything else, anything that would raise her chances with the Guzman's even more.
The Last 5 years she barely was at home, when I was awake, during daytime she was almost always on your side or she was in her room, practicing poses, working way too hard on her image for a girl her age.
She is even worse than me when I was her age.
Other than that, she has become quite obnoxious in her remarks, her slandering about other people and her subliminal sarcasm about anything not perfect, mostly about something which Mirabel made for someone else.
Spiteful…, I think we all have seen that during the conference as well, instead of being happy for her sister, she instantly went on the defense, refused to believe that Mirabel could be a good future matriarch." I stated.
"I think she is just afraid, afraid of the one she always mocked suddenly gaining more power and authority then she does, afraid of losing her place in the family, once Mirabel would have all the power, especially because she has subliminally mobbed her for a long time." Dolores replied as she sat herself on a chair.
"So, she fears the Revenge of her own Hermana, the one she riled up to the point, that they ended up despising each other?" Pepa asked in shock about this reveal.
She was always quite fond of Isabella, but as I said, also of Mirabel for Antonio´s sake.
"And that exactly makes her immature in my eyes, too immature to take the brunt of her own doing, too immature to stop making excuses for mistakes and misunderstandings she has caused, too immature to discuss grown-up-stuff." I stated with a huff.
"Like this Mental Manifestation-thingy…, which you discussed earlier, I haven´t heard all of it, since I am not always at home but also sometimes with Mariano, listening to his songs and poems." Dolores confessed with a blush.
"So, what is this thing?" She asked while we all looked at Bruno for further instructions and explanations.
"Well, this is obviously only a theory, but given what we have seen and experienced ourselves, it is entirely possible.
When I look at Mirabel, I see an attentive, brave and headstrong young girl, but also a fragile and vulnerable, member of this family, more fragile than most others.
She always tries her best no matter what she does, be it her handicrafts and embroidery, or just talking to people, trying to help them with their problems.
But obviously, back before the disaster-weekend, People thought very little of her, the black sheep of the family, the one without a gift, the one who always got in the way.
The one who tries too hard, to be something she is not…
I heard all about when I was still within the walls…" Bruno began and I could see how Dolores nodded.
"Same here…, I might not have been a good prima to her, I know myself that I far to often don´t say something when I should, on the other hand I also end up telling things when I probably shouldn´t." She mumbled.
"Like back then when you told everybody about the prophecy." Augustine said and it was the first time he really said something.
Both he and Felix listened more when we were talking under each other as Hermana and Hermano, unless it involved them directly.
"Yeaah…, about that, sorry, I really think I do could have handled that a little better…, but in my defense…, I was just so shocked about it, about hearing that it was Mirabel who was supposed to break the Magic." Dolores said in a quiet voice, knowing full well that Isabella´s botched engagement party was not entirely Mirabel's fault but rather hers for telling Camilo, him telling Felix, Felix telling Pepa and she then me, and in the end, Dolores just freaked out and told loudly to anybody, even to the Guzman´s.
While Augustine and Mirabel wished to keep quiet about it until they had better informations about it, I guess that was the stone that brought the whole avalanche in motion.
Dolores telling everybody, `Mirabel found Bruno's vision and she is in it and going to break the magic`, this was what made Mother lashing out once she found Mirabel, because she heard everything out of context and had already deemed Mirabel as the villain.
"What if she indeed did." Someone said and suddenly a grave silence ruled this room.
All eyes were drawn towards Bruno, all shocked ones, all uncertain ones and also all ice-cold ones.
"What…., what did you just say?" I asked in a low voice, as my anger-meter began to rise.
"Alright, before you all either faint or blow up in rage, please let me explain." Bruno stated as he looked at everyone of us, especially me.
"You all know that I love Mirabel, even more so nowadays, for she was the one to find me and bring me back when all but Dolores though that I had vanished…" Bruno stated.
"I still don´t understand why you didn´t said anything to us?" Mother started, looking at Dolores with a little disappointment.
"It was most definitely not my Place to tell anyone about that, I was not filled in why but I knew that he had a reason to go, to hide away, well now we know why, people would have assumed the worst and blame Mirabel for something she might never would have done if things didn´t go as haywire as they went." Dolores explained.
"I guess so…, so what do you mean with what you just pouted, are you saying that Mirabel intentionally let the Candle go out, that she wanted the magic to fade away?" I asked, ready to crack my knuckles and aim for the throat if I had to.
"…Yes…" Bruno stated and I didn´t believe it, I didn´t want to believe that my hermano just said these words right into my face.
I was about to rise from my chair, lounge over and slap him across the face, when he began to speak again.
"But most definitely not willingly…, I doubt she was even aware of what she did." He quickly stated confusing me now instead.
"What…, how do you mean that, do you now think she is responsible or not, do I have to slap you or not?" I asked, still ready to pounce at him.
"As I said, let me explain my case…, and as I said before, this is only a theory of mine, after carefully considering and thinking about all the things I have observed, before and after I vanished.
Let´s start with her Ceremony, we all know that the Ceremony started just the way it started for all us, she went up the stairs, went to Mother, her Abuela, touched the Candle and give her vows, then she went to the door.
Since she was obviously nervous, she began to sweat a lot, like we all know she does when she is nervous.
Not wanting to stain her new doorknob with her sweat already, she wiped the same off at her dress, and then she went for it." Bruno explained and I had the scenes he described right infront of my eyes.
The look of nervousness and a hint of excitement in Mirabel's eyes was still wildly remembered by me, before it all turned in shock, disbelieve and utter confusion.
"What do you think she thought back then?" Bruno asked.
"I guess she was excited to get a room and a Gift." Mother stated while Pepa nodded, only Dolores remained silent, not sure if she should say what she thought about, I could see that something burned at the tip of her tongue.
"Dolores?" I asked her and she looked at me…, she kept looking before sighing.
"I think she was afraid." She exclaimed which came as a real surprise to me.
"Wait…, What?" I asked in shock, same as my mother.
"Ding, ding, ding and the right answer came from Dolores…, how could it be any other way though." Bruno exclaimed theatrically.
"Yes…, Mirabel was afraid…, not of getting a gift or a room…, no she was afraid of the distance this would give her." He stated.
"Distance?" I asked flabbergasted.
"Yes distance, towards her family, her mother who cooked almost 24/7 to always be prepared, if someone would need her healing power, mostly our dear Augustine here." Bruno stated and the same blushed in embarrassment.
Though Bruno was right, I really cooked far too much just to stay prepared, as I said, due to my healing power being known by the entire Encanto, everyone came with the slightest injury towards me.
"Distance towards her father who was then the only one in her direct family without a gift." Bruno continued.
"Geez, she should have not cared about that, I know I never going to get a gift, its just as it is, I am added to the family, not natively born from it." Augustine explained, both confused but also concerned.
"Distanced from her two Hermanas, Louisa who worked already far too much and who literally had not much time for her little sister, not even as much as they used to have when Mirabel was even younger.
If Mirabel would have gotten a Gift and an own room, she would have even less time with her, as Mother would have likely told her to instantly put her gift to good use, for the benefit of the Encanto
Isabela…, well we all now know, that Isabella had already left the sisterhood they once shared, to please Mother as her perfect Grandchild, her dress-up-doll, with which she effectively played house with." Bruno stated and it hurted to hear him tell the truth so bluntly, but I could not be angry at him for that, if anything I was still angry at my mother for that.
The same looked down in shame, having had a talk with Isabella during these few months, made them both go to the Guzman´s to officially cancel the Engagement.
Mariano was not nearly as devastated as he might have should been if he really and truly loved Isabella from the bottom of his heart, even going as far as saying that he partially also did it to please his mother, but also because he genuinely thought that he and Isabella would make a good match and that his affection for her might grow in the future.
In the end the two of them decided to remain as close friends, rather than just go their separate ways, all of a sudden.
Of course Mariano was still devastated about letting his Mother down, but then came Dolores, who had always loved him and Mariano saw his chance to still make his mother proud…, but Dolores quickly made him understand that, although she loved him since so long, he first had to prove himself worthy of her affection, not to mention that she did not wished to just become a consolation price for him, since his first betrothal failed.
"Anyways let´s not dwell on that, what I really wanted to say was that Mirabel feared that having a gift and an own room would separate her even more from those she loved and cared about, obviously seeing how most of us either used our gifts or suffered under them.
That is something Mirabel has always seen and understood, even in her young age, that a gift is not always a blessing…, and yet, she hoped to get one, to please her Abuela, her Family, to be part of the Magical part of the Madrigals.
But because she was inertly afraid that her having a room would also end up separating her further from her twin-brother from another mother, Camilo, further than he already is through his own room…, she kind of, in the deepest part of her heart, wished that she had no new room, but instead could still share one with Camilo, like back in the Nursery." Bruno stated and suddenly it dawned to me.
"Mental manifestation…, when she wished for getting a room with Camilo, her own room vanished back into the walls… to reappear somewhere else…, but because we couldn´t see it, her room was hidden from us, from her." I thought to myself and Bruno must have seen my expression because he nodded.
"Yes, I am certain that somewhere in Camilo´s room, behind all of these Mirror, must be a secret room, a room for Mirabel, like the secret base they used to build out of cardboard, books and pillows, when they were little." Bruno kept going and I remembered fondly the times when both were little.
"Ah yeah, Castillo Madrigal" Pepa chuckled to herself upon the memory, but then frowned.
"Wait a second…, a room in Camilo´s Room…, how come he never said something about it…., or do you think he himself hasn't even found it in all these years?" Pepa asked in shock and uncertainty.
"Well considering that his room feels more like a Mirror-cabinet, it is entirely possible that he never got to know either." Dolores exclaimed, I could not say anything to that, as I never was in Camilo´s room before, I only heard from Mirabel and Pepa that he seems to have a huge number of Mirrors in various sizes, some normal and some distorted.
I really wonder what he does with them all day, is it some form of narcissism, or is there a more profound and deeper reason behind it…, could Camilo start to suffer under an Identity crisis…?
Or is it more to affirm his own Identity…, I always wondered what kind of strain he might have at his Gift, but now that I think about it, being able to shape-shift into so many different forms…, it must be taxing at your perception of yourself, that most likely why he has all those mirrors, to assure that at the end of the day, he is still himself.
I heard from Dr. Valentino, the local Doctor and psychiatrist, that some people were afraid of mirrors, afraid to see what they assume to be another personality of themselves in their reflection.
Though in Camilo´s case its different, it is to affirm that he is himself, first and foremost, even though he can take on so many different forms and act like them.
"I guess we all have our package to carry." I mumbled to myself.
"So, what does that now have to do with her not getting a gift, that with her room I can now understand…
Though unfortunately we cannot confirm your theory, since the old Casita has crumbled to dust and since she has now a room of her own, I doubt that the must have wished herself a new room in Camilo´s, am I right?" Pepa asked.
"Most likely, but anyways as you have asked, the reason I told you this is because I think, that was the moment, when her gift activated itself the first time.
As we have seen with Antonio and others, a mere touch of the doorknob is enough to activate your Gift.
So, her innermost wish not to have a Room, separated from Camilo, made her door vanish before we all could see it, which must have seemed for us, as if she had failed to get a room at all, when in reality this was just her Gift already activating." Bruno explained and now it dawned even more to me.
"The Magic…, the cracks…., when we all thought that Mirabel failed to get a gift, she was upset and this must have caused the first few cracks, subliminal, tiny compared to what came after Antonio´s Ceremony and over the years, am I right?" I asked Bruno and he nodded.
"By the time I went into the walls, they had already gotten some cracks, minor ones at first, a small superficial fissure here and there, but over the years they became more frequent and bigger." Bruno explained.
"And this feeling of betrayal and neglect, it kept growing in Mirabel, her inner rage at the Candle for apparently not giving her a gift, the ostracism by the townspeople and partially also by her own family.
Every strong negative emotion within her manifested itself as a crack in the house, a crack in the Magic.
The longer it went on, the harder it was for her, the slandering she received almost every day, same as myself…
The more she felt it, the more hatred she accumulated for the Magic.
Then when Antonio had his ceremony…" Bruno started but Pepa and Dolores cut him off.
"Her feeling even more betrayed by the Candle." They said and Bruno nodded.
"Maybe before it was just a mere suggestion to her, she felt it was this way, but with Antonio getting a gift, to her it basically confirmed her theory.
Her heart began to shatter, just like the magic which put cracks in the house itself.
She then tried to tell everyone about the cracks and Mother actually told her to show her, making her feel as if for once in her life, her Abuela put confidence in her, believing her claim enough to ask for affirmation, instead of instantly brushing her off." he continued.
"But of course, this tiny bit o hope was enough for the cracks to heal, on the outside but not so much on the inside, in the walls…, without cracks on the upper side of the house, it was hard to actually believe her, then Abuela made a mockery out of her, saying the magic was strong, same as the drinks, very well aware of the fact that Mirabel was still a minor and was not allowed to drink alcohol yet…
So, even without them words spoken, it was seen as if Mirabel simply sought for attention and so planned all this to go down at the right moment, then when the party was fully ongoing…, most people genuinely believed that.
She then was mocked and belittled as well as mistrusted by the community, thinking that she was simply overwhelmed with Antonio´s ceremony having been a success, while she still has no gift.
She then tried to find a way to stop the cracks the weakening of the magic, she went to my tower and found my vision cast on glass, while finding it she unconsciously must have wished not to find anything, which in return made my room collapse to indeed not let her find anything but she did and seeing herself did not do well for her, during the engagement dinner she tried to overplay things but due to the incident with Dolores that did happen, where she blurted out that it was Mirabel that destroyed the magic, all of Mirabel´s fears returned, the look on your Face, Mother, was anything she ever feared.
She still tried to fight fate, even when she found me, got the new version of my vision and tried to reconcile with her sister, Isabella, to whom she had lost most of her connection to this family, the one who always made her feel bad and unwanted, even if she was just standing around, doing nothing.
And then came the moment, at which her Gift went really havoc.
When you, Mother, accused her of so many things and even of hurting this family, being the reason why I left, even if that part was only partially true, still, Mirabel was fed up and in inner and outer turmoil.
She just wanted to be accepted, appreciated…, like everybody else…, but instead she was mocked and pushed aside for most of her life, and that not just by the townspeople but even my her own Grandmother, who barely looked at her or had any good word for her…, for whom she was just a burden, a non-magical burden..." Bruno stated and I saw Mama flinching.
"The Magic was to blame…, the magic that should have tied the family together disrupted it and pulled everything apart.
The Magic, even the Magic is not on my side…., if only Magic had never existed in this family." Bruno explained and my fear were confirmed.
The shock in all three, Dolores, Pepa, and Mother, it was just too great…
"She…, oh my god." Dolores said in pure shock.
"She wished for the Magic to just disappear." Pepa was about to freak out, her cloud rained all over her, so upset was she.
"…, That's how much I have hurt her…, if anyone is to blame it is me." Mother stated.
"Maybe it was in the moment, just a simple second, a thought in grim jest…, but it was enough for her force to activate and effectively ending the effect of the magic, letting it disappear.
Casita, a house built on the very foundation of magic, held together with magic…, with the magic gone it was logically that the same was bound to collapse, all the impossibly enlarged rooms, all the cracks of a decade, it all add up to total devastation.
By the time Mirabel realized what was happening, that from saving the Magic, her argument with her Abuela actually hurted that fragile bond she and her sisters had just started to grow, was nothing in comparison to the disdain and dismissal of the one person she sought acceptance from the most.
Mirabel lost her heart, her joy, her care…, all she wanted in that one moment was for the Magic, that destroyed her family, to just disappear… and that it did.
Her Mental frustration manifested in the candle, burned brighter than the Candle´s flame itself, that burned for 50 years, coaxed and forced it to rapidly melt down and be extinguished.
"Dios Mio!" We all said in unison, Augustine and Felix joined as well.
"Her Gift, Mental Manifestation.
It manifested as something that was never meant to happen, something she thought about, happened and since this gift was never actively used with her knowledge, the affects were rather radical and unfocused, lashing out of her, expanding on everything that magic ever had touched, means that it did not only snuff out the candle and ended the Magical abilities of each and everyone, no it destroyed the House that was built with magic, damaged the Encanto, which was built with magic.
And as a last and even very grim thought in her mind, Mirabel must have wished that she could just vanish, go away, if she really hurted her family then maybe it was best if her family did not have her, if she could just run away from everything." Bruno continued.
"The Mountain?" Dolores asked and we all looked towards the same.
"Yes, the ravine that has formed, the cracking of the mountain in two halves, it has opened enough for a slim person to slip through and effectively escape the Encanto.
It was meant for only one person, not for a march of people, therefore we can be happy that it is not as big as that, but seeing the outside for the first time in 15 years, it must have subconsciously nested a though in Mirabel, that's why, although the cracks disappeared again when the Magic returned, the Mountain did not healed.
It left a way to escape for her, escape from everything, if it ever would get as worse as back then, an escape route just for her…" Bruno explained and I had to take all of this in.
.
.
.
It was silent for quite a while in this room, everyone though about the theory of Bruno, which was as unimaginable as it was partially evident.
"Anyone got a better explanation?" I asked breathlessly bu no one answered.
"To think that we, we all, had pushed her to the brink that much…, just by not fully appreciating her…, I mean why didn´t we, were we really that blind?" Pepa asked and I nodded, more about my own stupidity the whole time.
"She always speaks softly, you know, when she is with me, not always loud as she does with everybody else, taking my gift into consideration, everybody else just speaks in their normal volume and some even louder than that, like Papa…" Dolores stated and Pepa smiled.
"The way she is with Antonio…, I know how hard it has been in the beginning, having to sleep in the same room as a baby and how much it pulled on her mental state…, but I also see how she cares about him and how much he adores her…, back at his ceremony he could have asked anyone, I was ready to go down and take him up, I did wonder whom he put his hand out for, that´s when I recognized that I could not see Mirabel anywhere, and then she took his hand and brought him up…, it was so nice of her.
But, maybe subconsciously, I did kind of registered that this must have been extremely hard on her, but in the next moment it was all forgotten in favor for Antonio's happiness and joy and then I lost her out of sight.
Until the moment she told us about the cracks…, since there were none, I too began to think that she just wanted attention, for a second there I thought that she wanted to ruin Antonio´s moment..., but after carefully thinking about it, I knew she would not do that, she was not the type to do such, I then told myself she might indeed accidentally have drunken some alcohol, thinking it was fruit-juice…, I don´t know…, I just didn´t wanted to believe that she would ruin anything out of spite." Pepa stated and I nodded.
"If anyone is to blame for all of this to happen, to get this far, then it is most definitely me, I tried to put my vision of a perfect life on anyone, but seeing as Pedro was not here with me, it was never perfect enough, it was never full, only ever the half of my life.
So, I wanted at least that half to be as perfect as can be, until the day I died, being reunited with my Pedro in the afterlife..., but in the end, Mirabel made me realize that by doing so, I put too much pressure on anyone else, on those children of mine, that tried to live their own lives, on those Grandchildren of mine, who tried to win my approval, my validation, those people I should have protected from unjust harm…, I put them through most of it.
Mirabel was right and still is…, I am the cause of it, the one to break this family, the one who ripped existing bonds apart…, if anyone would have to go, it would be me…, not her…, definitely not her." Mother exclaimed…, and it hurted…, but I nodded…
The Conversation of us adults was about to end, on a rather silent and gloom note, there were still chores to do after all…
It was hard, trying to focus on work after that kind of conversation, but maybe it will help taking my mind of what may be about to come in near future.
"Tia Julietta, may I talk for a moment with you?" Dolores suddenly said.
"Uhm yeah sure, what can I do for you, Dolores?" I wondered as I looked at Pepa, who just nodded, but looked equally puzzled.
"It´s about Isabella…, I think she is a lot more riled up, than we think she is…" Dolores stated.
"What…, what do you mean?" I asked in shock but Dolores pulled me away from the others, luckily no one else had the same gift as she does, so she had not to fear anyone would hear us, if she would whisper.
"I think she is about to plan to ruin Mirabel´s Ceremony…" Dolores explained and I paled.
"What…, why, what makes you think so?" I asked her, I was both confused and highly frightened, the former conversation was still in my mind and bones, the testimony of evidences we had which could testify Bruno´s theory was just too big of a wake-up call, as to ignore such a warning now.
"Ever since the conference I can hear her pacing up and down in her room muttering, arguing back and forth with herself.
Trying to comprehend how and why it came to a point, at which Mirabel was suddenly in the middle of it all, having all the expectation…, as if her sudden loss of favoritism made her jealous and spiteful, about the new attention which Mirabel suddenly has gained, which Abuela showed her." Dolores explained.
"As if she cannot or won´t accept, nor understand, how Abuelas neglect suddenly turned into affection…, while she apparently lost all of her previous privileges, or so she said…, I think she is riling herself up, in a quite paranoid way, to confront Mirabel…, and not just verbally, if this goes on." Dolores explained and she visibly panicked as well.
"I see, I will see what I can do, I will go talk to her…, I just hope I can keep her from doing something entirely stupid." I said to her.
And although I recited myself all kinds of reprimanding talk in my mind, on my way to Isabella´s room, and although I buffed myself up for Isabella´s newfound temper, to have that kind of talk with her, after 16 years of not having her listening to any of what I said, I still failed…
2 days later an incident happened in the Madrigal Family, which, if I and Louisa would not have gone between those two, might have spelled disaster, for all of the family.
Part 2: Just fight it out.
Isabella´s Pov:
Louisa was right, sometimes it was easier to just fight things out, why endlessly discussing if you could let your fists or your vines talking.
"As if she could beat me…, I could beat her a hundred times, before she would even get one punch on me." I mumbled, as I paced back and forth in my room.
The premise of Mirabel Madrigal, my imperfect brat of a sister, to become the next Matriarch of the family, despite being the youngest out of us Madrigal women…
To say it did not sit well with me, was an understatement.
"Dolores I could still tolerate, but Mirabel…, everything she touches gets messed up, even if for a moment you think things might go better, over short or long they just go back down the drain." I thought to myself.
Of course, for mother I tried to behave, tried to wear a smile in spite of the anger I felt, not to mention the fact that Louisa, even in the time she had no gift, was still strong enough to put us to sleep with a simple punch.
"You hadn´t have it easy, don´t you?" The voice inside my head stated.
I had no idea where it came from, I could say that it might be my consciousness, the devil or the angle on my shoulder, so to say…, but the voice was one I didn´t know, it was not my own nor one I had ever heard before.
I heard her the first time a couple of weeks ago, shortly after Casita was rebuild and I finally was able to return back to my own room.
Although I appreciated the sentiment of the people in town, for us to crash at some peoples places, was it still far more relaxed in my own room…, or so you would think.
"I just cannot understand why it has to be her, sure maybe she tried most of us to fix what might have been broken years ago, but still, if it weren't for her `effort´, maybe the Magic would have just been fine, everything would have been fine.
Sure, maybe I would had to marry Mariano and I would had to start a family with him…, but let´s be honest, it would not have been that worse…
Sure, I never really saw him in that way before, until Abuela pointed out how similar he was to Abuelo Pedro, I saw the longing in her eyes, I knew maybe if I befriend him, she would be pleased, but upon getting to know him, I quickly understood that he was not my type.
It was not as if he was not handsome, kind and lovable, but I knew he would not be able to bear my temperament, he needed one like Dolores, who could set him straight gently, who could hear everything he worried about, who would listen to everything he says…
Maybe it would have gone good for a couple of years, but I would quickly get weary of having to play house with him." I stated in a rant trying to justify everything that had happened before the magic vanished.
"Yeah, I get you, sometimes you need a real man, not just some poetical Adonis, but someone who is not too shy to get his hands dirty, someone who can punch just as much as he can get punched." The voice kept going and although it was strange and although I probably should not listen to her, it was as though she really understood me.
"Yeah, you are right…, someone like Bobo Marquez would have been a good match, he might look nerdy and weak, but he was never too shy to stand up for others, be it that they were even weaker than him or not even in his circle of friends, he just hated injustice of all kind.
Too bad I blew him off, saying he was not good enough for me, when he asked me out a couple of years ago, due to me thinking I had to please my Abuela and that he would be the last one, which she would accept as my future husband.
Now he is together with Victoria Delacruz and already on the first child…, guess I missed my opportunity there…" I sighed, I bet my family would have laughed at me for suggesting Bobo…, but despite his outer appearance, his heart was definitely noble.
Even I wasn´t so superficial, as to not notice that.
"Yeah, the thing with love is, that it rarely goes as you might expect…, or wish for to happen, I know how you feel." The voice stated.
Maybe it was all in my head, but if I had at least someone to understand me, then I was happy enough, I guess.
So what do you think I should do now, should I really just give up or should I confront Mirabel?" I asked.
"Well sure you can go right now and try to talk with her or even beat her up, but wouldn´t it be more effectful to wait until the evening, when she has her ceremony?" The voice said.
"That could be a choice as well…, then again if I were to do it then, everybody will make me responsible for it, and I might even get grounded by mother and Abuela, not that they could really hold me though." I mumbled as I thought about it.
"Well, that was just one suggestion, of course you could also bring someone else to disturb the ceremony, I mean you are quite a charming girl, I bet there are tons of guys out there who would do anything for you, if you promise as much as to go out on a date with them, right?" The voice stated.
She was definitely a bad influence, but as riled up as I was about Mirabel becoming Matriarch and even getting a Gift now, I could not care less about it.
"Yeah, I could do that…, maybe that would be the best course of action and if they latter accuse me of something I could just deny it…, however there is one problem…" I stated.
"Dolores, I assume?" The voice asked.
"Indeed, I bet she is already listening in, she was called towards Abuela earlier, whom all the Adults are with, I bet they tell her to keep an eye on me, since I was the one to argue the most at the conference earlier, so if we were to do that, we have to somehow do it in a way, which she cannot know about." I stated.
"Yeah, that indeed is going to be a bit of work…, but I know someone who might be able to help…
If you are also willing to get in trouble if things were to go downhill, also does that not mean that we can keep it all secret the entire time anyways, eventually Dolores will get aware of it, she might even try to stop us." The voice said.
"Then I´m going to stop her with my vines…" I stated with gritted teeth.
"Hmm you are feisty, I like that, I will keep you in touch about it…, wait for my call." The voice stated.
"Wait…, how do I find you and who is it that you going to ask…, who are you anyways?" I asked, unsure if it was really fine to trust this voice in my head, which apparently seems to be more real than a mere imagination.
"Don´t worry, I will always be able to find you, as for whom I´m going to ask and who I am…, you will see soon enough, just note that I can turn your whole world around, the one or the other way, it depends on you, dear Isabella Madrigal…
However, note that, since you already answered my call and let me inside of your head that far, it would be easy to overtake your mind completely…, but I am not that kind of person…, unless someone crosses me.
If you want and are willing to work with me, I can be your best friend…, but if you dare to betray me, I can well be your worst nightmare…, just keep that in mind.
But for simplicity´s sake, just call me `The Siren´, my associate likes to call me that way." The voice, the siren…, whatever that word means, explained and although there was an ice-cold chill rising up my spine, freezing every nerve, I also felt assurance, assurance that our plan would work, if nothing major would get in the way.
No matter how that plan may look like, in the end.
However, there was also a tiny voice in the back that asked me.
"Are you really willing to go that far, just to not let your little Sister getting the gift she deserves, the respect she deserves, what if your plan ends up hurting her irreparably.., or even worse mutilate or kill somebody…, ever thought of that…?
If I were you, I would think long and hard, about how far you are really willing to go and if you are truly ready for the consequences, either if you succeed or not." That voice told me and unlike the other voice, this one appeared to be male.
But once more it was no voice I knew.
"I am prepared, this plan just has to make her unable to become the Matriarch, that is all I want." I stated.
"Suit yourself, it is your life, I have warned you, The Siren is not as kind as you may think, take it from someone who knows her best." The male voice stated.
"I don´t know who you are or how you managed to get in my head but you better get the hell out of there, I don´t need another voice calling me whenever she pleases, I just need to have my peace of mind.
I cannot deal with that obnoxious brat becoming the leader of this family, if she will, it will all go down the drain, just like everything else she does.
I am the oldest of us Grandchildren, I should be the one to lead us in a new future…, my , our future would be glorious." I hissed in anger, who was this voice thinking he is…
"I am a real friend, unlike the Siren I do not wish to bring harm to either of both, you or your sister, nor your Family…, but if you follow the Siren, you will surely damage your relationship to at least one of them, irreparably." The male voice stated.
"Oh, just shut up, get out of my head!" I shouted at no one physical.
"Sure, if that is what you want, it is your life, your shame, in the end.
I hope you can live with it." The voice stated, before it was silent again.
"Finally." I muttered, before I jumped with a shriek, as I suddenly heard someone knocking on my door.
"Isabella, it´s me your mother." I heard the voice of Julietta Madrigal.
"May I enter?" She asked.
"Yeah, sure Mama, come on in and make yourself at home." I stated, quickly looking in the mirror at my boudoir, to put on my everyday mask, smiling perfectly.
It was clear to me that Dolores must have heard my monologue, which means that she asked mother to talk to me, and ask me about my plan to ruin Mirabel´s Ceremony.
Not that that would help her, I will surely get what I want and it is surely not having my Little sister becoming the superior figure above me, she shall stay where she belongs, at the bottom of the food chain, here in the Madrigal family, like she did so for the last 10 years.
There was a reason she did not get a Gift, so why should she now get one?
"As if she even deserved one." I muttered to myself
"What was that dear?" Mom asked behind me.
"Nothing Mama." I replied, as I took a deep breath and turned around greeting her in my Room.
Regardless of the outcome of this conversation now, my plan…, or should I say, our plan, was standing.
I was prepared for anything…
.
.
.
Apparently, I was not prepared for everything, the plan was to get someone to disturb the Ceremony, so I thought…, apparently that was not the case…
How could it come to this…?
How could it all fail?
2 days Later, Mirabel´s Pov:
She came in like a herd of elephants, running through a porcelain shop during a stampede.
My door was basically kicked down by thick vines, hammered down as I was too late to open up.
While I demanded to know what the hell she wanted and what goes her on to kick down my door, she in return demanded for me to withdraw from becoming the Matriarch and cancel the Ceremony, as well as to hand out that dress to her.
Obviously, I was not gonna let her have either of those and so, without further ado, a brawl was ignited, though the same did not last all too long, not in a house where you have a worried Prima, with a major hearing sense.
I was pulling on Isabella´s hair, while she was pulling on my new dress, effectively ripping one sleeve asunder.
I just managed to finish the dress today and it is already ruined again, I was about to put my hands around her neck, I was riled up, I was full of wrath, I never before felt so much anger and hatred in my life…, tonight should have been my night…, the night I waited 10 long years for, fearing it might never come.
I waited so long on a miracle and tonight it was time for me to finally grasp it with my own too hands…
And out of pure jealousy, my older sister tried to ruin everything, if this was revenge for her failed engagement, which I highly doubt, since she didn´t wanted to marry Mariano that time in the first place, I will make sure she receives a beating she never forgets.
"Your jealousy is really unbecoming of you sister, be careful or our face will be stuck in that ugly grimace of yours, it would be so hard to try and seduce anybody with that kind of face." I stated with a grim laugh, as I lounged at her.
"Oh yeah at least I know how to seduce anybody, you don´t even have anything that is usable in a seduction." Isabella countered.
"Oh I am certain I got plenty and I got also plenty from where this came from…" I stated, as I slapped her across the face.
"OH, YOU LITTLE BITCH!" She shouted.
"SAYS THE ATTENTION-WHORE!" I replied equally riled up.
"JUST YOU WAIT, I WILL NEVER LET YOU BECOME MATRIARCH, OR GETTIGN A GIFT YOU DESERVE NONE OF THAT, YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF IT, YOU WEREN´T 10 YEARS AGO AND YOU SURELY AREN´T NOW, SO JUST BE OBEDIENT AND STEP ASIDE!" She shouted.
"I´VE STEPPED ASIDE FOR 2/3 OF MY LIFE, BUT NO MORE, TONIGHT IS MY NIGHT AND I WILL NOT LET YOU RUIN IT!" I replied as I showed her against a cupboard, which made her rip her own dress.
"NOW YOU DONE IT YOU LITTLE SLUT, I WILL RIP YOU A NEW ONE!" She shouted.
"JUST GET THE HELL OUT OF MY ROOM, YOU HAVE DONE ENOUGH DAMAGE BURO ESTUPIDO!" I shouted back as she lashed out with one of her vines only for me to dodge it, she was seriously trying to hit me with them, not caring about anything.
Dodging the vine made it hit my sewing machine instead which was knocked to the ground and cracked apart.
"YOU, HOW DARE YOU!?" I screamed at the top of my lungs well, aware that this was unfortunately the only Sewing Machine in the Encanto.
but that was not the reason why the sight of my broken sewing machine was enraging me so much.
Back then, before the attack to their village, most of them sewing machines were too heavy to carry around for long, especially when you were about to flee the village, while it was being attacked.
The old seamstress was the only one who possessed one, when she took it along on her donkey, as it was her whole income, her life and it was from her, where I learned to sew clothes, when she died, without any heir, since her son died during the attack to save her, she passed the sewing machine down to me.
This machine was a heritage to me and my sister, in her dumb, stupid jealousy just destroyed it
"GHOSH, I WISH YOU WOULD JUST…" I was about to shout, but I was harshly interrupted.
"DON'T YOU DARE FINISH THAT THOUGHT OR THAT SENTENCE, MIRABEL MADRIGAL!" Suddenly a loud voice shouted in-between mine and Isabella´s Argument, as
Both of us shrieked away from each other, only to look at the door, seeing a fuming Julietta Madrigal and a worried looking Louisa in the back, along with Dolores and Tia Pepa, who looked unusually pale and shocked.
Before anyone of us could recover from the initial shock, I was already restrained by Dolores and Tia Pepa, while Isabella was restrained by Louisa.
"LET GO OF ME; BOTH OF YOU; I SWEAR I´M GOING TO TEACH HER SOME MANNERS; SHE HAS TO PAY FOR WHAT SHE HAS DONE!" I shouted struggling against both of my restrictors.
"Mirabel you need to calm down, I am sure we can solve this." Dolores tried to sooth me but I was too angry to care.
"I AM CALM, BUT APPARENTLY IT IS DAY OF THE OPEN DOOR IN MY ROOM, WHY DOES HALF THE DAMN FAMILY JUST BARGE IN HERE, THIS IS NOT THE NURSERY ANYMORE, THIS IS MY ROOM AND I DEMAND PRIVACY!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, I was in the right, I should be in the right…, so why was I the only one to be yelled at.
But the look my mother gave me was hard and unforgiving, but why was it directed to me and not Isabella…, was it all coming back, now that the magic was back, was I about to be pushed back in the corner, scorned by everyone, was I back to have to step aside again?
Thinking this it all just put the steam out of me, instead I slumped to the ground, my ripped dress in my hands, close to the tears, with a bitter smile on my face, a smile that betrayed everything I felt.
"If anything, you should call out Isabella, for walking in here like she owns the place, like a damn hippopotamus." I hissed at Isabella, who hissed back, but I looked aside as I saw my mother´s enraged look, that said nothing else but, `not in that tone, young lady´, it made me turn my volume down a sizeable notch, not only because of Dolores, who immediately covered her ears when I shouted, effectively letting her mother handle the restraining.
"Yes..., I know and I am certain to make her take responsibility for instigating this fight, out of whatever petty reason she might have had…
I don´t know what kind of devil has ridden you my Child, but this is not a ladylike way to behave, nor is it in any way the kind of acceptable behavior for a daughter of mine.
I really thought our talk has helped you to calm down but apparently, I was mistaken there.
I don´t know for sure, but if this is supposed to be the revenge for your botched engagement-dinner, then I must say I am deeply disappointed in you, Isabella.
Sure, back then a lot of things happened that should not have happened, but it was definitely not all Mirabel´s fault, and I thought you have seen and accepted that.
Especially as I was of the assumption, that you couldn´t care less about the engagement failing, since you never wanted to marry Mariano Guzman in the first place.
So, what is this fight really all about?
As for you Mirabel, I know you are riled up, you are angry and that with every right, but such a thought and such a sentence, I do not want to hear in this house, coming out of the mouth of a family member, ever again.
The last time I heard this sentence, was when your Tia Pepa was still of the assumption that your Tio Bruno botched her Wedding on purpose, she told him that she wished he would just vanish…, maybe delayed, but he indeed vanished for 10 long years and I know that deep down she has always regretted, to once have said these words.
If Isabella would now go away, vanishing somewhere like you did after Casita fell, what would you do, wouldn´t you feel as though you could have prevented it, as though you could have behaved differently, said something different instead.
Something less climatic as that?" mother asked me and I looked down in shame.
I was in the right, I knew that, she knew that…, everybody knew that…, but it was also a fact that I almost did say those words, words which might have been unforgivable, if they were to come true.
Right now, I was riled up and in pure anger…, about everything, Isabella's stupid and jealousy-driven demands, as well as her destroying one of my most precious possessions, a heritage to me…, but I did not wanted to ignite a `We don´t talk about Isabella´ doctrine, like they did with Tio Bruno…, that was not in my intention.
"Alright I admit I did go overboard there…, but if someone, preferably the culprit itself, would have the kindness to tell and explain to me, what goes Isabella on, to barge in here in the middle of my last minute preparations for tonight, demand that I resign from accepting the role as a Matriarch and give up on getting a gift, on top of demanding my dress, which I tailored myself and then destroying my room and my sewing machine with her gift…, then I am willing to forgive this incident and do as though it never happened…
However, I then want Louisa to stay at Isabella´s side all evening long, as some sort of restraint, if she still tries to somehow disturb the Ceremony.
Otherwise, we can forget that I will forgive her for this and we can all go back to yelling at each other." I demanded and I saw the anger in Isabella´s eyes as well as the subliminal smile she wore, as if this was all planned to go down…, was she for real, did she want me to hate her?
"Whom were you talking to…, two days ago?" Dolores suddenly asked, directed in Isabella´s direction.
"What?" The same asked confused.
"Shortly before Tia Julietta came to talk with you, you talked with someone, you obviously answered as well as asked questions, you said something about a plan and you asked about its details…
I could hear you…, but not the person you talked to… so who was it?" Dolores asked while Isabella simply laughed.
"You know Prima…, that's what I always hated about you, you cannot say anything because dear cousin Dolores is going to hear it, no privacy in this place whatsoever…
Sometimes I really wish your gift would just vanish, it was so easy to be myself in these 4 months when I was alone…, but now, I cannot even have a conversation with myself without you listening in, as if it was a damn radio-show." Isabella stated and I was confused.
"A Radio-what?" I asked but none of them could answer me.
"What do you mean with that Isabella, what do you mean with this word, a Radio-Show…, Isabella."
"Tsk!" Suddenly Isabella looked at us, out of empty an dark cold eyes, so truly unlike hers, before she began to laugh.
"Ha, hahahah, gosh I really forgot all about it for a moment…, I really forgot that you folks live in this place since 50 years, hidden from the world…" Isabella stated…, but it did not sounded like her…, it was well her voice, but not something Isabella would normally say.
"Who are you…, who the hell are you…, you are not Isabella right?" I asked while the others looked confused.
"Rather sharp aren´t we?" Isabella stated.
"I have looked from the sidelines for 10 long years, I know my family better than almost anyone else, so of course I can see the difference in behavior.
Isabella has broken off school early, when Abuela took her in to forge her into her Golden Child Doll, which means that she did not learn about radio-waves and Nikola Tesla and all these other pioneers of Radio-technology, in our history lessons from Tia Pepa…, so for her to say something about a Radio, a word she would not even know how to explain herself, is so unlikely, beyond all that perfection, Isabella is rather a simpleton after all.
She uses simple words to express herself, she always did, she just packs it in a perfect wrapping." I explained and I saw Isabella, or not Isabella, grit her teeth.
"I guess the jig is up then…, I thought myself that this woman was too weak to be a real threat, but I could not take over anyone else, she had the weakest will after all, broken by the expectations of 16 years and the loss of her gift, she might look strong to you but I could see how vulnerable she is.
Just a little push and she was all gung-ho, to punish the one who messed up her life, her little sister, who´s failure was it, that made her Abuela put all her expectations into her oldest Grandchild.
The one, who pressured her into becoming the perfect dress-up-doll, without an own personality, and as much as no free will as anyone could have.
It´s kinda funny to know that this woman is as much an enemy to her own family, as she is to ours, but we will soon release you all from her grasp.
Freedom, peace, a tranquil life, it is something my family has always sought for, 50 long years have we sought to be able to obtain it, and so many sacrifices have been made and had to be made.
My family has fought to stay alive, while yours has lived in this place, safe and sound for half a century…, I think it is high time that you learn how the real-world works…, we will soon see ach other again, Madrigal family.
We are already close, closer than you think…
In this place we will build our home, our kingdom, it will be the nest, the nest for El Águila de los Espinosa.
You should be very careful of your surroundings, things are never quite the way they seem, you can await our formal declaration of your imminent demise, in the next few days.
Until then…, rest, pray and prepare yourself to be annihilated." The voice stated and in Isabella´s eyes, there was such an ice-cold darkness, like I have never seen before.
But as quick as it was there, it also vanished before Isabella seemed to fall unconscious.
.
.
.
"What…., what did we just witness here?" Mother asked in shock.
"I have no idea…, but whoever that was…, it was not Isabella." Tia Pepa replied and we all nodded.
"El Águila de los Espinosa, this is what that voice said, right?" Dolores asked and I nodded.
The Eagle of the Thorns…, what does that mean?
"Wait a second…" I muttered as I thought about the conversation.
"Oh no…, they are after Abuela!" I stated in shock.
"What?" Everyone asked in equal shock.
"She said, and I quote `it is funny to know that the woman is as much an enemy to her own family, as she is for ours´…, it means that they see Abuela as an enemy to their family." I stated well aware of how it sounded.
"But an enemy to our own family…, maybe she has been too harsh on all of us, but I would not go that far…, or am I wrong?" My Mother asked her Siblings unsure.
"Depends on the view, I guess." Tio Bruno stated, earning himself a punch to the shoulder by Tia Pepa.
"What, she can be pretty villainous if she wants to be, you gotta admit." Tio Bruno said and I had to agree with him, in a way she sometimes did make me feel, like I was lying on the ground infront of a super strong villain, whom I desperately tried to surpass.
"Espinosa…, Espinosa…, why does this word sound so familiar." Mother muttered.
"What´s going on here?" A voice stated from the door and we all turned to see Abuela entering.
"Alma Espinosa!" Mother shouted and we all looked at her in confusion.
"Yes…, what is it Julietta Madrigal, Sweet child of mine?" Abuela stated and the confusion was perfect.
"Ah nothing, i´m sorry!" Mother quickly shut her mouth but the lingering though this little exchange put in my head was burning brighter by the second.
"Wait you mean…, the Espinosa family…, but isn´t Abuela the only Survivor?" I whispered to my mother.
"It´s what she told and believed, but its also a fact that she never found anyone of her family, dead or alive as far as I know, or as far as she has told me…, so what if someone else has indeed survived?" Mother stated and Dolores looked at us in shock.
"And you think they are now coming to hunt us down, because we lived here in peace and they lived out there in the world..., but why…, what the hell has happened out there, to make them hate us so much?"
"If only we knew, child…, if only we knew…"
"Anyways I don´t really know what's going on here, but looking like this you can´t definitely not be presented infront of the entire town, Mirabel, especially since you are supposed to become the next Matriarch, you have to look respectfully." Abuela stated as he looked at my dress, which was partially ripped at the seams, as I tried to defend my ceremonial dress from Isabella´s assault.
"Louisa, please aid your Hermana in getting prepared, the rest of you, we still have a lot to prepare for tonight so please get to it…, as for Isabella…, I think someone better get her back to her room, she looks quite pale and also…, is she unconscious…, what the…
You know what, I don´t even want to know, though regarding the stated of Mirabel´s room, even I can put 1 and 1 together, and i am greatly displeased and disappointed …, this is surely bad for my heart…
Louisa can you carry your sister to her room, before helping Mirabel, Julietta would you watch over her?" Abuela asked and everyone nodded.
"We gonna talk later." She stated as she walked with Louisa, who held Isabella in her arms out of the room.
"Ill be with you in a second Sis, just gotta drop Isa at her room..., hope she is alright." Louisa stated and I nodded.
I looked at Isabella's unconscious figure…, I wondered, how much of what she shouted was true…, what came from her and what from this other person…, who was that person even and why did she tried to ruin my Ceremony?
Was it really just to make me hate Isabella?
"I…, I feel a storm brewing up…, and not the kind Tia Pepa tends to unleash." I thought to myself as I looked out of my window, towards the cracked mountain.
"They are close, closer than we think…, does that mean they are already close to the Encanto?" I muttered and it was to me as if I saw light coming from the Mountain, then again, thanks to Isabella´s vines, my lamp on the ceiling was swinging back and forth so it might as well have been a reflection…, or a trick of my eyes.
I hope the future does not look all too bleak for us…, whatever it may hold.
Should I ask Tio Bruno about it?
To be continued…
A/N: Hello and welcome to the newest chapter of Familiar Stranger, and we have made Contact with the coming enemy.
What is their goal, why are they hating the Madrigals so much and who is the one behind all of this attack at Mirabel Madrigal?
Stay tuned if you wanna know the answer, until then, read review and fave…
Sincerely, yours truly, the Storyteller and his Books.
