Chapter 5: What comes for those, ready to fly…
Part 1: Will I shine or burn?
Mirabel´s Pov:
"Alright…, you can do it, you know what you want, you know your own worth and you know that you deserve it, don´t let Isabella´s trash-talking get to you, this time for real, this time it finally will come to you…
I won´t fail like the last time…, don´t you dare get cold feet now, Mirabel Madrigal!" I stated to the me in the Mirror, trying desperately to motivate myself, enough to be truly happy and joyful.
It was about an hour before tonight's Gift Ceremony, two days have I feared and despaired, made myself and everyone around literally nuts with my worries.
What if I don´t get a gift, what if the same thing, that prevented me 10 years ago from getting one, will get in the way again…, I don´t think I could handle another such heartbreak.
For the last ten years, I tried to find an answer to my question, to find out as to why I was left out of the routine the candle had absolved for 45 years.
Every time a Madrigal-member reaches his 5th birthday, so it has been since my mother´s Ceremony, the child would earn a gift, a special ability, either physical or psychical and this gift would somehow become part of their identity.
Everyone else had already a gift, hermano and hermana, sobrino and sobrina…, everyone but little old me.
I always wondered though, what are gifts exactly…, where do they come from and how are they distributed, is it really all random or is there something in us, that triggers a certain gift to awaken when the candle allows it to us.
"What was it that I had, but didn´t work…, was my trigger broken…, is it still broken?" I wondered to myself.
Gifts, yes, they were as magical as they were mysterious, some are helpful, others harmful, some can be turned off by just not using them…, and some are always activated.
Some are physically visible…., others can only be seen when in use.
Was it Camilo´s love for mischief, which gave him the ability to transform himself in the shape of everyone he knew?
Had Dolores perhaps been too nosy, when she was young and so received the gift to hear anything, no matter how silent the sound may be?
What about Tia Pepa, what was it that triggered her to get the gift she bears…, or the curse, as she often refers to it herself…, was it her impulsiveness?
Abuela kind of tried to explain it in a way, that the gifts were extended and amplified version of some of Abuelo Pedro´s most virtuous characteristics, things Abuela once fell in love with, and that with his sacrifice, these qualities have gone over in the creation of the Magic Candle, some of us even mused that the Candle somehow was linked to Abuelo´s Spirit.
In how far that kind of spiritual belief was true, I could not even tell, if it was real, then why did the Magic ever fade, why didn´t I get a Gift as well, was Abuelo angry at me…, for what, what did I do?
Was it really because we had lost our way as a family, or because we became a mere conglomeration of people bound together by blood, but no longer by heart and feelings, at least most of us?
Unclear was also another quite pressing matter, which I really wanted to know…
The Gifts, could they be used outside of the Encanto or only within it…, was there perhaps a limit, of how far you could distance yourself from the Candle, from the miracle, physically, before its magic would no longer reach you?
It was not as if I ever wanted to leave the Encanto, and before 4 months I deemed that impossible anyways, but then, when the Mountains cracked in two halves, I did it, I left the Encanto, though only for about a mile or so, not far enough to truly say that I went away.
The little bit of the jungle I had seen outside of the Encanto, was not nearly anything the world had to offer, there surely was so much more to discover, that I was certain about.
Back then I could not be sure about it, since the Magic had already been lost, but if anyone were to leave for good, it had not even to be on bad terms, just them deciding that life in the Encanto didn´t offered much to them anymore, what then, would their gift also vanish?
That was one of the things I did not understand but also not truly believed, unless I would be proven otherwise.
After all, Tio Bruno did not use his gift for 10 years and still did not lose it.
Then again, he still lived in the Encanto and stayed close to the family, closer than we ever believed.
If the Candle and the Miracle was to protect us, make us strong, would it then really vanish just because we leave, as I said, it did not even have to be on bad terms?
What I now knew, was that at least, even if you are emotionally cut off from the Magic, your gift remains, then again, as soon as the Magic of the candle faded and the same burned out, the gifts also disappeared.
So, I guess, they cannot be anything engraved into our DNA upon activation.
They are magically manifested and maybe to a part by a person's mindset.
If they tell themselves that they have a Gift, then the Magic of the Candle keeps the gift, it gave them, alive, but once you tell yourself you do not care for your gift anymore, the same will vanish, or at least become inactive, like with Tio Bruno.
Of course, if that theory was true, I should have just always told myself that I had a gift, sure…, but the reality was different…
I was a tiny little 5-year-old girl, that walked past those golden shiny doors and witnessed those incredible gifts for all her life, in anticipation of getting one of her own…
But she did not get a door…, on the day of her Ceremony, the day that should have been the happiest of her life, her door vanished, melted back into the wall it should have emerged from…
So, it was rather easy for her mind to tell her, that she also did not get a gift, and since no one could understand or even tell her how and why, her mind told her, day in day out for 10 years straight…, no door, no gift…, that was the sad truth behind this theory.
Even if I would now try and believe that I had a gift all along, would I really just lie to myself.
This sad fact was the truth I have believed for so long and unless it could be proven otherwise, it was what I will believe for the rest of my life.
That 10 years prior to this day, I have not gotten a gift.
Now, today on this very day, in the evening of my Gift-Ceremony-Retake, I had to believe, with all my being, with all my heart, that I, Mirabel Valentina Rojas Madrigal, will get a Gift tonight and that nothing would stop me from getting it this time…
Not even an Enemy hidden in the shadows, an enemy which evidently was able to overtake other people´s minds…
"Brr…, no I don´t want to think about that now, I must focus on getting a Gift tonight, a super awesome gift that will help the family, one way or another." I told myself as a chill ran down my spine, as I remembered Isabella´s cold and dark eyes, so totally unlike her own.
"But what when it is a self-destructive Gift, like Tia Pepa´s Gift, or even worse?" A tiny voice in my mind asked, it sounded like a younger version of myself, maybe it was the me from 10 years ago, who was and never could overcome the pain and sorrow of being forgotten by the miracle, who knows?
At least it did not sound as evil, as the voice that spoke through Isabella…, but should I be careful, should I be afraid…, was I the next one to be overtaken?
"C´mon now, Tia Pepa´s Gift is not that Self-destructive." I told myself.
"You really think so, a Gift that lets you literally stand in the rain when you are sad, or attacks you and everyone around you with lightning bolts when you are truly upset and enraged, a gift which you have to constantly keep in check, no matter which emotion you feel…
You feel too happy, the sun will shine for days eventually causing a drought, you are too sad, rain will cause avalanches and monsoons to come, you feel especially pissed, endless Thunderstorms and even hurricanes are the result.
I would call that pretty much self-destructive in my regard, not to mention that Tia Pepa dislikes her own gift very much, as we have seen 2 days ago, during the Conference, she outright hates it." The little voice in me stated.
Of course, I have not forgotten the worries and the downside of having a gift and what too much expectation packed upon you could do to you.
I saw that far too often, when I was standing at the sidelines.
Naturally now each and every expectation was on me, back then as a little girl I had not yet such a pressure, not that I was not nervous, mind you.
But back then, to us it was a naturally occurrence…, the pressure only came the moment as I was rendered giftless and room-less.
Ever since, the preservation and usage of one's gifts was basically forced by Abuela, you had to use your ability every day, to show the people that the Madrigals were still strong, that the Magic was still strong, despite the black sheep, the bad apple, the non-special daughter of the Madrigals…, despite Mirabel Madrigal not having a gift.
Me wondering what a Gift I get and how I can contribute to the society of the Encanto…, it was natural to think about that now, although it was a feeling I have long not felt anymore.
Back in my childhood, before my Ceremony, I tended to ask myself, as well as my mother and Abuela, this question quite often.
More than once they told me and assured me, that it would be a gift that matches to me in some way.
Now older and hopefully a little wiser, I came to think of what qualities of mine might be represent in my coming Gift, if it…, no, it will come…, what was it that I was good at…, at least better than the others in my family.
"I can hardly tell, everyone else already has done so much amazing stuff…, in contrast I am boring, I can´t even think about one great quality I shall possess, other than my persistence…, to help other people, to be of service and to plant some bright smiles on the faces of everyone in the Encanto…
But…., aren´t I then basically like Louisa?
Without a gift, all I ever did, was working myself to the bone, trying desperately to accomplish something, when surely someone else in the family could have done it far easier and better.
I still remember how we decorated the home for Abuela´s 70th birthday.
I did my best, tried so hard but in the end, most of the decorations were already made by Isabella…, my own few decorations went completely under, in comparison to her flowery ornaments.
While hers were praised all evening long, even by the townspeople, though mostly to sucker up to her, mine were barely recognized and long have gone over into oblivion.
T´was always like that, no matter what I used to do, it all was seen as ok, rarely as good and almost never as perfect enough, at least in most people´s eyes.
Then again, there were some that did indeed appreciated what I did, for them personally, not the family.
Mostly my mother and father, as well as Antonio…, and as I now knew, also Camilo…, to a certain point, maybe even Dolores.
I truly though that after Camilo got his gift and his room, that he forgot me…, or at least kind of left me behind.
The distance he put between us became wider and wider, the more time passed.
He and I, we used to be so inseparable, but as he said during the conference, I did kind of felt a little bit betrayed by him, when he got his gift and I didn't, though mostly by the Candle and the Miracle itself…, but yes…
In the end, Camilo rarely tried to make me feel good or make me laugh again, like he used to do, he kind of kept his distance, or so he tried…., there was a certain moment when I thought, that there was a different reason for his distance…, and after some incidents in the last few years, I almost had confirmation about my theory.
Still, this did not make the distance between us any easier to bear.…
We were still on fairly good terms, in contrast to my own siblings, with whom I had little to no real relation anymore.
By the time she got her gift, Louisa seemed always too busy to play with me, the older she got, the less we even actually talked with each other, only simple pleasantries or greetings in the morning or at evening, but unfortunately not many real conversations.
Me asking her out about her nervousness and the Magic fading, had been the longest Conversation we had in a long time.
And Isabella…, well as she has shown me in all glory earlier, she couldn't care less about me.
Even if she was controlled by someone else, she herself apparently let that person in, just to scheme some kind of disturbance at my Ceremony.
Maybe we once had a good relationship, but ever since my first Gift-Ceremony, to her I was but a burden, a failure, who was responsible for Abuela to put all of her pressure on her, Isabella Madrigal, instead, while I was spared form such…, while I remained free so to say.
Free and not to be expected of doing anything worthwhile, or even remotely interesting.
During our first spat in years, before Casita fell, she told me that she was upset about being stuck with fulfilling all the high expectations, of having to be perfect, and that she loathed me, for not to have that kind of Expectation pushed upon me.
Then again, wasn´t Louisa in the same spot there?
The only expectation people had of her, was that she worked and never ceased working, but different to Isabella, no one really cared if Louisa was doing it perfectly or just practically, all they really cared for was for their demands to be done.
So why was I the only one on the receiving end of Isabella´s wrath and anger.
Why was I the punching bag for Senora Perfecta Isabella?
Whatever did I do to her, for her to treat me like that?
Even now, after I actually helped her embracing her imperfection and her freedom of mind, she seemed to still not be satisfied.
I hoped that we could finally reconcile and get along with each other like we used to in the beginning before my ceremony, or so I thought, ever since her gift returned, she also returned back to her usual self of belittling me, mocking any effort I did…
She kept on looking down on me, and respect, she had none for me, as she told me herself.
She wanted me to step aside once again, like I had to do for most of my life.
Now that I finally was able to move forward, step in the limelight for once, she told me to go back to the shadows, the sidelines, that I did not belong in the light, that I didn´t deserve it nor was I apparently worthy for it, according to her.
It was hard to hear that from your own sister, to understand that my own sister does not appreciate, me having a life out of the shadow, that she is so jealous of me, that she tries to destroy the last bit of dignity and self-esteem which I currently still have
I swear, if mother would not have broken up the fight, I might have clawed out an eyeball out of her, just to make her even more imperfect than she really was, deep down inside…, as well as to avenge my Sewing Machine.
Louisa was both right and wrong, when we returned back from Senor Gustavo, who was furious about what his brother told him, about us telling off him off and telling them both to care for their donkeys themself unless they pay up for the help.
Fighting things out truly brought many things to light, but it also destroyed every good impression I had of Isabella.
Ever since our fight, she remained in her room, after she woke up again, both ashamed and furious at letting herself being controlled, and I was certain that she would have to be forced to participate tonight.
Maybe some of the things she said were truthfully her own words and opinions about me, but I guess most of it was said by this person that controlled her, to rile me up and end up fighting her, hating her, irreparably damaging our relationship as sisters, as if she tried to destroy the family from within, she did admit that she tried to overtake the others, but each still had a strong mind or will, only Isabella's was apparently vulnerable enough to be overtaken.
A weak mind that was consumed by fear, anxiety as well as jealousy.
If it was my apparent freedom of mind and doing, she was jealous at, didn´t she now had it herself?
Was she not finally freed from Abuela's high expectations, of her having to be perfect, live the perfect life?
Is she now hating on me because she lost Abuela´s attention, the attention of everyone?
Isn´t that what she always wanted?
If yes, if she really hates on me now, now that she lost all of what she once complained about to have, while I gained, for a moment that is, that which she lost, then she was nothing more than an Attention-whore from the beginning.
Just like I told her.
Maybe I had my freedom of mind and doing, but I also had neglect, I was not seen by Abuela for the longest of times, everything I did was seen as mediocre or even a burden, even if I did it in the best intention, I was belittled and openly mocked on a regular basis, no one took me for full, perhaps only my parents and Antonio.
No one cared to mince or even sugarcoat their words around me, everyone just spat in my face, philosophically of course.
She really had the gull to tell me that her life was a mess thanks to me…, what am I supposed to say about my own, then?
As if her constant arrogance towards me, had helped me in building my self-esteem, if anything it more obliterated it.
I was not really going to complain all about it, but while I was stuck for ten years in the nursery, she had gotten an own room, in which she mostly could hide herself away in times of needing a break, an escape from all that bullshit…
Ever since Antonio was born, I had no real privacy anymore, not that I minded Antonio´s presence nowadays, mind you…
But if his family constantly invaded our room, then it was clear that my privacy was cut rather short.
Some of them, like Camilo and Tia Pepa did not even bother to knock anymore, they just barged in and made themselves at home to interact with Antonio.
I don´t know how often I had to kick Camilo back out, when he barged in while I was in the middle of changing, in that time I was really about to choke him unconscious, to make him forget.
And Antonio, before maturing a little, he was quite a handful, if I may say so.
I don´t say it out loud, but when he used to be a newborn baby, it was the toughest of times for me, every night I woke up thanks to him crying, then Tia Pepa came in, sometimes too tired to feel anything and sometimes subtly angered.
I tell you, Tia Pepa and her mood swings, in the middle of the night, to experience that as a kid of 10 years, is no joke…
For most of these years I was afraid of falling asleep, only to wake up from thunder roaring and me being drenched by the drizzling rain of an exhausted Tia, too tired to care anymore.
I was more often sick with the flu than I wished to.
Antonio´s first years proved to be so tough, that I begged my parents of bringing my bed in their room.
Of course, Abuela did not allowed it, saying that someone had to have an eye on Antonio, in case something was to happen.
I bet Isabella has no idea how it is, to play mother at the age of 10, desperately trying to bring a crying baby back to sleep, being exhausted yourself, before the actual mother finally shows up.
In my own infancy it was more Louisa who looked after me when Mother could not, or Tio Bruno, as Mother told me a few months ago.
According to them I did not cry nearly as much as Antonio did.
If only it happened 1 or two times in a night but no, literally every 2nd hour Antonio woke up, crying for something, either for food or because of a full diaper.
Sometimes his crying went on for an entire hour.
I was afraid of saying anything, the first and last time I ever did, Tia Pepa got mad at me…, and you do not wish to see her mad.
I still knew that I made some remark which I instantly regretted and even more so when Tia Pepa slapped me across the face, tough it was deserved, I guess.
I still remember that I too cried before running to my mother banging on her door and then throwing myself in her arms, not before waking the entire house of course.
I was shivering and shaking in terror and it was much chocolate and comfort needed to calm me back down.
Tia Pepa apologized the day after, but also told me in all seriousness that babies simply cried when they were in need of something, because they could not just stand up and get it themself, and asking someone with words, was also still impossible for them.
So, if Isabella really thinks that my life was so easy and happy and full of joy, I beg to differ.
Sometimes I really wish I could just punch her in her perfect teeth, I almost managed to do so earlier…
It wouldn´t be much harm anyways, Mom could just heal her with an Arepa…, honestly, I was so done being her punching bag.
Was she really that much afraid of me becoming the next Matriarch, the next holder of the Candle?
Did she feared I would make her do things she did not want, like Abuela did, just to spite her?
"As if I had the time and the nerves to do something like that…, but maybe now I have to think about it, as a little revenge." I thought to myself.
I don´t know how Matriarchy really works, nor how to be a leader…, but I know one thing, I will not make it the same way as Abuela has done it, we all have seen where that leads.
No if I were to really take that role, then a lot of things have to change.
First and foremost, work, no one should have to overwork themselves, especially not Louisa or Mom.
Both worked way too hard, so hard they have had barely time for themselves.
Even during these months, Louisa was constantly at overworking herself, seriously, if we wouldn´t have practically forced her to take breaks she would just keep going.
Even more so now, that her gift is back, we cannot let her fall back into old habits.
Same with Mom, it does not bring her any merit, by overworking herself in the kitchen.
A mother should cook for her family, not for the entire Town and even if, surely not every damn day.
I think it is high time to make a General-Healing day.
One day in the week where we hold a soup-kitchen in the Church, in which anyone who has some sort of treatable ailment, gets to profit of Mom´s gift, the rest of the week is up to her to plan and organize.
This way, everyone gets treated and my mother still gets time for herself.
Of course, if something truly urgent comes up, like someone who has recently broken a leg or an arm, she can decide to treat them immediately, but this surely is the easiest way to go about it.
The Conference has made it clear that Mom herself was fed up with having to cook day in day out, 24/7 for anybody, treating any little injury anyone has, no matter how puny.
Maybe even Dad then thinks twice of going near a tree full of bees, and generally takes more care about himself.
Though I guess that includes me as well.
I have yet to think about improving the lives of the others.
Maybe getting Tia Pepa a Havoc-day, one day in each month, at which she just can go apeshit if she wants to, letting all the stacked-up frustration out, screaming it all off her soul.
During that day, a general warning is given for the people to stay inside, unless necessary.
Little things like this might become important, for both the Encanto but even more so, for the wellbeing of the family.
Just ignoring things and telling everybody what to do and not to worry when clearly worry was to be felt, only ended in a massive failure…, I will not make the same mistakes as Abuela has done.
The world is constantly changing around us, its high time we do so too.
The voice itself told us, that we were hidden and safe for half a century, not knowing of the real world outside the Encanto, outside the Jungle.
The future is fluent and steadily progressing and unless I would ask Tio Bruno for help, it will remain unsee…, but in my opinion, I don´t need to know every single detail about it, if I do then what about surprises, either good or bad?
Sure, if bad things happen we hurt, we feel pain and we are sad…, but it is a part of life.
If all we do, is avoid sad moments and avoid tragedies, if we seek our entire life for the ideal ways to obtain happiness and Luck, then we will live only but a half-life.
They say that learning is half the life, but if we have nothing to learn from, then we might as well cease to exist.
Changing the future is a risky undertaking, for we never know nor fully understand, how far the consequences in doing so can reach…
However, we are not to forget that suddenly, with the arrival of this new villain, el Águila de los Espinosa, the future ahead of us might be darker than we thought.
After all they have someone capable of entering the minds of other people, effectively controlling them...
Was it a Gift?
Were they like us…, was mother right, are they somehow related towards Abuela´s parents, her own Family?
If yes…, which other gifts could they possess?
"Alma Espinosa…, but who else, I know that she has had a father and a mother…, and a little Brother.
Could it be, was it the little Brother, was it his family?
If yes, why would they attack us, shouldn´t they be glad that Abuela survived…?
What did really happen in that night?" I wondered to myself failing to notice, that someone knocked.
"Mirabel…, it´s me Louisa I am here to help…, if I can…, may I enter?" I heard Louisa stating, after another louder knock.
Surely she still felt frightened of my outburst from before, despite all her strength, she was easily to scare by things she could not handle or brutishly break through.
"Sure, please come on in?" I replied and a creaking sound of the door announced a visitor in my room, the enchanted Room I lived in, ever since we rebuild Casita.
Maybe I had no gift but I finally had my own room, no more nursery for me.
It were both, mother and Tia Pepa, who suggested that we should all rearrange new rooms, after all Tio Bruno had to get a new room as well.
His Hermanas were not to let him go back inside the walls of the house, even if he would have planned for that, which he actually did not.
I think his plan was to likely build himself a cabin, somewhere in the woods, away from all eyes and yet still close enough to his family, but both, Mother and Tia Pepa loudly protested, saying that, if anything, he should live in town.
Especially Tia Pepa, she was the loudest and the crassest to complain, using words I should probably not repeat, if I wanted to keep my butt from hurting for the rest of the week.
Let´s just say that, despite the fact that she uses to call everybody else out for it, she is the one to cuss the most in this family.
And she had a lot to cuss about in the last few months, being able to do so for a long time without harming other people, beside of verbal harm.
The frustration of 45 years was let go by her, in one single week.
Mother forbid me to come within hearing range of her for the rest of these days, same as Antonio.
"Woaah, I saw that it was ripped earlier, but I did not expect it to be damaged that much." Louisa stated as she looked at my dress which I tried to safe, with needle and thread.
She sat herself on my bed, nervous and unsure how to approach me,
"I know…, and I just was finished…, thankfully it is but just a sleeve, but still…" I stated and looking at the dress made me once more aware of what happened before.
I wasn´t aware that I cried until the first few droplets of tears fell on the dress.
"Mirabel…, are you…, what am I even asking here, its obvious you are not okay…" Louisa asked as she tried to hug me for comfort.
"I´m fine…, it´s just…, it´s just…
It´s just not fair…, I never meant for all this trouble to go down on her engagement dinner, you know that, it was never in my intention to hurt anybody and if Dolores would have kept her mouth shut, then no one would have had to know, until Father and I had more information about it.
But this here, this was no accident…, this here was intentional, she wanted to ruin my night, my Gift Ceremony, everything…, who knows what this voice would have made her do, if you hadn´t stopped her…, or what she had initially planned to do…, what if that plan is still in motion and her attacking me is but only a distraction?" I stated as I cried in Louisa´s shoulder, it was ages ago that I was last comforted by her.
"There, there, I know…" She stated as she held and cradled me, as she had sometimes done so, when we were younger.
She might be only 4 years older than me, but she was always strong and tactful in those kinds of situations.
Sure, she had her own wild phase in her youth, but the older she got, the more maturity she gained.
"Will she be alright?" I asked as I looked at Louisa, the same seemed a little surprised before smiling.
"I´m sure she will, she is currently still confused as well as shocked and ashamed…, it might take some time, but if you show her that she still has a place in your heart, despite of all, I am sure she will recover sooner than later.
Still, I can understand if you do not which to see her for a while, you too have to sort many things out within yourself and I do think that a little distance might help you guys.
Although, Dolores wanted to do a girls-night after your ceremony…, but I think we postpone this for the time being…
For now, we better see that we can somehow save this dress, if we do, I am certain that your Ceremony will run off without any problems, also, I am there to make sure, nothing happens." Louisa stated and I nodded.
Whining about things that have already happened, isn´t going to get me anywhere anyways.
Right now, it was time to put in some last-minute work.
With needle and thread, I managed to somehow repair the dress, instead of re-sewing the sleeve which had partially been ripped at the seams and partially at the sleeve itself, I decided to go old-school, I cut the seams of the other sleeve as well, making it look like a taller version of my initial dress from 10 years ago.
However instead of white with simple golden embroidery, had it, similar to my everyday dress, symbols representing the gifts of all the others, stitched into the back, it should have been symbolic as my family having my back…
But…
"Should I leave it or…, I am unsure?" I thought to myself as I looked at the flowers, symbolic for Isabella´s gift…, did she really got my back…, or was she more likely to stab it instead?
"Mirabel?" Louisa asked, having seen my glance and where it was heading.
"She is still your sister." Both she and the voice in my head stated.
"I know it is hard and I know a lot of harsh words have been said, though on both sides, but let´s not discuss about that…, fact is, that sometimes in a family you fight, maybe and hopefully not that often but to a functioning family a fight here and there, is sometimes necessary.
Just because we are family, does not mean that we always agree to everything, we all have individual personalities, likes and dislikes and so also different opinions of perhaps the same theme.
Different views colliding can mean conflict and even if it sometimes escalates, it is up to us to decide for how long we will let it escalate…
Now, I could let you take these flowers, symbolic for Isabella´s gift, away…, but would it really make you happy, or make you feel like you are in the right…, maybe you hate her now, I could understand that, really…, but Isabella I still your sister…
You cannot just erase her out of your life…, especially not over a petty little fight like this…, eventually you are going to reconcile and your relationship might get better again, maybe not tomorrow or in a week but eventually…
But can you then live on, with the knowledge that you, on your special day, have cut out your sister…, out of your life…, not to mention, it is still a fact, that we do not know, in how far this other person in her, has taken control over the mind of our sister and for how long, as far as I can tell from her words earlier, she has been manipulating Isa since several weeks.
Now I do not want to make excuses for Isabella, but we all know that she has had it hard as well, she was perhaps the one most pressured by Abuela, of all of us, since Abuela had her eyes constantly on her, never once let her stray from the path she had paved for Isabella, for 16 long years Isabella was basically manipulated and, in a way, brainwashed by Abuela.
And I do not want to justify how Isabella took out her frustration on you, and not on anyone else.
She could have handled things better, she could have called upon us, asking for our help…, she should have and if not us, she still could have asked our cousins for advice.
I know we all are a long way away from being a functioning family again, I too have done or not done things I should or shouldn´t have, I am not proud of the role I played in all of this, believe me….
When I see how Dolores and her family are with each other, I sometimes wish, we too could go back to how it was before…
Before I was more concerned about getting my chores and all the work in the Encanto done, than about the wellbeing of my own siblings and parents." Louisa stated as she reached over and grabbed the things, which I asked her for.
"I won´t ask you to forgive Isabella so easily, I don´t think she deserves that already, neither do I for not being there for you when you really needed me…, but I want you to at least consider it, consider forgiving Isabella…, if not for her, then for mother, at the very least.
I know she thinks the same way, she too is sad and sorry, for not always being there for us, when we really would have needed it, but I know she wants just the best for all of us.
She puts in special effort in our breakfast and dinner every day, to make sure that one each of us is as healthy as we can be and if one of us would still get sick, she is always there to take care about us, just like Father, of course there are sometimes moments, where he is a literal doormat infront of Abuela, but he tries his best, every day, even if it gets him in trouble with the local Fauna and Flora.
Both just want us to succeed in life, while living it the way we see fit.
For the longest of times this wish remained unfulfilled, since we all lived under Abuela´s iron rule…, but nowadays, I think things might change and their vision might become true, if we too put in some work, won´t you agree?" She asked me and I nodded.
"But for that, we all need to get a move on, all of us, Isabella included, we all need to learn to appreciate each other and to not look down on the effort another one makes.
Each of us has a gift, not the Gifts of the Candle, no, we all have a certain characteristic about us, which is unique and which represents us better than any magical gift could ever do.
Yours is your insight, selflessness and compassion, you always want the best for other people, always want to help them, no matter what, of course you wish to get rewarded with affection and appreciation, but ultimately you do it to help other people.
Mirabel you have such a noble soul and that is your greatest gift." Louisa stated, before once more pecking my cheeks one by one.
"And let no one tell you otherwise." She stated and I looked at her with happy tears in my eyes.
"Thanks Louisa." I stated and I embraced her once more.
"Anytime hermana…, anytime..." She replied as she returned the hug.
Part 2: The not-so-secret Secret
"Mirabel, it is about time, Abuela asked us to get you!" Dolores stated after she knocked and entered.
"Oh wow…, you look great." She stated and I smiled as she scanned me up and down.
After putting on the dress and looking for any loose ends, that I could still mend, Louisa helped me do my hair.
Usually, the same was almost unable to be tamed, and although I was slightly worried about Louisa being the one to try and comb it, I have to admit that she did it rather gently.
"I´m not always brutish you know; I know when and where to use my full forces." She stated with a smile when she began brushing and I nodded before I let her do her thing…., and what a thing it was, this sheer untamable nest finally looked presentable, put together in a loose curly ponytail.
Accentuated with the white dress it looked elegant and mature, as far as a 15-year-old girl can look mature, that is.
"Thanks…, though I had to quickly re-tailor it, since unfortunately, Isabella ripped one of the sleeves off." I stated as I twirled around, though there were last minute changes to be made, ultimately the re-tailored dress got done just in time.
Truly last-minute though.
"Anyways you look breathtaking." Antonio, who came along with Dolores, stated and I felt how I blushed.
"Thanks, Hombrecito, that really means a lot to me, not to mention, you look just as breathtaking." I stated sincerely as I picked him up.
Same as during his own ceremony he once more wore his special suit, for special occasions.
"I guess for being so sweet, I give you the honor of putting on the last touch, would you help me?" I asked him and he nodded eagerly while stroking through my smooth hair.
With him on my arms, I went to my Work desk and opened one of the drawers, in it laid a big golden Butterfly hairpin.
And yes it was made out of pure gold.
Other than crafting Jewels and ornaments with it, we could not really do much with the gold we found in the Encanto and let me tell you, the mountains were quite rich with it, same as diamonds and other gemstones and precious metals, curtesy of them rising from the ground, upon the Encanto´s creation, but here in our home, this closed-off space, all of those were less worth than wheat.
Wheat becomes flour and flour becomes bread, bread feeds you, but gold cannot do that, after all,… also, what was it really worth, if everyone possessed some?
"I made that one a couple of weeks ago and I hoped I could one day wear it, be it for a wedding or something different, though I am surprised myself how quickly I got an opportunity….
I´m just glad, Isa didn´t saw it and broke it., the dress I can fix but a broken Hairpin, there was a lot of work put in it." I stated but muttered the last part, though Antonio was close enough to hear it either way.
"Are you hating Isabella now?" He asked with childish Innocence.
"No…, I don´t hate her…, I´m just deeply disappointed about the whole ordeal…, but I guess maybe I am also a little to blame, something I did must have made her act like that, I just hope I can reconcile with her one day." I stated, hoping he would not question any further.
How could I tell those bright and worried eyes, that me and my sister were on so bad terms, that I do not even truly wish to see her at my Ceremony tonight.
"Antonio insisted that it should be him, to lead you down the stairs, just like you did for him." Dolores stated, as she looked at her little brother with pride, playfully ruffling his hair to overplay the awkward silence and to take his mind of that theme, I saw her winking and I winked back.
Forgiving or not forgiving Isabella Madrigal…., that was something for the future me, not for tonight.
"Thanks a lot Antonio, I really appreciate it, you deserve a heartfelt squeeze for that." I stated as I pressed a kiss on his cheek.
"Woooah, holla Mamacita, who do we have here, I haven´t seen you around, are you new in town?" I heard someone whistle from the door and although I knew it was in jest, I just had to roll my eyes, this was so…
"Geez Camilo, your pick-up lines also used to be better." Dolores stated, as she shoved her little brother, who smiled sheepishly as he entered my room, stepping next to her.
I might have yelled earlier in anger about privacy and about people deliberately barging into my room, etcetera, but honestly, I was kind of glad to have them here right now, I don´t know what I would have done or which kind of thoughts would have plagued me right now, if I were alone with them.
Still, I had to keep myself from whistling as well, I had to admit, for once Camilo looked really rad.
The same was dressed in a yellow suit, wearing the little chameleon pin I once gave him as a present.
Overall, everybody seemed to be more formerly dressed, than as to Antonio´s Gift ceremony, maybe because it was also meant as the Ceremony to announce me as the next Matriarch of the Family.
How did Abuela said again, we had to look respectable.
"I think it is time, Abuela and Tia Julietta are already on their way." Dolores explained as she listened in to the sound within the house.
"What about Isa?" I asked and I was certain they all heard the strained tone in my voice of trying to make it sound as casual as I could.
"She is coming too, though it seems that both your parents had to force her, she feels deep shame for what she did, she even cried, I could hear it all the way down to the kitchen, when we prepared the food for tonight." She stated and although I felt bad for hearing that Isa cried…, I still could not really feel much pity for her.
"Dad and I will stay at her side, to both give support as well as restrain her, should that person overtake her again, I guess right now she is even more vulnerable as before." Louisa stated and I nodded, at least, with Louisa being there, I could be certain that there won´t come much of a disturbance from her…, at least, I hope so…
"Mirabel, my dear, are you…, oh…, woow, you look very beautiful, breathtaking beautifully." Mother stated when she and Abuela knocked and entered the room.
She was so moved, that tears of joy formed in her eyes.
"Turn around, turn around, I want to see you from all sides." She demanded and I obeyed gladly, I twirled once and twice and I could hear some breaths being hold.
"My sweet daughter surely has become a young woman." Mom said as she took me in an embrace and kissed me multiple times.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see how Dad walked past the door, looking inside with an approving nod, next to him, her arm in a strong hold, was none other but Isabella, she too looked but beside a small nod, she didn´t give much of a reaction, not that I would have given anything on it.
She has broken my trust too much, as if I would give anything on her opinion anymore, at least not for the next few months.
Given the hope that we still have any opportunity and months to be mad at each other.
"You shine so bright, like no princess ever can…, this really makes me think about how often I have looked at you and yet not have truly seen you, I should probably go buy myself a new pair of glasses, my eyesight must be getting worse, otherwise I cannot explain to myself, how I could ever overlook such a beautiful Granddaughter." Abuela stated and I knew this was her way of trying to compliment me, as well as to make up for all the times she simply overlooked me.
Although I appreciated it, it was still a long way from healing what had been damaged for all those years…
But it was a start…, at the very least.
Suddenly Casita flipped my Alarm-clock into the air right before our nose.
"Whoops, careful." I stated as I caught her just in time.
"Ay Dios Mio, it´s almost eight o´clock , the guests are soon coming, we need to prepare, everyone get to your positions, Louisa you stay here with Mirabel and Antonio, Casita will tell you when to come, alright." Abuela stated and we all nodded while the others all left my room.
"Just in case you haven´t got it earlier, you look very, very beautiful tonight Mi Mariposa." Camilo stated as he embraced me.
"Gee, thanks Sobrino, you also look rather smooth tonight, I bet the ladies will fight each other, just to get to dance with you." I stated with hopes…
"Even if you would be the only one, who wants to dance with me tonight, that would be fine too, I would very much appreciate it." Camilo stated and so also shattered my hope…
He was still not over it, I guess…, even though that happened two years ago.
"It would be my honor." I simply stated as I pecked him on the cheek, before he too left the room.
.
.
.
The silence their parting left was a little awkward, especially after Camilo´s little display of affection.
"So…, shall I ask or…?" Louisa asked unsure.
"You mean the fact that Camilo is in love with Mirabel…? Sure, you can ask about that…, Dolores told me." Antonio stated as I whirled around and looked at him in shock…, but I looked not nearly as shocked as Louisa did.
"Huh, wait…, whaaat?" The poor girl asked.
She used to be so caught up in her work, that half of the time, she didn´t know what went down in the House of Madrigal.
"Woah, okay…, this is quite the bombshell…, how did that come to be if I may ask?" Louisa asked, both confused and unsure if it was not a delicate theme.
"Remember Florence Osvaldo?" I asked her.
"Senor Osvaldo´s niece?" She replied and I nodded.
"Camilo was in love with her and shortly about to ask her out about three years ago or so, back then he was still loving to do mischief, so one day he shapeshifted into the form of Michelangelo, again..." I began to tell.
"The Baker-apprentice?" Louisa asked, obviously she knew him well, since she also often helped out in the Mill, to grind the wheat to flour, when the donkeys were too sick to move the grindstone, there she often met him when he came to get the prepared bags of flour.
He was a year older than Louisa, as much as I knew and although not as handsome as Mariano Guzman, was he still strong and good looking and the love-interest of many the girls in town.
As much as I know, Louisa too seemed to be quite interested in him, which was indicated by her cheeks turning red by the mere mentioning of his name.
"Anyways he became Michelangelo and strolled through town, that when he was halted by a mob of girls, under them unfortunately for him, also Florence.
Of course, none of them were able to distinguish him from the real Michelangelo, as many could not, once Camilo shapeshifted, as long as he does not open his mouth, that is.
Well, you can imagine what went down, they all wooed over him, trying to get him, Michelangelo, to look their way, once he was literally surrounded, he asked for the girls to calm down and then he stated that there are also other boys in town, who wish to get a chance with them and that he naturally can only have one girlfriend.
But they waved him off, saying that the other boys were too immature as to compete with a real man like him.
Then he asked about himself, about how they viewed Camilo Madrigal…, I don´t know the details but apparently the following conversation was rather saddening and sobering for Camilo.
He returned back home as himself…, I don´t know if he transformed back right after he asked or if he let them believe that he was Michelangelo, until he was alone.
Whatever went down back then, he hasn´t talked about, nor with Florence, ever since.
Naturally as so often he came to me to cry himself out, but he did not, he just leaned against my shoulder and said that I was the only one to ever understand him.
A couple of months later he asked me out…" I stated and Louisa listened with eyes that went bigger and bigger, with both shock and excitement, wanting to know what happened next.
"Naturally, I had to turn him down, he is still my Sobrino, he is family, of course we cannot be together…, but I tried to be gentle with him, told him that I was honored and if I weren´t his Sobrina, or any kind of family, I could well imagine it." I continued and Louisa gasped to that comment.
"Yeah, I know…, it was a figure of speech but apparently this must have given him the idea that he still had somewhat of a chance…, and I am not heartless enough to completely scare him away…, or maybe I am just a coward in this." I stated and she shook her head.
"I won´t say it´s right to make him any hopes, which you do not actively do…, but hurting his feelings would surely backfire even more." She stated and I nodded.
"My thoughts exactly…, I hoped that over the years he would learn, that it is but impossible, we are family by blood, there is nothing we can do about that…,
Maybe there is somewhere a land or some parallel universe, where we could really be together, where things like that are allowed and not even frowned about but maybe even celebrated, but we live here in the Encanto, everybody knows that we are family, the court of the public opinion would make our lives a living hell." I stated and I knew best how the public of the Encanto can react to the tiniest stimuli.
"Well, he will have to understand eventually, at the very least once you start dating and eventually get married to someone else." Louisa explained and I nodded.
"I just hope he will not be too distraught then." I replied.
"Hey, it is noble and nice that you try to spare his feelings, but you also have to take care of your own, if you are going to be happy, you cannot make yourself unhappy just because he will be too, your happiness shall not have to be sacrificed due to his sadness, or anyone else's." Louisa explained.
"You are probably right." I stated and I felt how she patted my back gently for support.
"I wouldn´t mind if you do, I would root for you and him…, but I guess it is up to you." Antonio stated.
"Oh, Antonio my dear, you are still so sweetly innocent." I thought to myself, as I picked him up and squeezed him like a teddy-bear.
Suddenly the door was opened but no one was there, an obvious hint from Casita, that it was time to go downstairs.
The Ceremony was about to begin.
"Well then shall we?" Louisa asked and we nodded.
"Here goes nothing." I mumbled as I picked up Antonio from my lap, stood up and together we made our way downstairs.
Part 3: A Ceremony and a confession
Instead of doing the Ceremony infront of my supposed-to-be new room, like it was the case in the Ceremonies before, this time the Ceremony was held in the middle of Casita, under a starry sky.
Here, illuminated by Candles, there stood Abuela with the new Miracle Candle, waiting for me, while all eyes of the people were looking at me.
I remember how nervous their stares made me when I was 5, now, they didn´t made me that nervous, but I did feel the one or the other sweat-drop creeping out of the pores of my skin.
"Please do not break out in sweat now, please don´t…" I thought to myself in some kind of prayer or mantra.
Since there was no real precedent case for this kind of Ceremony, everything had to be improvised.
Though I bet the Candle gave Abuela at least a little insight, in how she wanted this Ceremony to go down.
It once more made me question, was the Candle really sentient or what was going on with it?
Abuela mentioned a voice speaking to her…, am I going to hear the same now…, though considering that this was a new Candle maybe it is also a new voice that speaks, who knows.
Still…, was it really wise to trust a voice in your head, that is not your own, I mean we saw where it led with Isabella…
The walk down the stairs felt like the walk of a lifetime and it felt as if an eternity passed once I was downstairs.
Antonio was with me all the way and it really helped, it kept me from panicking and hyperventilating.
While I walked down, I avoided to look into anyone´s eyes directly, afraid of what I would see, maybe high expectations, maybe rejection, some might even hate me for this…
I cannot say that, despite everything that happened and how we all made things go back the usual way, everything was over from one moment to the next…, no…, this incident and its consequences lingered over our heads, like a raincloud over Tia Pepa when she was upset.…, in a way…, people were not as forgiving as Abuela might think or wished them to be…
Some people kept their distance, rather choosing to talk behind my back, even well knowing they risk that Dolores heard them, than to straight up confront me, but there were also some hardliners and traditionalists, who came at me, after these days, telling me to watch out, so something like this never happens again or else…
It was scary, how they straight up threatened me…, and I was afraid, afraid to mess up again, afraid to let anyone down and afraid of unleashing a new catastrophe.
Now that I was supposed to become Matriarch, I had basically the same rights as Abuela held for 50 years…, but so also all the responsibility, though it was still a while until the next year begins…, I had a whole lot to learn, that I was certain.
While I was avoiding everyone´s gaze and tried to focus on my two feet instead, I made it down the stairs quicker than I liked it…
Abuela gently gestured me to stop there before she addressed the guests, the inhabitants of the Encanto.
Like back at Antonio´s gift-Ceremony, many familiar faces seemed to have gathered, from the few friends I had, who still stood loyal to me, to people I met the one or the other time, towards people I rarely met at all.
Instead of happy and joyful expressions, like some of the kids wore, just because they had not yet had to go to bed, or because they were genuinely happy for me, most of the adult´s faces I saw, had rather tense and uncertain expressions.
Just as I expected.
It was not that they weren't glad for me…, but maybe they were just wary of this whole ordeal, after all my reputation was not really the best from the beginning, especially now, even I was aware of all the rumors going around about me.
As begrudgingly as it was, Isabella was right about one thing, many people would have rather expected Dolores, Isabella herself or Louisa, or even Mom and Tia Pepa, to become the next Matriarch.
Even I do so, even now in this moment…
For it to be me instead, who not only was the youngest as well as the Giftless one, but who also had part of the responsibility for the disturbance 4 months ago, many people surely were upset about it, though they did not dare to go against Abuela´s word, even if they would very much like to.
On one hand this made me proud of the authority that came with Abuela´s Position, on the other hand it also made me aware of how worse my reputation has gotten, and that there was a lot I had to prove to them, first and foremost my credibility and capability of keeping the Encanto in one piece, after almost breaking it in two, when the magic was lost.
"It won´t be easy, to gain their trust and cooperation, that much is true." I thought to myself, as I looked at Abuela, Alma Madrigal, the force and the Authority she radiated.
Before I got to know her better, this always seemed so imposing and fearsome…, but now…., I felt admiration for it, for her, who kept the rule for 50 years, longer than most kings and queens of the old times, which the History books in our library talked about.
Once we stopped I squeezed Antonio's hand as thanks before he stepped back towards his family, seconds before Abuela opened her speech.
"We have gathered here tonight for another important ceremony, as the Candle of miracles has foretold me so 2 days ago, she has accepted my Granddaughter, Mirabel Madrigal, as her newest holder, as well as making her the next Matriarch of the Encanto." Abuela stated and a murmuring went through the people.
It was a rumor at first, someone may have heard about it when I was worrying out on the street, but now they all had confirmation
"Since 50 years our Encanto exists and for just as long, it has kept us safe from the outside world, but just as each day a new sun rises, do I too have reached my own limits, As many of you too, I am out of touch with the times, I am old-fashioned and too believing and trusting in old traditional thinking…, unfortunately this has made me unable to see the progress and the evolution of my own family for the longest of times, I was stuck in a routine I kept up for 50 years, never once wanting to stray from the path.
Maybe it worked for 50 years…, but it does work no more, times have changed, the Encanto has changed, whether we old folks like it or not.
The Future is for the future generations and as such, also a new Leader has had to be chosen.
Mirabel, my dear child, the Candle has chosen you, out of a simple reason, your heart…, your compassion and love for this family, the Townspeople and the Encanto.
It was you who first and foremost tried to safe our home, when it was put in danger of collapsing, while I as the Candleholder held on too tight on my believes and traditions, on hoping that the crisis somehow averts itself from us, instead of giving it an effort to try saving the Miracle myself.
You shouldered a burden I should had to carry and instead of appreciating it, I lashed out on you, I belittled you, I even though that you were trying to hurt the family intentionally.
In my hopes and dreams of a perfect life, there was always one part of the equation that did not match, ever since 50 years, and that was Pedro Madrigal´s lost life.
I thought that I had to grieve for the rest of my life, always having to preserve and honor his legacy, the sacrifice he made.
And although that is true somewhat, did I go and took my rage and frustration of being unable to do so, out on you, thinking that your attempts to save us were the trigger that made us hurt even more…, I know some people might even still think that way…, but that is not true…, not even in the slightest
You were always concerned about the family, always worried about the Encanto and its People, all you ever did was trying to save it and since not many people believed you, or in you, that is, we were doing nothing to help you.
But you have shown us how wrong we were, through you, I learned that it was always about the people, the persons who use these gifts and not the magic in itself.
Though a vital part of our life, is the magic not the Alpha and Omega of the Encanto, for strong magic without a purpose surely must do more damage than it does good.
After this day, this frightful day, I had time to take a look at myself, what I had accomplished all these years, and what I broke in the same lifespan.
I may have created an Encanto, a home for me and everybody in this town, for all of us who we once lost our home to enemies.
But in the same time, I also made it an uncomfortable place to live in, for two of the people, I should have hold most dear to me.
Pepa and Bruno…, I failed you, I cannot say it any better than this.
Pepa, I knew about your temper, I always did, I saw it in you everyday and over short or long, I had forgotten whom you inherited it from, not from Pedro…, but from me…, I used to have quite the temper myself when I was young and not many people could stand it…, but same as your Felix, was Pedro one of these people that actually could and it was all I needed.
But too long did I told you to keep it in check, to hide it, to suppress it, even though I should have known best how hard it was, even without a gift that was tied to your emotions.
Too long I have right-out exploited your gift, telling you what to feel when and where, in your youth I even punished you when you did not follow my orders…, instead of helping you get through these times when you had no control over your emotions, I admonished you for them.
For that, I am most sorry, it took far too long for me to see my fault. and I know some things I cannot ever repent enough for…, but I hope that you find it in your heart…, to at least forgive me a little.
I did what I was taught myself, what I experienced myself…, but I always hated it, I always hated to be treated this way and to entice the feeling in my mother that she needed to correct me…, so why did I do it to you…, I do not know myself…
Bruno…, Bruno my dear and only son, I think and believe now, that I have failed you the most, all this time, even from childhood on, you were hurting, not only under your gift but under the prejudice of the people…, the very people who asked for your gift to tell them the future.
But instead of accepting their fates they lashed out on you, if it was not favorable for them…, and I am sorry that I did not defended you as a mother should have.
Instead of doing so I even went as far as to join in… whenever something happened that you foretold or which was not favorable for the family, I made it look as though it was your fault…, because I was too much of a coward to admit that this solely was our fate.
I should have known and explain to the people that all you can do, is to see the fates of people, not entice them into happening, not summoning them and most definitely not want them all to happen.
Too long I failed to correct the people in how they treated you…, in how I treated you myself, I never can undo this and it may have broken you far too much…, I don´t know if you hate me…" Abuela stated but Bruno shook his head in denial.
"But I hope you can believe me when I say, that I am so, so sorry, for how I did not give you the love a mother should have given her one and only son…" Abuela stated and suddenly she was embraced by both her Children who cried on both her shoulders.
She gently patted their back as she may have done when they all were younger.
"Julieta my oldest, you too I have failed the one of the other time, maybe not as much as your siblings, but to you I have done something even worse…, I took you your daughters…, in the metaphorical sense of course.
I took you Isabella…, my oldest Grandchild, who I tried to mold into the woman I once wished myself to be, to live a happy and perfect live, like I imagined it.
A life that was not hers…, a life that was not mine to decide upon.
Too long I have tried to bring my perfect vision to life, to see myself in her…, even though we are both fully different people at the very core, too long I ignored the voice that told me to stop, that told me to take a real look at her instead, to see how dissatisfied she really was…, how much I have hurt her by not accepting her true self.
Even more so, I almost forced her to marry, even though she did not want to get married, or at least not to the one I thought would be best for her.
Even now she still feels as though she has to please me, as though she still has to be perfect.
Isabella my child…, I failed you…" Abuela exclaimed.
"No Abuela you didn´t, it was not you who failed me, I failed you, I should have…" Isabella exclaimed in desperation.
"The only thing you should have done, my dear sweet child, was to live your life…, your life and not mine…, nor the vision I had for mine to play out.
You may say I am not to blame, but I am very much responsible for all what has happened to you, the good things, but even more so the bad things.
A child is bound to make mistakes and it is at us, the adults, to help them not to do the same mistakes twice and although it takes time to teach them that, denying them this time, telling them to be perfect and flawless right from the start, is putting them through too much pressure, pressure they cannot handle over long.
Pressure that causes them pain, inner pain they are too afraid to show, in fear of being admonished for it.
And if they then go vent their frustration on other people, it is very much the fault of the one, the oppressor, who puts that pressure on them, in the first place…, in your case me.
For that I will take full responsibility, for all you have done wrong in your life, up until now." Abuela stated and made Isabella cry and fall to her knees in dismay.
People were astounded and shocked of what happened here, heck even I did not understand what was happening anymore…, was this not supposed to be my Gift Ceremony…
"Then why does it feel as though she puts herself on trial?" I whispered and as soon as those words left my lips, it dawned to me.
This was a Trial…
The candle force Abuela to come clean with everything she has done wrong in her life, everything that hurted anyone of us.
The Candle made Abuela confess her sins of the last 50 years here before all of us, and if I understood this rightfully, then I was most likely requested by the Candle to later on judge her.
"This is so not how I imagined it to myself." I thought to myself.
"Maybe, but is it really wrong, one of these days, she had to come clean with these things, sure, maybe it should not have become a public trial, but eventually this was to happen one way or another." The voice in my head stated and as much as I wished to shush her, did I had to admit that she was right.
This here had to happen, it was the natural consequence of all the things that happened.
"Louisa, my dear strong child, I did failed you as well…, whenever I looked at you…, I saw strength, unbridled, never-faltering strength…, a strength I could use, a strength I could offer to the Encanto.
Yes, that is what I should have done…, but instead I offered them my Granddaughter, I sacrificed her happiness, and her lifetime.
I made her sacrifice so much all to be of service to the people of the Encanto…, and I do not wish to speak ill of any individual, but we all took it, we all wanted you to help us in every problem we had in every problem we deemed ourselves unable to handle, even if we did not even try it before.
We all took advantage of your strength and in your endless grace and charity, you did all we ever asked of you, even if that meant that you totally overworked yourself…, and we took it for granted.
Maybe not at first, but with the years we more and more demanded of you and we more and more thought that we could just sponge off of your strength, order you to do what we wanted or needed to be done, without even once considering to do it ourselves.
We made you feel that you only ever were appreciated if you worked hard, if you could accomplish all the chores we gave you, if you could be of service to as many people as possible.
Too late I realized that this behavior of us, or myself, was slowly so slowly breaking you, not visibly and not from the outside, but from the inside.
My child, I have failed you and even now, so long after realizing that, I have yet no idea how I can ever recompensate you for all of that.
You were never a material girl, as much as I can tell from my memory, but if there is anything you want, please tell me right away and I will see, so that you get it in no time." Abuela stated and this one was massive.
Anything you want, and without a limit as it sounded…, I wonder what Louisa will wish herself, what does she desire.
She never really told much about herself and she never daydreamed when I was in close proximity, so I had no idea what she could probably want…, what was important enough to ask her, now more than willing, Abuela, to get it for her.
As I looked at her from afar I saw how she stood there in shock but also in excitement, her eye was twitching in nervousness, while she put on one of her best but fakest smiles, pretending that everything was alright, just like always.
All while still holding Isabella in her grasp.
"Camillo…" Abuela said and the boy in question looked shocked to even be addressed right now.
"I don´t know where I have to begin, maybe by apologizing not to have appreciated you more, maybe from the beginning on I only ever saw you as your gift, a convenient reduplication of everyone living in the Encanto.
Whenever I needed someone, I asked you to turn into them, instead of just asking you, you yourself, to help us, I always required you to be everyone I needed at any time.
Though I can say with certainty, that as much as I have exploited your gift, you yourself did as well, I still remember all the mischief you could cause by using your gift, some was funny, I got admit and always worth laughing..., but I always wondered how you must feel deep inside when I ordered you to use your gift, were you happy to be of service, or were you depressed because I did not ask you, but rather your gift.
I thought a long time about it and …, I honestly did not come to any conclusion, are you now happy or unhappy with your gift, I just can´t seem to find an answer to it…, so, if you ever wish to really talk about it, I will have an open ear for you, without prejudice." Abuela stated and Camillo seemed to brighten up all of a sudden, his usual, yeah-okay-fine-mood was a tough it was blown away by the wind.
He smiled at Abuela and the same ruffle his hair lovingly, I have never seen Abuela do that to him, ever since Camillo got his gift.
"Dolores, I…" Abuela stated but Dolores stopped her.
"You do not need to apologize, I may have said that sometimes my gift sure is a burden, but you are not to blame for that, this gift depends on my surrounding, sometimes it helps me very much and sometimes I feel it just being too much, that's when I am glad when I can be in my room, away from all the noise, just me and myself or those people who come visit me from time to time.
Though if anyone has to apologize it is me, I know some things are tend to stay secret and more than once, when I was overwhelmed with having to keep one secret too much to myself, because I accidently heard about it, I just blurted it out…, I must apologize for that…
You may want to blame yourself, but I listened for you, Abuela, just as much as I listened for myself or other people, so no one is directly to blame, when sometimes it is all too much for me, or when I accidentally hear things, I am not supposed to hear.
Though I would appreciate it, when people would keep their nightly activities on hold, until I go to bed, mostly at the same time, at 11 o´clock pm." Dolores replied solemnly and I saw many people blushing or hiding their faces in shame.
Everybody knew Dolores could hear it from miles away, so they only got themselves to blame, I guess.
At last, Abuela directed her gaze at me, and once more it was silent.
Part 4: Scala Justitiae
"Mirabel…, I have addressed it before but I must say it once more.
I have treated you wrong, worse than I have treated the rest of this family, with exception of Bruno…,
It is still unclear to me, who I have hurted more, Bruno. who has had a gift but which I never learned to truly appreciate, or you, who had no gift and whom I neglected and pushed aside?
I have failed to notice your greatness, kindness and your true worth for the longest time and I can never forgive myself for that, I do not beg for forgiveness for I deserve none of that from you.
More than anything I should have been there for you, I should have kept you from grieving alone, from feeling ostracized, but instead I was the one who brought you grief and who ostracized you the most.
In your story I am somewhat of a villain, I know that, and even I have seen my errors, have seen how much of a hurdle to overcome I happened to be for a child of 5 years.
How much I have hurted you in the last 10 years.
I don´t ask for your forgiveness, but I ask you to allow me to repent for this most-greatest of all sins.
I, Alma Andrea Victoria Madrigal, offer this candle, the new Miracle, born from the Loyalty and the bond we all forged together when we were rebuilding our beloved Casita, towards you, Mirabel Valentina Rojas Madrigal.
May it be the beginning of your story, your very own magical story.
The candle fulfills you one wish, one single wish, but it must come from the deepest of your heart…, but if I may ask of you, I want you to use this wish to judge over me…" Abuela stated and I inertly closed my eyes as everyone gasped.
"I knew it." I thought to myself.
I was certain, whether it was Abuela´s own wish or not, the Candle would make me judge her either way.
"I ask of you, dearest Child, will you accept this Candle, with all of its merits and burdens, will you promise to keep an eye on the family, help where I have failed to help, judge where I have failed to judge…, and protect what I failed to protect…?" Abuela asked as she held the candle towards me.
I knew, I could no longer decline when I saw her eyes, the glance in it, a glance I haven´t seen for 10 long years but always longed to see once more, just as I longed to be hugged by her again…, it was hope, hope and trust…, in me.
"I will." I stated as I took all of my courage at once and touched the candle.
I almost already though that I had failed again, but all of a sudden, I could feel how my hands got warm, the candle in my hands began to heat up and the flame flared wildly.
All of a sudden, a single spark arose from the candle it was bright and seemed to pulsate.
"Will you accept me, will you bring judgment to those who do you wrong, to those who hurt what is most treasured to you?" A voice stated but it was neither Abuela´s nor the voice in my head, and it also did not seem, as though anyone else could hear it, not even Dolores.
Although the tone in which she spoke was gentle, her Words were sharp and cold, almost unforgiving, she asked me, but also ordered me…, there was a certain pressure in it, not a bad one…, it seemed more, as though the voice spoke in urgency, as if she wanted me to make a decision as soon as possible and favorably a positive one.
In regards of what had happened before, the voice that seemingly was able to control Isabella, and so most likely also the townspeople, as well as the words she spoke at the end, it was certain that we were already under attack, and so I knew I had to make a momentous decision…, this was a crossroad in my life and it was at me to decide which way to go…
Considering where I was right now and what was happening, that all the expectation was once more directed at me…, as well as in regard of what I have waited for 10 long years, as well as weighing off the possible consequences in my head and heart, I knew what I had to answer…
"I, Mirabel Valentina Rojas Madrigal, will bring Judgment to all those, who try to harm my Family, my people as well as my home, the Encanto!" I answered towards the candle and the spark began to shine brighter and brighter, until it became a flame of fire, but she was not fire-red but golden and radiant.
Before I could react, the flame floated towards me and dived right into my chest, I could feel her warmth, gentle and yet strong in my heart.
The warmth began to spread and before I knew it, I felt the heat all inside of me.
"Avatar of Judgment, I now lay my force in your hands, may your judgment always be righteous and never driven by your own desire, greed or malevolence, this is the law yours have to follow!" The voice stated.
"I accept!" I replied and all of a sudden, the blinding light began to dim again.
"Did…, did it work?" I heard the murmuring of the people, once I was able to hear and see something again.
"Mirabel, look!" I could hear Louisa exclaiming loudly, as she pointed at the candle in my hands, I followed where her finger pointed, only to see how the candle began to change.
From clear and white, the candle suddenly was colored in a royal blue while the Candle´s flame flared up in a bright golden color.
There, where once the butterfly of the Madrigals was engraved, symbolic for Abuela´s hope for the future of the Family and the Encanto, was now something entirely different engraved.
"Is this…, a sword?" Dolores asked unsure.
"Yeah, but not only, look there seems to be a shield which seem to stand infront of it." Louisa explained as she pointed at it.
"Yes, but also…, is that a scale?" Mother asked unsure as I looked at it myself.
Indeed, A shield with a Sword standing upright behind it, and in front of the shield stood what seemed to be a scale, all of it was engraved in gold and shimmered just like the flame did.
"What does this mean?" I could hear Antonio ask.
"It means…, that I have become the righteous judge and the protector of the Family..." I stated, but of course all I earned were confused glances.
For better or for worse, I knew now what my new gift was supposed to be…
"And I have to judge you now…" I murmured as I looked at Abuela.
For better or for worse…, but definitely for the future of the Encanto, I will have to state my verdict…
To be continued…
A/N: Hello and welcome to a new Chapter of Familiar Stranger, I hope this Chapter has pleased you, it is a little on the bigger size than the previous chapters and there might well come some that are even bigger but I will try to keep it, at most, under 15k words, if I can.
On another note, I will go on a little hiatus up until the middle of June and then from the end of July to the beginning of August so I can focus on preparing my Cosplays for two Anime/Manga-Conventions in Germany.
In the meantime, please give me your suggestions, in form of a PM, on what you think should be Alma Madrigals Judgement.
Until then…
Sincerely, yours truly, The storyteller and his Books.
