Normal-talking
Italics-singing
Today was a very important day in the Encanto. A birthday in the family Madrigal, but not just any birthday. It was Mila and Mirabel's sixteenth birthday, and this was going to be unlike any birthday they'd had before.
You see, for the last ten years, Mila and Mirabel didn't get to have a real birthday because of what happened at their gift ceremony. Mila couldn't even celebrate on her own when she got to see her room for the first time by herself; she just didn't have the heart to relish in it right after seeing her cousin hurt and humiliated.
Even after Mila started to enjoy her room, her and Mirabel's birthdays just weren't fun anymore. People either overlooked them on their birthdays, or played their game of Guess Mila's Gift Until She Gets Really Annoyed.
But this year, it would be different. Mila decided she wanted to surprise Mirabel this time. She'd always been there for everyone in the family no matter what, and was talented and a wonder friend even without a gift.
Mila was looking through some wooden carvings she'd made to be a topper for the birthday cake. It being both girls' birthday, and them liking different things, setting up the party was tricky. Mila liked tres leches cake, but Mirabel liked vanilla. Mila's favorite color was purple, while Mirabel's was turquoise. Mila liked horses best, but Mirabel liked butterflies.
Mila found a carving of Mirabel.
"Hmm... too lonely."
She picked up one that looked like her and put it next to the Mirabel statue.
"A little better. But..." mila saw Chika chewing one of her carvings. "Chika!"
She telepathically pulled the carving to her hand to clean it up.
Mila sighed. "Come on, Milagro. This for you and your favorite cousin."
"Mila! Look what we made!" Antonio called
Mila looked at what her little cousin was pointing to. It was a banner with the words Feliz CumpleaƱos Mila & Mira in big colorful letters, and some handprints of finger paint, not doubt done with a little help from the twins.
"It's beautiful, Tonito." Mila said. "I'm sure Mirabel will love it. Everything has to be perfect."
"Mila, relax." Bruno said. "It's your birthday too."
"I know, Papi." Mila said. "But it's also the first time Mirabel can have the birthday she deserves. After how she helped the family last year, she deserves a big birthday."
"Camilo! Don't touch the cake!" Alicia shouted, making Camilo freeze as he was trying to take a taste of the birthday cake.
"Camilo..." said Mila, walking to her cousin.
"But it's vanilla and tres leches with buttercream icing." Camilo said.
"And it's for Mirabel and me," said Mila gently.
"And it's for you and Mirabel." Camilo repeated, backing up from the cake. "Happy birthday, prima."
"Gracias," said Mila. "Okay, I'm gonna get Mirabel out of here so everyone can finish setting up. Chika, you'll be in charge of guarding that cake."
Chika barked as though saying "Yes, Ma'am!" And she sat in a firm stance like a trained guard dog.
It was early in the day, so Mirabel was still asleep. Casita even kept the shutters closed to make sure Mirabel would stay asleep.
Mila was already wearing her new purple birthday dress, and she quietly walked over to the side of Mirabel's bed.
"Mirabel," sang Mila. "Feliz CumpleaƱos. Happy birthday."
"To you..." Mirabel sang in her sleep.
"It's your birthday too, Mirabel." Mila said.
"To me too. It's our birthday." Mirabel then opened her eyes and sat up. "It's our birthday?"
"Si, prima." Mila held up a brand new turquoise dress she made for Mirabel. Mirabel wasn't the only one who could work with a needle (as long as Mila used her telepathy, after the third time she pricked her finger) "Now it's time to get dressed."
As Mirabel got her glasses and went to change into her new dress, Mila began to sing.
"You haven't had a real birthday before, except, of course,the ones you spent behind a locked door. So I'm here very late, to help you celebrate and be your birthday date, if I may...Ah-choo!"
After Mila sneezed, Mirabel's pillow jumped up into the air.
"Mila, I'm thinking you might have a cold." Mirabel sang.
"I don't get colds. Besides, " Mila chuckled. "a cold never bothered me, anyway."
Mila picked up a vine that led out the window
"Just follow the vines."
And the two cousins climbed the vines outside the Casita so Mirabel wouldn't see the party being set up.
I've got big plans.
I've got surprises for today.
Mila opened a wrapped box they were led toward to reveal a butterfly bracelet inside, which Mila placed on Mirabel.
Nothing but nothing's gonna get in our way.
I've worked for weeks.
They walked to a furniture shop, where Mila opened a cabinet to reveal a music box.
Planned everything within my power.
I even got Isa to grow our favorite flowers.
If someone wants to hold me back,
I'd like to see them try.
I'm on the birthday plan of attack.
I'm giving you the sun, the moon, and the sky.
I'm making today a perfect day for you.
I'm making today a blast if it's the last thing I do.
For everything you are to me and all you've been through,
I'm making today a perfect day for you.
Ah-choo!
Some benches started to float as Mila sneezed.
Ah-choo!
Potted plants floated up this time.
"They come in threes." said Mirabel.
"I'm fine." Mila insisted.
Ah-choo! And a man was thrown up to a roof as Mila sneezed a bigger sneeze.
Meanwhile, the family was still putting the party together, but things started to randomly float in the air.
"Watch out!" Pepa exclaimed, nearly thundering the gift table.
"Mami! Watch the cake!" Camilo exclaimed, grabbing the cake before it could get struck by lightning or rained on.
"AY!" Bruno screamed as he was tossed into the air. Luckily, Isabela grew a branch for him to grab onto and carrying him back down to the floor.
"Keep the party on the ground!" Julieta called.
"I'm on it, Mama!" Luisa exclaimed, jumping in.
Mila guided Mirabel to even more surprises. So far they found a handmade cloak for Mirabel, a butterfly pillow, a bag of polvorosas, and a tiara that matched her dress like Mila's. (Mirabel was surprised to see her cousin switch her goggles for a tiara, even for their birthday)
"Surprise, surprise! This one especially...Ah-choo!" Mila sneezed into her elbow. She grabbed a wagon, which happened to also be a gift, as the others were becoming a lot for Mirabel to carry in her arms.
Mirabel, of course, voiced her concerns for Mila.
"Whoa, you've got me reeling, but I'm still concerned for you. I think it's time that you go home and get some rest.
But Mila insisted:
"We are not stopping, 'cause the next one is the best...Ah-...Ah-choo!"
The more Mila sneezed, the bigger the objects that started to float. And, Mirabel was noticing that Mila's nose was starting to turn a little red.
"Mila, you gotta go lie down."
"No way! We have to paint the town."
Mila saw a steam machine she'd invented being tested by a local doctor, and she started to breathe some in.
"But you need medical attention."
And a doctor came out with a little bottle.
"Are you sick? How 'bout a cold remedy of my own invention?"
"No thanks." Mila said, walking away.
"We'll take it." Mirabel said, taking the bottle.
They came by the church, where a choir of children was conducted by Mila to sing a song for Mirabel.
We're making today a perfect day for you.
Making today a special day.
We're singing a birthday song to make your wishes come true.
We love dear Mirabel.
"And I love you too." Mila sang.
So, we're making today a perfect day,
a fabulous day in every way.
Yes, we are making today a perfect day!
Things were still very chaotic at the Madrigal house.
"Don't let anything break!" Abuela called out, seeing everything randomly floating.
"Bruno, was Mila okay earlier?" Alicia asked, knowing the only person who could've made so many things float was her oldest daughter.
"She seemed excited, but not that upset." Bruno said. "YIPE!" He was thrown into the air again, this time with Casita turning the staircase into a slide so he'd land safely.
"Be careful with the banner!" Antonio told his birds.
"Look out!" Luisa cried out as she was thrown and landed on the floor, making it shake a little.
Augustine fell over and knocked Dolores to the floor.
Julieta quickly went to the kitchen, having a feeling she would need to heal a few people today.
"Come on, now we climb." Mila said as they came to another building.
"Mila, that's too much. You need to rest." Mirabel insisted.
Mila started to sound delirious at this point.
"We need to get to our birthday chills. I mean, thrills."
Making dreams,
making plans.
Go, go, go, go!
Follow the string to the end.
You are my very best friend.
"Mila?" Mirabel sounded really worried.
"What? I'm fine." Mila insisted as they climbed up. "We're gonna climb. We're gonna sing. Follow the string to the thing. Happy, happy, happy, merry, merry, merry, hot, cold, hot birthday!"
Mirabel managed to grab her cousin just before she could fall over the balcony. And she felt Mila's forehead. The poor girl looked really pale.
"Mila, look at you. You've got a fever. You're burning up." Mirabel said. "Alright, we can't go on like this. Let's put this day on hold. Come on, admit it to yourself.
"Okay." Mila said, defeated. "I have a cold."
Mirabel took out the remedy they'd gotten earlier and had Mila drink a little bit of it to help ease the pain and fever a little bit, and she helped her down.
"Let's get you to Mama." Mirabel said.
"I'm sorry, Mirabel." Mila sniffled. "I just wanted to give you one perfect day, but I ruined it."
"You didn't ruin anything. Let's just get you one of my mom's arepas." Mirabel smiled.
And when the front doors of Casita opened, everyone was together and yelled'
"FELIZ CUMPLEANOS!"
Mirabel could hardly believe her eyes when she saw the party, and neither could Mila despite knowing about it. And everyone sang together.
We're making today a perfect day for you.
We're making today a smiley face, all shiny and new.
"There's a fine line between chaos" Camilo said.
"and a hullabaloo." Antonio sang.
So, we're making today a perfect day.
Making today a perfect day.
Mira and Mila
Making today a perfect day for you.
"Happy birthday," Bruno smiled, seeing both his girls.
"Your future shines bright!" Bruno said.
Making today a happy day, and no feeling blue.
"It's true," smiled Bruno.
For everything you are to us
and all that you do,
we're making today a perfect day!
Making today a perfect day!
Making today a perfect day!
"Perfect day!" Mila sang.
"Okay, you need my mom's cooking pronto." Mirabel said.
Mila sneezed again, and Camilo nearly dropped the cake as it jumped.
"So that's why everything kept floating." Alicia said.
"Ay, Mila. Why didn't you tell me you were sick?" Julieta said.
"I didn't even tell me," said Mila, trying to hold back another sneeze.
Julieta brought an arepa and gave Mila a bite. And Mila felt much better, and just in time to really enjoy the party.
"Best birthday gift ever," said Mirabel.
"Which one?" Mila asked.
"Letting me take care of you for once." Mirabel said, hugging her cousin. "Happy birthday, Mila."
"Happy birthday, Mirabel." Mila smiled, hugging her cousin back.
And together, the twins made a wish and blew out their candles.
