In case I forget, for the duration of the story, Pepa, Julieta, and Bruno are all Fifteen, Camilo is Eighteen, Antonio is sixteen, and Dolores is Five.
Let me know if you have any questions.
PS: Thank you to everyone who was helping me out with new lyrics to The Family Madrigal.
Thank you, enjoy!
The approaching morning stretched across the village of Encanto, bringing in beautiful sunlight and the promise of a new day.
The house of the Family Madrigal bloomed as the sun shone upon Casita. Evening clouds evaporated, allowing more sunlight to spread throughout town, and flowers began to bloom underneath the lights.
Sunlight entered the house of the Family Madrigal, reflecting off the golden doors lining the hallways. Each one displays a different member of the Madrigal Family and their extraordinary gift. The glow of every door cast a bright light across the Casita, the golden lights chasing away the dark shadows of the night out from every corner.
However, there was a single corner of the house that remained covered in shadows, a dark green archway with a small set of stairs that led to Bruno Madrigal's Tower.
Bruno's door stood isolated from the other doors of the family, secluded in the shadows. The luminous image on the door was the same as it had been ten years ago when the magical room was first created. Displayed in glowing lights was a grown Bruno Madrigal, his arms raised at his side as multiple hourglasses and misty clouds surrounded him. Bruno's eyebrows furrowed with concentration, but it also made the boy appear furious as well.
Just then, the towers' door opened, and fifteen-year-old Bruno Madrigal stepped out onto the short staircase.
Bruno had grown since his gift ceremony, his dark curly hair flopped around his head. The teen wore a long-sleeved white undershirt, dark pants, and a long green ruana, that was at least three sizes too big on him but his mother always insisted that he'd grow into it, eventually.
Before the bedroom door closed, three small rats scurried out from the room; Bruno's close friends, Oscar, Rosita & Little Pedro. Smiling at his tiny friends, Bruno began making his way downstairs, his friends followed just behind his heels.
As the teen made his way down the stairs, he knocked his knuckles against the wooden railing in a rhythmic pattern, muttering softly to himself, "Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock! Knock on wood!"
The teen was on his last few steps, however, before he could step out into the hallway, Bruno suddenly stopped. His hands gripping onto the edges of the doorway and his left foot hovering in the air just above the hall floor.
With confused squeaks, the rat trio looked up at their human companion. Bruno had his eyes closed as he gently inhaled and exhaled.
"Make your family proud," He whispered to himself.
Opening his eyes with hardened determination, Bruno stepped out into the hallway.
As everyone began waking up in their rooms, Casita opened all the window shutters, streaming sunlight through the house.
Making his way down the hall, Bruno waved to his Tìa Luisa, who was carrying two tall potted plants in her hands, and his mother, Isabela just as she stepped out from her room, looking perfect as always even though she had just woken up.
Luisa was wearing a buttoned-up white shirt, a light purple undershirt, a dark blue shirt with multiple purple dumbbell patterns circling the hem, and hefty brown boots. Her light brown hair was pulled into a bun with a silky red ribbon.
Isabela wore a flowing light purple dress with flowers and soft petals woven into the fabric. She had long dark hair, with a single dark grey streak, pulled into a perfect ponytail. Three flowers were tucked into her hair, each flower color represented her children; Blue, Yellow, and Green.
"Morning Tìa! Morning Mama!"
The two grown women happily smiled at the boy as he walked past them.
"Morning Brunito!"
As Bruno started walking down the stairs, he suddenly heard a strange rumbling from behind him, the three little rats squeaked and quickly scurried up the teens' legs to hide in the pockets of his ruana.
With a small 'eek', Bruno pressed himself against the wall right as his cousin Antonio and his jaguar, Parce raced down the stairs for breakfast.
"Morning Primo!" Antonio greeted as he ran past Bruno.
The teenage seer responded with a small wave, carefully watching Parce as she leaped down the final steps to follow Antonio into the kitchen.
Sighing with relief, Bruno glanced up at the portrait of his Abuelo Pedro, "Another day in the life of the Madrigals," he shrugged with a smile.
Meanwhile, outside of Casita, three young kids from the village ran excitedly up the pathway towards La Casa Madrigal.
In the dining room, ten plates rolled along the table surface before settling into their designated spots. Each plate had the name of a Madrigal family member and was decorated with their special emblems.
Bruno was holding Little Pedro in his hand as he handed him the leftover of his own breakfast. Rosita and Oscar were both perched on the table, having already finished their breakfast.
"Hey!" A young voice shouted out, startling Bruno as he almost launched Little Pedro into the air. Turning on his heel, the teen saw three young kids with excited smiles standing outside.
"When's the magic gift happening?!" A young boy holding a small mug shouted.
"Oh, the ceremony is tonight," Bruno responded, quickly gathering his friends into his ruana before Abuela could find out he was feeding them in the dining room, again.
"What's her gift?!"
"We don't know yet!"
"What's your gift?!"
Bruno was visibly startled by the question, but luckily his back was facing the curious kids. Quickly slapping on a smile, the teen turned back towards the trio.
"Who wants to know?"
"US!"
"Well, us!" Bruno's eyes quickly darted to the family tree painted on the wall, "I can't just talk about myself. I'm just part of The Amazing Madrigals,"
"Who are the Amazing Madrigals?!"
"You're not gonna leave this alone, are you?" Bruno asked, to which the kids shook their heads
"Casita? Shall we?"
"Drawers!" Bruno happily pointed to the to which Casita happily opened and closed the drawers, "Floors!" The tiles of the courtyard danced as Bruno happily gestured to all the golden doors of the house, "Doors! Let's Go!"
"This is our home, we've got every generation! So full of music, the rhythm of its own design!" The teen seer knocked against the railings as the rest of his family moved through their morning routines, "This is my family, a perfect constellation! So many stars and everybody gets to shine!"
At that moment, Abuela Alma had stepped out of her room, walking proudly and smiling down at her family.
"Whoa! Let's be clear, Abuela runs this show! Whoa! She led us here so many years ago! Whoa!" The kids quickly finished their breakfast and the adults drank the last of their coffees, "Every year our family blessings grow! It's just a lot, you've simply got to know, so…"
"Welcome to the Family Madrigal, the home of the Family Madrigal!" Bruno pushed open the front door of Casita, and his family promptly made their way into town for their duties, "We're on our way! Before joining his family, Bruno turned around to wave goodbye to Casita, his rat friends poked their heads out for a quick seconds before hiding once again in his ruana, "Where all the people are fantastical and magical! I'm part of the Family Madrigal!"
The Madrigals quickly separated to carry out their various duties; Luisa gathering a group of escaped donkeys, Julieta to her food stand, Antonio with the town's pets and animals, while Bruno was left standing alone.
Well, not alone for long, that is.
"Oh my gosh, it's them!"
Bruno suddenly found himself surrounded by the same three young and excited kids that were outside the window. Two girls had grabbed each of his hands and tugged his arms excitedly, spinning him in circles as they started shouting questions at him.
"What are the gifts?"
"I can't remember all the gifts!"
But I don't know who is who!"
Bruno laughed softly at their excitement before finally pulling himself free from their small grasp. "Alright, alright, relax!"
"It is physically impossible to relax!" The kids bombarded him yet again
"Tell us everything! What are your powers?"
"Just tell us what everyone can do!"
Bruno raised his eyebrows in concern at the jittery boy, "Maybe you should quit the coffee?"
The boy didn't respond, or blink, Instead, he took another sip. Bruno shrugged before spinning to La Familia Madrigal Mural.
"My Tía Luisa can lift bricks and stones!" Bruno gestured to his aunt, who had just moved a large church to its new spot, "Any task or job you need, she'll be there for you!"
Bruno then turned to back to the mural, pointing to a young woman standing between Isabela and Luisa. Gold butterflies flying above her head, "My Tía Mira-"
"We don't talk about Mirabel!" the townspeople shouted before he could finish his sentence. Bruno's face dropped to a small scowl as he sighed, how could he forget that rule? The teen quickly gestured the kids closer to whisper; "They say she was a mariposa! One day she flew away!"
Just then, a daisy flower crown landed on top of Brunos' head. A smile crept across the boy's face as he and the kids watched Isabela walk past them further into town.
"and that's my mom, Isabela, look at her go!" As Isabela spun around, bright and beautiful roses blossomed all over town, "Her job is to make all the flowers grow!"
Isabela began passing out bouquets to the townspeople as Luisa placed a newly built stone bridge over the river.
"One is graceful, the other one's strong! The beauty & the brawn! That's life in the Family Madrigal!
At that moment, Isabela grabbed Bruno's face to place a kiss on his cheek, to which to boy blushed madly, "Máma!"
Pulling away from a laughing Isabela, Bruno and the kids raced further into town, "Welcome to the Family Madrigal, the home of the Family Madrigal! I know it sounds a bit fantastical and magical, but I'm part of the Family Madrigal!"
"Two guys fell in love with the Family Madrigal! And we got some new additions for the Family Madrigal!" Isabela and Luisa both lined up with their children, with Alma at the head of the line, "Grandkids by the score, and that's how Abuela became an Abuela Madrigal! Let's Go! Let's Go!"
"We swear to always help those around us, and earn the miracle that somehow found us," Abuela sang as she and the other Madrigals helped a local family build their new home, "The town keeps growing, the world keeps turning. But work and dedication will keep the miracle burning, and each new generation must keep the miracle burning!"
At that moment, more kids from town started following Bruno, bringing along more questions.
"Wait, who's a sister, and who's a cousin?"
"There are so many people!"
" How do you keep them all straight?"
"Alright! Alright! Alright!" with a laugh, Bruno lead the kids back to the mural and gestured to the bottom where all the grandkids were gathered, "So many kids in our house, so let's turn the sound up! You know why? I think it's time for a grandkid round-up!
"Grandkid round-up!"
"Cousin Camilo can shapeshift and look like anyone!" Camilo was playing soccer with a few kids in town, shifting between multiple adults and kids from town while Antonio was talking to a few birds in a tree, "Antonio hears animals talk and Dolores gets her gift today!"
Little Dolores was dressed her a white ceremony dress, smiling happily, and nervously, up at Abuela as she tied a bright white bow in her hair.
"My twin sisters; Julieta & Pepa! As beautiful as our Mama, both are perfect in every way!"
In the center of town, Pepa was clearing the skies, exposing the bright beams of the sun, and creating a rainbow above the town.
"Pepa!"
"Creates a rainbow, the crowd goes wild!" Bruno's smile faltered slightly when he watch Abuela smile proudly at Pepa, "She's a perfect golden child!"
At that moment, Bruno was too distracted to notice the stray brick on the path. His sandals provided no protection as his toes slammed against the hard stone surface, a smile cry of pain escaping him.
Just then, a soft, comforting hand rested on his shoulder. Looking up, Bruno saw that it was Julieta, she was offering a plate of her homemade remedies to her twin brother.
"And Julieta's food can heal!" Bruno explained, happily grabbing a buñuelos from his sister, "If you're harmed, she can heal you with a meal!" Taking a bite from the buñuelos, Bruno happily felt relief as his pain instantly faded away. The kids smiled widely in fascination, "You think that's cool, imagine how I feel! Thanks Sis!"
Julieta smiled back at him before she turned to a line of townspeople, each one with a very visible injury.
Bruno then turned back to the kids, wrapping up his song, "That's life in the Family Madrigal! (Whoa!) Now you know the Family Madrigal (Whoa) Where all the people are fantastical and magical (Whoa!) That's who we are in the Family Madrigal!"
"Adios!" Saluting the kids with a smile, Bruno turned away to walk home. However, before he could get far, the kids pulled him back by the ends of his ruana.
"So, what's your gift?" the kids smiled excitedly up at him.
"You wanna know?" Bruno asked with a mischief smile.
"Yes!" the kids chimed.
"You really wanna know?"
"Yes!"
Gesturing the kids closer, Bruno lowered himself onto his knees and cupped a hand over his mouth to whisper his gift.
"Well, you see, I... am an actor!"
The kids' excited smiles instantly changed into confusion.
In a flash, Bruno stood back up and pulled his hood low over his head.
"I'm Hernando and I fear nothing!"
The kids looks between themselves and whispered with confusion.
"What?"
"But-"
Before they could ask him any more questions, Bruno rushed over to a nearby band and began clapping his hands which prompted them to play the music. Dropping his hood, Bruno began backing away from the kids,"Well, I gotta go, the life of a Madrigal!"
"But now you all know the Family Madrigal! Bruno quickly ducked behind a building as the kids rushed past him, "I never meant this to get autobiographical! So just to review the Family Madrigal!" the kids quickly found him in his hiding spot and Bruno rushed away, "Let's go!
"But what's Bruno's gift?" the kids shouted back at him.
"It starts with Abuela, and then Tía Luisa, she handles the structure!"
"But what about Bruno?"
Holding a bouquet of flowers over his face, Bruno tried to sneak away but the kids found him. "My mom Isabela can make a bouquet with just one wave!"
"But what about Bruno?"
Throwing the flowers at the kids, Bruno tried to run away again, only to find himself in front of the mural again.
"My Tìa Mirabel, well, she doesn't have a gift, but, well-"
"What about Bruno?"
"Hey, you said you wanna know what everyone does, I got sisters and cousins and-"
"Bruno!"
"My cousin Camilo won't stop until he makes you smile today!"
"Bruno!"
"My primo Antonio can talk to animals each and every day!"
"Bruno!"
Glancing desperately around him, Bruno's eyes landed on a familiar face. Felix Castillo, a friend of the family. (and both Bruno and Julieta knew that their sister had a big crush on him)
"Look, It's Felix!" Grabbing a confused Felixs' arm, Bruno yanked him over to Pepa, pushing the two teens together until they were face-to-face. "Hey, have you met my twin sister Pepa? She's pretty sweet but she's got a bit of a temper and-
BOOM!
Pepa glared at her brother, blushing madly as a thundercloud formed above her head, rain falling on top of her and Felix's head. Bruno smiled sheepishly back at her while Felix laughed nervously.
"Well, I've said too much and I really gotta go!"
Running away from his fuming sister, Bruno had almost made in out of town but as he was passing the family mural, the group of kids corned him.
"Bruno!"
"My family's amazing!"
"Bruno!"
"And I'm in my family, so-" At this point, Bruno was pressed against the wall as the kids grew closer to him.
"Bruno!"
"Well…"
Just then, the teen's voice suddenly trailed off when his eyes suddenly began to glow brightly. The teens' awkward expression suddenly dropped to a blank stare as a vision began to play before his eyes. At that moment, a cloud blocked the bright sunlight casting a shadow across Encanto. The sudden shadow cast over Bruno's frame made his eyes appear brighter, frightening even.
Especially when the rats that had been hiding inside his ruana suddenly crawled out to be perched on his shoulders.
Screams suddenly broke the young seer out of his trance.
Shaking his head, Bruno's eyes dimmed back to their normal color... Just in time for Bruno to watch the kids screaming and running away in terror.
Running away in terror… from him.
Bruno sighed to himself, "Every time,"
Sadness washed over the young teen as he rubbed his hands together; Oscar, Rosita, and Little Pedro looking up at him with concern.
Looking around town, Bruno shrunk into himself when he saw numerous townspeople were looking over at him, fear, anger, and disgust as they whispered, not so privately, about him.
Beyond the fearful stares, Bruno spotted Abuela talking to one of the parents of the kids he had frightened away. Even from the distance, Bruno could see the disappointed look on her face as she comforted the couple.
Looks like Bad Luck Bruno strikes again.
