AUTHOR'S NOTE

I was going to post this way earlier, but I hadn't had the chance to reread it. My apologies for taking so long.

Last part to this story. Thank you for all your wonderful reviews and follows! Feel free to let me know how you liked this story in the reviews.

The way that one of the reviews predicted this chapter perfectly lmaoo.

If you want more Encanto stories from me, I started another the other day about how the Madrigal parents met (Felix & Pepa, Julieta & Augustin).

Part 4

"Antonio, look out!" Mirabel warned.

Antonio looked up from his tears. It really was her. He could rejoice later, though. He had to calm her down first.

"Mirabel, it's okay!" he told her.

She looked at the leopard who looked more scared of her than she was of it. She stopped running, standing in the middle of the pond. Antonio ran over to her, hugging and gripping her dress.

"You're back!" he cheered, more tears pouring down. "I thought I'd never see you again."

She hugged him back. "I would never leave you forever like that, Antonio."

"My gift!" He looked up at her. "I can talk to animals. The leopard is my friend, so don't be worried."

She held his face. "I'm so, so sorry I missed your day. I just needed some time to myself, then I got lost and couldn't find my way back. I know it's no excuse. I'm so sorry." She found herself crying, too. She felt so much guilt swelled up in her heart. He was so young and had nothing to do with her family dilemmas.

"Don't cry," he reassured. "You didn't mean to get lost. Besides," he wiped a few of his own tears, "I ran away, too."

"You what-!"

"We realized you were gone after the party. This morning Tía Julieta told me you were sad about not helping out and that made me so angry. I left to find you. The animals weren't much help. You must've been far away!" He buried his face in her skirt.

She rubbed his back lovingly. "I'm sorry I worried you. I'm so sorry but I'm fine, see? I'm okay." Mirabel made him look into her eyes.

"I knew you'd be fine. You don't get scared. You're strong." His forehead pressed against her's.

"No, I do get scared at times. I cry and fret just like you or anyone else. And in the woods I was extremely scared," admitted Mirabel with closed eyes. "But I have love as my guide. He brought me back to you and mi familia. That's all that matters right now." To Antonio's surprise, she picked him up. "Let's get back home before another earthquake happens."

The leopard turned their back to her. Antonio informed, "She's offering you a ride."

Mirabel wanted to say no but out of fear and politeness, she sat on the big cat's back like you would on a horse. The animal took off towards the village. They arrived passing through homes when they got there. People recognized the Madrigal children and announced to each other, "They're back, they're back!"

The leopard slowed down at Casita. The Madrigals left the house to see all the commotion. A rainbow instantly appeared over Pepa's head once she saw her son in one piece.

"My baby's alright!" she cheered, blinking back tears. Her husband soon joined her and hugged their child.

Mirabel stood awkwardly as every family member began to trickle out the house one by one. Julieta ran to her daughter. Mirabel was ready to give a spiral of apologies, but was interrupted with a hug.

"I was so worried," Julieta told her, words muffled into her sleeve. "I am so sorry, mi amor. I didn't mean to hurt you so bad."

Augustin hugged Mirabel as well. When they released Mirabel explained, "I didn't mean to run away, honestly. I got lo-"

"Mirabel," Abuela intervened. "How could you leave Antonio's ceremony? I know you were upset, but running away really hurt your cousin."

"No, you don't understand what happened," Mirabel objected.

Abuela continued, "He even left us--his home and family--to find you."

Julieta approached her mother slowly. "Mama, go easy on her."

Mirabel ran her fingers through her hair. "I was trying to tell you I didn't mean to be out long. I got lost for so-"

Her grandmother fumed, "What you did was irresponsible, selfish, and embarrassing for this family. Especially for little Tonito and his big day."

Mirabel's shoulders slumped. "Nevermind. No one cares what I have to fucking say anyways." She stormed off.

"Mirabel, your language!" Pepa covered Antonio's ears.

"You're always so hard on her," Julieta said to her mother before chasing after her daughter. "Mirabel, come back! She didn't mean it like that."

"Then how was I supposed to take it, Ma?"

"I don't know, but not to heart. Plus, you don't swear at Abuela. You never swear at Abuela. I raised you better than that."

"She never respects me. Why do I have to respect her? Because she's old?"

Her mother gasped. "She has been through a lot!"

"I know, but that doesn't give her an excuse to treat me like shit all the time!" she snapped. Everyone outside could hear the argument. The two's voices echoed throughout the main room and fled out the house.

"Curse one more time, I swear I'll-"

"You'll what? Ma, nothing can affect me worse than I'm already treated. Go ahead, punish me. I'm already punished enough for not having a gift like it's my fault. You think I like being alone? You think I like sticking out and retaliating?" She stormed up the stairs.

Julieta calmed down. Her heart felt heavy for her daughter no matter what. "Baby, you can always talk to me."

"Don't you see? I can't. No one understands. I'm just looked down on by all of you!" She gestured to the door. She could see the family listening. Mirabel continued, "You know what? This family isn't blessed. It's absolutely cursed." She slammed her nursery door.

Mirabel cried that night. Her mother knocked so many times and jiggled the lock until she eventually gave up. She didn't come out no matter how hungry she became. Her stomach churned and grumbled, crying out for food. Mirabel sucked it in.

Another knock happened to her door hours later. Half asleep, she ignored it.

"Hey, it's your favorite primo," Camilo said with an upbeat tone. "Just wanted to check if you're okay."

Mirabel still didn't answer. What did it look like? Of course she wasn't okay.

Her and her cousin used to be very close. They shared this very nursery with one another for years until Camilo received his gift a little before she was supposed to receive her's. Now, they barely spoke despite being the same age and having similar interests. He was always working for the village. Being helpful. Pleasing Abuela. Making the family proud.

"I know you probably won't wanna talk to anyone right now and I get that," he began. "I just wanna say, I heard what you said earlier. I don't look down on you. I love you. I could never feel superior to you. Gift or no gift, we're still equal."

She rolled her eyes and mumbled, "Yeah, right."

"I care about you and am concerned. This isn't something out of pity. I honestly wished we talked more. We could! I could find some free time and we can hang out. You can always talk to me, too."

She rolled over in her bed.

Camilo sighed to himself. "Who am I kidding? She's probably asleep." He walked off.

Mirabel sat up, rubbing the tears stained on her cheeks. She took a picture frame of her family in her hands. Her thumb brushed against the glass that was over it.

"Don't be upset or mad at all," she told herself. "Don't feel regret or sad at all." Her gaze fell on the picture. She smiled and tried to reassure herself, "Hey, I'm still part of the family Madrigal. And I'm fine, I am totally fine."

No she was not. She wasn't even in the photo.

She placed it back in its spot then wiped some fresh tears.

"You look like you could use a hug right now," a man said behind her.

Mirabel looked in the direction of her door. She covered her mouth so her scream wouldn't carry out past her room. "Abuelo Pedro? What are you doing here?"

He was no longer a teenager boy. He was back to a grown man; the age that he died. He looked just like his picture except now he was animated. To her, he seemed so alive. His smile, his warmth, his presence. No wonder her grandmother was so miserable. He was such a wonderful person. Too wonderful of a person to lose.

Before she knew it, he was kneeling in front of her, wiping away her tears. "Please don't cry, Mirabel."

"How could I not?" she whispered. "Everyone hates me."

"Everyone does not hate you. No one hates you," he said gently. "You are so important."

"Then why can't anyone treat me like I am? Abuelo Pedro, why am I like this? Why am I like this?" Tears streamed down her face faster than he would wipe. Her broken heart saddened him. But this was all for the better.

"Mirabel, believe me when I say you matter. In this family and outside of this family. You're always walking alone and always wanting for more like you're still at that door longing to shine. But you already shine. And stars don't just shine, they burn. You are a person more than just what you see and what people tell you you are. Rise above it. And as for Alma," he looked away, "I am so sorry for how she is treating you. This isn't her. I--I broke her. She's taking this out on all of you because of me."

Mirabel sniffled. At first, she didn't speak. She needed to think. That's when she lifted his head by his chin. "But after you died, we got this amazing house. Now this family helps the village when in need. I don't know how you died but I know your death was tragic and I wish it never happened. Still, after such a sad thing we received a miracle."

He gave a small smirk. "You said it was a curse."

"Me? I never said that!" she joked. "But seriously, it is a miracle. Sure, I get salty that I didn't get anything out of it. But the good overpowers the bad. And I love Casita. Casita's like a best friend."

Casita fluttered the window shudders in response.

"I just . . ." she exhaled, "wish you didn't have to die for us to get something this remarkable. I've only known you for barely twenty-four hours and I've seen how good of a person you are. I would kill to have known you outside of death."

Pedro hugged her unexpectedly. After, she hugged back. He released and held her hands. "Give Abuela a chance."

"For you, I'll try."

"No, you will."

She giggled. "Okay, okay. I will--Abuelo Pedro? What's happening to you?"

He started for fade away. "You're special and important, remember?"

She didn't want him to go. This was possibly the only time anyone alive could ever see him for the next century. When she reached out to give him one last hug, her hands went through him. Her breathing increased. This couldn't be it. "Abuelo, wait!"

He smiled dimly. "I trust you to save the miracle."

"What? Save the miracle? The miracle needs saving?" He didn't answer.

And just like that, he was gone.

Mirabel covered her mouth to muffle her sobs. She fell to the floor, suppressing her cries. After a while, she learned how to breath properly again. She had to stay strong.

After all, there was cracks on the floor in front of her.

Hope you enjoyed this 4 part story! Have a good day you guys.