"Wake up…..wake up…hey…wakey wakey."
Dolores groaned as she felt herself being shaken "Mirabel go back to bed it's too early…."
"I'm not Mirabel."
Dolores's eyes snapped open and she found Camilo's face in hers "What the hell?!" she jumped back in shock.
"Well, that's not a nice way to greet your favourite brother." Camilo pouted "You forgot to lock your door by the way."
"What are you doing here?" Dolores looked around "What are you all doing here? And this early?"
"Early? It's ten in the morning. Oh, we fed the donkeys for you by the way" Camilo frowned.
Dolores blinked "It's ten?" she groaned and rubbed her face glancing sideways to Mirabel who was still fast asleep "Mira, wake up." she gave the younger girl a nudge.
Mirabel groaned "No."
"Yes."
"Come on, prima. The day's a wasting!" Camilo started shaking her "Get up get up get up get up get up get up get up."
"Alright! God dammit, Camilo." Mirabel sat up feeling around for her glasses, Dolores placing them on her face for her. Grumbling under her breath she stood up brushing the straw off of her clothing and glaring at Camilo "What are you even doing here?"
"Mirabel is not a morning person." Dolores chuckled.
"Still grumpy I see Mira." Camilo laughed "But it's fine, we're all here to see you two."
Mirabel now realised the rest of the family was standing outside the stall, well almost the whole family two people were missing. Alma, which she was not surprised about at all and Isabela. She saw the way Isabela was looking at her and Dolores last night and a talk with Dolores confirmed she saw it too. Mirabel knew she had Isabela now all she had to do was convince Isabela to bring her the candle.
"Good morning, mija." Julieta nudged past Camilo to hug her daughter "You hungry? I brought you food come eat something." placing a guiding arm around Mirabel she led her towards a basket of food pulling out an almojábana and placing it into her hand "Eat it."
Mirabel obeyed and began eating as Julieta began fussing pulling straw out of Mirabel's hair "So…what's with the gifts? For Dolores, I'm assuming."
"Yes, Dolores's Birthday presents, but we have something for you too." Pepa smiled.
"Ooh, a present for me? It's been so long since I got one of those."
Dolores chuckled "Funny, the way I remember it is you have spent the last three months getting showered with presents and getting completely spoiled and pampered."
Mirabel huffed "After everything I've been through I deserve to be spoiled and pampered."
Antonio bounced up and down "Dolores! Open my present!"
"Alright, Toñito." Dolores accepted the gift wrapped in animal print paper and opened it revealing a framed child's drawing of her and Antonio "Aww, did you draw this? I love it."
"Uh-huh!" Antonio beamed "It's you and me!"
Dolores hugged Antonio "Thank you, I love it so much I'll put it on my…" she looked around the barn "I'll find somewhere."
Dolores opened gifts from the rest of the family a necklace from Pepa and Félix, matching earrings from Julieta and Agustín, Luisa and Bruno both got her a romance novel each and Camilo got her headscarf in the same purple that Mirabel wore.
"Thought you would like matching with her." Camilo shrugged.
"Thank you, everybody." Dolores hugged each person in turn.
Pepa handed her another small present "This one is from Isabela…she asked us to give it to you."
"Oh?" Dolores studied the small box wrapped in floral print paper and began unwrapping it, opening the small boxed revealed a bracelet. Picking it up she studied it. It appeared to be half of a broken heart. Dolores had seen these before, she knew there would be a bracelet that had the other half of the heart. If Isabela had given her this half did it mean Isabela have the other half to the heart?
Feeling the stares on her she put the bracelet back in the box for now "Tell Isabela I said thank you, it's really nice, I love it really."
The family looked at each other registering the sad tone in Dolores's voice but didn't press it further.
Julieta cleared her throat "Mirabel, we have a present for you outside."
"Outside?" Mirabel rose an eyebrow "Why is it outside?"
"Because we want to surprise you and it's not something we can wrap now close your eyes."
Dolores took Mirabel's glasses off "Or we could just do this so we know you're not peeking." she took a hold of Mirabel's arm "Let's go hermanita."
Mirabel allowed Dolores to guide her out of the barn, after coming to a stop her glasses were placed back onto her face, blinking a few times to bring her vision into as much focus as she could manage she found herself looking right at a beaming Dolores. "Dolores is my gift? That's lame."
Dolores shook her head in amusement "Very funny, look." she pointed behind her.
Reina stood there saddled up a big bow around her neck, the mare looked at the family gathered around her with calm eyes letting out a low nicker when Mirabel and Dolores came closer.
"I…don't understand." Mirabel frowned reaching a hand out to pat the mare's nose "What's Reina doing here?"
"She's yours, Mirabel." Pepa smiled "Let's just say I was owed a favour and I cashed it in, we all put some money in and purchased her, think of it as all those missed Birthday and Christmas presents in one package. Señor Pérez already gave permission for you to keep her here."
"But why?"
Bruno shrugged "You said you wanted the horse."
"But I wasn't expecting to actually get her."
"Well, surprise you have a horse. You're welcome."
Mirabel looked back at the horse as a smile formed on her face "Hey girl, guess your mine now. Won't Salomé be jealous?" moving around to the side of the horse she took a deep breath "Okay…I can do this…just put my foot in the whatever that thing is called and climb on up-ah" Mirabel found herself being lifted onto the horse's back looking down she saw Luisa moving her feet into the stirrups "Next time you do that, please give me a warning."
"Oh, sorry." Luisa moved around to the other side to stick Mirabel's other foot in the stirrup "Do you know how to ride?"
"No."
Luisa sighed "Figured, that's why we got you on a lead rope." she handed the end to Dolores "We figured she would want to ride right away, so we came prepared for that."
"Grab your reins Mirabel." Dolores used her free hand to pass them to the younger girl "And just sit straight."
Mirabel nodded "Alright, I'm ready."
Dolores chuckled and clicked her tongue leading the horse forward, during their time at the hotel she had put Mirabel on the horse and led her in slow lazy circles around the stableyard as part of their daily routine, she did quite a bit of reading while there and read about a trial where horses were used for a group struggling with trauma and it proved beneficial. So Dolores decided to have a trial of her own, to Mirabel the circles were just Dolores's way of getting her out of the room and into the fresh air but to Dolores they served another purpose.
"So, do we all just stand here until Mirabel decides she's done riding her horse?" Camilo questioned "Which one will happen first though? Mirabel has enough or Dolores gets tired."
"We won't be too long." Dolores reassured him as she continued the circle "We have a lot to talk about."
Mirabel was enjoying her ride when Dolores first suggested riding she wasn't really sure but she discovered she actually really enjoyed it, seeing the world from between Reina's ears was something different but in a nice way. Where would she keep Reina in Bogotá? María and Andrés would let her keep her in their stables no doubt. Turning her head sideways she saw Agustín fiddling with a camera and snapping photos.
After a few more laps of the circle Dolores drew the horse to a halt "Alright hermanita, you can ride more later." coming around to the side she helped Mirabel down "What do you say to our family?"
"Thank you." Mirabel smiled being pulled into a hug by Julieta "Really unexpected but appreciated."
"I'm sorry you didn't get a quinceañera, mija." Julieta said softly.
Mirabel shrugged "Who was going to come to it anyway? No one was speaking to me at the time, it would've been just you and me anyway. A quince would have been nice but it doesn't really matter, it's just a party."
"We can still have one for you, once we deal with…this mess we can throw one for you. Maybe for your sixteenth? It'll be a year late but you'll still get the experience."
"What's the point? I won't be able to see anything. A small quiet family party will be fine."
Antonio frowned "Why won't you be able to see anything? I thought your glasses let you see."
"Ah…my eyes are getting worse Antonio, soon not even the magic will help me." Mirabel smiled sadly "I can see enough to recognise faces and objects but that's it…the smaller details are lost to me. My world isn't as pretty as yours is but it's…there I suppose."
Dolores let Reina free into the field after removing the saddle and bridle placing them on the fence "Don't worry about it, okay Antonio? We're all going to be fine, soon we're all going to live together and be one big happy family."
"Really?"
"Really, Mirabel and I won't have to stay in the barn anymore."
That news cheered Antonio up "Oh! Then I can help Mirabel! I'll guide her so she doesn't crash into stuff!"
"Thank you, Antonio but I can get around just fine-" just as Mirabel was saying that she tripped over a rock landing in a crumpled heap in front of the family.
Dolores was immediately at her side helping her to her feet "Are you okay? Anything injured?"
"Yes."
"What?!"
"My pride."
Dolores let out a sigh of relief mixed with a snort of amusement "So, what was that you were saying about getting around just fine?"
"The world hates me." Mirabel grumbled.
"Are we going to tell them?" Camilo broke the silence that has fallen.
"Tell us what?" Dolores questioned looking at each person "What is going on?"
Luisa looked to the ground for a moment "After you left rumours started getting spread about what happened to you two and people started looking towards Abuela as a key suspect in your disappearance since she admitted she was the last to see you both alive and then you both just disappear. Some people started saying that she was holding you both somewhere and took the horses and your stuff to throw people off…others were saying she killed you both or arranged for someone to kill you."
"And did they support her?"
"Some did." Luisa admitted "They say they hope you're both dead and rotting somewhere but quite more have started questioning what is really going on, wondering why we're all suddenly turning 'rebel'. Everyone has noticed Abuela is losing control over the family and they want to know what's really going on. Some even whisper that Mirabel might have a point after all."
Mirabel tilted her head "So, they are starting to use those brains in their heads and realise Alma has been lying about me all these years?" she scoffed "So you're telling me all I had to do all this time was just magically disappear? There goes five years of my life I'm never getting back."
"I think you'll find yourself with more supporters than you think, Mirabel." Julieta ran a hand through her hair "Though of course they don't know…what you're planning."
Antonio was confused "What are you planning? I don't understand…Mirabel and Dolores are coming home right? We're all going to live together? That's what Dolores said!"
"Well-" Dolores began.
"Enough excuses, enough lies." Mirabel growled "No, Antonio you deserve to know the truth, you deserve to know what I'm really like. If you hate me that's fine but I can't keep lying to you any longer."
Antonio looked around as fear started creeping in, what was going o? What did Mirabel mean what she was really like? Turning back to Mirabel now "I don't understand…"
"After my ceremony my life became hell, Antonio. I told you about how I was kept prisoner in Casita but when everyone else went out that's when Alma would show me her worst."
Julieta frowned in concern "Mirabel, what are you talking about?"
Mirabel took a deep breath, she had been keeping this secret for years but now it was time for the truth to come out.
"Mirabel?" Julieta pressed.
"Alma physically abused me."
Four words. Four words sent a ripple of shock over the family as they all looked at each other. They knew about the emotional abuse Alma inflicted onto Mirabel having been witness many times as Alma gave the girl a verbal beatdown but none of them knew about any physical abuse. Well except for one.
Dolores kept her head lowered not meeting anyone in the eye, the secret that had been eating away at her for years was finally out and it felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. But she was afraid, not for herself she knew she could handle Alma but for Mirabel.
"What does that mean?" Antonio questioned.
"It means, she hurt me, Antonio." Mirabel rubbed her arm as if she were nursing an imaginary wound.
Julieta lifted Mirabel's chin "Mirabel, what did she do to you?"
"She would hit me sometimes with her hand but mostly she would hit me with that cane of hers. She'll force feed me so any injuries would heal before anyone saw."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"She told me I deserved it, and I said something no one would believe me anyway. And would have you all believed? The giftless Madrigal? Or would you just assume I wanted attention?"
Julieta could feel her heart tearing "Of course, I would have believed you, why wouldn't I? Why would you lie about something like that?"
"Dolores." Pepa stared at her daughter "Did you know about this?"
"I heard everything." Dolores confirmed "I was afraid if I told anyone she would hurt me, or hurt Mirabel worse. I'm sorry…"
"It's not your fault, Dolores." Pepa thundered "But Mamá has explaining to do, some serious explaining."
Julieta took a deep breath as she hugged Mirabel, how could she have been so so blind to her daughter's suffering? The subtle signs were there even behind the mask Mirabel put on. The way Mirabel would be on edge for seemingly no reason, the way she wouldn't look anyone in her eyes to hide the fact she had been crying hard. The way she would flinch whenever Alma came out with the cane. The signs were there but she ignored them.
Luisa felt sick, she was supposed to protect her baby sister and now she finds out she couldn't even keep her safe in their own home. What else had she failed on?
Mirabel shook her head to bring herself back to the present "Do you want to know why she did that to me, Antonio?"
"Because you didn't get a gift?" Antonio's eyes were wide. His Abuela hurt his prima, everything he thought he knew was being shattered.
"Well that was part of it, but you see Anotino there is something you should know about me…a prophecy."
"A prophecy?"
"Yes, a prophecy." Mirabel's eyes flickered to Bruno "When my gift ceremony failed Tío Bruno had a vision about me. He saw a ruined Casita. The magic gone. And the cause of it all was ME!"
"You?" Antonio looked behind him to see the concerned looks on the faces of his family before turning back to Mirabel "You're….going to take away the magic?"
A grin spread across Mirabel's face "Exactly, no more magic, no more Casita, NO MORE MIRACLE!"
Antonio was shocked "No more magic?"
"That stupid pathetic little candle has caused me so much misery!" Mirabel growled wiping her eyes to stop the tears "Don't you see Antonio all this happened because the stupid candle didn't give me a stupid gift!"
Dolores spun Mirabel around so she was facing her "Mirabel…Antonio is so young he doesn't-"
"I WAS ONLY HIS AGE WHEN IT STARTED!"
"I know but…."
"Was I supposed to keep it from him until his house is in ruins and the candle and crushed under my foot?!" Mirabel whipped back around "Look Antonio, I'm sorry but the truth is I am not the good guy and I never have been."
Antonio wasn't sure how to feel "I don't understand….what's going on?
"Antonio…" Pepa reached a hand out "Will you come here please?"
Antonio nodded and began walking towards Pepa when Mirabel's hand on his shoulder stopped him "Mirabel?" he gulped seeing the expression on her face, he had never seen that expression on anyone before "Mirabel….why do you look like that?"
"It's time you learned a lesson, it's time that you understand. No more hiding around, you deserve to know who I really am." Mirabel's tone had a touch of a growl.
"Mirabel…wait….we need to be gentle-" Dolores began pleading just for Mirabel to brush her off.
"I once hoped for magic…to find my place in the family. But when my moment came to get my gift I was DENIED!
"Mirabel…you'll get yourself worked up-" Dolores attempts were in vain as Mirabel finally burst.
"Open up your eyes, see the world from where I stand!"
Antonio looked over his shoulder, his family were all looking from him to Mirabel with pleading looks on their faces. He knew Mirabel got kicked out of Casita…but she said she didn't do anything, did she lie? Did she do something? What was everyone keeping from him?
"Me living among donkeys." Mirabel pointed towards the barn "You living a life so grand."
"I'm sorry…Mirabel….what can I do? Can I make you happier? I don't like seeing you upset." Antonio wrapped his arms around Mirabel "I'm sorry Abuela hurt you but…the magic…."
"Open up your eyes! Give up your sweet fantasy land!"
Give it up? His gift? His animal friends? Is that what Mirabel was really asking of him? And what did she mean by 'open up your eyes'? His eyes were open!
"It's time to grow up and make a sacrifice. Come now Antonio, open up your eyes."
Antonio listened eyes growing wider as Mirabel told the story of how sick she was as a child, and how Alma used to love her.
Mirabel took a shaky sigh as she remembered her ceremony night in great detail "We all start out the same with simple naive trust, shielded from the many ways that life's not fair or just…"
Dolores placed a hand on Mirabel's shoulder, offering comfort but not speaking. She knew Mirabel had to tell Antonio her story, they all knew it. It wasn't fair to keep the truth from him any longer.
Mirabel went on in excruciating detail about everything that happened after her door faded away. Her image being wiped from the family tree, being stripped of her status in front of the whole family, the abuse both physical and mental. Being kept prisoner, feeling her mind break, crying herself to sleep each night.
Julieta kept a hand over her mouth, she felt sick. Her mariposa had been suffering so much more than she knew. Hearing of the beatings Mirabel had to experience broke her. And Julieta knew that was just the start of the suffering.
Mirabel's story continued not seeming to notice her family's growing horror and guilt with each passing minute "But then there came a moment and the simple truth I must face, if I waited for a miracle I would never find my place."
Antonio could feel the tears running down as he listened to what really happened on the night of his birth, Mirabel being shown the vision, going after the candle resulting in her going blind and getting the burns that would turn into her distinctive scars. Being exiled to the barn and how the town treated her, pushed, hit, tripped, insulted, dragged and had things thrown at her. How her sanity drained and how she came to the conclusion that the only way she would be happy is if she became the villain Alma and the town made her out to be and take revenge.
Mirabel was growing more and more deranged looking as the story progressed turning to Antonio with a smile that made her look possessed she chuckled "And as I took that first step on a path that was all my own, I could see it all so clearly. That cursed magic just has to go!"
"I'm so sorry Mirabel…I know if I never showed that vision…none of this would have ever happened-" Bruno was the next to make an attempt to calm Mirabel down but like the others, it was a failure.
"Open up your eyes, see the way Alma lies! I lived a life of misery-all on her command."
"Mirabel…we're….I'm…." Agustín could not get the words out
Mirabel remained focused on Antonio "Open up your eyes, and kiss the magic goodbye! It's time to grow up and choose sides. Come now, Antonio open up your eyes."
Antonio gulped as his eyes locked with Mirabel's. He knew enough to know Mirabel was asking him to pick between her and his gift.
"OPEN UP YOUR EYES!"
Dolores pulled Mirabel into her embrace "Mirabel, calm down…shh….you're not well-"
"This has nothing to do with my illness and you know it!"
"I know I know…but still calm down."
Mirabel pushed away from Dolores "Calm down? CALM DOWN?! NO! I"ll be calm when I destroy Alma! Destroy the miracle that ruined my life!"
Watching in silence Antonio thought, he loved his gift and all his animal friends but he was starting to realise that it had a price, and Mirabel was paying it. He knew his prima was miserable and knowing the truth he wasn't sure if he would ever look at Alma the same again. His own Abuela had hurt Mirabel, his own Abuela had sent Dolores away. His Abuela had told him Mirabel was the bad one but it seemed to him his Abuela was the bad one. If getting rid of the magic made everything better and he could have his prima and hermana back then he would give it up. If his gift was making Mirabel upset like this he didn't want it.
"Antonio?" Camilo put a hand on his shoulder "Sorry you had to hear that….we didn't know she was going to tell you the story….the real one…"
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"We kept it from you to protect you." Félix sighed "We feared if you knew what Mirabel and Dolores were planning you would look at them differently….hate them for wanting to take your gift."
"I don't want my gift! Not if it makes Mirabel this unhappy! If having a gift means Mirabel will keep being sent anyway I don't want it!"
Mirabel turned her head around "You…you understand. Yes yes, you see how the magic is only hurting everyone. Once the magic is gone we will all be happier, one big happy family…course I'll lose my vision but it's fine, it's fine it's totally fine…I'll be fine we'll be fine. Fine."
"Mirabel…are you….okay?" Luisa rose an eyebrow in concern.
"I'm fine, I'm great why wouldn't I be?"
"She's officially cracked." Bruno whispered to the rest of the family "Telling that story was the last straw."
Julieta shot him a quick glare as she walked forward "Mariposa, are you sure you're alright?"
Mirabel nodded a wide grin on her face "Fine! I just need Isabela and then that candle is mine, revenge is mine. We're going to be a family again, Mamá isn't that great?"
"Yes, mija it's wonderful…" Julieta forced a smile on her face as she sent a concerned glance over to Dolores hoping she would have answers to Mirabel's sudden change in demeanour but Dolores's expression was matching everyone else's.
"Why is she smiling like that?" Camilo whispered "It's creepy."
"Shh." Pepa nudged him "Just don't say anything. Just…don't say anything…"
Dolores sighed, those three months of healing had gone to waste in the span of three minutes. Mirabel's mind was gone. She should have never bought Mirabel back here, she should've just left Mirabel with María and come back here alone, collect the rest of the family and went back. Forget about revenge. But she was realising this all too late, she wanted to come back…she wanted revenge too but it just took the telling of one story for the madness to finally consume Miranbel's mind completely.
"Ah….Mirabel just what are you planning in doing?" Agustín asked nervously "Once you get the candle you're just going to…destroy it?"
"Oh, eventually yes." Mirabel chuckled "But first I'm going to make this town regret what they have done to me."
"Mirabel, no." Julieta cupped Mirabel's face "Mirabel, I know the people in town wronged you but please understand they fell for your Abuela's lies, they didn't understand…there's good people in this town…please…"
Mirabel's face turned to scowl "Do you even know what this town has done to me? To Dolores? Do you?!"
"I know Mirabel…I know…believe me I do. But it won't make you happy, believe me it won't…just destroy the candle and we'll all leave-"
"NO!" Mirabel pulled away "Why are you trying to stop me?! Are you betraying me?!"
"No…Mirabel no…please just listen-"
"Let me handle it, Tía." Dolores said softly "If you fight her over it you'll just make it worse." wrapping an arm around Mirabel she guided her away. Once facing away from the rest of the family Dolores frowned, despite the claims of the townspeople having a change of heart Dolores still wasn't going to let everything that happened go, the way they all just stood back and watched them get attacked more than once she could not forgive.
"You're going to try and talk me out of it, aren't you?!" Mirabel snapped nce they were back in the barn.
"No." Dolores said "But I want to know, just what you're planning. I'm not letting you do anything that puts you in danger, no revenge is worth your life. You get the candle, than what?" Dolores stared into Mirabel's wide eyes, being gentle here was key.
"We take Casita by force, send Alma into exile. See how she feels when the tables are turned…then….then I'll see. There's some people in these town they need to be taught a lesson they will not forget, specifically two certain brothers."
"Alejandro and Rafael."
"Yes, I want to see them beg to me for mercy…make them feel helpless…."
"You're not going to..kill them are you?"
Mirabel growled "I should kill them for what they did to me."
"Yes, but is that really what is best? You'll forever have that on your mind, knowing you took a life. You'll always have the live with the fact you are a murderer….you don't want that weighing on your mind trust me." Dolores forced Mirabel to look in her eyes "I agree they deserve to have justice served to them…but if you kill them….there's no coming back from that. Remember what Andrés said?"
"What?"
"Don't ruin your chance at a future for temporary satisfaction."
Mirabel backed away "I thought you of all people understood! After everything are you going to betray me now?!
Dolores sighed, she was trapped now and she knew it. This was what she was fearing, Mirabel was taking any doubt against her as betrayal. Dolores wasn't even going to try and reason with her in this state of mind all it would do is make Mirabel angrier "Let's just…discuss this through more later, okay?"
"Fine."
"Let's just…get the candle first, alright?
Mirabel nodded smiling "I'm getting that candle very soon, I can just feel it."
"That's…that's great…I'll be back, alright?" Dolores sat Mirabel down handing her her book "Why don't you read for a little while? Salomé, stay with her."
Salomé as if she understood the task Dolores assigned her trotted over to Mirabel and jumped up onto her lap purring softly.
Dolores sighed as she left the barn and walked back to where their concerned family remained waiting.
"Dolores?" Julieta asked as soon as she joined them "Were you able to handle it?"
"I tried my best, but those past three months proved for nothing, it all has come undone just like that." Dolores snapped her fingers "Physically, she's the best she has been in years…mentally…she's gone."
Julieta sighed shaking her head "I've been fearing this…there has to be something we can do to help her though. Isn't there?"
"She won't listen to reason, if any of us try to talk her out of it now she'll just think we're betraying her. I should have never brought her back here, I should've just left her there and came back alone for everyone else. But I wanted revenge too, not just for myself but for her, for all of you. This has to end."
"Do you know what she's going to do to the town?"
"Not exactly no, but I agree with her justice should be brought upon some of them. Those two so-called men? They have tortured her."
"Give me five minutes with them…just five minutes and I'll make sure they're sorry for ever touching mi nube." Pepa grinned just picturing it.
Félix put an arm around her "I would say calm down but I agree."
Agustín rubbed the top of his head "Can I go into the barn, Dolores?"
Dolores looked back towards the barn "Give her time to calm down, if we push her now we'll just piss her off. Say the wrong thing even if you are well-meaning and you'll just piss her off. The best thing to do when she's like this is to just leave her be."
"Is, Mirabel going to be okay?" Antonio wiped at the tears in her eyes "Is this what you mean by she's sick? Is there more than one type of sick?"
"Yes, Antonio there's more than one type of sick. Mirabel's sickness is inside her head she can't control how she acts. But while I was away I did a lot of reading, we can get her help….there's no cure she'll have to live with it but it can be managed."
"Whatever help she needs, she can get." Julieta said firmly "I don't care if I have to travel with her across Colombia, whatever she needs she is getting."
"Of course…and listen I know you want to go beat Alma with a rolling pin or something but I ask you please wait until the candle is secured. Don't get me wrong I want to join you, I want to take that cane and do everything she did to Mirabel doubled..but just wait. Just trust me."
Julieta frowned "Fine…but I'm not sure if I will even be able to look at her knowing what I do now."
"Shouldn't be too much longer, I saw the way Isabela was looking at us last night."
"So you figured it out? Isabela says she regrets listening to Alma. She thinks she was the reason you and Mirabel ran away. She's ready to just hand Mirabel the candle at this point, but she's afraid of Mirabel's reaction…if you even let her near her." Luisa looked towards the barn wishing she could go comfort her baby sister, but Dolores knew her best these days and if Dolores said just leave her be she'll leave her be.
Dolores turned back around "Well whenever Isabela is ready she knows where to find us, now if you don't mind I have some plans to make. I'll get a message to you all as soon as it's time."
"Of course." Pepa stepped forward and gave Dolores a hug "I'll see you later, you just look after your prima."
"Hermanita." Dolores corrected "And I will, always will."
Bruno watched her push her way back into the barn before speaking "Julieta and Pepa…I want you both to meet me in my room later. Agustín and Félix you too."
"What's going on?" Julieta murmured.
"You know how I had a second vision about Mirabel and Dolores?"
"Yeah?"
"I think it's time you see it, they…they don't look right. I can already see it in Mirabel but Dolores…something is going to happen to Dolores…I'm not sure how much longer she has but Dolores is going to just…snap. Just like Mirabel."
"WHAT?!" Pepa exclaimed "What do you mean?"
Bruno shook his head "I don't know how to explain it….I don't know what's going to happen and since we don't know what causes it there's no way we can prevent it…just meet me later and I'll show you."
"So…all of this…will be for nothing?" Camilo asked.
"No…they're going to get exactly what they want but I fear it'll come at the price of their minds."
"Mirabel has already lost her mind." Camilo pointed out getting elbowed by Félix in response.
"Exactly, Mirabel's obsession with revenge has driven her mad and Dolores will soon follow." Bruno shook his head sadly "I had the vision after Dolores's exile I've been watching them ever since…Mirabel has become what I've seen…now it's Dolores's turn."
"So…we'll have two Mirabels?"
"I don't know what's going to happen….just keep an eye on Dolores…."
Pepa and Julieta glanced at each other, they did know of the other vision but all Bruno told them was that Mirabel and Dolores won. He didn't say anything about Dolores going insane in the process. Neither of them was surprised about Mirabel..she had been declining in front of their eyes for a while now but Dolores? No, it was impossible.
"Right…let's….just head home…" Agustín stammered "And what for Dolores's message…"
Silently the family headed home feeling a mix of anger, sadness and guilt over what Mirabel had told them about what had really gone on behind their backs. They all wanted to confront Alma about it right now but per Dolores's request they would hold back…for now.
All they could do for now was cling to the promise of a better future outside of the Encanto. They just had to stick together.
-V-
A knock came from the barn door making Dolores raise her head in confusion. She glanced over to Mirabel sitting cross-legged in the straw with her book in her lap frowning in concentration as she ran her finger over the braille a lot calmer than she was earlier. The knock came again and with a groan Dolores stood up and made her way to the door, opening she was greeted by someone she wasn't expecting.
"It's true…you are back." Mariano grinned.
"Mariano? Is it really you?"
"Last time I checked." Mariano chuckled "Your mother told me you were in Bogotá.'
"We were…it's…complicated…"
Mariano looked down nervously "I was wondering….if you wanted to go for a walk…just you and me."
Dolores felt her heart stop for a moment "Just…us?"
"Yes…if….you want to.."
"I want to!" Dolores exclaimed "It's just…" she looked over to Mirabel.
"Go on." Mirabel said without looking up "I've been listening to you gush over him for the past three months."
"But you're-"
"Dolores, I'll be fine. I just want to sit here and read my book. Go on. Mariano has been waiting three months for this walk. What am I going to do? Burn the barn down? Go, I didn't do all that work for nothing.."
"Alright…" Dolores turned back to Mariano "I'll love too."
"Great!" Mariano put his arm through Dolores's "Let's go."
Dolores could feel her heart racing as she walked side by side with Mariano towards the river, it felt like thousands of little butterflies were fluttering in her stomach. She was sure she was blushing, but if Mariano noticed he wasn't commenting on it.
"You know, when I heard you were gone I was really worried."
"You were?"
"I was, thought I would never see you again."
Dolores turned her head sideways "Well…I'm back."
Mariano came to a stop pulling Dolores to a stop alongside him "You know the saying, absence makes the heart grow fonder?"
"Yeah…I believe it too."
"I've been spending all these months deciding how to approach this….you know how I told you I never wanted to marry Isabela?"
Dolores nodded as her heart began racing faster "You…you had your eyes on someone else."
"Yes I do…I'm not good at this stuff…you see they were half right I am in love with a Madrigal…I know this is real sudden but since I was going to marry a woman I never even dated….I…wanted to say….."
"You….you mean?"
"I love you Dolores, not Isabela you. Your smile, your hair, the way you talk, those adorable little squeaks you do."
Dolores squeaked in embarrassment he loves me…he actually loves me…
"See? Adorable. "
"You…you actually love me?" Dolores asked "Me?"
"Of course, and why wouldn't I? I've admired you for years…but I was set to marry Isabela…but since they broke off…I can follow my heart. And with the blessing of your parents I would love to court you…and one day make you my wife. That is…if you feel the same way."
Dolores couldn't believe this was happening, after all Bruno told her the man of her dreams would be just out of reach but now he was here holding onto her hands. She was going to get her happy ending just like Mirabel promised her "I…I love you too." before Dolores realised another pair of lips were pressed against hers.
Mariano pulled back from the kiss "Sorry…sorry…sudden I know."
"But I liked it."
Mariano caressed Dolores's cheek "The woman of my dreams, let's get married." he joked.
Dolores nudged him "Whoa slow down there." she chuckled.
"I'm so glad you came back."
"...for now."
"For now?"
Dolores sighed "Soon…I'm taking Mirabel and leaving the valley for good. The rest of the family is coming with us…we're going to start a new life in Bogotá. Would you…..you know….come with me?"
"Dolores, I would follow you to the ends of the earth."
Dolores smiled as she leaned her head on Mariano's shoulder. She wanted to tell him everything, what was really happening in the Madrigal family, her concerns about Mirabel, the things she had done and her fears of what was coming. But she couldn't…she just couldn't. She just had to hope once everything was done he would understand and forgive her.
"You alright, mi amor?"
"It's just….Mirabel she's…"
"Getting worse? Julieta told me and my mother about it."
"Yeah…I know there is help we can get her in Bogotá…if I can convince her to let them help her."
"If we can get her help, we will get her help."
"We?"
"Of course, you need support too. And I want to be that support. No matter what happens from here on out Dolores. I promise I'll do my best to support you."
"Even..if…I….oh never mind." Dolores gave a heavy sigh "It's…hard to talk about."
"I understand, whenever you want to talk about anything I'll listen."
The two sat down by the river exchanging small talk, Mariano catching Dolores up on what had been happening in town and Dolores telling him about what she and Mirabel got up to in the city.
After what felt like only seconds to Dolores but was more likely an hour or two Mariano stood up pulling Dolores up with him.
"I must go now, and I suppose you want to get back to your hermanita."
Dolores nodded "I….thank you…."
Mariano gave her a quick kiss on her cheek "Goodbye, mi amor. I'll come visit you real soon."
"Goodbye." Dolores watched him leave, it all felt so sudden. Despite Mirabel telling her Mariano liked her Dolores still had her doubts. But he liked her, he loved her. Oh Dios do not let her mess this up."
"Psst."
Dolores looked around at the sound of that voice in confusion.
"Psst, Dolores."
Dolores recognised the voice now and followed it to where she found Isabela hiding in a bush "Isabela, why are hiding in a bush? Were you spying on me?"
"I just got here and saw you with him." Isabela stood up stepping out of the bush "I…I'm…glad you're back….I was worried."
"Were you now?"
Isabela nodded "Did…did you run because of me?"
"No."
"You…you didn't?!"
Dolores sighed "We…just wanted to explore….I kept Mirabel there for her health, it was never my intention to worry everyone so much. Why would you think it was because of you?"
"Because you just disappeared, and you said you'd do anything to keep Mirabel safe from me…I'm so sorry…I never meant to hurt her. I thought I would never get to see my baby sister again…never see my best friend again. You have no idea how much relief I felt when I saw you two standing at the door. I'm so so sorry…it's been miserable here since you left. Mamá and Papá have been so worried…it's been nonstop rain, Tía Pepa insisted on searching every day. With each day that passed, we started losing we thought….we thought…"
"You thought what?"
"We thought you and Mirabel were dead." Isabela roughly wiped her eyes "I thought i would never get to apologise, I see now. I see the truth. Abuela is wrong, all of this wrong! Abuela is the one breaking the family not Mirabel."
Dolores was stunned, she knew Isabela had swapped sides of course but hearing it coming from her own mouth was something else "Who do you stand with Isabela?"
"Mirabel. This has to end, this is not her fault none of this was her fault. I'll do anything…anything…"
"What made you change your mind?"
"I realised I'm nothing more than Abuela's perfect trophy…and I was losing everything because of it. I nearly killed my baby sister because of it, I lost you because of it. The magic isn't worth this…I don't want this. I hate being perfect, I hate growing nothing but flowers but most of all I hate what I let Abuela turn me into!"
"You've finally opened your eyes." Dolores murmured "You finally realise what happened to Mirabel is wrong. You finally realise what Alma is really like."
"Alma?"
"That bitch doesn't deserve the title of Abuela."
"I guess…" Isabela noticed the heart bracelet on Dolores's wrist "You're wearing it…"
"Huh? Oh..yeah….thanks by the way."
Isabela raised her hand to show she was wearing a similar bracelet-the other side of the heart "You were my best friend Dolores, but we broke apart…just like the heart.." she removed her bracelet and grabbing Dolores's wrist put the pieces of the heart together "But we can fix it…I missed you Dolores and I'm so sorry."
"I missed you too…we were born only a few weeks apart…we like hermanas…we were mellizas..we did everything together. Join us Isabela, stand against Alma and we'll all leave this valley behind. You helped Alma break things…but now can help Mirabel fix things."
'I will! I'll make it up to her, I'll never turn my back on my hermanita ever again."
"I'm glad to hear it, you don't know how much Mirabel actually needs you."
"Does this mean you'll let me see her?"
"Come to the barn tomorrow…" Dolores said after a moment's silence "But if she's not ready to see you I'll have to kindly ask you to leave."
Isabela nodded "I…I understand…..and thank you for looking after her."
"I only did what I had to do, she needed someone otherwise she wouldn't have made it, Tía Julieta couldn't be there so I stepped in and I realised that behind the anger and the hate was a scared girl who was just misunderstood...now I better get back to her, see you tomorrow Isabela.."
Isabela watched as Dolores walked away with a new sense of hope filling her, she was going to make things right. She was going to get her sister back. Everything was going to be okay.
She was given another chance, and this time she was not going to blow it.
-V-
The next day Isabela stood outside of the barn door fist raised, taking a deep breath she knocked gently hoping for the best but preparing herself for the worst.
Dolores opened the door "Come in, she's expecting you."
Gulping Isabela stepped through the door instantly locking eyes with Mirabel "Mirabel…"
"Isabela." Mirabel stood up from her chair "Dolores tells me you're changing sides."
"Yes….listen Mirabel I'm so sorry for what I've done. I've been a horrible sister…the worst."
"Hmm."
"But I'm ready to be a better sister…to you. So we should just…hug. Hug it out!" Isabela smiled as she walked toward Mirabel.
"Hug…it….out?!"
"Mira, I feel like you're upset,. And know what curses being upset? A warm embrace!"
Dolores stood behind her shaking her and face palming.
Mirabel's expression didn't change "How about we talk first instead of just going straight for the hugging?"
"Right…right…listen…I really am so sorry, For everything…I never should have done what I have. I should have never listened to Abuela. I'm miserable! We're all miserable! The family is breaking because of her not you!"
The faintest sign of a smile appeared at the corner of Mirabel's lips "Go on."
"The blame is Abuela's but the punish yours."
"I'm glad you finally realised."
Isabela took a deep breath "I have always been in the spotlight, and as my spotlight grew so did the shadow that fell dark over the young sister I love. Each day it grew darker and darker until it swallowed her completely."
Mirabel didn't respond just tilted her head expression remaining fixed.
"I stood back and watched as your unhappiness grew, I contributed to your misery. I didn't love you as you deserved…I was only thinking of myself. And my because of my own selfishness I did nothing to stop the destruction of the one who needed me most."
Dolores eyes flickered from Isabela to Mirabel and back again but not speaking, this could either go really well and the candle is theirs or Isabela will say the wrong thing and cause Mirabel to blow.
Isabela wiped at the tears in her eyes "Mirabel I love you so much more than you know….please forgive me for being so blind."
"You're really sorry?" Mirabel's eyes narrowed "Sorry for everything you did to me?"
"Yes! I'm so sorry for everything, I'm sorry for bullying you, I'm sorry for pushing you away, I'm sorry for leaving you out here, I'm sorry for nearly killing you…I still have nightmares about that. I'm so sorry! SO SORRY! I'll do anything! ANYTHING!"
A grin spread across Mirabel's face "Did you say…anything?"
"Yes! Anything you want! Please just let me be your sister again!'
"In that case, there is something you can do for me...if you can do this I will forgive you and you can be my sister again."
"Of course! Just tell me what it is!"
"Bring me the candle."
Isabela was startled for a moment but nodded "I…I'll get the candle."
"Excellent, off you go then. I'll wait here."
"Wait…you mean right now? Don't you want to…talk first?"
"Yes now, we can talk if you successfully bring me the candle. Now run along, I believe I waited long enough…don't you?"
Isabela turned to Dolores who just smiled and nodded "I'll.….I'll do my best…"
"Good, now go."
Isabela left the barn and headed towards Casita trembling, she was actually going to try and steal the candle. She told herself she would hand Mirabel the candle herself but now she was actually expected to do it she was doubting she could pull it off.
Entering Casita she looked up to where the candle sat on the windowsill and taking a deep breath walked up the stairs and into Alma's room startled to see the elderly woman sitting in her chair.
"Oh, Isabela? What can I do for you?"
Isabela didn't know what to do, if she made a grab for it would it do what it did to Mirabel to her? "I…was just wondering….if I could hold the candle."
"Why?" Alma looked towards the candle.
"Since I'm the next candle holder…I just wanted to know what it was like to hold it…" it was a weak reasoning and Isabela knew it.
Thankfully, Alma bought it as she stood up and picked up the candle "Of course mi flor, just be careful now." with a smile she handed it over to Isabela.
Isabela blinked, it was all so easy Alma was more than happy to hand it to her, now all she had to do was get it to Mirabel.
"Isabela?"
Isabela's face turned into a scowl shocking Alma "I would say I'm sorry, but I'm not." with that she turned and ran the candle in her hands, to her surprise Casita didn't stop her instead was stopping Alma from coming after her.
"ISABELA!" Alma screamed as reality hit, Isabela had betrayed her. Mirabel had taken her last supporter…and as a result has taken the candle. She didn't understand why Casita was fighting against her. A nudge made her turn around and she watched in horror as her door flickered before going out. Glancing around all the other doors remaining glowing, Alma could only stare in horror at her now solid door.
Alma was candle holder no more.
Isabela slowly entered the barn still not believing what she had done.
"That was quick how did it-" upon seeing the candle in Isabela's hands Mirabel grin from ear to ear "The candle…the miracle it's self…."
"I…did what you asked….it was….actually easy…Abuela handed it right to me…"
"Now hand it to me."
Isabela hesitated for a moment "What if it strikes you again?"
"It didn't strike you and it was willingly handed to you, now willingly hand it to me." Mirabel held her hands out trembling with excitement. Finally…finally.
Nodding Isabela held out the candle placing it in Mirabel's hands making sure she had a firm grasp on it before letting go "So…now you just…destroy it right?" she asked with a nervous tone.
Mirabel ignored her as she stared at the candle in her hands grinning "Finally….finally the candle is mine." her laughter was maniacal "I have waited so long for this day." she spun around to face Dolores "Dolores! Dolores! Look what I've got! Dolores! Look!"
Dolores chuckled "And it's about damn time, we've planned for months for this day. Is it as glorious as you imagined it to be?"
"Oh, indeed. And it'll get better once I see the look on Alma's face. Now it's time for revenge, with the candle in my possession I can do anything, I finally have power. It's my turn Dolores it's finally my turn."
Isabela felt a growing sense of dread as Mirabel grew more and more deranged. Had she made a horrible mistake? Just what was about to be unleashed onto the Encanto?
"Oh, Isabela you have done a great deed today, a great deed indeed." Mirabel grinned widely at her sister "Now justice can be served."
"I…." Isabela could now only feel fear at the look on her hermanita's face, turning to Dolores she was met with a dark expression "Dolores?"
"You really thought that would be it? After everything she has been through she'll be satisfied with just destroying the candle and walking away?" Dolores chuckled shaking her head "Oh no, we're just getting started."
"Oh, Isabela me a good girl and gather the rest of the family and bring them here will you? Thank you." Mirabel was still staring at the candle.
Not wanting to know what Mirabel would do if she refused her request Isabela nodded "Of-of course…" without another word she turned around and almost ran out of the barn.
"Dolores? Pack our bags, we won't be staying in this smelly barn tonight or any other night."
Dolores tilted her head "What are we doing exactly? Why do you want the rest of the family?"
"We're taking Casita."
Notes:
I know I waited until the literal last day but I did post 2 chapters this month, I'm giving myself a pat on the back for that.
Mirabel finally has the candle and has completely snapped, she's completely lost it telling her story and having to relive all of that was the final straw.
I know I got lazy at the end...but eh, I'll make it up with the takeover of Casita.