Mirabellious: Double Destiny?
An Encanto Fanfic
Written by: FossilQueen1984
Chapter 2: Growing up in La Familia Madrigal
From the get go, it was obvious that Casita's gifts caused a variety of problems in the classroom, for bot the pupil and students. Of course, Alma only allowed them to use their powers during the lunch hour, and on the weekends after chores had been finished because playing with powers helped them learn the best way to use and focus said gifts as they got older. At least, that was the case for Pepa, Bruno and Julieta. When they were teenagers, science courses could be taught around their powers, especially biology, chemistry, physics and earth sciences. Their peers had certainly enjoyed being outdoors…just not when the temperatures had been too extreme.
The grandchildren and their gifts had given rise to a whole new set of problems. Luisa and Isabella had no trouble at school, the grounds looked their best and furniture being moved always got done in a snap with those two, but the others were a mixed bag. Mirabel was a walking battery who would accidentally zap people if she wasn't up and constantly walking about, letting herself "discharge" into the very building at selected times of the day, dictated by her abuela. There was also the fact Mira was to be taught everything there was to know about electricity, so this required a constant study of math and science courses well above a girl her age. Mirabel was a quick study, so the teachers had no problem with her walking around her classroom reading the selected readings from the literature or history textbooks in the morning, jolts of lightning rising from her curls, and after lunch attending classed with her sisters and Delores.
Camillo of course, was decent at school, but could not resist the chance to go around shifting to look like his teachers and get out of doing as much homework as possible. Mirabel thought he was hilarious, and so did his friends. After all, what good was shapeshifting if you didn't enjoy it? His teachers and parents weren't thrilled with his antics, and neither was his grandmother. But then again, if he didn't practice, how was he going to be able to infiltrate the enemy if they ever invaded the valley? With the Cold War going on (news curtesy of the radio towers Mirabel powered), they needed to be ready at a moment's notice. It wasn't his fault he wanted to have a good time, school was boring, except for history class and the cute girls. He loved history class, and Alma wanted him to take over as history teacher when he came of age because of that.
Lastly, there was Delores. She was in the same grade at the twins, but her academic record wasn't nearly as shiny as her siblings, and that filled her with shame and dread. When she was six years old, she did not learn long division, fractions and decimals like Mirabel did, she fiddled with her abacus, brown eyes focusing on the colored wooden beads in the ones places on the abacus in her hands as her classmates laughed and whispered, distracting her from the tasks at hand. Beyond them, she could hear the professoras congratulate the older students completing equations or doing well on an exam. Her teacher's chilly voice reached her, "Are you listening to me, nina?" Haltingly, she nodded and winged the correct answer. When she was nine years old, she could not tell jokes or make her friends roar with laughter the way Camilo did. She would crane to listen when a teacher was coming back and whisper for her friends to sit down, only to be the last one standing. Her teachers would stand sternly with hands to hips and ask, "Well, Delores? What did you hear? Tell us, por favor." She would be forced to tell what had happened, and that day, she had gone to Abuela in a flood of tears.
Alma had settled things quietly, but from then on, Delores felt compelled to know what everyone was saying, and not just about her. For the first year or so, this was done to spite everyone who said bad things about her, and also her family. There was just so much noise, noise, noise! She could hardly stand it! Thankfully, she was able to focus what she heard by cupping her hand over her ear and leaning in one direction. This had taken a lot of practice, and with some difficulty. Even with mastery, school life was hard.
At school, Isabella would steal her lunch and notebooks and toss them around in the air, playing keep away and mock her poor handwriting. Luisa would try to intervene, but Alma would have none of this. She publicly humiliated Luisa on school grounds, and Delores allowed the bullying to continue. Delores kept her school supplies closer to her body after that. She funneled her broken heart into becoming the town gossip, knowing what everyone said and accepting Isabella's superiority in the school's social hierarchy.
By the time Camilo and Mirabel were eleven years old, Pepa gave birth to another boy, Antonio. Camilo was thrilled to no end, finally- another boy! Tonino was a sweet, easygoing baby who liked everyone, except for Isabella, who was prickly and standoffish around small children. Alma was bothered by this, how was Isa going to be a good mother if she was this was around children? Isa, instead of arguing and saying she felt uncomfortable, swallowed and put on a show for everyone. Julieta could see the conflict in her daughter's eyes and shook her head. Such a waste.
It was about this time Alma took it upon herself to teach Mirabel what it meant to be Casita's caretaker. As it was, Casita spoke to everyone but this was taken for granted. A pipe was broken? Have Luisa bend and fix the pipes with her bare hands while the plumbers diverted the water elsewhere? The plants wilted in the front yard? Have Pepa create a storm and have Isabella grow new bushes and flowers. Power lines into town knocked down in a freak wind storm? Have Mirabel run the power through to town while the poles were rebuilt. Now, that the gifts were more or less under control, it was time for Mirabel Madrigal to step up to bat.
Considering her age, which was 11, and the fact she was still in school and Julieta was leary of her mother doing anything alone with the girl, Alma made sure her first lessons with Mirabel were out in public. Mirabel, who was always interested in the goings on of Encanto, followed her grandmother to the Town Council meeting. "Remember mija," Alma told the child, "you must listen to everything the Town Elders say. Once they are finished, you will listen to me decide what laws and ordinances will be passed. There will be discussions, of course. They will argue against what I say because they don't want what's best for Encanto."
Mirabel could feel her eyes tear up, "They…they want to hurt our home? That's so mean!" Kneeling, the older woman kissed her granddaughter's brow, "Oh, you have you such a bright soul, Mirabel! The Town Council, they mean well. But, they cannot truly know what is best for everyone because they are not a Madrigal. Do you understand?" Mirabel's brow knit together in confusion, she did not understand at all. Wouldn't they all want what was in the best interest of Encanto? What ever happened to compromising? That's what Mami and Papi did with her and the twins all the time, and she said as much to her grandmother as they neared the yellow brick building that served at the town's political hub.
Inside the upstairs chamber meant for meetings sat Father Vasquez, Senora Ruiz, Senor Pascal and Senora Bolivar (no relation to Simon Bolivar), and they rose and nodded to Alma and were a little shocked to see Mirabel there. "Mirabel is too young to attend this meeting, even if she is the next Caretaker," Father Vasquez scolded. The others nodded in agreement; this was neither the time nor place for children. Mirabel would have spoken up if Alma had not placed a hand on her shoulder. At this, Mirabel felt cold for a second. Why was she not allowed to speak? Alma gave her granddaughter a small look, and Mirabel retracted her thought, best to let the adults speak first.
"I have brought Mirabel with me so she can observe what we discuss here," Alma retorted plainly as churros and tea were brought in, and Mirabel was allowed to have. Bolivar and Ruiz made the argument that there was no need, the vote would go in Alma's favor, every single time. Since when did Alma Madrigal decide what was best for everyone? Mirabel let out a small gasp, was there going to be a fight?
Father Vasquez jumped up, "We do not need to fight, we are adults and there is a child here. Ergo, let us conduct ourselves in the best manner possible. Tonight's agenda includes moving the market days around for the next calendar year, taking El Nino into account, the wastrels sneaking in and siphoning off the communion wine and the budget for the remedial summer program for the school." The others nodded and got to work, and the meeting began.
As far as Mirabel was concerned, it was really boring! Why was she even here? She knew it was a huge honor to stay up late on a school night and go with Abuela to one of her meetings, but they were talking about things that were boring, to her anyway. Is that why she was here, to get used to boring stuff? She began running calculations in her head as a way to focus?
As she focused, she could see something. Anytime anyone said something, Alma would counter and twist their words in such a way that it came as an attack. Why was that? Didn't they want what was the best? She was confused, she would ask later. Alma could sense Mirabel's confusion, that was good. It would make it easier to ensure Mirabel's loyalty to her. The meeting drew to an end, and as the council members left in bad moods, Mirabel asked why they were always so grumpy.
As they walked along the road back to Casita, Alma told her, "You did well tonight, mija. Just remember, when you are at a meeting, you must be quiet and watch." Mirabel nodded, and went off to bed. Alma also turned in.
Today had been a good day.