While everyone was asleep, a restless Mirabel decided to take a little walk to explore the train. She couldn't help but notice how far she was from the Encanto.
The underestimated Madrigal was excited but nervous, "What's going to happen when I see them? Hey, remember me, I'm the kid you fought with Abuela about. And I have no idea who you are," she sighed. "No. There's no time for doubts now. We've already gone this far. I just need to... I just need to believe in myself and trust my instincts," she looked up at the sky.
Heart, don't fail me now
Courage, don't desert me
Don't turn back, now that we're here
People always say
Life is full of choices
No one ever mentions fear
As she keeps singing about how nervous is about traveling into a strange land. Unknown to her she has an audience from a certain someone.
Or how the road can seem so long
How the world can seem so vast
Courage, see us through
Heart, I'm trusting you
On this journey... to the past
She assures herself she'll be bringing the family together. For Bruno and Abuela. For Miguel. For everyone.
Somewhere down this road
I know someone's waiting
Years of dreams just can't be wrong
Arms will open wide
We'll be safe and wanted
Finally home, where we belong
Well, starting here our life begins
Starting now I'm learning fast
Courage, see me through
Heart, I'm trusting you
On this journey... to the past
Heart, don't fail us now
Courage, don't desert me
Home, Love, Family
There was once a time
We must've had them too
Home, Love, Family
We will never be complete until we find you!
One step at a time
One hope then another
Who knows where this road may go
Back to how we were
Onto, find our future
Things my heart still needs to know!
Yes, let this be a sign
Let this road be mine
Let it lead me to our past
Courage, see me through
Heart, I'm trusting you
To bring us home
At last!
She sings imagining all the memories they'll make together with both families united.
"At last!"
She turned and bumped into someone causing them to fall with her on top. "Oh, I am so sorry I wasn't watching... Where I was going and now-" She stopped when she saw who it was. "What are you doing here?" She asked Zano, as they got up from the floor.
"I just got back from using the bathroom," he answered then he leaned in close to her. "What are you doing Mariposita?" The nickname made her flustered but she wouldn't let his smug face get the best of her.
"Not that it's any of your business," she moved back while keeping eye contact, "I was looking at the night sky."
"Oh," he said smugly, "And?"
"And nothing that's it," she turned around to face the window instead of having to look at this creep. But that didn't stop him from teasing her.
"You know Mariposita. I heard a lot about you," he said standing next to her but she wasn't paying him any mind, "You just meet me," she noted giving him a skeptical look.
"I also grew up with the people that raised you for five years."
"They babysat me, my parents-"
"Were too busy following your grandma's orders, and they couldn't be with you as much as they wanted," this got to her and then he pulled out a photo.
"Which must have been hard since you were such a cutie," she sees a picture of her as a baby. "Where did you get this?" She asked trying to grab it but he just towered over her keeping it out of her reach.
"Miguel brought it with him to find you," He told her as she was still reaching, "Well, where did he get this?"
He chuckled, "Who do you think?" She stopped trying to get the photo, "Oh, that's right…"
"Isa said I was important to them, but if that was true then why did they…" Her thoughts were interrupted by Zano giving the picture to her. "Something bothering you?" Zano asked, wondering where the glasses-wearing girl's spark went.
"I'm fine it's just… I didn't think they would have any photos," she says gazing down at the photo.
"Well, somehow they managed to keep most of them intact." he tells her, "They wanted to keep a piece of all of you with them."
"Even Abuela?"
"They have paintings of her," he said with a mischievous grin. "Are they bad?" she asked with an awkward smile.
"Let's just say after meeting your grandma in person she's only half of what I was expecting."
With a raised eyebrow, "You were expecting La diabla?"
"No, more like the snow witch." He joked making her smile.
"Well, she wasn't always the easiest person to get along with," She says to him, "I see that. Bet it wasn't easy on your family."
"It wasn't. She's trying to make up for it now though, but it still hurts every time I look back but I know that everything will be better."
"Well consider yourself lucky," Zano said.
"What do you mean?"
"You got to enjoy being a kid for five more years. You probably got to sleep in. As soon as the 'gifted' Madrigals controlled their powers your Abuela was ready to give them tasks," he stated.
"That's not…" True? I mean looking back, Luisa had a lot of things to do, and Isa and Camilo weren't allowed to be themselves. Dolores had to be a spy. Not to mention Mama, Tia Pepa, and Bruno… "I guess I never thought of it that way."
"You still had chores?" Zano asked as she nodded slowly. "Well, my Abuela gives me chores so that's..."
"I was told to stay out of the way," Mirabel told him not sure why but she had to get it out.
"Harsh but-"
"I wouldn't listen I just wanted to do my part," she said remembering how eager she was to prove herself not considering how pointless it was back then.
"Why?"
"To make my family proud, when I didn't get a gift, I wanted to feel that I was one of them so badly."
"From what I was told you did that the day you were born."
"Well, I didn't know that! And who are you to talk to me about my family? You are not even a part of it!"
"Hey! I got dragged into this the day your cousin married my sister," He claimed, "I could care less about your family hang-ups."
"Then why are you still talking to me?"
"Because I want to see how long it'll take you to realize that your nightgown is see-through?" he spouted with a grin pointing to her chest. Looking down she saw that her nightgown was not see-through but something was poking out. Two somethings.
Flustered she punched him in the face knocking him down. "Puerco!" With a glare, she left to head back to the cart leaving him alone.
A minute after Mirabel stormed out Zano with a smirk, wiped the blood from his lip and got up.
"Lovers quarrel?" He turned and saw an old man sitting alone on a chair with a guitar. "How long were you standing there?" He asked the old man.
"Not long I heard someone singing and decided to check it out then I saw your girl deck you,"
"She is not my girl," he says.
"Oh, then why were you fighting?"
"I showed her a picture of her as a baby that I got from her primos. Thought it would get her to stop moping."
"Did it?"
"Oh yeah it worked now instead of a pity party she's pissed," said Zano as he leaned against the wall. "Still better than hearing her complain."
"Ah, because you want to see her full of life."
"Not really?"
"Then why bother trying to cheer her up?"
"Look Viejo, is there something you want? Cause if you're just going to pester me then I'm out" he stood about to leave.
"I was hoping you could play my guitar for me,"
"Uh, why?"
"I'm old and tired. Your young and angry I want to hear what kind of song that makes" This wasn't exactly what he wanted to hear but he might as well get some angst out while making an old man bug off.
"Alright but what I have is a cover," he said grabbing the guitar from the old man and started tuning it.
Ay Mariposita
When you were here before,
I couldn't look you in the eye,
Unknown to Zano, Mirabel went back to yell at him some more but stopped when she heard him playing.
(Singing)
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
She peeked through the door seeing Zano playing the guitar. As it got louder.
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What l am I doing here?
I don't belong here!
I don't belong…
He looks to see the old man snoring with a smile on his face. "Sweet dreams Viejo," he places the guitar down gently he heads back to the chart not knowing he was being watched.
As Mirabel returned to sleep she wasn't the only Madrigal to wander the train. Isa couldn't help thinking about what Zano said about her older cousins. What did they get themselves into when they left?
"Isa?" She turned and saw Dolores rubbing her eyes. "What are you doing here?" Her prima asked.
"Yeah, Sis it's-" Luisa yawned. "Late."
"Sorry I didn't mean to wake you it's just that-" sensing her sister's frustration "just what? You can tell us," Luisa assured as Dolores agreed.
"I've been reminiscing about how close we were with them. I used to be able to spot them a mile away."
"Not surprising we spent more time with them than our parents."
"I still hear the first lullaby they ever sang to us."
You're okay,
You're alright,
I'll never, ever leave your side
I will stay and I will fight
With you
They shared a light laugh remembering that song but Isa was still upset, "I prayed every day we would be together again but now. I'm not sure."
"What do you mean?"
"Luisa we haven't seen them in ten years and they were in a war," Isa explained.
"Oh," she said realizing what her sister was implying.
"Isa, I know it's hard to imagine but they're alive you saw the tree."
"What if they're not what we remember? What if they changed as Abuela did?" Dolores didn't know what to say to that or Luisa. They saw what war did to their family and that fear almost tore them apart. "Isa we have to see for ourselves you know there are still words that need to be said or will never move forward together."
The floral Madrigal had nothing to say because she knew her cousin was right yet Isa is so scared to see her primos again but she is afraid they won't treat her the same. "Don't think, just trust" Isa said remembering "Stay calm, stay with me, she said," Isa recalls the time she and Angelina were sneaking out to see the stars.
"Eyes open, breathe in, Just one wrong move, and we're dead," she joked.
"And if she and I don't reunite, How can I go on?
Do we still remember what is gone?"
Remembering all the times they all played together like Ignacio dancing with Isa, Javier reading with Luisa and Dolores, and Angelina giving female advice. "What if I forget your face?"
What if you move on without me?
What if I can't find The doorway back through?
And what if I do But don't recognize you?
What if I take far too long And the danger has claimed you?
What if we're too late To save you from your fate?
And you are lost forever 'cause of me, yeah?"
The trio recalls all the memories they made with the triplets but also understands Isa's nerves. Luisa remembers how Javier used his powers to make her fly, and Ignacio would make her figurines of magical creatures she wonders if they'll still be as lively as before.
"We will find a way to make sure that you're okay!"
"One careful step at a time, For you and I, are fragile things..."
With that, the girls all hugged each other trying to assure themselves that whatever happens that they will all be together.
