A/N: At last, the Encanto chapter I promised back in October. Hope you enjoy.
"Luisa? Do you ever wonder how the donkeys keep getting out?" Seth asked as he watched the Rock of the Madrigal Family lift six donkeys.
"Eh, no big deal. It means more work for me and I don't mind." Luisa answered, "Abuela hasn't been as hard on us anymore so I don't feel too much pressure anymore." The strongwoman placed the donkeys into the pen and dusted her hands off. Seth just nodded along.
Today, Seth decided to visit the realm of "Encanto." He is generally friends with Antonio due to their affinity towards animals.
Speaking of animals, Pico the Toucan -one of Antonio's animals- landed on Seth's head and playfully nipped at his dreads. Seth giggled before patting the bird's feathers.
"I thought I heard you," Dolores Madrigal said, approaching with Marianio at her side.
"Dolores, how are you?" Seth greeted the eldest child of Pepe and Felix Madrigal and her boyfriend.
"Doing well." Dolores answered before using her gift. "Luisa. The bridge needs to be re-positioned again."
"On it." Luisa said and walked off to help where she was needed.
"Actually, Seth, I'm glad you are here today." Dolores admitted once Luisa was on her way.
"Why?" Seth skeptically asked.
"I heard a growl in the jungle. It didn't sound like any animal I'm familiar with in the Encanto." Dolores admitted.
Seth thought about it for a while, "I would say jaguar but you should be pretty familiar with a noise from that feline. So, I'm going to guess that is not what you heard."
"That's right." Dolores answered.
"Alright, I can handle it." Seth reassured and summoned Zoology, in case it was a Heartless.
"Can I come too?" Antonio Madrigal, the youngest member of the Madrigal family, asked with pleading eyes as he rode Parce the Jaguar.
"Antonio," Dolores started with her sisterly tone, "It's dangerous. I would have asked Luisa or Isabela to go but they are both occupied at the moment. And you are still too young."
"But what if it's a new animal?" Antonio asked, "I could talk to it and maybe ask what it is doing here."
"Seth has proven he can understand animals." Dolores reminded.
"Um… it comes out as broken English for me really. I was lucky I was able to understand Carno during the Power of 3 Tournament." Seth admitted in a sheepish tone. Since Carno doesn't speak like most of the wildlife, Seth managed to understand some grunts and roars from the theropod.
"See? Seth doesn't speak or understand animals fully. So, he needs my help." Antonio stated firmly.
Dolores, seeing she was losing the argument, calculated in her head before sighing, "Oh… alright. But we are telling mom."
After a convincing conversation with Pepa Madrigal -that nearly resulted in a tornado from her ranting and concerns about Antonio-, the two animal enthusiasts prepared to venture and see what caught Dolores' hearing. Entering the rainforest with Antonio, Seth kept his ears peeled while the youngest Madrigal rode Parce, who was stalking with precaution.
"What do you think the animal is?" Antonio asked, "Maybe a newly discovered one?"
"Highly unlikely." Seth answered as they continued. Seth used Zoology to create various tropical bird manifestations and scout ahead.
A quetzal flew down from its scouting, landing on Seth's shoulder and chirped.
"He says nothing from the West." Antonio translated. With his zoopathy ability, Antonio understood any animal, even Seth's apparitions.
A macaw returned next from the South, also stating it saw nothing. A rhea from the North mentioned nothing. All that was left was a toucan, returning from the West. The toucan gave a chirp and Antonio translated.
"It mentioned some kind of beast with white spots and a long black tail." Antonio answered.
"Hmmmm…." Seth said, trying to think of a creature with that description.
The toucan gave another chirp and Antonio added, "And green eyes."
"Green eyes?" Seth said, putting a finger to his chin now and contemplating. "There is only one beast that comes to mind with a description like that. Let's go." Seth had the toucan fly off to lead the way. Seth took the form as a jaguar himself and ran with Parce and Antonio alongside him.
After about 15 minutes, the animal enthusiasts arrived where the toucan said it had spotted the creature. Seth reverted to his human form and explained. "Stay back, Antonio. I know Pepa would create a tornado if anything happens to you. If things get tense, have Parce run back to the Encanto. Got it?"
Antonio nodded as Parce kept his legs tense. Seth decided to keep his stealth, turning into a lizard to approach the potential threat.
Imagine the surprise he saw when he recognized the creature.
The beast fit the description the toucan said: a white beast with spots, a long dark tail, and green eyes. It was currently rolling on its back like a dog doing tricks.
"Great work, Gruff!" A small voice said. Seth paused and turned into his human state.
"Ah!" The small voice said. A trail of pixie dust flew up and the Neverbeast stood up, growling at the intruder.
"Woah! Woah! Woah!" Seth placated, trying not to be attacked, "I don't mean any harm!"
The Neverbeast stopped his growling before sniffing, getting the scent of Seth. The trail of pixie dust flew up to Seth, letting the shapeshifter get a better look at who was the owner of the voice: a redhead fairy in orange leaf clothing.
"Aren't you Fawn?" Seth identified as the fairy nodded.
"Yep! That's me!" Fawn, the animal fairy, said and proudly pointed to herself. Gruff lumbered over, being about the size of a human, so the Neverbeast was about to his stomach. The big beast began to nuzzle into Seth's chest, causing Fawn to 'awe.'
"Awwwwww~" Fawn said, "He likes you! Gruff doesn't usually warm up to anyone that fast."
It was at this moment, Antonio and Parce peaked out. Gruff smelled them and growled again. Parce appeared and growled but Antonio ran in front, "Easy, Parce! Easy. He looks friendly. I mean he is nuzzling up to Seth with relative ease."
Gruff snorted to which Antonio translated, "He said he smells familiar considering he has the scent of many animals."
"Are you trying to say I smell?" Seth asked the Neverbeast, who began to lick him on the cheek. "Ok. Ok. I guess that's fair. I do turn into any animal."
"Wait, you can understand him?" Fawn asked with wide-eyes. She hovered close to Antonio, who jumped in fright then explained. "Well, I can understand any animal."
"That's so amazing!" Fawn exclaimed, "I'm an animal fairy. I have certain duties with woodland creatures. Gruff here is the biggest animal I've ever cared for."
"So what are you doing here?" Seth asked, "And with Gruff of all creatures?"
"Well, Gruff was being his usual self." Fawn explained, "Figured I would get him active. See the wonders of the Magical World rather than be cooped up in the cave and snoozing."
"I suppose that's fair." Seth admitted, scratching Gruff along the back. The Neverbeast emitted a purr at the interaction before Parce came over and vied for attention. "I guess Gruff is hardly active, since he likes to lounge and only wakes up one thousand years when a green meteorite comes flying by." Seth began to pet both of the animals, both purring.
"Well, Dolores heard Gruff growl's and thought it was something scary." Antonio said, scratching Gruff himself.
"I figured this would be a good place for him to get away." Fawn said, "But I wasn't aware that he would be heard out here."
"That's my sister Dolores for you. She can hear a pin drop even if she's 50 miles away." Antonio clarified.
"No doubt she can hear us now."
Seth snickered quietly, "Well, now she doesn't have to worry about any scary beast. Gruff here protects the fairies of Pixie Hollow. So I doubt he would be really scary. Though I don't think the Encanto is the best place."
"What do you mean?" Fawn asked as she perched on Seth's shoulder.
"To be fair, Pixie Hollow is a forest habitat. Gruff is more or less adapted to a forest environment." Seth explained.
"I suppose that is true." Fawn thought aloud. "I'm not entirely sure where I could get him though."
"Maybe the Enchanted Forest from 'Frozen' is more suitable for him." Seth suggested. "It might be frigid for your wings though. The Hundred Acre Woods… Wide enough but then again, maybe not."
"I'm sure you'll get Gruff a good place for him to roam about." Antonio said, patting the head of the Neverbeast.
"I guess so." Fawn said with some reluctance.
"Come on, Antonio. Better tell Dolores that the Encanto is safe." Seth said. Parce lowered his back for Antonio to hop onto and began to leave with Seth in the form of a jaguar.
"Oh, I'm so glad you are alright!" Pepa said, hugging her youngest child in a tight embrace. Her cloud nearly began to sprinkle from her emotions until Felix moved it away and comfroted her.
"So it was a Neverbeast?" Dolores asked Seth, who nodded. He gave a brief summary but he highly doubted it was necessary since she could hear them.
"Yeah, really found in Neverland or rather Pixie Hollow." The shapeshifter responded. Dolores took everything in before her hearing alerted her of something. "I hear footsteps and plants parting."
Seth turned around as Dolores pointed to the undergrowth. Seth brought out his Keyblade in case action was necessarily. "Probably best to stay behind me," Seth advised Pepa's side of the family. They did so, staying on the other side of the bridge as Seth cautiously approached the rainforest in the off-chance it was a
However, he was just tackled by Gruff and licked affectionately. Seth groaned before giggling until Gruff eventually got off and allowed the shapeshifter to rise. "Hey, there again!" Fawn called out, hovering above Gruff.
"I would have thought Gruff would have stayed with you?" Seth said as the family walked over, all cautious except for Antonio.
"Yeah, but after you left, Gruff started to trail you," Fawn explained, "I guess he must really like you."
Seth couldn't deny the claim. He was more connected with animals given his ability to turn into them. The Animal Kingdom is his favorite park in the Magical World, after all.
"So this is Gruff?" Dolores questioned as the Neverbeast sat himself down.
"Yep, the one and only." Seth clarified, "And this is Fawn, an animal fairy. She brought Gruff for some exercise." Pepa's side of the Madrigal family nodded before greeting the fairy and her large animal companion.
"I guess there wasn't much of a threat after all. Still I am glad I had you investigate." Dolores said, "If you hadn't I think Luisa would have been next. Or Antonio would have probably left on his own."
"That would have caused a tornado, no doubt." Seth remarked.
"Well, it's almost time for dinner. Fawn, do you and Gruff want to join us?" Camilo Madrigal invited the fairy.
"Well, uh, sure?" Fawn said, "Though not sure if you have anything my size. And Gruff here only eats plants."
"I'm sure fruits will be suffice him," Seth reassured her as they headed back to Casita for the day.
Next Time: Seth and Reptil learn the meaning 'survival of the fittest.'
A/N: I have always found Tinkerbell's movies to be really underrated films since it expanded the idea of fairies for Disney. So a small inclusion with the last of film of the 'Tinkerbell' series.
Seth is friends with Antonio due to their affinity towards animals. Seth understood broken English with Carno during the Power of 3 Tournament, a little fact I made during the dialogue interactions. I think that is understandable since Carno doesn't speak in 'Dinosaur' but at least fluent English like the main characters. I presume the herbivores are capable of speaking.
In the meantime, the next chapter is more complete with the plot. I hope this chapter was enjoyable at least for my readers.
Until next time!