Isabela Madrigal was confused.

Completely and utterly confused.

A full year following the death of her youngest hermana, and it was the first emotion she felt after the subsiding of sadness. The reason for her confusion stemmed from her youngest primo acting much more excitable than usual, even for him. Her confusion only increased upon her realization that her Abuela—the stern, strict, and severe matriarch of the Familia Madrigal—had joined in her youngest primo's excitable attitude, acting more affable and cordial than usual...even for her.

That confusion carried over to the rest of the familia first, and then the rest of the townspeople, who were caught off guard and even frightened by this sudden shift in behavior within the head of the Encanto. Many a rumor spread, with the most common theory being the death of her youngest nieta proved too much for her to process and she had snapped. Of course, this lead to much fear amongst them, particularly those who had been smearing the good name of Mirabel Madrigal (unintentionally or not). Alma herself kept mostly to herself, letting the rumor pass through with flying colors and exchanging subtle witticisms with her youngest nieto for her own amusement.

One day, as Alma and Antonio were whispering to giggling to themselves, the family looked on in confusion as they ate their breakfast in a mostly comfortable silence. Some of the town kids, including Alejandra, Juancho, and Cecilia, peered from their spots in the bushes and behind the trees to eavesdrop on the conversation. Presumably (or perhaps purposefully) oblivious to the fact that they were drawing a crowd, Alma shook her head as Antonio held back a gargantuan giggling fit.

BANG!

Ultimately, with a twitchy eye, Isabela growled and banged her fist on the table harder than she should have.

"¡Ay, coño!" Agustín exclaimed in fright as Pepa caused a lightning bolt to strike him.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Isabela waved her hands before huffing and regaining her composure, "I'm sorry...but what is going on with you, Abuela?"

"Whatever do you mean, Isabela?" Alma raised a single eyebrow, Antonio continuing to hold back his laughter.

Isabela's eye twitched in disbelief, "Whatever do I mean? You're...you're happy!"

"Am I not allowed to be happy?" Alma smirked as her poker face nearly broke through.

Isabela stammered this time and shook her head, "No, no! I mean...you're happier than usual! What is it that you and Antonio know and the rest of us don't?"

Alma and Antonio exchanged knowing smirks before the former sighed and shook her head at the latter, who giggled in his palm now.

"I'm merely awaiting the good news," Alma took a sip of her tea.

BUZZ!

As Isabela and the rest of the group pondered the meaning of that response, a glowing blue electric portal was conjured up in mid-air, catching their attention as much as Alma and Antonio's. The townspeople gasped in equal parts fear and fascination before the Madrigal family members rushed forward and stood in front of them. Alma and Antonio merely walked to the front of the crowd, who looked on in dread and intrigue as their town leader and her youngest grandson stood a few feet from where the portal stood.

Eventually, a figure stepped out of the portal, donning a thick dark brown leather coat with pants, black boots with matching goggles and a face mask. A slightly overstuffed backpack was slung over her shoulders while a Mossberg 500 Persuader was slung across her back, but the appearance of the latter was not why Isabela gasped in shock. It was the appearance of curly, chin-length black hair that did it for her.

"M..." Isabela teared up, "M-Mirabel...?"

"Bingo!" The figure suddenly exclaimed in excitement as she propped up her goggles and tugged down her mask to reveal the one and only Mirabel Madrigal, "Sup, party people?! I'm back in the hizz-ou—oh, no. Nope. Yep. Knew it was wrong as soon as I said it. Sorry, that was terrible. Can I get a do-over?"

Mirabel was met with no immediate response as the jaws of the townspeople hung agape in complete and utter shock. However, save for her Abuela and her Toñito, no one was as completely and utterly shocked as the rest of her family. Julieta stood up first and briefly clamped her hands over her mouth in disbelief.

"M...Mira? Mirabel...?"

"Hola, mamá..." Mirabel smiled and waved nervously, dreading the reaction her mother would inflict upon her.

Instead, rather than get angry and curse at her for endangering herself, Julieta lunged at her youngest daughter and hugged her tight around the waist. Feeling her sobbing into her chest, Mirabel continued to smile as she returned the hug and held back her tears.

"Oh, mija..." Julieta continued to cry, "Mi preciosa mariposa... I missed you so much..."

"I missed you too, mamá," Mirabel leaned into her touch, "It's so good to see you again. All of you..."

"Likewise, mi vida," Agustín wiped away his own tears (whether or not it was from the bee stings, she was unsure) and hugged her as well...

"Mira…MIRABEL!"

...before Luisa, who had been watching in a stunned silence alongside her eldest hermana, elicited a cry torn between joy and anguish before she very quickly rushed over to her youngest, whom she engulfed in a bone-breaking, suffocating hug along with their own parents. As she continued to cry, the eyes of Mirabel, Julieta, and Agustín began to bug out from all the air being violently ripped out from their lungs, prompting them to "lightly" tap on her shoulders to loosen her grip.

"M-Mirabel! I-Is this real? Are you really here?" Luisa sobbed.

"L-Luisa…" Mirabel wheezes.

"Easy...e-easy there, mi hija!" Agustín wheezed second as he tried to get some much-needed air.

"We cannot breathe, Luisa...!" Julieta wheezed third as her lungs were in danger of shriveling up from oxygen deprivation.

It was a fact that the rest of the family and a few others caught on to fast and acted hastily upon. They all rushed forward and struggled to pull the strongest member of the bunch in a vain attempt to allow the return of oxygen. The thing was, Luisa was the strongest member of the bunch. Out of fear that Mirabel would disappear as quickly as she reappeared the moment she would let go, Luisa could only cry harder and hug tighter in her emotional state. Their feet dangling in the air and the lack of oxygen very quickly becoming a very possible threat to their mortal existence, Mirabel, Julieta, and Agustín all started to get progressively lightheaded as the concerned shouts of their family became distorted in the process.

Acting equally hastily, Mirabel clutched the hands of her padres and teleported away from the clutches of her second eldest hermana, who came to and realized what she had almost done. Recovering from their shock, the family and surrounding townspeople searched for the trio before they appeared a few feet away from them, collapsing in a pile. Mirabel stood up first and rushed back towards the table to grab a pitcher of tea and two cups before rushing back to her parents, whom she poured two glasses of tea for.

"Thank you, mi hija," Julieta thanked Mirabel as she took the cups and drank one.

"Much appreciated," Agustín took and drank the other cup before he processed the event that occurred, "Wait...how...how did we—?"

"It's a long story," Mirabel chuckled as she helped her parents up and walked with them back to the stunned group. With that, she slowly approached Luisa with more caution this time.

"It's okay, Luisa. I'm here. You don't want dying again after I just got back, would you?"

Mirabel cringed at her distasteful joke, but Luisa did not seem to mind as she hugged her more gently this time. As long as her youngest hermana was here, nothing else mattered.

"Mirabel..."

The girl in question peered over Luisa's shoulder and saw Camilo cautiously approach with Alejandra, Jauncho, and Cecilia in tow. On the topic of the former, her mind trailed back to the alternate Camilo she had encountered in the Space Between and was still friends with. So similar, yet so dissimilar. On the topic of the latter, she knew the trio of children were also a trio of fans for the Madrigal Familia. This extended to even herself despite her lack of gift, and surely her death (however temporary it was) must have devastated them all to no end. In regards to them plus Camilo, it seemed as though as they had not aged a day or more.

"Is it you, Mirabel?" Cecilia approached from Camilo's right side, her smile growing with each step, "Is it really you?"

"It's really me, Cecilia," Mirabel nodded, prompting the young girl and her friends to rush forward and embrace her much like Luisa was continuing to do. After a moment of hesitation, Camilo joined in as well while out of her reach courtesy of his second oldest cousin.

"You're alive..." Camilo could only murmur, "You're alive..."

"Of course I am, Camilo," Mirabel held her grip on the five people embracing her as Bruno, Dolores, Pepa, and Félix approached next.

"Kid..." Bruno smiled as he breathed out.

"Tío Bruno," Mirabel greeted her original uncle before the latter two as she briefly broke from one hug, "Tía Pepa and Tío Félix...it's good to see you again."

"Oh, Mirabel!" Pepa rushed forward and hugged her next.

"We have missed you so much!" Félix hugged her afterwards with him and his daughter taking one side and his wife and Bruno taking the other.

"We all have..." Dolores stood beside Pepa as she hugged her prima.

"Me too," Mirabel smiled before noticing her eldest sister watching the sight unfold before her...from a distance.

The relationship between her and Isabela was very...complicated, for lack of a proper term. It toed the lines between caring and contemptuous, the later years of their childhood undoubtedly leaning into the latter territory rather than the former, which stayed firmly in the early years. However, the day when...Casita collapsed and took Mirabel down with it, those early years came rushing back at full force following their prior reconciliation, which Isabela admitted to herself was not truly official because she believed one simple act of epiphany was not enough to undo years of sisterly neglect and sibling rivalry.

A sight of a grieving mother mourning the death of her child was very much the most unwelcome one, and Isabela had the unfortunate distinction of bearing witness to it a year prior. The memory was vivid and violent, as time stopped for Isabela as her eyes landed on the battered body of her youngest sister. She heard the soft sobs of her aunt and saw the frantic confusion on her mother's face as she still was leaning over Mirabel. And when she heard her mother's screams...

It was too much for her.

Suddenly, Isabela's breath hitched in her throat as she turned and walked away as fast as her legs could carry her, ignoring the concerned calls and cries of her family.

Even more suddenly, Mirabel teleported in front of her to prevent from getting far.

"¡Mierda!"

"Isabela!" Mirabel held her eldest sister close and stared deep into her eyes, "It's me! Mirabel...?"

M...Mirabel...

What an awful sister she had been to Mirabel. Rotten, even.

She still loved her sister, just not in the way one would expect. She instead loved the way Mirabel had danced through life, unafraid of how silly and clumsy she looked. She had loved the way her sister allowed her curls to do what they wanted to do each day. She had loved the genuine smile that graced her face because no matter what, her sister was always herself.

Yes, Isabela had loved it all. She had also been disgustingly jealous of it.

Mirabel had no expectations. Mirabel had no pressure from Abuela. Mirabel was free to skip through life with no care in the world. That had been the true source of her ire towards her youngest sister. And although she could not go back to the past and change all those years they were on bad terms, she truly desired a chance for atonement and really had looked into what they might have done after their reconciliation.

After they felt like sisters once again.

. . .

. . .

. . .

And then Casita went down and buried Mirabel underneath the debris.

And Isabela was ashamed. Because that jealousy had killed Mirabel in the end.

She sobbed and the stiff, standard posture she had perfected over the years by being graceful and proud shattered again like it had before on that fateful day, leaving behind shaking shoulders and drooped head with hair covering all her features. She felt her hermana's hand wrap around her waist as she gently pulled her in for one final hug.

"You're..." Isabela gulped and persisted through her tears, "You're..."

"Here?" Mirabel smiled despite her own heartbreak, "Alive and well? Yes, Isabela. I'm here...alive and well."

"This...this can't be real. You shouldn't be here."

"Why can't it be real? Why shouldn't I be here?"

"Because...I killed you..."

"No, Isabela," Mirabel briefly broke away and looked at her older sister with a more firm gaze, "You did not kill me. It was my decision to save the candle. It was my decision to save the Miracle. Casita...they tried to save me, and they did their best. It was nobody's fault. I... It was just unexpected, that's all."

Isabela knew that most of what she had said was valid, but it did almost nothing to assuage her fears and worries for Mirabel. She could only continue to hug her sister, burying her head into her shoulder as she attempted to muster an apology.

"I... Still though..."

"Still nothing. If you're trying to apologize, don't. There's nothing to apologize for. I'm here, and that's all that matters."

. . .

"Yeah. You're right."

Isabela and Mirabel continued to share a hug as the rest of the family and townspeople looked on with pride and warm hearts. Not a single word was spoken or a single noise was made.

Until...

"Wait a minute!" Camilo suddenly shouted, unintentionally scaring those around him, "Abuela, Antonio! Did you know about...this?! About Mirabel?!"

At that moment, Antonio burst out laughing as he rushed forward and hugged his older cousin.

"And I kept it a secret as long as I could! Did I do good, Mira?"

Mirabel chuckled as she nodded her head, "Yes, you did good, Toñito. You and Abuela."

As Antonio continued hugging Mirabel, Isabela looked up and glanced at Alma, "You knew too? Oh...that's why you were in such a good mood!"

"A very good mood," Alma smiled as she approached Mirabel, "How have your journeys been?"

"Oh, they've been...uneventful for the most part," Mirabel made a so-so hand gesture, "Most of the universes I've visited are still stable, albeit with a few...eventful snags."

While Alma and Antonio listened attentively to the tales told by Mirabel, the rest of the family and townspeople exchanged looks of complete and utter confusion, having been locked out of the loop the first time around. Bruno, Dolores, Mariano, Alejandra, Juancho, Cecilia, Agustín, and Julieta among the many others listened on as her anecdotes involved a vast array of alternate universes.

"Dios mio..." Agustín and Julieta exchanged stunned expressions.

"You've been stuck in an alternate universe for the past year?" Dolores asked.

"Technically, it's an astral plane," Mirabel clarified, "I'm still not sure how most of it works, but...all I know is that it's a realm that exists outside of time and space. Most of the people who populate it are from other universes as well, who ended up...dying like me or ending up in a comatose state. I survived because...the Queen who rules it is a pretty nice woman. She gave me a job in exchange for the oversight and protection of my universe. Of...you guys."

"So you could've left anytime..." Camilo started.

"...but you chose to stay," Bruno finished.

"Because of you guys," Mirabel nodded, "All that talking to myself, wishing that I would get home sooner or later... I didn't know if I would or not."

These series of revelations shook the family and townspeople even further. The sight of an alive and well Mirabel Madrigal was already upsetting to them, but the very idea of a plethora of different dimensions populated by different people was enough for them to brainstorming different theories about the different lives they were presumably living. Did they conform to the rules under a supposely villainous Alma Madrigal? Did they choose to defy the Familia Madrigal and go after their magic? It was understandbly a lot to process.

"But you're here now," Antonio smiled and continued hugging Mirabel, who returned the hug, "And I'm happy to see you, Mira."

"Thanks, Toñito," Mirabel smiled as she knelt down to his level, "And...do you remember me saying that I can show you and the rest of our familia where I've been for the past year one day?"

"I remember like it was yesterday!" Antonio nodded before he excitedly gasped in realization, "Is today the day?"

"Today is the day," Mirabel smiled wider before she stood up and nodded, "Familia...how would you like to attend a wedding?"

The family exchanged confused looks once more.

"Um...what?" Pepa tilted her head in bewilderment.

Two weeks later, Skye woke up with sky high spirits as she literally shot up from bed and got ready for the big day. Thanks to the new machine Miss Lunella had built for her, she was able to brush her teeth, take a shower, and get dressed. Technically, dogs do not usually wear clothes, but she had her Pup-Tag still, and that was all that was needed in her opinion.

That, and the pretty-in-pink dress sprinkled with sparkles and studs required for the special occasion.

Gazing at her reflection in the mirror, Skye smiled wide with pride before said smile faltered at the sight of a stray object from the corner of her eye. Acting against her better interest, she walked over to the pink bandana and regarded it with solemn ambivalence. As a reminder of her dark and troubled past, she utterly despised it. At the same time, though, she could not bring herself to discard it after the time she had it on her person. It had been a part of her childhood, no matter how much she would deny it.

"You nervous?"

Skye looked up from her reminiscing and turned to find one of Queen Poppy's friends, a Funk Troll (Miles, right?) donning a black suit with matching bowtie.

"Well...a little," The Cockapoo admitted before confessing, "I was actually thinking about...my time here."

"You've been here for only a week or two," Miles remarked.

"That's the thing," Skye continued, "I've been here for a week or two, and I'm starting to enjoy my time here. What if...I don't want to go back to my home dimension after all this? What if I can't go back to my home dimension at all? What if...what if—?"

"Skye, breathe!" Miles knelt down to Skye's level and rubbed her back with one of his paws, the young Cockapoo hyperventilating uncontrollably as tears leaked from her eyes. A moment later, she lunged at him and buried her face into his chest, her breathing slowing down. Without hesitation, he returned the hug and comforted her, another moment spent in each other's embrace.

"I do want to go home..." Skye murmured, "but I don't want my family to think I never did..."

Miles understood the feeling Skye had harbored all too well. He had been in the Space Between for a full year now, the second part arriving in the blink of an eye. Just as the organization of so-called heroes and heroines he encountered had come to grips with the fact that the deaths of certain loved ones needed to be ensured to secure the stability of their Multiverse, Miles himself had come to grips with the fact that the events preceding and succeeding the deaths of his own certain loved oves was his own doing. In his eyes, Skye was lucky; at least she had a home to go to.

He had nothing.

No one.

"I understand," Miles finally said, "Believe me when I say I do. I don't know much about your family, but...I can only imagine they would never give up on you if they knew you were here."

When Skye said nothing, Miles continued.

"My familia...they were some of the nicest, kindest people you would ever meet. You would've loved them."

Skye looked up and faced Miles with a shocked expression, guilt prevailing her.

"I'm sorry..."

"It's okay," Miles shook his head, "You didn't know. Before I ended up here, I made a promise to my mom. I promised her wherever I go...I have to promise to take care of a little boy for her. Make sure that little boy never forgets where he came from. And… he never doubts that he is loved. And he never lets anyone tell him he doesn't belong there."

Skye knew who the little boy was, and it did not make things easier to process.

"You think we can make it back home?" Skye leaned her head into Miles' chest.

"I know we can," Miles continued rubbed Skye's back.

. . .

I know you can...

. . .

"Aw! You two are so cute!"

Miles and Skye looked up from their heartfelt moment and towards the doorway to find...

"Ruby?" Miles's jaw hung agape.

"I didn't want to intrude on you giving Skye a pep talk by asking for your opinion on my dress for the wedding," The Techno Troll smiled, "So I decided to let you do your thing and ask you afterwards. So...what do you think?"

Miles and Skye scanned Ruby from head to gill. She was wearing a purple one-shoulder dress sprinkled with sparkles, an ocean blue and seafoam green chain headpiece, and pearl earrings in addition to a purple coral corsage.

"Oh my gosh!" Skye gushed, "Miss Ruby, you look so beautiful!"

"Thank you, Skye," Ruby smiled and acknowledged the puppy's praise, "At least you responded..."

At a loss for words, Miles stammered and set Skye down as he stood up.

"I was...going to..."

Ruby raised her eyebrows at Miles and shot him an expectant look.

"You...do look pretty," Miles admitted with a sheepish grin.

"I know you know," Ruby smiled back and planted a soft kiss on his cheek, "It's what comes with your girlfriend."

As she watched from the ground, Skye silently squeed with delight as Nimona―donning a red-and-black tuxedo with a matching tiara (a leather jacket in place of the usual suit jacket)―passed by and stumbled upon the sickingly sweet scene.

"Ugh. Get a room, you two," Nimona rolled her eyes before she adjusted her bowtie, "or at least close the door of the one you're currently in."

"But Miss Nimona!" Skye protested on their behalf, "They can't help it! They're in love!"

"Well, if that's true―they're in love and can't help it―then they have a problem. Now come on. The rest of the Interdimensional Friends Squad is waiting on us."

"Interdimensional...what?" Ruby exchanged confused looks with Miles and Skye.

"It's what I decided to call us," Nimona clarified, "As Poppy's new best friends, we need a name to set us apart from her old best friends."

"And out of all the names you had lined up, you chose the Interdimensional..." Miles frowned before shaking his head, "Isn't that a bit of a mouthful?"

"Well, I already TMed it," Nimona shrugged, "Now, let's go! The others are waiting."

"Alright!" Skye backflipped again in excitement, "Off to join the other members of the Interdimensional Friends Squad!"

"Skye!" Miles humphed as he crossed his arms, "You can't just―"

"Come on, Miles," Ruby pulled her boyfriend along, "The rest of the Interdimensional Friends Squad is waiting for us."

Miles faced his girlfriend now as she smirked at him, prompting him to roll his eyes and hoist her up into his arms. She then carried her out of the room bridal-style, much to her delight.

"You said that just to make me do this," Miles smirked.

"I did say that just to make you do this," Ruby smiled, planting a kiss on his cheek, much to his delight.

("Bark To The Beat" — McKenna Grace & Blackbear)

As the four of them made their way to the main conference room, Skye howled in enthusiasm and walked over to the rest of the Interdimensional Friends Squad. Raya was dressed in a turquoise green one-sleeve dress with a skirt that reached to her knees and a gold medallion decorated with a detailed flower. Mei was dressed in a red button-up bow neck blouse with short sleeves, a white skirt, and pearl earrings. Skye helped them and the rest of the Squad place the finishing touches on their suits, dresses, tuxedos, and gowns of the like just as they returned the favor.

[Verse 1: McKenna Grace]
It's a new day, it's a new dawn
If I fall down, keep a move on

The young Cockapoo indeed fell down before she slid back up just in time to Marinette and Camilo to pet her for a job well done.

See the blue sky down the sidewalk
Keep my head up, make my own luck

She then helped Lady Bone Demon choose the right shade of blue for her Cheongsam dress...

If the rain comes and the light's gone
Never too late to prove 'em all wrong

...before she helped Twilight, Sunset, and Flash with their corsage and boutonniere sets.

I'ma stand my ground
I'm livin' in the clouds

Skye then tucked away the bandana before choosing a silver tiara with pink studded gems, courtesy of Sofia.

I'm livin' in the clouds
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I

She placed the tiara on her head and adjusted it...just as she felt the urge to break out in song and dance.

[Chorus: McKenna Grace]
Bark and I dance to my own song
Step by step on the way up
Sunshine by my side
I got music in my mind, I
Bark and I dance to my own song
Bum-bum-bitty-bum, bitty-bum-bum
Right before your eyes
I'll be takin' flight
I bark to the beat

"Sorry about that," Skye apologized bashfully, "Is this a little much?"

"More than a little," Nimona smirked as she nodded.

"I think you look beautiful, Skye," Sofia smiled wide.

"We agree," Ruby exchanged nods with Miles, who added:

"Here, let me give it a try."

[Post-Chorus: KANNER & blackbear]
Bark
Bark to the beat
I bark to the beat
Bark
Bark to the bеat
And my heat and my heat and my (Yeah, uh)

He then felt the urge to break out in song and dance.

[Verse 2: blackbear]
I bark to thе beat of my own hits
Ain't nobody do it like I do this

Miles danced step by step as he lightly twirled Ruby on her heels.

I had this dream when I turned six
When I turned eighteen, I proved it

He then knelt down to Skye's level as he continued singing.

Now I'd rather be me than be anyone
And I'm livin' every day like the last one

Expressing his optimism for the situations ahead, Miles sprang back up and hugged both Marinette and Camilo...

Good people by my side
Man, I really love my life

...just as Skye sang along with him.

Livin' in the clouds
Hey Ma, look at me now
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Skye and Miles then sang in unison as they both danced and barked to the beat of their own song.

[Chorus: McKenna Grace & blackbear, blackbear]
Bark and I dance to my own song (Own song)
Step by step on the way up (Way up)
Sunshine by my side
I got music in my mind, I
Bark and I dance to my own song (Own song)
Bum-bum-bitty-bum, bitty-bum-bum (Brrah)
Right before your eyes
I'll be takin' flight
I bark to the beat

Raya, Mei, Ruby, Sofia, Twilight, Sunset, Flash, Lady Bone Demon, and even Nimona found themselves dancing and barking (figuratively) to the beat as well.

[Post-Chorus: KANNER & blackbear]
Bark (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Bark to the beat
I bark to the beat (Oh, oh, oh, yeah)
Bark (Woah, woah, woah, woah)
Bark to the beat
And my heat and my heat and my (Said I bark to the, bark to the beat)

The musical number ended, and the rest of the Squad cheered Skye and Miles on, the both of them exchanging lighthearted compliments amongst each other. At that moment, Mr. Wolf and Esteban entered the room and stumbled upon the scene.

"Erm..." Esteban shot a confused look at Mr. Wolf, who did not pay him any heed, "Did we miss something?"

"Eh," Mr. Wolf shrugged as he adjusted his navy blue bowtie and replied, "A full year here shouldn't mean you aren't already unfazed by stuff like this."

After a brief moment, Esteban silently conceded with him.

Poppy wanted to tell Branch.

Poppy would not tell Branch.

Poppy could not tell Branch.

Why should Poppy tell Branch?

How could she tell her that his brother could possibly meet his untimely demise in the future?

She could not...