Featured song:
1. "Like Me" from Teen Beach Movie
The circus performers couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the Casita Castle for the first time. It was so beautiful and colorful, and gigantic too!
"This is your house?" Ahsoka gasped.
"Si. Home sweet home." Mila said.
The castle staff showed everyone where they could place their things and set up some cots for them to sleep on.
As a special treat, there were a couple of sleepovers going on, but the guys separating from the girls, as that was how a typical slumber party went.
The boys were having their sleepover in Camilo's room, and the girls were having theirs in Isabela's room. They'd even invited some of their friends from the village to the sleepover to make it even more fun.
While helping everyone gather pillows and blankets, Mila accidentally dropped one, and bent down to pick it up, only for another hand to accidentally touch hers at the same time.
Both owners of the two hands froze and looked up at each other, the second hand belonging to none other than Tech.
"Oh! Hola, Tech." Mila said.
"Hola... Mila." Tech replied, albeit nervously.
Tech picked the pillow up and handed it to Mila.
"I believe you dropped this, Princess." Tech said, bowing a bit.
Mila accepted the pillow with a light sigh.
"Tech, I told you, call me Mila. And bowing is really not necessary."
Tech backed up rather nervously, backing into Camilo, startling the prince into shifting into Tech.
"Hey, watch it!" Camilo said, shifting back to normal.
"Sorry about that, Camilo. I was not looking where I was going."
Mila giggled, which had Tech blushing as he went to join the other guys in Camilo's room.
In turn, Mila got to joining the other girls in her cousin's room. Isabela's room was probably the prettiest in the whole castle. All the furniture but the bed was made of lots of beautiful flowers of all different colors. But for some reason, Mila found herself particularly drawn to the roses, while everyone who knew her well enough knew her favorite flower was marigolds.
And with the way Mila was sighing, there was definitely something up.
The girls were all having fun getting mani-pedies, braiding each other's hair, playing Charades, and of course the traditional pillow fight!
"Duck!" Diamond exclaimed, ducking another pillow.
"You're going down, caballos!" Mirabel said, only to get knocked over by a pillow Fiesta threw.
"I don't think so, Princesa." said Fiesta.
Feathers and flower petals were flying everywhere like confetti, and the whole room smelled like perfume. And some of the flowers, they decided to pick them and make flower crowns.
The girls were all laughing as they felt a little tired out by the pillow fight and some of the little girls enjoyed rolling around in the petals on the floor. They felt so soft and smelled so sweet.
"I love your room, Isabela." Gabby said, sniffing some zinnias. "I've never seen so many flowers before."
Isabela thanked Gabby for her compliments, but then noticed Mila was eyeing the roses a little more than usual.
"Hmm... looks like you're not the only fixated on certain flowers tonight." said Isabela. She approached Mila and said, "Who is he?"
"Huh? What?" Mila looked at her cousin, feeling a bit flustered out from her train of thought.
"You're looking at roses, but last time I checked, you usually go for marigolds."
"Ah, roses. The flowers of romance." sighed Ahsoka. "I remember when Rex gave me one after our first performance together."
"Just 'cause I'm looking at roses doesn't mean there's romance involved." Mila said. "Maybe I'm just curious about their anatomy."
"Didn't you study every flower in the Encanto already?" Luisa said.
Mila didn't need to be a genius to know that her cousins weren't going to stop pushing until she gave them answers. So...
"Okay, maybe there is a special man I've got a bit of the hots for."
That got practically every girl squealing. It wasn't every day one of the princesses found a potential Prince Charming. Dolores already had a special someone herself, and now it appeared Mila had a crush on someone.
"What's his name?" asked Luisa.
"Is he cute?" Isabela asked.
"What color are his eyes?" Gabby asked, batting her lashes.
"More importantly, is he good to you?" Mirabel asked.
Mila didn't want to say who her crush was just yet.
"Well, I will say this... he is cute, definitely smart, and I'd say being willing to guard someone from danger shows he's a good guy."
"That's all well and good," said Ahsoka. "You think you'll ask him out?"
Mila was about to say something, but Isabela cut in and said, "That's the guy's job. If he's good enough, he'll ask her out."
"What if he's shy?" Gabby said. "My uncle Carmine is really shy."
"It's true." Caroline said. "It was I who asked him for a first dance, and he and I have been happily married for the last eight years."
"I don't know how things are wherever you're from, but there are certain ways ladies get a man here." Isabela said. "Look, Mila. It's simple. You gotta show off that natural beauty of yours, and he'll ask you out in no time."
"I don't think so," said Myra. "That's the fastest way to find a guy is shallow. Looks aren't everything. And I've run into plenty of jerks in the time we've traveled."
"It's what guys like," said one of the Madrigals' female friends. "The prettier, the better."
"Mila, you don't have to change how you look for a boy." Padme said. "If he's the right one for you, he'll love you just the way you are."
Meanwhile, with the guys, they were playing Charades, and Camilo did impressions, which made the guys laugh.
Anakin got a little mischievous though, and decided to throw a pillow at Obi-Wan, who in turn, threw one at Anakin, only for him to duck, and Kit got hit instead.
"Pillow fight!" Kit exclaimed, whacking Ki-Adi with a pillow.
Pretty soon, Boba whacked Crosshair with a pillow, and then everyone was pillow fighting
But Tech wasn't too focused on the sleepover.
"Anakin, can I ask you something serious?" Tech asked, seeing Anakin was standing closest to him.
"Sure, what about, Tech?" Anakin asked.
"Well... what if... hypothetically, a guy met this girl and... he felt unsure... how to proceed with... communicating with her?"
Anakin immediately hypothesized what Tech was saying.
"Okay, spill. Who is she?" Anakin smirked.
"How did you guess?"
"I was the same way when I fell for Padme. A thing about girls, you gotta be straight, but you gotta choose your actions and words carefully."
"That's partially correct," said Camilo. "The only thing you need to know, woo the girl, she'll be by your side forever."
"I wouldn't say that," said Obi-Wan. "Wooing a girl isn't enough to keep her."
"What else is there to know?" said Mariano. "Dolores likes my poetry. Just get a book of that, and your girl is sure to like you."
"I'm afraid it's more complicated than that," said Qui-Gon. "Take it from me, I've been married for thirty years, and the work never ends, but I don't mind it because I love my wife."
"Maybe marriage was different when you were young," said one of the Madrigal boys' friends. "But here and now, ya gotta pick up a girl with natural charm, and be persistent about it."
For someone with a high IQ, Tech felt very confused about what to do; romance was one thing he knew almost nothing about. He honestly wasn't sure who he should listen to regarding this matter. And little did he know that a certain princess was feeling the same way.
Neither Tech nor Mila knew what to do at this point, but their friends from both their worlds each seemed to have their own ideas about how to proceed.
Boys:
When you meet a girl you like
You should take my advice
Camilo:
Girls like boys like me
Mariano was first to try and give advice.
Mariano:
Take the lead, she likes it when you're in control
But Anakin stepped in with his own advice.
Anakin:
Let 'em breathe, chill out and go with the flow
Camilo:
Make all the plans
Carmine:
Don't be impolite
Camilo:
I know what girls, know what girls, yeah, I know what girls like
Of course, the girls had differing opinions on how Mila should approach her crush.
Isabela:
A quick glance, bat your eyes and look away
Padme:
Take a chance, why not ask him on a date?
Ahsoka:
Pick up the check
Dolores:
No! Bake him a pie!
Isabela:
I know what boys, know what boys, yeah, I know what boys like
Camilo:
I know what girls like, you know what I mean
Encanto Girls:
I know what boys like, boys like girls like me
Encanto Guys:
I know what girls like, girls like boys likes me
Girls:
I know what boys like, boys like girls like me
Mariano:
Like me! (Isabela: Like me!)
Camilo:
Like me! (Dolores: Like me!)
Rodrigo (friend of Camilo's):
Like me! (Mirabel: Like me!)
Camilo and his friends told Tech that the way to win a girl over was to not show feelings and be tough, not needing help from anyone so that she would keep trying to get his attention somehow.
Camilo:
Hang with the guys
Don't let her know how much you care
But Anakin shook his head and dipped Tech to demonstrate how he should look to the girl
Anakin:
Look in her eyes, and tell her even if you're scared
Camilo:
You got it wrong
Anakin:
No! I got it right
I know what girls, know what girls, yeah, I know what girls like
Mila's cousins and her friends started to show her different outfits she should try wearing in order to get her crush's attention. Clothes that showed off her figure, stuff that made her look super attractive; enough so men would go to war for her.
Luisa:
Stretched pants
Cute sweater and sweet perfume
But Myra shook a finger at that and firmly sang to Mila:
Myra:
Don't dress for him, it's better when you dress for you
Padme:
I keep it loose
Ahsoka:
My outfit is tight
I know what boys like, know what boys, yeah, I know what boys like
Anakin:
I know what girls like, you know what I mean
Girls:
I know what boys like, boys like girls like me
Boys:
I know what girls like, girls like boys like me
Girls:
I know what boys like, boys like girls like me
Anakin:
Like me! (Ahsoka: Like me!)
Obi-Wan:
Like me! (Padme: Like me!)
Hunter:
Like me! (Aayla: Like me!)
Being one of the prettiest girls in the kingdom, Isabela was used to guys taking one look at her and being flustered. She couldn't deny she kinda liked the attention at times.
Isabela:
All the boys, they try to woo me
Myra, on the other hand, thought most guys were just pigs, and had faced many of them before.
Myra:
The more they chase me the more I resist
Camilo:
All the girls, they think I'm groovy
Tech:
There's only one girl that's on my list
Boys:
I know what girls like, girls like boys like me
Girls:
I know what boys like, boys like girls like me
Boys:
I know what girls like, girls like boys like me
Girls:
I know what boys like, boys like girls like me
Boys:
I know what girls like, girls like boys like me
Girls:
I know what boys like, boys like girls like me
Boys:
I know what girls like, girls like boys like me
Camilo:
Like me! (Isabela: Like me!)
Mariano:
Like me! (Dolores: Like me!)
Anakin:
Like me! (Marisa (friend of Mila's): Like me!)
Unfortunately, both Tech and Mila only felt more confused. Neither of them had much experience in romance.
For one thing, when you're a prisoner in a traveling circus, and the only options for a potential spouse were other kidnapped victims, there wasn't really much to learn from. Since Tech, like all the other performers, wasn't allowed to interact with audience members either, he couldn't even look for a pretty girl among them.
Mila's situation, on the other hand, was a little more complicated. Most princesses looking for true love, their biggest issue is finding a man who loves her for who she is not what she is. But for Mila, although she was beautiful, none of the men in the Encanto were interested in her.
In the case of men, at least with the ones Mila had met, they were taught to seek a girl who conformed to certain stereotypes. Being the cook, the cleaner, the caregiver basically. But, Mila like to speak her mind, invent new ideas, and seek adventure. Most men and women thought Mila was crazy to want to be an inventor and a scientist because she was a girl, but Mila didn't care. Still, she did have dreams of being a mother, and the thought of having a husband who loved her and was loyal to her 'til death do they part... it sounded wonderful beyond what any science could explain.
Mila waited until everyone was asleep to leave the room. She went to the kitchen and warmed up some hot cocoa, when she was startled by someone else who entered the room.
"Oh! Tech." Mila gasped. "Sorry, I hope I didn't wake you."
"No, you didn't wake me. I came on my own." Tech said. "I was having trouble sleeping."
"You too, huh? Want some cocoa?"
"That would be nice, Princess- Mila."
Tech still struggled to adjust to the fact that the girl he was already head over heels for was a princess. Mila poured him a cup of cocoa to be polite; the whole serving men food and such, that whole 'quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach' being one of many things her cousins and friends advised her about. To her, fattening a guy up was not the best way to his heart. If anything, the path to his heart should be true, not quick.
"So... about what happened earlier?" Mila said.
"It was a surprise to me that we were both wrong about who we thought the other was." Tech said.
"Right. I don't know what I'd do if I messed up all over again. I just don't get it. Somehow, every time I have an audience, everything goes wrong. I make a new invention, I test it, and it succeeds. I try showing it to my family, and it makes a big messy disaster. Bam! I'm labeled for life as a failed female scientist."
"You are a scientist?"
"What? You gonna say I should just be a maid too?"
"What? Of course not. I cannot say I've met many fellow scientists, much less a woman who is so openly passionate about making changes. Especially not a princess."
Mila chuckled.
"Let me guess, you thought that since I'm a princess, I must be all gowns, tiaras, and royal balls, right?"
"No..." Tech looked a little to his right. "Okay, maybe I did... a little."
"Well, not all princesses are the same. I got a mind of my own, and I can decide for myself what kind of guy I like. He just better not expect me to be his servant if I marry him."
"Why would anyone assume that?"
Mila told Tech about all the crazy standards her kingdom seemed trapped in. She knew she wasn't the only one though. Most of them, sadly, were afraid to speak out about it, unlike her. Nevertheless, she kept on with her inventing; she'd read stories of people who wanted to change the world, and there were many who faced daunting challenges to do it. For many, it was being told their idea was impossible, others had a disability many said meant they would never do certain things. But, those people didn't let either of those things stop them; they kept going, they worked hard, and no matter how many trials and tribulations they had to face, they persevered in the end and went down in history.
"It sounds to me you are a truly determined young woman," said Tech. "You said you invent things? What have you invented, if I may ask?"
Mila picked up a journal she'd left on the counter. A very special journal she took everywhere she went, and she showed Tech some pictures of designs for her inventions, including the system she'd created for harvesting and transporting crops.
"My multi-scope, that one, for once, didn't blow up in anyone's face, literally and figuratively." Mila said. "But still, no one likes it. Maybe it's not as useful as I thought."
"No, no, Mila. These are amazing." Tech said. "All very creative and useful-looking inventions. And made with fairly simple materials, yet highly functional. These could really make harvesting and various other tasks easier, and have the tasks done efficiently as well in shorter amounts of time."
"Thanks. Now if only I could get my family to focus on my work instead of my love life."
"At least you have a chance at it." Tech felt a little hesitant about his next question, but decided to go for it anyway. "If you don't mind me asking, what exactly do you dream of about your special someone?"
"Well... there is this guy I like." Mila said. "He's smart, handsome, and definitely a nice guy. Easy to talk to as well. But, I'm not exactly sure if he'd go for someone like me, even if I weren't a princess."
Mila couldn't help looking at Tech and wondering out loud.
"Have you ever felt like you really wanna connect with someone, but you're not sure how?"
"Actually... I feel that now. There's this girl I think I'm falling for. I only just met her, yet somehow, I want to form a connection with her."
"Well... what's she like?"
"How to describe her?" Tech asked himself out loud. He adjusted his glasses a little. "Well, for starters, she is a remarkably beautiful girl. She has the prettiest eyes I've ever seen, and she is determined, unafraid to speak her mind, and she has shown she is willing to even risk her life for those in need. That tells me she is a remarkable woman. And the moment I looked into her eyes for the first time, I felt this odd sensation in my heart, like nothing I've ever seen."
"Sounds sort of like the guy I like." Mila blushed. "I don't know a ton about him yet, except I do know he's smart, and he's got a little brother and sister like me. And he's very good with them. Most guys I've met, they think sensitivity is stupid or weak, but I think it's wonderful. Other girls may like big muscles and charming smiles, but someone who's honest about his feelings and isn't afraid to show that he has them, that makes a real man. And I like his glasses too. They really bring out his eyes."
Neither Tech nor Mila let the other know, but they had a feeling they knew who the other might've been talking about.
"Might I ask how you and your crush met?" Tech said, blushing a little.
"Let's just say, I literally fell for him when we met." Mila said, moving a little closer to Tech. "How'd you meet your girl?"
"Well, let's just say there was music, and I saw someone about to fall, and I discovered I got a great catch." Tech said, also moving closer, starting to wrap his arms around Mila, and she did the same to him.
The two looked into each other's eyes, and both started to feel an odd, but familiar sensation.
"I know we just met," said Tech. "But... I feel... I feel somehow I just feel happier within your presence."
"I feel the same. I can't explain it, but I feel at home close to you. I know we just met... but would you be open to a date... with me?"
"Is it not usually men who ask that question?"
"Did you not want me to ask?"
"No, it's not that. I did want to ask, but you beat me to it. And yes."
Mila smiled at Tech. The two of them felt so tempted to kiss right then and there... but in their heads, they thought it best to wait until they made it through the first date first.
"I should... probably get back to bed." Mila said quietly.
"Me as well." Tech said simply.
And Mila started to walk back to Isabela's room, when she bumped into Mirabel.
"Oh, Mila!" Mirabel gasped. "Sorry. I noticed you were gone and just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Thanks, Mirabel." Mila said, blushing a little. "I'm more than fine now."
"What happened?"
"Well... I might've found out the guy I like, he likes me too."
Mirabel had a huge smile on her face.
"That's fantastico! So, who is he?"
"I'll tell you that later, but I will say, we had a bit of a moment."
"You mean...?"
Mila smiled and nodded. "I asked him out."
"Really? And what'd he say?"
"He said he likes that I've got spunk, and he said yes to the date. We're gonna take it slow, see how it goes."
Mirabel was very happy for her cousin finding someone special. But, she had something else on her mind.
"You know, Mila. It's really amazing what you did earlier. You don't think I offended them, do you?"
"Offended them? No, they're not offended by you."
Mirabel sighed with relief.
"Good. When you first brought them here, I'd begun to worry you might've hired a bunch of clowns."
Mila froze at that.
"Pfft! Well, Comedia would actually be the only clown in their group." That wasn't far from the truth.
"Don't tell them I said that," said Mirabel. "That's all I need, another royal blunder."
Mila looked at her cousin and thought she was crazy.
"Mirabel, you're doing a great job. Even Abuela says so."
"That's sweet. You're wrong, but sweet." Mirabel's smile disappeared as she sighed. "I know what everyone really thinks. I don't have a gift like you or anyone else."
"I don't follow."
"Everyone. The whole kingdom. No one really believes I can do this job. It's like they're... they're all watching me... just... just..."
"Waiting for you to screw up." Mila finished, knowing that feeling all too well.
Mirabel looked at her cousin and felt terrible. She realized right then and there Mila went through that same feeling all the time, being scolded for her inventions, being told by everyone to just do things that were expected of women specifically. Mirabel didn't admit it, but she was a bit jealous; Mila was rebuked to her face for being an inventor instead of fulfilling the typical female roles, but she never let that stop her. And Mirabel felt like it was probably a mistake that she was the Chosen Heir sometimes, no matter how much her family encouraged her.
"Mila, I owe you an apology." Mirabel said.
"For what?"
"Well, I haven't been the best cousin or friend lately. I should've stood up for you and supported you when those other guys were insulting your inventions. I'm sorry. I actually do think they could be great if given half a chance. If there's anything I can do to make it up to you..."
And then Mirabel had an idea.
"Hey, I've got it. How would you like to be the queen's official aid to the warriors?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. You've got a great thing going with them, especially after that rescue. I mean, not everyone would face a roc, much less go down the Dark Path even without knowing that giant bird was out there. I mean, Mariverde's afraid of even regular sized birds. Imagine how she'd freak if she saw a roc."
"Yeah, I think... Wait. What was that again about Mariverde being scared?"
"I said Mariverde's afraid of birds."
That kind of made sense. Mariverde was basically part bug, and some birds ate regular sized butterflies. But a human-sized butterfly, to a roc, would look like a tasty snack just the right size. And with all of Mariverde's minions, that would be an all-you-can-eat buffet!
That gave Mila a big idea! But, she peeked into Camilo's room and Isabela's and saw that all of the warriors were fast asleep. She couldn't really blame them though; after all the traveling they did after escaping the circus and staging a daring rescue mission against a hawk the size of a skyscraper, she'd be surprised if they weren't all worn out. And she wasn't going to disturb them from finally being able to enjoy a cozy bed to sleep on instead of the mats and racks they were forced to sleep on in their trailers at the circus.
For the time being, Mila went to her own room and got out her journal to start devising a plan.
Hope you enjoyed the newest chapter of A Monarch's Life. Please be sure to leave a review.