#Mirabel would fight him if she heard it

[jacarandaaaas]

got a stupid doodle comic idea a few days ago so I drew it😭

I love corny mariano who makes unhinged jokes! Dolores laughed her ass off for at least 10 minutes tears in her eyes 💀

[hogwartslegacyreactions2]

Hello there, glad to see you again, quick question how would the students, Professors and villains react to MC having an army of puffskein's like 27-41 puffskein's?

A/N: PUFFSKIENS ROLL OUT!! wait, wrong franchise-undercut because EVERYONE is here

HLC REACT TO MC'S PUFFSKIEN ARMY

MC had enough to swarm even the toughest camp. No one could handle the mass of cute they commanded. MC felt more powerful than if they were controlling an armada of dragons. Forget a few dozen. MC has HUNDREDS of rolly polly puff balls. They breed rather quickly

SEBASTIAN SALLOW: He finds it hysterical! Watching MC command the flood of fur to overtake any suspicious encampment they come across is extremely entertaining. The enemies never know what hit them.

OMINIS GAUNT: He's not a fan of Puffskiens. He doesn't like their fascination with his nose. And for MC to willingly capture and breed so many of them is beyond him. He will never go inside the vivarium, even when invited.

ANNE SALLOW: She really likes hanging out in the vivariums. She can just lay down and be cuddled by hundreds of walking pillows. It's rather nice, as long as you wear nose plugs.

IMELDA REYES: Are they serious? No really, stop selling her this cock and bull story of puffskiens defeating wizards. She refuses to believe it until MC opens their nabsack and releases the horde. She has to escape them via broom.

NATSAI ONAI: She applauds MC's creativity. She is sure that the villains of the valley have many defenses against wizards, but who would expect puffskiens?

GARRETH WEASLEY: Unlimited puffskien fur. That's how he sees it. MC produces so much of the stuff, they could stuff a mattress.

LEANDER PREWETT: ...hhwat? This has got to be the single most insane thing he's ever heard of. A literal puffskien army? This will go down in the history books alongside the Bard that tried to teach trolls ballet.

AMIT THAKKAR: Are they sure that's actually safe? For them or the puffskiens? He knows the little things are pretty durable to magic, but they're not invulnerable.

EVERETT CLOPTON: He begs MC to let him borrow the nabsack to use in the Ravenclaw dorm. Why? They'll see.

POPPY SWEETING: This is a lot, even for her. Is MC sure they can handle this many beasts? They may be small, and relatively docile, but they can be quite a handful even in small groups. She does love the irony of poachers and dark wizards being defeated by them, however.

~~~

ELEAZAR FIG: He'll admit, of all the ideas MC has had, this is one of the weirder ones. As long as they're sure they can actually take care of all those beasts, he won't interfere.

MATILDA WEASLEY: MC is doing what with an army of what? Nonono, absolutely not. MC getting themselves into trouble on purpose is bad enough, but she cannot allow a student to run amok with an irresponsible number of beasts in their pocket. She will confiscate that nabsack until MC can use it responsibly.

CHIYO KOGAWA: She's impressed. No matter how small, magical creatures tend to have minds of their own. One has to be a pretty strong leader to maintain control over such a large group.

AESOP SHARP: As long as those beasts aren't running amuck in the castle, he doesn't give a niffler's ass.

ABRAHAM RONEN: He is endlessly amused by MC's depth for whimsy, even in dire circumstances. Fighting off villains with Puffskiens? BRILLIANT!

MIRABEL GARLICK: Oh dear, she hopes MC is able to care and feed for all of those beasts. That seems like quite a few to take care of.

MUDIWA ONAI: Is this...normal for British wizards? Seems a bit eccentric.

BAI HOWIN: That's one way to handle the poaching problem, she supposes.

DINAH HECAT: She'll have a drink with Sharp. This isn't any of her concern. MC is doing just fine. Calm down Matilda, honestly.

CUTHBERT BINNS: He never knows the goings on outside of his classroom.

SATYAVATI SHAH: She swears on the nine realms, if she finds ONE puffskien hair in her classroom, she's taking house points.

PHINEAS NIGELLUS BLACK: A student fighting dark wizards with puffskiens? Please, don't bore him with outright lies. He's too clever for those.

~~~

VICTOR ROOKWOOD: This is ridiculous!! It's bad enough he's losing territory and respect within the valley, but for his gang to be dismantled by bloody puffskiens!? It's embarrassing, to put it lightly.

ASHWINDERS: They're confused by the messages sent to them by Rookwood. "Beware the Puffskiens?" What's he going on about? They find out soon enough when the earth rumbles with rolling thunder as hundreds of fur balls descend on them.

POACHERS: Interestingly enough, puffskiens have been extraordinarily hard to find as of late. Perhaps they over poached the area and now they're gone. At least that's what they think, under they're buried under a mountain of fur.

RANROK: What. The actual. Grogtash? He has seen and heard of wizards doing some wacky things to fight back, but this is a first. Even when his loyalists use dark ancient magic against the horde, their numbers are too great.

~~~

DUNCAN HOBHOUSE: Lives in constant fear of the puffskien invasion. He sees them in his sleep. Hundreds of long, hungry tongues come to eat his brain! If he sees MC in the corridors, he runs away.

[auncyen]

act 5 au

today's writing progress which. may very well require changes lol

-

"I still have some questions," Odile says, and you bite back a sigh because of course she does. "You've been looping in time. What was this afternoon about? Why not just tell us then? What was the point of showing me the familytale today? You could have shown me when the loop was over."

"Because it makes you happy, and then you learn a useful skill." You hate the answer as soon as it leaves your mouth. You don't want to lie, but maybe that's too honest. Just tell them you're manipulative, why don't you?

Well, you are. That's why you showed her the familytale.

"Oh, huh." Isabeau sounds pensive. "Yeah, I've heard emotional clarity is good for figuring out new techniques. …You were trying to teach Bonnie something, too, weren't you? Though, putting yourself in danger really isn't a good way to do it, Sif. That was, uh, about the worst thing you could have done with them."

You roll your eye. "It always worked before. I wasn't in any real danger." The worst case scenario was that you'd need to loop, and it'd be really pathetic if such a weak Sadness caused that.

"Thaaaat's not how it sounded." Isabeau leans against the sink, folding his arms. "…You were trying to do that with all of us, weren't you? We were supposed to go stargazing? And, uh…" He looks over at Mirabelle, who huffs, seeming to have calmed down from her tears enough to manage indignation.

"I don't know how I would get any kind of 'emotional clarity' from that--"

"I said it wrong! I meant--"

"No, no! I want to figure it out myself," Mirabelle insists, puffing her cheeks out at you, so--fine. She doesn't need to know that skill anyway, her regular shield will do just fine--

You still haven't reminded her about the CARROT method. Stars. "Okay, but you do need to learn how to make a shield. So, remember the CARROT method, and figure it out."

Everyone looks baffled by various degrees, but that's fine. Mirabelle always looks confused when you hint it to her at the start of a loop anyway. "You know about the CARROT method?" Isabeau asks.

"No, I just know that she knows the CARROT method, and it helps her figure out how to make shields."

"What happens if I don't figure it out?" Mirabelle asks.

"King kills us."

…Oh, that was definitely a too-honest answer. Mirabelle's eyes go round as saucers as one hand flies to her mouth, and even Odile looks alarmed next to her. "…Sif," Isabeau says slowly. "The way you said that…have we actually died?"

You look aside. "He finishes me off first and then I loop back, so, I don't think so?" Not as long as there's only one timeline getting reset, which you have to believe. You can't stomach the situations you've left the others in if they stayed after you were gone. "But it doesn't look good."

"You've died." Isabeau doesn't seem to take any relief from the clarification.

"And then I loop back, and I'm fine!" You sweep your hand in front of yourself, from the brim of your hat to just below your hips, and smile at him. "See?"

His eyebrows stay hovering far above where they normally would rest. You keep smiling at him, fighting not to bare your teeth.

"Sif--"

"Stars, Isa, am I bleeding?" you snap. Why can't he just believe you? "Do you see some gaping wound I've missed? Looping resets everything! I'm not hurt! I'm fine!" You turn to Odile. "Why would I tell everyone I'm looping through time when people are going to get hung up on stupid things like this?"

Odile looks so disappointed with you. "Do you really think you're fine, Siffrin?"

[queenofthedisneyverse]

Encanto God au

I got another Alma and Mirabel bonding au! 

Ok so, what if the Madrigals were gods? Like: 

The story/au goes that Alma fell in love with a human man, Pedro. Her parents, friends, and even strangers told her that it won’t end well but Alma, being the young goddess she was, didn’t listen. The way they met was at the candle festival, Alma loved festivals, so she wasn’t going to pass up a fun time. 

So, she disguised herself as a human and went to the festival. Soon meeting the love of her life.  They dated, got married, and had three demigod children. Everyone on earth and above the clouds were of course happy for them. But her parents and friends couldn’t fight the feeling of something going wrong. 

On the night of the triplets' birth, Alma was in a deep coma like sleep, as any mother would be. While asleep with her three babies next to her, Pedro was outside talking to a “friend”. This “friend” got word of Pedro marrying a goddess and having children with her. His jealousy got the best of him and when Pedro was in his calmest and happiest state…he killed him. 

Not long after Alma woke up in a cold sweat and went outside to look for her husband. At the moment, a raid was going on. Houses and stores are up in flames, men with machetes on horses left and right and Pedro…After what seemed like days of weeping and sobbing, she found the man who killed her husband and…dealt with him properly, let's say. 

After that incident, the only humans allowed to come near her were Pedro’s parents, high up on Monte Encanto (Mount Encanto, Like Mount Olympus ). Humans can only go to Mount Olympus when they are invited, no other way. On the plus side, it’s incredibly too high for any human to climb. 

Alma was quite upset and hates herself for not being vigilant enough to protect her husband, therefore she’s going to protect her children and never let them near humans. In her mind, falling in love with them is the worst thing you can do, on both sides. 

Where does Mirabel come in? Give me a sec

Remember how I mentioned Pedro’s parents? Yeah, they wanted his grave to be on earth. They wanted it on earth because they didn’t want to constantly have to have Alma’s permission for them to see their own son’s grave on mount Encanto. So, out of respect of his parents, she lets the grave be on earth and every so often she visits it when she needs time alone or is too stressed out. 

Her children sometimes tag along with her on his birthday and leave some flowers or gifts for him to take into the afterlife. You know how the skeletons in Coco would take a magical version of the gift sat on their grave? 

Yeah, they believe that’s how he takes the gifts. On one of his birthdays, the triplets and Alma visited his grave with gifts to give him. While doing so, they heard a faint cry. A baby's cry, they looked around to see if there was any baby in the distance. They didn’t see anything. The cry was far but close enough to hear, which is strange, who would leave a baby at a graveyard of all places? 

After looking around a bit more, they found a little baby girl in a basket near a tree. She was small, very small, and she looked…new. Like not even a day new, like she was born mere hours ago. 

Julieta, being the caring mother she is, picked the baby up and held her close. The little infant was cold, very cold, and from the vibe she was giving Julieta, more than likely sick. 

“She’s just a baby, who would do such a thing?!” 

Alma stared at the little one and she knew right then and there, she had to care for this child. Unlike her granddaughters, who had been born within the safety of alabaster stone pylons, and in the presence of trained nursemaids draped in maroon and gold silks, this little baby had no such luxury.  

Unlike Isabela, whose head was christened in rosewater the minute she was birthed, or Luisa who was immediately coddled in the finest of linens to warm, or Dolores who was put in the finest cradle made of gold and calming scented clouds to lay her head on. Mirabel was in nothing but a withered old basket and wearing…nothing. There was a simple small blanket covering her, nothing more. 

And to top it all off, she was born on her late husband's birthday, March 6th. This little girl was a miracle. She would’ve called her a gift from the gods but she just went with a gift from her Pedro. 

So, from then on, little Mirabel (or sometimes Miracle) was welcomed into the family as a Madrigal. A mere human yes, but still an amazing little gift that Alma welcomed with open arms. 

She was going to teach her everything from literature, mathematics, combat, science, just anything in the little girl's early years to make sure that she was going to be strong, independent, and smart just like her. 

“I give you my word neita, you will be outstanding” 

Mirabel/Miracle was given to Julieta and Agustin to care for but…it’s more like Alma adopted her herself. She read her stories, gave her gifts, fed her, clothed in the best clothes, etc. To make sure absolutely nothing happened to her little Miracle, Alma made a potion for Mirabel to take everyday to make sure she’s immortal. 

The potion was supposed to give her other magical properties but it only gave her immortality, no god magic like her sisters or primos. No super strength, healing, no ability to control weather, ability to make plants, shapeshifting, or hear from far places, nothing. 

No matter how many potions Alma made, no magic from her family would stick besides immortality. No matter, she was still special, and will forever be special in Alma’s eyes. 

At school (for the god kids, but Mirabel was easily accepted in) Alma made sure she only had the best teachers, if she couldn’t always be the one teaching her then Alma was going to make sure gods who were well qualified were going to. 

Mirabel isn’t bullied per say but she isn’t well liked either. To gods, humans aren’t anything but an annoyance or something to play with. So seeing something you were taught to not see as anything but a speck is doing better in class than you…does get annoying. And most of them think she doesn’t deserve to be there

All of the god kids avoid her unless they are paired up with her for an assignment. Other than that, they don’t pay much attention to her, and it’s easier for them because they are much taller in comparison to her. They don’t even have to look down in her direction. 

God children ages 1-5 are about half her height at fifteen. So in this au, Antonio is at her shoulders, Camilo is four feet above her, Luisa is two feet above him, Isabela/Dolores are three feet over her, and the adults are a few inches above the two oldest girls. 

Alma keeps her height small in case she has to talk to Mirabel, who she knows can’t stand her smallness. Did I mention that Mirabel needs to nearly climb everything in her castle to get to it? If no one in the family is around she really has to climb her way to the kitchen counter just to make a snack. 

Oh, and Alma doesn’t look old is this au. From what I’ve read in Greek mythology and seen in Greek statues, none of the gods look or seem to be older than 30 so Alma looks 26 but she’s about the same age she is in canon. Same goes for the triplets, no gray hair or that much wrinkles. 

Mirabel does have her own room in this au and all that jazz. I’m not so sure what to do for dynamics but I think I’ll keep things the same? Idk, 

I was thinking that maybe Mirabel, Camilo, and Dolores are ok with each other, but leave them in a room alone and it’s just gonna be…awkward and silent. They don’t talk much seeing as they just have stuff to do but they're alright with each other. Antonio and Mira still have that cute little brother and older sister relationship though. 

Luisa and Mirabel are cool, Luisa is a little overprotective of her, but it’s not to the point of where it’s annoying. I’m not sure about Isabela and Mirabel’s relationship though. I feel like Isabela is slightly Jealous that Mirabel gets more attention from Alma in regards to gifts, excellent teachers, and knowledge about anything and everything she gives her. 

Don’t get me wrong, she loves her and would rip the entire fabric of the universe for her, but Isa just isn’t quite sure what to do with her. Julieta and Agustin are still loving parents and shower her with love and care when they can. 

Felix and Pepa love her too and speak to her when they have the time. Bruno does the same and cracks some jokes if she’s ever upset. 

The idea that I had is that Mirabel is like Ariel but different. She wants to go to the human world just to feel normal. Her thinking is that she's a person just like the rest of the people in the village she sees.

Nobody is up on some high horse of superiority; the people are just people. No one treats or looks at her like she's some omen you're not supposed to talk to.

On the plus side, they don't ignore her as if she isn't there and it's a rarity for anyone to be above 6'4, she's amazed by the simple fact that her height is average among girls and some boys.

The only problem is that she knows damn well she isn't supposed to be down there. Alma expects everyone, Including Mirabel, that no one is supposed to talk to humans.

"It'll be the worst thing you could do, for both ends"

But Mirabel isn't a goddess, just a human with immortality, so nothing can go wrong right?

That’s all I’ve got for now, if you have any ideas, let me know! Oh, and here's everyone's majors

Alma - Goddess of strength, independence, fertility, and festivity 

Julieta - Goddess of peace, healing and fertility

Agustin - God of loyalty, crafting, and perseverance 

Isabela - Goddess of flowers, elegance, and beauty

Luisa - Goddess of strength, independence, and loyalty

Pepa - Goddess of war, emotions, and storms

Felix - God of light, happiness, and love

Dolores - Goddess of silence, peace, and hope

Camilo - God of trickery, comedy, and festivity 

Antonio - God of animals, happiness, and imagination

Bruno - God of Prophecy, wisdom, and laughter/comedy

[miracles-and-butterflies]

For @jacarandaaaas, based on the premise of “madrigal grandkids having a sleepover.”

Post rebuild, the girls plus Camilo have a sleepover. I have no other words to describe that than chaos ensues.

The Madrigal Sleepover

“—And that is how I told Bubo Marquez to go fuck himself.”

“Oh, you’ve finally gotten back to the point of this story?” Luisa asked, only half-joking because it had definitely taken a good ten minutes to reach the conclusion. Isabela rolled her eyes at her.

“I still can’t believe people think you like men,” Dolores muttered.

“I’m just so proud that I have such an amazing cousin who can kick ass!” Camilo exclaimed. “Seriously, where were you when I was getting bullied in school for being weird? I could have gotten out of so many fights, if I had the ‘my older cousin will beat you up’ excuse! Because frankly the sister one didn’t really work out.”

His sister rolled her eyes, “That is an exaggeration you weren’t bullied in school. Or at the very least, not anything comparable to a man trying to kiss you against your will.”

“No, I guess I can’t relate to that…” Camilo admitted. He looked a bit wishful at the concept of a boy kissing him - he was gladly awaiting his first kiss still. It made Isabela and Luisa gag. “Well, neither can the rest of my cousins. No man would try it with Luisa. And Mirabel…”

He trailed off, all eyes falling to the girl in question. Mirabel was curled up against Luisa, definitely not far from falling asleep. The only movement being the slow rise and fall of her chest. Isabela clambered over Dolores and flashed a torch briefly over her. Briefly because Luisa immediately shoved her older sister into Dolores to shield Mirabel from the attack.

“Christ, Luisa, Mirabel’s fine,” Dolores muttered, pushing Isabela off her and trying to preserve her glass. Isabela fell straight off the bed to the floor, cackling to herself.

Mirabel yawned, eyelashes fluttering, “Is it bedtime yet?”

“Nope,” Isabela grinned, head poking up. “It’s only just turned ten. Come on, you old, little lady, you can’t be tired already. We’ve barely done anything yet. And you missed my great story, I’m gonna have to tell it again.”

“Is this still the one about you threatening to chop a man’s private parts off and feed them to your carnivorous plants?”

“Damnit, you heard? That sucks!”

“Well, I’m not asleep… yet.”

Luisa sat Mirabel further up, tapping her arm gently to further wake her up. “Well, Bela’s right. We haven’t done much yet. You can do a little longer and then we’ll let you go to bed.”

“I physically don’t think I can.” Mirabel said. She was ignored though.

“So, what should we do now?” Camilo asked, eyes sparkling with mischief. “I think we should—”

“I swear to God, if you say the ‘switch the alcohol out for water prank’ again,” Dolores warned.

“No, hermana! I would never!” He mocked offence at the accusation. He lifted the yellow blanket beside him to reveal a collection of makeup palettes, lipsticks and several hair accessories. “Makeovers! A staple of all the best sleepovers!”

Dolores and Luisa peered over. The former looked more hesitant, while the latter looked fairly intrigued and even excited by the idea. Mirabel raised an unimpressed eyebrow at the messily kept containers or just the makeup in general - Camilo wasn’t sure, but he knew his cousin wasn’t the biggest fan in “covering her face in chemicals” as she would say.

Isabela, on the other hand, swatted him hard and he spluttered out petals, “Bitch, when did you steal my shit!?”

“Who said anything about stealing? I’m just borrowing it.”

“No, I’m with Isabela,” Dolores piped up. “I didn’t hear you ask her.”

“Okay, okay, I shoulda asked first!” Camilo held his hands up in surrender. “But… can we do makeovers? Please?! Dolores?” Then smirking, “I bet I could make Mariano propose to you.”

Dolores glared at him. “Isabela, be a dear and slap him for me.”

“Gladly!” Isabela did as instructed, making Camilo hit her back. Vines abruptly yanked him off the bed in response.

“Well, I think it’s a good idea,” Luisa offered. “I wouldn’t mind someone doing my makeup. Bela? You want a go?”

“Oh no, if we’re doing this, I wanna do Dolores.” Isabela insisted, already grabbing her cousin’s hand to prevent her from running off.

“Hey, she’s my sister!” Cried Camilo as he dragged himself back onto the bed.

“So? I called dibs first. And I’m the eldest.”

“That’s not fair!”

“Fuck yeah, it is! Maybe next time don’t steal and you’ll get to have things your way.”

“Yeah, but—”

Dolores groaned a little. “For God’s sake, you can do it together. Just stop arguing.”

Camilo and Isabela relented, seemingly coming to an agreement that they could work on Dolores together and immediately began discussing ideas. That had Dolores backpedaling and trying to argue that they use one of them instead.

Luisa only chuckled, pulling Mirabel closer. “I guess it’s you and me, hermanita.”

“Oh,” Mirabel said. “You wouldn’t want me to do that. I don’t know much anything present beauty trends. I barely know what half of this stuff is.”

“I’m sure you can come up with something.”

Now… if you were to walk by at any point over the next hour, you would be understandably confused with what was going on.

Dolores was constantly complaining and crying out, claiming she had been poked in the eye or her hair was being pulled too tightly. There were several points where the others genuinely stopped to ask if she was alright. She was. Just being dramatic as Camilo and Isabela assaulted her with products. Somewhere along the way, they had both given up on trying to work together to do a good job and were now just trying to make Dolores look as silly as humanly possible. Not that she would know; she was kept well away from a mirror.

Meanwhile, Luisa had happily sunk into the part of an exaggerated and comedic Marie Antoinette that she was unofficially given to play. Mirabel, having woken up a little more, had decided to make Luisa look like the ideal fashions worn by French aristocrats at Versailles, during Louis XVI’s reign. Isabela (after giving up with her cousins) even provided some dye from her plants that could whiten Luisa’s hair, which had been teased high and decorated with ribbons and beads. In contrast to Dolores, Luisa was clearly enjoying herself and greatly liked teasing the others - even if Mirabel kept pointing out the inaccuracies of her acting.

“You look ridiculous,” Dolores commented.

Luisa gasped in horror. “Guards, behead that filthy peasant immediately!” She cried out in her best attempt at a French accent, pointing a finger accusingly. “It will probably be an improvement.”

“No, seriously, prima, you look like someone from the 1880s.” Camilo said.

“1780s,” Mirabel corrected.

“Does it matter? Ain’t it the same thing? Boring, old shit that’s all history is.”

Mirabel didn’t say anything for a moment. The other three wished in silence. “You did not say that to me,” she muttered. “In fact, stop talking to me. You and your incompetence is giving me a headache.”

“Just say ‘fuck off’, sis.” Isabela begged.

“Why don’t we play a board game?” Dolores suggested. “I’ll go get one—”

“No, I want to play Charades. And as the queen of France, I should get to pick.” Luisa beamed, smug as anything.

“Right, fine.” Dolores huffed. She pulled herself to her feet. “You all play a few rounds of Charades. I’ll go clean my face and then come back with a couple of boardgames.”

Mirabel quickly followed, “I’m coming with. To get medicine; I can’t deal with a headache all evening.”

Neither of the pair knew what to say when they returned a good half hour later to find Camilo had been banished to a corner of the room and held there in Isabela’s vines, meanwhile Isabela and Luisa (who was now without her makeover) were covered in plant dye and play-fighting. It seems like Isabela had gotten ahold of some scissors as some point because Luisa was missing more than half her hair. Multicoloured clumps of hair scattered about the room.

“What the actual fuck?” Dolores muttered.

“She started it!”

“She said I could cut it!”

“I thought you were all going to play Charades?” Mirabel inquired. She was quick to push by Dolores and play mediator, trying to convince her sisters to separate. “In hindsight, why did we both leave?”

“Because these three are impossible,” Dolores replied, rolling her eyes. “What exactly did you do?”

Camilo huffed in offence, “I didn’t do anything! I swear! Isabela just moved me here for no reason! Please, hermana! Help me?”

“We were both teasing Bela about how she doesn’t get as many ladies as I do.” Luisa explained. “Then I gave her permission to cut my hair because why not? It’s hair, it’ll grow back. And, well, I think we just got carried away… whoops.”

“Whoops?” Mirabel echoed, unimpressed. Then sighed heavily. “Oh, I’m too young and too tired to deal with this,” she mumbled, settling back into the pile of pillows. “I’ll just have Mama chastise you for it tomorrow morning.”

Isabel shrugged, “Guess us three will be sleeping in then.”

“I refuse to believe that the two of us are somehow related to you three.” Dolores continued. With several more glares at Isabela, her cousin finally relented and released Camilo. The pair joining Mirabel on the floor. Luisa and Isabela slowly made their way over, with Isabela going to finish the haircut. Because apparently if Luisa was going short, she was going all the way.

They went on to play Charades and then a few rounds of card games, though Dolores begrudgingly did so and then tried to claim that she wasn’t enjoying it. Mirabel fell asleep within three minutes of sitting down, so Luisa had taken her back to her own room - to prevent Camilo and Isabela from using her as the victim of some prank. Speaking of, Isabela, Luisa and Camilo only seemed to get more hyper, but that was balanced out by Dolores also getting a little more giddy herself. They then moved on to playing a quick round of Truth or Dare. That was ended by Luisa, who felt that Isabela’s dares were “death sentences” and Dolores’ truths were “too cruel and personal”. Camilo had just enjoyed the drama of the girls, snacking on cocadas.

That had transitioned into a game of Who’s Most Likely To? With very predictable results, but the four of them were enjoying themselves.

“Most likely to get a tattoo?” Camilo asked.

Everyone’s eyes turned to Isabela, who grinned. “That’s fair. Who’s most likely to get caught robbing a bank?”

“Without our gifts? Any of you three.” Dolores answered. “I’m much too clever. Who’s most likely to get hungover and continue a day of work following, without raising suspicion?”

“What a scandalous question for you, Lola!” Isabela teased, hitting her arm playfully. “What would Mariano think of you?”

“I’m the most likely to continue working,” Luisa chuckled, unashamedly. “Can’t say I wouldn’t be caught though. Isabela’s the one with the highest alcohol tolerance, but we’ve yet to see Camilo fully drink, so who knows?”

Isabela shook her head. “No, no. I think it would be you, sis.”

“I’m with Bela,” Camilo piped up. “You’d show up, tough it out and then collapse the second you got back to Casita.” He stood up, dropping down into Mirabel’s form and leaning over to Luisa, “And then I’ll say ‘I told you so’.” Then, shifting into his sister, “‘Because we are always right.’”

The four of them - yes, including Dolores - burst into laughter, so much so that Isabela worried that they might wake the adults, instantly flicking a flower into each of their mouths to shut them up.

When only Mirabel and Antonio showed up for breakfast the following morning, Julieta and Pepa had gone to hunt down their missing children. They found them all huddled, fast asleep, in Luisa’s room in a mass pile of blankets and pillows and a fairly large mess. The two smiled together as they watched from the doorway.

“They are just like we were,” Pepa said.

“Yes, they are exactly like…” Julieta trailed off, pausing. Her eyes widened. “Is that Luisa’s hair?”

Pepa cackled, pulling her sister away and shutting the door. It would be better to let the kids sleep in. “Don’t act so surprised, Juli. You remember the time we shaved Bruno’s head bald?”

[gamerbearmira]

Of course I have more to say about this resident 8 Au!

First I love the idea you have for the family it honestly all seems really cool. Though I do think for Julieta instead of her hand spontaneously combusting, little cuts appear and the black mold starts leaking out from it and wrapping around her hands at random making it hard to do whatever it is that you was doing and if she's making food/touches food it completely infects the food in mold. I think for Alma it was an experiment on her throat because she likes to argue so much You can see the incision marks and sometimes The incision marks will open up and leak black she can still can talk but her voice is a little bit more grainy and sometimes it's hard for her to talk so she has to drink water more and will sometimes not talk to try and save her voice.

The Dimitrescu family is painfully aware of the fact that Mirabel likes her family more than them. Which is why I feel like they had the first response that they did because in all I feel like that family is a very territorial and aggressive even when they try not to be. so when they first meet something that they view as a threat which was unfortunately the rest of mirabel's family (they are a threat to their relationship to Maribel) their instincts take over and make them act a little bit more aggressive but the more time that they spend with the family the less aggressive they are it took them a while (bela and Isabela did bond over the fact that they had similar names) but they eventually were fairly friendly with most of them (they tolerate the men.)

When it comes to Ethan maribel's entire house obviously is a safe area except for maybe one moment when Miranda shows up at random to "check in" on Mirable. I 100% believe that Maribel or maybe even some of her family members helped him in the final fight against Miranda and he lives! and Mirabel not trusting Chris or blue umbrella pulled him, Mia (I'm pretty sure she was also kidnapped again) and Rose into hiding with her and her family because I do not want them in umbrella custody or anywhere near that facility! only bad things happen I want them all to be happy in the end and away from all of that horribleness!

As for art! I would love to see the family fussing over Mirabel maybe when they had first gotten there or just in general how they act with her? and maybe a couple of Antonio following her around? And possibly the family and the Dimitrescu family interacting? Anything really you want to draw for it I would love to see it! I really enjoy your art style and know just how time consuming it can be!

RESIDENT EVIL 8 GRAHHHH 👺💪💪

No but uh. I'm glad you agree, and the Julieta one is so much better <333 ALSO THE ALMA ONE WORKS❗❗ That was actually similar to what I was thinking, so incision, maybe a failed attempt at trying to remove her vocal chords?? L Miranda but W Mirabel for letting her keep them ig 😭😭

Also Alcina and her daughters are just gonna have to tough it out cuz with the way they act??? Listen, Mirabel is optimistic, but not that optimistic 💀💀 and the fact that they were passive-agressive to her family (straight up aggressive to the men), doesn't help that 🗿 but at least they somewhatade up and even if they don't like each other, they tolerate each other for Mirabel's sake <\\3

ALAO ETHAN LETS GOOOOO I know he was scared out of his mind when Mirabel shoved him to a cupboard and he heard Miranda's voice the next second. He also learned that Mirabel is Mirands's favorite in that moment 🤧 maybe he uses that to an advantage?? I mean sure the Duke is there, but Mirabel or her family might be able to get rarer items, for cheaper too 💀 plus they might be more helpful in finding Rose. You know how frustrating it was to hear "Look a little closer 🤓☝"

HE LIVES AND GETS TO RAISE ROSE LETS GOOOO 🦅🦅🦅 ALSO I AGREE WITH NO UMBRELLA BUT...I thought the B.S.A.A was good??? But maybe I'm trippin', I mean it is RE, and Mia is sorta the problem to all this. Like if she just told Ethan the truth a lot of things could've been avoided 🥸 anyway, I think Ethan staying with the Madrigals (maybe permanently or just near wherever they were relocated in Colombia) is a cool idea, they can help him with Rose <333

AND ART YEAHHHGG OF COURSE I CAN I LOVE THIS AU <33 I really appreciate the ideas and??? I'm glad you love it 🤭🤭 I originally was working on it but got busy hence why it took me. A week to past this rather than a few days BUT HOPEFULLY IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN 🤓☝

Anyway art <333 Antonio's clothes (that Miravel made obvi) are based off of a lady bug so. Ladybug and Mantis. Lil bro is still happy to be around Mirabel even AFTER the experiment, its wild 🏃‍♀️ she tries to distance herself after the experiments on the family, thinking they'd hate her and never forgive her, but Antonio just refuses to leave her and she slowly gets closer again.

I LOVE THIS AU 👹👹

[trulytiredhermit]

No wait because hear me out on this one.

What if the reader was like Isabella Madrigal from Encanto?

I think you already know her or have atleast heard of her but I'll just explain her character for you in this one. ( the reader is still gonna be GN )

So Isabella is seen as the perfect child, perfect at everything that she does, perfect at using her power, her power by the way is summoning flowers, thorns and any type of plant, basically she's got this whole entire perfect facade to her.

And then her family ( mostly her grandmother ) made an arranged marriage for Isabella, thing is, she doesn't even like the guy, hell, she just wants to be herself and not want to be perfect all of the time, this is one of her interactions with Mirabel, her younger sister :

Isabella : I've been stuck being perfect! My whole entire life, and literally, the only thing you've ever done for me is MESS THINGS UP!

Mirabel : Nothing is messed up! You could still marry that big dumb hunk!--

Isabella : I never wanted to marry him! I was doing it for THE FAMILY!

Yes.. you could see the whole entire 'perfect' facade of her breaking since nobody else was in the room other than the both of them.

Now Isabella! GN! reader that is like that that was sent to a different world and eventually having to deal with yanderes.

If they could then they will beat the ever living shit out of Mariano ( Isabella's not wanted fiance ) because how dare he try and marry their beloved?!

The Links after they find out about Reader's almost forced marriage, pitchforks and torches in hand: : )

But besides that

I think a lot of the Chain try to help Reader feel better about themselves and help Reader understand that they don't have to force themselves to be something they don't want to. They don't have to be "perfect".

I mean, I'm sure all of the Chain have had to deal with those thoughts; of striving to be completely perfect and something their not what with them being heroes of the world and all.

But they try to help relieve that pressure off of Reader's shoulders.

Wild and Wind definitely help Reader out in beginning to not be so perfect (although the Chain think's Reader's perfect in ANY way).

They're using Korok leaves to throw each other around with the wind. Mud fights? Oh, you bet. They're out there begging Reader to make huge flowers underneath them and throw them up into the air.

All in All everyone in the Chain finds Reader's power to be quite useful (Especially Time and Warriors who think about how useful Reader's power can be if Reader has to defend themselves).

I also feel like Hyrule would especially like it as he 1 probably didn't have a whole lot of vibrant flowers/plants back home and 2 just something about him being able to turn into a fairy makes me think he'd really like flowers idk.

But yeah, after finding out about Reader's past they aren't gonna be letting Reader go home. At all.

And if they do ever travel to Reader's world, well let's just say things aren't gonna be okay.

No one gets away with hurting their darling and trying to take them away from them.

[goldeneyedgirl]

seriously what the hell happened to the grain silo, i think it's the second time i read this in your fics 😭

I knew I used it somewhere else before STL, and I couldn't remember where but it's now a fixed point in Jasper's time in the South for all of my fics.

This is a very rough outline of what happened, and details could change in the future as I refine it.

So, I need you to imagine that this is around the time that Peter and Jasper become besties, they trust each other, they joke around, things are not yet Awful. Peter's no longer a newborn but still has a dose of impulsivity that hasn't yet worn off.

Maria sends them out to scout on a perfectly quiet night. They're joking and not taking it as seriously as they should because there's no reason to - no fresh scents, no evidence of enemies, just a night in the middle of nowhere. Peter suggests they run a little outside their territory, scope out an area Maria is interested in, before they report back.

So they venture down towards an old farm that's abandoned, trashed etc.

Big mistake. They're caught by scouts from another army (Mirabel's; I don't think Mirabel has been mentioned in anything posted yet but if she has, she's back) and there are way more of Mirabel's scouts than Jasper and Peter, and they recognise Jasper.

The smart thing to do would be to get the fuck back onto Maria's territory, head straight back for backup and deal with these scouts. But no one ever accused Peter of being smart.

So Peter barrels towards the farm, figuring they can use it for cover, or at least get the high ground for the upcoming fight. Jasper goes after him, already realising this is a terrible idea. The scouts follow them.

Fighting occurs, several farm buildings are wiped out, and ultimately, the silo is the last thing standing. Both Peter and Jasper have some bites, are frustrated, and the last three scouts are being difficult. So they climb the grain silo.

This thing is so old. It's been abandoned for years, somehow survived a fire, and is no longer water-tight. It is powerfully unsafe for a human.

Peter is perched at the top and Jasper is still climbing, uneasy by the smell coming from decades of rotten, mouldy grain, and how structurally unsound it is.

And just as Jasper reaches the top, ready to put Peter on a leash for the next decade, the silo lets out a groan and collapses. Well, Jasper and Peter fall *into* the silo as it tips.

It's a very interesting smell, they are smothered in the dark surrounded by rotting grain and free-falling, and Jasper knows exactly how dangerous the situation is - they are essentially sitting ducks. The sound it makes as it hits the ground is heard right back at Maria's base.

Of course, the scouts figure they've basically won, they just have to kill Jasper and Peter inside the silo, so they go in to trap them.

Only to have both Peter and Jasper silently drag them under the grain and behead them like some kind of nightmare fuel grain shark.

It would be terrifying; you think you've cornered your enemy, you climb inside this busted silo to see your future victims and suddenly an arm grabs you and pulls you under and that's all she wrote. You die with a mouthful of mouldy grain and the realisation that it doesn't matter how stupid the situation is, the Major of Monterrey will win every time.

One of the scouts does put up a decent fight with Peter which basically ends with Peter, Jasper and the Scout slipping and sliding inside the silo, trying to get traction long enough to not die and kill the other guy. Very slapstick.

So Peter and Jasper climb out of the silo, smelling fascinating and covered with mould and muck and grain, and Jasper is not amused as they gather the parts to burn.

As they stand around the fire, Peter breaks the silence and goes "So..."

"We never speak of this again. No one will ever find out about this."

They do have to tell Maria that the farm she wanted is decimated and blame Mirabel's scouts. They had nothing to do with it, they just killed the scouts. Who even knows what went down. Not them.

It takes a little bit of time for Jasper to be amused by that incident, and by the time he's joined the Cullens, he thinks that it's hilarious. They fucking tipped over a grain silo because Peter was still in his untrained-puppy phase of development. They stank for a month because Peter had decided that Jasper could win any fight ever and that the solution to the problem he created was to climb a death trap.

Peter still denies that it ever happened.

[foggyfanfic]

Mirabel's Super Secret Adventure

Movie AU

Chapter Preview: “You’re not telling anyone,” Isabela said, with all the menace of a villain from one of Tío Bruno’s horror stories, “because if you do, I’ll tell Abuela that you’ve been sneaking up to the roof at night.”

Prologue Prev Next Masterlist

5. For the Family

“What the hell were you doing? Were you eavesdropping?!” Isabela shouted. Her cheeks were flushed with anger and her eyes were wild with panic.

“I was looking for-. You don’t want to marry him?!”

“Ssshhh! Shush! Are you crazy?! People might hear you.”

“Am I crazy? Are you crazy?! Why would you marry that big dumb hunk if you don’t-.”

“You wouldn’t understand,” Isabela cut her off, pointing an accusatory finger at Mirabel, “and you better keep your mouth shut!”

“Why? So you can ruin your own life?!”

“Like you even care!”

“What?! Of course I care, you’re my sister you dumba-.”

“Language,” Tía Leandra called over the fighting, but otherwise didn’t interfere. She just carried her box of soap into Casita.

“Well, if you care then you will mind your own business,” Isabela said, haughtily flipping her hair.

Mirabel raised an eyebrow at that, then she narrowed her eyes, “I’m telling Má.”

“What?! No!”

“Yep, bye! See you at dinner! Where you won’t be ruining your life!”

Mirabel turned and began speed walking around Casita, ignoring Isabela’s shouting behind her. When she heard Isabela start to give chase, she broke into a jog. 

Suddenly, a vine wrapped itself around her leg and she fell to the ground on her hands and knees.

She hissed through her teeth, looking down at her skinned palms. Nervously, Mirabel looked around, half expecting Abuela or Gabriel to come flying out of the bushes, insisting she go get an arepa immediately. When that didn’t happen she relaxed a little and focused on trying to get the vine off her leg.

Unfortunately, Isabela caught up with her before she could make any real progress. She had her arms crossed and a nasty smirk on her face.

“You’re not telling anyone,” she said, with all the menace of a villain from one of Tío Bruno’s horror stories, “because if you do, I’ll tell Abuela that you’ve been sneaking up to the roof at night.”

Mirabel gasped, as far as threats went, that was a pretty good one. The roof was her favorite spot in Casita, and although she knew Abuela wouldn’t want her going up there, it hadn’t ever been explicitly forbidden either. The second it was, Casita would stop allowing her to climb onto the roof tiles, and she would lose that little kernel of freedom.

However, “Seriously Isabela, you think I would just stand by and let you make the biggest mistake of your life for that? I know you hate me, but come on.”

That gave Isabela pause, her cold smirk slipping into a concerned frown. Mirabel gave up on the vine and stood so she could be as close to looking Isabela in the eyes as possible.

“I don’t hate you,” Isabela said, as Mirabel dusted herself off, “but, but, you can’t tell Má. She’ll stop the engagement.”

“Uh, yeah, kind of the point,” Mirabel said, giving Isabela her best “What are you, stupid?” look.

“No, Mirabel, this has to happen. It’s what’s best for the family.”

“What? You being miserable for the rest of your life?”

“No, Mariano joining the family,” Isabela hissed, “I mean, come on, Tío Bruno isn’t going to be around to make emeralds forever. A-and what happens once Má isn’t healing the entire village? We need to think about this family’s future. Mariano is a hard worker, and his family owns the chocolate orchard, do you have any idea how profitable that orchard is? Even just a portion of that-.”

“Isabela,” Mirabel cut in, voice thick, “your happiness is worth more than money. We can figure something else out.”

Isabela started to say something, then stopped and changed tact, only to stop again and sigh, finally she said, “My family being happy will make me happy.”

“But-,” Mirabel shook her head, trying to come up with another argument.

“No, it’s my life, my decision. I will marry Mariano,” Isabela held up a hand, putting her nose in the air, then she softened just a little and said, “but uh, it’s nice to know you care.”

“Of course I care,” Mirabel said, mostly because she didn’t know what else to say.

Isabela gave her a tiny smile, and the vine around her leg disappeared. Next thing she knew she was being pulled into her sister’s arms. She hugged back, even as her mind raced, trying to think of what she could possibly say to convince Isabela not to do this.

The truth was, Mirabel understood exactly why Isabela was choosing to put the family over her own happiness. If it came down to it, Mirabel wasn’t sure she wouldn’t do the same. 

But just because she understood where Isabela was coming from, didn’t mean she was making the right choice.

When the hug ended, Isabela quietly said something about going to get ready, even though it was barely lunch time. Mirabel managed a faint “See you later” despite the many thoughts racing through her brain.

Mirabel took half a step back towards Casita’s back door. Then she took two steps towards town. Then she stood there a little longer.

Finally, she balled her fists, set her chin and walked back into Casita. She walked up the stairs to the nursery and got out her sketchbook. She flipped through it, evaluating all of her embroidery designs with new eyes, calculating how much each one would cost, and how much she could charge for it in the margins. Eventually, she closed the book and left the room again. 

This time she marched right up to Abuela’s door and knocked on it without a moment’s hesitation.

Nothing happened.

Mirabel knocked again.

“She’s out.”

Mirabel jumped and turned around. Amada was stepping out of her room, holding an empty bag.

“Do you know where she went?”

“To the Guzmans’. She realized we don’t have enough table for everybody.”

“Oh.”

“Why? What’s going on,” Amada cocked her head, slowly walking closer.

Mirabel bit her lip and debated keeping Isabela’s secret for her, but ultimately, she couldn’t let her big sister go through with this, “Isabela is only marrying Mariano for the family’s sake. We need to talk to Abuela, now.”

“Oh,” Amada said. She stared at Mirabel for a beat or two, then made that same, “Hm” sound Tío Bruno did whenever he discovered something mildly surprising.

“That’s it? Just ‘Hm’?!”

“Eh, it makes sense, it’s not like Isabela is attracted to him.”

“What?!”

“Did you not know that?”

“No! How do you know that?!”

“Oh you know, I saw things,” Amada waved a vague hand while her eyes flashed gold.

“What sort of things?”

Amada shrugged, leaning against the railing with a casualness that Mirabel felt was quite frankly unwarranted, “Papá says that’s Isabela’s business and I shouldn’t tell anyone unless Isabela says it’s okay.”

“Oh. Can uh, can you give me a hint?”

“Sure. Mariano isn’t Isabela’s type.”

“…Does Isabela prefer smart guys?”

“Heh, no.”

Mirabel frowned, “Could I get another hint?”

Amada shook her head and watched Mirabel for a bit.

“So, we should definitely go talk to Abuela,” Mirabel said, when it was clear she wasn’t going to get anything else out of her cousin.

“Ummmm no,” Amada looked around the courtyard with golden eyes then shook her head.

Mirabel waited for an explanation, then when none came asked, “Why not?”

“Because you should go to the kitchen. All the good endings start with you going to the kitchen.”

“The good endings?”

“Sí.”

“What are the good endings?” Mirabel asked, even as she started walking towards the stairs.

Amada’s eyes flashed gold again, “Things will go very bad, very fast if I tell you.”

“And how many good endings are there?,” she frowned some more.

“Three.”

“Out of?”

“I dunno,” Amada said, once again sounding a lot like her father, “hundreds, maybe a couple thousand?”

This was why the villagers had very quickly stopped coming to Amada for advice. She could see the start of a chain reaction, and the possible endings, but she couldn’t see every step in between. The more variables there were, the more possible conclusions, and nothing introduced more variables than free will.

Her gift was best utilized by the bakers of the town, since she could ensure the best possible outcome for every batch of cookies and loaf of bread by spending ten minutes walking around the kitchen and writing the world’s weirdest to-do list. 

Now that Mirabel thought about it, Amada alone could keep the Madrigal’s well supplied with food with less than three hours of labor a day. Factor in Octavia’s abilities, Luisa’s hard work, and the fact that every single one of them was perfectly capable of getting a job, and suddenly Mirabel felt pretty confident that their future would be just fine. So, why did Isabela think she had to sacrifice any chance of marrying somebody she loved for the family’s sake?

Mirabel asked Amada if she knew why Isabela thought she had to do this, but Amada shrugged and shook her head. They parted ways at the front door, Amada going out to the market to pick up a bruised mango (an un-bruised mango would not result in the ending Abuela wanted), and Mirabel continuing on to the kitchen.

It was empty, so Mirabel figured she’d make herself some food while she waited to see what was going to happen.

Cooking was one of those things she could do, just so long as she was willing to put up with a long lecture about kitchen safety first. So, Mirabel did it as much as possible whenever Abuela was out of the house.

She had just pulled the leftover lechona from the party last night out of the fridge when Tía Pepa walked in, holding a book of riddles. Mirabel raised a brow at the book, since Tía Pepa usually only read riddles when she needed to keep the sky overcast, and she was pretty sure the farmers had wanted sunshine today.

“Hey Tía, have you had lunch yet? I can reheat some for you,” Mirabel greeted her, choosing not to ask about the riddles. She had enough mysteries to deal with.

“Ay Mirabel, could you? That would be so sweet of you.”

“Bien! How’s your day going?”

“Busy, between cleaning up after Antonio’s party and getting ready for the engagement tonight, I have barely had time to take a breath,” Tía Pepa complained, slumping into the nearest chair. As she spoke the wind outside picked up, whipping tree branches about. Tia Pepa glanced out the window and groaned, then started in on her mantra to help herself calm down.

“Do you need any help?” Mirabel asked, because maybe helping Tía Pepa was the next domino on the path to good things.

“Oh, claro! But you know what your Abuela will say if she comes home and sees I’ve put you to work,” she huffed rolling her eyes.

Mirabel paused in the middle of striking a match. Casita had refused her mother’s requests for a more modern oven and stove, so they were stuck with the classic wood fire ones until somebody invented another stove that Casita liked.

She turned and stared at her Tía, not sure what to say. Tía Pepa had never acknowledged the fact that Mirabel wasn’t allowed to help out much before.

“What?! You know it’s true.”

“I-, sí. I guess I just didn’t realize that you…”

She sighed deeply, looking at the book of riddles in her hands, “I know, I know. But it’s best I don’t think about these things you know. Gets me too-. Well, I need to keep the skies clear for the crops.”

“Oh,” Mirabel busied herself getting the wood in the oven lit, then moved some of the lechona into a pan, all the while thinking about what Tía Pepa was saying, “Tía, is it-. You’re always trying to change your own mood for the sake of the village. Is that-, how do you do it?”

Tía Pepa held up the book, “You know how, I read books that will make me feel what I need to.”

“Sí, I know that part, but um, how do you deal with-. Doesn’t it take a toll?”

That earned Mirabel a sardonic snort, then a quiet, dry, “Claro. But don’t you fret about that mija, I’ve been doing this for longer than you’ve been alive, I’m fine.”

Mirabel drew in a sharp breath through her nose, she had now heard four members of her family insist they were fine when they clearly weren’t. 

She was beginning to sense a pattern.

She sat down in the chair next to Pepa’s, facing her, “Would-. If somebody else in the familia was doing what you do, trying to make themselves feel something for the sake of the family and village, what would you do?”

“Smack them,” Tía Pepa said without a second’s hesitation, “my emotions can summon a hurricane. I need to keep them in check, or people could get hurt, even killed. The rest of you, you don’t need to be doing that.”

Mirabel pursed her lips, it would be kind of funny to see Tía Pepa smack Isabela upside the head. 

She opened her mouth to blab Isabela’s secret for the second time, then swallowed her words when Tío Bruno walked in with Tío Félix. She smiled at them in greeting, doing her best not to look too freaked out. Tía Pepa gave her a calculating look, but apparently decided to let Mirabel drop it.

“Hey, did you guys want some of the leftovers?” she asked, gesturing at the oven.

“I’m fine, gracias,” Tío Bruno shook his head, “I already ate.”

“I’ll take some,” Tío Félix said, he paused to press a kiss to Pepa’s cheek, then murmured, “might as well eat as much as we can before Camilo gets to it.”

“Ay, amor, you know he’s already gotten into it by now. He must have,” Pepa gave him a half grin and they shared a look of fond exasperation for their elder son.

“Ah, give the poor boy a break, you remember how much Luisa ate at his age,” Bruno pointed out, pulling a pitcher of guava juice out of the fridge, “Camilo’s practically on a, o-one of those hunger strikes by comparison.”

“Oh I remember,” Félix shook his head, a sympathetic frown on his face, “I remember that poor girl’s growth spurts. Ay, talking about growing pains.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Tío Bruno said, dryly.

Félix barked out a laugh, but Mirabel caught the flicker of sadness that passed across Pepa’s face. Briefly, Mirabel wondered what it must have felt like, watching her brother shrink in on himself over the years.

She shook the thought off and focused on the food, adding more so there was enough for three. When it was warm enough to be palatable, she pulled it out and began plating it.

“Gracias Mira,” Tía Pepa said, with far more feeling than a single plate of food probably warranted, “come, sit with me some more.”

She did as she was told and ended up with her Tío Bruno on her other side at the head of the table. Mirabel listened, mostly in silence, as Pepa and Félix discussed what was left to do, and Bruno occasionally cracked very dry jokes. She paid close attention, waiting for the next part of the chain reaction, but as far as she could tell, it didn’t come.

Tío Bruno insisted on cleaning the plates, even though he hadn’t eaten anything, he cited all the cleaning Pepa and Félix had left to do. Not wanting to leave him alone to do it, Mirabel offered to dry.

So, she ended up standing next to him at the counter, trying to figure out what, if anything, she should say. 

Should she ask what he knew about the cracks? Or maybe what he’d warned Luisa about? Or Dolores?

Eventually though, Tío Bruno paused in his scrubbing to check there was nobody waiting beyond the kitchen doorway to overhear any secrets, then asked, “Leandra mentioned-. How did your talk with Isabela go? Were you able to get through to her?”

“No,” Mirabel answered glumly.

“Ay, of course not. Although, uh, i-it makes me feel a little better that Leandra and I aren’t the only voices of reason going unheard,” Bruno shook his head.

“We need to tell Abuela, she would never make Isabela go through with this,” Mirabel said.

“I- sí, th-that is the back up plan.”

“The back up plan?!”

“Yeah, there’s-, look, as a seer I know a lot of stuff that isn’t my business, right? Well, one of the things I know is that there is a very easy solution to this if I can just get one of those two to listen to me,” Bruno was scowling down at the plate he was scrubbing, mostly to himself he muttered, “now I know how Leandra feels whenever she’s pushing me to talk to my sisters! Hm, maybe this is karma.”

“Which two?” Mirabel asked, then thought about what she’d heard Tía Leandra say, “Isabela and Dolores?”

Tío Bruno looked briefly startled, then he gave her a proud grin, “Ay, you always been so clever?”

“I uh, I’ve overheard a lot of stuff I probably wasn’t supposed to today,” Mirabel shrugged sheepishly. She hoped he wouldn’t ask what else she’d overheard, although technically she hadn’t overheard his conversation with Tía Leandra today. She heard it yesterday.

“Sí, if we can just get Isabela and Dolores to be honest with each other, this whole problem will go away,” Tío Bruno confirmed, almost casually, he knocked on the nearest wooden cabinet.

“Ok, so how do we do that?”

“I dunno, Leandra and I have been trying, believe me,” Bruno shrugged, “and now we can’t find either of them. I think Dolores is in her Sanctum, and well, who knows where Isabela is hiding. If we can’t get to them before the proposal, Leandra and I were going to sit them down and just tell them what the other is hiding. And if that doesn’t fix things, we’ll tell Abuela.”

Mirabel nodded, slowly, then breathed a long sigh of relief, “Bien, good, right. I’m so glad there’s a plan, because I was kind of freaking out.”

Tío Bruno gently knocked his shoulder against hers, “Have a little faith, eh? We wouldn’t let them do this to themselves. I just want to give them a chance to work it out, first.”

“I don’t think they’re going to Tío.”

“I-, yeah, I’m beginning to think you’re right,” Tío Bruno sighed, then gave her an inquisitive look, “Did Isa tell you why she thinks she has to go through with this?”

“She did, but it’s kinda dumb,” Mirabel rolled her eyes, “she’s worried about the family’s future, you know, like what happens when you’re not selling emeralds anymore. She thinks this is the best way to make sure we’ll be taken care of.”

“Ah,” Tío Bruno frowned into the middle distance for a second, “that’s-, hmm. That’s not what I was expecting.”

“What were you expecting?”

“Well… don’t tell her I said this, but Isa has always put a lot of pressure on herself to be perfect, I thought this was-. I-I mean I thought she was doing this to try to force herself to be uh, something she isn’t,” it was obvious Tïo Bruno was dancing around something, probably the something that Amada had said she wasn’t allowed to tell people.

Mirabel thought about pushing, but the reasons why Isabela didn’t want to marry Mariano didn’t matter as much as the reasons why she was going to force herself to.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Mirabel asked, because Tïo Bruno always let her help, even if it got Abuela upset with him.

He frowned, thinking about it, then he slowly nodded, “Maybe, it uh, it wouldn’t be a quick fix though.”

“What is it?”

“Isa is… different in the same way-, well not quite the same way, but in a similar way as me. She-, the only reason I know is because Amada saw something and asked Leandra and I about it. Isa hasn’t told anyone, you know, she doesn’t think-. She thinks she needs to be perfect,” Bruno shook his head, “I’ve tried telling her she’s fine the way she is, a-and Leandra has tried, but we’re her Tío and Tía. As far as Isabela cares-, she won’t listen to us, not when it comes to this.”

“So, what do you want me to do?”

“I-,” Bruno stopped talking abruptly, he examined her closely, then seemingly out of the blue said, “did you know that I used to have a boyfriend?”

“Que?”

“A boyfriend, I had one. And before I got to know your Tía, there was this guy I-, well I don’t know if I’d call it a crush, but he’d told me that he used to be in love with me but now he was over me and I just-. Curiosity, I spent a lot of time wondering what would have happened if I hadn’t been so blind, you know?”

“Oh,” Mirabel blinked a few times.

“I am attracted to women, well, mostly just to the one woman these days, but I am attracted to men too.”

“Ah.”

“How do you feel about that?”

Mirabel pressed her lips together then decided honesty was the best policy, “I mean, you’re my tío, so... Kind of grossed out? You’re not supposed to have a love life. It’s bad enough I’ve seen you kiss Tía Leandra.”

Tío Bruno laughed, “Right, bien, claro. But pretend I wasn’t your tío, pretend I was just, I don’t know, a friend from school. Then how would you feel?”

“Eh, fine I guess,” Mirabel shrugged, thinking about Sonia who loved embroidery as much as Mirabel, and had terrible taste in boys, “as long as the guy you’re dating isn’t a total sleaze.”

“Eh, he wasn’t, he just… he wanted to help me deal with the village, but didn’t know how. And the situation spiraled,” Bruno smiled sadly, “at the time it was, oof, it was not fun. A-and for a while I was convinced he was, you know, evil. But looking back on it now, we were both so young, and I can see-. Ah well. For the best we didn’t work out, Leandra gets along with my sisters better.”

Mirabel watched him as he apparently reminisced, eventually he snorted, shook his head at some memory or other, and seemed to tune back into the present. He looked at her, first out of the corner of his eye, then with his head tilted toward her.

“Mirabel, I know you and Isa haven’t always gotten along, but… that’s actually a good thing right now. If you can get her to open up to you, and you tell her there’s nothing wrong with her, she uh, she might actually believe you.”

Mirabel gulped, but nodded, “Alright, I’ll try.”

“Bien, and in the meantime, Leandra and I will work on the whole Mariano situation,” he smiled at her, a rare glow of optimism on his face, “and maybe between the three of us, everything will work out alright.”

AN: So! Here's my thought process. Way way back, like a whole two years ago when I first caught brainrot for this movie, and I started playing around with character dynamics, I really enjoyed that Bruno was sort of a dark mirror for Isabela. He was also the golden child at one point, then fell off his pedestal, and due to a lack of support just kept falling. I love the idea that Isabela is, to a certain extent, terrified of following in his foot steps. Then I read that Jared Bush tweet where he said that things would have been a lot different if Bruno had had even one strong relationship and I started wondering how the movie would have gone if Bruno was hanging around with a spouse and kids. Then I came up with Love and Fury, finished it, and viola now I have an OC ready to marry Bruno. And!! I very specifically have a Bruno that likes both men and women. So, what if Bruno is there with a wife and kids, he finds out Isabela is attracted to women, and gives her a heads up that he's like her and there to support her if she needs. She hears Bruno say he's attracted to both men and women and thinks to herself, "Oh good, so there's still a chance that I can fall in love with a man!" and spends the next few years using the fact that Bruno goes both ways as an excuse to hide from her own sexuality. I love this idea for two reasons. One, it is realistic, Isabela is young and sexuality is complicated. A lot of us in the community start off with one label, try to make ourselves fit into that label, then discover a label that fits better and slowly make the switch. Two, for the angst.

[foreveranevilregal]

Idk what you'll think about this idea so u don't have to do this but but but how about a mostly fluff fic where either Dolores or Felix is crying, Pepa finds them/they go to Pepa and she comforts them?

I love that idea! Hope you like this! 

“Dinner is almost ready; can you let everyone know?” Julieta requested.

“Of course.” Pepa left the kitchen to round up the others. Félix was the first person she ran into. He held a giggling, squirmy Camilo in his arms. “Dinner’s ready,” she let him know. “Hola, Camilo,” she cooed, trailing a finger tenderly along his chubby cheek, and smiling at his resulting giggle.

“Excellent.” Félix grinned, shifting Camilo to his other side to give Pepa a kiss. “Do you want me to tell the others?”

“Yes, that would be great.”

But ultimately, it wasn’t necessary. Isabela and Luisa had come in from playing outside, both adorned with flower crowns shedding petals on the ground.

“Tío! Tía!” They cried out excitedly, running up to them and throwing their little arms around them. Isabela’s hug was gentle and sweet, much like she was. Luisa, in her enthusiasm, ended up lifting Pepa right off the ground. Poor thing was still getting the hang of her gift.

It caught her by surprise. “Easy, Lu,” she reminded her gently when she saw that Luisa was turning towards Félix. While she didn’t mind Luisa picking her up, she didn’t think it was a good idea for her to do that to Félix while he was holding the baby.

“Okay, tía.” Luisa nodded solemnly. She wrapped her arms around her tío delicately, snuggling into him as he ruffled her hair playfully. “Hola, tío.” She smiled up at Camilo, who was examining her curiously. “Hola, Milo.”

“Lulu,” he burbled happily. “Isa!” He flapped his tiny arms around in joy.

“I think someone’s happy to see his primas.” Pepa beamed over at them. Rays of sunlight illuminated the five of them.

Isabela preened at the comment. “But I’m his favorite prima, right?”

Luisa frowned. “No, I am.”

“No, I am!”

They began to bicker about which of the two of them was Camilo’s favorite. Secretly, Pepa knew they were both wrong. Camilo’s real favorite had just entered the room, secure in her father’s arms and nuzzling into his chest.

“Did I hear something about dinner?” Agustín asked with a grin.

“Yes, dinner’s ready.” Pepa smiled at him and Mirabel, who was examining the room in her usual studious way, taking in every detail. Whereas Camilo was rambunctious and energetic, she was calmer; preferring to observe rather than act. After giving Mirabel a soft kiss on the cheek, she did a mental head count and came up short. Someone was missing.

“Where’s Dolores?” Her eyes scanned the room as if her daughter was hiding somewhere, to no avail. All she could see at child level were Isabela and Luisa chasing each other around the room, their fight quickly forgotten.

“I’m not sure.” Félix shrugged.

“Isa?” Pepa turned to her older sobrina.

Her eyebrows knitted together in thought. “I haven’t seen her since we got home from school.”

Pepa sighed. That was the last time she’d seen Dolores too, and it was several hours ago. Things had been so busy with Camilo that sometimes their quiet Dolores slipped through the cracks. She needed to be a better mother. “Okay, I’m going to go find her. The rest of you, go to dinner.”

The last thing she heard as she walked away was Luisa piping up that they needed to find tío Bruno too and tell him about dinner so he wouldn’t be hungry. Right. Bruno had been missing too. But he had a habit of disappearing for long stretches of time before popping back up. Dolores’ absence was more worrisome.

Figuring the best place to start looking would be in Dolores’ room, Pepa headed up the stairs. She paused at the door, hesitant to enter. Instead, she put her ear to the door and listened. Soft sobs filtered through the door. No longer hesitating, she threw open the door to see Dolores curled up on the floor next to her bed. Her hands covered her ears, and she hugged her knees as she cried.

Pepa’s heart shattered into a million pieces. She hated to see either of her children cry. “What’s wrong, querida?” She sank down on the ground next to Dolores.

It took the girl a couple tries to get out her reply. “It… it’s too much, mamá.”

“What’s too much?” She brushed fallen curls out of her daughter’s face.

Dolores’ hands stayed firmly over her ears. “It’s too loud,” she sniffled, huddling further into herself.

Oh… Dolores’ gift had been ultrasensitive hearing. Pepa knew that sometimes it could be a bit overwhelming for her, but she didn’t realize the extent to which this was true. “Oh, Lola…” She pulled Dolores into her chest, cradling her and swaying her back and forth gently. “I’m sorry, mi vida, I didn’t realize we were being so loud. We’ll be quieter”

Dolores shook her head. “It’s not that. I mean, okay, it would probably help a little, but…” She trailed off, wiping her snotty nose on her sleeve.

“But…” Pepa prompted her.

“It’s too loud. All the time. Doesn’t matter what’s going on, I can hear everything.”

“Everything?” Pepa knew her hearing was good, but not that good.

“Everything,” Dolores confirmed. “People talking and doing chores, animals eating, things breaking…” She paused to breathe. “When it’s really quiet, I can hear the river flowing. Otherwise, I mostly hear people making all kinds of noise. I hear my primas when they play, even if it’s not at home. I hear Camilo crying at night. I hear people when they get really mad and argue. They’re always louder then.” Dolores shuddered. “I hear everything all the time, mamá, and I don’t know how to make it stop.” She looked at her mother, pleading with her to fix it. “Make it stop, mamá.”

Pepa sighed, holding onto her extra tightly. She was still young enough to have the unwavering belief that her parents could fix anything; that she could come to them with any problem, and they would be able to come up with a solution. But this was a problem she didn’t know how to solve. Dolores’ amazing hearing was her gift from the miracle, but the way she described it, it sounded more like a curse. Not being able to turn off your gift and suffering as a result struck Pepa as all too familiar, and she didn’t want her daughter to suffer the same way she had. “Oh, mi amor…I wish I could help…” Admitting that out loud made her feel powerless, and she could feel her own emotions starting to rise. Clear skies, clear skies…

Dolores sniffled, her big brown eyes boring into Pepa. “Isa gets to choose when she uses her gift. So does Luisa. Why can’t I? Why can’t I turn it off?”

Hearing that caused Pepa’s anger to bubble up to barely containable levels. Why was that the case? Why did her daughter have to suffer, while her sobrinas got to enjoy their gifts at will and not be bothered otherwise? It wasn’t fair. “Your gift is different from theirs,” she murmured into Dolores’ hair, taking care to keep her voice low. “It’s more powerful.”

Dolores sighed. “I like being able to hear a lot, most of the time, but sometimes I just want it all to stop. I don’t want to hear everything all the time.”

Now Pepa’s emotions were getting harder to control. Her daughter was hurting, and she couldn’t help her. All she could do was keep holding her and comforting her, but it wasn’t enough. What she wanted was to make her daughter’s pain stop, and she couldn’t do that. “I’m sorry, Dolores, I really am…I wish I could do something to help,” she whispered, feeling like a complete idiot. What kind of a useless mother was she, that she couldn’t even help her own daughter? Soon enough, a small cloud cast a shadow on the two of them. No no no, not now, not rain, please…

Dolores turned her head curiously towards the cloud. “Are you sad, mamá?”

Pepa just nodded. She couldn’t lie to her. “I am.” She pushed aside some of Dolores’ voluminous curls to press a kiss to her head.

“Why are you sad?” Dolores looked at her with concern.

Pepa choked back a sob. Here she was, failing to comfort her daughter and instead she was now worried about her mother. Meanwhile, she hadn’t managed to help her, Dolores was still suffering, and the injustice of it all made her boil over. Thunder began to rumble lowly around them. Great. She squeezed her eyes shut, cursing herself for her own stupid lack of control, when she’d had her gift for thirty years.

Dolores’ eyes widened at the sound. “What’s the matter, mamá?”

Pepa willed the tears to retreat, to not end up raining on Dolores when she’d already ruined everything with her thunder. “I’m sorry, Dolores…I’m so sorry. I’m sad because your gift is hurting you and I can’t do anything to help and instead I just made it worse with my thunder and-“ Pepa deflated, running out of breath.

“You didn’t.”

“I didn’t what?”

“You didn’t make it worse.”

Pepa couldn’t believe her ears. “What do you mean? I made it thunder.”

For the first time, Dolores loosened her hold on her ears. “I like the thunder. It’s… comforting?”

Pepa let out a harsh laugh. “Comforting?” That certainly wouldn’t be the first word she’d use to describe it.

Dolores paused to collect her thoughts. “Yeah, it’s not too loud, so it doesn’t hurt my ears, but it’s loud enough to block everything else out. It’s perfect.” She offered her mother a small smile.

Pepa could have cried from joy. Indeed, a few raindrops landed on the two of them. “I’m so glad I could help.”

Dolores snuggled into her chest, letting out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, mamá.”

“Anything for you, mi bebé.”

Dolores wrinkled her nose. “I’m not a baby, mamá. I’m a big girl,” she insisted. “Camilo’s the baby.”

Pepa let out a heart laugh. “You are, but you’ll always be mi bebé. Because I’m your mamá and I love you.”

Dolores rolled her eyes, but she kept smiling. “Can you keep the thunder going? Just for a little bit?”

Pepa was so focused on Dolores that she hadn’t even realized the thunder faded away. “Of course, mi rayo de sol.” She summoned up a low thrum of thunder, just enough to fill the space around them without becoming overwhelming.

Dolores’ thin arms snaked around her to give her a hug. “Thank you, mamá. This is nice.”

Pepa hummed contentedly. The quiet rhythmic rolling of the thunder was lulling both of them into a more relaxed state. “Do you want to just stay like this for a while?”

“I do.”

And they did, all the way through dinner, until Dolores finally fell asleep in her mother’s arms.

[sailor-peeking]

How likely I think I could beat the madrigal's in a SOLO fight. Oldest to youngest. 10 being very likely.

Alma- 10/10. I would absolutely fucking obliterate her she has old lady knee caps it takes one punch and she would be out I have years of pint of rage that I would love to take out on a authority figure.

Félix: 6/10. I think it purely depends on the day and the time and what the fucking weather is like. I taller than him so I might have an upper hand also I am Afab and I don't think that Félix would feel comfortable hitting a "woman"

Julieta. 4/10. Don't get me wrong I could absolutely obliterate her in a fight the problem is I don't want to she would look at me with those soft kind brown eyes and I would absolutely fucking melt because I've never felt a mother's love.

Pepa: 8/10 I would absolutely fist fight this woman and win. she only gets an 8 out of 10 because if she starts raining I will retreat however, if she gets pissed and starts with the wind shit I won't give a single fuck I love the wind and I love fighting.

Bruno: 5/10. similar to his older sister I would not be able to fight him if he looked me straight in the eyes but I could physically actually beat his ass I had the upper hand I am 5'8 and he hasn't eaten a healthy meal in 10 years.

Agustín: 7/10 could absolutely Rock his shit however, we both might fall over towards the end but that will not stop me.

Isabela: 6/10 because of the vines. I feel like she would get a good hold on me however, she has very long hair and I will pull that shit so if I go down I'm taking her with me.

Dolores: 100/10 all I have to do is speak at a slightly louder volume then normal and I absolutely fucking obliterate her she would fall over

Luisa: 3/10 I think if all circumstances go completely right for me I might actually be able to beat Luisa. She would probably feel bad about fighting in the first place and if I insult her just right she might actually just cry and back down.

Camilo Madrigal: 1000/10. I would drop kick this bitch with no hesitation. What is he going to do shape-shift into me? I want to fight myself more than I want to fight him.

Mirabel: 2/10 she has heard every insult under the sun and has been neglected by her family. bitches like that have pinned up issues and once they start fighting they will not stop. This bitch is Scrappy she might actually beat me in a fight despite our big size difference.

Antonio: 0/10. I could physically fight a 5-year-old however, the question is why would I want to? Especially because he is my favorite character so I feel like I would not be able to. Even if I was fighting 4-year-old Antonio before he got his gift I would still fold like a lawn chair.

Bonus: I would absolutely beat the shit out of Mariano Guzman. No hesitation. 9/10

[blackypanther9]

Part 2 - Meeting the Madrigals

WARNING!: Blood x gore, mangled bodies, arguing, slapping AND MORE ! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!!

Heiko stiffened up as he heard footsteps, FAST ones at that. He dropped all the wood for a tree house on the floor.

“Guys ! HIDE !”, he yelled.

Instantly they climbed or flew up the trees and looked down, spying and waiting.

It didn’t take long and they saw at least 12 people running and stopping. A Jaguar was with them and 2 rats.

“Here, Parce ?”, a little boy asked.

The Jaguar nodded and then went over to the tree Heiko was on and pawed it. A man with a green ruana went there and touched it.

“Blood…”, the man said and then looked up.

Heiko instantly hid behind leafs, but he forgot that he was still bleeding and some of it dripped on the man’s face.

‘SHIT !’, Heiko thought in panic.

They were too weak to transform and at least knock them out. They couldn’t take any of them on !

 The man flinched and wiped his forehead. He turned around to his family.

“They are up in the trees, hiding.”, he said.

A woman with black hair and a bit of silver in them looked up and then yelled.

“We aren’t going to hurt you ! We want to help you ! We saw the blood on the floor and want to help you heal ! Please come down !”

Heiko looked at the rest of his family in fear. William and Vincent looked at him just as clueless. Heiko took a deep breath and then yelled back.

“From where do we know that you aren’t lying ?! A lot of people lie nowadays !”

“We protect people in danger and help them where we can ! We saw you injured ! And one of you is injured really badly ! I am surprised he didn’t die from all the blood loss !”, a girl with green glasses and black hair yelled.

Heiko’s eyes widened.

‘How did they…?’

 Everyone knew who the girl meant. Heiko was the most injured of them all. It would take WEEKS for him to have enough energy to heal his injuries. Heiko was silent and looked at Vincent and William.

‘What will I do ?!’

He was so conflicted !

“If it helps, I am Mirabel ! Mirabel Madrigal and the rest is my family ! If you want we can introduce ourselves, before you come down !”, the girl with the green glasses said.

Heiko was very conflicted, but looked more out of the leafs and then yelled.

“Fine ! DEAL ! But if you trick us, you better run !”, Heiko threatened.

He knew they were in no condition to fight, but he still wanted to threaten them in case.

Mirabel nodded and then pointed at the man with the green ruana on himself. Heiko had to admit, he looked kinda hot.

“This is my Tío (Uncle) Bruno ! You can also call him Brunito !”, Mirabel said.

Then she pointed at the woman that told them that they can come down.

“This is my Mother, Julieta ! And the man next to her is my Papa´ Augustin !”

The next one she pointed at was a woman with orange like hair.

“This is my Tia´ Pepa ! And the shorter man is her husband Felix !”

Then she pointed at an elderly Lady with grey hair.

“This is my Abuela Alma !”

Then she introduced Camilo, Dolores, Antonio, Luisa and Isabela.

“Anything else you should tell us ?!”, Heiko asked.

“We all have a gift !”, Bruno now yelled.

“A gift…?”, Heiko asked lost.

“My gift is that I can look into the future and that is why we knew about you and being injured !”, Bruno explained.

“My Sister Pepa controls the weather with her emotions, my Madre is the candle holder, my other sister Julieta can heal people with her food, Camilo can shape shift, Luisa can lift everything no matter how heavy, Isabela grows plants and more, Antonio can talk to animals, Dolores hears everything no matter how far and Mirabel is the next candle holder !”, Bruno told in short pointing at each one.

Heiko looked at William and told him to stay up with the rest. He nodded but looked at him worried. Heiko was too badly injured and still he risks himself for them all.

“We call that abilities !”, Heiko yelled.

Bruno mumbled something and then looked back up.

“Can you come down now ?! We told you everything !”

Heiko took a deep breath and then looked at his family, maybe for the last time too. Then he slid down the trunk of the tree he was on and stood on one leg in front of them, using little of his ability to float, so no one notices.

As he was down there he heard a lot of gasps in utter shock and Alma even said ‘Dios Mío…(Oh god)’

Antonio even started to cry and hide in Pepa’s dress. And Camilo ? He even passed out from utter shock.

“I didn’t see your torso like this… How are you still alive ?”, Bruno asked in utter shock.

“It looks worse than it is.”, Heiko shrugged.

“You are the one that talked with us !”, Mirabel yelled.

“Mira, please…”, Dolores said holding her ears shut.

“Oh sorry Dolores…”

“Do you really think I will let anyone else of my family speak with people that could be potential harm to us ?”, Heiko asked bored, but Bruno saw the rage and fear in his eye.

If they rub him the wrong way he will do something stupid. So before Mirabel could open her mouth, Bruno interrupted.

“No, no ! But you are the most injured, I guess it surprised us. Normally it is always the least injured to protect everyone, but we aren’t complaining ! Also you don’t have to make the others come down. I get from where you’re coming from. I would want to protect my family as well.”

Heiko looked at Bruno and slowly calmed down more.

“Shall I go and get some arepas or do you want to tag along ?”, Julieta asked Heiko.

He stiffened up again and stared.

“I will not leave, who knows if you will try and hurt my family.”

“You mean like you hurt your Sister ?”, Dolores asked.

Heiko glared at her darkly.

“She behaves like a spoiled brat, that is something else. She got spoiled too much and now we need to get her into place and because nothing else works on her, she gets a smack in the face and some yelling. Her Daddy is too scared to do it, so I do it.”, Heiko said venomously.

“That would still be child abuse.”

“Do you always stick your nose and ears into someone else’s business that you know nothing of ? You don’t know us and you don’t know her. You know nothing, so you have no rights to mix yourself into my business.”

Bruno saw his anger and rage returning and so he gave Dolores a look. She backed off.

“You are right and Dolores is sorry. She is just always concerned about such things. Please forgive her. She won’t do it again.”, Bruno said.

“Fine, as long as she leaves me alone…”, Heiko huffed.

“Parce brought some arepas !”, Antonio yelled.

Bruno took two and then gave one of them to Heiko. He stared at it with distrust. It could be poisoned for all he knew.

Bruno took a bite from the arepa and Heiko watched him.

“See ? Not poisoned. If you want mine, you can have it too.”, Bruno offered.

Heiko still eyed it in suspicion, but bit into it and chewed. Then he swallowed and hummed.

“Okay this tastes good.”, he told Bruno and the rest.

They smiled at Heiko and he smiled back, but then hissed in pain. Alma rushed to his side and Bruno was on his other.

“Wh-what is happening ?!”, Heiko yelled.

“I think because of your serious injuries it hurts you now, because it tries to regrow itself.”, Julieta said.

And just as she finished talking, Heiko’s arm regrew and his left leg just the same. His torso stitched itself back together, his eye regrew, his skull healed and soon enough Heiko was fully healed. He looked at himself.

He felt powerful. So this arepa probably didn’t heal all of him, but it gave him enough energy to fix himself fully. He sprung up and started to walk and then run. His leg felt as good as new, plus the obvious thing he had back in his legs too… His vision was better now again too.

Then he tried out his right arm and it worked just as great. Heiko smiled.

“FINALLY.”, he said with a laugh.

“Finally ?”, Luisa asked.

“I have been without a leg, arm, eye and with open torso and cracked open skull for 3 WEEKS. It feels great to finally be healed and to be able to take a rest from fleeing without sleep.”

“Three weeks ?! How did you survive that long ?!”, Isabela asked in utter horror.

“Some bandages and stitches I did on myself. We couldn’t stop walking, but that didn’t mean that I didn’t try and treat my wounds at least a little bit. Though…my Uncle helped me a lot too.”, Heiko chuckled out.

In the trees Vincent smiled at Heiko.

“So you trust us a bit more ?”, Mirabel asked.

Heiko hesitated and looked up. William and Vincent nodded. Heiko huffed.

“Well if you trust them, come down and take ONE arepa ! And Uncle Vince ?!”

“Yeesh ?”

“Don’t scare anyone !”, Heiko told him.

“You are no fun.”, Vincent told him as he dropped on his feet from his tree with a pout.

“You know the rules.”, Heiko huffed.

Just then Heiko spotted Elizabeth taking FIVE arepas.

“ELIZABETH MOTHERFRICKING AFTON !!! I SAID ONE AREPA NOT FIVE !!!”, Heiko yelled.

“You aren’t my Dad !”, she yelled and stuck out her tongue.

Heiko was boiling in anger. He rushed to her and took all the arepas and the tray they were on.

“Heyyy !!”, she yelled.

“If you can’t listen, then you get none !”, Heiko hissed.

“YOU ARE A MEANIE !”

“This is not our food Elizabeth ! It is rude to eat everything from someone that kindly offered us to help ! You don’t just eat all of it !”

“He is right Elizabeth.”, Vincent said.

William just looked at them and sighed.

“It is wrong to not leave her any food too though. And you didn’t let her finish eating before.”, William sided with Elizabeth.

“When will you finally stop babying her ?! The whole time since we reunited she was only a spoiled brat ! She eats three times more food than me ! And I am always the MOST hungry from all of us ! You always get her whatever she wants ! What about us ?! You have two sons too okay ?! I don’t care if you care about me ! BUT THINK OF MICHAEL AND CHRIS ! Since we reunited you never gave them anything, but that spoiled rotten brat gets everything with just the words ‘I WANT !’ !! When will you finally tame her ?! SHE IS LIKE YOUR EX WIFE !!!”, Heiko yelled at him.

“Don’t compare her to Clara ! She was a gold digging hoe !”, William yelled back.

Heiko thrusted the tray into Michael’s ( Who had Ennard inside himself and the illusion disk active), glaring at William.

“And when did you find that out, huh ?! Oh right ! I was the one to stalk her and give you the evidence ! And who got rid of her, because she threatened you and was stealing your money ?! Oh ! That was me too !”, Heiko yelled.

William fell silent.

“You killed her…?”

Heiko laughed.

“I broke the breakers on the car so she will drive off of the damn cliff and finally rot in hell !”

Shocked, William sat down on a tree trunk.

“Did you honestly think that an Angel was hearing you ?! Did you honestly think that that was a miracle ?! No my dear friend! That was me ! Helping you and saving us all !”

The Madrigal family just stared at Heiko in utter shock and horror. William stayed silent.

“Did you honestly think that Michael and me didn’t hear you two screaming downstairs that night ?! Did you honestly think that I didn’t sneak down and eavesdropped and heard her threaten you to take the kids away from you and to get all your money ?! Did you honestly think that she never abused any of us when you were out of the house and made us all do the house chores, even though Michael had homework ?! Did you really think that she ever fed us when you weren’t around ?! I knew she would do all of that to them again ! So I got rid of her for good. And the only other ones that knew were Michael and Vincent !”

“What Mother would do that to their own children ?”, Alma asked in horror.

Heiko turned to her.

“A Mother, that never wanted kids and was only after money. That is a Gold Digger after all. Money is all they care about and play with people’s hearts. And when the people they are with go bankrupt they leave. Or if they find out about them just being there for the money, then they went to court and claimed that they forcefully had the dirty with them.”

They all stared at him in horror and disgust, besides Antonio, because he had no clue what ‘the dirty’ meant.

“She would have sold them off for money if she would have gotten the kids. So I took care that she will die and never bother us again. And I don’t regret it. She deserved it.”, Heiko said coldly.

William was dead silent. Heiko looked away and Bruno heard the hurt hidden in his voice.

“Did you ever thank me, William ? I warned you of so many things and still you ignored me and where did you end up after that ? Did you even ever saw me as your family ? Was I right all along that it was PITY that made you take me in ? Because if that was it, then I will leave this family. You never showed me anything that you accepted me as your Son.”, Heiko said.

With that Heiko walked away, deeper into the forest, but not too far. Bruno could still see him. Heiko pulled out a cigarette and then a lighter and lightened it up. Then he pulled on it and puffed out the smoke.

No one could see his face, but if they would have, they would have seen tears running down his face.

MASTERLIST HERE !

[unseelie-grimalkin]

So, your girl, who has been in Skyrim a sum total of a month, and has attended maybe 2 lectures and has done a lot of independent study and one-on-one study with the Restoration instructor...is now the Arch-Mage. She's considered the most politically powerful mage in all of Skyrim and is in charge of all the mages.

Yeah, she's confused too.

So, last time, we ended up with the recounting of how Triona killed her third dragon, the technical second one to attack her college in particular.

So with everything settled ("settled"), Triona sets out to the Labyrinthian, which she's never fully heard of before this point in the investigation, but the only context she's ever given for it is that the previous Arch-Mage had some history with it, giving Mirabelle (his second in command) the torc to allow entry to it (and before you mistake this as actual wearable jewelry as I did, this thing is huge and more meant to be one of those pull-only door handles for an ancient ruin).

So the Labyrinthian itself is a huge, sprawling ruin in the middle of the mountains. As you explore, you actually find it used to be an ancient city, way, way back in the day.

But as Triona explores, all she finds are the ghosts of the past (watching her now-dead Arch-Mage, in his youth, help spur on his fellow students to study a dangerous ruin...something that feels extremely poetic about that, given Saarthal in her life leading to his death). And before she can really start to unpack the implications, well-

She gets to a large, open cavernous room where there are armed skeletons and then...out of a huge burial mound in the middle, an undead dragon rises.

As is the case for many a Triona timeline variant, she wonders why her life is a constant, dangerous punchline.

Now, here is where something narratively interesting happens (as a result of Skyrim glitching):

Triona ran out of healing potions in this fight, but as she did so (hiding behind a pillar to avoid skeleton archers and the undead dragon's ice breath), she instantly clicked some magical knowledge into place to know the Sun Fire spell, aka one of the few Restoration offensive spells that exists that specifically damages undead and the undead alone.

Her enemies in this room are all undead.

She is a Restoration expert.

With Sun Fire in both hands, curling in her palms and around her forearms, Triona cleans the room in a matter of minutes. Where before her Firebolt spell was struggling to do any damage to the undead, all of her time and devotion into healing arts, understanding how life flows and ebbs, suddenly it matters in a way that saves her life and, ultimately, the world.

(I cannot even BEGIN to describe how stupid happy this glitch made me, it's so narratively poignant and so on the nose but so fucking good that I'm keeping it, this is canon to this AU now)

She continues down, following the ghost of someone she sort-of-knew, but not quite (he's always been distant; she dealt more with Mirabelle than him, with his main interaction with her being when the Psijic representative was around and him marveling over if they did anything wrong [manners-wise]. A...possible mirror moment to Triona, because she would've wondered the same thing? Hard to say) as she watches them all die one by one in the undead dangers of this tomb (undead dangers she's dealing with alone, where they had six). Eventually, she pieces together that the previous Arch Mage had killed the remaining two of his companions and enthralled them to keep something sealed.

And that something? Has been whispering to her this whole time, assuming she is the previous Arch Mage come back to finish what he started. Well, it started in a language she didn't know, but then progressively swapped over to Common the deeper she went, taunting "Savos" and how "he" didn't have what it took to finish the job.

And then...eventually, the voice realizes Triona isn't Savos Aren. It assumes that she's just a lackey he sent (which, not wrong) and taunts her with the knowledge that she has no idea what she's facing in this dungeon (also true) because the Arch Mage didn't tell her (if he did, the voice assumes she wouldn't be here).

But this guy isn't anticipating something of hers in turn: her impromptu prototype of Sun Fire.

So, with both parties having something secret against the other, they eventually meet in the deepest chamber of these dark, ancient, undead ruins:

In one corner, Triona enters, the room, golden fire ready in her palms and along her arms, spotting the two enthralled ghostly mages holding her opponent captive.

In the elevated side of the room, in a blue, glowing bubble of magic, something between a draugr (rotted flesh), a ghost (floating), and something recognizably at one point human (facial expressions, intelligence, voice) stares back at her. and she can feel that, all those times in the descent that she's felt her magicka drained? That's been this thing the whole time. This monster, apparently the nightmare creature of who used to be considered the most powerful mage in Skyrim.

And in its hands? The bloody fucking Staff of Magnus.

She kills the thralled ghosts, freeing this monster so that she can kill it and take the Staff of Magnus out of its skeletal hand.

I lost track of how long the fight was. Even with Sun Fire, it felt like forever, mainly because Morokei has a couple spells at his disposal that make fighting him a pain: Lightning Cloak, so you can't melee easily (not that Triona ever does melee, understand; she doesn't have the training for it), Greater Ward that eats your spells, Chain Lightning (just a pain in general), and Ebony Flesh (which gives him more armor; Mage Armor but make it different tiers).

But when he was dead, Triona spat up some blood on his body and then healed herself. She picked up the Staff of Magnus and just...while she knows the history of it (an ancient artifact that could power any mage but would leave the hands of any who got too powerful and threatened the balance of magic in the world), it all just...feels like a stick to her. A powerful stick (with her Restoration training, she can feel how it affects the health and magicka of life around her, capable of draining both should she will it), but...was it worth every life lost for it?

And she couldn't find an answer because she didn't have the luxury of time. She left the way she came, but before she could truly leave...Ancano's toady is there. And he thinks he can pick her off and measure up to the Literal Ancient Dragon Priest she just beat the snot out of. If he had been smart, sprung an ambush on her, and taken the Staff, that might've worked. But he's a High Elf agent of the Thalmor: he's gotta gloat about his superiority. And while he's not Clan Direnni, it all really shakes out the same, doesn't it?

With that hiccup out of the way, she rushes back to the college. She uses the staff to eat through the barrier of sheer magic and swirling force that Ancano had put up (barely having time to mourn Mirabelle's death) and get into the main hall.

Ancano has lost his marbles. Truly has, at this point. The Thalmor, in the years Skyrim is set in, is all about the Aldmeri Dominion taking over all of Tamriel and taking it from the Empire's hands. And...well, blowing up the world with a giant magical eyeball isn't really it, chief. Ancano is a character for whom we don't get too much information, but his MCU-esque weird heel-spin is...well, it's sure Something to Behold.

Triona teams up with Alteration Instructor (and, honestly, the only instructor to really...watch out for the college students and not focus solely on research or wait for students to approach them) Tolfdir to take out Ancano.

Compared to the fight with Morokei, Ancano...folds like paper. There's not much to be said: the Staff of Magnus trivializes this fight, and you have to use it for the main fight mechanic of separating Ancano from the Eye of Magnus, so he's even damageable at all.

And right after he hits the floor, the Psijic Order shows up. Declares that mankind isn't ready for something like the Eye, says they'll take care of it, and then...declares Triona to be the new Arch-Mage and leaves.

Triona looks at her teacher. "You surely don't think that's right, do you?"

"No, no, I agree." He smiles kindly at her. "You'll make an excellent Arch-Mage."

And it all kinda blurs from there, with clean-up, with being given the key to the Arch-Mage quarters, with everything. And she sits in her new office and she just. She's just kind of baffled, really.

But here's the thing: even with this new title, nobody lets her make any decisions. She tries to talk people into a memorial service, but everyone is too busy with their research. She tries to set up better safeties, for the students and for everyone, and Tolfdir says she doesn't have to worry about it. And, really, everyone is treating Tolfdir like he's Arch-Mage, even though he's supposed to be her second in command.

So, the first thing she does once she comes to her senses again is take off the musty Arch-Mage robes, swaps them for Master Restoration robes, gets herself a new hooded scarf, hides the Staff of Magnus, and she just. Leaves.

[miracles-and-butterflies]

How did fractured Luisa react when she find out that Pedro abused Mirabel?

*fan girl screaming* You don’t know how long I’ve waited for this question.

Very, very sickened.

Warning: sensitive topics below.

~~~~~~

And Yet He Shot the Fawn

Luisa almost forgot what she was meant to be doing. A hug is the furthest thing in her mind. She is too busy staring at Mirabel’s back, neck and upper arms through the tears in her blouse, now that she’s closer… it looks awful. She can see the inside of Mirabel’s neck in one of the cuts.

Some of them are deep, like slices. Some are barely there. Some raised on her skin. Some are bloody and leaking profusely. Some are pink and angry. Some are white and fading.

There isn’t a patch of skin that isn’t marked.

All this time Luisa and Camilo have mocked Mirabel’s perfect posture and stiff back and shoulders…

No wonder. She looks like she would shatter.

But how did she get these injuries?

They look too precise to be an accident or an animal. Mirabel wouldn’t get into a fight. And it’s not like she could have done it herself, the angle is wrong.

It has to be someone else. Nobody spends time alone with her…

“Abuelo did it.”

Mirabel’s coldness broke a little at the name. She paled and took a small step back.

“You are tired and stressed, Luisa. You should get some rest—”

“He did. Didn’t he?”

Mirabel shifted from one foot to the other. “He and my tutors.”

There’s been so many tutors over the years. Is that why they were replaced so quickly? Coming and going from nowhere to prevent gossip?

All those adults… adults who were trusted by their family.

“When?” Luisa asked.

“I-I lost count; I don’t know the dates… it started when I was six. It hasn’t stopped.”

Is that why her blouse is all bloody and ripped now? Is that why Abuelo had been in her room just now? Is that why he has a riding crop - even though he has never owned a horse?

Has he been using a weapon on her this whole time?

“Why?”

“You have to understand that he isn’t doing it to hurt me.” Mirabel insists. “I was making mistakes and getting emotional. He is doing it to help me. I failed. I was being a burden to our family, I had to be taught a lesson.”

She doesn’t actually believe this… does she?

“I should find our parents, or someone else in the family. They can help—”

“Nobody will care.”

“What?”

“I call them Señor and Señora. I can’t feel, Luisa. Everyone is scared of me. Or thinks I’m a heartless monster. Or both. I haven’t had a relationship with anyone since I was Antonio’s age.” Mirabel’s eyes and voice are wracked with distress; the rest of her is oddly calm. “I don’t know what it feels like to love and be loved anymore. Abuelo does not love me. He loves my gift - if it were to disappear tomorrow, he’d want nothing to do with me.”

A tear slips from her eye then.

Luisa hates herself.

She (and Camilo) have teased and mocked and bullied this girl senseless. Abuelo Pedro’s little favourite. Señorita sin corazón.

She remembers Mirabel before her ceremony, a very different girl, begging Luisa to protect her.

“I don’t want a gift,” she’d weeped under their beds, ten years ago. “I want to stay here with you in the nursery. It’s safe here.”

And fuck. She was right.

That whole thing with Isabela? All those years ago was true… Isabela wasn’t just being bossy and annoying when she’d hiss at them to stop. She knew it happened once. Does she know it’s still going on?

And their parents? How could they not know? Even if they didn’t believe Isabela back then, wouldn’t they have checked with Mirabel?

What about Tía Pepa? She heals people. She heals everyone. Didn’t she ever think it was strange how she’s never treated Mirabel in the past nine years?

“I heard the cracks that night.” Luisa gasps dramatically before she can stop herself. “I wasn’t sure with all the commotion at first. I told him when we went back into Antonio’s room. He said, ‘If you can’t use your gift correctly, I will bash your head into the wall until you do. Like a soft arepa.”

Luisa just put a hand over her mouth.

At least she’d just been made to look like she was drunk.

“He didn't say the arepa bit.” Mirabel said, flat. “I thought it would be funny. I thought if I could cry, I could smile too. I suppose not.”

Luisa felt bile in her throat.

[gamerbearmira]

I got another Alma and Mirabel bonding au! 

Ok so, what if the Madrigals were gods? Like: 

Alma - Goddess of strength, independence, fertility, and festivity 

Julieta - Goddess of peace, healing and fertility

Agustin - God of loyalty, crafting, and perseverance 

Isabela - Goddess of flowers, elegance, and beauty

Luisa - Goddess of strength, independence, and loyalty

Pepa - Goddess of war, emotions, and storms

Felix - God of light, happiness, and love

Dolores - Goddess of silence, peace, and hope

Camilo - God of trickery, comedy, and festivity 

Antonio - God of animals, happiness, and imagination

Bruno - God of Prophecy, wisdom, and laughter/comedy

The story/au goes that Alma fell in love with a human man, Pedro.Her parents, friends, and even strangers told her that it won’t end well but Alma, being the young goddess she was, didn’t listen. The way they met was at the candle festival, Alma loved festivals so she wasn’t going to pass up a fun time. 

So, she disguised herself as a human and went to the festival. Soon meeting the love of her life.  They dated, got married, and had three demigod children. Everyone on earth and above the clouds were of course happy for them. But her parents and friends couldn’t fight the feeling of something going wrong. 

On the night of the triplets' birth, Alma was in a deep coma like sleep, as any mother would be. While asleep with her three babies next to her, Pedro was outside talking to a “friend”. This “friend” got word of Pedro marrying a goddess and having children with her. His jealousy got the best of him and when Pedro was in his calmest and happiest state…he killed him. 

Not long after Alma woke up in a cold sweat and went outside to look for her husband. At the moment, a raid was going on. Houses and stores are up in flames, men with machetes on horses left and right and Pedro…After what seemed like days of weeping and sobbing, she found the man who killed her husband and…dealt with him properly, let's say. 

After that incident, the only humans allowed to come near her were Pedro’s parents, high up on Monte Encanto (Mount Encanto, Like Mount Olympus ). Humans can only go to Mount Olympus when they are invited, no other way. On the plus side, it’s incredibly too high for any human to climb. 

Alma was quite upset and hates herself for not being vigilant enough to protect her husband, therefore she’s going to protect her children and never let them near humans. In her mind, falling in love with them is the worst thing you can do, on both sides. 

Where does Mirabel come in? Give me a sec

Remember how I mentioned Pedro’s parents? Yeah, they wanted his grave to be on earth. They wanted it on earth because they didn’t want to constantly have to have Alma’s permission for them to see their own son’s grave on mount Encanto. So, out of respect of his parents, she lets the grave be on earth and every so often she visits it when she needs time alone or is too stressed out. 

Her children sometimes tag along with her on his birthday and leave some flowers or gifts for him to take into the afterlife. You know how the skeletons in Coco would take a magical version of the gift sat on their grave? 

Yeah, they believe that’s how he takes the gifts. On one of his birthdays, the triplets and Alma visited his grave with gifts to give him. While doing so, they heard a faint cry. A baby's cry, they looked around to see if there was any baby in the distance. They didn’t see anything. The cry was far but close enough to hear, which is strange, who would leave a baby at a graveyard of all places? 

After looking around a bit more, they found a little baby girl in a basket near a tree. She was small, very small, and she looked…new. Like not even a day new, like she was born mere hours ago. 

Julieta, being the caring mother she is, picked the baby up and held her close. The little infant was cold, very cold, and from the vibe she was giving Julieta, more than likely sick. 

“She’s just a baby, who would do such a thing?!” 

Alma stared at the little one and she knew right then and there, she had to care for this child. Unlike her granddaughters, who had been born within the safety of alabaster stone pylons, and in the presence of trained nursemaids draped in maroon and gold silks, this little baby had no such luxury.  

Unlike Isabela, whose head was christened in rosewater the minute she was birthed, or Luisa who was immediately coddled in the finest of linens to warm, or Dolores who was put in the finest cradle made of gold and calming scented clouds to lay her head on. Mirabel was in nothing but a withered old basket and wearing…nothing. There was a simple small blanket covering her, nothing more. 

And to top it all off, she was born on her late husband's birthday, March 6th. This little girl was a miracle. She would’ve called her a gift from the gods but she just went with a gift from her Pedro. 

So, from then on, little Mirabel (or sometimes Miracle) was welcomed into the family as a Madrigal. A mere human yes, but still an amazing little gift that Alma welcomed with open arms. 

She was going to teach her everything from literature, mathematics, combat, science, just anything in the little girl's early years to make sure that she was going to be strong, independent, and smart just like her. 

“I give you my word neita, you will be outstanding” 

Mirabel/Miracle was given to Julieta and Agustin to care for but…it’s more like Alma adopted her herself. She read her stories, gave her gifts, fed her, clothed in the best clothes, etc. To make sure absolutely nothing happened to her little Miracle, Alma made a potion for Mirabel to take everyday to make sure she’s immortal. 

The potion was supposed to give her other magical properties but it only gave her immortality, no god magic like her sisters or primos. No super strength, healing, no ability to control weather, ability to make plants, shapeshifting, or hear from far places, nothing. 

No matter how many potions Alma made, no magic from her family would stick besides immortality. No matter, she was still special, and will forever be special in Alma’s eyes. 

At school (for the god kids, but Mirabel was easily accepted in) Alma made sure she only had the best teachers, if she couldn’t always be the one teaching her then Alma was going to make sure gods who were well qualified were going to. 

Mirabel isn’t bullied per say but she isn’t well liked either. To gods, humans aren’t anything but an annoyance or something to play with. So seeing something you were taught to not see as anything but a speck is doing better in class than you…does get annoying. And most of them think she doesn’t deserve to be there

All of the god kids avoid her unless they are paired up with her for an assignment. Other than that, they don’t pay much attention to her, and it’s easier for them because they are much taller in comparison to her. They don’t even have to look down in her direction. 

God children ages 1-5 are about half her height at fifteen. So in this au, Antonio is at her shoulders, Camilo is four feet above her, Luisa is two feet above him, Isabela/Dolores are three feet over her, and the adults are a few inches above the two oldest girls. 

Alma keeps her height small in case she has to talk to Mirabel, who she knows can’t stand her smallness. Did I mention that Mirabel needs to nearly climb everything in her castle to get to it? If no one in the family is around she really has to climb her way to the kitchen counter just to make a snack. 

Oh, and Alma doesn’t look old is this au. From what I’ve read in Greek mythology and seen in Greek statues, none of the gods look or seem to be older than 30 so Alma looks 26 but she’s about the same age she is in canon. Same goes for the triplets, no gray hair or that much wrinkles. 

Mirabel does have her own room in this au and all that jazz. I’m not so sure what to do for dynamics but I think I’ll keep things the same? Idk, 

I was thinking that maybe Mirabel, Camilo, and Dolores are ok with each other, but leave them in a room alone and it’s just gonna be…awkward and silent. They don’t talk much seeing as they just have stuff to do but they're alright with each other. Antonio and Mira still have that cute little brother and older sister relationship though. 

Luisa and Mirabel are cool, Luisa is a little overprotective of her, but it’s not to the point of where it’s annoying. I’m not sure about Isabela and Mirabel’s relationship though. I feel like Isabela is slightly Jealous that Mirabel gets more attention from Alma in regards to gifts, excellent teachers, and knowledge about anything and everything she gives her. 

Don’t get me wrong, she loves her and would rip the entire fabric of the universe for her, but Isa just isn’t quite sure what to do with her. Julieta and Agustin are still loving parents and shower her with love and care when they can. 

Felix and Pepa love her too and speak to her when they have the time. Bruno does the same and cracks some jokes if she’s ever upset. 

Now in this au, Mirabel is like Ariel but different. She wants to be around people because that's what she knows she is. A person, not a goddess. So, when she has the chance, she goes down to the human world to just feel normal.

The adults, teens, and kids they're don't treat her like she's some creature you're not supposed to talk to. Down on earth she's seen as a regular human being, and she loves that. And the simple fact that it's a rarity for anyone to be above six feet, her smallness is seen as normal.

And to top it all off, not every person around her is on some high horse of importance. Humans are just simple Humans.

But girl knows damn well she's not supposed to be down there. Alma wants everyone, Including Mirabel, to follow the rule of not talking to humans.

"It causes nothing but trouble on both sides."

But Mirabel isn't a goddess so talking to people wouldn't hurt, right That’s all I’ve got for now, if you have any ideas, let me know!

This is sad :((( good idea❗❓ but like also sad :( like why???? Take a human child in knowing full and well that she might be excluded from things 😭😭 though they had good intentions, and obviously Alma means well. It does make me wonder, why doesn't Mirabel feel even the least bit above the normal humans? Also would Alma be able to give her some kind of "demi-god" status and give her more abilities???

Idk, still real cool <33

Imagine climbing a mountain just to leave a baby there and dip back down. You could do all that but care for the child 🤨

[achitka]

Doors (Chapter 28) Camilo's Ride

Chapter 27: on AO3

Summary: Adventure time! and I managed to make it through another day. go me

Camilo's Ride

Pepa watched as Camilo rode off on Parce into the hallway. She was feeling a mixture of angst and pride for her boy. When she heard her own thunder she forced herself to adjust her thinking. No, Camilo wasn’t a boy anymore. Félix had said as much when telling her about what he’d done, without hesitation, to help the children trapped in that house. Such a fine young man. Another one of her kiddos was all but grown, Pepa sighed, that was gonna take some getting used to. Félix came up next to her just as her gentle rain started to fall, opening an umbrella.

It was probably a good thing that Camilo felt comfortable enough to do as he did. Mamá had asked them all to not interfere when she turned to meeting over to Mirabel. It wasn’t that she didn’t want their opinions, she did, but she also wanted to see how Mira would handle things between herself and the younger generation. Bruno agreed, saying she’d been so long on the outer edge of the family that now that she was at the center of it, he was just as concerned it could be a problem. So, when Camilo spoke up for his little brother, it was hard to just watch and wait. But Camilo, thankfully was past his ‘jerk’ phase. That had ended when Casita fell, and he lost his Gift. A lot of his who he thought he was, was wrapped up in that. He was still hyper energetic but now he was setting goals and priorities for his future beyond irritating his family.

Still, he had always been an extraordinary big brother. He’d do whatever it took to protect Antonio, even if that perceived threat was his favorite prima and honorary hermanita. The cousins were as close as siblings, being born so close together, they’d spent the first four years of their lives with each other every day and neither ever held back once a disagreement started, their fights were almost legendary. It was when they worked together that things would get weird, poor Isabela being their favorite target.

Though Casita had never directly interfered on Mira’s behalf before, Mirabel seemed just as surprised as Camilo that it had happened at all. She’d have to ask Juli what Casita said when Mira asked the house to stop. That eye roll wasn’t for nothing. Pepa was actually surprised that Mirabel did, it was something that would have never happened under her Abuela’s watch. Casita had always been an extension of their mother’s authority over the family. Second only to that candle.

It seemed like yesterday Camilo was five-year-old, excited, and happy to get his Gift. Since he had just entered a growth spurt, it took a little time afterward to figure out why he was eating so much more than the average little kid. You would have thought there was a hole in his foot but rearranging his body used up a lot of his energy very quickly, so the more shifting he did, the more he would need to eat. In the beginning, not knowing why he was eating so much she’d tried to restrict it. That is until the day he shifted his little self until he literally passed out. Just a regular day, he was playing in the nursery with his prima when Mirabel screamed for her and Pepa had never moved so quickly. She flew up the stairs to find him passed out on the floor half stuck in the shape of the last person he copied. Mirabel said she’d tried to get him to stop and go eat but he just wouldn’t listen to her.

Still her misshapen son, lying on the floor terrified her enough that she scolded Mirabel. Insisting that him eating would not have solved this problem. The child had done nothing but seeing her sobrina shrink back from her as she now did with her Abuela made Pepa quickly apologize. She instantly knew that should have never come out of her mouth. She found out later from Felix that her sobrina had crawled under her bed, refusing to come out, for food or anything. Even her sisters couldn’t convince her that primo was fine and that her Tía wasn’t mad at her. Camilo must have overheard because he snuck out of his room after everyone was asleep and went into the nursery. And that’s where she found them both the next morning. Asleep under Mira’s bed.

Once Pepa had scooped Camilo up, she carried him to Julieta in town. Her ever-calm sister told her he was definitely dehydrated. She had cups with special lids for smaller kids and was able to get at least a small amount of juice in his mouth. He woke suddenly reverting back to himself and just cried saying he was so hungry. Pepa’s heart was breaking as she sat on a stool. Mirabel had been right, she seemed to understand before any of the adults that he needed more food since getting his Gift and would often sneak snacks to him before and after dinner, oftentimes saving him seconds. She always seemed to know when he was truly hungry and not just vying for additional treats.

Now Pepa was forcing herself to breathe through her nose and think happy thoughts so she would not rain on her baby. Julieta offered him several buñuelos, which he ate, and he finally stopped crying. Julieta noticed him looking longingly at the arepas on her table and smiled as she told him he could have more but made him drink a full cup of water before she picked up that basket and gave it to Pepa. “Take him home, keep him out of the sun and let him eat his fill, but make sure he drinks a lot more water. We’ll need to watch him since it looks like he may have overused his Gift.”

Word always traveled too quickly in the tiny town and before long her mother appeared with Isabela in tow as Julieta was telling her what she should do. Pepa held Camilo just a little closer, afraid of what her mother would say. There were times she thought her mother would try to take Camilo away from her. That she couldn’t handle her own children. When their mother found out it was Mirabel he was with, she took it as an opportunity to insinuate that Mirabel had done something to make it happen. It was ridiculous, but lately her mother had begun blaming Mirabel for any misfortune that came along. This included the disappearance of their brother six months prior.

Julieta, already tired from a full day of ‘helping’ the community, asked their mother quite pointedly if she was actually blaming her nieta. Julieta did not mince words with their mother. She was always respectful but since Mirabel didn’t get a Gift she’d become hyper aware of their mother’s bias against Mirabel. Their mother, never one to back down, tried to revise what she said by adding that perhaps they were spending too much time together and Camilo wanting to cheer up his prima was overdoing it to an extreme after doing ‘chores’ in the village. The expression on Julieta’s face said it all. It was clear their mother was trying to find a way to make this Mirabel’s fault.

Later that evening Dolores came to her, she looked nervous as she told her about the gossip in town, how they were saying that Mirabel was the one that caused Camilo to pass out. Something she did to him. Pepa realized later what she did not then. She’d unconsciously taken what her mother said to heart and began limiting their playtime in a way she’d not done previously. When Julieta noticed and asked her why, she did not have a good answer, but she also did not stop doing it. With Bruno gone, there was no one to mediate her and Julieta’s nonsensical arguments. He would have told her to stop being so dramatic, Camilo was fine, no one was dead. He always ended with no one was dead. So, the sisters had to work it out on their own. Meaning they did nothing. Just went on about their days pretending everything was fine as the gap slowly widened between their families.

It was times like these that she missed Bruno the most and Pepa grew angry every time someone even mentioned his name. Their mother had just stopped talking about him all together. No one in town wanted to be nailed to a wall with her glare. So, he became a ghost, a painful memory that she did not want to revisit so she did not. Julieta, however, refused to pretend that Bruno did not exist and would talk about Bruno, regardless of the glares and looks given by herself and Mamá but only if the children asked.

In the end Pepa discovered her machinations were for nothing because Camilo already had ideas on how that should be handled. He was much like his father in that regard, and she learned later the two were in cahoots. Felix was genuinely fond of Bruno and did not agree with her that they should pretend he didn’t exist. It was just wrong. When Camilo figured out that she was keeping his prima away from him, he changed tactics asking his father’s advice. His father told him, “You’re both the same age. You go to school together, spend the day in class together, come home together…Whose to know?” Once home though they would be divided when their Abuela decided Camilo needed to do ‘chores’. She never failed to separate the pair whenever she saw them together and Camilo began finding even more ways to make himself scarce.

Now their mother was sitting at the table with concern clearly written on her face. She was watching Bruno but not with impatience as she would have in the past, but with compassion. The use of these ‘Gifts’ they’d been given had always come at a cost. Since the magic returned, it was obvious that the guilt she’d bottled up since the breaking was starting to bubble up. Pepa understood that feeling, her own children’s Gifts had always seemed more of a burden than an actual blessing. Watching them struggle with them and not being strong enough to do more than encourage them to accept their fate as she had.

She looked back over at her brother, he was sitting with his hood up, hands on the table in front of him, tapping his fingers raw. Sometimes it was hard to tell if he was tired or enduring another vision. There had been too many and most of Bruno’s nervous tics were becoming more and more evident. Bruno even suffered a sponty just prior to everyone coming up here. He said it told him that they would need some food, but not why. Pepa knew better than to ask too many questions. She didn’t push since it was clear that Bruno expected her to do something about it and if she did nothing, she would end up doing something about it anyway so went to the kitchen and got the basket of sweet buns. Julieta realized he was out of drafts and went to get the fresh ones she’d set aside for their brother.

When Camilo began rapidly shifting, and she realized he was trying to make fur, the reason for the food was confirmed. Since the magic returned, and with no expectation to use it in the Encanto, he was himself more often than not. Without proper care he’d overdo it for sure. Still, what he’d achieved tonight was quite remarkable. Of course, now he was likely to start trying to imitate other types of animals. Copying people had become somewhat boring for him. He could do it with barely any information, sometimes just a glance was all it took.

Pepa was pleased she was able to come up with a way to help him with what he was struggling with. The fact that he didn’t push her away when she attempted to help, as he had often done in the past, showed her that the breaking had brought them closer. Bruno showed them that Parce was going to find the people they were looking for. He just didn’t know how that would come about. They knew it was Parce and not a wild jaguar because there was someone on his back that was difficult to see. Knowing now that it was Camilo in jaguar clothes and not Antonio made her feel somewhat better about it, but that was still one of her babies. Félix gave her a squeeze and pulled her closer when it rained a little harder and said, “He can do this, mi vida. He looked very determined.”

Pepa nodded. Both Dolores and Camilo appeared to be adjusting to the return and change to the magic, primarily because Mirabel was very supportive of them and believed that they were capable of altering how they used their Gifts. Also, she realized all of her children had never worked as a team before. She included Antonio in this because without him, they’d still be sitting around trying to figure out how to approach this problem. Before the break Pepa herself believed they’d learned all they could about using them. Even she found she could be more deliberate in the weather she manifested simply because she was the one who decided it should be so. That Mirabel prioritized that they should have lives that did not revolve around the use of them made her very happy indeed.

Pepa watched Julieta and Gus go by with Bruno, walking with him back to his room she supposed. They were walking on either side ready to support his slightly wobbly self as he carried the tablet and sketches. They’d all noticed he was moving in that very deliberate fashion since leaving his room earlier. Dragging himself about. Now that things were in motion she hoped he could go deal with the vision that was probably giving him a raging headache. All the signs were there, and she was impressed with how long Bruno managed to hold himself together. While in the past Bruno had been able to push them down for far longer, he’d been having almost non-stop spontys given the number of sketches he’d made. That also made her wonder what sort of vision he’d had in the city.

Mirabel was looking out the window in the direction Camilo would have taken, she was clearly on edge because she started when Abuela got up and asked if they were coming to Mirabel’s room to see how Camilo was doing. This broke the tension and Pepa’s realization that she could in fact check up on his progress caused her cloud to instantly vanish. As they were passing Bruno’s door Mirabel stopped for a moment and looked at it. There was confusion there, but she continued toward her room when Abuela touched her arm pulling her out of her thoughts. Julieta and Gus came out of their room, and they came over and joined them.

“Is Tío Bruno alright?” Mirabel asked her mother.

Julieta looked back at Bruno’s door and said, “As well as he can be, I think.”

Mirabel nodded and they continued toward her room. Once inside Abuela went into her room but left the door open. Everyone else joined Dolores, Isabela, and Luisa. They had spread some blankets and pillows on the floor, quietly chatting, while watching a cluster of lights that had two tiny heads floating amongst them. Dolores was so much more animated, though she was back to speaking in quieter tones. Luisa nudged Isabela and Isa looked over at Abuela’s door and shook Isa head. Luisa sighed as the pair returned their attention to the floor. Isa pointed at something in the picture of Casita and Luisa leaned in to get a better look.

Dolores held up her hand and Isa and Luisa fell silent as she touched the tiny jaguar head and said, “No you are headed in the right direction, but they are more to the northwest – I’d say more north than west.” Dolores paused as she listened to his response and then said “Hmmm, okay try this. Go forward a few meters…ah, okay, keep going straight for a few more minutes I’ll signal you when you should head to your right. If you veer off I’ll let you know.” The little jaguar then continued on in the direction she indicated. Mirabel went over and knelt down to watch with her sisters, complimenting Casita on the adorableness of the floating head. She looked over to the door then as it opened to show Antonio.

He had a rat on one shoulder and a small bat hanging from the other. He moved over to where his sister was. She saw the animals but gave her brother a hug anyway. Antonio pointed at the little jaguar face that Casita had made for Camilo and said, “Is that Parce?”

“It’s Milo, disguised as a jaguar,” Isabela said in dramatic fashion.

“But they are together,” Dolores added.

Antonio nodded. He got down on his hands and knees, face close to the floor watching the little head move.

Isabela then asked, “Why do you have a bat?”

Antonio sat back and the animals rearranged themselves so they wouldn’t fall off and said, “Tina sent her to tell me she found the camp.”

“The owl sent a bat?” Isabela asked.

“Yeah, she promised not to eat them if they helped.”

“Oh,” Isabela said and chuckled, “Well that sounds perfectly logical to me, primo. Good job.”

Antonio smiled and pointed to the bat, “This is Juana,” he said as the tiny bat climbed from his shoulder to his hand and squeaked inquiringly. “No, I don’t think Tina would do that.” Another squeak and Antonio got up.

Mirabel got up as well and said to the bat, “Thank you for your help today, Juana.”

The bat squeaked a reply and tugged on Antonio’s cuff.

“She needs to get back home.” Antonio said. He went to the window then as Casita opened the shutters and the bat leapt from his hand and flew out into the night. Antonio waved before turning back and said to Mirabel, “Tina said she’s going to stay until morning and watch them. She can’t count but said there were a bunch of people there, mostly big ones.”

“Mostly? Are there children, mi vida?” Pepa asked.

“She called them chicks so maybe,” Antonio said with a shrug.

He said this so matter of factly that Pepa smiled. Félix picked him up and was not put off by the rat still with him as he said, “That is good information, Toni, but it is getting pretty late.”

“I know, I’m just a little worried about Camilo, he’s never ridden a jaguar before.”

“True,” Félix said.

“Please Pá, is it okay if I stay up. Just for a little bit?” Antonio asked this, eyes wide and full of hope.

Félix looked at their youngest and then to her. Pepa sighed, she could tell Antonio was tired, but she knew he’d keep popping up without Parce there. She came over and put a hand on her husband’s shoulder and said, “Alright, mi pequeño, for just a little bit.”

Antonio smiled as his father put him down and he rejoined his sister who pulled him into her lap and began telling him about his big brother’s adventures.

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Camilo held on to the bounding jaguar, leaning close to his back as Parce made his way up the mountain. Antonio made this look so easy or maybe it was because Toni trusted Parce implicitly. Toni told him to pay attention to the animals, in other words, trust the jaguar, he knows what he’s doing out here. Camilo knew this area, it was directly north of Casita and the path most taken by the residents to reach the outlying farms. The path started to the north then veered westward following the curves of the farms. He was surprised how quickly they were able to make it to the very end of that road and Camilo asked Parce to stop to get an idea of where he was headed. He sat up and asked, “Dolores?”

(Yes, Milo.)

“I’m at the furthest edge of the western farms, where to next?”

(I can see you.)

“You can?”

(Well, I can see where you are. I was able to have Casita label your light while you were still here.)

“Oh,” he said and decided he needed to get a good look at that map in Mira’s room. Probably would have been better if he’d looked before he left but the thought hadn’t occurred to him. “So, any guesses on how far we need to go and which direction?”

(Westerly to start. I’m not sure what the distances are…maybe ten kilometers from where you are now?)

“Got it,” he said and pointed in that direction and said to Parce. “Dolores says we need to go this way.”

The jaguar chuffed and started off again at a more reasonable pace. Camilo still leaned close to the jaguar’s back not wanting to be hit by a random branch as the big cat made his way deeper into the woods. The moon hadn’t risen yet and Camilo was taken aback by just how dark it was and how silently the jaguar moved. Another half hour of walk running and they stopped in the next clearing “Dol? I feel like we’re getting off course.”

(No, you are headed in the right direction, but they are more to the northwest – I’d say more north than west.)

“Only one problem with that, Sis. I got no moon, and the stars are hidden by trees and clouds.”

(Hmmm, okay try this. Go forward a few meters)

“Parce, can you walk a few meters that way?,” he asked pointing. The jaguar did and Dolores said, (Ah, okay, keep going straight for a few more minutes I’ll signal you when you should head to your right. If you veer off I’ll let you know.)

“Got it.” Sounded as reasonable as anything else he’d heard tonight so Camilo pointed, and Parce again moved forward. The trees got even thicker making progress slow. After a while Dolores indicated they should head to the right. Camilo was not at all sure how to communicate that to Parce when they were not stopped. In the end he decided to pat the right side of the jaguar’s neck, get his attention and point. This seemed to work as Parce turned and moved in that direction. Twenty more minutes of walking and he heard Dolores say, (You’re close, but it looks like someone’s broken off from the group, headed your way. Be careful – it’s not labeled but from the sounds of it, it is probably one on the kids…not Fernando.)

He had almost forgotten about the old man and Camilo nearly lost his purchase when Parce veered left and off of the game trail. The jaguar stopped not far into the forest and dropped into a low crouch. Camilo looked around but the trees were pretty dense here. Pay attention, his brother had admonished so Camilo tried to listen to the sounds of the forest. After another tense ten minutes he heard a dog bark then go silent. The night air was cool, but Camilo’s fur outfit was almost too warm as he could feel his sweat going cold on his face. Dolores’s soft voice came, and he nearly shifted out of his fur, (Milo, whoever it is, sounds frightened, their breathing is very rapid.) Camilo got off of Parce and edged closer to the trail and waited. He continued watching the trail as there was another short burst of barking.

“Dol, can you guess how far?”

(Maybe half a kilometer away, I can hear the dog. I’m assuming Doris is near it, but she’s stopped moving.)

“She’s not following?”

(Not yet.)

He climbed back up on Parce and said to the jaguar, “Let’s get as close as we can and see if we can find the kid.”

Parce let out a low growl and moved up the trail. After a few minutes, the jaguar stopped and looked back at him. Camilo got down from the jaguar and moved to the edge of the trees. Parce moved past him across the trail into the trees and Camilo lost sight of him pretty quickly. He remained very still, and Dolores said, (They’ll be right in front of you very soon.)

“Got it.”

Camilo stepped out onto the trail just as a small child rounded a bend. There was no avoiding the collision and Camilo increased his size enough to keep from being knocked down. The dog barked again, it was closer now and Dolores said, (Doris is moving toward you.) The child was at first struggling mightily, but then they looked up at Camilo, squeaked and fainted. Camilo almost dropped the dead weight and remembered he looked like a jaguar. After a moment of uncertainty, he decided to hang on to them and step off the trail. He backed into the forest, not wanting to turn away and was doing his best to not trip. Once out of sight of the trail, he propped the kid up against a tree and Camilo shifted back to himself and pulled off his ruana. He wrapped it around the kid who was to his mind too cold. He waited and watched nervously as Parce came out of the forest and stood blocking the trail waiting for the dog to come around the bend. When it did, it skidded to a halt to keep from running into the jaguar that was at least four times its size. The dog growled but Parce let out an impressive sound as he took two steps toward the dog that made it yip in fright and turn back to run the way it had come.

Parce then proceeded to ‘mark’ the area where the child had run into Camilo. Then rolled about destroying any footprints in the area. (What’s happening? Doris is running toward you now.)

“Can’t talk now…” Camilo whispered.

(Okay, be safe.)

Parce leapt off the trail, climbed into a nearby tree with branches that overhung the trail and just sat. He let out a low growl when Doris came around the bend with her dog. The dog whined and Doris immediately stopped, and Camilo saw the angry face he’d seen in the vision, there were no kids with her, and Camilo wondered why. More questions for his Tío or maybe she was always angry. Doris backed away slowly, keeping her eyes locked on the jaguar. Parce had not moved at all but instead was watching the woman the way a cat watches a bird.

(Doris is moving away now…tell me what’s happening)

“I have one of the kids. He’s or maybe she? Anyway, they're out cold. Accidentally scared them with my disguise. So, what now?” There was an unusually long pause and Camilo asked, “Dol?”

Dolores said, (Hang on, Milo)

Not being able to hear what they were saying was making him even jumpier than he was before.

(Milo?)

“Yeah?”

(Mirabel wants you to start down and have Parce listen for Antonio.)

“Why?” he asked, failing to keep the irritation out of his voice. Wasn’t the whole point of him being out here to keep Toni out of it?

(Just do it Milo,) Dolores said impatiently, almost angrily as she continued, (Doris is on her way back toward you and we don’t know if they have weapons.)

His irritation vanished. He hadn’t considered that and responded, “Right, sorry Dol, getting a bit tired.”

(Me too, hermanito.) she said but the anger was gone from her voice.

Camilo only paused long enough to listen to be sure no one was near and picked up the kid. They were surprisingly light given their size. Parce was waiting patiently nearby, and Camilo carefully placed the child in front of him. He made everything about himself thinner, except his arms, those he let remain their normal size to steady the child and said to Parce, “We’re heading back but Mirabel wants you to listen for Antonio.”

Parce chuffed and started forward, head occasionally turning and ears swiveling. The jaguar chuffed again and turned abruptly left, loping but not running toward a light that popped up in the darkness in front of them. While worrisome, Camilo doubted he would be able to get the jaguar to stop so he could look around and did his best to hold on and not be unseated. The jaguar leapt forward into that light and Camilo closed his eyes against its brightness. Parce skidded to a halt and Camilo fell off, managing to shift back to himself and keep the kid on top of him as he hit the floor. He blinked and realized he was home, probably in the upper tower of Casita. His parents, Antonio, Isa, and Luisa were there. Toni already had his arms around the jaguar’s neck. Parce lowered himself and nudged him. Camilo let his head drop back on the floor. His father carefully lifted the still unconscious child off of him and Camilo rolled on his side and let out a groan.

“You did very well, Camilo. Very well,” his father said. He handed the child off to Luisa and she headed to a nearby door that was open. After a moment, his Tía Julieta popped through and pulled it shut. He sat up and craned his neck to take in everything. Just so many doors. There was only one that was red, so Camilo assumed that was the one that Tío Bruno used to go to Bogota. His mother appeared in front of him and helped him off the floor, then wrapped him up in a fierce hug as if he’d been gone years instead of a few hours.

She released him when the door his Tía had closed earlier opened and Abuela was there with Dolores and Mirabel. His sister sighed with relief but she looked almost as tired as he felt hungry. He’d never considered that her Gift could be so taxing, but there was no reason to think it wouldn’t be. They were both using their Gifts in ways not previously considered, so it would take some time to gauge their limits. He decided Dolores was just better at hiding them than he was. The whole we are the Madrigals and we’re all fine mentality he’d been born into was a hard habit to break.

Speaking of; his stomach picked that moment to protest loudly. Damn, he was hungry. With everything that had been happening, he’d been shifting and holding shapes longer than he’d had to since before the breaking. His mother was now holding a covered basket and he could tell by the smell they were cheesy buñuelos, which were his one of his favorites. She handed him the basket saying, “Made them myself, Corazón, now eat before you pass out.” She then turned and knelt in front of Toni saying, “You did so well, Toni. I am so proud of you, mi vida, but it’s time for bed, no more excuses.”

“Okay, Mamí,” Antonio said.

Camilo had already popped a few buñuelos in his mouth and went over to his brother. He handed the basket to Mirabel and knelt down giving Toni a squeeze and said, “Thanks for letting Parce work with me, Toni. Couldn’t have done it without him.” The jaguar chuffed as if that should have been obvious. Dolores was next to him then and she cleared her throat, arms crossed. “You too, Sis. That’s an impressive new skill you’ve got. Definitely kept me out of trouble.” Camilo got up to hug her as well when Antonio shouted, “Jaguar pounce!”

Dolores smiled through her wince and Camilo caught his little brother midair. He was surprised Toni could even jump that high. Antonio pulled his sister in because he enjoyed nothing more than a good group hug. Camilo’s stomach again protested his lack of sustenance, and his mother came over and lifted Antonio onto Parce and said with some accompanying thunder, “Eat, boy.”

Mirabel immediately stepped forward with the basket, handing it off, then turned to ruffle Antonio’s hair. “Good night Toni, see you in the morning,” she said as Parce headed toward the stairs.

“Night!” Toni shouted as he disappeared down the steps.

“Well, I’m off to bed,” his mother said, “Once I make sure Antonio is down for the night. Good night everyone.” And she too went down the stairs. Camilo popped another buñuelo into his mouth as the plain door opened again and Tío Agustín was there. He waved to them and everyone still in the tower went into what turned out to be Abuela’s room. Camilo was mildly weirded out, he’d never actually been ‘in’ his Abuela’s room before. Only ever seeing it from the hallway. A small cot had been set up in the corner. The kid was in the deep sleep of exhaustion and Abuela moved next to him and said quietly. “Nieto, thank you for helping this child. So many new things you are learning,” She paused and asked hesitantly, “I never got to ask, did your interview go well?”

Camilo smiled. That had completely slipped out of his head. He’d already told his parents and he remembered the box of books he was supposed to be reading and said, “Yes, I’ve been accepted as an apprentice at the school.”

“That’s wonderful news, Camilo,” his Abuela said smiling and it struck Camilo that she looked like his Mamí when she did.

“Yes, that’s my boy,” his father said and put an arm around his shoulders. “Good man.”

“Yeah, congratulations, primo.” Isabela and Luisa said.

Tía Julieta was up from the chair near the bed and said, “That is wonderful, Camilo, but you all need to leave, or you’ll wake this child.” As she passed him , she handed him his ruana. She then went to the door and Camilo was amazed it was not the tower, but Mirabel’s room. Dolores moved past them into Mira’s room and stopped her prima as she went by and whispered something that only she could hear and Mirabel responded with an embarrassed smile and said, “Thanks Dolores, but all I did was rely on all of you. I really appreciate everything you did tonight, but are you really alright?”

Dolores seemed taken aback by that question. As far as Camilo knew no one ever asked his sister if she was alright. Dolores undid the knot that were Mirabel’s hands from in front of her and said, “I’m tired so right now everything is just a little too loud. That can happen when I’ve overdo it sometimes. In fact, I think I’m going to my room.”

Mirabel nodded and said very quietly, “Good night.”

Dolores plucked a buñuelo from his basket and popped it in her mouth as she went by, “Good night, Milo.”

“Night, Sis,” Camilo said softly.

Next to go were Mirabel’s sisters. Isa patted Mirabel’s head telling her she’d totally nailed it. Mirabel pushed her hand away as Luisa patted her back and winked. Isabela said she couldn’t wait to find out how this would all end and how wonderful it was going to be to go to Bogotá. They said good night and left followed shortly by his and Mira’s dads with an admonition to get some sleep. Camilo reached into the basket to discover he’d only a few buñuelos left. He offered one to Mira which she declined, telling him he really needed to eat as much as possible.

“Guess I’ll go to bed too,” Camilo said, popping the last buñuelo into his mouth and handing her the empty basket.

“Yeah, it is pretty late,” Mirabel said, hugging the basket to herself.

He started toward the door and turned back and said, “We really are better together.” Camilo felt strangely embarrassed by that statement and said, “Wow, there must have been extra cheese in those,” he said looking at the floor. “G’night Mira,” he said as he waved while heading out the door.

“G’night Cam.”

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Mirabel watched the door close behind Camilo and said softly, “Sleep well big brother.” Her mother came out of Abuela’s room and put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her a little closer.

“You should get some sleep, Corazón. You have a busy day ahead of you tomorrow and Casita will let us know when the child wakes,” her mother said as she turned her to face her.

“Okay Mamá.”

Her mother smiled and squished her cheeks as she covered her face with kisses. She pulled a mildly resistant Mirabel into a fierce hug and said, “I am so very proud of you Corazón. And not just for this, but for the young woman you are becoming.”

Mirabel smiled and thought this was just the safest place in the world as the tenseness in her shoulders eased and she finally released the yawn she’d been stifling. She leaned into her mother and returned the hug saying, “I learned from the best, Mamá.”

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