#mariano gúzman

[punkeropercyjackson]

Free my man of color he did all of that but if he were a white girl the fandom would call her a revolutionary female character

[jasontoddssuper]

Who're the finest Disney men and why are they Shang,Naveen,Wasabi and Mariano

[elleirbagsstuff]

"Runaway Girl"

Pair: Isabela x Fem!reader

Genre: Romance, fluff, a bit of angst

Summary: Where in Isabela Madrigal also known as Señorita perfecta, gets tired of being perfect and just wanted to live a normal life, escaped their home as while doing so, she met a girl that can probably help her.

This is going to be a series!

Chapter 1:Escaping

Next Chapter: 2

••

"Señorita Perfecta Isabela"

"Most graceful of all the madrigals"

"Our perfect Isabela"

She has heard it all, every compliment every praise you could think of, she doesn't blame them, i mean come on, a face like Isabela's, a graceful move as a swan in the lake, hair soft as you can imagine, who wouldn't want to praise her?

She's not gonna lie, she loves the attention she gets. But she hates the fact that she has a reputation to keep, being perfect. She knows she's not, who in the world is? No one's perfect and as much as she hates to admit, Isabela Madrigal is not prefect.

Her abuela made her think she is, now she has to keep up the act, to impress the people in encanto and to impress her abuela.

And the one way to impress her abuela is to marry a perfect man, and that man is Mariano Gúzman. Let's say he's rich yeah, handsome, kind and overall perfect for Isabela.

But she didn't love him, she didn't love any of the guys that her abuela chose for her, but she had no choice but to agree.. she was doing it for her family. As the eldest cousin, daughter, sister, niece and grandchild. It's her duty.

She doesn't even know how love feels like.. like genuine love, not forced love or forced feelings. She wants to fall inlove, to feel her stomach flutter when she sees the person she loves, to feel her chest about to burst whenever she's with the person she loves, to have corny conversations and pick up lines, to go on multiple and unforgettable dates..

Isabela wants all of that, a kind of love that will make you go "oh my god i love them, i want to be with them forever" a kind of love like her parents. But she'll never get that, as much as she wants to. It's not what her abuela wants.

The proposal with Mariano was ruined by her youngest sister Mirabel, she didn't know if she wanted to thank her or to be mad at her for ruining it. It was all going well..

Her abuela was happy, she's going to make her family proud and then poof! It was all ruined because of her sister!

Her family is now distressed, trying to find Mirabel and also worried about the cracks in their casita, oh their precious casita

Isabela stared outside the balcony of her room, it was getting dark and Isabela realized she had to suffer another day of being 'perfect'. She was tired, she was so tired of it, if only there was a way to escape.

Escape..

Yes! That's right! She could escape their house and go- huh, but where would she go? It's not like Encanto is very big. And what would her family think once they found out she left? And Dolores might hear her escape.

She groaned in frustration as she is stuck on what she could do. But she really need to do this, she had to, she's so sick of it, she needs to do this. For the sake of her, she just wants to be selfish for once and think about herself, not others, not her family, but herself.

So she waited, she waited until it was night time, the time her family goes to sleep, the time where Dolores is fast asleep, so no one can hear her.

She climbed up her window and took one glance at her room. She took a deep breath and jumped, vines catching her so she wouldn't fall straight to the ground.

A sigh of frustration escaped her lips as she didn't know where she would go. I should've thought this through what do i do now?

Isabela can't just go back, she's one step closer on escaping.. or maybe a thousand step closer. One thing's for sure, her mother didn't raise her to be a quitter, so she has to think.. think Isa! Come on, think!

As she was in the middle of thinking, she heard something like a stick snapping as if someone has stepped on it. I'm being watched she thought so she immediately ran straight to the forest not knowing where to go.

"Isa?!" A voice called her out and she recognized it in an instant, it was Mirabel's voice, her youngest sister. Of course she had to know Isabela was escaping, of course she had to ruin everything again. "Isabela?!"

She tried to outrun her sister but her voice was only getting closer, both of them will be in trouble if Dolores woke up. Mirabel was still running to where she thinks her sister is and Isabela is panicking.

Thank god she remembered she had powers and the younger girl didn't so she grew some vines in the near tree and she used that as a ladder to hide up in the tree so Mirabel won't see her.

She got up the tree just in time for Mirabel to be standing on where she was a few seconds ago, she saw Mirabel's confused look. "Isa?! Come on you can't stay in here, you could harm yourself!" She scoffed at her words, of course she knew that, she isn't dumb.

Minutes passed that felt like hours, Mirabel was still searching for her eldest sister, boy was she a tough one for still being out here in the forest.

"Just leave." Isabela whispered, she knows her sister won't hear her that's why she said so. Worried was plastered on Mirabel's face, the sky was getting darker and she hasn't found her sister yet.

She didn't want to leave yet until she found Isabela but it was getting dark and it could be dangerous for both of them if she didn't go home and ask for help. She sighed as she walks away hoping Isabela will be safe.

As soon as Mirabel was out of sight the flower girl decided it was her chance to get down of the tree and decide where she would go. Using her vines as her ladder she got on the ground safely.

Now she was about to flick her hand to make all the vines dissappear when she heard a soft gasp on her side, not knowing what to do, she grabbed the unknown person using her vines.

"AHH-" Before the person could scream any louder, Isabela puts a vine on that persons mouth and she dragged them in front of her.

Isabela got a good look on who it was. It was a girl, strangely it was a unfamiliar girl, she hasn't seen her in encanto, not to mention encanto is a pretty small town.

She was taller than Isabela, her hair was by the shoulder and it was in the color of y/h/c. Her skin color was a little lighter than hers, she was wearing a traditional sumbrero and a ruana on her shirt, and unlike any other girls, she wasn't wearing a skirt, instead she's wearing some pants.

The girls reaction was mixed of shock, confused, scared and amazement at the same time, she can see her clearly because the girl is holding a small lantern, when Isabela was sure that she won't harm her or she has no bad intentions, she lets her go, unwrapping her vines from her.

"Oh... mis.. flores." The girl spoke, still shock, her scared expression was no longer visible, it was replaced with a curious one. "Y-you're one of the madrigals!" The girl shouted, Isabela gave her a confused look, narrowing her eyes at the girl.

"Uhm, yeah i assume that was obvious." The girl was still in shock, this is weird Isabela thought, i know people in encanto adores me but i haven't met someone who looks like it's their first time meeting me.

"Perdóname, i know you're one of the madrigals but.. i don't exactly know who you are..." And this is the part where Isabela got furious. How could one person not know who Isabela Madrigal is. She was about to snap but the girl spoke again. "Lo siento, i'm not from here, but i do visit once a week that's why i know the madrigals."

"Oh.. you're not from here?" The girl nodded, and this is when Isabela came up with a not so brilliant plan that may or may not work, nontheless she needs to try. "I'm Isabela, the eldest grandchild of Alma Madrigal." She reached out her hand for a handshake which the girl gladly accepted with her free hand.

"Ah.. i see. Nice to formally meet you i'm Y/n L/n, uhmm not to sound rude but, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

That's where my plan starts. "This may sound weird but, can i come with you?" Isabela had pleading eyes as she did that, which she rarely does, Y/n eyes were widened at the request of the shorter girl.

"Don't you think you're family wo-"

"Por favor.. i just.. don't want to be around them for awhile." Isabela whispered the last sentence, it was the whole truth but the latter was still not sure on whether she brings Isabela with her.

What if this is a trick. Y/n thought, then again why would she trick her? When the girl literally has everything. Plus Isabela seems really sad and bothered so she agreed.

"Oh.. well. The journey to my hometown is 2 days away.." Y/n mumbled causing Isabela's face to fall. Of course, why did i think my plan would work. Y/n noticed this and decided to say; "buuut, i do have a farm near the mountain, if we leave now.. we'll be there in an hour or so, and you can stay there for the night."

Isabela's face lightens up but it fell when she heard the word 'farm.' She knows what a farm looks like, she has seen some in encanto but she hasn't been in one. Will she like it? Will she be comfortable? Wait, is this decision right? Is she gonna regret it?

"Lead the way then."

••

Chapter 1 is up! I'll try to post the second chapter this Sunday, if not then maybe next Sunday.

Have a nice weekend!

[hoodie-2]

Part 4 of this Encanto au. I'm thinking of calling it Flickering, maybe Melted... Eh... I'll workshop it some more

Anywho... Mariano and Mirabel become good friends during her time with him and his mother - Ms. Gúzman eventually warms up to her. He helps her gather help to build a cozy abode of her own

After she's settled in her new place, nothing grand or fantastical, she continues with her small toy business. It has become pretty popular among the kids, parents who were expecting newborns, and even young men courting their sweethearts like to submit requests.

Mariano visits often to check on her, trying to sneakily get Mirabel to slip up about what she meant during her breakdown. Unfortunately for him, she is clever enough to outwit him, telling him to go talk to Isabela himself.

However, with the ordeal of his failed proposal, getting his nose broken twiceover by plants, and then the public show that Mirabel was no longer living in Casa Madrigal, there was a number of concerns about approaching the house. It was enough to make the young woman roll her eyes and quickly scribble something down on some paper.

"Here, take this," she ordered as she pushed the letter into his hands. "Give it to my sister for me, try not to let Abuela see it."

"And if she does?"

"Don't let her read it, say it's a poem for Isabela."

And off he goes, albeit reluctant, to the Madrigal house. Of course, Abuela is the one who answers the door and is overjoyed to see him, quickly apologizing for the ruined proposal dinner and asking how he and his mother have been doing, dragging him through the foyer. It was something strange to she the woman cheery despite her youngest granddaughter was living under a bridge not all that long ago. She notices the letter easily enough, and he rushes out the explanation Mirabel told him, then gets directed outside to the flower child's new favorite place.

He finds both of Mirabel's older sisters together, joking and laughing with each other. He couldn't recall a day in Isabela's presence where he saw such surprise in her eyes, poor guy tenses up hearing Abuela call out to them that lunch will be ready shortly.

"I have a letter from Mirabel," he kneels down with them, keeping his voice low even though their grandmother had gone inside.

Both young women crowded him with questions before Isabela pushes Luisa back, muttering something about needing to be calm.

"We don't know how Abuela will react," they all eyed Casita cautiously. Isabela opened and read the letter, it was a quick read before the eldest Madrigal grandchild was rolling her eyes and smirking with a humor Mariano hadn't seen before. She passed the letter to Luisa, who gave it a glance and chuckled, then excused herself from the small gathering taking the letter with her.

Mariano returns to town, silently joining Mirabel in viewing a puppet play performed by some of the kids with their new plushies. He didn't say anything throughout the entire show, accepting an offer of tea and cookies. But once the kids were finished (ending the show in an argument on how the plot was supposed to go) and gone, poor Mariano slumped in misery.

Mirabel was sympathetic as he moped, listening to him lament about what he will miss about Isabela and the plans he had in mind for their now no more future (many of them she had to bite her tongue on).

"I was truly looking forward to joining the Madrigal family," he sighed. "And to have such courageous and creative sisters."

"A true shame," Mirabel patted his arm. "But, you still could become part of the Madrigal family..."

He eyed her with confusion and worry. "Mirabel, you are a lovely woman, but I believe you are a bit young for marriage, and for me."

It took a moment for that to register, but when it did, Mirabel burst into laughter until her sides ached.

"I did not mean me!" She shrieked, swatting away his hand. After a bit she calmed down, she took a drink of her tea before continuing. "She's probably listening right now, but I meant my cousin Dolores. She has been in love with you for the longest time."

[princesskiii]

Pleasee i need more regressor Dolores and cg Mariano<3

#ʚRegressor Dolores with Cg Marianoɞ

｡☆✼★━#ENCANTO━★✼☆｡

↳ Dolores Madrigal & Mariano Gúzman, Agere

☆ With these two there was no big finding out scandal and long talk. Dolores told him and Mariano went "HELL YEAH"

☆ Mariano's learnt to be quieter around Dolores, but when she's small he's basically muttering

☆ He loves her/pos

☆ Dolores doesn't know how he does it but he always manages to make even better snacks then tia Julieta

☆ Dolores often wants to compare hand sizes, which Mariano finds effortlessly adorable

☆ Mariano and Dolores power couple confirmed

☆ Their just cute <3

[godmother-encanto-au]

Godmother Chapter Seven-Home

In which old superstitions are recalled and reunions are had.

…..

I have to say a quick thank you to everyone who has reviewed the fic so far, reviews go a long way to keep me motivated to keep writing, especially right now as I'm hooked up to a heart monitor and don't really feel like doing anything full stop. Feel free to ask any questions, though I can't promise a straight answer when I'm trying to build suspense.

…..

When Isabela was born, everyone in the village came to Casíta to congratulate the new parents and see the baby. Julieta would recall one little visitor for years to come.

Her name was Gabriela, she was about six or seven years old, and her family hadn't lived in the Encanto for very long. She smiled and waved at the baby like all the other children who had come to visit, until...

“Oh Gabita, isn't she beautiful?” her mother cooed.

“No.”

There was a stunned, incredibly awkward silence. Gabriela stared back at the confused new parents.

“Apologize right now,” her mother hissed.

“But my nonna said!” Gabriela insisted. “You can't say a baby is beautiful, it will make the espíritu jealous and they'll take the baby away and put a monster in its place!”

The mother groaned, wrapped one hand around the little girl's mouth and pulled her away.

“I am so sorry,” she said over Gabriela's muffled protesting. “Her abuela, she has her ways...from the old country, you know?”

The residents of the Encanto had ancestors all over the world, it was next to impossible to know what old country she was referring to. There were a variety of old superstitions and customs observed all over the village, some of them exceedingly strange. But they had dismissed it at the time, laughed it off as a funny story they would tell Isabela when she was older.

Julieta would recall it a few years later, in much unhappier circumstances. And she was recalling it again, in the days following the funeral, Gabriela's serious little face as she declared that a baby must never be called beautiful or it would be stolen away.

I should have listened to her, and not gotten so attached to my babies. It would hurt so much less.

She was stuck in a cycle of intense grief and cold resentment. She hadn't gone into the kitchen since the memorial, couldn't bring herself to cook anything. Food tasted like ash in her mouth, eating was an unpleasant chore. She spoke very little, for fear that she would lash out and hurt someone.

She was angry with her sister, who was regularly dissolving into crying fits, even though she still had three living children. She was angry with her own children and her niece and nephew, though she knew it was wrong, for failing to save Mirabel. She was angry with Mariano Gúzman for entrusting her daughter's fate to an inept, violent mob. She was angry with her husband for how he didn't seem to be as devastated as she herself was. She was angry with Antonio for carrying Mirabel's glasses around and refusing to put them away, dealing her a fresh wave of pain every time she spotted them hanging out of his pocket or clutched in his hand.

She held an icy bitterness towards her own mother, a bitterness that had built up over years of watching Alma dismiss Mirabel, push her to the the edge of the family unit and enabled them all to get so careless that a stranger was able to take her away. Even the Casíta earned her contempt, every corner, floorboard and window was a reminder of what she had lost.

Mostly, she saved her anger for herself. She hated that she had let her mother dominate how she brought up her own children, how reliant she had been on the validation from the community, how useless she had been in protecting her child. She hadn't even realized Mirabel was missing until the fire was put out, she turned that little fact over and over in her head. She failed to learn from the first time she turned her back for just long enough...

...and leave a monster in its place...

She really hated that shred of doubt that festered after so long, that Mirabel had never really been hers to keep in the first place.

She was staring out the window, tracing a path through a nearby cornfield and recalling that cold dread she had felt the first time...

“Julieta? Please, we need you to come out...”

This knock on the door came once a day. The villagers were starting to gather at the Casíta again, expecting the grieving period to be over and life to get back to normal. Julieta could see them from where she was, holding injured arms and loosely bandaged heads, helpless as children.

“Not today,” Julieta called back to her mother. “Maybe tomorrow.”

Alma sighed, loud enough to be heard through the door. It was the same response she'd gotten the day before, and would get the next day. The Madrigal gifts had not gone away, but they had definitely been weakened by everyone's mental state. The Casíta itself was in mourning, it did not move or react with the same gusto that it had before.

“The villagers need you, amore,” Alma called again. “I know how you feel, but you are letting them suffer...”

Good. Let them suffer like I'm suffering.

“Have them bring in a real doctor,” she retorted. “Like every other village.”

Alma's footsteps slowly shuffled away. Julieta had always been her best-behaved child, dutiful and placid and always willing to help. She had never talked back with such venom before, even in her teenage years when some rebellion was to be expected. Julieta knew that her mother had a hard time handling the change and a little spiteful part of herself was enjoying Alma's discomfort.

There was another window in her room, overlooking the troje, still scorched from the fire. Dolores was having a small struggle with Antonio, just as Pepa and Felix had been having since the memorial.

“Give me the glasses now,” Dolores demanded in a hushed tone. “You can't keep doing this!”

“No,” Antonio huffed, clutching Mirabel's glasses to his chest. “She needs them.”

“You are hurting your Tia Julieta, is that what you want? The glass is broken, you'll cut yourself...”

“No,” Antonio repeated. “No, no, no, no, no...”

He shook his head rapidly, crouching in a protective stance over the glasses. Several family members had tried to wrestle them away from him already, but he threw tantrums so loud and fierce that they gave up very quickly. It didn't help that his jaguar friend hovered nearby, waiting to step in to defend him if needed. He was a different child now, moody and combative.

Deep down, Julieta didn't really care that he held on to the glasses. She suspected it made everyone else uncomfortable to see them, but if he got some sort of comfort out of them then he was welcome to them. It was more than anyone else was getting.

…..

One of the great advantages of being raised in a magical house was that it was hard to be shocked or surprised when anything strange happened. The things Mirabel was seeing might have driven a normal person to madness, but she was taking it rather well, all things considered.

The residents of this place she had found herself in changed shape constantly, morphing between insect and humanoid form on a whim. They came in all shapes and sizes, wearing the guise of butterflies and moths that she recognized; pale green luna moths, red spotted monarchs, delicate glasswings, vivid swallowtails, dark mourning cloaks, giant birdwings, black witches, thin plume moths, along with hundreds that she didn't know. They fluttered over every available surface, skimmed across the water, and hovered as near to her as they could get.

They were mercurial little creatures, whispering and singing to each other and to her, sometimes having little squabbles over who got to sit with her. She had perched herself on one of the little islands, propped up against what could have been a very tall tree, and it seemed like she was holding a strange little court. The creatures brought her food, fruit and edible flowers, and even curved leaves full of nectar.

Mirabel couldn't say for certain how long she had been there; there was no sun or moon, or any indication of whether it was day or night. The only source of light came from the creatures themselves, who glowed faintly like tiny votive candles, and something far above them that passed by every now and then, like a golden cloud. For the first few hours (minutes? days?) she did very little but tear a few strips from her dress to wrap around her gunshot wounds and try to figure out what to do through a haze of confusion and probable blood loss. She drifted off to sleep on the island sometimes, the creatures covering her like a living blanket.

Strangely, she felt at home in this place. Being able to see everything clearly without her glasses was incredible, and she found if she waded through the water she felt less pain from her wounds. She felt no hunger or thirst, although she ate and drank everything the creatures brought to her (and was amused by watching three or four of them struggle under the weight of a single piece of fruit) and the air was neither too cold or too warm. The creatures tried to emulate her in their shifting forms, manifesting curls and wrapping flower petals around themselves like dresses.

When they spoke or sang, it was a mix of intelligible words and sounds along with clicks, whistles and rustling. Mirabel could recognize a word here or there, but mostly she just heard pleasant gibberish. They demanded that she sing to them in their fashion, and she obliged with a few songs she loved as a child. They were enraptured when she sang to them, and they echoed her for a long time afterwards, the sound trickling off into the distance.

Eventually, when she felt stronger, she realized she would have to find a way out of this place and back to her worried family. She addressed the creature that seemed to have the most sway over the others, a green birdwing that was wearing a pata de vaca as a skirt.

“Do you know the way I can get back home, by any chance?” she asked.

The birdwing blinked with its compound eyes, screwed up its little mouth and rubbed its chin. It consulted some of its brethren nearby with a series of clicks and whirrs. Then it grinned at her, fluttered into the air and gestured for her to follow.

Even with the pain dulled by wading through the water, walking was difficult on her bad leg. It had gone numb from the upper thigh down, so she asked the creatures if they could fetch her a cane to lean on. Moments later, thirty or so came crashing down from the expanse above them, trying to carry a long straight tree branch.

They floated alongside her, the birdwing leading them through the islands, singing a little marching rondo. How they could even tell where they were going was a mystery to Mirabel; there was no clear path, the water was still and as far as she could see there was nothing in the distance but more tiny islands. Still, they seemed confident of where they were leading her. A few of them carried little twigs as crutches in an imitation of her that might have been cruel if they had any sense of malice.

She tired easily, and stopped to rest often. Rain fell in sheets from above a few times, during which the creatures gathered to make a dome as a shelter for her. The rain carried a strange scent with it, something sharp and sweet like lime juice or palm sugar. If it wasn't for her dead leg, Mirabel might have tried to climb one of the tree-like structures to get an idea of her surroundings.

She had just sat up on yet another island for a rest when a hush fell over the creatures, they stopped their singing and marching and settled across the other islands, whispering to each other. Their glowing wavered, flickered, grew in intensity. Mixed in with the gibberish, Mirabel caught a few words she knew, repeated over and over.

...she is coming...she is here...

The golden cloud that had been swooping over them hovered in place, and then slowly it descended on them, growing smaller but more defined as it floated down. A body was formed, all long multifaceted wings and spindly limbs, a shining carapace, two long feathery plumes glowing powdery gold. A female torso, unnaturally long. Huge black eyes that reflected no light but burned from the inside out. Beautiful and terrifying in equal measure.

Mirabel froze on the spot as this new being reached for her with its needle-tipped limbs, her heart hammering painfully in her chest. A living god, a thousand times more dangerous than El Verraco, the tall man and all their cronies. And yet...

know you...

The being caressed her face, gentle as a kiss, and it spoke to her. Though its voice was mystifying, sonorous and rich as a stringed instrument, she understood.

My child.

I have missed you so.

I have been waiting for you.

She knew this being's face. Somewhere deep in her subconscious, she remembered and loved it.

Loved her.

The being pressed her head to Mirabel's, a kiss from a creature that didn't have a mouth. Under her skin, running through her veins, spots of gold began to glimmer like stardust, just about visible. The other creatures glowed too, pulsating in harmony with her heartbeat.

Welcome home.

…..

Dolores snuck out to the Gúzman house as soon as she was sure that everyone else had gone to bed, if not to sleep. She was weary of the grief in the Casíta, every moment filled with the sounds of at least one person crying in private. She could have handled that, but Julieta's lack of tears disturbed her. It was like that part of her kindly aunt had died along with Mirabel.

Mariano welcomed her with a warm hug and a gentle kiss to her forehead, although he might have preferred more affection from his fiancé he was always considerate. She considered herself a very lucky girl.

“How is everyone holding up?” he asked tentatively, pushing a cup of coffee in front of her.

“Pretty terrible,” she sighed. “Antonio's like a demon right now, he won't let go of Mirabel's glasses...Mom's a wreck, Dad spends all day trying to keep her from flooding the house, Camilo hasn't said a word to anyone in days...”

She trailed off, rubbing her temples. Mariano squeezed her hand with a wry smile.

“Isabela's holed up in her room and you can't get past the cactus grove,” she continued. “Everyone else is just trying to get things back to normal, me included.”

“There's not really a 'normal' after something like this,” he told her.

“I know, but the community depends on us.”

“That's your abuela talking. The community will find a way to manage, they owe you all some space.”

“I guess,” she groaned.

“Well, I have some news. It's not exactly good news, but you might get some satisfaction out of it. El Verraco is missing. He's probably dead.”

Dolores did get a little spike of satisfaction from that, she even managed a flicker of a smile.

“How? Was in painful? Please tell me it was painful,” she asked.

“Nobody knows,” Mariano shrugged. “Supposedly he went into the forest when the fire was out, looking for...well, you know. He hasn't been seen since. Los Brutales is completely disbanded.”

It wouldn't bring Mirabel back, but it was something at least. Dolores hoped with all her heart that the man who ruined her family had died screaming.

…..

The time that passed in the being's presence was a blur. She held Mirabel like a child and carried her far above the water, sheltered her from the occasional rainfall under her wings and lay beside her when she slept. She could not heal the wounds but she took the pain away with a single breath. Mirabel hadn't felt so safe and loved since she was a small child.

This butterfly queen (a childish moniker, but the only thing that occurred to her) held court with her followers, they echoed her songs and chants and glowed in patterns alongside her. Mirabel had heard these songs before, long ago, she knew that now.

She should have been angry, she thought. Here was the probable reason she hadn't received a gift along with the rest of her family, the queen's magic had blocked the Madrigal magic somehow. But that magic had rescued her from certain death, she didn't even have the will to question it. She couldn't even be sure that a creature so far removed from humanity could give a straight answer even if she did ask questions.

Eventually, the queen had to leave. She held Mirabel close to her before she ascended, turning back into the swooping golden cloud. The temptation to stick around until she came back down was intense, but Mirabel continued on her way, guided by the smaller creatures.

After a time, they reached a light coming from a door-sized gap between two islands. Peering through it, Mirabel was gobsmacked to see the little goat path that lead to the Encanto, on the very outskirts of the river. Many of the creatures said, clicked or whistled their farewells then and fluttered away, but a handful of them, including the birdwing, hovered around, waiting. She hesitated at the line that marked the end of the dark expanse and the beginning of the goat path.

“If I go through here,” she asked the birdwing, “will I be able to come back?”

The thought of never being able to see this place and its inhabitants again was enough to bring her to tears, but she was delighted when the birdwing clicked and whirred and nodded. In its strange way, it managed to tell her that they all wanted her to come back, and soon.

When she did step over the precipice, she was hit by a wave of pain in her injured leg and the loss of her clear vision. Suddenly everything was a vaguely green haze, and although she was fairly sure of the way home it would be difficult to navigate without her glasses. The birdwing, now fully in the guise of a butterfly, fluttered just in front of her, beckoning her along the path.

Gripping the cane and dragging her bad leg behind her, she set out for home.

…..

Elena had a job now, since she had turned nine years old and was deemed responsible enough to handle a task like finding wild growing fruit and reporting it back, but she was slacking off. She wanted to go see the fish in the river; her brother had told her he saw El Mohán lurking in the shallows, but she was certain he had just seen a particularly large catfish. She wanted to double-check, just in case.

She never made it as far as the river. She was stopped in her tracks by what she thought might have been La Patasola, the one-legged woman dressed in white that her brother had also told her he saw once. She had a cane, Elena could only see one foot under her dress, and there were butterflies floating around her face. Elena took a step back; La Patasola might drink her blood if she got too close.

“Who is that?” the ghost called out. “Rosa? No...Elena, is that you?”

It was weird that La Patasola would sound just like Mirabel Madrigal. She even kind of looked like Mirabel, but without the glasses. It was also weird that she knew her name.

“Elena, I can't see anything. Is that you?” the ghost called again.

“It's me,” Elena agreed. “Are you a ghost?”

“What? No...I'm alive, sort of.”

Everyone said Mirabel was dead (they didn't tell her how she died, just that she had and the Madrigals were very sad about it and wouldn't come out of their magic house for a while) but she did look mostly alive.

“What happened to you?” she asked. “Everyone says you died. Did you see El Mohán? Did he bring you to his palace under the water?”

“Yep, he sure did,” Mirabel said. She sounded tired. “Listen, I can't walk much, my leg is all busted up, and I can't see. You think you can run up to the Casíta and tell them I'm back? You do that for me and I'll fix your monkey's leg for you.”

It was definitely Mirabel. She'd promised to fix Elena's toy monkey shortly before she went missing.

“Okay, I'll do it,” she agreed, hopping up and down, now excited at the prospect of being the one to cheer up the Madrigal family. “They're gonna be so happy, oh man...”

“Can you ask them to bring my glasses? I'm totally blind right now...”

“Yep!”

She ran back through the village as fast as her little legs could manage, not even stopping when her mother called after her for skipping work. Although it was a sunny day, the Casíta was covered by a cloud pouring rain in thick sheets. Elena pounded on the door.

Luisa was the one who opened the door, plastering on a fake smile for the child's sake.

“What is it, sweetie? Do you need....”

“Mirabel's back! I saw her down near the river!”

Luisa froze. A sharp set of footsteps approached and the door was flung open. The Madrigal matriarch scowled down at Elena.

“That is a very cruel joke to play,” she scolded. “I'll be having words with your mother...”

“It's true! It's true!” Elena insisted. “I thought she was a ghost because I was looking for El Mohán because my brother said he saw him in the river and I said he was lying and she was there and her leg is busted up and she wants you to bring her glasses to her because she's totally blind!”

A few more Madrigals had trickled downstairs and were staring out at Elena, silent, their expressions stuck somewhere between hopeful and upset. The rain pouring down on the house slowed to a light shower.

“She said she'd fix my monkey's leg,” Elena offered. “She was supposed to do it before she went away but she never did.”

Luisa stepped outside, picking up Elena and throwing her up onto her shoulder.

“I'll go see what's going on,” she told her family. “If she's lying...”

“I'm not lying,” Elena insisted, punctuated with a little kick to Luisa's burly shoulder.

Luisa closed her eyes, tightened her grip.

“I'll be back soon.”

When Luisa set out for the river, the rest of the village had already realized that something was going on and were lingering at their doors, talking quietly. Elena could feel the tension in Luisa's shoulders as she was bounced around by her, running so fast her teeth chattered. She was unceremoniously dumped on the ground when they reached the riverbank to find Mirabel propped up against a tree.

“I know those footsteps...Is that Luisa?” she called out.

Elena would have thought Luisa would be happy to see her sister. Instead of cheering or something, she just stood there staring with her hand over her mouth and tears dripping down her face. Go figure.

“Dios mío...” she heard her whisper. “Is it really you?”

“I think so,” Mirabel laughed weakly. “Did you bring my glasses?”

Luisa swept her sister up in her arms, stopping short of a bone-crushing hug when Mirabel yelped a little in pain. She pressed kisses into her hair and cried so hard that the tears ran in little rivulets down Mirabel's shoulder. It was such a sweet thing to see that Elena didn't even mind when they left her behind on the goat path, speeding away towards home.

….

Notes: The superstition that you shouldn't call a baby beautiful is an old myth from Irish culture, the story goes that the fair folk will take a particularly beautiful child for themselves and leave a changeling baby in its place. It was most likely a way of explaining away things like autism, developmental disorders and disabilities.

El Mohán is a water spirit from Colombian myth, he supposedly lives in an underwater palace, steals fishing supplies from fishermen and his appearance is a bad omen that fortells earthquakes, floods and plagues.

La Patasola is a spirit that lives in dense jungle, has only one leg and tempts men into the forest so she can drink their blood.

[jasontoddssuper]

Weirdly specific but absolutely based ship trope:Black girlboss x Brown dude who's a lil confused but got the spirit that treats her like the goddess she is

[jasontoddssuper]

The most valid male disney love interests are:

Ron Stoppable

Mariano Gúzman

Tom Lucitor

Hunter Noceda

And Prince Naveen

I'm right and i don't take constructive critisism cause i'm right

[jasontoddssuper]

Mariano is bisexual and confused.Not about being bisexual,he just never knows what the fuck is going on

[jasontoddssuper]

Usually Jason's too mean to be a himbo but around Eddie he gives Mariano Gúzman a run for his money.He's so in love with him that all his braincells go straight to his heart

[jasontoddssuper]

Dick Grayson,Prince Naveen and Mariano Gúzman are the superior male love interests because they love black women

🚫'Pro-fiction' weirdos dni🚫

[avatarvyakara]

Somehow, despite everything, I do genuinely think Félix has his limits...

102. Negativa

(nf) refusal, denial

“No,” says Félix firmly, cutting up the corn for tonight’s ajiaco.

The Gúzman boy blinks. “Um.”

“You heard me, I know that.”

“I did, sir, it’s just...may I ask why?”

“Well,” replies Félix, quite coldly this time, “let’s just try to see what I see, shall we? Because what I see is a boy who for nine years, one way or another, was courting Isabela Madrigal. Who for nine years saw my daughter as just a friend, someone who happened to share the same house as his novia. He gets dumped, quite publicly, broken nose and all, and within two months—two months—he’s moved over to her cousin. He’s jumped from one relationship to another, taking advantage of my daughter’s affection for him. Whether it's because he doesn't want to lose face in the village, or because he's still lusting after his old girlfriend and thinks it’s a good way to be close by, or because he's actually deluded himself into believing it's 'genuine love', it's all the same. None of these speak of good character. None of them suggest in any way that this is anyone I want anywhere near Dolores."

He maintains a smooth and methodical chopping motion that years with his own parents and recent months working alongside Julieta have nearly perfected. He doesn’t need to slam it down. That would be a waste of energy, and food tastes better when not made in anger.

The Gúzman boy has a good three inches on Félix, but that really doesn't matter because Félix knows he has the weight advantage. Besides, nobody expects Félix Castillo Medina de Madrigal to get upset. Not really upset. They assume his wife's passion is temper, all the time, and don't care to see the joy she feels, or understand the depth of her love. They take his calm for weakness, or for being good at taming "wild beasts". Right up until they get their nose broken, that is.

A sensation which this idioso is likely very familiar with at this point.

To his credit, the Gúzman boy remains quite calm.

"Señor Madrigal," he says, and for once he drops that bone-brained, flirtatious tone that Félix has come to loathe. "I can understand why you would think this of me. Believe me, I can. And if I cannot get your blessing to court your daughter now, I won't push it. But I will keep trying, sir. I'll find a way to prove my worth to you. And to her, by being there and by listening and trying to make her smile. I'm not giving up."

"And what if I told you to stay away from her completely? Not even glance at her in the street?"

It's not that Félix would be justified in kicking the boy out if he answered with some grand romantic speech, but…well, he'd feel at least a little justified. Much more so if he responded in arrogance.

“...then I would ask you not to do that, sir.”

But he’s not completely sure how to respond to an answer like that.

“You’re not going to fight it? Not worth it to stand up for yourself?”

“I won’t fight you, sir, and I won’t take Dolores away from her family. But I don’t want to hurt Dolores either, and doing that would hurt her. So...please do not ask that of me.”

So he grunts instead. “Hmph.”

There’s silence in the kitchen for a minute or two.

“Do you plan on standing there all night, or do you not have to go home?”

“Uh—right. Sorry, sir. Goodnight to everyone.”

“Hmph.”

He ignores Casita waving a window at Mariano as he leaves. Even their house is a traitor, can you believe it?

(Some distance away, Dolores has been listening with barely a squeak.

“He—he’s not really going to send him away, is he? After all these years?”

"I'll go talk to your father," soothes Pepa, while she hugs their daughter and Bruno gives her a comforting pat on the back. He’s trying to, anyway.

"I—I know you don't like him either, but—"

"But there was no need to try to drive him away. I know. He's thinking about Diego Gonzales, I just know it. But that's not Mariano, is it?"

"N-n-no! It's not!"

“No, mi corazón, of course it’s not. There, there, now. I’ll talk to him—”

There’s a scratching sound.

“Bruno?" says Pepa with deceptive sweetness. "If that’s your telenovela notebook you’re writing in then so help me I’m going to make you eat it.”

“Sorry. Nervous habit.”)

[elleirbagsstuff]

Requested!

--

"Flowers"

Pair: Isabela x fem!reader

Genre: romance, fluff

Summary: a guy tried to give you a bouquet of flowers when all of a sudden a huge pile of flowers was thrown at him by the one and only, Isabela madrigal

••

You and Isabela met through Mariano a few years ago, both of you were around 15 while he was 16, he's your cousin and when you decided to stay in encanto señora gúzman or your abuela insisted that you stay with them.

While you and Mariano were walking around encanto telling you all the shops and good spots in town you bumped into the Isabela Madrigal.

You were starstruck by her beauty of course, everyone is. Now Mariano has told you how beautiful and graceful Isabela is but it didn't prepare you when you actually saw her.

Both of you were just staring at each other wide eyes until Mariano decided to break the awkward tension, introducing you to Isabela as his cousin.

Ever since that day the two of you would always see each other and sometimes hang out, you eventually developed a crush towards her but she didn't know, and you didn't know she felt the same.

Until the engagement of your cousin and her, you were sad and jealous but you knew that you will never be with Isabela so you accepted it, the two of you stopped talking since then.

And then you heard the engagement was called off and Mariano was dating Dolores, so you were confused when you saw Isabela.. in front of your house... confessing to you.

You didn't waste any time so you told her how you truly felt then boom! You guys are dating.

--

Isabela wasn't public with your relationship but she never denied you so you had nothing to worry about, but still suitors and admirers weren't ignored on Isabela's part.

You can't blame them, your girlfriend is a literal goddess and to be honest you'd do the same, she'll reassure from time to time that you're the only one she loves.

And now, you were in town, trying to spot Isabela because you promised her a picnic date, she seems to be late so you decided to walk around in town for a while.

You see some of the townspeople looking at you, here's the thing, you're pretty attractive but not as attractive as Isabela though, so you were confused on why they were looking at you. You thought that maybe some of them knows you're dating the Isabela Madrigal. You shrugged it off and you decided to pick up a flower you saw on the ground, it was beautiful, you wanted to give it to Isabela because it reminded you of her;

But isn't that weird? Giving a flower to a girl who literally grows flower with a flick of her hand? So you decided to put it behind you ear instead. You decided to continue your walk when suddenly you were shocked when there was a a guy, about your age, facing you and blocking your way.

He was nervouse you could tell and his hands were behind his back.

And as the good citizen you are, you asked "Are you okay? May i help you?"

He fixed his hair then cleared his throat, then he revealed his hands holding a bouquet of flowers. A bouquet of wildflowers.

"In a field f-full of roses, you are a wildflower." He said nervously while handing you the bouquet. You didn't know how to react because you never had suitors before, and you're dating Isabela for crying out loud! If she saw you in this state she'll freak out.

"Ahh ehh, gracias comprar-" you didn't finish your sentence when a bunch of flowers were thrown at the guy covering his entire body.

You gulped when you recognized the flowers. It was Isabela's. You look behind the stack of flowers and saw Isabela fixing her dress and also grabbing one flower that fell and walked towards you.

"In a field full of roses, you are a wildflower." She mimicked the guy with an annoyed tone. You laughed as she grabbed your hand using her other hand that wasn't holding the flower, dragging you away from the guy. "What's funny?"

"How long have you been standing behind the poor guy, mi flor?" You asked with a grin, she only rolled her eyes at you.

"Long enough to hear you say 'gracias' . " She said while glaring at you. "Were you really going to accept the flower?" You didn't answer her instead you smiled wider causing her to hit your arm. "Amor! Are you serious?!"

"No, of course not!" You shouted back. "I was going to say 'thanks but no, i'm already dating Isabela' but then you threw a bunch of flowers at him!" You said with a laugh but she didn't say anything, you grabbed the flower from her hand put it behind her ear. "In a room full of beautiful roses, i'd still pick you." You said, she blushed causing a ton of flower appear from her head and you smiled at her.

She grabbed the flowers from her ear, the one she always wear, and then took yours and she switched it, now you're wearing her flower and she was wearing yours.

She gave you a kiss on the cheeks while smirking and said; "now everyone will have a clue on who you belong to."

The two of you continued your date forgetting about the guy.

••

@theisabelamadrigal

[hoodie-2]

Part 3 of my Encanto au (name is still in the workshop but I am open to suggestions)

Anyway Mirabel's turn!

The first night away from Casita, Mirabel took shelter beneath the bridge from a storm either conjured by Pepa or by nature's perfect timing. The next day is calm and clear and the first breath she took was the smoothest, sweetest breath Mirabel took in her entire life.

She got strange looks for her damp and dirty clothes and whispers suggested frightful rumors about last nights failed proposal. Making a mental note to apologize to Mariano once she has gotten settled, she goes about offering help to whoever needed it.

Her usual tasks involved child tending, which today involved a lot of questions on where her family was, what happened, why haven't they come to town yet, and mama and papa said this or that but my auntie said no and his uncle's friend said something else and Mariano's nose looks like a bruise peach. She tried to answer the questions as vaguely as possible seeing as it was not her business to speak on behalf of her family. She manages to keep them busy and distracted enough until their parents called them home for supper, some offered an empty seat at their tables or an open bed in payment but she declines saying bread and a fruit would be sufficient enough before returning to the bridge.

It goes on like that for several days as the Madrigals stay cooped up in Casita, once in a while someone would be nominated to go check on them then come back being told that they were fine and will be returning to work any day. Afterward Maribel would be pressed if they words had any weight to them to longer her family stayed away.

"If that is what Abuela said, then it will be." She would reply. In the meantime Mirabel was the one called on to help with chores (almost everything short of moving buildings and crying rain down upon the crops). More and more of the villagers begin to worry about her health, seeing as her clothes were becoming rags and it was no secret she lived under the bridge.

They try to be discreet when telling her to take a break, asking her to keep them company with snacks and drinks. Offering to mend her skirts or to make her something new as payment for her hard work. Even the kids take part in helping with her chores, although with less discretion.

A day comes when Maribel runs into the Gúzmans (is that the right spelling??). Ms. Gúzman is easily miffed at the sight of the Madrigal girl that ruined her son's proposal while Mariano looked... concerned. Eying over his was-to-be sister-in-law, how dirty and unkempt she looked despite her awkward smile. He asks if she is okay.

And like the cracks she saw in Casita's tiles, Mirabel cracked too, breaking down into tears and apologies for ruining the proposal and everything else, saying he should talk to Isabela because there are things he should know but she [Mirabel] can't say. It takes some time to calm her down, he kinda of just lets her ramble on incoherently, one hand on her back and continuously nodding like he understood.

Like the softie he is, and with much convincing to his mother, he insists that Mirabel should stay with them. Mirabel tries to refuse but he isn't having it. His argument being that no young woman should sleep without a roof much less the sister of his beloved.

The rest of the townspeople take this opportunity to gift Mirabel with clothes, soaps, perfumes, crafting supplies, anything for all her hardships. Many of them saying that they shouldn't have relied on her family so much, that it wasn't a surprise that they decided to hide away just to get a break. Mirabel could only smile weakly, thinking of her sisters, her aunt and mama, her cousins. Antonio hadn't even gotten to use his Gift for the town yet.

She gets told to take some time to herself and settle in, taking away everything that kept her busy and distracted, and Ms. Gúzman refusing any help with the housework -still a bit miffed. Mirabel turns to her craft work, her old hobby. She's a little rusty but once she gets into it her work table is quickly filled with plush animals and a few dolls with prettily embroidered clothes. The kids would love the toys.

With permission to borrow a basket she takes the toys into town, talking and laughing with her new neighbors along the way. In no time Mirabel is swarmed with children all compliment her new clothes, some of the older ones awing about how pretty she was. When she started passing out the toys she made the crowd of children grew, some adults even looking their way with curiosity, soon enough she had one left over. Watching pleased at how the children ran off with each other starting different games to involve their new toys.

She decided to take a stroll around town, dodging out of the way of kids chasing each other in "hunting" games. Turning one corner she spots a young couple... but one of them Mirabel could have sworn seeing just earlier talking to the baker.

The longer she watched, unnoticed by the pair, she caught on to familiar habits the one made.

"Camilo?" She called out, slowly approaching them.

The startled look she got proved her theory right, as her disguised cousin tried to refuse it. Mirabel eyed over his companion (guy, girl, take your pick) briefly before looking back to Camilo even less convinced than when he started talking.

"Cami, calm down," her expression softened at him as he shifted to his normal form, guilt in his face. Mirabel looks to Camilo's "friend" and back again. "You should be more careful, disguised or not, rumors will spread."

They both look at her startled and embarrassed. Camilo relaxed first, a weakly humored smile on his face. "You... you won't tell right?"

"Who would I tell?" She asked. "And what would I tell them?"

His smile fell with guilt, his eyes falling to the ground. "Right... Casita misses you, we miss you too."

Mirabel pulls her cousin into a tight hug, it takes him a bit to return it, his face pressing into her neck when he does. "I miss you guys too." She whispers to him.

After a minute or so of catching up, Camilo switching to another disguise, Mirabel gives him the last toy, a plush parrot, for Antonio and a letter.

"Ask him to give it to the rats in the walls," she says with a wink, "they will know what to do with it."

He takes the items confused but nods nonetheless.

[avatarvyakara]

It’s been a busy week, but still working on it. So here, have a little fluff:

“You’re wrong, you know.”

“Mm?”

“You do know how to put your feelings aside. You’ve done it before. Just like me, you’ve taken a situation that seemed impossible and tried to work around it.” Dolores looks at Mariano with a strange sympathy.

To his credit, he just sighs. “We don’t really talk about what happens at home very much.”

“...should we?”

“It’s not something you should have to worry about more than you already do. What you hear is...well, that’s not anyone’s fault. It’s just how it is.” He smiles, a little ruefully. “And hey, it’s not all bad. My brother Arturo’s marriage is fairly stable, and my niece Teodora’s. And by all accounts Alejandro has probably been the most settled among us for the longest.”

(And it’s something of an open secret that the middle son in the Gúzman family has a very different reason for not getting married than, say, Tío Bruno does. Even Luisa knows about it. Doesn’t much care—it’s not her business—but she does know.)

"That doesn't make it right."

"Well, no. And…maybe we should talk about it. Getting things right. …I don't want to be a burden for you, Dolores."

She kisses him.

"Never."

He looks a little surprised.

"Even now?"

Dolores smiles, and puts her hand on his cheek.

"Mariano. I hear you. We will talk. Talking is important. But it won't change one single thing. Madrigal or Gúzman, family is family."

"…then it can wait."

This time, Mariano is the one who initiates the kiss.

Luisa…really should see about looking away at this point. Her cousin deserves a little privacy.

But Mariano's next few words stop her from leaving.

"Dolores?"

"Hmm?"

Mariano stands up.

"I don't care whether or not there's magic involved. And to be completely frank, I don't care that you're a Madrigal and I'm a Gúzman. I care, very deeply, that you are Dolores. That you don't just hear, you listen. That you have a love of the sea and a deep passion for keeping the peace. That when you get startled you squeak, and when you're happy you hum. And…I don't think I will ever stop. And a year is too short. Especially given the mess my family and I made with yours. But in time…"

And he drops to one knee.

"In time," he whispers, "I can only hope it will be enough."

Even Luisa can hear her own heartbeat as Dolores' eyes widen and Mariano's shine like the ring in his hand.

"…Mariano?"

"¿Sí?"

Dolores' smile is bright enough to outshine the sunset. And there’s a very slight teasing edge to it.

“Will I marry you?” she prompts.

“...madre de Dios. Do I get another go at this?”

Now she’s grinning fit to burst. “Nope. You’re going to be stuck with this proposal for the rest of our lives, cariño.”

Mariano groans. Then his eyes widen as well. “Wait. You mean...”

Dolores’ grin is infectious.

"Let's get married."

In its own special way, it's absolutely perfect. The sheer joy in both of their eyes, the way they rise and cling tightly to one another and laugh in euphoric relief, the sparkle of light on the water in the fountain, the rainbow across the square…

…why is there a rainbow across the square.

Dolores pulls back with a terrible blush.

"Mami!"

"Tía? What are you doing here?"

"Luisa?"

"…uh. I, uh, dropped something?"

"Well I didn't!" Tía Pepa comes storming out into the open, a small and surprisingly theatrical thundercloud above her head.

"You! You forego the formality of a meeting with the family to present yourself and do the proposal properly! Instead you pledge yourself to my daughter in the square, far from any family members formally convened for this purpose!"

"Mami! That's not fair—"

"Have you anything to say for yourself?"

"Má!"

Tía Pepa stands before them, crackling with lightning and obvious impatience. Dolores—amazingly—glares back.

Mariano clears his throat nervously.

"Uh. Yes. Señora Madrigal, I…I understand what has happened. I understand that I can never truly repair the damage to the Madrigal name by what I chose to do. But if I can use what I have to make your daughter happy—as happy as she makes me—for the rest of our lives, then I will. I won't break the engagement, Señora Madrigal. Or I will do so only if Dolores wants to, of her own free will. And I won't take her away from her family. But I think it should be her choice, not yours. So…well. If I have not convinced you now, then I will simply have to keep on trying—"

"Don't be an idiot. Of course you haven't convinced me."

"…um?"

She puts her hand on Mariano's shoulder.

"You," she says with a smile, "convinced my daughter. So you can instead consider yourself officially redeemed."

And the cloud vanishes as though it was never there.

"Say, how did you get it to be a surprise?"

Mariano blushes again. "Let's just say I had a very long conversation by letter with my parents."

"Now, this I've got to hear—"

[avatarvyakara]

Another little portion—you know, I honestly can't see Alma having bad intentions per se, I just think she gets a little caught up in what she thinks is the best life for her family…

104. Justificar

(v) to justify; gerund justificando

Maybe it was a little unfair. Maybe it said something about how she really needed to talk to someone properly, not just the priest. (Who honestly confessed what they were really feeling to a priest? Well, fine, probably a lot of people, but she'd never really gotten the hang of it. She believed in Gifts, things people worked for and worked with. Pedro was the one who always believed in Miracles, things the Church talked about, things you got without a price—and then he'd paid that price, and she called it a miracle because she could never have wanted that as a gift.)

But when Alma looked at that vision, figures carved into greenish glass and nearly alive, she almost couldn't feel sorry for Dolores.

It was a childhood crush. It hurt when those didn't work out. People grew out of them. She had. So had Pepa. (Julieta never had to, Bruno never did—) But this…

This looked a surprising amount like when Pedro proposed to her.

(Although she was fairly certain her Tía Resurreccíon had been frowning in the background at the time, and she—it certainly looked like her—was smiling.)

And maybe it was greedy of her. Just a little bit. But part of her thought, She gets that too.

Because Alma Madrigal does genuinely love her children and grandchildren, all of them. She wants them to have as good as life as is possible, and to continue doing what they do. Using their gifts for the good of the community, yes, doing their duties to keep their home safe, yes, but that doesn't mean they can't enjoy themselves.

(Camilo's ceremony was in a few months' time, and then Mirabel's shortly after. She almost couldn't wait to see what part of themselves they would choose to build on for the rest of their lives, and she knew she'd be proud of them no matter what it was.)

So while Dolores had her first heartbreak and Alma was sympathetic, and Pepa was furious and Alma tried to remind her not to destroy the house, and Bruno seemed almost guilty (for predicting something good?), and Isabela was confused because she was eleven and didn't know what it meant yet (Pepa had been interested in boys long before Julieta), Alma found herself at the age of sixty-four with a little spring in her step.

One of her granddaughters—at least one of her granddaughters, with the others' fates as of yet undecided but hopeful—was destined for the same kind of happiness she'd wanted. The same kind of happiness that Julieta had found with Agustín and Pepa with Félix. She'd make sure Mariano was of decent character, of course, which meant spending a bit more time with Rosa Gúzman but that was a sacrifice she would gladly make to ensure that Isabela's future was a bright one. And because this was the Encanto, and because the magic was strong and getting stronger with every new Gift, Isabela and Mariano wouldn't be separated by death before they could raise their children together, and they'd have their families behind them. She wouldn't have to worry about them—they wouldn't have to worry. They would be safe. Her granddaughter—her granddaughter who cared so much about the family and the encanto, whom everyone spoke of so admiringly, whose powers were a symbol of that perfect life she wanted them all to have—would be happy.

It was going to happen.

(Eleven years later, she looks back as she watches Isabela physically tear their home apart under the influence of Mirabel's newfound sorcery, and laughs bitterly to herself about just how wrong she was.)