Chapter Text
For a while... she was loved.
She was Mirabel Madrigal. The youngest in the family for one moment in time. The adorable girl with chubby little cheeks and a love for the color blue. She would happily babble to her mama and papa growing up. A smile always on her face and her glasses perched perfectly on that little button nose. Her parents adored her. Her sisters always played and spoke to her, teaching her English and Spanish and complimenting her attempts at the language. Her Tia and Tio would welcome her with open arms and a smile high to the sky as she was playing in the sunshine her Tia Pepa always made with that stunning smile. Her cousins were sweet, Camilo always managing to make her laugh with their shapeshifting and Dolores whispering jokes. Her Tio Bruno, even though she barely saw him, was so kind. His little jokes and nicknames were always fun and he told her made-up stories before their family dinner. And Abuela. Sweet Abuela. Mirabel was sure for a while that she was the light in her grandmother's life, just as much as she was hers. The older women looked at her as if her skin was made of gold and that at any moment she would break. She cared for her so much, that it almost hurt. Mirabel loved her. She loved all of them. And they loved her back. Everyone was so excited for her. They wanted their precious little princess to get her gift. They wished for her to help them and then see what she could do. There was talk on what she would get. Luisa thought that it would be something with sight, like she could see for far and help people find lost items. Tia Pepa thought that the happy little girl would be able to fly with how much jumping she did. Whatever she got, Abuela said that she would be happy for the little Madrigal. Because she was apart of a legacy. That soon, she would help the community like her mom and sisters did. That her smile would be known throughout the Encanto.
That is... until that day came. Her birthday came and Mirabel was excited for her gift. Isabela couldn't stop placing flowers in her hair. Luisa couldn't stop her bone-crushing hugs. Her mother couldn't stop cooking. While Abuela looked on with pride. Excited for her gift to show. But when Mirabel's hand touched the golden door... nothing happened. It went away. Gone. The poor young girl looked up at her grandmother so confused. Why her? Why was this happening? Why didn't she get her gift? Her Abuela could only stare at her. Just looking on at her. From that day on, it was almost as if her life had changed and she was no longer that happy girl. Abuela always had something else to do than talk or play with Mirabel. Luisa went off to help the town every day and night. Pepa and Felix? They kept their distance. It was like Mirabel had completely changed. The young girl was so confused. She was still her! The same Mirabel! A Madrigal! The one that they all adored so long ago. Mirabel from that day on wasn't her anymore. As the years went by and the young girl blossomed into a beautiful young lady, it had become apparent that no one in their magical home say her as anything anymore. Her sisters were always away or ignoring her. Isabela had become primarily rude to her. The lavender-clad beauty always having a snide remark to her, rolling her eyes or pushing her plates and books from her hands. Dolores, even though she was sweet and kind, kept her distance. Always finding something else to do than speak with Mirabel. But always hearing someone ask about Mirabel's gift and telling them the truth. Camilo stopped making her laugh. Though he was always around, the shapeshifter waved and nodded. Tio Bruno? Gone. He just up and left a week after her gift was never given. Antonio was the only one happy with the presence. The toddler always dancing with her. But it was just him. Once he had gone to be pampered with the same love that Mirabel once thought was unconditional, she was alone. Behind the faded teal door of the nursery that she never moved out of.
The giftless Madrigal that no one cared to check on except her parents. And even then, it wasn't much. Abuela always stepped in. "She'll be fine mi hija. She's fine. Mirabel is always fine."
But she wasn't. She never was. Behind that door she was small. Hidden in the shadows as the tears dripped from her eyes. No one saw her. No one was there for her. Mirabel was the shadow underneath of her perfect and wonderful family. As the years had gone by, the tears had stopped and the optimism has stopped. Her hope that one day, her sisters would change and her Abuela would smile at her and hug her like she always did. The day would never come.
And it was after Antonio's gift was shown that she knew... she knew... that she would never be seen in the eyes of her loved ones again. As the camera flashed, capturing everyone in her home but her. And the flower petals fell on her head, Mirabel knew that she was always going to be on the sidelines. Awaiting her turn that would never come and watching from afar as everyone in her family except for her was loved. Was someone. Was cared for. The girl sniffled, hugging herself. She thought that he would be given a gift and be seen for once. But she was no miracle. Nothing special. Nothing that her family wished for. As she closed the nursery door that night, she looked over at the moonlight. She sniffled, taking off her glasses and fully sobbing. Knowing that Dolores would hear her or any of the other party-goers. But they wouldn't care. No one did. She set her glasses down, falling down on the ground and leaning her back against the bed. She wiped her tears with the side of her palm, looking down at the blurry ground. Casita raised one of its tiles, pushing at her leg. She sniffed. "I'm... I'm fine Casita. Go on. Go help everyone at the party. I'll be okay." she said.
The tile slowly fell down and Casita left her. She sniffled, hugging herself. Behind this door was where she was put and she felt like she should never leave if she wanted to keep her sanity. Months passed since Antonio's sixth birthday and his gift was given to him and just like usual, Mirabel was in the background. At the end of the table silent while everyone conversed in conversation. In her room, while Luisa juggled her cousins and laughed. Just outside in the sun while Isabela was the perfect one. Mirabel exhaled. She would be okay. She would be fine as the unlucky and hidden Madrigal. There was one place that Mirabel happily found solstice. Where she wasn't a burden. And wasn't ignored. And that was in town with the kids. They didn't care that she didn't have a gift. And although their smiles and their hugs made her feel better, nothing would make her feel better about the hole left in her heart about the Madrigal home never going to be her home.
And soon, she reached her breaking point. News traveled all around Casita with excitement. Isabela was going to get married! It was sooner than everyone expected, but then again. The entire home was brought together with excitement. While Mirabel was excited for her sister, she already knew and could see that no one wanted her help. This was her sister's special day. And she wouldn't ruin it. As her entire family helped adorn her sister's hair into beautiful curls and dress her in the finest dress they could buy, Mirabel stayed outside. Just embordering to herself.
"You should be inside you know."
Mirabel turned over, seeing her mother look over at her from behind the corner of their home. "Hola mama."
"Abuela wants everyone at dinner. And I cooked a wondrous meal. And everyone was excited for my buñuelos, except for my daughter. She's nowhere to be seen."
"Abuela wants you at dinner, not everyone." Mirabel said back. "I'll be fine, I'll eat after."
"I wasn't asking. Mirabel. Come." she said, taking her arm.
"Mama, no. It's Isa's big day and I don't want to ruin it." she said, pulling herself back from Julieta's arms. Her mother frowned, placing her hands on her hips.
"Mirabel."
"It's Isa's day. And Isa wouldn't want me to ruin it. And Abuela is excited for a marriage after so many years." she said.
"But honey, just because it's your big sister's day doesn't mean that you can't come. Okay? You are just as exceptional as everyone at that table." Julieta said with a smile.
Mirabel smiled, but only for her mom. No matter how many times she said it, she knew from their actions that it just wasn't true. Julieta pulled her protesting daughter into the house, just as Isabela was coming down the steps. Everyone was waiting for her below, with happy gasps, claps and smiles. Isabela, ever the princess of the family, emulated the royalness about her. Dressed in a long, beautiful, floor-length baby pink gown and live flowers on the train and sleeves. Abuela's jewelry was adorned on her ears and neck, the jewelry she had never wore since being blessed with the Encanto. Her hair was curled and down in a low ponytail to accent her cheekbones and nose. Isabela smiled, twirling for her family.
"Gorgeous mi princesa!" Abuela said. "A radiant flower before me!"
"You look amazing!" her father, Agustin said.
"So pretty... so pretty..." Pepa sobbed, as a small rain cloud formed above her.
Felix exhaled, waving it away. "Ah, mi vida. Happy day. It's a happy day." he turned over, seeing Mirabel in the way back of their small group. "Don't you agree Mirabel?"
Felix never changed. Always trying to make his niece smile. Much like her parents did. Isabela looked down at her. Her smile fading and turned into a frustrated scowl. "You... you look beautiful sis." Mirabel tried to say. She did. She looked beautiful. Anybody would be lucky to have her has their partner.
Isabela looked down at her. "Thanks." she said, as disingenuously as she could. She hummed.
"Are you excited for your dinner tonight?" Camilo asked, looking up at his cousin in awe.
"Very." Isabela said as everyone moved to finish the dinner set up. They moved over to fix the decor and set the table properly. Julieta patted her daughter's shoulder, walking to grab her prepared food from the kitchen. Mirabel turned to find Luisa, but she was already gone. Moving the piano into the dining room. Mirabel exhaled. Because no one went over to her and asked her anything. Isabela walked over to her. "I don't want you to ruin this for me like you've ruined everything else simplona." she said in a low voice.
Mirabel sighed. There it was. That nickname that Isa knew always hit her hard. Simplona. A simpleton in her sister's eyes. The Madrigal that no one cared for. "I won't." she said to her. "I'm just going to go back up to the nursery and-"
"Back to the nursery?" Dolores called, poking her head out from the kitchen. Julieta looked up at as well.
"No. No you won't." she said. "Isabela, your sister just wants to support you. She's here to help make this day perfect for you."
Isabela exhaled, looking over to her side and seeing a vase filled with water. A plant over watered by, most likely, Tio Felix. "Luisa." she called. "This vase is full of water over here."
"On it!" the older girl called, walking over and picking up the vase, like it was nothing. Careful of the water inside of it. As Luisa made her way over towards Mirabel, she waved her hand. The plant's leaves growing to get a bit heavy and the water spilling out onto Mirabel's back and hair. She jumped back as the water seeped into her hair and all over her. The dirt catching on her skin and her dress was completely ruined now.
"Oops!" Luisa called, realizing as she set down the vase. But she didn't bring herself to even look at or help Mirabel.
"Yeah..." Isabela said, stepping down in front of her sister and brushing off a piece of dirt from her shoulder. "Oops."
"Isa!" Julieta cried just as the door knocked.
"The Guzman's are here!" Abuela called, stepping over to Isa. Pushing past Mirabel and hitting her shoulder. She turned over. "Why are you all wet? The Guzman's are here! Are you trying to ruin your sister's proposal? Mirabel-"
"Mama!" Julieta said.
"I'm... I'm sorry..." Mirabel said, sniffling. She rushed up the steps and into her room.
"Mirabel!" she called, as the doors opened by the clueless Agustin.
"The Guzman's! Welcome, welcome, welcome! Gracias por venir!" he said.
Isabela hummed, stepping over to the front door and smoothing out her dress. Mirabel rushed into her bedroom, closing the door slowly so that it didn't slam and alert everyone that she was so upset. She pulled off her glasses, looking down at the puddle of dirty water forming below her feet. She slowly broke down, wiping her eyes as she shed her tears. Her breaths came in very harshly. Like she was choking on air.
This place wasn't for her. She didn't belong. She wasn't supposed to be here. She couldn't stand it. She threw herself onto her bed, covering her face with her pillow and getting her sheets wet. Why her? Why couldn't she get a gift? Why couldn't she just... be like all of her siblings? Why was she cursed to be this black sheep that everyone hated?