The Almighty Shortest

“Renee Minkowski is having a hard time adapting to life back on Earth. She takes a memory-wiped Doug under her wing and struggles to navigate a new life with the remnants of what used to be her best friend in the world.”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/36579907?view_adult=true

"This is the most realistic Encanto FanFic I've read!!😫💖

Oooofff my Bruno backstory fic is finally on AO3. Enjoy my beloveds.

Chapter 5: Clarity

In the 40th year since the advent of El Encanto, the Madrigal family prepared to celebrate Christmas Eve. Alma, who was now an abuela, found herself quite busy in the kitchen with Julieta. Pepa, her husband Felix and Julieta’s husband Agustin, were taking care of the decorations. The family would host parties for the entire village most of the year but on Christmas Eve, they celebrated more intimately among themselves.

The “older” kids were gathering in Luisa’s bedroom as the adults were busy. Isabela and Dolores were 12 years old. Luisa was 9. Camilo was 5 and had just gotten his gift, and Mirabel was 4 and still waiting on her special birthday. However, only Isabela and Dolores were allowed inside Luisa’s room. She didn’t want the “little ones” to interfere with their “big girl get together”.

“Ok, the three of us are here now. It’s time to get the plan rolling!” Isabela said, mischievously.

“How are we going to convince him to come here though? You know how he is always hiding.” Luisa said.

“Luisa Madrigal. Do you seriously believe you need to convince him? Come on. It’s you we are talking about.” Isabela said, and the three girls giggled playfully.

“Alright alright. I will bring him to us then. Stay put and don’t do anything stupid until I get back.”

The three girls had been plotting for days to get a hold of tio Bruno on Christmas Eve to get their prophecies read. They had been mortifying him with the request for years and he would shoosh them away by saying “Maybe when you are older.” Today, they had decided that they were older. Abuela Alma had made it very clear that Bruno was never to look into the future of any of the kids. This was decided to protect them. They had been threatened against it multiple times, but it was never enough to eradicate their crippling curiosity. They knew what day and what time the grownups would be the most distracted, and that’s when they would lure tio Bruno into giving them visions.

Bruno had spent the entire day in his tower. He was busy finalizing the presents he had made for the kids. Every year, he would give them something hand made. He wasn’t the best artist, but he sure enjoyed the attempt. His sisters’ kids were the only thing that kept him from completely slipping into the void. When they came into the world, he held every one of them and for the first time in his life he felt like he was met with love free of judgment. He would do anything for his chiquillos. Being 40, he was starting to accept that perhaps he would never have kids of his own, but that was alright. He gave himself enough of a hard time with his own anxiety already and it would be too much to have such responsibility over someone else. Besides, everyone in town had grown to fear him. The idea of finding someone and settling down was something he had let go of a long time ago.

Bruno jumped when he heard the entrance door of his tower slam abruptly. He dropped the little doll he had been stitching and nervously asked “Who’s there?”

“TIO BRUNO!” Luisa shouted. “You need to come with me, we have a surprise for you in my room!” she said.

Bruno shivered. Every time the kids used the word surprise, it was never a good one. He had grown to become terrified of this word. “Uh, sorry mi niña, I am busy right now. I will see you all later for dinner alright?”

“If you are not coming down I am coming for you.” Luisa said. Bruno let out a small whimper. Yes, the grown man was terrified of his nine year old niece. He loved her for sure but when she wanted something, there was no stopping her. She had one hell of a gift that rendered Bruno completely helpless.

Bruno slowly walked towards the stair canyon and when he dared to look down, what he saw sucked the air out of his lungs. Luisa was not walking up the stairs. She was climbing the canyon with her hands like it was a joke to her. She looked like a vengeful spirit crawling through the walls coming for him. Bruno started biting his nails and froze in place. In a matter of seconds, Luisa reached the top of the tower. She walked up to Bruno, being much shorter than him, and as if Bruno was a rag doll, she grabbed him with no effort and threw him over her shoulder. Bruno started fluttering his legs and begging for mercy. Luisa descended the canyon the same way she climbed it, this time with one hand. Bruno had never taken this route and he just closed his eyes and hyperventilated between whimpers the whole time.

Soon enough, they were back in Luisa’s room. Her door led to this solemn Greek gymnasium resembling chamber. Everything was made of carved stone. It almost looked a little too serious for a child. However, it was the perfect place to train and forge discipline.

Isabela and Dolores were waiting inside. “Tio Bruno!” they said in unison. Still recovering from his panic, Bruno managed to say “Hola mis niñas”.

In that moment, the door flung open and Dolores was standing outside. “I’m sorry guys, the neighbors were having this spicy argument and I was thrilled. Sorry I’m la—” her jaw just hung open. She saw herself in the room already.

“CAMILO!!!” The three girls screamed, furious. In that moment, the impostor Dolores transformed back into little Camilo.

“How dare you! This is a big girls secret reunion. You are ruining everything!” Isabela said, fuming. When she spoke, the flowers she had in her hair wilted. She quickly brushed them off and grew new ones.

“I promise I will not say anything! I promise!” Camilo said, grinning.

“I mean, you are already here. But if you say anything…” Luisa said and cracked her knuckles. Camilo gulped.

“Ok mis niños so what was the surprise? I have things to do before tonight so please just tell me already” Bruno said sounding very nervous. “Sorry heh sorry I just really need to know because—”

“Oh. About that. Well, since we are all grown up now, you are giving us a vision as a Christmas present.” Isabela said nonchalant.

“IAMGIVINGYOUWHAT” Bruno said letting all the air out and then gasping back immediately. “Oh no. Oh nononono. Bad idea. Terrible idea. You girls don’t know how dangerous—”

Luisa stood before him and gave him “the look”. Bruno’s eyes resembled those of a kicked puppy. “If you see anything bad, I will find it, I will grab it and I will break its neck”. Luisa responded.

“Ohhhh.” Bruno let out a pathetic moan. He put his palm against his face. “This is no good. You girls are terrible.”

Giving up the fight, Bruno said “Well, we have a problem. I need a wide, open space, and there is no way I am bringing you children up to my tower. You know it is off limits and if abuela Alma found out…”

Luisa let out a groan. “Alright. Alright. I didn’t want to have to do this, but I guess you leave me no other choice. Listen you all. If you say a word of this to anyone, I will crush you. I have kept this hidden very well and I’m not going to let you ruin it for me.” She walked towards the back of the room and stood before a gigantic boulder that rested against the wall. A boulder that clearly only she could move. Luisa started pushing the boulder, revealing a portal to… Another room?

“Hey you all. I’m about to show you my realroom. This space is only a disguise, so the grown-ups leave me alone.”

Isabela, Dolores, Camilo and Bruno stood perplexed. Luisa had been getting away with letting everyone believe she spent her time in this training arena when she actually had access to this other space that no one other than herself knew about. They all followed her. What awaited on the other side blew their minds.

The family stepped into a gigantic, magnificent theme park that glistened under the starry sky. Neon lights, glitter, all kinds of food and beverages, and every ride and attraction they could possibly imagine. They had never seen anything like it in their lives. After all her hard work, Luisa had an amazing treat of an entertainment wonderland. And wisely enough, she had been keeping it to herself. If abuela found out she had been spending all that time away in her room having fun, she would certainly disapprove.

Camilo let out the most emotive “WOW!” and he started running around, unsure of where to go first. Quickly enough, Luisa grabbed him by his shirt and said “I will only let you get in the rides if you swear you will not say a word of what happens here to the adults. Understood?”

Camilo nodded erratically and Luisa let him go to wonder around the park.

“Wow. Yes, uh, this will do for sure.” Bruno said. “But like I said, I am not responsible for what I see. I don’t want you all to be like oh tio Bruno is evil! Tio Bruno made my fish die! And then never speak to me again” He said mortified.

“You are not evil tio Bruno. Just a little weird.” Isabella said, making a flower crown appear, and he put it over Bruno’s head. The man smiled warmly.

“Ok, who goes first?” He asked.

“Me because I’m the oldest” Isabella said.

“Alright then.” He said.

Bruno created the magic circle with salt. He placed down the leaves and lit them up with a match. He grabbed Isabela’s hands who was sitting across him. Isabela noticed how his hands were shaking intensely. “You are doing great tio.” She said and gave him her warmest smile. This helped calm his nerves. Shortly after, the wind started spinning and they became entangled in a vortex of sand and green light. A figure started manifesting in the light. It was Isabela. She looked more mature. She was twirling and dancing in an explosion of colors, all sorts of exotic plants rising to her command, her nervous half-smile was gone and she looked glowing. The vision was brief but clear.

“Wow mi niña. It seems like the life of your dreams will one day be yours. Your power will grow like the grapes that thrive on the vines. This makes me very, very happy.” Bruno said smiling, although still shaking.

Isabela let out a small tear, and she jumped to hug her tio. She squeezed him so hard she thought he was going to break.

“Gracias tio. That is a beautiful thing to say. Well, obviously that’s my future, it’s me we are talking about!” The last sentence came out more rehearsed and less genuine. Dolores and Luisa rolled their eyes.

“I’m next!” Dolores said, rushing Isabela out of the circle. The girl sat across from Bruno. She noticed he kept rubbing his temples. “Everything ok?” She asked. “Oh, my head starts hurting after I have visions. I don’t know how much longer I can keep going with this but let’s get to the point then”. He responded. Bruno gently grabbed Dolores’ hands and the process started again. This time, he saw Dolores swooning over a handsome man. She walked behind him, but he wouldn’t notice her. Then, the man walked towards another woman and took her hand, kneeling to propose. Bruno focused to see who the other woman was, and the second he realized it was Isabela, he let go of Dolores’ hands and the prophecy that was forming immediately shattered before them.

“Tio what’s wrong? What did you see? I don’t understand, why did you let go?” she asked.

Bruno was panting heavily. “Uh… I’m sorry querida. It was not a nice thing I saw. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He kept apologizing, this time rubbing his temples even harder.

“Tio Bruno, it’s ok. I can take it. I’m not going to blame it on you. Just tell me what’s going on.” Dolores continued. “Well, eh, you will like this man and then this man will like another woman and well you know those things happen please don’t get mad at me” he said speaking very fast and fidgeting with his hands. He suddenly jolted this time both his hands cupping his face. It was clear he was in pain.

Dolores hugged him. “I’m not mad. Thank you for giving me my vision tio Bruno.” She said and landed a small kiss on his head. She felt so sorry for him. The man was a mess.

“Luisa I’m sorry but tio Bruno is not doing ok. Your vision will have to wait for another time. Let’s get him out of here.” Dolores said. Luisa rolled her eyes but followed through because it was clear that Bruno was struggling. The visions had taken a toll on him. He had never done two visions in a row.

The girls got him back into the “fake room”, had a hard time dragging Camilo out of the theme park, and then sent him on a mission to sneak one of Julieta’s enchanted snacks.

After a while he returned with a couple of buñuelos and fed Bruno until his face regained some color.

When he was feeling better, Bruno stood up and stretched himself. “Well, we better get going because I’m sure abuela will be wondering where you are.” He said to the kids.

“Tio Bruno, you are SO tall.” Camilo said. “When I grow up, I want to be as tall as you!”

Bruno giggled. “Oh Camilo, you only think that because you are a tiny chiquillo.” Bruno said and started a tickle fight with Camilo.

In that moment, Luisa’s bedroom door flung open and Pepa was waiting outside. “Oh there you are! I was looking for you like crazy!” She said pointing at Camilo. She had a thunder cloud hovering over her head. “Bruno!” She said in surprise. Lately, her brother rarely came out of his tower. He kept mostly to himself and she could often hear him talking on his own saying strange things no one could fully understand. Pepa and Julieta had witnessed the decline of his mental health over the years, a price to pay for the expectations that their mother bestowed upon him. They tried their best to be there for him, but sometimes it was clear that Bruno himself was pushing them away.

Bruno cleared his throat nervously and started talking really fast. “Oh I was reading stories to them, yeah you know the kids love some stories. I was busy but they insisted and then they made me come here and you know that’s what I have been doing, reading, yeah, reading is fun”.

Pepa raised an eyebrow. “Anyway, dinner is almost ready so you should get going”. She said and left the room with Camilo.

The family had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner. As Bruno sat across the table from the people he loved the most in the world, he couldn’t stop thinking about how much he did not belong in the picture. He was so grateful and at the same time so terrified that he would hurt them. He had already hurt Pepa so greatly on her wedding day and after that he spent most of his time locked in the tower in fear that he would do the unthinkable; hurt any of the kids.

His train of thought was interrupted by Camilo who spoke out. “Mommy, you promised you would make it snow today. You promised!” He said.

“Alright then. Let’s go outside. But only for a little bit, okay? I don’t think the plants in el Encanto love the snow very much.” Pepa said.

The kids cheered excited. Every year for Christmas, Pepa would make it snow for a few minutes so the kids could play and do snowball fights.

The family headed outside.

Pepa closed her eyes and took a deep breath. As she did this, a series of dark clouds gathered around the front patio and in a matter of seconds, it started snowing. The children were ecstatic and started running around, making snow angels, throwing snowballs at one another.

Bruno separated from the group after admiring his beautiful family having fun. He walked towards the beginning of the forest that surrounded part of their house. He stood there in the snow, just peacefully gazing at the labyrinth of trees and branches. Then for a moment he came out of his trance as he spotted a familiar creature perching on a branch. Bruno felt his heart jump. It was Aludra. And she had a baby. The harpy eagle he had met so many years ago had returned, and this time, she had her own family. Sometimes he wondered if that day when he was fifteen had been a dream. He wondered if Hernando had been a real person, what had become of him, if he made it in the war. It was clear at this moment and through this picture, that Hernando was long gone. Aludra had moved on, and she had found her own happiness.

Bruno felt like the sand he had been so carefully suspending in the hourglass of his memories suddenly avalanched over him and he lost all control of his emotions.

The tears just flowed, and his hands were shaking. “Goodbye Hernando” he whispered under his breath, with a broken voice. “Thank you for everything mi amigo.”

The tears were bittersweet, for the confirmation of the loss of his mentor was painful, yet at the same time, he was reminded that life goes on and he needed to find his way. Bruno didn’t understand how he had become so lost.

In that moment, he heard the voice of a little girl from a distance. It was Mirabel. The family’s youngest. “Tio Bruno! Tio Bruno! Look! Look what dad gave me for Christmas!”

The girl came running towards Bruno, and this time, she was wearing a pair of round green glasses. She couldn’t stop pointing at them and smiling. “My dad got me these glasses tio! Now I can see everything!” she continued. Bruno suddenly had a déjà vu. He never forgot his very first vision when he was just a year older than the girl. A sad girl. A sad girl with glasses.

The realization hit Bruno like a punch in the gut.

“Tio Bruno! You are crying! Why are you crying?” Mirabel asked.

Bruno picked up the girl from the ground and held her in his arms, perhaps a little bit too tightly. He held Mirabel, his pequeñita, and sobbed.

He felt so lonely, so lost. He wanted to be strong for her, but he felt himself falling, drifting into the void. Bruno felt a warm hand over his shoulder and then another hand wrap around his back. Julieta was standing on his right, and Pepa on his left. At some point, they had noticed him, and although they dind’t have anything to say, they just stood there and held him.

The triplets just huddled together, Bruno still holding Mirabel in his arms. The three of them looked at the snow, quietly. It was all they needed. Just when he felt himself falling, his sisters proved to be standing strong by his side.

As they looked at the sky, a beautiful Aurora Borealis manifested. It was Pepa. She had never done this before.

The dancing lights embraced the Encanto, and everyone was blown away by its beauty.

As Bruno held Mirabel in his arms, surrounded by his sisters, he took one more look at the harpy eagle and, in that moment, he gained clarity.

No matter how lost he felt, no matter how much life hurt at times, he needed to protect that child the same way the eagle would do anything to protect hers.

His purpose was revealed that night, like a parting gift from the past.

-

Chapter 4: When it Rains

In a hot summer day on the 27th year of the advent of El Encanto, the village was preparing to celebrate the wedding of Pepa Madrigal.

When a charming Caribbean man named Felix came to the town and stole her daughter’s heart, Alma knew soon would come the time to organize the biggest celebration that the village had ever known. The first wedding of any of her children. The first Madrigal wedding in El Encanto.

Everything needed to be perfect, and so she made sure to prepare every single detail with enough time in advance. It was a team effort and everyone in the village was doing their part. It was the least they could do to show gratitude to the family that had given everyone a second chance in life. The most beautiful and exotic orchids were picked from the forests. Julieta was leading the catering department which offered exquisite Colombian celebration foods. Bruno was arranging the furniture per his mother’s instructions, with the help of a few village kids. And Pepa? Well…

Pepa was a mess. She hadn’t left her bedroom the whole day. She would keep staring at the wedding gown which was inertly hanging from a wall, afraid to slip into it before she could get her clouds under control. She had gone over this with her mother a thousand times, but when the day came, the pressure that had been building up for months threatened her like a dam waiting for the smallest fault to fracture and unleash a destructive flood. She felt so small underneath the weight of the expectations that everybody had for her wedding day.

Her train of thought was suddenly interrupted because her soon to be husband, Felix, walked into her room. “Felix! You are not supposed to be here! Seeing the bride before the wedding is bad luck!” Pepa exclaimed, the sound of thunder accompanying her voice from a distance. Felix ignored the warning and walked up to her and embraced her tightly. He whispered in her ear “Mi vida, it’s all good. You have absolutely nothing to worry about.” He said. Felix might have not been a Madrigal, but his superpower was the ability to immediately appease Pepa’s volatile emotions. The effect that the man’s serenity and carelessness had in her was part of the reason why she couldn’t help but fall in love. Pepa returned his embrace and said “I’m scared mi amor. I’m scared I’m going to mess something up. My mother has worked so hard to make sure everything is perfect today. It’s a lot of pressure you know.”

Felix chuckled. “Who’s getting married, she or you?” he said. “You are silly” she replied. “Anyway, you better get going before my mother sees you. I will get dressed now. Thank you amor.” Pepa said, walking him towards the door. Felix winked an eye at her and left.

An hour later, Pepa was standing in front of the church, ready to walk the aisle. The day was as clear as the heat was intense. She had managed to hold it together, although she was beginning to lose the war against the sweat drops that trailed down her back. Perhaps a more cloudy day would have been more comfortable, but the rules were clear. Everything needed to lookperfect.

Bruno saw his sister standing in front of the church. She looked like a queen. In days like this, he couldn’t believe he was related to her. “Well, at least I got the best sense of humor out of the three”, he thought to himself. And speaking of humor, he couldn’t help but notice how Pepa was getting all sweaty already. It’s like it was raining down her back. Bruno chuckled at the irony and walked up to her with the intention of saying something funny to get her mind off the stress.

“Hey Pepa!” He said, grinning.

“What are you grinning about Bruno?” She asked, tense.

“Eh, well, I just think it’s funny that…”

“What’s funny Bruno?”

“Well, how it looks like rain!” he replied, awkwardly laughing.

It looks like rain.

It looks like rain.

The words flooded Pepa’s mind. The dam that she had been holding together with all her might ruptured, releasing an avalanche of turbulent emotions that shook the village with the sound of thunder. Immediately after, ravaging winds and rain. What started as a clear summer day turned into a macabre hurricane.

Bruno didn’t even have time to react. He miraculously dodged the lightning that stroke right next to him almost killing him. When he realized what had happened, it was too late. He had completely ruined his sister’s wedding. Bruno ran to his tower in utter shame.

-

Bruno missed his sister’s wedding ceremony. He didn’t have it in him to look at her in the eye after what had happened earlier. He went over every gesture and word he said over and over again, re-living the scene in a loop and every time, the guilt would punch him in the gut even harder.

He felt empty. He was still wearing the beautiful green linen shirt that his mother had sewn for the occasion.

Why did you have to ruin it Bruno.

Why do you always have to ruin everything.

Your family would be better off without you.

Pepa is never going to forgive you.

Ave de mal aguero.

He suddenly heard a voice coming from outside his room. It was Felix.

“Bruno! Hermano you gotta get back in here! There is no way you are missing your sis’ wedding! Come on man!” He shouted from afar. Bruno really did not want to go. He felt demolished. “Hey bro you know how she gets sometimes. She was under a lot of pressure man, don’t take it all on yourself!” he continued.

Bruno let out a grunt and dragged himself to come down.

When Felix saw Bruno he felt incredibly sorry for the man. His face looked wilted, like he had the life drained out of him. He could tell Bruno had been giving himself a hard time. Felix put his arm over Bruno’s shoulders sympathetically and guided him back to the celebration. In a very soft and broken tone of voice Bruno managed to say “Hey… Thanks for looking after me”.

They got to the central patio of the house and half the guests were already drunk. People seemed to have gotten over the earlier events, and the party was alive and well. Except Bruno couldn’t shake the idea that he had ruined his sister’s wedding.

Alma acknowledged them from afar, but she looked rather busy hosting the guests. Bruno saw his sister on the dance floor and before she had a chance to say anything to him, he dodged her gaze and went straight to the bar. “Aguardiente shot please” he said to the barista, and he just sat there to drink the night away.

Everything that happened after the fact felt like a blur. At some point, Alma came to him to ask him to dance with his sister, but his coordination was already gone. Later, he thought he saw Pepa try to talk to him but he couldn’t remember very well what she was trying to say. The last image he remembered before he passed out was Felix asking “Hermano, todo bien?”

-

As he closed his eyes, the world went black. He was standing in the middle of a void. Everything was darkness. The only sound he could hear was the sound of falling sand. He tried to look at his hands, but he couldn’t see them. He couldn’t see himself. It’s like he was invisible. Like he was dead.

The sound of sand morphed from a soft hush into a whisper. A voice that spoke like a hissing serpent.

You ruined everything Bruno.

You broke their hearts.

You let everyone down. Saboteur.

Cursed.

Ave de mal Aguero.

Your family would be better off without you.

The voice became a whirlwind of sand that started raining on him, taking over the void. He wanted to scream but he couldn’t make a sound. He wanted to cry for help.

He couldn’t see.

He couldn’t breathe.

-

When Bruno woke up, he was in Julieta’s greenhouse. Everything looked blurry and his head felt like it was stuffed with boulders. He was sitting on an armchair, and he had a bucket next to him.

Oh great. That’s disgusting. Bruno rubbed his face and let out a painful groan.

“Brunito!” Julieta exclaimed. “Here, please drink this” she offered a glass with an amber hot liquid that smelled like cinnamon.

Bruno forced himself to drink the tea resisting the urge to gag. With every sip he took, he could feel the illness dissipate.

Julieta tried to find the right words, but she just stood there looking at her brother like one would look at a puppy in a dog shelter.

“I’m sorry Juli.” He managed to say.

Still conflicted, Julieta just sat over one of the arms of the chair and leaned over to hug Bruno. She gently scratched his head.

“Ay Bruno. I’m just glad you are ok. Please, you need to take better care of yourself.” She said.

Bruno let out a faint laugh. “You mean I need to learn how to stop messing everything up for everyone else.”

“That’s not what ha—”

Julieta couldn’t finish her sentence.

“Every year that goes by, I feel like you and Pepa step further into the light, and I am being pulled away from you two towards this dark place that I will never be able to escape.”

It had been a very long time since Bruno was so honest.

This chapter was a short one, but very painful to write. Ah, Bruno. Why do you do this to us?

Please comment, share and give me your feedback. I would love to know who the audience to this fanfic is. If any part of this story inspires you to do fanart, please make sure you send it my way. I would be floored.