Stalked By Demons Daily

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

To say Alma was frustrated was an understatement. She just couldn’t understand! Mirabel kicked the entire family out of their own home, and they’re all siding with her? They’re apologizing to her? Every day more madrigals went out of their temporary home, and didn’t come back. More and more until it was just pepa and felix. But even then it didn’t take that long for them to knock on Alma’s door, saying they were going back to casita. So alma was left alone. In a house that isn’t even hers. She really just couldn’t understand her family. The woman stared out the window. For the first time in years the town looked stagnant. Usually everyone was out working, talking, and playing, but everything seemed empty. Alma couldn’t help thinking once again that it’s all mirabels fault. The town needed the madrigals! It’s not mirabels place to harm the community like this because her feelings were hurt. A small knock interrupted Alma’s brooding. “Abuela? I just wanted to check on you.” Dolores cracked open the door. “I’m perfectly fine Dolores.” Her tone betrayed her words plainly. “Are you still blaming mirabel? Even though you’re the only one left here?” Dolores’s question was met with silence. “Even without us telling you, you should know that you’re able to come back and work things out with her if you just try.” Alma furrowed her brows. “Work things out? This is just happening because mirabel is being selfish. The casita does not belong to her.” Dolores sighed. She had hoped that her abuela was reflecting on how she treated mirabel when she locked herself in her room. Turns out she was just festering. “It’s not selfish to wish for your family to love and understand you.” The door clicked and alma was left alone again.

Her anger didn’t subside. She’s done everything the could for the madrigals and everyone within the encanto. She’s done nothing wrong! Alma huffed as she grabbed the doorknob, finally stepping out of the small house.

“You’re alright!” The first villager who saw her greeted her with relief. “I was getting worried since we haven’t seen you since back then…” the man’s voice faded to a whisper, being careful not to upset the woman. “I was in a state of shock for a while.” Alma admitted, shaking off the comments. “I hope you all haven’t been having a hard time while the madrigals are in disarray.” The villager shook his head. “Not at all! It’s been a little tense, but nothing we can’t handle. This past week has actually been… enlightening.” A woman, who had been cleaning off her porch a house over laughed. “Really enlightening! A single day without Luisa and Julieta and we don’t know what to do with ourselves.” The woman jabbed. Alma turned to the cynical woman. “It was that bad?” The man huffed as the woman nodded, leaning over the railing. “I mean we can live a few days without the others since we can find other ways to do the jobs but Luisa’s the only one who can move a house. And apparently the babies around here can’t seem to live with a little cold or scrape. No sense of independence.” Alma held onto her clothing with a newly furrowed brow. Her family was continuing not to help the community? But- “I don’t think we can complain though. For what little I’ve seen of them this week, I don’t think I’ve ever seen them so happy. When I brought my kid to julieta after he broke his leg, they were all laughing together. I even saw Bruno.” The man crossed his arms. “Ah… yeah. We can handle a little inconvenience if those kids can have some time for themselves.” Alma bit her tongue and nodded along with the conversation. There’s no way things were that much better… the madrigals were perfectly content before. There was no shortage of smiles and no complaints. And brunito… Alma turned to continue roaming the streets.

Everywhere she went the story seemed the same. The madrigals thriving, and the townspeople supporting them. And it all made alma even more bitter. This felt like the family making more jabs at her. Like they were calling her the bad guy, saying she was a bad matriarch. She stopped at a small startled sound as she spotted a certain nieto duck behind a building. “Camilo?” She called, creeping towards the hiding spot. “…Hi, abuela…” he was less than enthusiastic in his greeting. In fact he was nervous. “I was just… mingling… checking on the village and such…” Alma crossed her arms indignantly. “At least someone in this family remembers their obligations. Really, the rest of the madrigals just left the town to rot-” “um…” Alma snapped her head back to the boy. Regardless, he began to speak. “I think they deserve a break. I’m here because I want to be… and I’m not really doing anything to help around… we just wanted time to recover…” “recover? The village needs to recover, Mirabel selfishly stole the miracle-” Camilo cut her off again. “I think you are the one being selfish right now.” He stepped back, preparing himself for one of her hard glares, but instead received a hurt look. “…what?” Camilo softened his tone again but stayed firm in his words. “We all just need a break. Taking a week to not work isn’t abandoning the town.” His abuela stared at him again. She supposed her choice of wording for the situation was a bit harsh but… “Um… abuela I need to ask… since we’re here…” Camilo became more reserved as he prepared his question. This had become an unfamiliar sight since his gift ceremony. “You isolated mirabel back then… didn’t you?” Alma reeled back at the accusation. “How dare-” “I remember how you told me to stay away from her, then reeled my mom into allowing me to work when I didn’t listen… I’m not the only one either… Isabella said you would insinuate that mirabel was a burden and that you made sure they didn’t like each other. Luisa said you always dragged Mirabel away so she could focus… even Dolores said you kept them separate, even from casual conversation.” Camilo listed the complaints one after the other, a look of remorse on his face for the lost time with his family. “Did you hate her that much? For not having a gift?” Alma stood shocked. Her mouth moved but no words were formed. Hate? She just didn’t want her distracting the important work of the madrigals. They needed to serve the community and mirabel couldn’t so-

So what? Even a normal person could do mediocre tasks, so why did mirabel need to stay away from work? Seeing that he wouldn’t get an answer from his abuela, Camilo turned to leave. “…it hurt not having her around you know… maybe mirabel isn’t the only one you need to apologize to.”

Alma was left by herself again, this time with bitter questions. Did she really hate mirabel? No that wasn’t it… was she so focused on the gifts that she isolated the girl without reason? But it was for the community wasn’t it? The miracle? What did she do all those things for when it wasn’t helping the community? Alma eventually began to walk again. Through the streets, and the beaten paths. She truly had no idea about the past, but that didn’t affect right now did it? Mirabel stole the miracle and the casita, she’s in the wrong, she’s the selfish one right now. But would this have happened if you’d treated her well? Like a beloved grandchild instead of… Alma stopped again. What did she think mirabel was? She was her grandchild but… it was different from the rest of the children. Maybe she thought of her as a nuisance, or maybe a child who would tire themselves out…Cawing from a birds nest drew her attention. Oh… maybe she saw mirabel as a frail baby bird. One who didn’t fly when pushed from the nest. A baby bird who would die off soon anyways without the ability to fly, so why bother?

The idea that Alma was wrong hurt her pride, and the more she reflected on her actions, the more she hurt. At the very least, weren’t some of the accusations thrown at her overblown? Sure she wasn’t a good abuela, but she didn’t deserve the look she got from Camilo… she didn’t deserve to get kicked out of her own home… she… “stop that.” Alma whipped her head around to her eldest grandchild. “Isabella…” “you were trying to find another way to justify yourself again. You’ll do anything but apologize.” Isabell stared down her abuela with crossed arms. She had come when Dolores and Camilo mentioned that Alma had finally gone out. Initially she only meant to peek, but frustration took over seeing the remorse fade from the woman’s face. “Do you realize the extent of the damage done to the family you caused, long before mirabel was even born? Do you realize how antagonistic you would be to anyone who didn’t fit a mold that was useful?” Alma stared in stunned silence as Isabella let her anger show without restraint. This confrontation was awful, because out of everyone, they treated others the worst. Isabella was made into a mini Alma, and she hated knowing that. “Did you ever stop to think that the cracks, the loss of power, even your loss of control over your family, was because of the things you’ve done?” Alma clenched the fabric of her skirt but kept listening. “I can spell it out for you if you want.” “Stop…” Alma muttered. “Your children are crushed by the burden of your expectations,” “stop.” Alma repeated, fists shaking. “I almost married someone i don’t love to keep up your perfect image of me, Luisa was being crushed by so much responsibility she could barely sleep, Dolores-” “please stop!” “Dolores never had peace, and was made to give out others secrets. Camilo was never able to live as himself for very long” “I’m begging you, stop!” Tears welled up in Alma’s eyes. “And we’ve talked more than enough about the horrible life mirabel lived because of you.” Alma was brought to silence again, this time because she couldn’t fight the tears, or the admission of her faults. “…I would think again about giving a heartfelt apology, but not just to mirabel.” Having evidently said what she’s been wanting not say for a while, Isabella retreated back towards casita, leaving Alma to wallow.

Alma began walking the opposite direction, away from casita, away from the community, and toward the mountains. She continued following a path through the mountains, untouched by anything other than plant life, and found a place she had never had the chance to confront. Or really, she never wanted to try. But there was also someone else, someone she was actively trying to avoid. “Mirabel?” The teen whipped around before fumbling to hide behind something, most likely afraid of being yelled at. Alma had no will or energy for that anymore though. Instead she sat by the river side and patted the spot next to her, mirabel hesitantly kneeling there a moment later.

Eventually alma forced herself to speak, still reserved by a newly recognized prejudice against mirabel. “It has occurred to me in the last few days… through some… necessary conversation amongst the towns people and some grandchildren, that I…” Alma sighed in self defeat, hating the hesitance and stutter in her voice. “That I have not been very fair to you as a member of our family, and that I have never taken the opportunity to really understand any of you… or allow you to understand me.” Mirabels eyes seemed wide. Was she admitting she was wrong? Alma gently took mirabels hands, not daring to look at her face. “…I was young when I married your abeulo, and just as young when I hand your mami and pepa and Bruno. Just as young when we fled our home and when I was left alone with just my three children and the miracle. After he died… I was so afraid. I couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else suffering like I did. I thought that of our family was strong, if we worked hard for others… We could keep what we had left safe. But I realize now that I was wrong… I have done nothing but destroy what I wanted to protect. I’m… I’m so sorry…” Alma shuttered at drops hitting the tops of her hands. Tears. Mirabels tears. “I… my one wish for so long was to be recognized by you. To be loved by you… I think that was everyone’s wish… but you were… all this time…” mirabel sobbed and pulled her hands away. “I let my emotions waver for too long, and I purposely hurt you the most… ignoring you, isolating you…” mirabel shook her head at Alma’s words. “Please… can we try to be a loving family… i… I just want everyone to feel better… to feel…” Alma took mirabels hands again and gently pulled her to stand. “Let’s go back together. I’ll offer each and every one of you an apology…”

As they returned, mirabels door was depicted with pure joy and love. The image of the house seemed to move energetically, figures and decorations popping in and out of windows, or swaying on a balcony.

Well damn I guess I’m writing something for this too because that’s good mixing

Mirabel felt pure fear. All her senses were overwhelmed, ears flooded with screams and the cracks and crashes of her beloved home. Her sight told her everything she needed anyways. She knew exactly what would happen after she looked up, gripping the melting candle. As casita pushed her feet down the shingles of the roof, mirabel could only see the crumbling tower that would inevitably find her, and she anticipated every pain she’d feel before it got to her. The first pain was of her back hitting the wood stairs attempting to soften her fall and slide her down out of danger. The second was her skin dragging against the tile as she slid. Casita rushed to make a desperate cover for mirabel out of rubble and furniture, knowing it wouldn’t get her out the door. Mirabel barely craned her head up to look out to her family, all staring wide eyed, some at the crumbling house, and some looking directly at her. The last pain was the brief feeling of the makeshift cover caving under the weight of Bruno’s tower, crushing most of mirabels body.

As the dust settled, the girls vision got blurry, and she knew she probably wouldn’t wake up again. She thought back to all the things leading to this moment, about how this happened or how it could’ve been stopped, but it always led back to that day. That stupid day 10 years ago. The event that isolated her from her family, the event that drove tio Bruno into the walls, the event that first signaled the candles failing power. Mirabel weakly shifted her head as she once again heard screams. Her glasses had flung from her face on impact but she could she the smudges of color in the distance. A cluster of warm colors stood still and silent, right at the would be entrance of the casita. She wished she could understand them, even a little. A little closer smudged blue figured stumbled over. Forcing themselves to go to their sister. How mirabel wished she had spent more time with them while she could. The closest was her parents, racing towards her. They were probably the ones who screamed. Her poor mother, who fussed over her since that day 10 years ago. If only she could’ve assured her mother even once. The horrified, mourning hands didn’t reach mirabel before her head dropped to the ground in exhaustion. If there was one wish mirabel had, something she wanted more than anything else in the world, she wanted to go back. Even if it would end the same way, she desperately wanted to have the time to give her family the love they deserved. Unfortunately mirabels time was already up.

At least it was supposed to be. Mirabel almost swore when she blinked her eyes open behind a familiar curtain only put up for gift ceremonies. Not to mention she was in the body of a five year old. She wondered for a second if her life was flashing before her eyes, or maybe she was in a heart wrenching limbo for whatever sins she committed. But a little moving around dispelled these theories. Her family came to greet her, wishing good luck and encouragement before going to join the crowd. Abuela made her speech as the curtain opened and mirabel was urged forward once again. She wanted to cry. This would end the same way, but maybe she could make her wishes come true. She should be thankful for this opportunity, and she will be once she overcomes this… upsetting scene. Finally her tiny steps reached the second floor, in front of abuela. The candle was offered, and as mirabel put her hands on it, the flame flickered. Her tiny hands tightened a bit, staring at the flame until it burned strong again. Eyes burned into her from everywhere as she approached that stupid door that cursed her to 10 years of loneliness and a lonely death. Mirabel closed her eyes as she touched the door knob and gasps rung out. After a moment where things got quiet again, mirabel opened her eyes, only the door was still there. And she was engraved on it, smugly leaning on a giant broken hour glass and showing off a cracked pocket watch. In fact clocks and gears were all over the door. Mirabel turned to look at her abuela, only to find her standing perfectly still. The whole building was perfectly still. Mirabel reached out to the old woman, gently touching her hands, prompting her to move again, also looking around in amazement. As mirabel backed away, time began to move again. “Oh.” “We have a new gift!” Mirabel was brought closer to her abuela before being nudged to open the door, inviting the town in.

A clock tower. That’s what it was, the inside of a huge clock tower. It was fancy, luxuriously decorated with rugs and couches and tables, most decorated with some kind of time related pattern or a gear shape. It was so odd. Not only a room of her own, but one so… grand? Mirabel had no more time to muse over it though, as she was picked up by Luisa. “This is great Mira! Hey, is your gift to control time?” Mirabel giggled at the excited guess. The room had made it obvious what kind of gift it was. “I think so. I need to figure out how to use it…” Camilo came running up after the sisters, jumping to try and meet mirabels sight. “That’s so cool! Imagine all the things you can do! All the pranks you can set up!” Mirabel almost furrowed her brow. So her primo really has always been like that. The two eldest girls trailed behind to also offer congratulating hugs, finally taking tiny mirabel from Luisa. It was a bit odd though… in the future they were never this affectionate, though Isabella was for obvious reasons. She couldn’t mull on it for too long before the rest of her family gathered picking her up and pulling her to take a picture in front of the giant clock face. “A gift just as special as you.” Abuela muttered, offering a kiss on the cheek before beginning the celebration.

Mirabel stopped herself from recoiling from it all. The warm image of this day where she did get a gift clashing with the cold reality of the world where she had none. It only drove home her final revelation from that life, the breaking of the family didn’t start with her… they were suffering from the beginning. And mirabels wish came true. The opportunity to come back and make things right her own way. So this moment she will skip into the smiling crowd and act normal.

Mirabel dashed into town with even more energy than usual. For a good reason too, since it was her birthday! On her sixth birthday mirabel was… less than enthusiastic about it. The memory of her fifth birthday had sullied the holiday for her, and she didn’t expect nearly as much fanfare as the rest of her family got on their birthdays. Imagine her surprise when she trudged into town like any other day and was met with the entire village pampering her and persistently keeping her away from any work. Mirabels excitement for her birthday each year was renewed. Now, she was turning 10. A very special age, she was told! The big double digits is what some adults called it. “Mirabel!” Oscar called to the girl as she finally arrived at the bottom of the hill. Since he and his wife Inez were the first ones to take her under their wing, they were usually in charge of monitoring birthday party preparation. Their work was beautiful but they could really stand to change into something not covered in paint or clay dust. “Happy birthday!” Inez peeked down from where she stood on a ladder, putting up ribbons in mirabels favorite shade of blue. “Thank you senorita Inez!” Mirabel hopped between her feet happily. “Why don’t you go meet with the rest of the village, I’m sure they have plenty prepared for you.” Oscar encouraged, handing the last ribbon to his wife. “Yes!”

There was plenty prepared. Enough that kept the girl busy all day. A special breakfast was already made by her mother but that didn’t stop andre from making her a special birthday lunch and dinner (he even teamed up with Julieta to make an impressive platter of desserts) And throughout the day mirabel watched as villagers deposited gifts onto the very large gift table in the square, but she was kept away from peeking at a few by other kids, being lured into dances and games. A few people managed to sneak her away to personally open their gifts every once in a while. alicia gifted her a beautiful dress like every year before. Cecilia, who was the best wood worker in town, gave mirabel a small set of new whittling tools, and a book on animals she could make. reeve (the only respected metal worker around) gave her a set of jewelry he made personally. lian offered glass cactus sculptures and Cassandra gave her a brand new notebook. And of course nydia couldn’t come up with a good gift idea once again this year and instead volunteered to entertain the younger children an extra bit so mirabel could relax.

Eventually though, things did quiet down enough for Cecilia to pick up mirabel, leading her away from the party and to the edge of the town where only the portrait of the mountain surrounding the encanto could be seen. But now, a bit further out than any other house was a barn. It was obviously brand new and was at the very least two stories. “For you.” Cecilia put the girl down, who only stared in awe before getting nudged forward by the wood worker. “A… a whole building?!” Mirabel gasped, stepping up to the door pulling the door a bit. “All for you.” Cecilia assured her. Mirabel finally opened the door. It was clean and very spacious. It was empty as of now, but a ladder led to a loft with a balcony outside accessible from it. “It’s really mine.” Mirabel was on the edge of tears. Did she deserve this? A whole barn for herself? “It is.” Cecilia confirmed, kneeling. “Nydia, reeve and I made it together. We decided to leave it a bit plain so you could decorate it to your hearts content. Do you like it?” “I-I love it- but I…” mirabel stuttered through sobs. Cecilia only reached out a comforting hand. “Since you were never given your own room, we decided to give you this. We made it further out so it would be a private place, and tried to find the best landscape to relax you. We can’t give you a gift or a magical room, but you deserve a place for yourself, ok?” Mirabel nodded, still sobbing. It was clear that with the oncoming birth of her primo this was a needed gift. “Thank you…” mirabel hugged the woman tightly as she picked her back up. “Just tell us if you need any help decorating the place ok?” Mirabel nodded into her shirt.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

The next few days led to family reconnecting as the madrigals tried to rebuild a daily schedule. Camilo ran back and forth every once in a while, updating his parents on Antonio and himself while checking on the rest of the family still left out of the house. Of course he gave the occasional passerby in the town assurances and told them that madrigal chores are on hold for now. Julieta of course would offer an arepa for anyone injured enough, but other than that the doors of casita stayed closed. “Thanks for helping in the kitchen again.” The three sisters grinned at their mother. If it was just a regular meal they could make the whole thing themselves. Julieta refused to sit back enough for that though. “It’s nice to do these kinds of things together.” Isabella said, having finally got the hang of the kitchen. Shocking what the other kids couldn’t learn while busy doing chores in town. Mirabel herself had too much time and noticeable skill in all home making. “We really should help you in the kitchen more often. This is a lot.” Luisa commented, having been the one prepping ingredients. “I’d appreciate it.” Julieta said, smiling as she set the table. That chore was usually mirabels, but they’ve all been switching things up recently. Even right now Camilo is listening intently on the plot line of Bruno’s rat telanovelas. He only got hooked after the plot twist at the end of season 5. “Isn’t Dolores visiting today? Do we know when?” Mirabel asked, turning towards the rat telenovela fanatics. “Lunchtime I think. More than enough time for everyone to get ready.” Camilo looked at his cousins for one second before turning back to Bruno. “I think this telenovela is gonna be a menace.” Mirabel commented, turning back to setting out the freshly made food.

As if on clockwork, Dolores appeared at the front door tilting her head as she was met with a jovial atmosphere. “I didn’t expect Camilo to tell the truth about it.” She commented, earning an offended gasp and a laugh from mirabel. Of course after some quick catching up on what was going on around the casita, mirabel lead Dolores up to her new room. “I never thought I’d get to see your room. I think it was worth the wait.” Dolores commented, looking at the progressively messier looking room. “It suits you.” Mirabel smiled sheepishly. “Dolores, have you… been alright. I mean I have to imagine losing your gift was probably most shocking to you I mean you were constantly hearing everything it must be so strange for some quiet and I-” “it’s a bit complicated.” Mirabels ramble was cut off by the blunt answer. Dolores turned to her with a furrowed brow and dragged the teen to sit with her. “I want to start with my own apology. I could hear everything, every comment said about you, every time you where pushed aside, every time you couldn’t help but cry or curl up into a ball. But I chose to ignore it, and ignore you. I should have stood up for you, and comforted you. Even if I just told someone else who could help it would’ve been better than what I did. I’m sorry mirabel.” Dolores clutched mirabels hand as mirabel squeezed back. “When I lost my gift… at first it was kind of relieving. Like a decade long headache had left, but suddenly I became anxious. I couldn’t hear people approaching me from far places. I couldn’t hear the people who work dangerous jobs bustling. And I couldn’t hear my family. I couldn’t listen to figure out if everyone was safe. I couldn’t even hear if you were crying or celebrating. I… I was so worried. Even with Camilo checking in on us.” Mirabel let Dolores pour all of her emotions out. This may be the first time the woman talked about her own feelings. To mirabel, Dolores was a rather distant cousin. “Dolores… I had no idea. You care so much for this family and I never saw it.” Mirabel brought her into a hug. “If… if you ever need someone to talk to, to get some worries off your chest I’ll be here. Okay?” Dolores nodded. Outside of the room, another door began to glow.

So the rat telenovela epidemic gained a third victim. Dolores had apparently been invested for years in the plot and now was bursting at the seams with the new buddy to talk to about it. The entire family was subjected to the conversation as they tried out their next family bonding project, sewing. Embroidery was next, but Julieta advised that they might want to know the much more practical skill of patching up small tears as a start. She was of course right as Luisa, Isabella and Dolores poked their fingers on the needle continuously. The boys of course were encouraged to join, but only a stitch was being done between each rat plot line discussed. Mirabel, who had already run out of tips to give her family and was now holding a finished ruana to replace her tio’s, excused herself.

For the first time in a while mirabel took a step outside casita. She wasn’t up to going to the village, but just a few feet outside the door was a nice place to clear her mind. Surprisingly though, she caught a glimpse of a yellow dress hiding. “Tia pepa?” Mirabel leaned over the small brick wall placed on the lower part of the hill. It was supposed to be something like a fancy fence or something. “Ah, mirabel i, uh, I was just you know… admiring the view?” Mirabel nodded at Pepas flimsy excuse. “You wanted to check on your kids huh?” Pepa curled up in slight embarrassment for being caught. “You know I wouldn’t blame you for stopping by for something Mille that.” “I know, but it just didn’t feel right. I mean I wasn’t ready to talk to you, really, about everything. I do know I should own up to my attitude towards you in the past I’m not denying, i just was nervous, couldn’t find good words…” pepa wrung out her hair as if it was soaked in rain. “And you know I didn’t know if you’d want to see me, you really went all out that night. Let us know how you felt and the conversation afterwards kinda drove that lesson into me, and ma hasn’t really come out since then so I didn’t just want to…” “it’s alright Tia.” Mirabel soothed her aunts hands out of her hair before hopping the small wall to sit next to her. “Let’s just talk normally. You don’t need to script any apologies.” Pepa nodded. “…so abuela hasn’t left her room after that night?” Mirabel asked. She hadnt heard that from anyone. “Well after we were… thrown out… she was still trying to blame you for everything, but nobody really listened to her at all so she shut herself away and has only come out to collect the food we give. I can’t really tell how she is.” Pepa explained. “She doesn’t look angry any more, but I can’t tell what she’s feeling so…” mirabel nodded, having experienced her abuela’s empty or hard to read stares many times. “I can never tell when she does that.” Pepa also nodded solemnly. “I didn’t want to be shut away with that anymore so I left the house but I don’t know why I came here. I thought about seeing Julieta , checking on Antonio, I also… thought about sucking it up and apologizing to you without a plan. None of those plans are going very well.” Mirabel almost snorted. The two sat in silence for a moment, looking at the uncharacteristically quiet town. “I’m sorry mirabel. I was… cold to you. Ignored you as if you weren’t still a part of the madrigals because you didn’t get a stupid gift.” Pepa huffed. “I must have set a bad example for my kids too. They seemed to just follow suit, though Camilo tried his best back then.” Another short silence. “I should’ve tried at least. Assure you that you were the most blessed of all so you didn’t need a gift or something cheesy like that. Though, I’m beginning to see that these gifts don’t seem to have helped us. Just stress us out while the village relied on us.” Pepa sighed as the two stared into the streets. It was silent because most of the town didn’t know what to do with themselves. They could do plenty on their own but not nearly the things the madrigals did for them. Mirabel leaned against her Tia. “This entire thing sucks huh? From the gifts to how our family ended up and the village…” pepa chuckled. “Why don’t you go get tio felix and come back to the casita? At least to visit. I need to show you my very own room.” Mirabel invited, earning a warm smile.

The door they saw that day was welcoming. A gentle smile on mirabels face matching a strong, slightly relaxed posture as she stood in front of a glowing casita, small figures peeking out of its windows.

- they’d create a much closer, much more protective dynamic

- they still don’t quite stand up to their abuela but make cover stories and excuses to lessen each other’s burdens (Dolores complains that she hears Luisa’s stress and physical strain all the time and haggles gets her a day off on the weekends)

-instant over protectiveness when mirabel and Camilo are born. Dolores will always alert the other two if they get in some kind of trouble.

-after mirabels gift ceremony all the grandchildren huddle in Isabella’s room to comfort her.

-they have more emotional talks with each other as time goes by

-they collectively team up to keep anyone from getting hit on (Dolores uses this to her advantage to curve Mariano’s interest onto her while the others are preoccupied keeping Isabella sane)

-I also imagine mirabel would also get a lot of shit from sleezy guys? Since she’s seen as the most vulnerable. This just leads to plenty of men being hung upside down from vines or having bruises of shame from Luisa or mirabel herself getting him off her.

-Antonio is born and they all collectively get ready to indoctrinate him into their dynamic

- mirabel is still closest to Antonio but everyone else pays noticeably more attention to him

- if casita still starts breaking (these kids are still under a lot of stress man) the story is more quietly shared between the grandchildren and they work together to figure it out

-finding the vision and they all just kinda make the silent agreement to not say a word

- the rats do eventually steal the vision and lead them to Bruno which stresses him out greatly

- just all six of his nieces and nephews gathered in his tiny room in the walls

-I think to make the miracle stronger they might need to help pepa or Julieta, they it and their kids are already on good terms

- abuela gets mad at them because the end result is not constant sunshine like she wants

-mirabel still goes off on abuela because how dare she hurt her Tia and mama

- if casita fully collapsed after that mirabel would have no chance to disappear on her own because the grandchildren huddle up in their little oh shit circle

Little Mirabel really had no idea what to do. She vividly remembered the way love turned to fear in her abuela’s eyes as the glowing door faded away a few days ago. It was deafeningly silent in the house. No one talked about it. As if it would go away if they ignored it. Mirabel couldn’t take it. So she decided to go into town. What’s better to fight silence than a bustling town.

That plan was a bust. Even though the villagers clearly saw that the small child had snuck out, they chose not to make a commotion over it or speak to her. They probably figured they could let her have a peaceful day out after her birthday. But she didn’t want peaceful! Eventually mirabels stroll took her to a small, solitary square lined with little studios and shops. “Little mirabel?” Two heads poke out of a shop. A man and a woman. The woman had tied her hair back and was wearing an apron smeared with different colors. The man similarly wore an apron, but it was instead powdered with dust and clay. “Are you… lost?”

When mirabels daily runs into town first started, people couldn’t help but be curious, but left her alone figuring she had found a new playmate to keep her mind at ease. But that illusion was soon shattered when a teen boy came back from an errand, claiming that he saw mirabel in the wood workers shop. The shop owner said she was interested in the craft, and that she even helped make the stool the boy was picking up. A few days after that another person claimed they found her in the clay workers shop making a vase. Then it was mirabel painting the street from a porch. Mirabel emriodering roses on a dress. Mirabel cooking by the window with chef andre. Metal working, glass blowing, making paper, dancing in the studio, even climbing onto a roof to grab a cat. Soon the villagers began to greet mirabel as she ran past, thanking her for something she helped make or deliver, and sometimes she’d stop to ask about their own day.

She grew up, learning more and more, making furniture, tools, art, utensils. She began to branch out, fixing things, making toys, mediating fights, baby sitting, comforting mourners. By the time she was ten the entire town knew they could come to her for anything they needed that the regular craftsmen couldn’t or were to busy to make. Even older and they soon asked her to help plan and host festivals and large projects like construction. Soon they gifted her an empty house to hold all her projects and personal works. Just a large shed (more of a barn than anything) but soon it was filled to the brim with colors and decor all made by mirabel herself.

The madrigals themselves didn’t really notice. Of course they saw how the villagers would joyfully greet the girl, how she’d run into town and only be seen intermittently talking to someone or delivering something. But they figured that she was just doing errands for others. Julieta did notice more. How could she not with her youngest daughter now regularly in the kitchen with her, helping with family meals, sometimes cooking everyone’s breakfast while she rushed to make enough arepas to feed a town. Isabela and Luisa also vaguely noted how little things were fixed, or designed differently recently, though not contributing it to their sibling. They also found it strange that people were beginning to ask for mirabel specifically from time to time. And when mirabel disappeared into town first once again abuela silently sighed, whispering “at least she’s finding a way to stay out of the way.”

When mirabel found out she was having a new baby cousin she was ecstatic. And not a single soul in town didn’t know, and every single person couldn’t help but be dragged along in her elation. She immediately planned on putting her toy making skills to use for the next few years. The moment baby Antonio was introduced to the family, she offered him a small stuffed leopard. Pepa in particular found it sweet, thanking her for the gift. There was no night that Antonio didn’t sleep well. Mirabel was right there, checking on him the moment she heard him shift. She embroidered a blanket for him with toucans. Made him many animal shaped toys. At Antonio’s first birthday mirabel gave him another plus, this time a lion. His second birthday was celebrated with the fanciest little animal shoes she could make. When he turned 3 she gifted him a wooden figurine set of all his favorite animals. He loved them, maybe because of her. At 4 a hand drawn and inked book of animal facts, along with a small clay figure of a giraffe, given with the promise that he’d be careful not to break it.