#alma marginada

I came up with this idea after thinking about different ways Encanto could have ended and came up with this mess so enjoy.

So the au starts as casita begins to cave in, she still actively throws the adults out, the change comes when she prevents the six grandchildren from leaving, instead throwing them along until they’re each locked in their rooms, even Mirabel in the nursery.

The adults are left trying to claw their way back in as the house collapses over their children, but it’s useless.

Bruno however, still makes it out! Not that it’s much of a relief to the rest of the family.

Once casita is demolished and the dust is settled Julieta and Pepa let out guttural, shrieking, screams. Agustín and Félix immediately start combing the rubble for any sign of their children. Bruno comes running from the trees to help. He might fear his family’s judgement, but he loves those kids more than that.

The others barely take a moment to be shocked at his sudden reappearance before they go back to searching.

Eventually the townspeople make their way over and upon realising the children were all still inside during the collapse, they start to dig too. They never find them. No bodies, nothing. Not even Mirabel.The family that’s left is completely distraught. Understandably.

Fast forward a few weeks. The townspeople have rebuilt casita as an act of kindness, the same as before, only without the cheery mood and singing. The remaining Madrigals step forward to the front door of their rebuilt home. They all place a hand on the door together and push.

The magic comes back. Just like before. Only no children this time. No doors for the kids, no immediate signs they were every there at all.

They all come together in the middle of the courtyard and just stand together, grieving. They had hoped that the return of the miracle would mean the return of their children, but it didn’t bring them back. They stand together for a while, just holding on.

Until they hear a noise. Just a small one. From the rebuilt nursery. They rush to the door, each taking a deep breath before throwing it open. And there, lying in the centre of the room, wrapped in blankets, is six babies.

Their six babies.

Everyone is quick to scoop them up and hold them close, checking to confirm it really is their kids. Once they know it really is them they burst into tears.

Casita gave them back their children, but with a chance to start over. Raise them better from the start.

They realise quickly that they’re in for a tough time, it’s not going to be easy starting over in such a complicated way.

They’re just so happy to have their children back.

Bond

Summary: bruno and alma sit together remembering their lost loved ones

Alma sighed as she was looking for her son, he was nowhere to be seen and she needed to talk to him.

"He might be you know" Pepa pointed to the familiar direction and alma felt so ridiculous for not searching there first.

Her heart felt heavy as she approached the area and saw him, hunched down to place a few roses on your place then sat down.

Facing it, like it’s gonna talk to him or that if he stays there long enough you will come back to him.

"Brunito" she whispered.

He heard her voiced and tuned around immediately, feeling a little stupid to expect someone else. He smiled softly at his mama.

"Hi…I was just visiting"

Alma nodded before sitting down beside him, she touched your grave stone softly and tuned to her son.

"I think your papa would’ve been very proud of you for falling with someone as incredible as y/n" Bruno smiled as his mama took his hand and kissed him.

His eyes looked at the ground once again "I miss her mama…everyday" alma hummed.

"When your papa died…I cried for days and held onto you and your sisters like the only life cored I have…I still miss him to this day" bruno rubbed the back of his mama’s hands comfortingly "when I look at you I see him, and I understand wanting your loved one to see how things are now but it’s just how everything works"

Bruno licked his lips then warped his arms around his mama "I understand, I just wish I could’ve said goodbye, that I had been with her on her last breath but I wasn’t" alma rubbed his back, held him like when he was just a baby crying because he’s scared of a bad dream or vision.

"She was a great woman bruno, with a big heart, I believe she’s watching you now from heaven, joy beaming from her face as he sees how happy you are now" bruno couldn’t cry anymore, nor could alma the tears all ran out and there was no place for sorrow and pain.

"She’s my Angel" he said.

"Yes she is" said alma.

They stayed beside you for a little longer than went back home, alma took him to her room and gave him a box.

Bruno’s heart warmed at the inside of the box, his wedding photos, the ones the family took down after both of you were gone.

You looked so bright and beautiful in white and he seemed like the happiest man in Columbia.

In his head you made him the happiest man in Columbia.

He made sure your picture was framed and put back up so every morning he could wake up and greet you along side his papa, knowing that know both of you are in a better place, watching over him and smiling down.

"Tío bruno! Tell us about tía y/n" bruno smiled at the two teenagers and sat down, a proud smile on his face.

"Well this is the story of how your tío won the heart of the prettiest, most incredible woman in Encanto!"

don't think about alma refusing to sleep in the room the casita formed for her, opting to stay with her babies instead. bringing them into the room feels wrong , sleeping alone does too, but the bedroom stays warm and dust free in case she ever needs it. don't think about the casita staying extra still as she walks by the closed door and don't think about her apologizing to the doorknob for rejecting this miracle. don't think about her forcing herself to sleep in her own room when her children grow a little more and don't think about her deciding that even if she hates it, she must honor the miracle. she must put the miracle first.

don't think about pepa's first meltdown with her gift and how scary it is for alma, the flashing lighting and thunder making her flinch as she begs her baby to calm down. don't think about her sobbing in her room when it's done, the casita has dried itself out and pepa is told she can't leave her room for a day. don't think about how worried she must be for the encanto, that pepa's childish arrogance might drive it away and she'd be powerless again.

don't think about alma pushing bruno into his first vision and how she pushes down the guilt of forcing him to use his gift. but he must use it, for the good of the encanto. he swore it, and so did she as she beat the banks of the lake with her tears and watched her pedro d13s. he shakes for hours after and doesn't say anything for days. don't think about julieta trying to feed him to make him feel better or pepa trying her hardest to stay happy so that she can make rainbows for bruno.

don't think about a ten-year-old julieta staying up late to bake her mother's recipes for the village in the morning. she's going to start a stand in the square and make her mami proud. don't think of alma scolding an exhausted julieta for burning the arepas and sending her to bed. don't think about alma saying that they'll just have to open the stand another day and that julieta's gift will just waste for now. don't think about her trying to kiss her daughter's forehead still, she's just trying to keep the encanto safe, she's not actually upset. but julieta runs away and locks herself in her room. don't think about alma falling asleep against her door after begging her to come out all night.

Can a candle holder affect a child's gift? We have Abuela who was holder of 7 children who were given the gift at the ceremony. Then there was Mirabel ceremony that made her a holder - and she was it at the one-child ceremony. And frankly there is a big difference between everyone's gifts and Antonio's one. 

So Alma, who became a single mother and widow, wished she could have foreseen the future when her Pedro was attacked. She wished she could have done something to heal his wounds and take care of the health of everyone in the village. And she wished she could exercise more control over what was going on in the city - over the sun that would take care of the crops, and the rain that would give them potable water. And she got it all in her triplets.

Later, when she had grandchildren, the situation in the village was calm. She might have wished it were prettier because of the flowers. That she would know what the townspeople want and how they live, by listening to them. To be able to move loads, to facilitate work and that there would be someone who would adapt to everyone so that he could help in the most appropriate way. These things were small wishes because the hard foundation was already made.

...And then there was doubt as to what would happen if Abuel was gone, who would take care of it all?

Es un amor incondicional, que no se encuentra en ninguna otra persona. No importa cuánto pase el tiempo, él seguirá ahí, estará contigo, no te dejará nunca solo. Es un amor fuerte como el diamante, indestructible y sin manera de debilitarlo.

Amor de viejo, amor puro y sin filtros, sin ataduras y sin químicos. Sin decepción ni tristeza, es único e inigualable incluso más allá de los límites inimaginables.

Ese viejo al que vale la pena decirle siempre cuánto se le ama y cuánto se le tiene en el corazón, sin importar errores ni dolores en el corazón, es un amor que a pesar de todo perdona y cuida.