This new idea hinges on what would have happened if Bruno's curse broke before they got back to the Encanto. Specifically before they got to the gates that require him to die to open/release the time lock the kingdom is under. It's made worse because Bruno, Razili and the kids aren't actually sure if his curse is broken/he's still immortal or not.

In this AU Razili would come with them to the Encanto since Bruno thinks he might have to die for real and he's sure as heck not sending them without someone who can protect them from Jose in case he gets out. When they get to the gates Razili tries everything she can think of to open them but no dice. The only way anyone is getting in is with Bruno's life blood. For the sake of max angst, the way everyone can think of to figure out if he's still immortal is to wait a year and see if he's aging. Bruno would probably have to be bullied a little into accepting this plan because if it turns out he is mortal now thats time the kids could have had with their parents (especially Antonio).

And this is the most painful part, they don't end up having to wait that long because sooner than later Bruno and Razili realize she's pregnant which only could have happened if they're both mortal.

Which means having to choose between saving the Encanto now and giving his sobrinos time with their parents or later and getting to actually be there to raise his own child. I can't even imagine how hard that would be because for the last 500 years his main goal, the one that kept him alive, was get the kids back to their parents. But he would also desperately want to actually live to spend his life with his wife and kid. Which means having to choose when to die, knowing that the kids are going to keep getting older and their parents are going to keep being frozen in time while also knowing very first hand the trauma that his death for the sake of the kingdom will cause his child.

IF I was writing this (and I might, haven't decided yet) I would probably go the route of they decide (because this decision while ultimately his, very much involves Razili and the kids) to go save the Encanto while Razili is still pregnant but before she starts showing. (I have thought way too in-depth of the timing of this) I'm leaning this way because 1) I know how hard it was to do things while pregnant vs with a newborn and with a baby sounds much much harder and 2) which is the bigger reason, I honestly don't know if Bruno would be able to make himself do it if he's met his kid or at least I think he would be scared of that.

This does all end with a happy ending still by the way because the Miracle still resurrects him after everything is said and done. Razili gets to murder Jose in this one. (Honestly that's the secondary reason why she doesn't come on the quest in the first place, Razili who has a MUCH more extensive education/experience in fighting with magic and who is still pretty darn good with a sword, would easily wipe the floor with José. The main reason is because we said we weren't going to shoe horn her in since we came up with her after we finished act 1 of TBTK so she could only haunt the narrative rather than be there.)

(Thats another fun detail we're excited about. During the 300 year separation Bruno learned more magic as a way to feel closer to Razili and Razili learned more about swordfighting to feel closer to Bruno.)

Ngl we have been so sooooo excited to post this chapter for 2.5 years. I just had to rewrite the cantina scene to make it fit with the changes we made (namely that it wasnt the first time they kissed anymore) and even though I actually had brain space to think about writing again postpartum I now have a newborn so that's why it took 3 months to write idk like 500 words.

I had the idea for the whole framework of stay or run 2 weeks ago and I'm really really pleased with how it turned out .