Work Text:
Everything happened so fast… one minute, Isabela was playing around with her powers, and reconnecting with Mirabel. The next moment, Abuela barged in and started scolding Mirabel, as Isabela stood by as she normally did. Except this time, it was a pair of fresh eyes as Mirabel alas stood up for both herself and her entire family. And then, as everyone pushed themselves out
away from the falling debris, Casita collapsed.
Their home was gone, and with their home, their powers began to fade. It seemed, at that moment, things couldn’t be any worse, until…
“Has anyone seen Mirabel?”
The Madrigals immediately began to search around- apparently, Mirabel hadn’t made it out of the house before it fell. Suddenly, Isabela felt lightheaded, as if nothing felt real. Was this what it felt like to grieve? Don’t think about that yet, we still don’t know what happened.
And yet, Isabela still felt a yearning in her heart, a pit of guilt forming in her stomach, as the Madrigals dug through the rubble, trying to find the youngest daughter.
For years, Isabela resented Mirabel for not having powers, for not having to deal with the pressures that came with them… yet now, she realized that wasn’t at all true. Mirabel felt just as much pressure as Isabela to live up to Abuela’s impossible standards. And yet, with no powers, Mirabel had to work twice as hard to do so.
Soon, Isabela saw her mother running up to the family members that stood outside the collapsed house, “Mirabel ran away!”
“Is she okay?” Luisa asked.
Julieta sighed, “Physically? Yes, but emotionally? I’m not so sure.”
Isabela felt a pinch of relief upon hearing this, but that soon turned to worry. She knew all about pressure, but she couldn’t imagine what it felt like to hold that much weight on your shoulders. When the fate of your home, and your family sat on you… Mirabel probably felt that she had failed them, but in truth, she didn’t… they failed her.
Even through all the pressures Isabela faced, she could count on her family to be on her side, and yet, she remembered the night Mariano was supposed to propose to her. It was the night that Delores ultimately revealed Mirabel’s fate to the entire family, and it felt like everyone turned on her.
“What did you do?!” She remembered hearing Tìa Pepa snap at Mirabel.
And yet, Mirabel didn’t do anything wrong, in fact, she was trying to fix the mistakes their Abuela made. Then, Isabela remembered the words she had shouted at her younger sister.
“I hate you!”
It wasn’t true, of course, even if she thought it was in the moment. It just felt like once again, Mirabel had gotten in the way of her success, and yet… looking back, Isabela realized that all Mirabel was trying to do was save her special day. Despite their deteriorated relationship, Mirabel still tried to make sure Isabela was happy.
And then, after everything was said and done, Mirabel came to her room, in an attempt to mend their broken relationship. All Isabela did was demand an apology from her, not bothering to apologize for the harm she caused, and then proceeded to accuse Mirabel of ruining her life.
“I’m so sorry your life is so perfect!” Mirabel had snapped.
Isabela never had a perfect life, but it made sense that Mirabel thought that, especially since the sisters never spent time with each other. And then… Mirabel called Isabela selfish.
Isabela remembered feeling a deep felt anger she had never felt before bubbling in the pit of her stomach. How DARE Mirabel call her selfish? She had done more than anyone to make sure this family was happy, even preparing to indulge herself in a loveless marriage.
And then… a cactus popped out of the ground as a result of her prickling anger. Isabela then stared in awe at the plant, realizing she could do so much more. Maybe Mirabel wasn’t such a nuisance after all.
Yet, moments later, Isabela could have never predicted that she would lose her sister, possibly forever.
***
In the few days Mirabel had been missing, Isabela had learned a lot about her baby sister. Mirabel had the respect of all the children in the village, as she would watch them while the rest of the Madrigals were working. The children seemed most upset that the youngest Madrigal daughter was missing.
She had also learned that Mirabel was a musician, and would often participate in concerts with the local band. Apparently she was amazing at the accordion, and had a beautiful singing voice. The members of the band pitched in to try and help find her.
Isabela walked up to Luisa, “Have you found her yet?”
Luisa’s silence was telling, but she tried to keep up a smile for her older sister. “I’m sure they’ll find her soon, she is probably in shock.”
It was a few hours later that Mirabel rode in on horse, shocking everyone in the village. On the back of the horse was Abuela and… Tìo Bruno? Isabela and Luisa immediately ran to the house, where Mirabel was with their mother and father, and Isabela immediately embraced Mirabel, taking her by surprise.
“I’m so glad you’re okay!
Mirabel smiled, a warm smile, which Isabela had not seen since they were little. “I’m sorry for making you worry.”
Unlike the apology Isabela heard while they were in her room, this one felt genuine. But, Isabela couldn’t be worried about apologies anymore.
“If you do that again, I swear to god-“
“I won’t, I promise.”
Luisa then looked at their uncle, who looked like he was hiding behind the wall. Mirabel brought him home..
“Is that-“
Mirabel nodded, “I have a lot to catch you up on.”
And for once, Isabela couldn’t wait to hear what her sister had been up to lately.