Work Text:
Mariposa knocked on the door.
“Come in!” she heard, and, a bit hesitant, opened the door, to reveal a very boring, by their family’s standards, room. Even though a regular person would dream to have a room this cozy and lovingly decorated.
“Prima de la-”
“Please, just call me tía Mira” Mirabel answered, smiling “Is something bothering you?”
Mirabel knew that if Mariposa started speaking in what she called “long terms”, that meant that she was worried, or unwell.
“Well, I was just… what if I don’t get a gift?” Mariposa was the firstborn daughter of Dolores and Mariano, and she was about to get her own gift, so, obviously, she was worried.
“Well, why don’t you sit there with me. Here, here. Do you know how our family got our magic?”
Mariposa knew, but she still wanted to hear the story all over again.
“Long ago, two people, your bisabuela and your bisabuelo fell in love. Soon, they married, and had three beautiful children, including your abuela Pepa. But they had to leave their home, because it was dangerous to stay. Sadly, the danger got to them, and your bisabuelo was lost to it”
Mariposa sighed. She couldn’t have possibly known her bisabuelo Pedro, but his portrait was still on the wall, and he was talked about a lot in the family.
“But his love for his family and urge to protect us never went away. It manifested in a magical candle, from which our Encanto was born. It made our amazing Casita, and helped everyone, who was in need of shelter at that moment”
Mariposa nodded. Her favorite part was coming up, and she couldn’t wait.
“All the Madrigal kids got their gifts in due time. Everyone, but me, got them at five years old. And it made me really sad. But what was sadder is that we were so blinded by the miracle, that we thought we had to earn it every day of our lives. We had to be the best at everything, a family everyone relied on. And it was hard. And we couldn’t find time to be a good family to each other, over being a good family for the community. We didn’t see each other’s humanity. And one day, Casita started to break. And I swore that I will save the miracle. Sadly, the candle and the original Casita were lost. But it helped us grow. And when the time came, I opened the door to our new home, and the spirit of our family was restored. But we wouldn’t have realized what we needed, if it wasn't for a butterfly. That’s why your parents named you Mariposa. You are here, because we all stayed a family, no matter what. And I am sure that you will get a gift. And even if you don’t, it isn’t a bad thing. No matter what, you were born a Madrigal, and you will always be our beloved Mariposa”
Mariposa hugged Mirabel really tightly.
“Will you walk me to my door, like you did tío Antonio?”
“I will be honored to”