Chapter Text
Being a Madrigal was not easy. One would think having spectacular gifts like super strength, plant manipulation or even controlling the weather would be fun and amazing thing to have. In reality, it was tough. From the age of five the Madrigals received their gifts, they’d devote their lives to the town after that which also meant, no time for themselves. Abuela Alma was strict about that. Everyone used their gifts to help the community. All but one.
Mirabel Madrigal, the youngest granddaughter of Abuela Alma Madrigal and the youngest daughter of Julieta Madrigal was a fifteen year old young girl who was the only Madrigal without a gift (excluding the Madrigal husbands of course). She couldn’t grow flowers like her oldest sister Isabela, or carry impossible things like her older sister Luisa. She couldn’t hear a pin drop like her cousin Dolores or shape shift like her cousin Camilo. Couldn’t see the future like Tio Bruno, or control the weather like Tia Pepa. And lastly, she couldn’t heal with a meal like her mama Julieta.
Mirabel desperately wanted to make her family proud, earn Abuela’s approval but no matter what she did, or how hard she tried, she’d always get scolded or told to stay out of the way. Mostly from her big sister Isabela who was always so perfect and loved…The first born grandchild, the golden child. Abuela’s favorite. Mirabel wanted to be as loved as her sister who before her ceremony used to be inseparable.
After her failed ceremony, they slowly drifted apart, at first Isa was always supportive and would comfort her when she cried. But slowly, she got busier and busier, when Isa was teenager she had…mood swings and mostly had Mirabel as her outlet for anger. Mirabel used to look up to her oldest sister, but now, she was convinced Isabela hated her guts. Sometimes, although she’d never admit it outloud, Mirabel just wanted her sister back not the Seniorita Perfecta as she calls her now.
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Antonio’s ceremony was tonight. The four soon five-year old was her youngest cousin and youngest son of Tia Pepa. The young boy was the only member in the family besides her mama who adored her. Tonito always looks up to Mirabel despite not having a gift. It did help that they shared room. But now, Antonio would get his super awesome gift and his new room, he’d probably forget her and join the rest of the family.
Soon, night came, it was time for the ceremony to take place. Luckily it was successful, Antonio received his gift, animal talking, it suited him since he always loved animals. Mirabel had made him a jaguar plushie just before the ceremony as a birthday gift.
As expected, she was forgotten in the family picture and was mostly a shadow during the entire party until…She saw Casita cracking. Mirabel panicked and decided to warn everyone.
“THE MAGIC IS IN DANGER, I SAW CASITA CRACKING!” Mirabel yelled as she entered Antonio’s room. Abuela and the rest of the family and the villagers as well looked at her worriedly.
“Show me” Abuela demanded, Mirabel nodded and lead the family outside only to find Casita…fine, no cracks or anything out of ordinary.
“But…” Mirabel muttered, Isabela rolled her eyes in annoyance. Abuela sighed and calmed the villagers down. Mirabel’s oldest sister death glared at her when no one was looking. Mirabel looked down, she later had a talk with her mama who apparently did not believe her either.
Mirabel was used to being misjudged and unwanted but the words from the grandkids of the family next morning broke her.First it was Camilo when Mirabel approached him thinking it was Dolores his words stabbed like a knife.
"You know,you should of thought something better than planning to ruin Antonio's ceremony with your stupid crack in Casita idea. We all know you're jealous Mirabel.Are you going to talk about the cracks every time you want attention?" Camilo hissed and walked away with his plate.
Tio Felix and Pepa just stared with pity,Luisa attempted to calm her down by telling her that they loved her no matter what and she had nothing to prove. Dolores told her she was the only one who saw the cracks and if there were really cracks she'd have heard them. And lastly,her oldest sister,the one who she used to always look up to and always would be there to comfort her. Isabela telling her off wasn't something new but … This time.
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Isabela was furious with Mirabel's behavior last night, she knew it'd be hard for her hermanita but this … attempt to ruin Antonio's ceremony? Not only that, Mariano had come to ask her about the cracks worriedly later. Speaking of which Dolores had announced that her engagement was tonight.She did not want this at all, but she had to do it for her family,for her sisters … Isabela was thirteen when she decided to get all attention from her Abuela on her just to protect Mirabel from scolding. It was bad enough she did not get a gift but her hermanita would not stop trying to prove herself,making Isabela's job harder. Naturally she ended up snapping at her baby sister and every time she did,she felt awful,especially by the hurt look Mirabel was giving her each time. She just wanted to hold her hermanita close and tell her everything would be okay but …she never did.
And now Mirabel had crossed a line,and she wanted to make sure her hermanita would not attempt anything to ruin the engagement,who knows what Abuela would do to her baby sister it the night didn't go perfectly well. Isabela dragged Mirabel in Casita and glared.
"Mariano's proposal is tonight,you better not ruin it like you always do. Stay out of the way and for your sake don't utter a word" Isabela hissed, Mirabel probably looked at her more hurt than she normally does, she always backfires whenever Isabela made a comment and the two argued, Isabela expected another backfire from her hermanita but…nothing,she just weakly nodded and left. That's a first. Isabela noticed how upset Mirabel was, she wanted to go after her and just hold her close till her hermanita felt better about herself but now…she had other things she worried about … So all she did was go to her room and hold onto an imperfect Rose Plushie Mirabel had made for her Quince. Yes she was rude when Mirabel had given it to her but in reality it was the best gift she had received that day and slept with it every night. In fact, Isa had kept every single gift Mirabel had given her over the years despite the criticism she showed when receiving them.
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Mirabel ran to the nursery and stayed there for the rest of the day.She wanted to save the miracle, yes but after being doubted by everyone in the family it broke her. Mirabel decided to make something as a present for Isabela's engagement, maybe…her sister would finally accept her. And of course she ran out of fabric,great she now had to go to the town and get some more so Mirabel quietly left the nursery and walked to the sewing store. She was a known customer there and well loved by Senora Rodriguez. On her way there she couldn't help but over hear the villagers talking about her. They were all upset by her behavior. Great … as having her family hate on her but having the villagers too…maybe she should just stay out of the way for good.
On her way back to Casita she bumped onto Osvaldo.
"Ah Mirabel, just the person I wanted to see" Osvaldo exclaimed
"Anything I can help you with sir?" Mirabel asked filled with hope to make herself useful.
"I actually got a present for you. I know last night was…hard for you so I figured I could give you another not special…special gift." Osvaldo exclaimed as he gave Mirabel another package with things for Isabela's engagement… Mirabel sighed and faked a smile. She left soon after and placed the new package on the kitchen. She quickly return to the nursery where she worked on a gift for her big sister. She had made a decision that day…
In a week's time she'd be gone from encanto.