Chapter Text
“I’m going for a walk,”
Dolores looked over to Mirabel “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“I need some fresh air to…think…" Mirabel said, “It has been an interesting few days, at least we got Camilo on our side now, a productive morning I would say.”
“It is, slowly our plan is coming together.”
Mirabel grinned, blind eyes shining with excitement “Anyway, I’m just going to walk to my tree, you stay here and look after things.”
“You’re going out alone?” Dolores asked “Are you sure-”
“Dolores, I’ll be fine, I love you but I need some me time you know? I’ll only be gone an hour, no more.”
“I don’t think it’s safe, remember what happened that day with Rafael and Alejandro that day? If I didn’t take that road that afternoon…you wouldn’t be with us today.”
“I know but-”
“You would have died hermanita, they intended to kill you. Seeing you alone would be something they couldn’t resist. They attack you even when you’re with me.”
Mirabel shuffled her feet “Dolores, please, I just need some breathing space, you know where I’m going and if I’m not back in an hour you can come and get me.”
Dolores frowned.
“You worry too much, Dolores I’ll be fine.”
“....fine.”
Mirabel chuckled “You’re like Mamá, I’ll be fine.”
Dolores shook her head and pulled Mirabel into a hug “Be careful, don’t talk to anyone, if anyone not from our family comes up to you run straight back…maybe I should go with you just in case-”
Mirabel placed a hand over Dolores’s mouth “Dolores, chill, I’ll be fine.”
“I promised Tía Julieta I would look after you.”
“I know, but still, chill,” Mirabel smiled “I lasted this long, if I was destined to die I would have died by now.”
“Don’t tempt fate.”
Mirabel rolled her eyes playfully “Yeah, yeah see you soon.”
Dolores watched Mirabel leave the barn with a sigh, even if Mirabel wasn’t her hermanita by blood she felt a duty to protect her, they were sisters where it counted. Besides in La Familia Madrigal, the bond between cousins and siblings was the same.
She looked around the barn, she might as well clean up a bit while Mirabel was out, a good sweep was needed that was for sure.
Picking up the broom she began to hum, she knew she worried a lot but she couldn’t help it, the Encanto wasn’t safe for Mirabel and her, people wanted to cause them harm.
Still, Dolores was happier than she was while living under Alma’s control, she was free. Truly free, the only negative was she was living away from the rest of her family, she still saw them regularly but it was not the same.
Living as the town outcasts wasn’t easy but the duo got by, Julieta provided them food, and though it had been so long since they both had a full homemade meal, they didn’t go hungry, if they ever wanted to wash up they could go into the Pérezs house.
Life could be harder, they could have no access to food and without their family’s support.
Dolores would do it again if she could go back in time, giving up her gift to leave Casita and join her hermanita was the best thing she ever did, standing up to Alma after all these years was satisfying.
Alma would pay for what she had done to them, or maybe Alma would finally open her eyes and realise that she is losing everything and it’s all her own fault.
Now that would be a miracle.
༺═──────────────═༻
Isabela was not happy, she pretended to be but she wasn’t. She was miserable.
She felt like a bird, caged up and unable to fly only able to sing on Alma’s command.
She hated being perfect, she hated pink, and she was getting sick of roses.
Isabela told herself she hated Dolores for betraying them, but deep down she was jealous.
Dolores got to stand up to their Abuela and say enough was enough, Dolores got to live freely.
Dolores didn’t have to meet a standard, Dolores didn’t have to worry about a single hair out place, Dolores didn’t have to always have a smile on her face.
Dolores got to have a relationship with Mirabel.
Isabela hadn’t gotten along with her youngest sister in years, even before Mirabel’s banishment from Casita their relationship was strained.
Not that Mirabel didn’t try, she did desperately but in order to please Alma Isabela pushed her further and further away until Mirabel just gave up.
Now the last time they interacted Mirabel kidnapped her with Dolores’s aid making her miss what was supposed to be Mariano proposing to her.
Not that she wanted to marry him anyway.
But that didn’t stop her from breaking away from Mirabel and running back though too late and exposing Dolores.
Isabela still hasn’t forgotten the look on Dolores’s face as her former best friend was banished from their home.
Nor the cry of Pepa as Dolores’s door went dark.
Camilo hated her for getting his sister kicked out, Luisa would only shake her head at her in disappointment and Pepa would thunder whenever she looked at her.
But she was the victim!
They did you a favour by saving you from a loveless marriage, and that’s how you repay them.
Isabela shook her head trying to chase the nagging voice away. Mirabel was a monster, she was going to destroy the miracle.
Maybe that would be a good thing.
No, no, how could the end of their miracle be good? Abuelo Pedro died to give them that miracle, Mirabel destroying it would mean it was all for nothing.
But the miracle was making them miserable, Pedro wouldn’t want this for them.
No, Pedro would want them to protect their miracle, that’s what Alma had always told her, protect their miracle, their family and their home from all threats.
That included Mirabel and now Dolores.
They were the enemies.
They’re right about everything, this is wrong.
“Shut up!” Isabela growled trying to chase away the voice in her head “Everything is going to be fine, I am fine.”
You’re not fine.
Isabela let out a frustrated scream.
“What’s wrong princesa? Did your rose have a thorn?”
The voice made Isabela jump, she looked around before spotting Mirabel sitting under a tree watching her with an amused smirk.
“I’ve been watching you pace back and forth over there,” Mirabel said slowly standing up and walking forward.
“Stay away from me!” Isabela snapped, why did it have to be Mirabel? Of all people, it just had to be her.
“Ah, that’s no way to greet your dearest baby sister,” Mirabel chuckled “How are you my dear hermana?”
“We’re not sisters!”
“We are, sorry to disappoint you but we are related wherever you like it or not, and I am still waiting for my thank you.”
“Thank you?! Why would I thank you?!”
Mirabel blinked “For getting you out of that marriage Alma was going to force you into, you don’t love Mariano so why not let Dolores who does love him marry him? Would you really just marry him to upset Dolores? That’s a wrong reason to marry, hermana.”
“Stop calling me that! You kidnapped me! You knocked me out!”
Mirabel shrugged “Well I knew you wouldn’t come with me willingly, you would rather marry a man you don’t love than follow me. I admit the method was drastic but you know what they say, desperate times call for desperate measures.”
Isabela growled, “Everyone thinks I stood Mariano up!”
“And?”
“Do you know what this has done to my reputation?! Everyone wants to know why I turned down the Encanto’s most eligible bachelor!”
“Well tell them the truth, you don’t love him.”
“I can’t!”
“Lie then.”
“I can’t lie either!”
Mirabel shrugged “Well, you work it out on your own I have bigger problems.”
“You cause all my problems!”
“And you cause me problems, so does Alma and so does the rest of the town but unlike you, I’m doing something about it,” Mirabel studied Isabela’s face for a moment before smiling softly “Say, why don’t you join me?”
“WHAT?!”
“Join me, Isabela, together we can stand up against Alma and you can show her you had enough, show her you will not be her perfect doll any longer.”
Isabela took a step back rage filling her face “I’m not falling for it! You just want the candle! You’re a monster!”
“I know you’re not happy, Isabela, no one in the family is. The miracle isn’t making anyone happy and you know it. You’re miserable.”
“I’m fine!”
“You put on your façade and grow your pretty flowers but behind that smiling mask, you’re screaming. You hate this pretty pink princess stuff.”
“SHUT UP!”
“You know I’m right.”
“No, you’re wrong!” Isabela took a step towards Mirabel trembling “You got Dolores but you will not get me! I know your scheme! You’re evil!”
“So you’re going to be miserable for the rest of your life? Sad. And here I thought you would be better, but I guess once Alma’s pet, always Alma’s pet. Mamá is going to be disappointed.”
“I HATE YOU!”
Mirabel smirked, she was cracking Isabela, oh to get Isabela on her side…the look on Alma’s face alone would be worth it “What are you going to do, princesa? Attack me? That wouldn’t be very perfect of you now would it?”
“I WISH YOU WERE NEVER BORN! I WISHED YOU DIED! WE WOULD ALL BE BETTER OFF WITH YOU DEAD!” Isabela screamed.
Mirabel’s eyes rose.
Isabela stared at her panting regret for those words filling her “Mira-” she found herself on the ground looking up at Mirabel’s enraged face.
“You, brat!” Mirabel spat “I have done nothing to you! All I have ever done was try to earn your love! But you’re just so selfish!”
Isabela didn’t even attempt to knock Mirabel off.
“You’re so self-absorbed you don’t see the suffering of those around you! You don’t see that Luisa isn’t happy, that Mamá and Papa aren’t happy! That Tía Pepa isn’t happy! Tío Bruno isn’t happy! Camilo isn’t happy! AND YOU DON’T CARE!”
Isabela growled and shoved Mirabel off, her sister’s glasses going flying and with a scream threw herself at her sister just as Mirabel was scrambling up and pinned her back down “We were all happy until you came along!”
Mirabel tried to wiggle free.
“Abuela was happy, the family was happy, and then you had to come along!” Isabela hissed not noticing the vines that began to wrap around Mirabel.
Mirabel let out a cry as thorns dug into her skin “GET OFF!”
Isabela didn’t hear her cries “All you have ever done is mess things up! From the moment you were born, all you caused our family was grief!”
Mirabel wheezed as the vines wrapped around her sides, “D-Dolores…” Mirabel gasped out “H-h-help me…”
If only Dolores still had her gift.
Isabela didn’t notice her sister’s struggle for each and every breath “You’ve always been cursed!”
The vines reached Mirabel’s throat the thorns digging it, Mirabel gasped as her oxygen was completely cut off and her eyes widened in a panic. Her simple walk had turned into a matter of life and death.
Blood was coming out of her open mouth as she let out a silent desperate gasp for breath, but the thorns just dug in deeper and deeper.
It was over.
Mirabel could feel herself slipping away, her body had always been weak and it could not go on any longer, it was shutting down.
Mirabel no longer felt fear instead she felt…peaceful, she felt tied like she was about to settle down for an afternoon nap.
Mirabel’s eyes closed for what would be the last time as her body went limp.
She failed her promise to her family, but Dolores would make sure they were all okay.
After all these years of struggling, she was tired. She was just so tired.
In the end, she wasn’t strong enough.
But now she could finally have her peace.
She can finally rest.
Isabela was still on top of Mirabel sobbing, she was just so frustrated. She wanted to be free, but she couldn’t. If she went with Mirabel she would be shunned too. The town would turn against her.
Just like they did with-
Isabela felt something wet on her hand, she raised it and saw red.
Blood.
She looked down and let out a scream jumping back and calling off the vines, the blood had come from Mirabel.
Isabela shook as she stared at Mirabel’s body waiting for her to get up.
A minute passed.
Then another.
And another.
Mirabel remained motionless on the ground.
“No…no…no…” Isabela knelt down next to Mirabel and placed two fingers on Mirabel’s wrist to check for a pulse as Julieta had taught her to do.
Nothing.
Isabela desperately pressed an ear against Mirabel’s chest, but there was no heartbeat. No sign of life.
Mirabel was dead.
And it was all Isabela’s fault.
“No…Mirabel…please…” Isabela began to sob “I didn’t mean it! I swear! You’re right I’m not happy! Don’t do this, please! We need you! I need you!”
Tears began to fall from Isabela’s eyes “Hermanita…please…please wake up, I don’t wish you were dead, please come back. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it, I swear I didn’t mean it.”
Isabela pulled Mirabel closer resting her head in her lap “Hermanita…I’m so sorry…so so sorry…I love you.”
Too late, far too late. She’s dead because of you.
Isabela sobbed into Mirabel’s chest “I’m sorry….forgive me…please forgive me…”
What is Dolores going to think?
Dolores was going to kill her when she found out.
What is Luisa going to think? One sister killing her other.
Luisa was going to hate her, she killed their sister, their baby sister.
What are your parents going to think? That was their baby girl.
Julieta’s heart was going to be broken, and so was Agustín’s.
The whole family was going to be heartbroken, except for one person.
Alma.
The thought of her Abuela taking delight in Mirabel’s death made Isabela want to hurl.
Isabela looked down at Mirabel’s face, she looked peaceful as if she was just dozing in the sun…that was if she ignored the blood coming out of her mouth, throat and neck.
Choking back sobs Isabela kissed Mirabel’s forehead, the same way she did before Mirabel’s ceremony years before “Goodbye baby sister, you didn’t deserve to go…but if Heaven is real…I hope you go there and be with Abuelo…and I am so sorry…I would take it all back if I could…I really would.”
Isabela felt something on her back, something that felt like a hand rubbing her reassuringly.
She turned her head but there was nothing there.
Abuelo? Are you here for Mirabel and to guide her to the Heavens?
Isabela looked down at Mirabel again “Please…let her go somewhere nice, she doesn’t deserve Hell…no matter what other people say…I however do…after this.”
“Mirabel?! Mirabel?!”
Isabela gasped hearing Dolores’s voice, she couldn’t be caught like this. She just couldn’t.
She laid Mirabel’s body back on the ground and quickly stood up, she knew she was taking the coward’s way out but she couldn’t see Dolores’s face when she found Mirabel.
She just couldn’t.
She broke into a run, taking off for Casita as fast as she could, but she could not run fast enough to not hear the scream.
Dolores’s scream.
Dolores had found Mirabel.
Isabela rushed into Casita and up the stairs into her room slamming the door, she made it halfway across the room before she collapsed into a sobbing heap.
She wanted her sister back, she wanted to hug Mirabel again, even if it was just one more time.
But Mirabel was gone, and she was never coming back. Her sister was dead because she lost control.
She broke the most important rule when it come to the gifts.
Never use your gift for harm.
She didn’t just harm Mirabel, she killed her.
Would her gift be revoked? She didn’t even want it anymore, this stupid gift claimed her sister’s life.
Isabela raised her hands, patches of red blood covered them.
She felt like she couldn’t breathe…just like poor Mirabel.
It was all her fault, all of it was her fault.
She couldn’t face her family after what she had done, they’ll exile her anyway.
She was a murderer.
Isabela curled up on the floor, Mirabel wasn’t the monster she was.
“Mirabel…I love you…” Isabela wepy.
Isabela swore then and there that as long as she had this stupid gift she would never make another vine.
Never again.
༺═──────────────═༻
Dolores wished she was dreaming, she had to be dreaming. It couldn’t be true it just couldn’t.
Her precious hermanita that she hugged just an hour before couldn’t be laying in front of her…dead.
She just couldn’t be.
“Mirabel?” Dolores called, this was a prank a really cruel prank Mirabel was pulling.
No response
“Mirabel, this isn’t funny!”
Nothing.
“Mira?” Dolores knelt down “Mirabel?”
Only a breeze answered.
“Mirabel…please…please no…I can…I can heal you… there are arepas at the barn…please…” Dolores raised Mirabel up her heart sank as she watched Mirabel’s head fall back and her arms fall limply to her side.
“Mira?” Dolores checked for a pulse “Mira!” she checked for a heartbeat and realisation hit her like a runaway horse.
Dolores screamed.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pulled Mirabel’s body closer “MIRABEL! NO! NO! NO!” she screamed.
This was her worst nightmare, her sweet hermanita was dead in her arms.
How could this have happened?
She was alive just an hour ago!
There was only one explanation.
This was murder.
Someone murdered her hermanita.
Dolores clung to Mirabel like she was her lifeline “I should have never let you go alone…oh hermanita…why did you have to go? Why couldn’t you just stay in the barn?”
Dolores’s sobs grew louder as she buried her head into Mirabel’s chest as if her tears could bring Mirabel back. This is what she feared, she should have trusted her gut and followed Mirabel.
If she did Mirabel would still be alive.
“Please give her back to me! PLEASE! PLEASE!” Dolores screamed up to the heavens “GIVE HER BACK! YOU CAN’T HAVE HER NOW! WE NEED HER HERE!”
Dolores’s cries went unanswered as she let out another raw scream her body shaking.
She felt sick.
She wanted to be woken up and all of this to be a horrible dream, a nightmare. She wanted to wake up back in the barn with Mirabel at her side.
But the body in her arms was too real to deny, Mirabel was gone and nothing Dolores did would ever bring her back.
Dolores was too late this time.
All she could was hold onto her hermanita and sob, her lungs burning from all the screaming she was doing.
She wasn’t sure how long she was there begging and pleading for Mirabel to wake up when she heard the voices.
“She’s over here!”
Dolores blinked as she held onto Mirabel protectively not even noticing that it had begun to poor.
“Dolores?! Dolores?!” Pepa’s frantic screams rang out, she had heard Dolores’s cries and knew something had happened.
Dolores could only continue to weep.
Pepa came up behind her, Félix at her side “Dolores?”
“I…couldn’t…I was too late…I…”
Pepa dropped down and pulled Dolores towards her while Félix took Mirabel “Shh, shh…”
Félix exaimed Mirabel and shook his head “Pepi…”
“How is she?” Pepa asked.
“She’s gone Pepi.”
“....gone? Are you sure?”
“There is no sign of life, Mirabel is dead.”
Pepa took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment shaking her head sadly.
“Mami…” Dolores whimpered “I couldn’t save her…”
“It’s not your fault Dolores, it’s…not your fault,” the rain fell harder as tears started falling from Pepa’s eyes.
“Mira is dead…”
“I know baby, I’m sorry…”
What were they going to tell Julieta?
Félix stood up Mirabel’s body in his arms “We…we need to…”
“Take her body back to Casita, we are not leaving her laying out in the rain…or out in that barn,” Pepa stood up and with a small struggle lifted Dolores into her arms “Dolores is going into shock, we need Julieta, we’re taking her to Casita, Mamá be dammed…we need to…oh God…Julieta…”
“Ma…” Dolores croaked.
“Shh, baby, let’s get you dry.”
“Mira…”
“Shh.”
Dolores turned her head as Pepa began walking forward she caught sight of her hermanita in her father’s arms. Nothing felt real anymore.
She felt like she was in a daze as she was carried into Casita, she didn’t hear what Alma said or what her parents said in return as she was carried up to her room, her eyes remained on Mirabel until Félix disappeard into the nursery with her.
Dolores closed her eyes groaning as she was placed down onto a bed.
“We need to get you into dry clothes, mija, you’re soaked,” Pepa said softly.
Dolores just groaned again “I have too…Mira….”
Pepa placed a hand on Dolores’s forehead “I’ll get you something dry to put on, then we’ll get you to bed.”
Dolores didn’t open her eyes, soon she felt her clothing being tugged off and being wiped down with what felt like a towel before fresh dry clothing was placed over her.
Pepa tucked Dolores’s under the covers, Julieta was still uninformed of Mirabel’s death as far as she knew, she wanted to be there for her sister but she didn’t want to leave Dolores.
Dolores snuggled up against the blankets, they were warm.
Warm, unlike what her hermanita’s body was becoming. Cold.
“I’ll be back Dolores, I’ll make you some tea to help you sleep and ease the shock, okay?”
Dolores didn’t answer.
Pepa kissed Dolores’s forehead and quietly left the room. Dolores was back in Casita but under terrible circumstances.
Just as they got Mirabel back she was gone again, this time to a place they can’t bring her back from.
Pausing at the top of the stairs she saw Julieta and Agustín talking to Alma.
Alma spoke too softly for Pepa to hear but the scream that came from Julieta told Pepa what was said perfectly.
Julieta looked up the nursery and took the stairs two at a time, Agustín at her heels.
Even without Dolores’s gift the scream that came from that nursery could be heard across the Encanto.
༺═──────────────═༻
Félix had laid Mirabel down on the nursery bed and covered her with the white sheet, they’ll have to make arrangements for the body, Mirabel deserved to be laid to rest.
And of course, they would have to figure out who did this.
Sighing he sat down on the foot of the bed, he was talking to his sobrina just yesterday and now this.
Agustín was telling him just this morning how happy he was to have his little girl back and now she would be burying her.
Life truly was cruel.
Just when their family was getting some hope their ray of sunshine was taken away from them.
And Dolores…he never heard such cries coming from her, he felt selfish for thinking it but he was glad that it wasn’t her, that whatever fate befell Mirabel wasn’t Dolores’s fate.
He just hoped she would get through this, Dolores adored Mirabel more than life itself and her death would be like the sun falling from the sky.
Dolores gave up everything for her chosen hermanita, and in return, she gets a broken heart.
He heard the cry and prepared himself as he stood back up staring at the open door.
It did not take long for the deceased girl’s parents to come in.
“Bro…” Agustín gulped “Tell us it’s not true…”
Félix blinked back the tears that were threatening to spill and shook his head.
“Please…”
Félix reached over and pulled the sheet back “I’m…so sorry…she was already gone when Pepa and I found them.”
Julieta’s face drained of colour as she stepped forward “Mira?” she whined touching Mirabel’s face “Wake up, baby! Mamá can heal you!” she cried pulling an arepa from her apron pocket “Just open your eyes please!”
Agustín started to weep behind her, his baby girl, his Mirabo…gone…just like that.
“Mirabel please!” Julieta pleaded.
“Julieta…” Félix placed a hand on her shoulder “She’s gone, there was nothing anyone could do.”
Julieta shook her breathing getting heavy.
No.
No.
No.
NO!
Julieta screamed collapsing to her knees with a wail of grief, her baby, her sweet little mariposa.
She couldn’t save her.
She was gone.
She was too late.
She failed Mirabel.
Agustín joined her in a huddle letting Julieta bury her face into him, this was not how he wanted to reconcile with his wife.
Not over grieving the death of their youngest.
He just came back into Mirabel’s life, he was proud of how far she had come.
And now that bright young life had been snuffed out.
What did his Miraboo do to deserve this? Was the world determined to deny her happiness?
Or was the world taking her back? Letting her go to a better place. This world wasn’t good enough for his Miraboo. Maybe Pedro decided to take her for himself.
Neither Julieta nor Agustín noticed Alma come in.
Alma glanced over at Mirabel’s body but didn’t speak, just removed her shawl and placed it around Julieta’s shoulders.
“This is on you,” Félix said.
“Excuse me?” Alma said.
“If you were not so prideful Mirabel would still be alive, if you cared for her as you should she would have been safe in Casita.”
“I was-”
“You may not have killed her directly, but you did cause Mirabel’s death, now look at your daughter and then ask yourself if that candle was worth it,” Félix gestured to Julieta before leaving the room, his own wife and daughter needed him.
Alma watched Julieta, her cries echoing Alma’s own when she lost her Pedro fifty years before.
She went closer to Mirabel’s body, it was covered in cuts and she knew what made them right away.
Isabela had gotten the same ones many times while practising making vines, Alma would get her to retry until she made vines without them.
Thorns.
Mirabel was killed by vines.
And there was only one person in the Encanto that could create thorny vines.
Isabela killed Mirabel.