Chapter Text
Chapter 1: The Crash
Mirabel Madrigal stood in the courtyard, the celebratory sounds from Antonio's gift ceremony a distant, hollow echo. The joy she had felt for her little cousin was quickly replaced by a familiar sting of exclusion. As the rest of her family celebrated behind the glowing door, she felt the familiar knot of inadequacy tighten in her stomach.
A sudden, sharp intake of breath from Dolores cut through the night's quiet. Mirabel turned to see her cousin, eyes wide with a mix of fear and confusion. "Mirabel," Dolores whispered, her voice barely audible. "Something just... crashed. Out in the forest. A loud, metal thud. You should... You should go check it out."
Mirabel hesitated. A part of her wanted to just sink into her room and forget the night, but another part, the part that always felt the need to prove herself, took hold. With a nod to Dolores, she slipped out of the Casita and into the cool night air.
The walk was unsettlingly quiet. The forest, usually alive with the sounds of insects and nocturnal animals, was silent. Then she saw it. A glint of metallic blue and gold light shines from a small clearing. As she got closer, she saw it was a cube. It pulsed with an ethereal energy, its surface etched with intricate lines and symbols that seemed to shift and dance.
Curiosity overcame caution, and Mirabel reached out, her fingers brushing against the cool surface of the cube.
Immediately, a surge of energy, both overwhelming and painful, coursed through her body. Her vision blurred, and the world seemed to warp and twist. She felt her body contort, bones and muscles reforming in ways that defied biology. A high-pitched whine filled her ears as her skin hardened into a metallic shell, her limbs lengthening and growing stronger.
It was horrifying, yet strangely exhilarating. She felt her mind expand, filled with an ancient knowledge of machines, gears, and power sources.
As the transformation settled, a new voice, deep and resonant, filled her mind.
I am sorry, it said, the words echoing with a feeling of immense age and power. It was necessary. There was no other way. This world is... new to me, and I need a physical form, an anchor. You were the first to find me. You are now a Transformer.
Mirabel, now standing as a towering metal figure, her body a canvas of her dress's vibrant colors, felt a wave of despair. This wasn't a gift, it was a curse. She felt tears well in her optical sensors, a foreign sensation.
But I am not without compassion, the voice continued, softening slightly. Your human form is not gone. You can return to it. Just... imagine yourself as you once were. Human. And your new form will become a second skin, a power you can call upon when you need it.
Mirabel closed her eyes and focused. She thought of her family, her room, the comfort of her human form. She pictured herself, small and vibrant, in her embroidered dress. The metallic form around her shimmered and contracted, the sound of reforming metal now a quiet hum.
When she opened her eyes, she was herself again, standing in the clearing. But now, she feels different. A sense of immense strength lay dormant beneath her skin. And on the front of her dress, right where the embroidery on her top began, was a new symbol, one she didn't recognize. A vibrant, metallic emblem, half one design, half another. It was a sign of her new life, a choice she would one day have to make.
The air in the Casita was thick with the scent of arepas and jasmine, but for Mirabel, it was all a blur. The cheerful sounds of Antonio's party seemed distant, swallowed by the hum of her own racing thoughts. She had just slipped back into the house when a gasp from Dolores made her stop. Her cousin's eyes were wide, and a silent, knowing look passed between them. Dolores had heard the crash. She knew.
Mirabel's heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm against the metallic shell she now knew lay dormant beneath her skin. As she tried to process it all, a brilliant light erupted at the end of the hallway where her family stood gathered. It was bright, golden, and it coalesced into a glowing door.
A collective gasp went up from the family. A door. Mirabel’s door.
Abuela Alma, her face a mixture of shock and profound relief, was the first to move. The others followed, their joyous chatter a chaotic symphony. For Mirabel, the moment was surreal. She watched as her family's joy radiated through their gestures—Pepa's thunderous cloud dissolving into a shower of colorful confetti, Félix's whooping cheer, and Antonio's small hand tugging at her skirt.
The image on the door was not what anyone expected. It wasn't a sewing machine or a magical embroidery needle. It was a tall, robotic figure, its chest plate etched with the familiar symbols of her dress. In its metallic hand, it held a glowing, multi-faceted cube. The figure's face was human, undeniably hers, its expression a mix of wonder and fear.
"The miracle is strong," Abuela said, her voice trembling slightly as she wrapped Mirabel in a tight embrace. "It was simply waiting. Your gift was… delayed." She spoke with a certainty that seemed to soothe everyone, even as her eyes lingered on the strange image on the door. To her, this was simply another sign of the family's magic, not a new and terrifying threat.
Later that night, the Casita was quiet. The party was over, and Mirabel was alone in her room, the door with her new gift now a tangible reality. She traced the half-Autobot, half-Decepticon symbol on her dress with her finger, a constant reminder of the choice she would one day have to make.