Chapter Text
The outcome of the candle event can be compared to those childhood drawings, particularly the widely recognized doodle of a sun. An imperfect circle,uneven yellow lines, and a smiley face in its center. The Madrigals are flawed, just like the imperfect circle. Twelve lines betoken the twelve people who make up this enchanted household. Abuela, the matriarch of Madrigals, no longer yearns for perfection. Instead, picturing a genuine and real image of a family towards the townspeople is valued. Despite the imperfection of each individual or the whole family itself, joyous expression remained.
~☻☹~
The eldest grandchild, Isabela, does things she enjoys now; being away from marriage and showcasing to people what bliss is rather than beauty. Dolores is happily in a one-year relationship with the town’s handsome man, Mariano. The former “bad guy”, Bruno, is now one of the town’s beloved. As for Mirabel, she is happy with being an ungifted Madrigal as she knows for a fact that real gift is how you see yourself beyond what is on the eyes. She saw something special in her by heart, treating it as a gift. In conclusion, the magical family had been and is in liberty and contentment. Except that one theater kid.
Camilo Madrigal. The wonderfully cunning joker who is also compassionate and kind. He's the top performer in Encanto and a big attraction for teenage girls. Though he may appear joyful, playful, and enthusiastic, he is in fact concealing something from everyone, including his Hermana Dolores. Camilo is trapped in a portal that opens into another portal that closes back up on itself. An endless cycle. He wakes up, gets a nice chuckle from everyone around him, goes to sleep, and then starts again from the beginning. He was getting tired of it. He saw his family eventually discover their light and come to appreciate it. Here he is, trapped in that endless portal. He was hoping for a change in direction. For exactly one year, he waited for this wish. And that would soon be granted.
~☻☹~
“Ay!,” exclaimed a wince of a curly-headed boy, rubbing the back of his head that was flicked by his prima’s flowers.
“I told you to hold the banner up, not paint!” Isabela scolded the young trickster who was not enjoying his role of holding up the banner.
“Not my fault being Jose and holding the banner is boring.” He frowned, in the form of Jose, the tall man.
Mirabel, who was currently helping Isabela with painting, chuckled.
“Sometimes, you need to be content about something, ‘Milo. Look at me, ungifted yet born a social butterfly!”
Isabela agreed with her younger hermana’s statement, making more colors for the paint using chlorokinesis. Camilo’s frown only deepened more.
“That doesn’t even relate to my situation, Mira’.”
“Well, it’s because you don’t try to relate it to your situation!”
“And it’s because it is not meant to be related, estúpida!”
“Estúpida? How dare you—“
Mirabel’s argument got cut off when Isabela threw flowers on her mouth, making Camilo burst out in laughter—only to end up being like his prima. The two teens spit out the flowers from their mouths.
“Good. No more distractions.”
Isabela smugly teased, making the two grumble in response. Finally, the exclamation mark of the banner is completely in paint.
“Finalmente, I can rest my dislocated arm!”
The shapeshifter came back to his original form and exaggerated, making Mirabel roll her eyes under her green-framed glasses.
They all got down from the high reach of the arch, imprinting “Welcome to Encanto!”.
“Would you look at that! Such artistic kids!”
Pepa, the weather woman, marveled at Felix, her esposo.
Felix agreed. “Mhm, I bet outsiders will be thrilled by this amazing entrance!”
Mirabel proposed the idea of making this arch to welcome outsiders warmly, in which Abuela allowed. Unbeknownst to the Madrigal family, this simple arch will change a girl’s life.
Somehow later, all Madrigal members walked towards their casita as the sky grew darker. Mirabel was beside her primo who is currently being all confident around girls their age.
“Camilo, you have such a charming smile!!”
A teen girl cooed, making Camilo send a wink before saying, “Only for you, señorita..”
Then, another one praised the “charming” boy.
“You’re so handsome!”
“Querida! It’s a natural thing for me…!”
On the other hand, Mirabel looked at him in disgust. These banters between the cousins were originally dead. They used to be in the same nursery when they were both under five years old. They were inseparable that time. But when Camilo’s ceremony came, they grew separated from each other due to responsibilities. It got worse when Mirabel was revealed to be “ungifted”. Thankfully, their childhood returned when the candle incident happened.
Back in the present, the magical family were at the dining table, chattering and eating the last pieces of Julieta's savoring meals. Suddenly, Abuela raised her glass and clicked her fork a few times into the glass to get the attention of the family. They went silent and looked at Abuela.
“Gracias, mi familia…”
“I hereby announce that our Encanto is growing fast due to outsiders coming in. That is why, we have no choice but to work twice as hard as before. Perdon for the double work, but it is no one’s fault that outsiders kept moving or having vacation here. I want you all to know that all your efforts are seen and appreciated.”
Abuela announced, the family understanding the situation and nodding.
“—That is why I ask for suggestions about making our town more welcoming for outsiders.”
Of course, the bright-minded Mirabel raised her hand and suggested making a vacation place for outsiders who are only visiting here in Encanto. After that suggestion, the family soon worked with ideas and eventually ended with a plan.
~☻☹~
As soon as dinner ended, Camilo, who once had a bright smile, entered his room. He closed his door and let go of the knob, weary.
“Casita, open the lights.”
The complex room lit up. The best way to describe Camilo’s room was a theater. It’s almost a bedroom in a theater room. Mirrors are everywhere, in different shapes and forms. He stood in front of a mirror near his bed, his reflection staring back at him. He clicked his tongue.
“Tsk. Stop frowning. You are Camilo Madrigal. You are meant to be entertaining and cheerful! C’mon..”
He told the mirror, wanting to smile. Later, his reflection is smiling, back in that famous shapeshifter image.
“That’s it, that’s it…”
Camilo murmured. His reflection is happy and he is okay with that. Yellow ruana, replaced with comfortable clothes as he lay down on his bed.
“You can close the lights, casita. Thank you.”
Hazel eyes stared at the ceiling that had yellow, glowing doodles of emotions. A shaky sigh came out of his lips, his eyes now closed.
Only his reflection was happy, not him.
~☻☹~
A week had passed since the “Welcome to Encanto!” arch formed. It was around the late afternoon when new outsiders came to Encanto. This time, it was a family of ten. As expected, they were welcomed by the citizens with smiles and a hint of surprise. It was normal for them to see outsiders after the mountain split into two. However, the family looked different from what they usually see. The new outsiders looked wealthy and were wearing clothes a bit foreign to them. Wherever they walked, eyes were on them.
After a few minutes, the wealthy-looking family stood in front of the casita. The family matriarch knocked on the door, alerting the people inside the household. The strong and buff girl opened the door. Judging by the old matriarch’s appearance, Luisa assumed she was spanish.
“Si, señora?”
She asked the elderly, making her mouth curl upwards.
“Gracias, I need help for the place me and my family will move to.”
“Oh, it’s just a few steps away from our casita—“
Luisa gave instructions to the elderly longer than expected, catching the eye of Madrigal’s own matriarch, Abuela. Her wrinkled eyes widened at the person at her casita’s door. She approached and stood beside her granddaughter as she spoke.
“Leonora?”
“Alma?”