Chapter Text
Ever since she lost her dear and loving husband, Pedro Madrigal, Alma had to consider herself to be a strong woman both in body and in mind. She had to, for not only herself but for her three infant children.
She also a village to protect, as well as making sure that their miracle, their Encanto would continue to burn and continue to protect them with gifts for them and their home.
She was the Madrigal Matriarch, she must and will continue to make sure that their Encanto kept on burning for more than 40 years. She had raised her children and watched as they gained gifts, she also helped in making sure that her grandchildren were to the height of perfection.
She made sure that they were Leaders, not followers. For they were the future, they would bring in the new generation of new Madrigals, new gifts, and the future of their Village.
All were perfect, and each one gained their gifts to help out the town and its residents.
Expect for one…
Mirabel Maria Madrigal...
The night of Mirabel’s Ceremony, when she didn’t receive her gift, it was like a wake-up message to Alma and their Encanto as well. Seeing that magical door disappear in front of her and to every person from town haunted Alma’s dreams for weeks later. How could this happen!? Alma wondered in fear and anger...
The next morning when Alma made sure that Mirabel was confined to the Nursery and she would go to the Village to comfort and assured them that the magic was fine but she would hear the whispers of fear that maybe the magic was dying or that they were in danger.
Hearing that, Alma had to assure the Villagers that the Magic was fine with another child getting a gift, so when she return to Casita, she told Pepa that she must get pregnant once more. To assure them and to the Villagers that the magic, that their Encanto was fine. Pepa was unsure at first but she knew that she must follow her mother’s wishes so she and Felix began to try for a third child.
It was tough the next five years, trying to assure the villagers as well as the family that things were fine and they were protected but when Pepa announced she was pregnant, the villagers were wearily but cheered for maybe this new Madrigal would get a gift and continue to protect and provide for them.
During those five years, Alma set her sights on Isabela, for maybe she would be the next candle holder as well as the next Family’s Matriarch for she was perfect, she held a gift and she reminded Alma of what she was when she as her age. She made sure that Luisa, Dolores as well as Camilo were always away from Mirabel, always busy with chores, or helping out the Villagers.
She also made sure that Mirabel was never in the way of the Family’s daily chore life, and for the most part, it work. Mirabel spent most of her time in the Nursery as if shun from the family which she was, in Alma’s eyes.
Then when little Antonio was born, Alma had such high hopes that he will get his gift in good time and as much as she would have liked that Mirabel would not be near him, she knew that every child born in the Madrigal family stayed in the Nursery, being taken care but the family and Casita...
So, Antonio things were moved into the Nursery where Mirabel was sleeping, she had hoped that maybe Pepa would keep a closer eye on him but as the years rolled on, and on the night of Antonio’s Ceremony she saw with shocked eyes as he held out his small hand toward Mirabel during the part where he needs to walk toward her.
She kept a stern look on Mirabel as she walked with Antonio to her, Antonio kept a killer grasped on Mirabel’s arms, the fear in his eyes that something was going to go wrong but just before he was passed to Abuela he looked up at Mirabel who had a gentle smile on her face before she gently pushed him toward Alma as she went behind Pepa and Felix...
Alma sent a disapproved look toward Mirabel before smiling at Antonio and letting him touch the candle that brought them their miracle… She held her breath in fear and anticipation as he touched his doorknob and it glowed brightly with magic before it dimmed to show her and to the rest of the villagers that they had another Madrigal gift.
“We have another gift!” She shouted in excitement and with great satisfaction as the villagers shouted in glee toward Antonio’s glowing door. Mirabel smiled at seeing Antonio’s smiling face, but she sighed sadly. She knew that he would be moving away from her now but she was happy for him.
Alma was proud and happy for Antonio fulfilling his destiny but the moment was ruined too soon when Mirabel started to say that there were cracks in Casita’s floors and walls, how dare she say that even if it was kind of true since Alma did see the cracks but to ruin the Ceremony of another Madrigal getting a gift was unacceptable.
That night, when she was looking at her dear Pedro’s photo locket, she knew what must be done…
Mirabel must leave the family and she must leave soon or else… Disaster will strike down on her family and their Encanto.
The next morning from Antonio’s Ceremony, Alma must discuss with the family Mirabel’s future role. She knew that she had to leave but she still wanted her to be part of the family as much as the rest. But what could she do…
As she looked at the rest of the family who was all sitting down around the mesa de Desayuno, she asked Dolores of a date to which she said.
“Tonight, He wants five babies.” Alma smiled happily as he plucked a white flower from Isabela’s hair, what a perfect man marrying their perfect and precious Isabela! Suddenly the idea came to her…
Marriage! Of course! Mirabel could marry a villager and she would still be part of the family much like her sons-in-law Felix and Agustin. Yes, Mirabel was still young but Alma was about the age when she met her beloved Pedro and had only gotten married to him a year or so later.
She smiled to herself, yes marriage was a good option for Mirabel and the rest of the family, walking back to her chair she looked at Mirabel and Luisa, “Luisa and Mirabel, you are both dismissed from the table. I must talk to the rest of the family about a matter of importance.” She stated as she looked at both of her granddaughters who both had a look of confusion.
Luisa was already getting up and leaving as Mirabel was confused for a second before remembering what she had to ask Luisa about the magic, she hurried to catch up with Luisa, while Alma watched Mirabel and Luisa fading forms.
She stood up from her chair then looked at Julieta and Agustin with a frown on her face, “As we all know, it is our job and mission to keep our Encanto thriving and to keep on providing for us as well as helping around the Village. So, for us to continue and to honor that Mission, we must decide on what we must do and what is best for Mirabel.”
The family was in shock, what did the Elder Madrigal Matriarch mean? What was wrong with Mirabel? So many questions were hanging in the air as Julieta was worried about what her mother was talking about. What were they going to do with her precious mariposa...?
Looking at her mother with a small worried frown on her face, “Mama, what do you mean? What are you talking about? What should we do about Mirabel? Is something the matter with her?” She asked with a worried tone, what if her darling mariposa was ill but didn’t want to worry her family but confined on Alma to not tell...
Yet even as she asked these questions, she, as well as her husband, didn't have a good feeling about what Alma was going to tell them as she had a small frown on her elderly face. Julieta held onto Agustin’s hand under the table in fear.
Alma sighed sadly, she knew that it would be tough on both her Eldest daughter as well as her son-in-law but it was what was best for the family, “Mija, I know she is your daughter and she is part of our Family but she tried to ruin Antonio’s Ceremony!” Alma stated as she gestured toward Antonio who was beginning to frown angrily...
“And I’m sorry for what we must do to her but she must be dealt with and we must do it quickly. Now I have considered offers for what we must do and the most logical one for the Encanto and for the family is that she must leave the family and get married to someone in town.” Alma stated as Antonio gasped angrily before he shook his head with a glare toward his Abuela.
No! Mirabel can’t leave him! She was always there for him!! He can’t imagine waking up and not seeing her smiling face every morning or not hugging her when he had a bad day! Abuela can’t do this to him!
He had to do something!
“Abuela, she didn’t ruin the Ceremony! She can’t leave us! She can’t leave me!!” He shouted as small tears were gathering in the corner of his eyes as his hands began to shake with anger as well a bit of fear of Mirabel leaving him...
Alma sighed as she looked at her youngest grandson with a stern look but Antonio glared back at her as he shook his head in anger, “NO!! She can’t leave! She’s family! She is my Mirabel! You can’t take her away from me!!” He yelled in distress as the animals around him began to growl and hiss toward the family, sensing the distress Antonio...
Antonio’s yelling snapped out the rest of the family out of their shock as each began to shout out their disagreement to Abuela’s decision, “Abuela, she’s only fifteen, she can’t be married off to some stranger!” Dolores stated in shock as she looked at her Abuela in shock.
“Abuela! You can’t just send off Mirabel to Dios sabe dónde! She is still part of this family! She is my cousin!” Camilo snarled as he slammed both his fists on the mesa de desayuno as he glared toward his Abuela. How dare she think of sending off his Mirabel, His Vida, the love of his life to marry some stranger!
“Mama, don’t you think that you are being cruel and unfair to both Mirabel and Julieta!? You can’t just marry off my Sobrina, she is only 15 years old, and she is still a child!” Pepa yelled as a small dark thundering cloud was forming over her head and around the mesa.
“Abuela, please you must be reasonable! She is still my baby sister!” Isabela stated, she was hoping since she was Abuela’s favorite that she would be reasonable with her. Sure she wasn’t as close as she would have wanted to be with Mirabel but she was still her baby sister, she was still Family!
“I’m not going to marry off my daughter just because you think it better for the Family! You must be crazy if you ever thought we were going to agree to that! Agustin snapped as Julieta held on to her husband to calm him down but glare at her mother.
How dare her mother think that she was going to do that to her darling mariposa! That she was going to send her away!
“Enough!” Alma shouted as she slammed her hands on the mesa as everyone grew silent but were fuming in anger, “If this matter is too much for all to agree and to think about it right now then you all have One year, no more, no less. You have one year to find her a husband or I will find one for her.” She stated with a stern look toward Julieta and Agustin who were both frowning at her.
“Now, we must continue helping the Village and our Encanto. You all may go and do your morning chores.” Alma ended the conversation as she stood up from her chair and began to walk inside of Casita with a stern look and frown on her face.