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The family had seen a part of their future.
While the children were put down for an early night’s sleep, the adults decided to continue their earlier conversation in the kitchen.
They wanted to ensure that they had a working plan for how to lower not only their children’s stress, but their own as well.
Bruno was always exhausted from the number of visions that he had to do, while the visions themselves didn’t harm him, he always felt like he was pushing through a strong wind on a mountain with no support, it was terrifying and exhausting and doing too many caused him to be exhausted.
Thankfully, Abuela was willing to listen to him now, she was agreeing to whatever he wanted. She didn’t want to risk losing her boy, like she had in that future they’d seen.
Julietta was overworked with all her cooking, she was doing the work of multiple doctors, and their Encanto had doctors!
Abuela agreed that stepping back and only making a single basket of food for the doctors building to use on the really difficult injuries that they couldn’t take care of themselves would be best.
It would be better for their Encanto that the doctors were able to care for the people, and that they didn’t become so reliant on her daughter.
Abuela also agreed that she would no longer say anything about the weather to Pepa, no more asking for her to ‘calm down’. She hadn’t realised how much it hurt her daughter to be dismissed like that, but she promised too never do it again.
The triplets held their mother tight as they talked about their desires for the future and cutting back their loads, they’d always done the work that their mama had asked of them because it had made her happy, happy to see them using their gift for the Encanto.
And Alma had been happy, she was happy that the gift left behind by her husband was used for their community, so his existence would always be apart of their new lives. Her children’s and grandchildren’s gifts were a reminder of her husband and his love for their family.
But Alma had woken up to the fact that she demanded too much of her family, her children alone were a reminder of her husband, not just their gifts, and they didn’t need to use them for others at detriment to themselves.
She had to understand, that she didn’t need to encourage the use of the gifts, to prove that her husbands sacrifice meant something, that it was worth it. The gifts are not a way to prove that her Pedro had made the right decision to sacrifice himself for the family, they were a miracle from him to her family, as a precious legacy of his love for them.
And he would have loved to see his family as they were now, together, and united, as one in harmony.
The adults promised each other, that their children wouldn’t get to their point, they wouldn’t be overworked and exhausted from doing the work that the others in the Encanto can do for themselves, they would have time to be children.
Alma smiled; it was what Pedro would have wanted.
~~~~~~~~~~~
True to Alma’s word, the family immediately started to lessen their work the day after their time watching the future, and it was done with full ferocity.
The towns people were accepting, though confused. They didn’t understand why the Madrigal family, the pillar of the community, were stepping back from their roles.
At first the family had given an explanation that they were busy preparing Mirabel for her ceremony, and the people accepted that, after all, Mirabel was the last grandchild, her ceremony would be the last for a long while, it was to be a grand celebration.
But when the gift ceremony arrived, the community finally got the whole answer.
The people watched the youngest Madrigal walk to her door, awaiting the shine of light that would herald a new gift for the girl.
What they saw was not what they expected.
When Mirabel had reached out to open her door, the door shone brightly, brighter than the people had even seen, even brighter than Bruno’s ceremony (his door had been the brightest previously, a sign of his strong gift).
When Mirabel had touched to doorknob, the light from the door had flown out and enveloped her, flying around her in the shape of golden butterflies.
The butterflies caused Alma to shed tears, thinking of her husband.
It caused some recognition in the other generation as well; they remembered the golden butterflies that came out when the candle had it’s first burst of magic.
When the light softened, everyone marveled at her door.
The door shone with an image of an older Mirabel, standing proudly just like her Abuela, the mountains of the Encanto at her back and the golden butterflies around her head.
In her hands, was the Madrigal candle.
The towns people erupted in cheers and applause, this was a truly wonderful ceremony, the youngest Madrigal had the brightest door!
Alma laughed in delight, she knew her little Mirabel would do wonderous things, she would be absolutely spectacular, as perfect as she already was. Alma held her granddaughter close, the rest of the family wanted to run forward and hug Mirabel too, but they’d agreed to let Abuela address the crowd first.
Alma turned and spoke to the crowd, “People of our wonderous community, our little Mirabel was not given a new magical gift this day”
This confused the people, there hadn’t been a Madrigal without a gift ever since the ceremonies started, what did this mean? And why did none of the family seem worried?
Alma continued speaking, “Many years ago, when my own children received a magic gift, I was not bestowed one”
This was common knowledge, the oldest generation knew that she hadn’t received any special gift, but they all assumed that the Casita itself was her gift from the candle, but the recollection of this fact surprised everyone.
Alma continued, “My role in this family was not to have a gift, but to look after my family, to take care of my children and grandchildren with their gifts, to ensure their happiness and wellbeing”
Alma smiles at the crowd, “And today, our little Mirabel will join me in that role, together we will look after our family, until the day comes that she will take charge of the protection of the Madrigal family!”
The people were pleased with the news, giving cheers and applause, they had noticed that Abuela Madrigal was already among the eldest matriarchs in the Encanto, it hadn’t registered that one day she would be gone, and that someone else would need to take over her duties of being head of the Madrigal family.
For them to hear that the youngest Madrigal, little Mirabel with her eyes full of wonder and her heart just bursting with love and kindness, that she would be the next head of the family, to protect them when Alma Madrigal was gone, gave them all hope for the future.
Alma turned to Mirabel who was in a three-way hug with her parents and Bruno, before nudging them away so that Mirabel could open her door.
The family hadn’t seen her room in the future as she’d still been in the nursery, but now, now their little Mirabel would have her own room.
Bruno thought that Casita had done an amazing job.
Mirabel’s room looked like the Encanto, high mountains for her walls, surrounding her room to protect her as she slept, a small, shallow river running along one wall and crossing her room to a small lake in the corner, just the perfect depth for a light dip.
There were a few trees dotting the edges of her walls, so tall that they almost touched the ceiling. There were wildflowers growing in patches around the trees as well, filling the spots between them.
Resting in those flowers, were little golden butterflies.
As Mirabel stepping into her room, the butterflies took flight, gently surrounding her and a few landing on her curls, they seemed to be pushing her further into the room.
At the center of the room was Mirabel’s bed, and what a bed it was.
Mirabel had always loved her sister’s hanging bed, and the size of her mother’s bed, so it seemed that Casita had decided to make her the biggest bed in the house.
It was a gorgeous four poster, tall mahogany trees in each corner, her bed raised on a platform and suspended by hanging vines, similar to Luisa’s favorite hammock. The leaves of the trees covered the bed in comfortable shade.
The rest of her furniture follow the pattern of her room, her wardrobe looked as though two doors had been perfectly fitted between two tall palm trees, her table and dresser appearing as though they were made from large, sturdy tree stumps, with more hanging vines for detailing.
There was even a little nook over by a large window, that seemed to open out over the back of the house into the mountains, and that nook had a lovely desk, perfect for Mirabel to use when creating her little sewing crafts.
Bruno was as pleased with the room as Mirabel was, running off with her sisters and cousins to jump on the bed, and splash in the small river.
And that was when he noticed it, something extra special.
When he turned back to the door, there, above the door, similar to his mama’s room, was a small, elevated platform, with a little window looking out into the house, and a little candle holder.
Bruno called Mirabel over, and she turned to find Abuela, who was already beside her, holding out the candle.
Mirabel walked up to the top of the platform, and with the people below her window looking up at her, placed the candle on her little holder, just like she’d seen her Abuela do.
When the candle was settled, it shone brighter for just a moment, before settling down again into its comfortable glow.
Mirabel just stood there smiling, as cheers and congratulations welled up around her.
Alma smiled up at her granddaughter, this was what Pedro would have wanted.
A new safe haven, a good home, their precious Encanto.
She looked up at Mirabel, and then back at her family, all smiles, and happy tears.
And it was all because of them.
She gave a whispered thanks to Casita, to the music that had been shared with them, it really would change their history.
And it could only be for the better.