'No Soul'??? *No HEART*?? *FEH* To That!!

Here was a *VERY* *UN-known* fact about the fantastical and magical La Familia Madrigal of Encanto, Colombia: the guy we don't talk about (but DO *SING about*)?? Julietta and Agustin Madrigal's third/youngest daughter 'the Giftless Wonder' Mirabel was ACTUALLY *HIS daughter*. *But HOW*was this possible???!, you'd ask if you dared. He was basically *HATED* around the Encanto, nicknamed 'Bad-Luck Bruno', 'El Brujo', etc., etc., etc.!! He had no wife- not once ever a girlfriend or lover...!

*MAGIC*, my dear readers. A combination of Bruno's own and that of the Wishing Star after he made a fervent desperate plea for a living little miracle of his own one especially lonely (and hurt-filled) night ...and a bit of Forks Chief of Police Charlie Swan's DNA and seed which made its way into Bruno's-always-there-even-if-he-didn't-know-it Carrier womb. But, alas- even after he shockingly and happily found out *just WHY* he'd been so sick and was craving certain strange foods, he sadly knew that he would not be able to truly keep his beloved longed-for child when he-or-she was born, SHE was holding on *so tight*; *TOO tight*...

So he made it seem as though JULIETTA were the one pregnant via a bit of Faerie Glamour alongside also-expecting Pepa, also using such on himself. Only his sweet smart quiet just-as-beautiful-as-Isabela niece Dolores - his little brown mouse- knew, and she would *NEVER tell* whether Bruno was her favorite 'tio' or no! She secretly brought or bought him his craving foods- helped him when he was sick- soothed and whispered sweetly to him whenever mood swings hit while softly hugging him- cuddled close to him and listened to the baby's heartbeat...
(She also simply found *BRUNO'S baby-belly* stunning and amazing- and a bit funny, as well.)

Three months after Camilo loudly made his debut, Mirabel Valentina was secretly born in Bruno's hide-away in Casita's walls through *a LOT* of blood, sweat, tears, PAIN, and bitten-back screams that tumbled, spilled, and frothed out from her papa's pressed-together lips as whimpers, whines, sharp gasps, trying-to-be-quiet cries, and soft(ish) sobs- plus a rather sore hand on Dolores' part from how tight BRUNO was holding on. But she just smiled sweet, soft, gentle, and kind with both her pouty lips and doe-eyes even through winces and silent tears of her own, simply offering arepas and chocolate con queso that Tita/Mama Casita had snuck them as well as sweetly kissing Bruno's cheek and whispering "There- *all better*!" and (very gently) giving him a big warm hug.
Dolores might have been nicknamed 'Isabela's Shadow', but *EVERYONE* knew that her very favorite family member was 'Tio Bruno', never mind his black-sheep reputation.

Next to Bruno, Dolores was the first one to hold little Mirabel after she was born- right before his 'true Gift' of acting came into play. He profusely apologized to his 'mariposita' for not being able to clean her up, dress her, or feed her while quickly, quietly, and carefully making his way through the walls to Julietta's room- but there would be BAD SUSPICIONS otherwise, and they *could NOT* have that. His baby girl pouted, whimpered, and snuffled, but still seemed to vaguely understand even if she did not at all like it, or being separated from her person whose heartbeat and voice was so very familiar...
She cried a little as he made to put her down after arranging the scene with Dolores' help, but mostly calmed once Bruno kissed her forehead and promised that he would *ALWAYS* be there for her, even if officially as her uncle rather than actual parent, just before softly singing to her to lull her to sleep.

A more full spell later, and Julietta believed that she had given birth to hers' and Agustin's third child Mirabel Valentina Rojas-Madrigal, as did the rest of 'la familia' sans Dolores and Bruno, and the rest of the Encanto. Dolores also stuck by Bruno and supportively held his hand when he nervously used one of Casita's mirrors in order to locate and tell whomever the other father of his secret miracle baby was that the stork had come by, so to speak.

Charlie Cesare Swan was *VERY shocked and surprised* and not a bit startled and frightened to suddenly see a worn pale tear-stained yet kind face framed by long semi-wild black curls of hair and accentuated with the biggest, saddest, most pain-filled, expressive warm gentle eyes he'd ever seen staring into his blown-wide own from his bathroom mirror just after shaving for the day- one that belonged to a man named 'Bruno Madrigal' who informed him that via *MAGIC* he was either a father himself for the first time or all over again!! At first, he was tempted to laugh and call the other man crazy- kindly yet firmly suggest that he see a doctor or therapist... but then he'd gotten a good glimpse of the cute tiny little girl sleeping soundly in Bruno's arms. She was more tanned than either himself or Bruno, a bit plumper ...but then, his dad had been pretty tan and more rounded than narrow (that had been his wife Renee's mom), and Mirabel as well as Bruno WERE of *Colombian* ethnicity, so...

Long and short of it- *WOW*. Just, WOW!! He was a daddy all over again, even if secretly and surprisingly!!! And little Mirabel was just as cute, sweet, adorable, and beautiful as his own 'Bella', to boot-!

From there, one another's sad story was shared: Charlie's *NASTY divorce* with his ex-wife Renee that resulted in her taking their month-old daughter as well, a daughter whom Charlie only ever saw two weeks every summer now, and Bruno's papa's brave sacrifice in which A Miracle was born as well as Casita and his, his triplet sisters', and every other born Madrigal's magical Gifts- how due to his 'curse' of a Gift known as Seeing the future, he was basically *HATED* by everyone in the 'Encanto'. EVEN by *his own family* more-or-less (save for Dolores and now Mirabel)!! How he was beaten and cruelly berated for *ANYTHING* gone wrong- Pepa's and Felix's wedding, a bad Vision, not in the least being like his handsome saintly martyr of a 'padre' Pedro except for slightly in looks...

It was painfully crystal-clear to Charlie: whether or not Bruno could leave, he *NEEDED* a true honest constant actual FRIEND. A *HUMAN friend*, no offense meant whatsoever to his cute smart affectionate little rat 'amigos'... And then and there, Charlie vowed to be that friend even if he couldn't really be co-fathers with the Madrigal Seer who *blew Sybil Trelawney out of the water* and *out of THE PARK*- who would have been a *GOOD DECENT Divination teacher* rather than practically a fraud!
He didn't give *a SINGLE DAMN* about Bruno's less-than-stellar reputation- didn't in the least mind his odd quirks, mannerisms, and sayings anymore than Dolores (who was also just as cute as a button-or-kitten, pretty as a princess, and sweet as sugar like her 'primita' Mirabel). *Never had, never would*.

Bruno, Dolores, and Mirabel were the police chief of Forks, Washington's candle on the water from the very first- his flickering light in an ocean of darkness that was his much missing loving erratic hare-brained sunshine-loving Renee and his first baby girl who also *did NOT* much like near-constant clouds and rain or too much green. (Bruno, however, especially *LOVED* all the green, since that was his favorite color. Dolores grinned and squeaked with sparkling eyes that it was like a fairytale or a piece of Germany's famed Black Forest had made its way somehow to America.) However, his new little family of friends was as much as a *SECRET* in la casa Swan as in Casita- it was just *WAY too risky* for even his best friend Billy Black to know about! And Mirabel did not yet know about him, and wouldn't until after her fifth birthday...

Charlie also did not give ONE. *DAMN* about *Mirabel's Door DISAPPEARING*, or her being a born-Madrigal *with-OUT* a magical Gift. He was simply worried and concerned about his and Bruno's sweet funny bright-in-mind-and-spirit creative little miracle girl- worried and concerned about Bruno's *HAVING TO* leave/be 'yeeted' into Casita's walls as a result of a Vision that Alma Madrigal and the others would instantly only latch onto the *BAD side* of, and therefore sadly having to leave his girls behind. He was *DISGUSTED* and FURIOUS about that fuckin' stupid 'We Don't Talk About Bruno!!!' rule... and about Mirabel's practically being the new Bruno of the second generation after she *DIDN'T get her magical Gift and Door*. About her STILL having to stay *in the nursery* like the Darling children from 'Peter Pan' past their time rather than her family thinking to CREATE a room of her very own for her out of a guest room, or offering to have her as a roommate...!!

Isabela-with-one-'L' constantly sneered, laughed at, and shoved her to the ground. Camilo played not-funny pranks on her. Luisa ignored her and hurried away from her side. Alma now only spoke to her to berate her for being in the way- and she wasn't nice about it, either. Felix and Pepa, and Agustin and Julietta?? -They were just simply *BAD* parents and 'tio/as', plain and simple; to both Mirabel and Dolores. (Pepa had *NEVER* wanted children, but had unwillingly given in to her mother's platitudes and orders of 'It's for the good of the Encanto- our family. We MUST keep the Miracle *strong and burning*!')

Mirabel *KNEW* as much as Dolores and Charlie. About The Vision- about *PAPA Bruno* now having to live IN Tita Casita's walls as a result because he would more than likely be KILLED if he ever showed that emerald slab of an older Mirabel standing in front of a cracked and broken or whole and sound Casita. Bruno *could not* lie to his precious 'mariposa', or completely stay away from her- she who so loved him as much as he *ADORED her*, even for her own safety.
She now knew about her *SECOND true 'padre'* Charlie Swan who was as kind, funny, sweet, warm, and gentle as her papa- who DIDN'T *in the least* care about her being 'supposed to have' a Gift, being a born-Madrigal, or about Bruno's awful reputation and not-being-talked-about status. Who *saw and heard* Bruno, Dolores, and Mirabel as *TRULY THEMSELVES* rather than simply 'El Brujo Bad-Luck Bruno', the local chimosa and earpiece, and the 'Ordinaria Giftless Wonder' who was as much *a FREAK* and a CURSE as her lost uncle...!

Bella-with-two-'L's did not know about them. Something warned both fathers *not to say a word* to her- a gut feeling/warning that 'Lores' and 'Mira' reluctantly obediently also took heed of despite wanting to know Tio/Papi Charlie's other daughter who lived in sunny places with her mama like California and Arizona. -Same thing when Antonio came along.

Seemingly, it was *MIRABEL ALONE*, a child herself, who took care of him because his parents were so busy helping the community along with the rest of the family. *But, no*... *THIS time*, she had help from older more experienced people consisting of two grown men and one sixteen-year-old girl. In secret, yes- but still...

Antonio still saw Mirabel as much of a 'hermana mayor' as Dolores- but in private considered Tio Bruno 'Papa' and Senor Charlie 'Tio Papi'. Mirabel did not have to take on a mother role *way too young* while just barely being in the double digits, though she would have *GLADLY* done so if sorely needed. He didn't (much) mind having to be quiet when visiting Papa Bruno in the walls with his 'hermanas', being a rather shy soft-spoken child himself; didn't think it 'odd' to speak to Tio Papi Charlie through mirrors since he lived *far far away* in AMERICA rather than nearby in Colombia and the Encanto...

And so this all went on for four years until the night Bruno woke up gasping and panting with his eyes burning and head pounding- both to the point where Dolores after being suddenly jolted from sleep herself had to carefully and quietly help him to his Vision Cave, a much-worried concerned Mirabel and Antonio still rubbing sleep from their own eyes trailing after in order to be there for their papa. They and Dolores plus Papa's rats helped him set up the ritual from sand to herbs before Bruno sat down cross-legged, tossed a handful of salt over his shoulder, lit a match and set the four bundles of herbs on fire, breathed in and out to center himself, cracked his knuckles, ...and then spread out his arms as he opened his now-glowing *brilliantly bright* green eyes while wind rushed by and sand swirled all around, the latter also turning bright green as it formed and shaped itself into what Bruno was now Seeing. (Just like his sisters, Antonio thought that the way Papa's green eyes glowed when his Gift was working was 'COOL' and '*AWESOME*', not in the least bit 'creepy' or 'scary'. Also, in order to keep the inevitable fall of sand getting into their eyes, clothes, and hair, Dolores popped open a colorful umbrella over all their heads- to which Mirabel and Antonio gave her a grinning thumbs-up and the rats an appreciative squeak.)

Antonio rubbed at his eyes until they were almost sore- Dolores' big brown eyes blew wide and she let out her trademark humming squeak; Mirabel pinched herself HARD three times on her arm as her jaw dropped about the ground. Bruno was shocked, stunned, and dumbfounded like nobody's business. It was all like a weird crazy fever-dream... but 'twould soon be *REALITY* with a capital 'R'!! +Charlie's Bella being accidentally flung back and crashing into a pile of glass plates that sliced and cut up her arm- her form *shimmering and shifting* until a shocked stunned confused frightened FEMALE!PINOCCHIO crouched and flinched in her place- her being surrounded by kind caring well-meaning *VAMPIRES* for all she was practically a feast before their eyes dripping and oozing a worrisome amount of blood... Gently being cradled while falling asleep in small thin delicate arms after being stitched up- reuniting with *THREE anthropomorphic crickets* plus still-a-kitten!Figaro- Charlie still being KIND AND CARING though much puzzled, perplexed, and not a little concerned- seemingly being dumped and abandoned deep in a forest- heartbrokenly screaming and sobbing something that caused Dolores to cover Antonio's ears even as muffled as it was as she and Mirabel plus Bruno fought back the feeling of being sick...+

Like with the Vision nine years ago, it shifted and changed when tilted rather than staying constant. One way, Bella crashing into a stack of glass plates and couple of crystal bowls filled with pink roses- the other, terrified frightened confused female!Pinocchio with long hair, freckles, faerie wings, and her 'Pleasure Island' long gray donkey ears and tail crouching, trembling, and bleeding from a nasty cut on her lower left arm and wincing from hitting her head against the wall in addition...
There was also shown an *ALIVE Cedric Diggory* in the bronze-haired vampire's place, his beautiful features more warm and real than before as fully-gold eyes morphed into stormcloud-gray with a tinge of butterscotch topaz- *HUMAN Cleo* with great love and sadness swimming in her sweet brown gold-tinged eyes framed with long dark feathery lashes...

Not *the FAINTEST* sign of Geppetto or the Blue(Haired) Faerie, strange sad and worrisome to say- well, at least there was also *NOTHING* Seen concerning a certain greedy cruel money-grubbing Fox and Cat, puppet-master, or Coachman, much less Monstro, either...! *Good riddance to really bad rubbish*.

It would happen *very soon*- TOMORROW NIGHT, as a matter of fact. *WHAT* an *UN-birthday* present to get- your Cursed Glamour breaking and true memories coming back as well as a nasty cut on the arm...!! The four Madrigals felt *VERY bad* for apparently actually 'Little Woodenhead', and Tio Papi Charlie.

Dolores could sense what their papa was also thinking- saw it in his no-longer-glowing eyes, heard it in his stuttering-yet-steady heartbeat...

"*It's TIME*, isn't it? To *LEAVE*, I mean."

"...'Si, ratoncita'. The day after -the Cullens sans 'Alice' leave. We'll still have to be quiet and careful- apparently 'pobrecita' 'Nocchi's 'madre' (*NOT the Blue Faerie*, just so you know) is of the same mind as... well, Pepa. She *NEVER* wanted children of her own, for all she fell for and semi-courted a guy *who DID*. Hence the MESS that 'Little Woodenhead' got into from practically day one, and why 'Bella Swan' came to live with Charlie and Renee after she became a *real GIRL* rather than a boy- that made her *EXTRA angry* on Geppetto's behalf."

"-*That's MEAN*! Mean and STUPID and *WRONG*! *She cursed HER OWN 'BEBE'*, Papa??!"

"Afraid so, 'pequeno rayon de soliel'. And Geppetto?? From- From what little I could See and hear, he- h-he wasn't exactly one of the Top Five, Ten, or Eleven Disney Dads as officially portrayed."

"...Does the- *the Blue Faerie* at least still love her even just a little bit??"

"*She DOES*, Miraposita- always has, *always will*, boy or girl or non-binary; gay, straight, bi, pan, demi, aro, or trans. She's just- she's just, well... still cursed herself, though I don't know why."

"G-Geppetto?"

"*Dead as a doorknob*, Dolores 'corazon'. When he collapsed after that heart-attack, ...he didn't get back up, even just a bit."

(After that, Casita sadly yet resolutely packed everyone's things in advance so that there would be no last-minute late-night scrambling on anyone's part. She readied HERSELF to leave. She would fall apart -*DIE*- if she was in the midst of *the TOXIC MESS* that was La Familia Madrigal save for Bruno, Dolores, Mirabel, and Antonio! Mirabel was the new future Matriarch, which was why she hadn't received a Gift like the others, but she didn't *HAVE TO be* in COLOMBIA proper if it wasn't the least bit safe.
*Who said* Casita couldn't be flexible??? She was a *MAGICAL house*- DUH! She was like Mrs. Pigglewiggle's funny upside-down house or Hogwarts Castle ...but she was *ABSOLUTELY NOT* even a little bit MONSTER HOUSE, thankyouverymuch!! Besides, she didn't want to leave her baby and grandbabies behind PERIOD...)

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Next morning after The Break-Up, Pinocchio shuffled downstairs for breakfast after washing her face, brushing her teeth, and running a brush through her hair. No school, since it was Saturday- no *eyes on her*, which meant her Glamour was down and Figaro, Jiminy, Sebastian, and Gemini could show their faces. No bad or *BAD* dreams, thanks to Cleo's letter, though she'd still tossed and turned uneasily a bit awake or asleep.

"M- Mornin', P- *eep*!!"

Pinocchio felt as though she'd been accidentally flung into a glass-laden table and hit her head against the wall all over again as she yelped and gasped while practically plastering herself against the doorway of the kitchen, her big blue eyes blown wide in her shocked startled face and heart thundering in her chest. De ja vu also majorly hit Jiminy and his siblings.

"H-Huh?? *NOW what's up*??!"

"Wh-??? *Hey- what's goin' on here*??!"

"What th' BLOODY-??!?"

%"Chief Charlie Swan, you've got *some 'SPLAININ'* t' do!!"%

For right before the former *puppet-GIRL*, her cricket friends, and her pet kitten, talking and sometimes laughing with Charlie while drinking coffee, tea, milk, or juice if not helping him fix breakfast, were four *VERY* *UN-familiar* people dressed in semi-old-fashioned bright colorful *Colombian* clothes with curly dark hair and large bright expressive warm yet sad pained eyes! People whom Charlie seemed to know very well and be very fond of...

Two males- two females. One of the males had dark green eyes and wore a slightly ragged worn too-big 'ruana' over his baggy clothes, looking like the love-child of Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, AND *Severus Snape* with his long dark curls, worn pale unshaven face, skinny lanky stature, large prominent nose, and pained gentle eyes; the other was clearly the baby of the family, possessed oak-brown skin, deep brown eyes, and 'nappy' dark hair, and cuddled a cute handmade Paddington bear. The elder female was brown-shaded all over like Sabina the ballerina marionette whom Pinocchio had used to have a crush on as well as consider her a friend- and just as pretty, though her own deep brown eyes had no slant, her red lips were fuller, her curly soft-looking brown hair was down rather than up in a bun, and her main color seemed to be red rather than pink when not yellow-gold, orange, or creamy-white. The younger wore large round green-framed glasses over her hazel eyes, was a mix between dark and (semi)fair, had a sprinkling of freckles over the bridge of her button nose and rosy cheeks like the green-eyed man did, shorter black hair, and possessed *a LOT* of colorful handmade embroidery on her own white-trimmed-with-black peasant blouse and long teal skirt as well as her black shoulder-bag.
-Oh. And also, much to Figaro's dislike, there were more than a few *RATS* either snuggling into skirt, vest, shirt, or ruana pockets if not being perched on shoulders or nestling in hair. (Figaro was a *GOOD boy*, though, so he didn't pounce or chase after wrinkling his little black nose, hacking, and sneezing even though he was *sorely tempted* to do so. Clearly, they were PETS same as he- *not PESTS/VERMIN*, since they were clean, groomed, well-behaved, and *very snuggly*.)

"*Good morning*!" the young boy cuddling/being cuddled on the younger girl's lap chirruped sweetly. "I'd say 'Buenos dias', which means 'Good morning' in Spanish, but I didn't know whether you speak it or not, so I just went with English so you wouldn't be confused."

"Ahh- u-um... G-Good morning," Pinocchio squeaked in reply, faintly waving her fingers in addition. She swallowed hard, shook her head (of course careful not to dislodge Gemini in the process), blinked, and rubbed at her eyes before eyeing the newcomers up and down and LOOKED into their hearts and soul, realizing, "O-Oh... So- So YOU had a secret family 'f friends too. Just- Just for longer."

Another Look at the bespectacled girl and 'Rat Man' wearing a green ruana as well as Charlie- up, down, in, out... *How SIMILAR* to not just the green-eyed man she looked- Pinocchio gasped in shock and surprise, but didn't feel the least bit hurt or upset since *she WASN'T* TRULY 'Bella' born to Charlie Swan and Renee Dwyer; not the least bit threatened or shoved aside...

"Y-You- You're- Y-*You're HIS AND HIS CHILD*! By- By BIRTH!"

"*Mpreg*- it *DOES exist*," the elder girl dressed in red and embellished here and there with hearts if not sound-waves or music-notes spoke quietly before (cutely) squeaking and humming at the same time with a little quirk of a warm smile and friendly twinkle in her eye. "Officially, he's *TIO Bruno* to myself and 'mi hermanito' (my little brother) Antonio ...but *TRULY*, in our hearts, he's 'Papa'. *We're ALL* his children."

Another hard swallow and rapid blink as Pinocchio SENSED that all-too-familiar *AWFUL* feeling of one's birth parents hurting, throwing away, and *ABANDONING you* for one 'reason' or another from *all four*. For 'Tio/Papa Bruno', *just like her*, *his MOTHER* especially.

The younger girl about 'Nocchi's own age smiled soft, sad, and understanding over at her while adjusting her glasses and tucking a thick black curl behind her ear. "...You *KNOW* all too well what it's like, don't you? Trying and TRYING *and TRYING* but *NEVER* being even close to good enough, because you *can't help* how you were born and who you became from conception and through certain genes, never mind how they shout, scream, and yell abuse at you for it..."

Pinocchio nodded silently, her throat tightening and eyes stinging from damp salt as she weakly made her way into the kitchen and sat down- squeaking and gasping again in tandem with Jiminy's, Sebastian's, and Gemini's startled chirping yelps and Figaro's slight screech when she felt and heard the floor tiles MOVE under her feet *NOT akin to an earthquake*! It felt- it felt ...*ALIVE*. *The- whole- house* now felt ALIVE- warm- magical; like the Beast's castle sans Curse...!!
It felt like- HER. As *a LITTLE LIVE PUPPET*...

"'Por favor' (Please) don't be afraid, 'gatita'!" 'Tio/Papa Bruno' rasped kindly in his warm quiet gentle voice. "That's just Casita saying 'hola'. She won't harm you, and she *LOVES children*!"

"She's not just a GOOD mama and 'abuelita'- she's a *GREAT mama and 'abuelita'*!" interjected the girl with green glasses happily. "And *the BEST* baby-sitter next to Papa!"

"You and 'Lores are *REALLY good* baby-sitters too, Mira!" Signorino 'Antonio' said sweetly. "BETTER THAN Camilo- never mind that it's *his job*."

"Awww- 'gracias, jaguarcito'!" 'Mira' laughed with pinkened-further cheeks in response while playfully yet gently ruffling his hair and giving him a warm squeeze.

"'Si- muchas gracias, hermanito'!"

Sebastian coughed sharply and gave Charlie a stern Look. "*Introductions*, if ye please??"

Charlie's pale cheeks flushed bright red in response as he mumbled, "*Whoops*! Sorry!"

'Lores' quietly cleared her throat before beginning to talk after silently discussing 'Who gets the honor?? You or me?' with Signor Bruno. "Long story short, to a point: my name is Dolores, the girl with big green glasses and *a LOT* of embroidery on her clothes and bag is Mirabel, the little boy sitting on her lap is Antonio, and the 'Rat Man' with big green eyes and wearing a ruana (basically a big just-your-size blanket you can wear as well as snuggle up in) is Bruno. All of the rats you see are his friends and pets- they're not wild or vermin. Very clean as well as smart, cute, and affectionate as any cat or dog.

"We come from Colombia- from a magical village known as the 'Encanto'. Antonio and I are brother and sister by blood, but Bruno's other kids and Mirabel's siblings by way of heart-and-soul bonds since neither of our parents ever wanted children. (Our darker skin and hair-style comes from having a Caribbean father, in case you're wondering.) Casita is a living house like, say, Hogwarts in the 'Harry Potter' series; she's as much a member of the family as Mirabel or Papa, NOT *an ACCESSORY*, you understand?? Not any more than you were merely an animate toy with no heart or soul back in your puppet-child days. -My sincerest condolences for your own 'padre's' passing despite his own grief turning him into a sick twisted man like Alma Madrigal yet not, by the way. It must have been *BEYOND terrible* to see it happen right in front of you...

"We, the Madrigals, are a literally *MAGICAL family*. We were granted a Miracle after our grandfather Pedro sacrificed himself for his wife and newborn babies in order to save them from cruel monstrous raiders- it formed the Encanto and Casita in the process. On Julietta's, Pepa's, and Bruno's fifth birthday (they're triplets, you see), a golden glowing Door appeared before each of them, and when opened, they were given a magical Gift: Julietta the ability to heal injuries with her food, Pepa controlled the weather with her mood (say, sunshine and rainbows when she's happy, thunder and lightning when she's angry, or rain when she's sad), and Bruno was able to See the future whenever his eyes *GLOWED green*, whether he set up a ritual or not, or simply dreamed...

"Time passed. Papa gained *an AWFUL reputation* that led to him being called 'El Brujo' or 'Bad-Luck Bruno' as well as beaten and berated by his own family due to his Visions being bad news than good more often than not, hence no one wanted to court, marry, or have children with him like Pepa and Felix and Julietta and Agustin did with each other. Like I said earlier, Pepa and Felix *DIDN'T want* children of their own, so since we were already close practically from my being born, I came to consider Tio Bruno my papa, and wished that SOMEHOW he could have a boy or girl of his own ...and three months into Pepa's second pregnancy, that's when *Mirabel* came along!

"Papa wished- *I* wished, *HARD*... and it paid off, though we didn't know whom exactly was partially responsible for her as well, since *just about EVERYONE* hated Papa for his 'cursed' Visions. And because of Alma's high rigid expectations, we also had to hide that Mirabel was *BRUNO'S child* and not Julietta's; making everyone believe with the help of a little bit of magic that she'd had a third daughter three months after Pepa had Camilo. -On *HER fifth birthday*, Mirabel DIDN'T get a Gift and her Door disappeared into thin air, and then *Papa* vanished as a result of a Vision he'd been begged/forced to have that would have gotten him more than likely *KILLED* if he dared to show it to Alma: tilted one way, a forlorn older Mirabel standing in front of a cracked broken Casita- tilted another way, happier determined more confident Mirabel standing in front of Casita *whole and sound*... And so he left to try and protect her- went into Tita Casita's walls and lived in his secret hide-away he'd had since childhood...

"Mirabel basically became the new Bruno- Papa became 'persona non grata' in Casita, la familia Madrigal, and the Encanto. -'Mi hermanita' and I both knew he was in the walls *and WHY*; we visited him and his rat 'amigos' every spare chance we got. Tio Papi Charlie knew about Mirabel from the day she was born because Papa told him through a two-way mirror/long-distance call, but Mirabel didn't meet her her second father until the day after her fifth birthday. More time passed- Antonio was born after Pepa was badgered and bullied enough to 'keep the Miracle burning bright and strong' by having another child who WOULD receive his Gift as a born-Madrigal is supposed to! Then, a couple of nights ago... Papa had a Vision- a *RITUAL Vision*, not just a 'green dream' or rapid flash while awake. *About YOU*- about 'Bella'...

"We were always going to leave before or after Antonio got and opened his Door- didn't expect Tita to come with us, *BE ABLE to come with us*, ...but we're glad she did."

Silence for one- two- three heartbeats. Then Jiminy let out a long slow sympathetic whistle in tandem with Pinocchio's stunned hushed "*Gee*..." Figaro mewled through a small pout- Gemini chirped sadly, and Sebastian tisked and shook his head.

"That's- That's *an AWFUL LOT* for anyone t' go through," Pinocchio swallowed, rubbing or clutching at her upper arm and subconsciously rocking a bit in her seat. "I- I'm- 'M *so sorry*, M-Miss Dolores."

Another humming squeak and soft sweet gentle smile paired this time with a gentle tap of Dolores' foot against her own. "Thank you, 'carina'- that's much appreciated," she near-whispered. Then she added sympathetically, "You've just gone through more than one *BIG changes* yourself, and *this morning* on top of that! -Will you be alright with our being here and part of our family?? Magic house, rats, and all?"

Pinocchio smiled shyly and sweetly at Dolores and her large-turned-small family in response through her nervous stims, uttering, "T-Technically, you were- you were here *BEFORE me* either as 'Bella' or m'self. LONG BEFORE me! R-Renee- Renee left him; h-he was alone 'n lonely. *AWFULLY so*! S-'Si', yes, it's an *AWFUL BIG* change, but- but I'll- I'll manage. You- You all seem nice as Jiminy, Gemini, Sebastian, Zia Chiara (the Blue Faerie, I mean; she's *my AUNT*, not my mamma), Cleo, Miss Fabiana, Miss Sabina, Sofia, Signora Vitelli, Papa Charlie, Mrs. Renee, and the Cullens, and- and he clearly loves and cares for you all..."

A flustered mutual blush- a shy smile paired with just-as-bashful fond eyes... *Ohhhhhh*. Over the years, Papa Charlie and Mr. Bruno had come to *LIKE-like*/*LOVE* each other as well as being good friends-!! Pinocchio squeaked and flushed cherry-red herself, feeling like she'd stumbled into a private moment despite their being decent i.e. clothed.

"Hey, 'Nocchi- I don't mind sitting on Mira's, Lola's, or Papa's laps ...but may I pretty please sit on yours' during breakfast? I wanna get to know my new big sister sweet as Lola and Mira!"

What else could a flustered 'Nocchi say other than "O-Okay- sure. I- I guess..."?

VERY *rarely* had she ever babysat in Arizona, so having a little kid bounce up onto her lap and snuggle up close was practically brand-new to her. He was HEAVY, but not too much so- and *warm*. Mirabel playfully pouted, but then winked to let the blue-eyed girl know that she didn't mind and was just teasing. She also played a bit of matchmaker by gently pushing Mr. Bruno's chair closer by Papa Charlie's before helping the latter serve scrambled eggs with 'queso', herbs, and chopped-up onions and sweet bell peppers, country ham, toast with butter and mixed-berry jam, sliced apples, and everyone's preferred drink of choice.

Papa Charlie and Mr. Bruno communicated quietly with their eyes and facial expressions, Mirabel and Dolores indulged in Girl Talk and a bit of gossip, the Cricket Triplets mainly listened while tucking in, and Antonio chattered brightly to his semi-new sibling.

"Wanna know what all our Gifts are??"

"Sh-Sure."

"Isabela can grow flowers and other plants with a wave of her hand or stomp of her foot (but she mainly grows only perfect pretty flowers in pink, red, and pale purple because ABUELA says- *BOOOORRRIIING*), Dolores can hear *EVERYTHING*, so please be careful around her 'cause it hurts when she gets overwhelmed, Camilo shapeshifts like Tonks in 'Harry Potter', my Gift's probably gonna be something to do with animals because I *LOVE animals*, and Mirabel's gonna be the new Matriarch when she's old enough! 'Cause THAT'S a Gift too, even if it isn't 'obvious'- not to mention *Abuela* doesn't have a Gift, and Tita Casita listens to and loves Mirabel!"

"O-Oh."

"I think *ADOPTED Madrigals* can get Gifts too, but I don't know what yours 'll be. You're creative like Mira and Papa, I can tell, sooooo- maybe something to do with that?? With art or theater?"

"Wh-Who knows, A-Antonio...?"

Figaro, meanwhile, was being spoiled with *LOTS OF pettings* inbetween bites of his own breakfast, and learning to get along with his new fellow pets as he'd once learned to do so with Cleo. (Dolores really liked the sound of his purring, chirrups, and trills. She'd always wanted a cat...)