Encanto

Chapter 1

"Serafina!" A loud voice shouted from downstairs. Serafina jumped from her room as she was currently reading a book. She quickly put the book down and ran out looking over the railing. Felix was holding Pepa's hand trying to calm her down while eyeing the rain cloud forming above his wife's head. 

Serafina groaned internally having to deal with another one of her older sister's temper tantrums. "Pepa. You have a cloud." Serafina spoke calmly resting her arms against the railing. "I know!" The woman huffed throwing her arms up. "Antonio is missing and his ceremony is starting soon!" Pepa complained. 

Serafina gracefully glided down the stairs towards her sister waving Felix off who was more than happy to leave not wanting to deal with another weather storm. "Have you checked Mirabel's room hermaña?" Serafina asked softly playing with Pepa's braid. "No." Pepa instantly calmed at her younger sister's soothing touch. 

"I would suggest looking there. You know how close Antonito is with Mirabel." Serafina suggested placing a kiss on Pepa's cheek before walking fully down the stairs. "Gracias Sera." Pepa smiled making her way to Mirabel's room. 

Serafina stopped and took a sniff of the air smelling her older sister's food from the kitchen. She smiled softly and made her way towards the kitchen seeing Julieta at the stove. Agustín was there as well decorating the kitchen. He quietly tried to sneak a cookie from the plate only to have his hand smacked by a wooden spoon. 

"Aye!" He yelped flinching backwards rubbing his hand. Serafina laughed at her brother in law before making her way towards the plate of cookies. "Don't laugh Sera! It really hurt!" Agustín complained. That earned a giggle from the brunette who took a cookie from the plate and took a small bite. 

"What?! How come she gets one and I don't mi amor?" He whined. "Because Julieta loves me." Serafina stated taking another bite of the cookie. Julieta remained silent quite entertained by her husband and sister's antics. Agustín sighed to himself and continued to set up the decorations. Serafina turned to Julieta and rested her chin on her sister's shoulder. 

"Today is going to be hard for Mirabel." Serafina said softly getting a sigh from Julieta. "I know. Abuela has always been so hard on her." Julieta said stirring the sopa. Serafina remembered her niece's gift ceremony like it was yesterday. That day was tough on the family especially Mirabel who was so excited to get her gift. Her heart broke in two seeing Mirabel's face that day. 

"How about I take her out to the forest?" Serafina offered Julieta who tensed. "You know how Abuela feels about you going out of the encanto." Julieta spoke. 

No one was allowed to leave the encanto nor could they with the tall mountains surrounding them. The only person who could leave was Serafina because of her gift. Serafina had control over wind which allowed her to fly letting her go over the mountains. 

"I know Juli. I just thought Mirabel would want to escape the bad memories from her own ceremony." Serafina said taking another small bite of her cookie. Julieta put her wooden spoon down and turned to look at her little sister. "I understand Sera. Mirabel might actually enjoy getting away from here for awhile." Julieta said. 

Julieta smiled at Serafina before placing a kiss on her forehead. "Keep her safe and be careful." Julieta rested her forehead against Serafina's. "Sí hermaña." Serafina responded turning towards the kitchen door. She placed her hand against it before stopping. "Oye cuñado." Serafina called out. Agustín looked back on the ladder.

"Cuidado, no te caigas viejo." She smirked tossing the cookie at him. He caught it and took a bite before giving her a goofy grin. Julieta laughed and shook her head before turning back to the stove. Serafina left the kitchen and went over to Mirabel's room whose door was wide open. "Knock knock." She said leaning against the door frame. 

"Tia Serafina!" Mirabel ran to her and hugged her tightly. "Hola mi sol. You ready for our big adventure tonight?" Mirabel nodded her head excitedly. "Yeah! I have everything packed and ready to go!" Serafina laughed at Mirabel's excitement. "Sé que estás aquí ratoncito." Serafina spoke looking towards the bed. 

Slowly, Antonio crawled out from under the bed looking down nervously. "Why the long face?" Serafina asked her youngest nephew. "What if I don't get a gift today?" He asked quietly. Serafina's eyes softened as she approached him and knelt down to his height. "Well you'll never know until you try right?" She winked and tapped his nose eliciting a giggle from the boy. 

"Come along. Your mother is waiting for you." She scooped Antonio into her arms. "Be ready mi sol. I'll meet you by front door." Serafina told Mirabel before walking out with Antonio in her arms. "Are you sure Tia?" Antonio asked the brunette, his nerves returning once more. "About what Antonito?" She asked. "That I can walk up there by myself." He said. 

"You know, I was just like you when it was my gift ceremony." Serafina said putting Antonio down. "You were?" Antonio asked, surprised at how someone as charismatic as his aunt could ever be nervous. "Oh yes. I didn't want to walk up there with everyone's eyes on me." Serafina confessed walking Antonio to the curtain where his family was waiting. 

"How'd you get through it?" Antonio questioned. "Your mother held my hand the entire way." She said looking at Pepa who smiled at her. "Mom. You walked with Tía Serafina at her gift ceremony?" Camilo asked, surprised. "Oh yes! Your aunt was frightened of walking out there by herself." Pepa nodded. "I'm sure Dolores or Camilo would be happy to walk you up there." Serafina said looking at her niece and nephew. 

"I can do it!" Dolores raised her hand excitedly. "See? You'll be just fine." Serafina reassured the young boy who smiled and gave her a big hug before going to Dolores. Pepa walked to Serafina's side and grabbed her hand. "Julieta told me you're leaving the encanto again?" Pepa raised an eyebrow. "I'm taking Mirabel for a little while. You know how hard today will be for her." Serafina whispered getting a sigh from Pepa. 

"Please be careful hermañita." She pulled Serafina into a tight hug. "Of course Pepita." Serafina smirked as Pepa gasped and smacked her lightly on the arm. "You know not to call me that." She scolded Serafina who giggled. "Get out of here! Get!" Pepa playfully shooed Serafina away who dashed away from her older sister. 

It wasn't long until Mirabel and Serafina arrived at the border of the encanto. "Alright. You ready?" Serafina asked. "Yep!" Mirabel smiled. "Viento. Ayudanos?" Serafina asked. The wind suddenly lifted them into the air and carried them over the mountains. "This is amazing!" Mirabel cheered putting her arms into the air. The wind carefully placed them down by the river. "Gracias amigo." Serafina said as the wind swirled around her before shooting off. 

"That will never get old."Mirabel spoke before setting up the picnic that they brought. "It's something else isn't it?" Serafina said taking a seat on the blanket before pulling out the food that Julieta made for them. The two ate, talked, and played for hours until it was time to head home. 

Serafina started packing up the food while Mirabel folded the blanket. "Thanks for taking me out here Tía Serafina." Mirabel said placing the blanket inside the basket. "It was not a problem." Serafina responded as they started their walk back to the border. A loud pounding caught Mirabel's attention as she slowed her pace. 

"Is everything ok mi sol?" Serafina asked, slightly concerned. "Do you hear that?" Mirabel questioned. Serafina listened closely to hear the sound as well. As the sound got louder it became more clear. "Are those horses?" Mirabel asked. Serafina's eyes widened in fear as she grabbed Mirabel's arm and ran. 

"Tía? Who are they?" Mirabel asked, frightened. "Soldados! They're the ones who destroyed Abuela's town and killed your Abuelo." Serafina responded which caused Mirabel to run faster. "Hey! Stop right there!" The lead soldier yelled chasing after them with his squad. "Solo quire a la mujer! Agarrala!" One of the soldiers yelled. 

One of the soldiers launched a rope at Serafina who got tripped and fell. "Tía!" Mirabel cried out.  "Viento! Llevala a su casa!" Serafina called. The wind picked up instantly at Serafina's command.  Mirabel was taken up into the sky though she tried to fight against it to no avail. "Tía." Mirabel sobbed. 

"Tell Julieta, Pepa, y Abuela! I'll be ok." Serafina smile at Mirabel to console right before the soldiers surrounded her and took her away.