Encanto Oneshots

Knowing. (Isabela)

Lil random note, this one I'm kinda generating ideas for as I write it. I wanted another chapter with my Bruno thing here but I wasn't sure who to write it for, so I did a random time generator thing and decided that whoever was singing in we don't talk about Bruno at that time stamp, I would write for. I have like a vague idea what I'm gonna do, but yeah, just a warning that it'll probably be terrible from no planning ahead :]
—-

You don't know me.

No one knows me.

Everyone has their own assumptions about who I am, that I love being "perfect". But they're wrong.

They have no idea what I'm going through, day and night. A constant dislike of myself, of who I am. Disgusting thoughts popping in and out of my head as they please, telling me to do things I don't want to do. I'm constantly wanting to know others opinions of me, craving to know what they think and want and need so that I can appeal to whatever that is. I have to maintain my reputation for the sake of the family, to become that image Abuela sees in me.

I fit the template perfectly, but no one knows me.

I don't think even I know me.

Abuela was counting on me, she needed me to uphold the family honour and be like her. She thought Mirabel would be that child... but when she didn't get her gift nine years ago, Abuela turned to the only grandchild she had left who could uphold the family honour, who wouldn't mess everything up, who could follow instructions and lead others.

She turned to me.

Luisa is unintentionally dangerous when she stumbles, Camilo is too much of a joker, Dolores' gets overwhelmed too easily. So it all fell down to the confident, graceful, nature-loving eleven year old. Thanks Abuela.

I started to believe, to know, that I need to be the kid of perfection, the kid that never messes up, the kid everyone loves, the kid with the planned future, the kid that would do the best job at anything anyone asked her to.

I- I love my family, my sisters, but I needed to notice their flaws, their wrongdoings. I needed to pay attention to Mirabel constantly being in the way, I had to see that Luisa was too weak for all the things she was carrying all the time. But never to say anything, to lift my head high and know that I was a better person than them, that I was going to pass along our family's Gifts to the next generation, that I was responsible.

As I got older I spent less time with my sisters, more time in my room devoted to mastering my powers. Roses, lilies, jacarandas, everything with flowers was flourishing in my room in beautiful formations and colours.

But it never felt right. It never felt me.

A sudden high pitched sound startled me out of my meaning of life stupor. I toppled off my bed, landing softly on a floor of purple petals.

I sat up and realised that when I'd jumped in fear, my powers spiked. A thick vine had nearly crushed a column holding up my roof and keeping the walls intact.

Fear was something I couldn't feel. I had to feel graceful, superior, and act like a walking shampoo commercial, because that's what Abuela wants. I can never show outward emotion, everything needs to be constantly internalised: fear, anger, happiness, everything. I took a deep breath to steady myself. Above disappointing Abuela, I had to make sure I didn't destroy the Casita.

"I'm sorry, Tía Pepa, I really am!" Mirabel's frantic voice drifted through my open door. "I- I didn't realise the fabric I used for embroidery was the stuff you use to make your headbands." A loud pitter patter started coming from the same direction, telling me that rain started to fall. "It- It was just sitting there, and- and I thought 'Wow, that's a really nice colour. Maybe I could—'"

BANG

The rest of Mirabel's explanation was cut off by a short scream from the crack of thunder that was so powerful, the whole house shook.

It was too much for me. I'd been at the limit all day, having to try flirting with that idiot Mariano, needing to produce eight hundred and three bouquets of flowers for Julieta and Agustín's wedding anniversary, barely eating anything because Abuela kept me busy all day.

I cracked.

A rumble, a creak. A section of roof caved in, causing the column holding it to slam into the wall.

Even though it was furthest from me, parts of the dust came flying back towards me from the force of the fall. Coughing and spluttering with my eyes covered, I waited until it all subsided, and looked to inspect the hole in the wall.

Someone - or something - was looking back at me through the hole. It blinked, then was gone.

I froze on the spot. Did I really even seen those eyes? Surely I did. My imagination isn't the greatest in the world... should I go and investigate?

My eyes darted from my open door to the open section of wall. If I close it and block it with a lot of trees, Abuela would never know... I could finally get to do something my way.

But should I?

The longer I waited the less chance I would have to follow whatever it was.

Frantically ordering four trees to move to the door and resist anything, even Luisa, with my mind, I ran to the wreckage that was, up until a minute before, my wall.

It was eerily quiet inside the walls. Which was a good and bad thing. The skittering of rat claws on wood was unnerving, but I heard footsteps slowly becoming more distant, and I knew that was the person I was following.

Eventually, after following a path I would never remember, the footsteps stopped. A figure was crouched up ahead, as if accepting defeat.

The person turned around, pulled down their hood, and I looked into the eyes of my Tío Bruno.

—-
Sorry it's so short guys, I was running out of inspo for Isabela cos I wasn't sure how to write for her. I've literally been trying to get this chapter done for like a week.

But during that week this book got to 1K views and (as of writing this) #2 in #wedonttalkaboutbruno ???? Like holy bajoolies guys. Thank you so mcflipin much, I didn't think I'd get so far as 50 views. I just... needed some Bruno angst and went with it, and had heaps of ideas for Camilo and I just wanted to direct life in the Casa Madrigal. So yeah hang on lemme try and do a better thank you

THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS HAPPENED BUT IT DID AND I'M SO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL, I LOVE YOU ALL SO SO MUCH FOR EVEN GLIMPSING MY WORK.

How did you guys like this chapter? It was probably terrible I'm so sorry.

Anyway, have a gay day!!
-BJ