The Family of Continuous Misfortune [An Encanto Fanfiction]

Prologue

—Thirty Years Ago—

Bruno paced back and forth anxiously. His feet continuously being buried and then recovered from the sand covering the floor of his room. He was used to bad stuff. He was known for having bad luck. But this?

Bruno glanced around frantically for a piece of wood. Finding a piece and banging his knuckles on it repeatedly. Knock knock knock knock.

This was even worse than what Bruno was preparing to see. Not because he necessarily minded what was on the glowing green slab. But because of his bad luck, this could only mean despair. It looked happy, but it didn't show everyone involved. There was no context. To top it off, there was another person directly involved! And Bruno couldn't even identify them to try and prevent this. Knock knock knock knock knock.

What would Alma think? Pepa? Julieta? Would they hate him? They would know it wasn't his choice, right? They're his familia. They would know he doesn't decide what the prophecies are, right...? They wouldn't judge him for who he falls in love with. They wouldn't push any anger towards the other person in the vision if he was identified, would they?

Knock knock knock knock knock.

Bruno breathed in as much air as he could to try and drown out the hurricane of "what if's" swirling around his conscience.

He wasn't left alone to think forever.

A knock was heard at the door to his room. Knowing what it was, Bruno dropped everything and went down the stairs as fast as he could to greet the villager.

Bruno was quick to try and pull himself together, hoping he looked formal enough, he opened the door.

Bruno hid his anxiety to his best ability, speaking as confidently as he was able.

Bruno M.: Seek your fate, if you dare.

Bruno tried not to smile to himself. The build up to his visions were always his favorite part. Even when the knowledge that he would be blamed for anything negative weighed on him the closer he got to actually having the vision. It was the only situation where he was able to utilize his acting skills in ways he couldn't otherwise.

People didn't want him at social gatherings, of course, because of his bad luck. And it wasn't like he had the confidence to act in front of other people when it wasn't related to using his gift. So he enjoyed every opportunity presented by people wanting their futures to be told.

This didn't mean he didn't wish they were nicer. Like they were when he first had his gift. Because, well, he was only a child, and he was still trying to get his gift under control.

Now he was the Encanto's number one scapegoat.

Was there a fire? It was Bruno's fault because it was in his prediction. Bad harvest? It was Bruno's fault because he didn't predict it. Party didn't end well? It was Bruno's fault because he had the vision but didn't tell anybody what it was outside of some vague advice nobody listened to.

Bruno held his hands through the falling sand for the person to step through. They accepted, and when they stepped through, a man around his age shot him a small, grateful smile as he shook the sand off. Bruno had seen him around town when he went with his family to meet with the villagers. But they never spoke much outside of base-level greetings.

He was noticeably taller than Bruno, with dark, short curly black hair. Dark brown eyes, and coffee brown skin. He wore a deep purple ruana with dark pants, shoes, and a beige hat with black and white detailing.

The man waved confidently with a bright smile, shaking Bruno's hand so hard that it almost hurt.

Hernando P.: So glad to finally meet you, Bruno. Hernando Posada.