Encanto Fanfiction - Not all miracles are good

9 - The Plan

Your papá returns with the plan and the notes from the travellers. His handwriting is an almost illegible scrawl, but maybe that's by design. You truly can't make anything out from first glance. 

"So, I have it all planned out." He starts. "We won't be able to talk about it when we get close according to our friends' advice that there are no verbal secrets in the Encanto. Maybe we can figure out why that is when we get there." He seems somewhat obsessive, you're not sure if the drinking has fully worn off yet. "It sounds like they are very hospitable so I say we travel all the way there then you break my leg with a big rock." You wince at the thought of your leg being broken. Your papá seems to finally have lost his mind but he continues anyway. "We do it late at night and so chances are they will let us in as weary travellers and it sounds like the healer is still there so she will fix me up but worse case I just use my gift to heal." He shuffles the pieces of paper around a bit "Hopefully they let us stay the night then we do some reconnaissance and figure out which of their gifts to ste... borrow." 

You're careful not to react too quickly so that he doesn't yell at you. 'Maybe it's not such a bad idea.' You think to yourself. 'Maybe it will help us find mamá.'

"We should leave today." Your papá finishes. You're too worried about him getting angry to argue, you've seen him much worse after a night of drinking. 'Best to just go with it.' you think, it will take you a while to get there anyway. 

"Ok..." you say hesitantly. 

"Great, then it's settled. Pack your stuff." He says. You go to argue but he furrows his brow as soon as you start to open your mouth, so you think better of it. 

"Ok." You say and head to your room. You turn invisible as soon as you step in. Sometimes it feels like it's easier to think if you have no chance of being seen. You start to wonder if this plan will even work. Maybe your mamá isn't even alive anymore. You sit on your bed and stop thinking and just let the sadness wash over you. Your thoughts get louder again, but they are just paranoid and unhelpful. Your mamá wouldn't have left if it weren't for you. She might have been killed because of you. You papá would have left ages ago if he didn't have to look after you. You've ruined their lives. You have to help your papá. You're the reason he's angry all the time. You feel a tear on your cheek and you wipe it away with an unseen hand. You're glad there's no chance of your papá seeing you. You dry your tears on the bed covers and start packing, becoming visible when you finish.

Your whole life fits in a pretty small bag. Some clothes, a blanket, a toothbrush.

"You ready?" Your papá asks. You nod. 

"Great, I'll make us some lunch then we go." He announces. You go and wait in the kitchen quietly while he makes the food. He tries to use up the fresh stuff. 

"Hey, why don't you go get us some free chocolate for the road?" he asks, winking. You're more than happy to become invisible, and some chocolate might help cheer you up. You slip out and go to the stall in the market that sells little slabs of chocolate and you grab a few when no one is looking, wouldn't want them thinking they have ghosts. You slip them into your pocket and run home. You always feel a little bad but you don't think anyone has noticed they're missing a few pieces. 

You make it home and become visible. You hand your papá a piece and start to eat one yourself. 

"I have a good feeling about this." Your papá says as he dishes up some lunch. You eat then grab other foods from your kitchen to take on the journey. Your papá brings some knives and other kitchen utensils. 

"I think we're ready to go, you good?" He asks. You nod.

"I think I'll just say goodbye to Abuela and Abuelo, maybe some of my friends." You say, though "friends" is a strong word. You've never really been close to anyone here. Your papá's reputation kept that up. Your papá huffs.

"Fine, not that they deserve it." He mumbles. You head off to see your Abuela and Abuelo. They still don't seem to like you very much but they say goodbye pleasantly. You then say goodbye to one other person your age who also seems kinda shy like you. They're the only person you really talk to other than your family, but it still isn't very much. You don't really feel like saying goodbye to anyone else so you head back to your house. You and your papá do a final check then head off, guided by your papá's notes.