Worthless :A Encanto (Stranger Things AU)

7- A miracle? Or something else...?

We had to find another portal. But how?

That night, I didn't really want to sleep. I was way too nervous. But I finally let my mind rest. I'd earned it, after all.

As usual, I had a dream. But it was different from the ones I had before.

I walked to a window I knew well. Mama's window. I wasn't allowed there, but this was a dream. I walked closer. There was a candle in the window shelf. A great, golden candle. 

"Esto es nuestro milagro" Mama used to say when we were younger. When she didn't hate me. And she told us the story of our father. I'd always wanted to meet him. Perhaps I wouldn't always feel so alone if he was still here.

I reached for the candle, my fingers inches from the flame. And just when my fingers were about to touch it, something happened. The flame turned red. Suddenly, the candle didn't heat anymore. Everything was cold. wind blew harder. The floor started shaking. It didn't look like a miracle anymore.

I felt a warm hand in my shoulder. I turned around to see a figure wrapped in a golden halo. He looked much like Bruno, but less brawny. He looked like... Me. The same brown, uncombable hair. The same dark eyes. The same olive skin...

"Papa..."

"Yes, mi vida. It's me"

"But, how? Aren't you...?"

"This is a dream, cariño. Everything is possible in dreams."

"So I can't-" I reached my hand to hug him, but it traversed him. Of course. What was I thinking? "Papa, I miss you. Mama has been mean to me lately..."

"I know, cariño. But she doesn't mean it"

"What do you mean?"

"Look"

He showed me the red candle. It seemed pure evil, just as if it had spawned from hell. Papa touched it, and flickered between red sparkles.

"This is what's happening to Alma. Her soul has been corromped by the evil forces that are now in the candle"

I opened my eyes widely "So... She still loves me?" I felt tears stinging my eyes.

"Sí, mi vida. She adores you, but she isn't herself. The curse will start attacking your siblings if you don't stop it."

"But how am I gonna do that?"

"You already know, cariño. You've always known. You're the eldest, after all."

Suddenly, I realized it. My eyes reflected the red light.

"Yes... I know... But I'm not a Fantastic Twin. I don't even have powers..."

"You have the greatest power of all" He tried to stroke my cheek, but his hand was like light. A warm feeling heated my whole body, though "Who's the one behind all great plans?"

"Me?" I whispered

"Who's the one that keeps everyone together?"

"Me" I wasn't whispering anymore

"Who's the one willing to sacrifice herself for a village that doesn't even know who she is?"

"Me!" I was more confident now

"Who's the bravest one in the family? The only one who isn't fooled by the false miracle?"

"ME!!" I was proudly yelling now

"Who's the one that's gonna save us all?"

"ME!!"

"Who's our true miracle?"

"ME!!"

"Who's gonna save her mama and triplets?"

I stopped dead. It had been so long since someone called us triplets. I was so used of hearing them call themselves twins. But now, in front of Papa, as sure as I'd ever been, I answered, proudly and loudly.

"MEEE!!!!"

I woke up. It took me a few moments to process everything I'd seen. 

I saw Papa, and he has told me what to do. I've always known. 

Barefoot, with my hair messy and my nightgown on, I got out of bed. I was shivering, and it wasn't because of the cold. I took a few deep breaths to calm myself and continued walking.

I tiptoed so I wouldn't wake anyone up. I didn't want anyone to know yet.

I entered Mama's room trembling. If she saw me, I was dead.

I saw the candle, the flame turning from gold to red. Mama was muttering in her sleep and wincing. Was she having nightmares? I couldn't tell.

I got hold of the candle and leaved the room running.

I leaved the house, still in my nightgown, and ran. I crossed the whole village clutching the candle. If anyone saw me, they would try to kill me. But I didn't care.

I ran until I reached a place I knew from Mama's stories. A river whose waters were covered in flowers. The river where Papa had been killed.

I stared angrilly at the candle and, with all my strenght, I threw it to the water.

It landed with a loud splash. The flame extinguished.

"I've done it" I was a bit afraid, but also excited "Adiós, Milagro"

Suddenly, a figure made of red fire and another of gold erupted from the water. The one in gold got close to me.

"You've done well, mija. I'm so proud of you"

Papa's voice. The golden figure exploted and everything seemed to sparkle for a second. The red fire figure wasn't so nice. It passed through me, making me lose balance and fall. It went down the earth furiously and leaved a dark hole covered in red goo.

The portal I was looking for all along.