When a Butterfly Flaps its Wings | Encanto Fanfic

Mirabel

At first, the whole hug your sister thing was going very poorly.

Isabela was being rude and snobbish, as usual, and generally acting like she was above everyone just for being miss princesa perfecta.

"Get. Out."

"Just give me a hug." Mirabel spat back.

"You can never just do as you're told, can you?" Isabela hissed back.

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It means," Isabela said condescendingly. "That Abuela told you to stay put, and now instead of focusing on finding Bruno, we have to worry about you. Because. You. Ruin. Everything."

Mirabel gasped. "Me, ruin everything?! You know what, at least I'm not the one with flowers growing out of their ass."

Isabela glared at her before summoning vines with a wave of her hand. "Get out of my room."

Mirabel struggled against the vines dragging her out. She had to get that hug. For Camilo, Antonio and Bruno. "Fine! I'm sorry."

Isabela scoffed.

Screw it.

"I'm so sorry your life is so perfect."

"Excuse me?!"

And then, in her anger, Isabela revealed more to Mirabel than she meant to.

Isabela hadn't wanted to marry Mariano. She was only doing it to make the family- to make Abuela- happy.

Isabela didn't want to be perfect but felt forced to be.

It started with a cactus. Prickly, angry and imperfect. And then the world exploded with plants and colour.

Has Isabela always been this awesome?

With Mirabel encouraging Isabela, the whole house was wrapped in hundreds of different species of plants, all beautifully imperfect, in mere moments.

Palma de Cera grew taller than the house, and carnivorous Sundews lined the railings like decorations. Bushes, trees, flowers and fruits adorned the house, bursting with colourful pollen that stained everything it touched.

This colour-stained version of her sister suited her much better than the perfection ever had.

Mirabel doesn't know how she never noticed before.

Then finally, they hugged, for the first time in a very long time.

At this point, Mirabel had completely forgotten about the candle, too entranced by this new version of Isabela. But then, the candle glowed brighter, the cracks started healing, and everything was right with the world.

They collapsed into a pile of flowers, tired but heart light and full.

"You're a bad influence." Isabela giggled as she flicked a flower toward Mirabel.

Mirabel laughed back, "Well-"

"What is going on?!" Abuela screamed, causing Mirabel and Isabela to straighten up, sharing a fearful gaze.

Things may have gotten a little out of hand with the plants.

"Abuela! It's okay." Mirabel said, giving her Abuela a sheepish look. "Everything is fine. We're saving the Miracle!"

"What are you talking about?" Abuela hissed back. "Look at our home. Look at your sister!"

Mirabel did and frowned at how scared her sister looked. Only a moment ago, Isabela had been the happiest Mirabel had ever seen her.

"Isabela was happy, happier than I've ever seen her. And we did all this!" Mirabel proudly pointed out the plants... everywhere. "And the candle grew brighter, and the cracks healed."

Mirabel smiled. "That's why I'm in the vision. That's why Bruno said I was protecting the house. I'm saving the Miracle!"

"Stop, Mirabel, just stop!" Abuela screamed, eyes narrowed. "The cracks started with you. Everyone is losing their gifts because of you."

Mirabel flinched back, hurt at the accusation. Why wasn't Abuela understanding?

"I don't know why you didn't get a gift, but that is no excuse to hurt this family."

This family. Said like Mirabel wasn't a part of it.

She felt her heart shatter.

"I... I will never be good enough for you, will I?" Mirabel said, catching Abuela by surprise, "No matter how hard I try."

She caught sight of her family. Bruno, who suffered too much. Luisa, who was under too much pressure. Camilo, who worried he wasn't enough. Isabela, who was forced to be perfect.

Her mother, who was so smothered in expectation and responsibility she barely left the kitchen. Her tía, who suppressed her every emotion just to please others.

She looked at them and finally realized the truth.

"None of us will ever be good enough for you," Mirabel said. "Luisa will never be strong enough. Isabela will never be perfect enough. Bruno will never see the right things."

"Don't talk to me about Bruno! You know nothing."

"Oh, I will talk about Bruno." Mirabel shot back angrily. "The reason Bruno was attacked in the first place is because you never defended him."

"How dare you!?"

"No! How dare you!? The townspeople come to complain to you about Bruno, and you say nothing!?" Mirabel yelled. "The townspeople calling him a demon isn't something that happens overnight."

"This has been happening for years, and you let it!"

Abuela was stunned into silence.

"This is all your fault, as much as it is the towns," Mirabel said, breathing heavily.

"The Miracle isn't dying because of me. It's dying because of you."

And the house broke.