Mirabel wasn't sure when she first noticed it. But when she was nine she had a small collection of lightning bolt scars almost like her body was cracking apart, and she didn't know what was causing them.
She had mentioned it to her Tia Pepa, the one she spent the most time with ever since she was five, and Pepa had looked upset and furious as she tried to figure out who was hurting Mirabel and why the injuries weren't healing. The whole family had been tense when it was shown that her scars didn't heal after eating her mamas food even if everyone else's did. Mirabel had even punched herself in the face hard enough to get a bruise, ate an arepa, and the family watched as the bruise was healed. Which meant that it was just the scars that wouldn't heal for some reason and they had no idea why.
Mirabel didn't honestly care about it too much. She was just glad that it was only affecting her. Everyone else was always concerned and worried though. Especially Dolores, Camilo Tio Felix and Tia Pepa. Since Mirabel was often nearby to make Tia Pepa feel better they also spent a lot of time with her and worried over how she was so injured but never seemed to feel it.
She was ten when Antonio, the youngest Madrigal and Tia Pepa's third baby, was born and she had been in the delivery room with Pepa when she gave birth. After all she had the ability to somehow always keep Pepa calm or happy and Pepa honestly thought that the girl probably did have a gift of some kind. How else was she able to always control herself better around Mirabel than around anyone else including Felix.
When in labor she had been holding Pepa's hand and this was the first time that Pepa going into labor hadn't had a hurricane or snowstorm appearing. Mirabel looked just as pained and panicked as Pepa was although Pepa honestly didn't feel as much pain this time as she did with her last two children. Pepa supposed it was because this was her third child but this was the first time Mirabel saw a woman give birth.
It would of course worry and panic the girl and she and Mirabel were very close, Mirabel was a second daughter to Pepa. And Mirabel had been making Pepa mothers day presents for the last four years along with making one for Julieta. If her mother hadn't ordered Mirabel to be there because of the effect she had on Pepa then Pepa would have never let the ten year old into the delivery room.
But she had been there and she had been the third person to hold Antonio, right behind Pepa and Felix. And a few weeks later she had noticed even more scaring on her stomach and back and she had only noticed it because she was taking a bath with Tia Pepa and Antonio.
Now she was fifteen and she had just walked into Casita to see Tia Pepa nearly causing a tornado as she fretted over Antonio's big day being perfect.
Immediately Mirabel moved to her Tia, unphased by the strong winds, and put a hand on her arm. Mirabel felt the anxiety and negative emotions flow into her and saw how Pepa immediately calmed down.
"It's okay Tia Pepa. Watch Antonio get an amazing gift." Mirabel said smiling at Pepa and making the woman take a deep breath in and then slowly exhale it, the wind immediately subsiding.
"I'm sorry Mirabel. I promise I don't mean anything by it but I'm just so worried about Antonio and his gift ceremony tonight..." Pepa said looking worried and Mirabel smiled softly at her.
"I understand I promise. I know you don't mean anything bad by it. But watch him get an amazing gift. My guess is something to do with animals. You know how much he loves them." Mirabel said and Pepa gave her a smile and a hug as Isabela appeared and regrew the flowers, handing Pepa a bouquet of roses. She gave Mirabel a dark look but didn't say anything since Pepa was there.
Everyone knew how protective Pepa could be of her little sunshine. Who wouldn't be when Mirabel seemed to take all of the bad emotions away from her aunt and be able to calm her down with ease? Luisa was just as protective of Mirabel for the same reason, somehow she never felt stressed or anything when her hermana was around and because of the scars on Mirabels body.
Last time Isabela said something about Mirabel being giftless around Pepa she had nearly been struck by lightning.
As Mirabel went around placing the candles to decorate for everyone she was confronted by Abuela while Pepa went to find Antonio.
"I understand that you want to help but perhaps you should leave it to those who are better suited for it?" Abuela asked and then noticed Pepa looking for Antonio while having a cloud over her head.
"Pepa you have a cloud!" Abuela called to her daughter who sighed.
"I know mama but I can't find Antonio. What do you want from me?!" Pepa called back and she was starting to get frantic again, after all she had searched most of the rooms in Casita for her son while Mirabel placed the decorations.
"Perhaps you should do what you're good at and calm Pepa down?" Abuela asked staring at Mirabel who sighed but nodded and immediately moved away from Abuela.
"Don't worry Tia. I know a few of his hiding spots. I'll find him." Mirabel said and Pepa immediately calmed down as she smiled thankfully at her sobrina.
Going to find Antonio she smiled as she got him to the sun room where Pepa was raining as she tried not to cry over how much Antonio was growing. Mirabel said nothing as she moved forward and put a hand on her tia's arm, the cloud vanishing immediately as Pepa looked at her and noticed tears in Mirabel's own eyes but an understanding smile on her lips.
"Don't worry Tia. If need be I'll be there with Antonio the entire time." Mirabel promised and Pepa smiled and kissed Mirabel's head.
"You truly are a treasure Mira. I don't know how we ever survived without you." Pepa said smiling at the girl who blushed a bit but didn't respond as they were getting ready to leave and take their places.
No one knew that tonight and the next few days would cause even more scars over her body than the last few years. As well as learning the reason behind those scars.
