The madrigal kids meet some Disney villains

Waiting on a miracle

(Mirabel meets hades)

In the soft glow of the lights radiating from the House of Mouse, the laughter and cheer from the party inside drowned out the world outside. Hades, the god of the underworld, stood solitary at the edge of the garden, his blue flames flickering along his head like a restless fire. He could feel the tension in his own dark heart-a peculiar sensation that was almost foreign to him.

"Pain, Panic, what are you staring at?" he grumbled, casting a glance at his two bumbling minions. They had been gawking past the garden's hedges, their eyes wide with bewilderment.

Panic glanced nervously at Pain, who was scratching his head, still attempting to make sense of what he was seeing. "Uh, boss... it's that Mirabel girl from the Madrigal family."

Hades tilted his head curiously. "What about her? She lookin' for a dance partner?"

Panic shook his head vigorously. "No! She looks really sad, Hades. Like... really sad."

Intrigued by the sadness of the girl in the vibrant dress, Hades decided this warranted further investigation. "Transform into something less noticeable, you two. A couple of garden critters would do. Let's see if we can charm some answers out of her."

With a quick swish of his fingers, Panic morphed into a small, timid rabbit, while Pain became a sleek, curious fox. They hopped and scampered their way through the lush garden, approaching Mirabel, who sat beneath a flowering tree, her head bowed as if the weight of her emotions might crush her.

They circled her quietly before Panic the rabbit nudged gently at her foot. Mirabel looked down, her eyes puffy and rimmed in red. "Oh... a rabbit," she muttered, an odd smile breaking through her tears.

Pain, as a fox, stepped forward, cocking his head as if to say, "What's wrong?"

Mirabel stared at the two animals, her heart aching. She felt she could confide in them, even if they were just creatures. "You wouldn't understand," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm tired of feeling unwanted. I feel like I'm invisible. My family has so many gifts-bravery, strength, healing-but what do I have? Nothing. I feel useless. I'm always the one left in the shadows, trying to pretend everything is okay, but I'm not okay."

Pain and Panic exchanged glances, their uncharacteristic empathy shining through for a moment. But before they could respond, the air shimmered and Hades appeared, his dark presence suddenly cloaking the garden in an intriguing shadow.

"Well, well, Mirabel," he said, a hint of curiosity accentuating his deep voice. "Sounds to me like you're searching for something... more."

Her heart raced. Was this really the Hades? The god of the underworld? She looked at him with wide eyes, unsure if she should be frightened or comforted by his presence.

Hades stepped a little closer, the flames flickering softly around him. "I know what it feels like to be unwanted, to be overshadowed by others. There's power in feeling appreciated, and I can offer you that power, if you're willing." He extended his hand, flames licking around his fingers like ribbons of light. "All you have to do is shake my hand, and you'll never feel invisible again."

Mirabel stared at his offered hand, the weight of his words drifting in her heart. Could this truly be the escape she longed for? The chance to be seen, to be cherished? Yet, a whisper of doubt lingered in her mind-would a gift from Hades come at a cost?

She looked back at her two small companions, the rabbit and the fox, who seemed to understand her pain. They had no gifts, either, yet they were there-loyal and present.

"I don't want power for the sake of power," she said slowly, feeling a fierce determination rising within her. "I just want to belong and be loved for who I am, not for some gifts I don't have."

Hades frowned, surprised by her refusal. "You can't possibly want to stay in the dark, Mirabel. You don't have to be alone."

"I don't want to have what others have; I want to find value in my own worth," she replied, her voice steady and strong. "I want to show them that I matter, even if it's in a different way."

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Hades stared at her, a storm of emotions present in his deep-set eyes. Finally, he withdrew his hand, seemingly defeated by the strength of a girl who knew her own heart.

"Well, well, if that isn't stubbornness wrapped in resilience. You've got guts, kid." He smirked, his hellfire dimming ever so slightly, a flicker of respect igniting within him.

As he began to fade back into the shadows, Mirabel felt a sense of warmth in his withdrawn presence. "Just know," he called back, "if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me. The shadows aren't so bad when you learn how to dance with them."

With that, he was gone, leaving her alone in the garden but igniting a light within her that was brighter than before. Mirabel straightened her back, looked to the lively party in the House of Mouse, and stepped into the light-ready to embrace her own gifts, however modest, with newfound pride.