11. Chapter 11

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Luisa was exhausted, she didn't even get a chance to eat breakfast before she was sent off to work and hadn't had a chance to catch her breath since. Leaning against a wall she wiped the sweat of her brow "Just..five minutes..". Her stomach was growling uncomfortably, what time was it? Judging from the position of the sun it had to be noon. How much longer until dinner? She was starving.

What she would give to even have just one day of relaxation, just one day to enjoy the more simple pleasures in life. Was that too much to ask? Apparently it was, ever since she got her gift it's been non stop. A child shouldn't have to carry the weight of the whole town, but she did. But at least she got moments like this, where she could stop and catch her breath..just peace and quiet and no one to bother her. It was then she heard footsteps coming towards her she closed her eyes in frustration she should of known.

"Luisa?"

Snapping her eyes open she was surprised to see Mirabel and Dolores standing in front of her "Mirabel? Dolores? What are you two doing here?" her eyes fell to the basket in Mirabel's hand, the smells coming from it making her mouth water.

"I'm here to see you." Mirabel answered with a smile "I asked Dolores to help me find you." turning to her cousin "Gracias,I do appreciate it but if you would be so kind to give us some space, I'll meet up with you later."

"Of course, Mira. Just be careful, you not not everyone in this town has your best interests in mind." Dolores rubbed Mirabel's shoulder smiling before looking up at Luisa "I'll see you at home Luisa." before Luisa could open her mouth to ask what was going on Dolores was gone.

"So..." Luisa rubbed her head unsure "Ah...about yesterday."

"Yesterday is one of the reasons I'm here. I wanted to thank you for what you did, I'm not sure what you did to them but when they saw me earlier they couldn't of ran away any faster." Mirabel chuckled at the memory.

"It was nothing."

"No..it was something alright." Mirabel studied her sisters face she replaced her smile with a look of concern "Are you alright? You seem really tired."

"I'm fine...everything's fine." Luisa tried to force a smile only to yawn before clutching her stomach in hunger.

Mirabel shook her head "Dolores said she could hear your stomach growling from the other side of town." she used her free hand to grab Luisa's "How about a break? And just so you know, I won't be accepting no as answer." she held up the basket "I packed lunch."

Luisa eyed the basket again as her stomach growled she did need a break and she was hungry, besides who will find out? "Ok..but not too long..Abuela doesn't like it."

I couldn't care less about what Abuela likes Mirabel thought to herself before smiling up at her sister "Excellent! Come along."

Luisa allowed herself to be guided by her baby sister it all feeling unreal, after all this time Mirabel was here right in front of her holding her hand a smile pressed on her face. "Where are you taking me?"

"Oh it's not too far, it's a lovely shady tree." Mirabel answered "I sit under it all the time, no one should bother us there." she fell into silence as she lead the rest of the way finally putting down the basket and plopping herself down in front of a large tree "Take a seat."

Luisa lowered herself down as Mirabel opened the basket offering it's contents to Luisa.

"Tamale?" Mirabel offered taking one for herself and pulling out jug of juice and two cups.

"Where did you get all this?" Luisa wondered taking a tamale and accepting the cup of juice.

"Mamá. She was more than happy to give these away to me, she always makes more than she needs for her daily work." Mirabel took a bite of her food washing it down with a sip of juice .

Luisa quickly finished the first tamale and with Mirabel's urging took another "This is..nice. I never get to take a break like this you know.."

Mirabel shook her head "That's not right, I been observing for a while now. They push you too hard, and they never thank you for it just assign you another job."

"I don't mind the work..."

"Yeah, don't mind work. But what you're expected to do is ridiculous." Mirabel scoffed "How many times a week do you need to reroute the river exactly?"

'Well...at least three this week so far..not sure why.."

"And you do it for them every time."

Luisa glanced down "It's my duty Abuela says we have to serve the community, I'm worthless if I can't be of service."

"Well it seems to me you're being taken advantage of." Mirabel commented "And does Abuela appreciate it? No. Does anyone in this town take the time to think about your feelings? No."

'Well.."

Mirabel continued "You hardly get a chance to sit down and eat while they get to stuff their faces, you're on your feet from the moment you get up in the morning to the moment you go to bed at night. The Madrigal family workhorse, am I right? But then again even the horses get a break you're more of a beast of burden than my donkey friends back at the barn." finishing her juice she place the cup at her side "Not trying to hurt your feelings here, just saying."

Luisa stared at Mirabel who returned the stare face expressionless feeling the first tears form she stood up and turned her back to Mirabel as the first sob escaped once that first one was out there was no stopping it "I'M A LOSER!".

Pulling herself to her feet Mirabel walked around to wrap her arms around Luisa's waist..well as far round they would go anyway. "No you're not. You are the strongest person I know and it's not fair how people use you for your gift. They don't deserve you, Luisa. But I'm here for you, I always have been-" Mirabel was cut off letting out a cry of surprise as Luisa pulled her into a hug that lifted her off her feet.

Luisa pulled Mirabel up to her chest sobbing into her hair "I love you sis." Luisa squeezed her tighter putting her cheek against Mirabel's and closing her eyes "I never stopped."

"I..love..you...too...sis." Mirabel was dragging each word out as Luisa pressed her tighter "But...you're...crushing...me..."

Snapping her eyes open she saw Mirabel struggling against her grip "Oh..sorry." placing her gently on her feet "I..missed you. I know you were here the whole time...but...it's not the same."

Well you can thank Abuela for that Mirabel thought angrily as Luisa placed her arms around her shoulders.

'When I saw you yesterday..bleeding..I was scared you know..I don't know what came over me.."

"And here I thought you hated me."

Luisa pulled an arm away to raise Mirabel's chin "I never hated you, Mirabel. I didn't want to stay away but.."

"Abuela told you too." Mirabel finished for her "I know, stay away from the tainted Madrigal." reaching up she removed Luisa's hand from her chin and held it "When Abuela says jump you say how high. You're too submissive for your own good, if you want to take a break it's well in your rights to take one."

"But..Abuela says..."

"Abuela says a lot of things, personally I think it would be good for the town to learn to do somethings themselves and actually plan ahead. If they ask you to move the church again just say no. What are they going to do about it?"

Luisa didn't know what to say "But my gift..."

"Is YOURS and everyone in town gets benefit from expect for one person, you want to know who that is?"

"Who?"

"You." blind eyes intense behind the glasses "Everyone gains something but you. Your 'gift' means you have to be a servant for everyone in the Encanto? What kind of a blessing is that?"

Luisa couldn't hold back the fresh flood of tears again pulling Mirabel off her feet in a hug sobbing into the dark curls.

Oh Luisa, my dear hermana it'll be okay. I'm working on it, but I'm gonna need you to work with me. If my plan is to work I'm gonna need all of you. Mirabel let Luisa cry into her, least she could do after yesterday wasn't it?

"LUISA!"

Luisa turned around to see Alma standing there arms folded "Abuela...I..."

"I been looking all over town for you, people have been asking after you." Alma looked from Luisa anger filling her face when she saw Mirabel being held in Luisa's arms "What are you doing here and not working? What are you doing with her?" if looks could kill Mirabel would of been a goner.

"She was taking a break, Abuela. She seemed tired to me and she was hungry so I brought her some lunch." Mirabel answered in an overly cheery voice "I would of invited you too..but you know I only packed enough for two." she snickered.

"I wasn't talking to you, Mirabel." Alma spat out her name "Luisa explain yourself."

"I was just taking a quick break-" Luisa kept her eyes low.

"Look at me when you talk to me."

Luisa rose her head "I didn't get to have breakfast..I'm sorry.."

Mirabel shook her head "No, don't be sorry sis. I bet Abuela made sure she had lunch herself."

"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS!" Alma screamed at Mirabel who just grinned in response "You had no right to distract Luisa from her work." turning to Luisa now "I'm sorry about the breakfast thing I'll make sure it doesn't happen again. But that doesn't explain what you're doing with her." pointing a thumb at Mirabel "You know the rules. Stay away from her. It's for your own good."

"Well..like she said..she brought me some food and we just chatted for a bit...she's still my baby sister." Luisa forced herself to keep her eyes on Alma "I'll get back to work now.." she put Mirabel back on her feet "Err..thanks for food Mirabel. But I got things to do, have a nice day." with a glance at Alma she began to walk off.

"Hey, Luisa. Have a think over our conversation today, huh? Just a small think is all I ask." Mirabel called after her.

Luisa stopped and looked over her shoulder giving a small nod, with one more quick glance at Alma's face she power walked away.

Mirabel watched her retreat feeling satisfied before turning to Alma with a grin "So, Abuela how are you feeling today?"

"Don't start with me." Alma snapped "If you think you can worm your way back in you have another thing coming, I will not allow it. Not into MY house."

Mirabel burst into laughter "Really? You really think I want to come live with you so I can join your little team of obedient slaves? You think I want to jump to your command at the clap of the hand? Give me a break, I'll rather sleep with the donkeys than lower myself to that level." she starting taking steps towards Alma.

"What is it you want then?"

"All I wanted.." before Alma could react Mirabel was right in her face "Was to be loved. To be accepted. To feel like my life matters." Mirabel grabbed Alma's chin with one hand and gripping one of her shoulders with the other delighting in the fear in her eyes "And you took that from me you selfish coward. You took that from me, I was five. FIVE. And you tossed me aside, turned Isabela against me. You kept my mother from spending time with me. My only regret about that night five years ago was that I didn't succeed in destroying that candle. But believe me, one day I will."

"You..you...monster." Alma shoved Mirabel just enough for her to lose her hold and took a step back "You've really turn into a monster."

"In the end I'm just what you made me."

Alma's eyes locked with Mirabel's each second making her feeling more and more uneasy as what Alma viewed as a deranged grin spread across Mirabel's face.

"What's wrong?" Mirabel took a step forward resulting in Alma taking one back "Are you afraid?" Mirabel was enjoying toying with her grandmothers mind letting out dark chuckle "You should be."

Alma backed further and further away Mirabel matching her step for step. What was she doing? Was this some sort of game to her?

Mirabel came to a halt smile still on her face "Well this has been such a lovely catch up but I must be off and I would hate to keep you any longer, please do tell my darling mother I said hello." turning around and walking back she picked up her basket and disappeared into the trees.

Alma watched her go her hands and legs trembling, she has been frightened of many things before and she never thought something would strike more fear into her heart than he soldiers who terrorised her first home. But she found something.

Her own granddaughter.

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"So, how did it go with Luisa? Ow"

Mirabel looked up from her embroidery over to Dolores who was struggling with her own having pricked her finger with the needle "It was lovely actually we had a nice picnic lunch had a good chat followed by a nice loving hug..then Abuela had to turn up."

"Abuela? She wouldn't of been happy-ow" another finger prick "How do you this with your vision without constantly poking yourself?"

"Takes practice, you should of seen the amount of pricks I had when I first started, it's all become second nature now." Mirabel paused to cut her thread "And of course she wasn't happy, claimed I was distracting Luisa from her work."

"All Luisa ever does is work."

"Exactly, but Abuela doesn't see it that way."

Dolores shook her head "I feel bad, like I told you she didn't even get to sit down for breakfast this morning when someone came knocking needing her to lift something and Abuela told her to go. Tía Julieta insisted she eat first but Luisa said she was fine and off she went. But I saw the look on her face."

"Luisa never says no, she'll say yes even if kills her just to please Abuela."

"Did Abuela say anything else to you?"

"Just her usual nonsense about me being a monster." Mirabel chuckled "She really needs to think up something new, it's getting kind old don't you agree?" glancing over she shook her head in amusement as Dolores pricked her finger for the third time.

"Remind me again why I agreed to let you teach me this." Dolores shook her hand.

"You said you wish we could do something together as primas. You'll get the hang of it." swapping her thread out for another colour "By the way..how is Camilo these days?"

"Camilo?" Dolores looked up "Well..I've noticed he's been a bit down lately. I can hear him mumbling something about people only wanting him when he's pretending to be someone else."

Looks like what I said has stuck with him, the fish is hooked "Think maybe you can convince him to come here again?"

"Again?" Dolores looked surprised "When was he here?"

"When you first starting coming here, he told me to stay away from you and Antonio. I'm sure if I can talk with him he'll see I'm not the monster Abuela likes to portray me as and we can go back to way we were when we shared the nursery together."

"I can try...if I can catch him alone."

Mirabel smiled "Gracias, Dolores. You truly are the best friend I have. Not that you have much competition." she gestured to the donkeys "For one you smell better that's for sure."

Dolores laughed "Well I would hope so." reaching over to place her hand on Mirabel's knee "And you're my best friend it's just a shame we wasted all these years." she sniffed "Even though you really could use a bath...wait you can. In the Casita."

"In case you forgotten. I'm banned from the Casita, I doubt Abuela will welcome me with open arms before running me a nice warm bubble bath."

"In the day, when everyone else is out. They'll never even know you were there."

Mirabel rose an eyebrow "That does sound lovely but will I even get in or will Casita throw me straight out the door?"

"Casita didn't throw you out the night of the gift ceremony even once you were alone." Dolores pointed out.

"That..is true..but doesn't mean I won't get thrown out now or even let in at all."

Dolores's eyes lightened up at the idea of doing something she knew Abuela wouldn't approve of even if it was just giving her cousin a bath "We can still try, no harm in trying. If I'm with you Casita should let you in."

"You know I can take a bath in the Pérez house right?"

"Then why don't you?"

Mirabel shrugged "It always felt awkward so I stopped asking, I just wash myself in the river."

Dolores crossed her arms "You need a real bath, so either you come into Casita with me or I'll drag you into Pérez house myself."

Groaning Mirabel admitted defeat "Fine, we can try getting me into the Casita."

"Excellent!" satisfied her victory Dolores leaned back "I promise I'll talk to Camilo."

Mirabel just nodded. Dolores was becoming quite the ally in Mirabel's quest, bringing her the latest news from inside Casita's walls anger filling Mirabel everytime she heard of Alma's latest misdeed.

"What would I do without you, Dolores?"

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Don't have much to say this time other than thank you all for your support. This is the first full length fic I have attempted so all the faves,follows and reviews are really encouraging. But this is far from over so until next chapter The Curious Calico out.

Review responses

Z-King: Can't blame her for going mad every now and then considering everything.

World'snumber1scaredycat: Mess with Mirabel you mess with Luisa. And now they know that too.

idleshinobi: If you want drama and angst you're in the right place

KaliAnn: Luisa's a gentle giant..unless you mess with her baby sister. In that case..run

Rosary-Stefanys-Strigidae'31: Exactly, with Luisa on her side Mirabel would be unstoppable so maybe it's good for everyone else in the Encanto she is only after Alma.

Avian: An army with superpowers..good luck fighting that lol

FlowerChild23: Alma going to be living in constant paranoia now, but hey it's her own fault