66. Dragon Things Out

Mirabel and Hiccup were plotting something.

In the four years since the Encanto has had dragons, many members of their family have bonded with some of the creatures.

Dolores had grown acquainted with a Deadly Nadder, the same one that crashed her wedding. She was surprisingly quiet, for such a usually boisterous species. She’d named it Songbird, after her apparent love of music.

She would often nip at Mariano’s hair, and she would always dance to Sofia’s nonsensical singing. Just to make the baby smile.

Antonio had a flock of six Terrible Terrors flapping around him constantly, all different colors and temperaments. They got along with his other animals quite well. They were prone to mischief, but he kept them in line.

Bruno was still being followed by the Hobgobbler, and at this point he kind of enjoyed it. Its name was now Raphael, after a character from one of the seer’s favorite telenovelas. Where the main heroine was stalked for twenty years by her ex-lover, of the same name.

One day, something spooked a Rumblehorn. Shocking it into a charge. Recklessly, Valentina stood right in front of the rampaging creature, and managed to stop it in its tracks. She dubbed him Brute, and the two have made a rowdy duo ever since. Bruno was still a bit frightened by the bulky beast, and so the Rumblehorn worked hard every day to calm his fears.

Brute was an absolute softy, when it came to Manuel. Sitting serenely while the toddler leaned against his stocky side, pretending to read. Diego liked it when the dragon sniffed him, poking and prodding him gently with his snout. The child enjoyed the attention. Or any attention, really.

In addition to being a devoted fan of Julieta and her food, the Gronckle called Paprika had apparently decided she’d act as Augustin’s bodyguard. On the lookout for any dangers he could trip himself into. The irony of his new protector being a dragon that buzzed around like a bee was not lost on the man.

Pepa was the only one who could get the Skrill under control. Around her, he acted more like a whimpering puppy, than a vicious beast. She’d taken to calling him Moody, as at first he’d only appear when she was experiencing negative emotions.

Despite his harsh exterior, Moody was actually rather fond of Pepa. He tried to be a scaly shoulder she could cry on, if ever she needed it. He wasn’t a big fan of Felix, but he put up with him for Pepa’s sake.

There was no way all these dragons, including the ones Isabela, Luisa, and Camilo had brought home, could live comfortably in Casita. So a special stable specifically for the Madrigals was built, a short distance away from their residence.

With a few exceptions.

Mariposa got to stay in the house, as she wasn’t too big and was fairly docile. The Terrors were fine in Antonio’s room.

Raphael the Hobgobbler did what he wanted. They couldn’t get him to leave if they tried.

It was still a bit surreal, seeing the Madrigals on the backs of flying reptiles. The Encanto’s central family had taken to the dragons quite well, it seemed…

Except for Alma.

She didn’t outright dislike the creatures. She’d accepted their presence, and appreciated the positive impact they had on the town and its people.

But she never really seemed crazy about them herself.

Whenever she was close to one, her cool visage would crack just the teensiest bit. She was clearly uncomfortable around them.

So of course, Mirabel and Hiccup were dedicated to changing that.

Mirabel especially was excited about the idea. In her mind, this would be her final act as a carefree Dragon Rider. Before she had to fully shift into super serious Candle Holder Mode.

And if this was to be her last hurrah, she was going all in.

Tomorrow, she’d begin her training. Mirabel was going to shadow Alma as she went about her duties, to learn the ways of leadership.

Which meant they had to strike today.

The plan was a simple one. They’d go about it just like any other bonding.

Get Alma in the stables, coincidentally take her to a room with a ton of dragons, and she’ll just so happen to fall in love with one.

It was foolproof!

But first, they had one little thing to take care of.

Flying over the town, and enjoying the warm morning breeze, Mirabel soared over to where she and Hiccup had agreed to meet.

The forge.

The young man had lived there alongside the village’s blacksmith, Ignacio, who’d graciously offered him a room in his home upon the Viking’s arrival.

Over the past year, Hiccup had moved out of the forge and into the stables. Having constructed a lodging for himself and Toothless, and basically becoming a live-in dragon professor.

Though everyone recognized that he probably wouldn’t be living there for much longer.

He still dropped by the shop from time to time, either to do some crafting or just to say hello to his old friend.

And that same old friend seemed to be having a dragon problem. Meaning it was up to Mirabel and Hiccup to solve it.

She brought Mariposa into a landing. Toothless was already waiting outside, and as soon as Mirabel dismounted, the two began bouncing around each other.

She entered the building…or at least, she tried to.

The entrance way was blocked by Ignacio’s Shovelhelm, Hammerhead. Who was currently curled up on the ground.

Rolling her eyes, the bespectacled girl crouched down and lightly poked the creature.

“Excuse me!” She said.

At the prodding, the chunky dragon got up. With a grouchy expression on his snout, he trudged over to the nearest corner.

He plopped down, facing the wall, and curled up again.

Mirabel stood in the doorway, her eyebrow raised in confusion.

“He’s grounded.”

Mirabel then looked up, at the sound of Hiccup’s sardonic tone.

He was leaning against a counter, his metal leg crossed in front of his other. Behind the counter was a very grumpy Ignacio, glaring at the dragon with a disappointed frown.

Her confusion only being increased, she walked further inside the building.

“Okay, and why is he grounded?” She asked.

After fixing the dragon another glare, the blacksmith began to explain. “I spend the whole night, smithing my butt off! Making stuff for the village…”

“Spoons?” Hiccup asked.

“Spoons.” The man confirmed.

“I wake up in the morning, and the sun is shining! Birds are singing! Nightmares are trying to eat those birds! It’s a beautiful day! So I go to get the spoons ready for delivery…” He leaned in closer, as if sharing a dreadful secret.

“You wanna know how many spoons I found?” He asked.

Hiccup shrugged. “I’m gonna hazard a guess and say none.”

“NONE!”

The man’s sudden exclamation shocked everyone present, even the dragons sitting outside.

“NOTHING! ZILCH! ZERO! NO SPOONS, KID!”

“It’s not just the spoons either! The knives, the forks, all gone!” He shouted. “And this has happened every day, for a week!”

He was rambling now. “I mean, how are people supposed to eat? If you wanna eat you gotta have utensils! And I gotta make those utensils! And I did make those utensils! And I was gonna deliver ‘em…”

He then pointed sharply to Hammerhead. “Until somebody ATE THEM!”

The dragon groaned some protests, but Ignacio shut them down.

“Nuh-uh! You know what you did! Stay in the corner, and think about what you’ve done!”

The grouchy lizard did as commanded, but he didn’t seem happy about it.

Mirabel couldn’t help but giggle. The sight of a man accusing a dragon of devouring silverware was highly amusing.

“I dunno, Shovelhelms aren’t known for eating metal.” She spoke through her snickers.

“Yeah, they mainly stick with fish and rocks.” Hiccup agreed.

The Shovelhelm faced the man with a glare that screamed “I told you so!”

The blacksmith crossed his arms and huffed. Unsure of their words. “Alright, maybe Double-H didn’t do it. But someone ate my spoons!”

He reached into a drawer, to show off the twisted remains of his silverware.

Small pieces of metal, cut into bits, clattered onto the counter. Silver ovals and handles sat dismembered, mangled with obvious bite marks.

They examined the tattered tableware, and could see that whatever caused this must’ve had big teeth, a massive bite force, and a large jaw.

And it didn’t match up with the Shovelhelm’s muzzle at all.

“Yeah…I don’t think Hammerhead did this.” Hiccup confirmed.

But that raised the question of who or what exactly did?

“Congratulations!” Mirabel spoke, turning to the creature in the corner. “You are an innocent dragon!”

As the vindicated beast smugly snorted to the blacksmith, who was now nervously chuckling, Hiccup picked up one of the busted spoons.

“You don’t mind if we take this back to the stables, do you? We could examine it, and maybe figure out who did this.”

“Go ahead, they’re junk now!” Ignacio replied.

Pocketing the mutilated metal, the duo readied themselves to depart. Though before they did, Ignacio had a question to ask.

“So are you kids engaged now, or what?”

Ignoring his bellowing laughter, they left the blacksmith’s shop.

Mounting their own dragons, they took off for the stables.

They still had their original mission, get Alma on a dragon.

But they could investigate this strange metal eater, while they were at it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mirabel and Hiccup had performed many bonding ceremonies at this point, they knew the process by heart.

Hand the participant a basket, send them into the stable, and let the friendship commence.

While they usually performed them with kids, a good number of adults had gotten one too. Each and every time, a happy villager went home with a dragon to call their own.

They were sure today would be no different.

They’d told Alma her presence was needed at the stables, just for ten minutes or so. That was all the time they needed to make the magic happen.

The old woman arrived, entering the enclosure with a raised eyebrow. Stray bits of hay crunching underneath her feet as she walked.

“Mirabel?” She called, her voice echoing through the large space. “You said you wanted to see me?”

She then grew a grin. “I understand that you’re excited, but your training begins tomorrow! Have some patience!”

Alma jumped, when Mirabel suddenly and loudly appeared right behind her.

“Actually, Abuela!” She started, with a wide smile. “We were hoping you could help us with something?”

Calming her breathing from the slight scare, Alma tilted her head with confusion.

“Help you with…what?” She asked.

She had to suppress a shout, when Hiccup then appeared from beside her. Also seemingly out of nowhere.

“You see, Miss Alma…” He held up one of the large woven baskets they had lying around. “We were wondering about the effectiveness of the baskets we use, for the ceremonies…”

He shoved the barrel-shaped basket into her hands, as Mirabel started speaking again.

“And we were thinking you could help us test them out?” She asked, jovially.

Both young adults looked to her expectantly, their big, pleading eyes almost making them appear like children again.

Rolling her eyes, Alma sighed. “And how exactly can I help?”

Resisting the urge to high-five each other, Mirabel lightly pushed her forwards while Hiccup moved to open the gate.

“It’s really simple! Just go in there, and see if any dragon wants to hop into your basket. Then we’ll know if it works!” Spoke the bespectacled girl.

Hiccup then opened the gate, allowing the old woman access to the young dragon’s play area.

With eager grins, they watched her tentatively step onwards. Awaiting the moment she bonded with one of the creatures.

The baby dragons, usually rambunctious and hardly listening to anyone, immediately ceased all activities when Alma entered their space.

They backed away from her, with their heads low to the ground. Trying to show respect, and to avoid a scolding. Even if they hadn’t done anything wrong.

With a stoic glare, the old woman marched through the pen. Basket in hand.

But none of the dragons would approach her. They did the opposite, in fact.

Perhaps they sensed how uncomfortable she was.

She held the basket out, and shook it a bit. Trying to entice a lizard to crawl in. But they refused.

She then turned back to the duo up front.

“You may be right, it doesn’t seem to be working…” She said.

Mirabel and Hiccup looked fairly disheartened.

She was supposed to find an adorable reptile, and immediately fall in love with it!

What’s the problem?

But before they could ask any more questions, they heard the strangest hissing noise…

Alma only had a second to turn before a Baby Nadder burped a blast of magnesium flame, in her direction.

Using the basket in her hands to block the fire, she was forced backwards by the surprisingly powerful burst.

Luckily, Mariposa was there to catch her.

Mortified at what it had done, the Nadder immediately stomped away from the scene of the crime.

A bit dazed, Alma sat up. The smell of burnt twine filling her nostrils.

She regarded Mirabel and Hiccup with a deadpan stare.

“…You really ought to fireproof these…”

They glanced to each other, and couldn’t deny that she made a good point.

Patting her dress of dust and ash, Alma made to leave. “Well, if that’s all you needed me for…”

Mirabel sprinted to intercept her.

“Wait, wait, wait!” She cried, before smiling nervously. “Th-There’s actually something else we need to show you!”

Alma eyed her granddaughter skeptically.

“Like what?” She asked, more than a bit suspicious.

The baby dragon idea was a bust…but they should’ve expected that.

She was old! She’d spent her whole life raising children, and helping to raise grandchildren.

She didn’t need a scaly little bundle of energy, she needed a dragon that was on her level. A more mature, laid-back companion.

And they knew just where to find one…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heading out of the baby stable, the two shepherded the matriarch into one of the housings for older dragons.

They were less unruly, and weren’t as prone to bouts of frolicking while hopped up on childish energy. They were content to simply sunbathe, or to laxly eat their lunches.

Mirabel and Hiccup watched the dragons tromp around, or flitter about the rafters, with a sense of adoration. They’d never get over how amazing these animals were.

They’d missed Alma’s trepidatious expression.

“A-And what do you need me to do here?” She asked, slightly shying away from a passing Hobblegrunt.

Hiccup looked to Mirabel, expecting her to already have a plan.

She did not.

“Uh…We need-um…uh…” She sputtered, while darting her eyes around rapidly.

Frantically, she gestured to a nearby dragon.

“Hey! Check this out!”

Mirabel pointed to a Changewing, lime green in color. Resting on a wall.

“Did you know that Changewing’s can hypnotize their prey? Crazy, right?” She asked, enthusiastically.

That fact only seemed to make Alma look queasy, while Hiccup chuckled.

“We need to keep Camilo as far away from that information as possible…” He snarked.

Seeing she wasn’t feeling the Changewing, Mirabel then tried a lofty Threadtail that was flying overhead.

“Y’know, Threadtail’s can secrete a toxin from their skin that’s so potent, it even poisons themselves!”

What she saw as an interesting dragon factoid, seemed like a warning to Alma. Who hastily backed away from the creature.

Mirabel could see she was losing her. The kids loved the trivia, but clearly Alma didn’t.

She needed to focus less on their methods of self-defense, and more on their cuteness factor.

She then spotted a brightly colored Snifflehunch taking a stroll. Getting on her knees, she placed a hand on the lizard’s snout.

“This is Drippy! We call him that because sometimes he drips fire out of his nose, isn’t he just the cutest?”

The Snifflehunch known as Drippy started advancing towards Alma, sniffing at her to get her scent.

The old woman leaned back, eyeing it with apprehension.

But when she looked into its inquisitive eyes, she couldn’t help but relax. Just a smidgen.

He really did just seem curious.

And when he bumped his nose into her stomach, she couldn’t help but giggle involuntarily.

Watching her grandmother let her guard down around a dragon, something she rarely ever did, sent a swell of joy through Mirabel’s heart.

So of course, something went wrong.

Drippy suddenly got a strange look on his face, and started snorting uncontrollably.

This could only mean one thing.

Hiccup jolted into action, and tackled Alma into a pile of hay. Right before the Snifflehunch unleashed a mighty sneeze of flame.

The dragon looked very apologetic, and shuffled away elsewhere.

Hiccup helped the old woman to her feet, while Mirabel watched. Fearing for her reaction.

She looked fine, aside from the bits of straw that were stuck all over her now.  She stood with a stern glare…

And a tiny, flickering ember on her shoulder.

A helpful Raincutter spurted some water onto her, in an attempt to douse the flame.

It succeeded. But it also succeeded in making her even more peeved.

She’d been blasted twice, and spit on by a dragon.

All in the same half-hour.

She was finished.

“I think we’re done here…” Alma declared, before swiftly turning and walking for the exit.

The duo watched her leave, dejected.

They’d really hoped they could get her more comfortable around dragons.

Hiccup sighed, and turned towards Mirabel.

“It’s a shame, but maybe that’s just how it- “

His sentence petered out when he saw the steadfast glare she was growing.

She’d set her mind on this. There was no changing it.

She stormed out of the stable, in hot pursuit of her grandmother. And he sauntered after them.

Leaving both their dragons to just glance at each other. Wondering how they’d managed to wind up with such eccentric riders.

The old woman was still descending the stairs, and Mirabel started speaking as she clomped down herself.

“Look, I’m sorry about Drippy! But we can- “

“Mirabel!” Alma cut her granddaughter off, quickly whirling to face her. “I know what you’re trying to do!”

Hiccup arrived, just in time to see the woman sigh.

“…I understand that the dragons mean a lot to you, and the people in general. I respect what they’ve done for our community, and I have every intention of letting them stay.”

“But…you don’t like them.” Mirabel finished, somberly.

Alma struggled to find the words necessary.

“They’re just so…Dangerous!”

“With the fangs, and the claws, and the spikes, and the fire! They breathe fire! How am I supposed to relax around giant, flying, fire-breathing reptiles?”

“This village is meant to be a sanctuary, safe from any dangers. But now I can’t help but feel there are dangers everywhere I go!” She saw both young adults about to speak, and held her hand up to silence them.

“And I know. I know they mean no harm. But that’s how I feel.” She said. “You saw what happened back there! Even if they don’t mean to hurt anyone, mistakes can still be made!”

She sighed again, taking note of their saddened faces. “…I’m sorry for disappointing you, but I’m not sure if I’ll ever feel truly safe around them.”

The couple had to admit, it made sense.

Thanks to her unfortunate past, Alma was adverse to hazardous circumstances of any kind.

At first glance, dragons were threatening beasts. And even at their most docile, living with them always carried the slightest bit of a risk.

Her being wary around them made all the sense in the world.

But it was still disheartening.

Because they both knew that dragons were incredible creatures, and they’d felt the joy bonding with one brings.

And her being the only member of their family to not have one felt so…

Off.

But if that’s what she wanted, then that’s how it would be.

With reluctant exhales, they both nodded.

Satisfied, Alma nodded as well.

“I should be heading back, now. It’s the weirdest thing, we’re having some kind of…utensil shortage.” Her brow furrowed, confused by the strange goings on. “Now if you’ll excuse me…”

She descended the stairs, and landed on one of the decks that intercepted each flight. Crossing the length of the deck, she prepared to step down more stairs-

But her path was being blocked, by a big lump.

It was large, and covered in bumps. It was a faded, dull beige in color.

From the way it was breathing, it was clearly a dragon.

Rolling her eyes, Alma turned to the duo standing on the staircase. Before pointing to the slumbering lump at her feet.

Hiccup’s eyes flashed with recognition.

“Looks like he got out…again…” He groaned.

“All he does is sleep. How does he manage to pop up everywhere?” Mirabel asked.

Bending down, Hiccup began to gently nudge the sleeping dragon.

Grumbling his displeasure at being awoken, the beige dragon unfurled himself and rose to his four feet.

And Alma nearly gasped.

He was a silly looking thing. With his large body, segmented into bulbous spheres.

He sort of looked like a Gronckle. If somebody were to stretch one out, and leave it in the sun to melt.

But what struck Alma most, was his face.

From his droopy eyes, betraying not a single thought. To his wide, panting, dopey smile.

He looked just like…

“Oso?” She asked, speaking in a whisper.

Mirabel and Hiccup looked to her, perplexed.

“What was that?” Mirabel asked.

Not taking her eyes off the dragon, who was already starting to drift into sleep, she answered.

“He…he looks just like my cat!” She said.

Which only served to confuse the pair more, because the Madrigals didn’t have any cats.

Well, they didn’t have a house cat. They had a Jaguar.

“When I was a girl…we had a cat.” Alma continued. “The fattest, laziest cat I’ve ever known.”

She chuckled a bit. “He was so fat, we used to say that he wasn’t a big cat, but a small bear! So we called him Oso…”

A nostalgic look crossed her features. “Sometimes…I’ll think about my childhood. I’ll think about that cat…”

She looked down, into the reptile’s dimwitted eyes.

It looked too tired to be threatening. No sharp spines or gripping claws. A creature constructed solely of flabby orbs.

Just like her old kitty.

She couldn’t fight the small smile that was building.

“You remind me so much of him, Oso cansado…”

Despite how exhausted he was, the tubby dragon managed to plod over to the woman. Sniffing at her with a lazy curiosity.

Hesitantly, she crouched down. And reached a slow hand out to meet his nose.

And when he met her palm, her eyes sparkled with a childlike wonder.

Mirabel and Hiccup were floored.

Just as they’d accepted that Alma would probably never have her own dragon…it looked like she’d just bonded with one right in front of them.

It’s funny how life works out, sometimes.

Smiling despite her shock, Mirabel stepped forward. Stopping at her grandmother’s side.

“He’s a Hotburple! They…they really don’t do much.” She shrugged.

And Alma’s grin increased.

No toxins? No hypnotism?

That was fine by her.

“What they can do…is eat. A lot!” Hiccup said, as he approached as well. “They’ll eat just about anything, but they’re favorite is iron…ore…”

A look of realization overtook his face, when it dawned on him.

“It was you!” He shouted, earning the stunned attention of everyone present. “You’re the one who’s been eating the silverware!”

To prove the point, Hiccup retrieved the broken bits of cutlery he’d taken with them for examination.

In an incriminating burst of voraciousness, the Hotburple moved to Hiccup’s hands with an uncharacteristic speed. Swiftly scarfing down the metal, right out of his hands.

The young man flicked his hands about with a grimace, trying to remove them of slobber.

There was no denying it now.

The Hotburple had to be the culprit.

“He must’ve been sneaking out to the forge!” Mirabel said.

Ignacio was a notorious heavy sleeper, and so was his dragon. It made sense that neither of them had heard him.

Seeing that the reptile was the cause of the utensil shortage, Alma turned on her strictest glare. One reserved for only the most misbehaving of children.

“No!” She scolded, immediately surprising the dragon. “We do not eat things that don’t belong to us!”

The Hotburple seemed to cower under her gaze, and rumbled what could’ve been excuses. But Alma was having none of it.

“Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused?” She questioned. She didn’t receive an answer.

“Your behavior has been unacceptable! It seems someone will have to teach you some manners!” With rigid movements, she gestured to the stairs in front of them.

“Come along! You’re going to apologize to everyone you’ve inconvenienced!” She watched, as the dragon sullenly trudged forwards. His head held low, as he knew he’d been caught red handed.

“You know…for as lazy as he may be…” Hiccup mused. “I hear Boulder Class dragons make pretty good bodyguards.”

Alma faced him, puzzled.

“I-I’m just saying that if it was me, I wouldn’t be afraid of other dragons, knowing he had my back!”

It was a risky maneuver, Hiccup knew that.

But it looked to have paid off. As the old woman looked to be deeply considering his words.

“…Maybe so…”

Regaining her poise, she faced the two with a calm smile. “In any case, I must be off. Mirabel?”

The bespectacled girl perked up, when her name was called.

A glint of excitement could be seen from Alma’s eyes, as her grin increased. “Tomorrow is going to be a big day! Your first day of training! I expect you to be ready right after breakfast, alright?”

Mirabel nodded, her face set in a steadfast frown. She took her incoming duties very seriously. “Si, Abuela.”

With a final nod to her, and Hiccup, Alma was off. Following the dragon down the stairs, and into town. Under the midday sun.

After a moment, Hiccup spoke. “Well, I’d call that a success!”

Mirabel agreed wholeheartedly.

“It sure was! And now, every member of La Familia Madrigal has a dragon!”

Hiccup smirked. “What about Dad, Felix, and Mariano? And Bruno can’t ride his Hobgobbler.”

“They’re married! They can ride their wives’ dragons!” She said, waving his questions off. “Paprika already loves Papa, anyway! And Brute is trying to win Bruno over.”

“And Moody?” Hiccup asked.

Her smile fell. “…Yeah, Moody is one bad joke away from shocking Felix into a heart attack.”

They took a moment, to let the morbid statement sink in…

Before they both burst into laughter.

Climbing the stairs back towards the stables, Mirabel released a sigh.

It was half contented, and half forlorn.

She truly was happy.

Fostering another connection between a person and a dragon was always an amazing thing.

And with her grandmother of all people?

It was a sight to behold.

But she knew, that this would most likely be the last time that she’d get to do something like this.

Starting tomorrow, she would have to begin the transformation.

She would have to mold herself into the leader the Encanto needed. The leader her family needed.

Whatever it took, she would become a leader they could rely on. A leader they could have faith in, no matter the situation.

Mirabel the happy-go-lucky, dragon riding, embroidering, accordion playing, bespectacled girl would have to go.

She needed to be Mirabel the Candle Holder now.