#Julieta/Agustin Madrigal | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

its-queenofthesilence · 2 months ago

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The Line Between Life and Death | Hercules/Encanto Crossover | Part 3 of ?

Chapters: 3/? Fandom: Encanto (2021), Hercules (1997) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Miscarriage? Relationships: Hades/Persephone, "Abuela" Alma Madrigal/Pedro Madrigal, Agustín Madrigal/Julieta Madrigal, Hera/Zeus

Summary:

Hades and Persephone have spent centuries on centuries waiting for the day when they could finally have a child of their own. And after thousands of years watching all his unborn children die before they can even be born, he will do anything to make sure his little girl survives. Thankfully for him, there is a father in Columbia who is just as desperate as he is to save his children. And who might just be willing to trade for the very thing that would let Hades save his daughter....

He waits until his wife is dead asleep, (Ha dead, get it?) before he rises slowly from the bed and out of their private quarters, towards the bedroom down the hall. He pauses outside the door, giving the guards a curt nod as they saluted him before he gestures at them to be quiet.

He opens the door slowly, peeking his head in. He can see her, curled up near the edge of the bed, asleep, likely too exhausted from crying. She’s still wearing those clothes; the ones from the mortal realm and he frowns, as he notices all the embroidery on her skirt. A symbol for each member of her mortal family, even the non-magical ones…well, except the one living in the walls it seemed. Which, fair enough. He steps into the room proper, approaching the bed slowly and once he is close enough, with a flick of his wrist, the outfit turns into a set of pajamas, a pair of pants and a tank top and her glasses (Ah to be in a mortal body and require such things) lift from her face and are placed on the nightstand next to her bed.

He considers just removing the outfit from existence all together, but he knows how that will go, so he just conjures it back into reality and drapes it over the privacy screen and sets the shoes by the bed. Sighing, he lifts her, untangling her limbs and moving her so he can place her properly on her bed. He draws back the blankets and lays her down gently before tucking her in, watching her face furrow in her sleep and he can’t help but brush a curl out of her face.

“I love you, baby girl, please don’t ever forget it.”

Hades sighed again, brushing his fingers through his flame. It would be fine, she just needed time to settle in. He knows she misses them but this is where she belonged. With a kiss to her forehead, he slowly retreated, pausing in the doorway to address her again.

“Good night baby doll….I’m sorry it had to be like this.” The God said as he closed the door. Stalking back to his own room, and slipping under the blankets next to his wife, he can only hope that she’s able to forgive him in time.

“Ha, ha! You are so funny ‘Seph….no, absolutely not.” Hades said, sipping his coffee and reading his ‘Underworld Daily’ newspaper with his trademark scowl. He might not need to eat or drink, given that he was a God (Well, maybe the occasional sip of ambrosia, here and there.), but like many other gods he enjoyed indulging in life’s, or rather in his case, death’s pleasures. He liked his coffee, and a bit of breakfast in the morning. Persephone was cooking; Something she did rarely as usually she allowed the servants to cook for her but she was insistent this morning that she cook for her daughter, on her first, full day home in the Underworld. She was going all out: Eggs, bacon, hash browns, even some waffles thrown in.

“What harm would it do? It would just be six months out of the year!” She said, turning around briefly from the bacon she was cooking to look at her husband with a pointed look. “Because, that’s six months without my daughter! It’s bad enough that half the year I am relegated to only seeing my wife on weekends, let alone our daughter, because your mother refuses to cut the ‘umbilical cord.” The God said, rolling his eyes at the thought of his mother-in-law. Demeter needed to let go, but unfortunately for him, he mistakenly put the deal he made to marry his wife in divine writing. That woman refused to budge and it was enforceable so they were stuck like this for eternity or until his mother-in-law chose to (Unlikely given how stubborn she was.) to cease existing. “But she loves them Hades!” Persephone said, heartbroken for her daughter.

“Doll…babe, I know she does. But she’s a God. She’s going to out live them, and what if she decides to settle down and get married to a mortal? It’s bad enough she’ll have to outlive the rest of her family, but what about children? Our grandchildren? They won’t be gods! Mind you she won’t be having any kids because you bet I’m going to put a stop to that before any boys even think they have a chance with our little princess! But still!” Persephone didn’t respond. That was the main argument Hades made when she agreed to bring Mirabel home early instead of waiting for her natural end. It was a sentiment she unfortunately agreed with. Any children she had while in a mortal body, would be mortal. And not necessarily a demi-god, either.

Persephone bit her lip, turning back to tend to the sizzling bacon. "I know, Hades. I know." She shook her head sadly. "But we can't keep her locked away down here forever. She'll resent us for it." Hades rubbed his face. “It’s not forever…just until she sheds her mortal body.” He said, flicking his eyes towards the plate of food his wife was putting bacon on to. “You already had breakfast! These are for your daughter, and that’s still eighty years!” Said his wife, holding the plate away from him as she sees him eye it. “I know it’s going to be hard…Babe, I know. But it’s better to rip the band-aid off now, before it gets worse.” Gaia Be Praised, she hated when he was right.

Persephone nodded reluctantly, placing the plate of freshly cooked breakfast on to the table. Usually they ate in the main dinning room, which featured a long, almost comically so table but she much preferred the small kitchen and dinning nook in their private quarters, it was more intimate and private and didn’t require her shouting from across the room to speak. "I suppose you're right. It will only get harder for her, the longer we wait." She sighed heavily, rubbing her face. "I just hope she can forgive us, in time."

Hades reached out, gently grasping Persephone's hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "She will, babe. She's strong - just like her mother." He flashed her a roguish grin, his piercing gaze softening with affection. "And she has your big heart. She'll come around."

“….My mother let the news out. They want to meet her.” Persephone said slowly. She knew she had to tell him even if she didn’t want to. Immediately the God spat out his coffee as his hair exploded, causing a loud boom to emanate throughout the palace. "Of course they do! I’m sure Zeus is absolutely thrilled!”

“Oh, when will you forgive him? It’s been eons.” The God of the Underworld laughed darkly. “Forgive him? When will I forgive him she asks? Never! He murdered our parents, imprisoned my brothers, and banished your grandparents and aunts as well, I might add! The rest of the Pantheon may like to pretend it didn’t happen, but I don’t!”

The one thing he loved about the Mortals was their need to distort and twist the stories of his family’s lives. Some of it came from the humans, yes and their short lifespans but other parts were deliberately skewed by his brother in his arrogance to cover up what he did. The biggest thing was the relationships of his family, of who was married to who and who was the child or parent of another. Despite what people thought, Hera and Zeus were not siblings and (Why were mortals obsessed with incest??) and in fact had different parents all together.

In the beginning of the universe, four beings were brought into existence from the Big Bang: Rhea, Uranus, Cronus and Gaia. All were separate entities, none of them were related, except for maybe in a hypothetical sense of all being created at the same time. Rhea married Uranus, not Cronus, and birthed all daughters: Hestia, Demeter, Tethys, Theia, Phoebe, Hera, Mnemosyne and Themis.

Cronus and Gaia however birthed all sons from their union: Hades, the first born son, Oceanus, Poseidon, Hyperion, Coeus, Crius, Iapetus and then Zeus, the baby. Sure, Cronus was maybe not the best Dad, after all Hades got his temper from him, but he wasn’t a bad dad. Very strict and what people would call nowadays, militaristic. He liked things done a certain way. But Zeus didn’t like that, no. Mom always dotted on him, letting him get away with anything while dad tried his best to reign him in. But Zeus was the baby and wanted everything done his way.

So what did he do when Dad kicked him out of Olympus in order for him to learn some independence? Convinced their brother, Poseidon to overthrow their parents, murdering them (Hades didn’t care if it was not intentional, they were still dead.) in the process and then imprisoned their brothers, who refused to pick sides. And what about Hades? He had been the most adamant and against it, actively fighting back. But Zeus was an asshole and didn’t want to imprison him as well, no that would be too kind. Zeus decided that Hades would get to spend all of eternity tending to the Underworld.

Of course Rhea and Uranus got pissed off, and being a gentleman, and not wanting to piss off his new wife and her two sisters that went along with everything, Zeus decided to just banish the rest of the family to somewhere deep in the cosmos. Never mind that most of his brothers and Hera’s unlucky sisters had children of their own at that point, some being literal children at the time, losing one or both of their parents in an instance. And then he made up a story to make it seem like he was this, wise, kind God who did mortals a favor. It made him furious.

And: Hades was first born, if anyone should be in charge of Olympus, it was him.

Persephone sighed heavily, reaching out to gently place her hand on Hades' arm. "I know, my love. I know how much you resent what Zeus did. But holding onto that anger for so long, it's only hurting you." She gazed up at him, her expression soft and understanding. "I know I cannot convince you to forgive him but you know that he expects us to host them since we can’t bring her to them for decades at least.” Hades let out a forced laugh, the blue flames of his hair flickering wildly. "Babe, I will not have that self-righteous, power-hungry tyrant set foot in my domain. Not after what he did!" He slammed his fist down on the table, the wood splintering beneath the force of his blow. Especially when he liked to pretend like it was all a big misunderstanding.

Persephone flinched at the outburst, her grip tightening on his arm. "My love, please. I know how much you hate him, but this is about our daughter. Not your feud with Zeus." She searched his face, her eyes pleading. "For Mirabel's sake, can you at least try to be civil? Besides…you owe him. You tried to murder his son, your nephew, remember? A few times in fact."

Hades rolled his eyes. "Don't remind me," he grumbled. "That arrogant brat is just like his father." He fixed Persephone with a pointed stare. "But…fine. Just because I know if I don’t agree, he’ll show up anyway and do that thing were he pretends we’re chummy." He sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping in resignation. “But I expect you to do most of the entertaining!" He stated, pausing to think for a second. He should really scour the Underworld again, as despite it being thousands of years, he still hadn’t managed to find where Hercules and Megara’s souls were hiding in his domain, even with Cerberus's aid. He knew they had to be here somewhere but the Fates were cryptic and of no help when he asked.

Persephone let out a relieved sigh, giving Hades' arm a gentle squeeze. "Thank you, my love. I know this isn't easy for you." She offered him a small, reassuring smile. "I'll make sure Zeus and the others behave themselves. Mirabel's comfort and wellbeing comes first."

Hades grunted, his lips twisting into a wry smirk. "Good luck with that. You know how Zeus and the rest of that lot are - they have all the subtlety of a rampaging Minotaur." He shook his head, his expression growing more serious. "Just...don't let them overwhelm her, alright? She's been through enough as it is." Persephone nodded, smiling at her husband.

“Now, I am going to go get our daughter before the food gets cold….Hades, if I come back and you’ve taken a single slice of bacon off that plate, you can bet there will be consequences.” She said curtly, noticing his hand trying to subtly move towards the plate. Persephone narrowed her eyes at Hades, her gaze unwavering. "I mean it, Hades. Not a single slice." With that, she turned on her heel and headed towards Mirabel's room, her bathrobe swishing as she moved.

Hades watched his wife depart, the corners of his mouth quirking upwards in a mischievous grin. As soon as Persephone disappeared around the corner, he turned his attention back to the plate that had been set aside for his daughter, his fingers twitching with anticipation.

"Just one little slice," He muttered, reaching a hand out towards the tempting bacon. After all, who would miss it? But just as his fingers brushed against the tantalizingly crisp, golden-brown meat, the plate suddenly vanished in a burst of golden light, leaving no trace.

“I said not one slice!” Persephone called from down the hall. Hades just sipped his coffee sullenly.

Mirabel had awoken to a loud bang, causing her to sit up abruptly in confusion. Sleep still clinging to her, it took a moment to remember where she was. Even longer to convince herself she wasn’t in fact still dreaming and she was going to wake up in her bed at home, in Casita. And as soon as it hit her, she started sobbing again. It wasn’t fair!

“Mirabel?”

Mirabel's head snapped up at the sound of Persephone's soft voice. The goddess stood in the doorway, completely different from when she last saw her. She wore no crown and no elaborate dress and her hair was not sleek and perfect like the night before but messy and pulled up in a bun, and she was in a fuzzy pink bathrobe with matching slippers. “I apologize if I am intruding. I was wondering if you would like some breakfast.” The teenager stared at Persephone, her eyes still red and puffy from crying the previous day, let alone this morning. The mention of food made her stomach growl, a reminder that she hadn't eaten since before this whole ordeal began. She hadn’t even gotten to eaten anything at the party! But the thought of accepting anything from these people - these gods who had torn her from her family - made her feel sick.

“I know this is hard, and you probably don’t want to see us, especially your father right now, but please, come eat something. You’ll feel better, I promise.” Mirabel hesitated, her stomach warring with her heart. As much as she desperately wanted to refuse, the gnawing hunger was impossible to ignore. She averted her gaze, her voice firm yet trembling.

“I am only agreeing to this because I’m hungry, not because I like you people.” The girl said simply, lips pressed thin. She paused, squinting, where were her glasses? She could see without them, but not anything more than ten feet away. Even the Goddess was fuzzy from her doorway. She looked down at herself, quickly becoming horrified.

“Where are my clothes?!”

Mirabel's eyes widened as she looked down at the unfamiliar pajamas she was wearing. Her heart raced, panic rising within her. "What did you do?" she demanded, her voice shaking. Persephone sighed, this was going to be a regular thing. “Me? Nothing, but it appears your father redressed you while you were asleep. Your clothes and shoes are right here.” The Goddess indicated. Moving her hand in a small circle, she made the pajamas disappear, and her other outfit reappear on her body, along with the glasses.

Mirabel's eyes narrowed as she glared at Persephone, clutching the hem of her skirt protectively. "Don't...don't do that." she said, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and defiance. It might be a kind gesture, and instant, but she didn’t like people dressing her without her permission.

"I'm sorry, my dear. I should have asked first." Persephone said gently, raising her hands in a placating gesture. She was going to kill her husband, even when he wasn’t actively trying not to meddle, he still found a way to do it. "Why don't we go have that breakfast I mentioned? You must be hungry."

Persephone was doing her best, truly she was, but sometimes she just wanted to smack her husband. Mirabel sat on the other side of the table from them, eating quietly and pointedly avoiding looking in Hades' direction. He was trying to give her space, but Persephone could tell he was antsy and impatient to have that father-daughter connection. He was sipping his coffee and reading the paper, but Persephone saw him sneak glances at Mirabel out of the corner of his eye. She glares at him when he starts to open his mouth to say something. ‘Don’t say anything.’ She tells him telepathically, earning an eyeroll and a scowl from the God.

Mirabel sat quietly, trying to focus on the food in front of her rather than the oppressive silence that hung in the air. She could feel Hades' gaze boring into her, the intensity of it almost palpable. Every time she dared to glance up, she would catch him quickly averting his eyes, pretending to be absorbed in his newspaper.

The tension was suffocating.

Eventually, Hades can’t help it. “So…whose birthday did I interrupt?” He asked with a smirk, like it was no big deal, over his newspaper. “Gaia Damn It! Five minutes Hades, you couldn’t make it five minutes!” Shouted Persephone, slamming her own mug down and causing it to shatter before she sighed and swished her hand to fix it. Mirabel's head snapped up, her eyes narrowed in a glare as she fixed Hades with a withering stare. "You rip me away from my family, from my home, and now you want to make jokes about it?" She hissed.

Hades had the good sense to look somewhat chastised, his cocky grin fading as he met his daughter's furious gaze. "I...I was just trying to lighten the mood, baby girl." He said, his voice turning soft. Mirabel scoffed, shaking her head in disgust. "Well it's not working," She spat. She pushed her half-eaten breakfast away, her appetite suddenly gone. "I don't want to be here. I want to go home." Mirabel's words hung in the air, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Persephone looked pained, while Hades' expression darkened.

“Look baby, I didn’t mean to make you mad, Okay? Let’s start over. How about your old man takes you out and shows you around? I can take you to Elysium, or show you the River Styx. It will be great!” Hades said with a fixed smile.

Mirabel stared at Hades, her expression one of pure disbelief. "You think taking me on some...some tour is going to make this better?" She shook her head in disbelief. "I don't want to see any of this place. I just want to go home!" Persephone reached across the table, placing her hand over Mirabel's. "I know this is all so overwhelming, my dear. But this is your home now." She squeezed Mirabel's hand gently. "I wish there was an easy way to make this transition smoother for you, but..." She sighed heavily. "You're going to have to give it time."

“Why can’t you just let me go home?” She begged.

“Baby girl, you’re a God. You’re going to outlive them and any mortal children, if I even allowed you to have kids, you have as well. It may seem like we’re being cruel but we’re trying to make this as painless as possible for you. It’s hard I know, but it’s saving you pain down the line.” Said Hades. Mirabel stared at Hades and Persephone, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I don't care!" she cried, her voice thick with emotion. "They're my family - I love them! How can you expect me to just...forget them?" She shook her head vehemently, a few tears escaping to trail down her cheeks.

"We're not asking you to forget them, Mirabel," Persephone said gently, her heart aching at the pain etched across her daughter's face. "We know how much they mean to you. But you're a goddess now - your life is so much longer than theirs. We just want to spare you the heartbreak of watching them grow old and die."

“I hate you.” Mirabel said, directly at Hades. Persephone was wide eyed. Oh no, this was- Hades exploded, his hair going wild and the entire palace shaking as he stood abruptly from his chair, towering over her, the mist that billowed around his ankles in soft lapping waves, turning into intense tsunamis as smoke and flame filled the room.

Hades' eyes blazed with a primal fury, as he processed what she said. "What did you just say to me?" Mirabel trembled, shrinking back in her chair as the immense power radiating from the god threatened to suffocate her. Persephone stood abruptly, rushing to place herself between her husband and daughter. "Dear, calm down!" She pleaded, her usually serene expression etched with worry. "She's just scared and overwhelmed - you're only making it worse!"

But the Lord of the Underworld was beyond reason, consumed by a rage that bordered on madness. With a flick of his wrist, a tendril of black mist lashed out, wrapping around Mirabel's wrist in an iron grip. The girl let out a strangled cry as she was yanked from her chair, ancient magic burning her skin. Hades loomed over her, his piercing gaze boring into her soul.

"How dare you speak to me that way, you ungrateful little brat!" He snarled, the tendril tightening painfully around her wrist. "I am your father, I have been nothing but kind and you will show me the respect I deserve! Do you know what lengths I went to save your very soul? Hmm? What me and your mother went through to even have you? DO YOU?" Mirabel cried out in pain as the unyielding grip of Hades' magic scorched her skin. Tears streamed down her face as she stared up at the towering, raging figure of her father, his blazing eyes filled with a primal fury that shook her to her very core.

"Monster!" she screamed, the word tearing from her throat. "You're a monster!"

Hades recoiled as if he'd been struck, the inky tendrils of magic instantly relinquishing their hold on Mirabel's wrist. The God's expression shifted from one of unbridled rage to stark horror, the blue flames of his hair dimming as the realization of his actions hit him like a tidal wave.

“Baby gir-” He started, trying to reach for her.

Mirabel didn’t wait to hear what he had to say, she fled, pushing past Persephone who tried and failed to stop her. “I hope you’re happy Hades.” The Goddess said, as she watched her daughter flee, turning back to address him with a stare colder than Tartarus.

“I really do.”

You know, this had been a weird day. Things had already been tense with the uncertainty around Antonio getting a gift or not hanging in the air, like you could physically taste it. He had been holed up within the walls of the house, worried about the cracks and the vision, trying not cry when he heard the family gather for the ceremony. He should be out there, with them. Instead, he was hiding like a coward. He heard gasps, people murmuring about something he couldn’t hear, his mother speaking to his youngest nephew, a dramatic pause and then shouting “We have a new gift.” It was a confirmation, of a few things. The first being that the prophecy was coming true. Whatever the hell the prophecy was. He honestly still couldn’t make heads or tales about it. His leading theory was that Mirabel was going to die, that was his primary belief. Whether the people mobbed her because she thought she was bad luck (being the only giftless Madrigal now), or she committed suicide, he didn’t know. All he did know is while he didn’t recognize the strange faceless fellow, anyone with who picked up a book could tell you who Cerberus was.

He had paced, nervously. Not sure what to do. There was no way to confirm what he thought was true and if she was going to die; how the hell would he explain that to the family? His mother would never accept it, or worse assume it was an ill-omen. Besides, he didn’t know how she was going to die, despite trying multiple times to get an answer. And then the tremors started. They sent him and his rats flying, smashing against the walls. Just as he had stood up, assuming it was just an earth quake, another one came, and then another. He heard people screaming, his mother yelling for people to get to safety as people rushed to safety. He tried to go for safety but he kept being knocked over from the tremors and just when he thought he might die, thinking okay the house is collapsing, it a giant sound filled the air and then it stopped. There were a few loud booms and some yelling but he couldn’t make it out.

He didn’t know what happened after that, just his family returning to the house after about an hour, his mother trying to plead with people to stay calm. He could hear Julieta screaming at someone, a man he didn’t recognize about making a deal without their consent. He could also hear Antonio yelling for Mirabel, and Camilo screaming they had to do something. It was…confusing. And then when the screaming died down, and he returned to his room within the walls, hoping to spy something out the little peak through, he found the wall separating his room from the dinning room ripped open and then being dragged out by Luisa, who proceeded to drag him into the middle of the courtyard where the entire family surrounded him. Everyone but Mir….wait, why the hell was there a ghost that looked exactly like his father’s portrait?!?

"What...what's going on?" Bruno asked shakily, his eyes darting between the faces of his family. “We’ll get to that, but first: do you want to explain to us why you were in the walls? For ten years we thought you were dead! Or gone, or who knows what and the entire time you’ve been right under our noses. Do you know the kind of pain you caused me Brunito? How many nights I spent sobbing? How could you just leave us.” Asked Alma, trying not to cry. Oh look at him, he looked so pale and thin.

“…I…I thought you didn’t care? It’s not like you love me Mama.” He said dismissively. Alma's eyes narrowed at Bruno's words, her expression hardening. "Not love you?" She stepped forward, her voice trembling with emotion. "How could you even say that? You are my son - of course I love you!"

“Because never once in your life have you ever been anything but dismissive of everything I do Mother. Oh Bruno, have a vision about Mirabel, Oh Bruno, why can’t you stop spreading bad luck? Or: Why is it you’re not married yet? What do you mean no one wants to marry you because your mother allowed everyone to treat you like an outcast?” Spat the man. “Bruno, be more like Julieta, Bruno, why aren’t you taller-”

Alma's face fell as Bruno's words sunk in, the pain and bitterness in his tone cutting her to the core. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"Bruno, I...I had no idea you felt that way," she whispered, her voice trembling. "If I ever made you feel unloved or unwanted, I'm so sorry." She reached out, her hand hovering uncertainly near his arm before dropping back to her side. "You're my son - you could never be anything less than precious to me."

Bruno regarded his mother warily, the deep-seated hurt in his eyes making her heart ache. "Could have fooled me," he muttered, his gaze drifting away from her pleading expression.

“I’m sorry Bruno” said Pepa. “This is my fault, if I had just been a better sister, if I had actually been there for you, if we all had….We…we should have never stopped talking about you.” She said sadly.

“Yeah, well you did Pepa! My own two sisters, the pair of you. I expected it from Mom, but not you two. Now, this is nice and all and dandy and I assume Dolores is responsible for why I am here right now in the courtyard, but would someone like to fill me in on why the ghost of my father is staring at me?!”

“Yeah Dad, care to fill him in on what you told all of us earlier? I’m sure he’s going to be as thrilled as we were…well he doesn’t have any daughters, but still!” Snapped Julieta, with a glare at her father. “I’m sorry…what?” Bruno was so confused right now.

“I thought he would be taller! At least seven feet tall! He’s like exactly my height! And where are the rats and the dark aura?” Interjected Camilo, disappointed. No one ever told him Bruno was so…meek looking. As if on cue, a few rats popped out of one of Bruno’s pockets, sniffing the area and then letting out a small squeak.

“Camilo, last time you saw him, you were five! Of course he seemed taller, you went up to his waist at best.” Pepa sighed, she loved her son but he was dense at times. “But, what about when he says your name and then you loose consciousness? Is that still a thing?” He was so disappointed. Bruno looked at him blankly. “I don’t know what to tell you. If you are talking about the time when you were seven and ran into me in the hallway at night while going to the kitchen for snacks, that’s because I startled you and then you tripped and hit your head on the banister going down.” Bruno said, even more confused.

“So, wait wh-”

“You need to eat more.” Julieta was temporarily distracted as she looked over her brother. “You need to put on some weight, I can see your cheekbones! How much food did you have access to in there? I wish you would have let me know, I would have kept your secret…I’m going to need to make you a lot of fatty foods to get you back up to a healthy weight.”

“Uh? What?”

“Your sister is right son, you could stand to gain a few. I kept trying to get Casit-”

“CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?”

Everyone was silent at once, everyone looking between each other, not sure who should say it. “Mirabel has been kidnapped by Hades, Son.” Stated Pedro, simply, refusing to look his daughter in the eyes. “Wait…as in Hades, the Hades? The Lord of the Underworld, Ancient Greek and Roman God of Death, Hades? That one?”

“Yes, Brunito.”

“Well, suddenly that vision makes a whole lot more sense…” Uh oh, he should have not said that. If he was being surrounded by vultures before, they were now sharks, going in for the kill. “Wait, you actually did have a vision?! What did it show you? Bruno, we need to know!” Bruno shrunk back as his family members surged forward, bombarding him with questions. "I - I don't know what the vision showed exactly," he stammered, holding up his hands defensively. "It was all so jumbled and confusing. I couldn't make heads or tails of it."

Alma stepped forward, her brow furrowed with concern. "Bruno, please. Mirabel is in grave danger - anything you saw could be vital." She gripped his shoulders. "You have to try and remember." He said. “Look, it’s easier if I show you then explaining it, if you let me get it. If you don’t mind…?” He asked, gesturing vaguely in the general direction of his room. “Please, Bruno, we need to know what you saw!” Sighing, he got up and tapped his foot on the floor, allowing Casita to save him time by propelling him to the second floor and outside his still boarded up door. Thankfully Casita seemed to understand, and wasted no time forcing it open, causing Dolores to wince as the door slammed open and sent boards flying. “One minute!” Bruno said over his shoulder. He quickly entered his room, brushing past the unsettling statues of his own face and the staircase towards the secret wall that hid the elevator.

Once inside, it was a quick journey to his vision room where he quickly (But carefully, those edges could be sharp, he knew from experience.) gathered up the shards from their resting place in the sand and quickly descended back out into the main part of the house. Within minutes, everyone was looking over his shoulder as he placed the pieces together on the dinning room table. After a moment it was complete, and everyone was trying to get a look.

There, laid out before them was an image of not only Mirabel, but of Antonio as well; in a way. On the left side of the tablet there was crowd of people; the villagers and the family. Antonio was at the front, reaching towards Mirabel, dressed clearly in his ceremony outfit. Mirabel was being dragged by a faceless figure with flame for hair and mist pouring off of him, holding a leash in his spare hand that was attached to a large, three headed dog, towards a large pit.

“I..I always assumed it was an interpretation of death. I didn’t know who Antonio was at the time, clearly, but I assumed based on the age and appearance of both him and Mirabel that he had to be Pepa’s son and that whatever was going to happen would happen on his 5th birthday. I thought Mirabel was going to die; maybe the villagers would decide she was a bad omen or the family, or maybe Mom would kill her to protect the miracle, I don’t know, I knew Mirabel cut herself occasionally so suicide also seemed like an option.” Bruno finished explaining, looking at the image with a frown. “I never expected it to be literal; she’s being kidnapped by Hades.”

“How? How could you think I would ever hurt Mirabel?” Alma was frozen, a look of shock and hurt on her face. She wasn’t the best Grandmother to Mirabel, she knew that but she would never hurt her! Bruno didn’t respond at first, flicking his eyes away. “I don’t know, you never seemed to like her after her ceremony, I saw a lot of things from behind the walls. You always seemed so on edge around her, so annoyed, and I know how much you care about that stupid candle over us, so it didn’t seem like a huge stretch Mother.”

“Candle? CANDLE?! Do you really think so little of me Bruno Madrigal, that I would put the candle above the wellbeing of my family?” Alma spat, disgusted. “Yes.” The yes doesn’t come from Bruno, it comes from Isabela, tired and quiet. “Yes,” She repeats. “I think we all collectively assumed that you would sacrifice anyone of us it meant the miracle was fine.” Alma whipped around, expecting to hear her family come to her defense. Instead, everyone was looking away from her, eyes fixed elsewhere. Tears welled in Alma's eyes as she looked around at the faces of her children, grandchildren, even the ghost of her husband, seeing the same mixture of apprehension, guilt, and disappointment reflected back at her. "How...how could you all think that of me?" she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

“How? How? I’m a lesbian too afraid to come out to my own Abuela, much less the rest of my family and the town. I spent years making you perfect little flowers and wearing pretty, frilly dresses, always having to be your perfect flower! Luisa is a mess who is constantly over working herself and always taking on too much, and hates herself so much because the idealized version of a woman she’s heard from you her entire life has made her think she’s too manly for love. Dolores is in love with Mariano, and was too scared to say anything because she assumed I loved him and the fact you were putting so much pressure on us getting engaged!” Isabela paused to breathe. “Camilo spends so much time as other people, that he worries he’s going to forget what he looks like, Mama is constantly having to make food, from dawn until Midnight for the stupidest of injuries, Tia Pepa is not allowed to feel, Tio Bruno is an outcast and you treat Papa and Tio Felix like they’re not part of the family, just like Mirabel!” Finished Isabela, gasping and panting. She could already tell her voice was going to hurt in the morning.

Alma stood in stunned silence as Isabela's words hung heavy in the air. The Madrigal Matriarch's face crumpled, tears spilling down her cheeks as she processed the painful truths her granddaughter had laid bare. "I...I had no idea," she whispered brokenly, her hands trembling. "I was only trying to do what I thought was best, to keep our family strong." She shook her head, more tears falling. "But in doing so, I've hurt all of you." Pepa stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on her mother's arm. "Mama, we know you love us and want what's best. But you have to understand - your idea of 'best' isn't the same as ours." Her expression softened with empathy.

“I’m sorry. I never…I never…”

“We know you are Mama, I can see that. I know it won’t be easy, and there is still so much hurt, but I think it’s clear now that everyone in this family has issues they need to work on, individually and together. You know it’s funny, if Mirabel hadn’t of been kidnapped, we might have never of known…it’s…it’s suddenly so quiet in the Casita, I never realized how much of the life came from Mirabel being here. Singing, dancing…” Pepa trailed off, pausing. “But that’s not what is important right now. Finding a way to get Mirabel back is.” No one had to say anything, everyone immediately turned towards Bruno, eyes expectant.

“You want me to do another vision, don’t you? God f-” Bruno paused, taking note of Antonio being in the room. “Okay, fine…okay so next question, why? Why would Hades kidnap Mirabel? That wasn’t exactly explained.” The seer said, accentuating with his hands to draw the fact to…he was still in the dark about this entire thing.

“Your… idiot father made a deal for the house and gifts in exchange for a stillborn child so Hades could use the body to save his own child. Mirabel is the daughter of Hades.”

You know, Bruno had a bit too much excitement for one day. It only made sense that his eyes would roll back into his head and he would fall flat on his face, unconscious, saved just in time from smashing his head into Casita’s floor by Dolores sliding a pillow under his face. "Hmm! Honestly I was expecting that as soon as Luisa dragged him out.”

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its-queenofthesilence · 2 months ago

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The Line Between Life and Death | Hercules/Encanto Crossover | Part 2 of ?

Chapters: 2/? Fandom: Encanto (2021), Hercules (1997) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Miscarriage? Relationships: Hades/Persephone, "Abuela" Alma Madrigal/Pedro Madrigal, Agustín Madrigal/Julieta Madrigal, Hera/Zeus

Summary:

“Let me go! Let me go!” Mirabel screamed, as she was being dragged off by a pair of ethereal guards, dressed in Greek attire. One on either side, dragging her under the armpits as she tried and failed to stop them, attempting to dig her heels in to no avail. She was facing away from the guards, towards Hades who was rubbing his stinging cheek. His daughter had a good hand, he would give her that. He sighed, his face falling as soon as she was no longer in sight, being dragged towards her bedroom.

This….was not what he hoped for.

Hades let out a heavy sigh as he watched the guards drag Mirabel away, her cries echoing through the cavernous halls. He had hoped for a warmer reunion, for his daughter to feel a sense of belonging in her true home. But her defiance and rejection cut him deeply.

Bah, she should have never been raised amongst mortals to begin with.

Mirabel was dragged through the twisting, turning palace, trying to escape to no avail. She passed by similar guards, and other ethereal beings as well, all who gave her sympathetic looks. She didn’t need their sympathy, she needed to go home, to her family. She was eventually led to a large, ornate door that vaguely reminded her of the front door to Casita, if it was twelve feet tall. It was decorated in more flowers, as well as a banner above the door that said “Welcome Home.” in a beautiful, cursive font. It wasn’t written in Spanish, maybe Latin? And yet, somehow she could read it with ease.

“Your quarters, your highness.”

Before she knew it, she was being shoved into the room, and the door slammed behind her. Immediately she turned around to tug on the large, ornate handles but they wouldn’t budge, no matter how hard she strained. She whirled around, her eyes frantically scanning the room, searching for any means of escape.

The room that greeted her was unlike anything she expected in the, what was it called, Underworld? The room was designed to mimic the warm, welcoming aesthetic of the Casita, but on a scale that far surpassed the humble dwelling she had grown up in. The floors were made of richly-hued hardwood, with intricately-patterned rugs in vibrant shades of red, orange, and gold covering the wooden floors.

The walls were constructed of sturdy adobe and stucco, their surfaces adorned with ornate murals and patterns that reminded her of home. In terms of the actual contents of her room, there was a large raised platform with a massive, four poster bed on it in the middle of the room. Orchids and lilies wrapped around the posts of the bed, with golden butterflies intertwined. In one corner there was a sitting area, with large, plush couches and armchairs all arranged around a roaring hearth with bookcases overflowing with books. In another, there appeared to be a dressing area with a vanity and privacy screen. The area was adorned with dress forms and mannequins alike.

Along the left and right side of the rooms, were two doors on each side respectfully. Eyes narrowed, she quickly looked through them, checking for any sign of escape. One was a grandiose bathroom, again a lot like Casita in terms of the flooring and walls but instead of the clawed tub she was used to, there was a massive, in-ground tub that could qualify as a pool. There was also another vanity, and shelves teaming with products; shampoo, conditioner, soaps, oils, everything. The room next to it appeared to be a closet of sorts, if you could call it that. It was easily the size of Casita’s first floor combined, and filled to the brim with clothing of all sorts. Dresses, shoes, pants, skirts, even jewelry of all sorts. The third and forth rooms respectively were a sewing room, with HER sewing machine, or at least one exactly like it, sitting on a table. It was filled with fabrics and sewing materials galore.

The fourth and final room, which gave her a brief hope of escape, was an garden of sorts. It was large and ornate, filled with all sorts of Columbian flora. She thought she could escape out the garden, but as she ran into what she thought was a forest, it was actually just a wall. It was fake, she couldn’t get out.

She rushed back to the main room, there had to be something. But as she searched every square inch, she realized, nothing. Even the giant window that overlooked a river of lava, she could not get out of. Every time she touched the window, a pulsating barrier of blue….magic she guessed? appeared, preventing her. Eventually she had to admit, she was stuck.

Tears pricked her eyes. With a shaky sob, she sat on the edge of the bed, only to immediately stand back up when she felt herself sitting on something. There, on the edge of the bed was a tiara made of a black material, that had several red, ruby like stones embedded in to it with a another gem, that was floating somehow above the crest of the tiara, that resembled lava. She touched it, perplexed. It wasn’t lava (after all, she was pretty sure touching lava would hurt, but it just felt like touching a warm stove) and it didn’t look like she could remove it despite the fact it did not appear to be tethered to the crown.

With a growl, she threw the tiara, watching it hit the floor and go rolling. She wanted to go home. She just wanted to go home!

Camilo hoped Mirabel was not able to see this right now. He’s not sure, after all, he had never assumed Hades, God and King of the Underworld to be real, and he definitely did not expect to learn his cousin, his twin in everyway except blood, was a God. He was currently in Dolores room, in fact all the children were.

Why? Because it was soundproof and the adults were all screaming at the ghost of Abuelo, who had not disappeared once Hades left with Mirabel, in fact he seemed to be permanently visible as the man was not able to hide his being from his wife or daughters, despite trying really, really hard. And now he was being screamed at.

“I-I want Mirabel!” Camilo sighed. Antonio was not taking it well, he knew Mirabel and him were almost close as he was to Mirabel, if not closer. It almost made him jealous at times, how close they were. But he understood, despite not having a ‘gift’, Mirabel was amazing and always had a way of making people smile and laugh. He wanted Mirabel too. In fact, it seemed like all of them did, even prissy Isabela who usually fought with Mirabel.

Everyone was gathered in the sitting area of Dolores room, the girl in question sitting on the edge of her bed, Luisa on the floor by the bed, knees to her chest. Isabela pressed against a wall, splayed out and away from them and him and Antonio on a chaise lounge.

“Hey, hey it’s going to be okay. We’re going to get her back.” He promised. He’s not sure how, to be honest. Tia Julieta, in a fit of desperation tried to claw at the earth once they had been released, only to be stopped, and breaking down, when Tio physically restrained her. And, they were mortals, how did you even get to the Underworld? Without dying that is, and he was pretty sure mass suicide was off the table.

“Don’t promise him things that aren’t possible, Camilo.” said Isabela. She was mostly secluded from them, mainly because cacti kept popping up next to her. He wasn’t aware she could make anything other than flowers, it was a nice change. Flowers were nice, but he didn’t know, they got boring after a while. And you couldn’t scare someone by lobbing a cactus at them, he already had some fun ideas for a prank.

Camilo rolled his eyes, shooting a glare at Isabela. "Don't be like that, Isa. We have to have hope. Mirabel's our family - we can't just give up on her." He moved to sit closer to Antonio, wrapping a comforting arm around his younger brother. Antonio sniffed, his eyes red-rimmed from crying. "I miss her so much already, Cami. What if we never see her again?" His voice trembled, filled with a fear and despair that no child should ever have to experience.

Camilo pulled Antonio close, wishing he could offer more reassurance. "We'll figure this out, I promise. Somehow, we're going to bring Mirabel back home." He shot another pointed look at not only Isabela, but Dolores and Luisa too. "Even if some of us are too busy being miserable to help."

“What is that supposed to mean?” snapped Luisa, trying not to start crying again.

“Look, we all want to save Mirabel yes? Even though we might think it’s impossible. But I think some of us are too distracted by the fact that your secrets got thrown into the street like dirty laundry by a literal god. Dolores has not been able to look Isabela in the face, Isabela keeps making ‘cactuses’ and I know Luisa keeps muttering under her breath about needing to keep strong; I don’t need super hearing for that.”

“So maybe, we should talk about it, so we can move on and focus on saving Mirabel. Obviously it would be better if the entire family is here, but hey, I don’t want to listen to them scream any more than the rest of you. So cousin, minus one, group therapy time.”

“There is nothing to talk about!” exclaimed Isabela, another cactus appearing by her side, earning a scowl.

“Really? Because I remember hearing “closeted lesbian” and “hates Abuela’s guts” from that asshole, whoever his name is. Hayes or something when he referred to you.” said Camilo. Isabela stiffened, her eyes darting around the room as if seeking an escape. "I...I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, her voice wavering.

Dolores fixed Isabela with an uncharacteristically intense stare. "Don't lie, Isa. We all heard what that...that…him, said about you." Her brow furrowed in concern. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Isabela wrapped her arms around herself, her shoulders hunched defensively. "I was scared, okay?" she admitted, her voice small. "I was scared that if anyone found out, they would see me differently. That you all would look at me and only see...this." She gestured vaguely at herself and the cacti surrounding her. “I’m the first born grandchild, Abuela has always expected me to be perfect and emulate her in everyway. How I dress, how to act, who to marry….I need to make these perfect, symmetrical flowers, over and over and I hate them! I hate these stupid flowers!” Another cactus appeared.

"Isa..." Dolores began, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "We're your family. We love you, no matter what." She reached out, placing a gentle hand on Isabela's arm. "You don't have to hide who you are from us."

Isabela's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she looked up at Dolores. "But what about Abuela? And the town? They'll never accept me if they see me like this." Her voice trembled. "I just want them to love me."

“We already do! People already do. Did you see the people when he told everyone you were a lesbian? Everyone was confused, yeah sure because you and Mariano have been a thing for months and slated to be engaged soon. But no one looked disgusted with you Isa. And I, think flowers are boring. Super boring. So I’m glad you can make something else.” He said, poking one of them lightly. Isabela smiled faintly, before scowling.

“If we’re airing our laundry, why didn’t you tell me you were in love with Mariano, Dolores? I was only going to marry him for the family! Do you know how much pressure you would have taken off of me if you just told us you wanted to marry him? I would have thrown him at you! I would have begged and pleaded with Abuela for you, told her any tale, that I couldn’t stand in the way of true love, anything to move the earth for you. You are my cousin but also my sister and best friend….I am hurt you never told me.”

Dolores stared at Isabela, her eyes wide with surprise and guilt. "Oh, Isa...I'm so sorry. I just - I was so afraid that you would hate me if you knew. It looked like you genuinely loved him and I couldn’t bare the thought of breaking your heart by telling you… and I thought he would think I was too ugly or shy compared to you." She reached out, grasping Isabela's hand.

Isabela pulled Dolores into a tight hug, tears streaming down her face. "You could never be ugly, Dolores. You're beautiful, inside and out." She pulled back, giving her cousin a watery smile. "And Mariano would be the luckiest man alive to have you. I'm so sorry I made you feel like you couldn't tell me. We're sisters, we're supposed to be able to tell each other everything."

Dolores returned the embrace, her own tears falling heavy. "I'm sorry too, Isa. I should have trusted you. From now on, no more secrets, okay?" She pulled back, giving Isabela's hand a gentle squeeze.

“Perfect, now time for all of us to gang up on Luisa and make her confront her issues.” said Camilo, waving his hand.

Luisa stiffened as all eyes turned to her. "I don't have any issues," she said quickly, averting her gaze. Isabela quirked an eyebrow and then cleared her throat, imitating Hades as best she could.

“Poor, overworked Luisa who the town treats like a pack mule, always tired and on the verge of a breakdown and is worried no one will ever love her because she’s not perfect and a doll to mold like Isabela.” said the older sister of the pair.

“I’m pretty sure he didn’t mention you being a doll, but go off.” interjected Camilo.

“Same thing!”

"I just...I feel so much pressure to be strong all the time, you know? To be the one everyone can depend on. I'm the strong one, the rock of the family. But sometimes..." Her voice trailed off, a hint of vulnerability creeping in. "Sometimes I'm just so tired." It was taking everything in her to not cry. “And I’m not like you or Dolores, Bella! Look at me, I look like a man practically, who could love me?” cried Luisa, as the first sob left her mouth.

“Mateo Ríos.” said Dolores, humming slightly to her self. Luisa’s head jerked up, her sobs interrupted by pure confusion. “The donkey herder’s son? Why would you think he would love me?”

“Because my gift is hearing, Luisa. Don’t you ever wonder why the donkeys keep getting out despite Senior Ríos spending so much time trying to figure out how they are escaping? Mateo lets them out deliberately so he can use it as an excuse to be near you.”

Luisa's eyes widened in shock, her tears momentarily forgotten. "Mateo...lets the donkeys out...to see me?" She shook her head in disbelief. "But why? I'm...I'm not like Isabela or you. I'm not small and delicate. I'm muscled and I’m taller than half the men in town- who would want that?"

“Luisa, what does it matter if you’re not small and delicate? If that mattered to him, he probably wouldn’t be spending so much time trying to get up the courage to ask you out. I hear him you know, every morning when he lets the donkeys out. ‘Okay, today is the day I tell her how I feel.’ and then he chickens out.”

Luisa stared at Dolores, her eyes shining with a glimmer of hope. "He...he really feels that way about me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Dolores nodded, giving her cousin's hand a gentle squeeze.

"Of course he does, Luisa. You're strong, you're reliable, you're the one everyone counts on. That's exactly the kind of woman Mateo admires." Dolores smiled warmly. "Just because you don't fit Abuela's mold of what a 'proper' woman should be, doesn't mean you're any less deserving of love."

Luisa let out a shaky laugh, scrubbing at her eyes with the back of her hand. "I guess I have a lot to think about, huh?" she muttered. “Yes, the fact that you don’t love yourself but, also the part about being a pack mule? How much stuff are you doing for people? I know Abuela said to help our community but there is a difference between helping and being taken advantage of.” said Isabela. She looked briefly at her new cacti. She might have just found a use for them, and it was going to be threatening people who badgered her sister over stupid things.

Luisa sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I know, I know. It's just...I want to help everyone, you know? I don't want to let the family down." She fidgeted with the hem of her dress, her gaze downcast. "And I guess I got a little carried away. But I just hate seeing the people I care about struggle, so I try to take on as much as I can."

Dolores reached over, giving Luisa's hand a gentle squeeze while Isabela addressed her sister. "We know, Luisa. And we love you for it, we really do. But you can't pour from an empty cup, you know? You have to take care of yourself too. And believe me, I know some of the ‘crap’ people ask for. They did the same to me before I started putting my foot down. ‘Oh Isabela, my flowers aren’t perfectly symmetrical, I need you to come by at eleven at night to fix them.’ or stuff like that."

Luisa nodded, a rueful smile tugging at her lips. "You're right. I guess I do let people take advantage sometimes. I just want to help, but it's not good for me to be stretched so thin." She sighed heavily, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "I'll...I'll try to be better about setting boundaries. And maybe I'll even give Mateo a chance, if he really does like me like that."

Dolores beamed, giving Luisa's hand an encouraging squeeze. "I know you can do it, Luisa. And I'm sure Mateo will be over the moon." She paused, glancing around at her cousins and brothers. Antonio had mostly been silent, just listening.

“So what are your issues then? Antonio is five, so he doesn’t have any, so that leaves you Camilo.” Dolores said pointedly to her younger brother.

Camilo chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Issues? Who, me? Nah, I'm perfect, remember?" He flashed them a cheeky grin, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

Dolores fixed him with a knowing look. "Come on, Cami. We just got Isa and Luisa to open up. Don't think you're getting off the hook that easy."

Camilo sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Alright, alright. I guess I do have a few things I need to work on." He glanced over at Antonio, who was watching him intently. "It's just...sometimes I feel like I'm not good enough, you know? Like I'm always trying to be what everyone else wants me to be." He paused, thinking. “Like literally, since I can shapeshift. I dunno, it seems like I spend more time as other people than myself, and sometimes I’m worried that, and I know it’s not possible, but when I shift back, I won’t do it right because I’ve forgotten what I look like.” explained the teenager.

Camilo's admission hung in the air, the weight of his words settling over the group. Antonio reached out, placing his small hand in his brothers. "Cami, you're perfect just the way you are," he said softly. "We love you, no matter what you look like." He hugged his brother, around the middle, earning an aww from all the girls.

“So, how are we going to save Mirabel? Because annoying as she is, and as much as she gets on my nerves, I will admit…I do love her and she should be here, not…wherever she is right now…Hell I guess?” said Isabela, genuinely asking her cousins and sister. Her memory on ancient history was spotty at best, she hadn’t been in school in at least four years at this point.

“Underworld. Different thing all together if you go by the stories. Hell is strictly for the evil and damned in Christianity while the Underworld is split into three sections for the dead, again going by the stories. Elysium for the good souls, described as a city in the underworld akin to heaven with no mortal struggles, Asphodel Meadows, believed to be like earth but in hell where people live like they did in life, bound to the same jobs and stuff, and then Tartarus, where people are subjected to eternal torment…and then from what I’ve heard, there is a section for souls who’ve personally pissed off Hades or gone back on a deal. It’s called the Pool of Souls, but I am not sure if that one is real.” said Luisa, recalling her history class. Out of all of them, she had always been the most interested in Ancient Roman and Greek Mythology, with an entire section of her private library dedicated to the subject. Well, she was until Hades showed up, now she wanted to burn all her books.

Isabela bit her lip, her brow furrowed in thought. "But how are we supposed to get to the Underworld? We're just mortals - we can't exactly waltz right in there." She shook her head, her eyes filled with worry. Unless...nah, if Hades existed, what other gods did as well? If one of them killed themselves to get to this Underworld, they might end up in any of the other afterlifes she vaguely recalled. Obviously Heaven, but she thinks there was an afterlife for the Egyptians? She's not sure.

“Well, I have an idea, or an idea where to start.” began Dolores. “I didn’t want to do this to him, I promised myself I would never betray his secret but I think we don’t have a choice. But, I think before I pull out the big guns, we need to speak to the rest of the family.” said Dolores, standing up and brushing lint off her skirt.

“Wait, who is him?” asked Camilo, confused. Everyone else was just as confused, except for Antonio oddly enough. “Is this about the Rat Man who lives in the walls? The rats told me about him.” said Antonio, so casually that everyone had to do a double take.

“I’m sorry, The WHAT Man?”

“You had no right!”

Ever since she was a child, Julieta had heard tales of her father from her mother, about how he was so heroic and how he saved their lives by giving his. Though she never wanted to meet an early end, she always relished the thought of getting to meet him one day.

Now though? She never wanted to see her father again. They, being the adults (or anyone not a grandchild that is) were gathered in the kitchen while Julieta cornered her father’s ghost and yelled at him, Pepa just as pissed as she was and just as vocal about everything going on. Their mother was mostly being silent, but Julieta could see the conflict in her eyes. Felix was having to restrain Agustin, because the man wanted to punch the ghost despite the fact he was incorporeal.

"How could you make a deal like that, without even consulting us? Without telling us?" she shouted, angry beyond words.

“Um, you were an infant? I couldn’t exactly ask you, and he froze time. Look, I know you are angry, but I had no choice. You, your sister and your brother along with your mother would have died. Then what? You would be dead, you wouldn’t even have Isabela or Luisa, and Pepa wouldn’t have her children either. You would ALL be dead.” Said the ghost. Hades really did him a ‘favor’ by not allowing him to hide again.

“I..I don’t care! I just want my daughter.” Julieta began to sob, leaning against the kitchen island as she let her emotions out. Pepa was barely better, her emotions were causing a hurricane in the kitchen, rain and wind hitting those still alive from every angle. Their mother had tried to get her to stop but the redhead had threatened to electrocute her if she asked again. Sometimes Pepa just wanted to feel without worrying about the cloud.

A tin pan flew by, going through Pedro’s form and smacking into a wall, as the wind whipped around them.

Agustin stepped forward, finally released by Felix, placing a comforting hand on his wife's shoulder as she wept, glaring at Pedro. "I know, Julieta. I know." His voice was thick with emotion, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But we can't give up. We have to find a way to get Mirabel back!"

Pepa shot a withering glare at her brother-in-law, lightning crackling in her cloud. "How? How are we supposed to get to the Underworld and take on a god?"

“Maybe….maybe we have to accept it.” said Alma, speaking up. “Pepa is right, how would we even get to this…this, underworld?” Julieta's head snapped up, her eyes burning with defiance. "Accept it? Mamá, how can you say that? Mirabel is our family, your nieta! - we can't just give up on her!" She shook her head vehemently, fresh tears welling in her eyes.

“Well, then what is your plan? Because I don’t have any ideas, do you?!” Alma shouted, shaking her head. This was turning out to be the worst day she had ever experienced in a long time.

“Hmm! We ask Bruno for a vision.” said Dolores, causing everyone to whirl around and look towards the kitchen entrance where the younger generation had converged together as one. “Dolores what are you talking about? Bruno left, and even still, we don’t talk ab-” Alma was cut off by Pedro, glaring at her.

“Yeah, I don’t like the fact I can’t hide myself right now but you better believe me Alma, I have a few choice words about the fact you decided to allow the village to demonize our son and banned the everyone from speaking about him. And Julieta, Josefina! How could you go along with this? He’s your baby brother, your triplet!” said the ghost, turning the tables on them.

Alma recoiled at her husbands words, her eyes widening in shock. “I thought I was doing the right thing, I thought…I didn’t want to think about it Pedro. I thought he was dead. It was easier to not speak about him because it meant I didn’t have to think about the fact our son was gone.”

“…I blamed Mirabel.” admitted Pepa, earning a gasp from her sister and honestly, everyone but Alma, who seemed ashamed and guilty. “He left right after her birthday, I thought….I….it was just easier to blame her, than to admit I wasn’t the best sister. That I was never there for him. I know it’s not her fault.”

“She was five! She was five, Pepa! How could you blame her, your niece, a literal child for him leaving?” shouted Julieta.

Pepa shrank back, the guilt and shame evident on her face. "I know, I know. It wasn't fair of me. I was just...I was so angry and hurt, and I needed someone to blame. Mirabel was an easy target." She ran a trembling hand through her hair. "But that doesn't excuse it. I failed him, just we failed Mirabel, we all did. And now they're both gone, and I may never get the chance to apologize."

“Well it’s your lucky day then. Because Dolores, who knew the entire time may I add, knows exactly where Bruno is. And he is not dead!” said Camilo, shaking his head at his sister.

“The….how could….where is he?!” demanded Alma. All this time, assuming he was dead and not even knowing where his body was if he was in fact so, and Dolores knew the entire time.

“He’s in the walls.” The girl said simply.

“Persephone, why are your hands so sweaty? You’ve been wiping your hands on your skirt for the entirety of the meeting. Stop it and sit up straight!” hissed Demeter towards her daughter. Persephone quickly stilled her fidgeting hands, clasping them tightly in her lap as she met her mother's stern gaze. "I'm sorry, Mother. I'm just...nervous," she admitted, her brow furrowing with worry.

“About what, my dear?” Like a student being caught talking to their friend in class by the teacher, Persephone immediately felt her face go flush as her eyes snapped to Zeus, who was currently leading the meeting. Despite what the stories said, she was not his daughter. Demeter had made her all by herself by putting part of her essence into a flower, expecting to make another nymph but instead creating a daughter and a new Goddess in the process. A daughter that after thousands of years, was still treated like a child.

“Nothing Zeus, I apologize, please continue. Me and my mother were just discussing something related to the seasons. We’re thinking an early fall this year.” she said, trying to appear casual and like it was nothing.

“My granddaughter is finally going…home.” Interjected Demeter, throwing her daughter under the bus by revealing her lie. Persephone groaned, face in her hands. Immediately the entire table of Gods and Goddesses were abuzz as everyone was distracted by the news. Persephone sighed, she was hoping this wouldn’t happen, because they were all going to want to meet her and just overwhelm her. Zeus laughed.

“Well, well! Big news, you should have told us earlier ‘Seph! When are we going to meet the little girl?” the God of Thunder and Lightning grinned.

“Unless you are willing to visit the Underworld, not any time soon. She needs to ease out of her mortal form naturally, and as we all know, mortals cannot enter Olympus. Which would be…I think the Fates said roughly eighty years.” Everyone became visibly disappointed. It’s not that they weren’t excited to meet her, it was just that The Underworld, even with Elysium, was a bummer, and having a celebration there was sure to be…interesting. But it was either that or wait eight decades.

“Well, I guess we will just have to go to her. Right, meeting adjourned, we have a niece to meet!”

“No!”

Everyone paused as Persephone suddenly yelled. Her face somehow became even more red as she stood up and masked her emotions, trying not to seem frazzled. “I want you to meet her, absolutely. But you know how Hades is and she’s going to need time to adjust to having her world turned upside down, let alone everything else.”

And because if she knows her husband, which she does: he has no tact and she expects his arrival in the mortal world to fetch their daughter to go poorly. "Please, I just ask that you allow me and Hades to wait until the time is right. She's been raised among mortals her whole life - this is all so new and overwhelming for her. I don't want to risk overwhelming her further by bringing the entire Pantheon down to the Underworld."

Zeus stroked his beard thoughtfully, his gaze scrutinizing Persephone. "I understand your concerns, my dear. The transition will no doubt be difficult for the child." His lips curved into a benevolent smile, thinking. And she was right, Hades had no tact. "Very well, we shall wait for you and Hades to invite us to her. But do not tarry too long - we are all eager to welcome our newest family member!"

“Of course.”

Persephone was absolutely nervous as she returned home from her meeting, a sense of unease gnawing at her. She was both excited and yet worried to meet her daughter. She was practically vibrating out of her skin, hands still sweaty. She hoped it went well, but she knows her husband too well. As she touches down in the Underworld, and enters the palace, she finds herself trying to steel her nerves. She finds Hades in the throne room, alone, scowling on his throne with his face in his hand. Their daughter is nowhere to be seen, and she knows, it didn’t go well. Exhausted, Persephone asks, "Where is she?" He scowls and responds with a roll of his eyes, "She's been taken to her bedroom by the guards, to cool down. She’s throwing a fit.”

“You ripped her away didn’t you? You didn’t give her a chance to say goodbye, or anything. I knew I should have made you wait for me. I knew this was going to happen. “

The Lord of the Underworld let out a frustrated growl, sinking deeper into his obsidian throne. "I brought our daughter home, isn't that what you wanted?" he spat, his piercing gaze boring into Persephone. "I did what needed to be done - I collected on the bargain that foolish mortal made all those years ago." The Goddess of Spring rolled her eyes. “Yes, but it should have been done with tact and grace! She doesn’t remember us Hades, her soul was still an infant when we placed her into that body. As far as she knows, we kidnapped her.” Hades grunted, not responding.

Persephone let out a heavy sigh, rubbing her temples. "Oh, Hades, why must you always be so...heavy-handed?" She turned her attention to the grand archway that led deeper into the palace. "Where is she now?" The God of the Underworld shifted in his seat, the black obsidian creaking beneath him. "In her chambers, as I said. Sulking, I imagine." He flashed Persephone a sardonic grin. "You know how she is - stubborn as a mule, just like her mother."

Persephone shot Hades a withering glare, her lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm going to go speak with her." She swept past him, the hem of her flowing gown brushing against his feet as she moved. “Alone.” she said, noticing her husband starting to rise from his throne and follow her. The God scowled, sitting back down. Persephone hurried through the grand halls of the underworld palace, her heart heavy with concern for her daughter. As she approached the ornate doors leading to Mirabel's chambers, she took a steadying breath, trying to quell the nervous energy that coursed through her. She wiped a sweaty hand on her skirt. Outside the door, two ghostly sentinels stood guard, nodding towards their Queen as she approached.

She hoped the room was to her liking, she had spent months making sure it was ready for her daughter. Persephone considered entering without announcing herself, but decided against it. She knocked softly on the door, waiting to be granted entry. Inside the room, Mirabel sat curled up on the edge of the massive bed, her knees drawn to her chest as she stared blankly at walls of the room, not responding to the first knock on the door.

The knock came again, after a minute of no response.

"Who's there?" she called out, hating how her voice wavered with uncertainty. God, she hoped it was not him. Or better yet, if it was, he was here to tell her: ‘Oh sorry, I grabbed the wrong Madrigal, back to the real world.’ But she highly doubted that and she wouldn’t want Dolores or Luisa, hell even Isabela to be in this place. The door creaked open slightly, and a woman with long blonde hair and pink skin poked her head into the room hesitantly. Her hair was pushed back by a crown made of flowers and she wore a long, sleeveless silk dress covered in a variety of flowers including daisies and roses. She had to be the most beautiful woman Mirabel had ever seen, even more so than Isabela. Her eyes widened as the woman stepped into the room fully, a gentle smile on her face. "Hello, Mirabel. I'm..." She paused, her expression growing pensive. "I'm Persephone… I wanted to apologize, for your…for Hades. " She says the last part with annoyance. That man, he needed to learn to cool his temper.

Persephone. She knows that name, how could she not? She took history in school. The tale of Persephone and Hades. It was a classic. It doesn’t take much to make the connection, unless the tales were wrong. “Are you supposed to be my mother?” She asks it with disdain and disbelief. Persephone nodded solemnly, her eyes filled with a mixture of joy and hesitation. "Yes, Mirabel. I am your mother." She took a tentative step forward, her flowing gown rustling softly. "I know this must all be so overwhelming for you. I wish we could have brought you home under better circumstances."

She paused, biting her lip as she considered her next words carefully. "Your father...he can be a bit…excitable at times. He was just so eager to have you back with us, after all these years." Persephone let out a soft sigh, her gaze drifting to the ornate furnishings that adorned Mirabel's chamber. "I tried to make this place feel welcoming for you but I know it's not Casita."

"Welcoming?" Mirabel spat, her voice dripping with bitterness. "This is not welcoming, and it's not my home. My home is with the Madrigals - the family that raised me, that loved me." She hugged her knees tighter to her chest, her eyes filling with tears. "You…people took me away from them. From everything I've ever known." Persephone flinched at the venom in Mirabel's words, her heart aching. "I know, my dear. I wanted to wait until you passed from mortal means, but your Dad was insistent he wanted you back home while you were still a child.”

Mirabel stared at Persephone, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You wanted to wait until I died? How is that any better?" She shook her head, her lips trembling. "I don't understand any of this. Why did you take me from my family?” She had heard what Abuelo and HIM had said, but she didn’t really understand it. How could this not be her body? It felt like hers!

Persephone, sighed. “Your father is a God of Death, I am a God of Life, we have tried to have many children over the millennium but they all died before they even got close to birth. When you were finally born, you were born a soul. With no body. That wouldn’t necessarily be an issue for a god, but given the fact your father and I are opposites, your very soul began to fade from existence. We spoke to the Fates and they said the only way to save you was to put your soul into a mortal vessel and have you live upon the earth for at least a decade.”

“But why them? They don’t deserve this!” No one did, but especially not her family. It wasn’t fair. She could still see the way her mother looked at her when HE grabbed her. The horror and pain in her eyes. Persephone sighed again, explaining further. “We didn’t pick them specifically, the Fates told us where to go. They told us, rather my husband as I was recovering from giving birth to you, that there would be a man in Columbia so desperate to save his family, that he would do anything. They didn’t tell us much more than that. They never do, they’re always vague and cryptic.”

“That doesn’t make it right! You used them! They might not be perfect but and maybe they forgot about me sometimes, but they loved me! They were my family, and you ripped me away from them!”

Persephone's expression softened, her heart aching at the anguish in her daughter's voice. "I know, my dear. They are and always will be, despite how much your father would prefer you forget your mortal family. And I'm so sorry for the pain this has caused you." She sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping. "Hades was so desperate to save you, and so was I. If there was any other way we could have done this, I would have done it in a heartbeat.” Oh, this was all her fault, she should have went with him at the very least.

“…just leave me alone.” Whimpered Mirabel, burying her face in her knees. Persephone's heart sank as she watched her daughter start to break, sobs wracking her body. She knew this would be difficult, but seeing the pain and betrayal in her daughter's eyes was almost more than she could bear. "Mirabel, please, I-"

"I said leave me alone!" Mirabel shouted, removing her face from her knees. Persephone hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Very well. I'll give you some time. You should get some rest, you look tired." She turned and headed for the door, pausing only to look back at Mirabel's hunched form. "I know this is all so overwhelming. But I want you to know - your father and I, we love you more than anything. We never meant to hurt you." Mirabel didn't respond, her shoulders shaking with sobs. Persephone leaves her, shaking her head before exiting the room. Hades of course is right outside the door, waiting for her. "Well? How did it go?" he asked, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

Persephone let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through her flowing hair. "About as well as you might expect," she replied wearily. "She's devastated, Hades. Angry, hurt - I can hardly blame her." The Lord of the Underworld grunted, his piercing gaze flicking towards the ornate doors. "I figured as much." Persephone shook her head. “Leave her alone for now love, she needs time to settle. I know you were hoping there would be an instant connection, but if you try and push it, it will cause more harm than good.”

Hades let out a frustrated growl, his blue flames flickering angrily. "Time? That's all anyone ever wants from me." He clenched his fists, the air around him growing thick with tension. "I've waited decades for this moment, Persephone. To have my daughter back home, where she belongs. And eons more to even have a child."

Persephone placed a gentle hand on his arm, her touch immediately calming the restless energy that radiated from him. "I know, my love. But rushing her will only push her further away." She gazed up at him, her eyes soft with understanding. "Mirabel has just had her entire world turned upside down. She needs space to process everything." Hades let out a heavy sigh, the fight draining from him. "You're right, as always." He pinched the bridge of his nose, his brow furrowed in a mixture of sadness and defeat. “I just love her so much.”

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