#encantober leaves

[yellowcry]

Time to go

Isabela had always wondered what was outside

@encantober-official prompt — Leaves

Omg just one leftt (is this real??)

Isabela wasn't sure what she was supposed to feel. Most people assumed her idea to leave Encanto was an impulsive choice. Maybe another act of rebellion against perfectionism she was locked in for years. But part of her longed for adventurous life for as long as Isabela remembered herself. Making her wonder and wishing to reach somewhere outside of her hometown. Even before the mountains fell, allowing them into the outside world. She often found herself wondering, maybe even wishing to go out and find something else. Something new.

Sometimes it was curiosity, sometimes that burning need to be herself that she had buried under the layers of pink flowers. Even if she knew she would never. Isabela loved her family, even despite all their problems. And she didn't want to actually leave them. 

But now, that they were free from expectations, when Isabela was stepping on a path of self-discovery the idea of travelling across Colombia became more prevalent. She really wondered about what she could find in her adventures. And with it she was getting sick from the same old Encanto. She loved it, really did. But this was the place she grew up in. She knew it like the back oh her hand and it wasn't giving her enough adrenaline. Seeing Abuelos' old village was interesting, sure, but it was just one little dot. And Isabela wanted more.

She craved for the freedom of adventures 

So with it Isabela was set on her way. At first talking to the family. Assuring them it wasn't any problem or discomfort that made her want to leave. After all they talked about things now. But her own need to find something new.  She didn't want to simply escape. It was a question of her learning more about herself.

And she understood it was a bit of a hard news to swallow. Especially to Abuela, who had lost her husband and son (tho the latter returned after ten years.) So idea of Isabela leaving wouldn't be easy. But if Isabela had learned anything since their house collapsed, it was a fact that sometimes it was okay to put herself first. Do what she wanted to do instead of being a good girl who 'doesn't upset anyone and does as she told'

Sometimes it's okay to be selfish.

One day she would come home, even if she left, Encanto was buried deep inside her heart. No matter the day, she knew her family will wait for her and welcome her with open arms when she's ready to return. But for today, it wasn't what Isabela wanted.  Her heart demanded to look beyong the village she grew in.

She needed to find something new just as she needed air to breathe. Now that there was such a possibility, her brain grew restless of how bored it was. Without a proper way to let this frustration out. And now she was finally set to move forward. 

She was packed up, ready to go. If she wanted to do so, she had all the right to. This was her life and Isabela had her right to choose the path. As weird as it was for her to think about. There would be a lot of interesting on her way and a good sghare of stories.

With the last hugs, promises of keeping relatively out of trouble, Isabela is ready to travel whenever her soul tells her. 

[pepa-brainrot]

Encantober pt 1: prompt 'healing' @encantober-official

Post movie Mirabel still has a long way to go, just like everyone else in the family. Sadly, her repression issues make it hard- after all, everything is ok now- shouldn't she be as well..? Luckily Tía Armida knows all too well the feeling, and is able to talk to her about it

Using some of encantober prompts to do more oc and canon interactions that I don't normally but should- starting with our beloved mirabel- that hug is long overdo 💛

[msmacabre310]

Are there any Encanto projects you're working on right now?

Hi! This message is really sweet and honestly kind of made my day to come across in my inbox, so thank you for that anon!

I do actually have some Encanto projects in progress - I've been working on them for a long time (actually, years at this point) and honestly the biggest one has more than 300k words already written and mostly just needs editing at this point. I got really derailed in my fanfic writing over the last 1.5-2 years between a really rough job, spine surgery, and some mental health stuff unfortunately, which is why I never got around to finishing it.

I've been meaning to pick it back up again soon, but probably won't be able to tackle it for a month or two, because I just took a new job and am about to move across the country next month.

For that particular fic I even got as far as coming up with a title (Children of Wax) and writing a little draft AO3 summary for it:

The materials needed to rebuild a house and a family from the ground up are the same: patience and a willingness to do the work. What distinguishes the two is that there's a natural order to building a house. No walls can go up without a foundation. But putting a family back together? Well, Bruno was never good at doing things in order anyway. ***** Love is an action, forgiveness a choice. As Alma confronts actions of her own, each day is a reminder: many things may be given, but nothing is owed. ***** Ask anybody why Casita came crashing down and they'd say: they couldn't fill in all the cracks. Ask Luz, the woman tasked with restoring Pedro's portrait after it's rescued from the wreckage of Casita, and she'd say: duh, they tried to fill in all the cracks. After all, any idiot could fill a crack. But deciding whether a crack needed to be filled in the first place? That required an artistic eye, an appreciation for the beauty of ugly things, and an understanding that in imperfection there is truth. And what is art about, if not the truth? ***** An exploration of the many ways in which we can hurt, apologize to, love, and forgive the people most important to us.

Anyway, I'm hopeful that it will be able to see the light of day someday soon. It's a really special story that I've enjoyed working on.

[encantober-official]

#Encantober

Encantober is an Encanto fandom event with themes to challenge artists and writers throughout the month of October (link to theme list in a copy/pasteable format here). Encantober is open to any and all art and writing, including sketches, drabbles, one-shots, and more.

Fanworks can be shared via the #Encantober tag on tumblr and/or posted as part of the AO3 collection here.

The goal of the bingo event is to fill five prompts in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. You can use the bingo card on this post, or send us an ask to receive an individual randomized card. You must send the ask off anon, so that we can respond privately.

Rules:

Works must be a part of the Encanto (2021) fandom. OCs, AUs, and crossovers are permitted.

Works must adhere to one of the Encantober themes.

Series of Encantober works are welcome.

No incest.

QA:

Q: Can you explain the free space? A: "Comment 5+ people" means comment on works for this year's Encantober posted by at least five different people. This can be a (positive!) comment left in the tags or body of a reblog, or a comment on AO3. It's our reminder to check out what everyone is doing!

Q: Can I link prompts together? Or cover multiple prompts with one work? A: Linking works together to create a story series is a wonderfully creative idea! However, combining multiple prompts into one work defeats the purpose of the multi-prompt challenge. Each work (or chapter in a series) must focus on one prompt.

Q: Do I have to complete every prompt? A: You do not! The goal is to fill five prompts in a row, but you can choose to complete fewer, or more. This is meant to be fun, so please don’t stress yourself out.

Q: Do I have to complete prompts in a specific order/at a specific time? A: Not this year! Fill out your bingo card at your leisure :)

Q: I followed all the rules. Why aren’t my posts being reblogged? A: Either you didn't indicate which prompt you're filling, forgot to tag #Encantober, or the admin team just missed it! We’re doing the best we can across time zones <3

Browse:

Use the links below to find the works for each prompt in our archive!

River Return Truth Haunt Healing Coffee Poetry Recipe Relaxation Discovery Regret Recognition Wall Leaves Team Umbrella Build Thread Cheese Sign Mountain Secret Rose Burn

[honeybeebytheseaa]

Cheese

A fun short story and piece for @encantober-official . I have two more prompts I plan to do, but due to my busy schedule I’m not sure if I’ll get them out on time. For now, enjoy these small pieces!

——

Bruno knew he’d get in trouble for having the rats inside of Casita. Technically, he was an adult now and could make his own decisions. But even at twenty, Bruno struggled to openly speak out against his mother.

Upon noticing their furry bodies along the windows, Bruno’s mama swooped in with her broom and demanded they leave her home. Which was frustrating, because if she didn’t want them inside Casita, mama could just ask them to leave. They are very intelligent creatures, despite what most of his family thinks.

Eventually, try as his mama might: they’d find a way inside Casita. Which was certainly the fault of Bruno. He may have scaled a few walls in the middle of the night (with Casita’s aid, of course) to shift the gutters in just the right direction so the rats could sneak into his room.

Although it might sound odd, Bruno was quite flattered that a few select rats often sought out his comfort. Granted, it was likely because he was the only person in the encanto who welcomed them inside his home with open arms, but it was nice to have some company during his particularly bad nights.

Bruno first met the rats when he was around sixteen. It was three or four in the morning. He was in the kitchen, shuffling through that night's leftovers. He reached out for a thinly sliced piece of mozzarella when he noticed a little ball of gray fur had already taken it.

Bruno wouldn’t lie: he screamed.

He then proceeded to fling the rat across the room. Which he did not mean to do! He meant to fling the cheese and the rat happened to latch onto it.

His reaction was somewhat justified. To his knowledge, they carried rabies and other fun diseases.

But when he realized the creature looked more frightened of him than he did… he felt really bad.

So, he did something that would quickly devolve into a bad habit.

He gently picked it up, set it by the window, and tried to usher it outside. It didn’t leave right away, so Bruno offered it the piece of mozzarella it had been chewing.

He took it from his fingers and quickly scurried into the night. It had worked.

Oh, he means for that one night. For that one night, it had worked. The rat brought back friends the next day.

And of course he fed them, he didn’t want to be a bad host.

Over time, the visits became more frequent. Sometimes they were subtle about it, only coming at night or into Bruno’s room specifically. Sometimes, they didn’t think it through and would visit in broad daylight where Pepa would let out a loud, shrill scream and their mama would come barreling through with her broom.

But as time went on, they’d often visit him during the colder months, seeking shelter from pelting rain storms or the extremely short-lived snowstorms always caused by Pepa. A few of them would show up randomly. As if they just wanted to say hello. Due to these frequent visits, Bruno found himself keeping a lot of cheese in his room. The rats loved cheese. Especially the cheese Julieta would make.

Bruno wished he could invite them into the kitchen for a more diverse palette of snacks, though Julieta would certainly lose her mind. So for now, they had to settle for the selection in Bruno’s room.

Bruno had to be careful about how much he brought inside, as Julieta kept track of her ingredients like a hawk. If she ever noticed something missing, she almost always tracked it back to him. Somehow. With her scary sibling powers or whatever.

Occasionally, Bruno convinces her to slip him a few treats under the excuse of being a ‘growing boy.’ Every time he nearly gets called out on his bluff. Julieta knows he eats like a bird.

Though she won’t turn her little brother down. Bruno knows that.

It all works out. He can bring something nice for his furry friends, and Julieta doesn’t have to waste as much food.

And to be fair, it wasn’t Julieta he had to worry about.

Finding them around Casita was bad enough, but if his mama found he had them in his room of all places she’d likely ground him til’ he was thirty.

And she’d also be able to track the rat infestation back to him. Which would then further his grounding til he is forty.

So for now, they’d stay in his room and only his room. With all the cheese they could ask for.

———

[aeshnalacrymosa]

Bruno Reads Tea Leaves

@encantober-official

[usedtobeguest123]

Encantober Day 1 - Sunset

Bruno stepped his bare feet down onto the wood of his bedroom floor. He stood from his bed and padded to the center of the room. The air was thick with salt and brine, filling his nose with the sharp, wet scent. He could taste the saltiness on his tongue. The tide pushed in across the floorboards, the chilling foam washing over his bare feet, thinning as it went until it was just a film across the wood behind him. As the water pulled back, it carried grains of wood with it like sand, and Bruno's heels sank slowly into the floor, leaving him standing just a little deeper than he'd begun.  He'd never been to the beach. He'd read about it, but being here was different. The saltiness tasted different than salt tossed into the air, than the rush of dry sand. It all felt thicker, heavier. He used to daydream as a child of visiting the beach, and here he was. How funny that all he had to do this whole time was step out of bed.  Ahead of him Mirabel and Antonio splashed and played in the wake, seagulls dipping down to greet them with harsh calls. Deeper in, Luisa and Camilo swam amidst the waves. Antonio was almost as tall as Mirabel. When had he gotten so tall? ... It was a sunset. Or was it a sunrise? Wait--hadn't it just been night, hadn't he just been in bed? As the last of the orange sun slipped below the line of water, a flash of green raced out like a gunshot, pulsing toward him faster than the tide. WOOSH. He squeezed his eyes shut as it pushed past. Everything tasted green, salt and brine.

For @encantober-official Day 1, I took inspiration from a vision-dream that Bruno has in chapter 13 of my fic La Traes. His reimagined bedroom is from my other fic Bruno from Before; you can find its description below the cut!

There were no more treacherous stairs to trek up, nor ghastly images of a haunted prophet to pass to get to Tío Bruno's cave. Now it was just the ornate round door settled deep into the back wall of his room, shadowed slightly by an hourglass shaped entryway that no longer poured out sand. His main room was cozy and warm now, despite the impossibly high ceiling of the tower that rose above it. Natural light filtered in from the round window at the top of the tower like a cathedral, illuminating minute particles of dust and sand that floated lazily through the air. The left side of his room held a small bed tucked against the wall, a desk littered with papers and pencils, and a dresser situated next to the main door. The entire right side of the room was a sitting area, red and green cushioned chairs angled at each other just enough to encourage conversation but not enough to force it, a low table sitting between them. The backs of the chairs were to the center of the room, the chairs positioned to face a wall of bookshelves loaded with not only books but also doo-dads and collected odds and ends that Tío treasured for some reason or another. Two or three of the plants gifted by Isabela climbed precariously from their potted places on the shelves. One entire shelf seemed to be some sort of rat maze. Framed pictures of each and every Madrigal, some current and some yellowed with age, spread across all the walls like butterflies drifting in clustered groupings.  And there, straight across from the main doorway, stood the hourglass cutout and the large round door through that, looking for all the world like nothing more than a particularly interesting closet and not a room where the future sifted into the present. 

--Bruno from Before

[hannahhook7744]

In Their Eyes I See You;

Summary: Alma didn't just lose Pedro.

She lost everything.

Aka Alma sees Pedro and their families in their triplets.

Encantober Bingo 2024: Recognition.

Trigger Warnings: mention of grief, raids, fighting, threats of violence, and implied character death.

Co-written with @igetthedisneybox .

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Contrary to popular relief, Alma Olga Madrigal Botero (formerly Botero Molinari) didn't just lose her husband the night the raiders attacked.

Didn't just lose her wonderful, wonderful, playful, thoughtful, poetic Pedro….

No. 

She lost much more than her husband. Much more than her triplets’ father. 

She lost everything.

Her home. Her parents. Her brother. Pedro's family. Even some of her friends. 

Alma had lost everything she had ever known in one night, with the exception of her children—her children who she was absolutely terrified to lose and who she held on too tightly to. 

Her children.

Pedro's children.

Alma wasn't sure she would be able to live without them if something happened. Didn't want to know if she ever could get over something that horrible.

(Not when she still hadn't gotten over losing Pedro). 

She didn't want to imagine her life without her sweet, responsible, sensible Julieta. 

Didn't want to imagine her life without her fiery, impassioned, loud Pepa. 

Didn't want to imagine her life without her and Pedro’s quirky, helpful, shy little Brunito. 

She couldn't bear the thought of losing any of the triplets and so, she refused to even think of such a thing—just like she refused to let herself think of Pedro and the life they had, had all those years ago. When they were young and hopeful and still a they. 

But no matter how hard Alma tried, she couldn't completely forget her and Pedro's families— because she saw them in her children every day. 

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Her eldest, her precious Julieta, strongly reminded her of her own mother, Alba.

Her madre had been a strong woman, who knew what she wanted in life. Stern at times, playful at others. She was the head of the family, and Alma’s father liked it that way.

Alma sees the way Julieta acts with her siblings, always leading them, guiding them, sometimes scolding, but other times joining in on the fun. Julieta was never one to back down when she knew she was right.

She recognized her mother in how closely Julieta resembled her—especially after a long sleepless night when she was too tired to take her hair of it's messy braid before having her coffee (before she had lopped it all off in frustration one night). 

But the moment where Alma saw her mother in Julieta the most was when she and her eldest had gotten in a fight over the Matriarch’s loud and vocal disapproval of Agustín Rojas Valdez.

“You can not control every single aspect of my life! I love him! And if you don’t accept that, then we’ll just leave!”

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Alma was four the last time she saw either of her mother's padres.

She didn't remember most of what had occurred.

In fact, all she remembered was that one moment the familia was having dinner and the next her mother was fighting with her mother. 

“This is MY life and I refuse to let you control it any longer! Andre is a good man and I will not allow you to continue disrespecting him and our family by insinuating I made a mistake!” Alba had said, arms crossed, chin raised, and a glare in her eyes. “if you can't accept that, then we'll just leave!”

And so they did. 

------------------------------------------------------------

Alma stared at her daughter. 

Julieta stared right back at her, chin raised. Arms crossed. And a glare in her eyes. 

Looking so much like her abuela had—though she'd never know it—just forty years younger. 

And maybe, Alma could have continued to argue. Could have risked it like her own grandmother had—but she didn't. Very aware of just how similar her daughter was to her own mother. “Very well.”

Ignoring Julieta's gobsmacked look, Alma turned on her heel and headed to her room. Hoping to shake the spirit of her mother out of her mind before dinner. 

------------------------------------------------------------

Pepa, meanwhile, reminded her a lot of her sister-in-law, Alejandra.

Her younger brother, Raimi's, wife. 

Alejandra was a wild woman, who participated in sword fighting and liked taxidermy. Her emotions could change on a dime, and she took everything so seriously.

Her family had a miracle of their own: The female Yees could shapeshift into beasts to protect themselves, and the shift was often tied to their emotional states.

Very much like Pepa’s weather powers.

“TOUCH MY HERMANO AGAIN AND I'LL FRY YOU!” 

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“Touch my betrothed again—” Alejandra snarled, towering over two men who had been giving Raimi trouble in her red panda form. 

Which wouldn't have been very intimidating if not for the fact she was taller than the homes in their village. 

"ALEJANDRA, DON'T—"

“—and I'LL RIP YOU LIMB FROM LIMB!”

The men never bothered Alma's brother again and it was in that moment that Alma knew that no other woman would ever be good enough for her brother in her eyes. 

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“JOSEFA ALEJANDRA INÉS MADRIGAL BOTERO, DON'T YOU DARE!”

And just like Alejandra, Pepa didn't listen to Alma either. 

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Her little Bruno reminded her of both hers, and Pedro’s, fathers.

Her father, Andre, was a shy but playful man. He was a local actor, which Bruno seemed to embrace wholeheartedly. 

“My true gift is acting, I always liked to say.” Bruno had joked on numerous occasions before he inevitably put on a show for his sobrinos and their friends with his rats. 

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“Ah, but my dear children, my true gift is acting!” Her father said with a smile on his face, winking— earning a squeal of laughter from a then, three year old, Raimi. 

Alma still denied it to this day, but it had earned a snort from her too. 

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Bruno resembled Pedro's father, Fernando, greatly physically. But that didn't mean that their personalities didn't lack similarities. 

Like both Bruno and Andre, Ferndando was introverted and shy. He was an animal lover, and just generally goofy, from what Alma remembered of him.

He was also an anxious wreck a lot of the time, something that Bruno unfortunately inherited.

Along with the superstitions.

------------------------------------------------------------

The first time Fernando had met Alma, he'd knocked on wood three times—muttering under his breath—and had thrown salt over his shoulder. 

Just barely missing her. 

“We don't get a lot of guests.” Pedro had smiled sheepishly at her. 

------------------------------------------------------------

Alma sighed, watching as Bruno threw salt over his shoulder—causing it to get in little Camilo’s hair. 

Much to Pepa’s fury. 

It seemed like Alma would never be able to stop seeing her fallen friends and family in her children or their children.

(Mirabel and Camilo were so much like Pedro —).

It was as if she was being haunted by them….

[solibrie]

cornflower

chapter 5: leaves a @encantober-official prompt

After Casita falls apart, Julieta’s side of the family learns some new ways to heal without the help of homemade cooking. The garden is a place of merry, and Julieta wouldn’t want it any other way.

[foreveranevilregal]

Encantober Day 1: Sunset

Pepa sat down on the hillside overlooking the meadow. Today was easier than usual. She had been tasked with drying out a field that had gotten flooded when the river grew too full. It had been a rainy spring. Not her fault, of course. Okay, maybe some of it was her fault. Her boyfriend, Carlos, had broken up with her, and she took it pretty hard. But not all of it! Not all weather was her fault. She kept trying to tell people, and no one listened…

Thankfully, drying things out didn’t tax her as much as making it rain did. All she had to do was think happy thoughts and the sun came beaming down, strengthened by her gift. Usually, she’d think of her siblings. Or if there was a cute boy that she had her eye on, that worked too. When she was younger, it was animals that did the trick. She had no shortage of happy thoughts. It was the sad ones that were harder.

She’d settled in with her book, opening it eagerly. It was a new book, and she was dying to see how it would end.

A couple chapters in, she felt a shadow blocking the sunlight. Peering up, she saw a guy she didn’t recognize. Someone new, in their town? That didn’t happen often.

“Mind if I join you?” He spoke up.

“Go right ahead.” She folded the corner of her page and closed the book, setting it on the grass beside her.

“Hope I didn’t interrupt you reading.” He sat down next to her.

“No, it’s fine.” She was dying to know what happened next, but this new guy intrigued her. “I haven’t seen you around before. Are you new here?”

He nodded. “My family just moved here. My name’s Félix.”

“Pepa.” She took his proffered hand, shaking it. His hand felt strong, rough. Pepa felt sparks go through her that had nothing to do with her gift.

 “It’s nice to meet you, Pepa. I was exploring around and came upon this little meadow here.” He held a hand in front of his face conspiratorially. “To be honest, I needed a break from my little siblings. They drive me crazy sometimes.”

Pepa laughed at the comment. “How many siblings do you have?”

“Five. And I’m the oldest.” He rolled his eyes playfully. “Do you have siblings?”

She nodded. “A brother and sister, but we’re triplets, so no one is really the oldest. Well, Julieta acts like she is, but she’s only like five minutes older. Can’t have gained that much wisdom during that time.”

His laughter was one of the most beautiful sounds she’d ever heard. “Oh, I’m sure she gained so much wisdom. Those five minutes were very important.”

Pepa gasped and shoved him reflexively.

He fell over. For a second, Pepa was afraid she’d hurt him, but he sat up like nothing was wrong. “Hey, us older siblings have to stick together!” He defended himself.

“She’s not-“ Pepa began, outraged, but stopped short at the grin that cracked on his face.

“I’m kidding.” He shook his head good-naturedly. “Lighten up, Pepa.”

Those words struck dangerously close to home. How many times had the other kids told her the same thing? How many times had her mamá warned her to rein in her emotions? She blinked rapidly to quell the tears. Clear skies, clear skies, clear skies…

Félix cleared his throat. “Okay, that was a bad joke. Sorry.” He offered her a sheepish smile. “Anyway…you said you had a brother too?”

“Bruno.” Her voice was flat. She’d managed to stop the spiral, but it always took her a little bit to pull herself out of a funk. “His name’s Bruno.”

“Bruno.” Félix scratched his head. “I haven’t met him yet.”

Pepa barked a laugh. “I don’t imagine you would have. He hardly ever leaves his tower.”

“Tower?”

Pepa gestured towards their casita. It was barely visible from this distance, but one could still make out the distinctive shape of a tower.

“Okay, Bruno has a tower. Why not?”

Pepa appreciated his nonchalance. People weren’t so accepting of Bruno. Granted, Félix hadn’t met him yet, but Pepa had a feeling he’d be different. He was so friendly; she just couldn’t imagine him being mean to Bruno.

“Wait…” Félix appeared to be puzzling something out. “My papá said that’s where the Madrigals live. Are you a Madrigal? Is it true what people say, about the magic gifts?” He sounded genuinely curious, his voice lacking the usual tone of suspicion.

“Yes, I’m a Madrigal,” Pepa said simply, ignoring the second question. “Tell me about your family. I feel like we’ve just been talking about mine.”

Caught off guard by her abruptness, Félix shrugged. “Well, they don’t have magic gifts, but they’re still pretty cool. Most of the time. My papá is named Roberto, my mamá is Antonia, and then there’s my siblings: Felipe…”

If Pepa said she remembered all the names he listed off, she’d be lying. She was too focused on the dimples in his cheeks when he smiled, the excitement in his voice as he told her about all his family members. It was clear he loved them very much, and she found that sweet.

Suddenly, he stopped talking. “Is it just me, or did the sun get brighter?” He shielded his eyes, glancing up at the sky.

Horrified, Pepa followed his eyes. It was true. She’d become so happy, enthralled by his presence, that she’d unwittingly made the sun shine more brightly. “Sorry,” she apologized, rubbing the end of her braid nervously.

“Why are you sorry?” He asked, confused. “It’s not like you control the sun.” He tried to meet her eyes, which bored firmly into the ground. “Wait- do you control the sun?” The realization seemed to dawn on him. “Is that your gift? You control the sun?”

He sounded awed, not scared. Pepa took that as a good sign. “Technically, I affect the sun,” she corrected. “Other weather too. It’s connected to my emotions.”

Her cheeks grew red. Why did she admit that? Félix had a way of disarming her. She was in trouble if he kept going like this.

But he seemed to take it in stride. “What does bright sunlight mean?” He pointed up at the still blazing sun.

“It means happiness.” A thin veil of fog enveloped Pepa, for which she was grateful.

“And the fog?” Félix observed her. “Wait, you’re blushing. Are you okay?” His eyebrows wrinkled concernedly.

She gave a noncommittal shrug. “Whatever I feel visibly manifests as various weather phenomena. My emotions are on full display for everyone all the time.” She swept her hand over her head. “You tell me if I’m okay.”

“Doesn’t seem like it,” he deduced. He scooted closer to her. “That seems like… a lot.”

She scoffed. “You can say that again! Julieta got the most useful gift. She can heal people with her food. And Bruno, he sees the future. What do I get? Here, Pepa; why don’t you get a gift that makes you thunderstorm when you’re mad and rain when you’re sad? That’ll surely help the town!” She huffed. The cloud that had sprung up overhead weighed heavily on her.

Félix studied her. “And makes the sun shine when you’re happy,” he pointed out.

“What?” Pepa was still mired down in her turmoil.

“Earlier, when the sun was brighter, you said it was because you’re happy.” He reached out his hand towards her, placing it on the grass between them. “So it’s not all bad.”

“I suppose not,” she conceded. “It’s still dumb though. And a lot of pressure. You try dealing with the knowledge that the town’s crops depend on how you feel that year.”

“Because you’re so happy you’ll dry them out?”

“Try because if I’m too sad I’ll drown them.” Pepa hmphed. The corner of her lip curved upward though in recognition of his attempt to cheer her up.

“I see.” Félix tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Guess we’ll just have to make sure you stay happy.”

Again, the words she’d heard a million times before came out of his mouth. Once again, they lacked the tinge of cruelty that normally accompanied them. She peered over through her fingers to see him beaming at her. “Good luck with that.”

“I seem to be doing a pretty good job so far. You were happy earlier,” he noted with a smirk.

Pepa couldn’t help the smile that erupted on her face.

“There’s that beautiful smile,” Félix said. “Glad to see it again.”

Was he flirting with her? Pepa couldn’t believe it. Okay, lots of boys had flirted with her, but this one was different. He was special. She could feel it. With a start, she looked up to find the cloud had vanished and the sun had returned to its previous brightness; albeit far lower in the sky.

She cleared her throat. “It’s getting late.” She pointed towards the setting sun. “I should get back home before my mamá starts wondering where I am.”

“Of course.” Félix helped her up. “Wouldn’t want her to think you were out with a boy or something.” His lip quirked into a smile.

Oh, he was definitely flirting with her. “What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” She flashed him a coy smile. Two could play at that game.

They walked back together until he reached the street where his family lived. “Until next time, rayo de sol.” He waved goodbye.

The townspeople who were outside later said they’d never seen such a brilliant sunset.

[yellowcry]

Abuela, I can finally see

Alma was used to hide the pain. Ignoring the ache, and never allowing herself to grief. It wasn't just about her. It was about her family, her village

But... Strangely in the darkest moment, she finally felt seen

@encantober-official prompt — healing

Can't believe this is the entirety of Encantober

I managed to do it in time! Kinda proud of myself for this

Alma didn't know what to say. All these years came down to nothing. Crushed into pebble and scattered on the open field. The air was empty, what could she do now? For years, the miracle became her purpose. To serve and protect the people of Encanto. She tried to grasp onto the thin air but it slipped between her fingers, fading away in just seconds. Now it all was broken. Shattered hopes. And there was no going back. She could say anything she wanted, but there was no remedy that could fix her mistakes

She did wrong and it took her an ashamingly long time to realize it.

She didn't want to come to the river. To that place. Even after all these years, it was filled with pain. The taste of blood hung over her, skin itched with memories. Death slammed onto her, cold and murderous. But her legs took here here before she could even realize it. And of course, just by some bitter irony Mirabel was here. A cruel joke of the universe because her granddaughter was crying in the place Alma saw in her nightmares for fifty years. Where the heaviest tears in her life were spilled. But at the same time the place that held the last memories about Pedro. Bitter and unhappy, but so important to see who she became. What was the reason she kept moving. 

Her mind kept flouncing like a butterfly with a broken wing. Desperate to escape. But right now Alma couldn't. She was the reason Mirabel was here. The reason their miracle faded. Leaving them broke. All these years, Alma just wanted to protect them. Make sure it wouldn't happen again. Never repeating the past.

But she hadn't noticed how between years she forgot for whom she did this all.

"I'm sorry..." Mirabel hid her face in her knees, not daring to look up.

Alma's breathing quickened for a brief moment (but after fifty years she had learned to punch the panic back. Hide it under cold and strict gaze.). Mirabel didn't really think she would blame her, right? Or maybe it was expected, Alma had blamed her for anything that was wrong. Sharp and unfeeling, scratching the walls with her nails until they cracked. And when they did break, she had nothing left.

There was no excuse, no reason to explain. Alma wanted to protect her family, to keep them happy and away from danger. But she did it wrong, focused too much on what was lost and not what she still had. She drowned in her guilt and mourning and hadn't done enough to appreciate her children.

Tears welled up in her eyes, her voice drowned by the prattle. So quiet Alma was. Talking about it was painful. Even after all this years, the wound wasn't healing. Alma didn't allow it to heal, straching the crust off every time. But this time she couldn't leave. Thinking about every second they spent together. How their lives were thrown over in just moments. If she looked deep into the water, she could almost see the reflection of the past decades. How Alma, so young and hopeful happened to catch a butterfly with her eyes. And the rest was history.

This place was strange. For years Alma wished to see it, the last moments of her marriage. But she dreaded it. Afraid of facing what happened. What she had lost. The burning horror of being all alone against the dangerous world. So doing all the measurements she was able to do. Afraid to be in pain again. Grasping at whatever she could to hide just how much she suffered. She had to be strong and hold back all the agony she went through. To make sure it never happened again. Closing the walls over herself. Holding everything in her arms. 

She remember when their eyes locked for the first time. A brief second. And Alma, a woman who never believed in first-glance love, was so helplessly addicted. Remembered how they both laughed at the plaza. Adoring and longing to spend time together. When people pointlessly wandered around and nothing in the world mattered more than Pedro. Before the fire was eating the houses behind them, before they had to take whatever they cold grab and run. Falling off their feet but escape. At the very least for the sake of their babies. What are cruel fate had decided to ruin the peace the moment their kids were born?

Mirabel looked at her. Glasses shining in the lights. Stepped back, and at the moment Alma was sure Mirabel had left. She wouldn't be surprised. Everything was broken and it was her fault. Mistakes that couldn't be undone. When Alma cared about anything but what her family wanted. Too lost in her fear to see. Notice what was under her nose and no amount of equipment could fix that. 

Instead, the girl looked at her with a thoughtful expression. Old and mature, Mirabel had always acted over her age. Practically copying her mother. Or maybe genes responsible for look affected her personality. Teenager smiled, warm and tender, helping Alma to rise from the log.

There was no proper way to describe it. Water slipped underneath them. What had washed Pedro's body so many years ago. 

And finally Alma felt seen. Not just as a determined leader that had control of the situation not as Dona Madrigal but as an woman who still was just a young hurting soul. No matter how old she was.. Years of hiding the pain, but now she was here. With Mirabel. 

Butterflies rose around them. Golden always associated with the miracle. And they were here. Non-magical. Simple insects, very common. But golden and so beautiful. Free to go, they grew beyond their delicate cocoons to transform from caterpillars and leave pain of the past behind. 

Tears rose to her eyes, after so many years of holding them back. Maybe Mirabel was right, maybe they all had a chance to fix this. Together. And this time Alma wouldn't be all alone to live this through. Never alone anymore. The pain wasn't hidden anymore. Old scratches were still here. But the cargo wasn't hers anymore. For the first time in forever, Alma knew she wasn't alone. The chains that held her inside the reversed cocoon were broken. Opening them to the outside. Rising into the wind with burning wings and leaving the terror. Ready for a change. 

Finally a time to let go, soar into the serene air. And... Despite the state everything was in, Alma felt calm. Free and happy for the first time since that faithful date. They were together. It wasn't only her burden. Mariposas were bound to stuck together, reborn from ashes and transformed. And this was about time Alma had her chance to be whole. Let go of the pain. Feel the warm of support she had never accepted but always knew she needed. Because asking for help was hard, because Alma didn't want to burden everyone. She was perfect, never collapsing. No matter what happened. Alma had to hold herself together for the sake of everyone else. Afraid of the history repeating itself. No matter how painful it was. Desperately trying to forget what she saw, all alone against the whole world. No shoulder to cry on. When the presented never-stopping pain was going for years.

But this time...

She was here.

She was seen.

[pepa-brainrot]

Encantober pt3: regret @encantober-official

When bruno disappears Sofia, his childhood best friend, has a lot of guilt and regret

What should or shouldn't have been said? It doesn't matter now, you have to live with what's done.

[impossiblefangirl0632]

(Doll divine traces and the sunset one by me, blue shirt Razili and Bruno by @optimistic-violinist, Razili headshot and Razili and Bruno by @lvnamuraart)

Meet My and @optimistic-violinist 's Encanto OC, Razili Edel from Take Back the Kingdom (sort of) 

Full Name: Razili Edel

Age: 37

Height: 5'2"

Eye Color: Brown

Hair Color:  Nearly black/ dark brown

Occupation: Pirate/Witch/Former Queen

Languages: Yiddish (first language), German, Hebrew, English, Spanish, French, Greek

Voice (and face) claim: Ofra Haza 

Appearance: Light brown skin. She has long curly hair that she likes to wear down when practical. It’s usually not practical. She frequently wears it in either a single braid or a high ponytail with some sort of bandana. There is a scar on the bridge of her nose as well as one on her left eyebrow. Goes back and forth between skirts and loose fitting trousers and wears light colored long sleeved shirts with gathered cuffs and her stays on top. Her stays are nice enough she doesn’t usually bother with a third layer outside of her extremely recognizable purple pirate coat.

Relationship to canon: Bruno’s wife in our fantasy kingdom AU. It’s… complicated. Long story short, Bruno is immortal and is waiting for the kids to show up in the future, he doesn’t know when he sent them and 200 years in (including 150 years of fighting the conquistadors), he is very Not Okay™ and in serious danger of succumbing to his pretty much constant suicidal thoughts when he meets her.

General: Razili is at her heart a kind and nurturing person. However, she is also fiercely protective of the innocent/downtrodden and does not shy away from taking lives when she deems it necessary. She has lived through a lot of heartache but she doesn’t let it make her bitter. (In our AU magic comes from heartache but it’s only usable as magic if the person can be at peace with/accept the heartache. Razili is the one that taught Bruno this and helped him reconnect with his magic after being cut off from it for 200 years.) Due to her backstory and emotionally healthy outlook on life Razili is an incredibly powerful witch.

History: Razili is the youngest daughter of the king and queen of מקלט בטוח (Safe Haven (according to google, if anyone knows better please correct us)  Like the Encanto, Safe Haven is a hidden magical kingdom. It’s an island in the Mediterranean that was founded by Jews from Germany fleeing the First Crusade (1096-1099) by the time Razili was born they had lost a decent amount of the traditions of their ancestors. One of the things she did after leaving Safe Haven was reconnect with her Jewish heritage and faith.

When Razili was 25 she was the one member of the family (She had at least 2 brothers, we haven’t really fleshed her family out that much) to stay behind in case tragedy struck, which it did on that fateful trip, making her the next queen. She nearly married the son of one of her advisors but a week before their wedding she discovered that he and his father had been the masterminds behind her family’s deaths. Razili killed them both but as he was dying the son cursed Razili to freeze to the brink of death once a year for the rest of her life.

She ruled alone for a few years before picking a successor and leaving to travel the world. In 1698 on her first visit to the Caribbean she gets caught by witch hunters who are rounding up magic users to sell into slavery. This is where she meets Bruno who had also been caught. They go through a series of odd events together and end up as pirate co-captains. After the events of a fic we will eventually publish that includes a whole lot of character growth for Bruno, tracking down the witch hunters, angst, pining, UST, and a whole lot of denial on Bruno’s part, they get married.

There is sooooo much more to her that we are excited to eventually share. As for now Razili appears in the magic lesson chapter of Take Back the Kingdom, this valentine's day oneshot, and one of my entries for Encantober day 4: Cold

@encanto-extended-edition thank you for putting this event together!

[oncexinxmyxdreams]

Encantober: Sign 🪧

@encantober-official

From my unfinished fic au, Miracles Come in Pairs/Efecto Butterfly. Bruno's twin daughters Francisca and Alejandra recieve their gifts. Bruno blames himself for not seeing any signs.

Bruno should've seen it coming. Having two daughters included many things he could see coming along. Days where they'd argue, ignore, cry and laugh. That didn't take him aback. Having two daughters with gifts that were...special was another matter. Not a good special either like everyone anticipated. More like walking on glass, holding breath and bracing yourself for the worst kind of special.  

Months before Francisca and Alejandra's fifth birthday, he wondered if he should check. Look into their futures just to be sure. Any signs he should know. Maybe he could help ahead of time. Everyone reassured him nothing would go wrong. Mercedes, his dear wife, promising their children wouldn't have it like him. He was swayed to not worry. Still, he threw salt over his shoulder and knocked on wood to be safe.

It didn't help.

It wasn't a door ceremony of joy or wonder. It was of shock and fear to everyone. The village hurrying to leave as if some savage beast had woken from its sleep. Alma stunned and holding the candle as if her only reassurance. Pepa trying to calm herself, but dark clouds thundered. Julieta, looking so unsure and worried. Mercedes holding their children to comfort. At least she tried to hold both of them. One refused.

The gifts? Hindsight and Fire.  

Francisca unable to move, but heavily breathing. Her eyes of jungle green and earthy brown, shifted into the darkest green with a glint of shine. She didn't speak, yell or weep. She seemed stone cold evdn in her mama's arms. When she could talk, she explained she saw something from long ago. Something terrible that happened to the Madrigals twenty five years ago.

Alejandra's hand formed a jet of flame. It singed her birthday banner and burnt the flowers. She instantly cried, but the flames seemed to stick along her hands. She never looked so scared. She kept backing away not wanting to be touched.  

Right there Bruno could tell it was a sign of what was to happen for their lives. 

It'd been three days since Francisca and Alejandra turned five. The Madrigals are at a loss. Francisca doesn't want anyone to see her. She keeps snapping she wants to be alone in her mama's art studio. She threw a tantrum when Casita tried nudging her outside. Alejandra hiding in the nursery and when found hugging herself. She even screamed for nobody to touch her because she could hurt them. 

Bruno blamed himself for not looking ahead. He could've prepared them. He would've sought everything to help his twins. He didn't. It's his fault he didn't look for any sign of doom.

Now he would give anything to let his daughters have a sign of hope. 

[empty-cryptid]

Hello! I'm Energycat on AO3. (Currently on hiatus)

At the moment I'm mostly writing Encanto fanfiction and planning some One Piece stuff.

What I'm currently working on*:

Tiny Tio, Big world

When Bruno wakes up to discover he's even smaller than usual, he has to figure out how to navigate the world from a rat's point of view. And he doesn't even get the advantages of being a rat! This gives a whole other meaning to the nickname Tiny Tío.

Debut and Renew Series

(Part 1) Tio: Bruno meets his sobrinos for the first time. (Part 2) Still Tio: Bruno meets his sobrinos a second time.

12 Hours Til Sunrise

What if when Bruno, Antonio, and Mirabel climb out of the wall from behind the painting, they don't end up in the right place? Listen for the tolling bell, for after the clock strikes 12, the sun will rise. (Encantober 2023)

a series of little things

Some little stories about the life of the Madrigals. (Slice of life <1000 words) I take requests for these!

*I am not including collabs because I don't want to put any pressure on my co-writers.

My encanto oc:

Margarita Valentine

Short stories involving Señora Valentine while she's the Encanto's librarian (and maybe a little of her mysterious past if she's willing to share her adventures) *Chapters in this one will be posted out of order to keep the timeline in order*

Some completed stories:

Defeating expectation and other extraordinary acts

Bruno knows what he can do. Probably. Everyone else thinks they know what he can do. Mirabel probably has the most accurate opinion of the bunch. Everyone will be surprised. (Bruno is coaxed by the kids to show off some parkour and some of the residents of Encanto aren't happy to have him back among them after ten years.)

Healing Memories

A collection of completed one-shots with the themes of healing and memories.

Made with Love

Bruno's relationship with food after leaving the walls and after he's recovered a year later. We support a healthy pancita around here.

Madremonte's Garden and the Wakos' Cave

The triplets decide to rekindle a tradition they had before Bruno hid in the walls. Taking a hike to a special place for some sibling bonding sounds like a wonderful idea now that Bruno has returned, Casita is reborn, and the family is healing nicely. (This is my EBB story)

Fables by Firelight

Camilo decides to get all the grandkids (plus Bruno and Mariano) to gather around a fire to tell spooky stories in the dark.

And many more...

[im-just-a-br0adway-baby]

Encantober 2023 Day 7: Storm

The Encanto was going through one of the worst tropical storms they had in a long time. The entire village had to stay indoors until the storm wore off. Knowing how bad it was going, it seemed like they were going to be staying inside for at least a week. All the villagers could think was, “what has gotten Pepa so upset that she’s storming this bad?”

In Casita, the Madrigal family could not help but notice Pepa’s door acting up. The rest of the family decided that it was best to leave her alone and stay in their respective rooms except for meals during the storm to keep themselves safe. Julieta and Agustin suggested that Felix stayed in their room during the storm, and while he agreed at first, all he could think to himself was how awful his wife was feeling and wanted to be there for her.

“I really don’t think I should be in here anymore. Pepa’s been at this emotional meltdown for over an hour. I need to be there for her.”

“Are you sure? Because if I were you, I would be terrified to step foot in my room. I never experienced her mood being this bad before,” Agustin explained.

“No me importa. I was never scared of her, ever since we first met. What makes you think I’m going to be scared of her now?”

“I was just giving you my opinion. I would just be cautious.”

Felix shrugged it off as Julieta came back in the room with a full place of arepas. “I figured we could enjoy some before the kids see us and start begging us for some.”

Agustin, Felix, and Julieta grabbed an arepa each from the plate and took a bite of them simultaneously. “Juli, do you think I’m not making the right decision by checking up on Pepa?”

“Felix, what makes you think you’re not making the right decision?”

“Because Agustin is telling me that he would be too terrified to even enter the room if he was in this situation.”

“Oh, you know that Agustin would be scared in any unfamiliar situation. I’ve known you for most of our lives, and nobody can calm Pepa down like you can. There’s no need for you to feel as hesitant as you are right now.”

Felix took another bite out of his arepa. “Gracias, Julieta; I figured I wasn’t making a wrong decision. I just needed someone to confirm for me.”

“De nada, Felix; and you don’t need any confirmation. You’re already great at making good decisions.”

Felix grabbed another arepa from the plate and put it in a handkerchief for Pepa after she calmed down. He made his way out of Julieta’s room and stared across the hall to see Pepa’s door. It was flashing so constantly that none of the other doors have ever flashed before. He slowly made his way to his room to see how Pepa was doing. Once he got to his room, he slowly opened the door to see Pepa on the bed, the room flooded with rain and storm clouds surrounding it. She did not put her head up until she heard Felix’s voice.

“...Pepi? Is everything okay?” he asked as he made his way into the room.

Pepa put her head up, but continued crying. “Go away,” she said bluntly.

“Look, I see that you’re upset right now, but I just want to try to help you. There is a massive tropical storm spreading throughout the Encanto and we’re scared we need to stay evacuated for at least a week.”

“So? I’ve lived here my entire life and had my gift for over forty-five years. They know how to deal with this.”

“Not to this extreme. I never remembered seeing a storm this bad in the Encanto.”

Pepa ignored her husband and continued crying into her pillow, allowing the clouds and flood to grow. Felix never felt this lost his entire life. Normally, he would never be this lost in helping Pepa. Normally, he would have an answer when it came to calming down his wife. But right now, he has nothing.

Felix sat on his bedside as Pepa continued crying. All he could think about was how he was going to fail as a husband if this was not solved immediately. As much as she tried to, she just could not stop crying. She tried to do everything in her power to stop, but the tears just kept on coming. Not even the presence of her husband could calm her down at the moment. That was, until Felix had an idea.

“Stay right there, Pepita, I’m going to get something for you.”

Felix left the room to leave Pepa be for a couple minutes. He made his way down the hall and knocked on the nursery’s door. Mirabel answered the door to see her uncle standing in front of the door.

“I thought we were supposed to be in our rooms right now. It’s still pretty bad right now.”

“I know, Mira, but I think I know what will calm Pepa down. Do you have any sewing supplies we could use together?”

“I have a lot of it. But I thought you didn’t know how to sew.”

“That’s why I’m asking you to help me. You also know what fabrics and scents calm Pepa down more than anyone else in this house. If you help me make something that could be the calmest thing imaginable, maybe the storm will pass.”

Mirabel agreed after taking out her box of sewing supplies. She showed Felix all the fabrics she often used and grabbed another box from her closet. It was filled with scents she sometimes used when she wanted to give anything she made a little extra kick. 

“I have every fabric that every member of this family likes in this box, and every scent this family likes in this other box. Since Pepa’s most comforting fabrics and absolute favorite scent is available, we can make a little toy for her that should calm her down instantly.”

Felix could not be any more grateful for having a niece as smart as Mirabel. Not only did she know which fabrics comforted which family members, but she also knew what scents every family member loved better than anyone else. The uncle and niece dug through the boxes to find Pepa’s most comforting fabric to begin making a toy for her.

------------------------------------------

The toy took about two hours to finish, but they finished it and Felix took it and made his way back to his room. Pepa’s door was still flashing and the storm was starting to get worse. Felix was starting to tremble because now he thought this was not going to work. Regardless, he still made his way back to his room in hopes that it would. He knocked on the door as slowly as he could until Casita opened the door for him. He made his way into his room to see his wife still crying into her pillow, in the same position she was in when he left.

“Pepi, I have something for you. Do you want to see it?”

Pepa ignored him and continued crying into her pillow. Felix moved closer to her and sat on their bedside in hopes he could smell the vanilla scent. He already knew before Mirabel told him that it was her favorite smell.

“It’s super comforting. Mirabel helped me make it.”

Pepa reached her hand out to try and grab the toy from Felix, so he put it in her hand. She put her hand back to notice it was silk. It was the most comforting fabric to her; almost every cuddle toy she owned was made out of silk. Not that long after, she smelled the vanilla scent from the toy and immediately stopped crying. She continued feeling and smelling the toy; it felt like it was a small plush bunny. Pepa lifted her head from her pillow to see a small, white, silk bunny with a vanilla scent to it. Her clouds slowly began to disappear and the storm turned into a small drizzle.

“Wow; this is the best thing anyone has ever given to me. How did you make this?”

“I got help from Mirabel. I didn’t think anything would calm you down, because I tried to talk to you and you ignored me.”

“Lo siento, mi amor; I never meant to ignore you out of harm. I was just too angry to talk to anyone and I didn’t want to hurt you.”

The couple hugged each other as Pepa’s storm clouds turned into sunshine and rainbows. “What got you so angry in the first place?” Felix asked.

“I was out doing chores and I saw a couple of girls coming into the fields. They came closer to me and I saw it was my high school bully, Valentina, with girls that I had never seen before. She came up to me and made all these comments about my insecurities to see if she could make me snap, and she did. Before the storm started, I… beat her just like I often did when we were teenagers.”

Felix hugged his wife one more time while she squeezed the bunny. The storm may have stopped, but there was a lot of damage, both in the Encanto and inside Pepa, that needed to be fixed. He knew it was going to be a hard job when he started dating her, but he took it for over thirty years and was still happy to do it now.