All of You: Christmas Present!

Hello, everyone! Christmas is just around the corner. Six days, to be exact! So, as a Christmas present from me to you, I give you…

Chapter 5: A Confusing Occurrence

AND

Chapter 6: Infiltration of the Valley

Are you ready to find out more about Mirabel’s magic… and more about Miguela?

***

Chapter 5: A Confusing Occurrence

“Miguela, you touched the doorknob? And it’s glowing even brighter!”

Whirling around, she saw Miguela turning the knob of a door, a door that nobody had ever touched before, one of the new doors that Casita had when it was rebuilt.

The door was glowing brighter than it should have been, and the glitter was whirling around the little girl. Everyone in the area was silent, watching what was going on.

With three running steps, Mirabel reached the door where by Miguela. The door had a picture of the girl sitting in her wheelchair, her hands in her lap. The only thing was, her hands weren’t empty. They held something, something that looked remarkably like a needle and thread. Surrounding the image of Miguela was what appeared to be tapestries—images embroidered on fabric.

“What is going on?” Abuela ran up the stairs, something she never did. Her dignity wouldn’t stand for it. “How did this happen?”

Miguela looked at her hands. “I-I don’t know. But I want to make something.”

Antonio looked at Abuela, confusion apparent on his face. “I was showing her each of our doors, and we noticed all the empty doors. She touched one, and this happened!”

Mirabel looked from Miguela to Antonio to Abuela to Miguela again. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her spinning head. “Abuela…” Abuela held up her hand as if to silence Mirabel, but she didn’t tell her that she had to stop talking. “Abuela, there is something you need to see. But…” She glanced back at Miguela. “I think we need to celebrate and explore Miguela’s room.”

Someone from the crowd screamed, “Miguela! Miguela, what in the world are you doing?” A woman broke through the crowd and darted up the stairs. Her long blonde hair was braided down her back, and thin wisps escaped, framing her face.

“Mama!” Miguela turned her wheelchair around. “Mama, I touched a door, and something happened!”

“I can fully well see that!” The woman looked mad—not angry, exactly, but the type of anger that stems from confusion at a situation. “What made you think you could touch one of these doors?”

The rest of the Madrigal family hurried up the stairs—all of them, tio Bruno included. When he saw the woman, his jaw dropped open, and he seemed to retreat into himself.

Abuela sighed, then interrupted. “I don’t understand how this could have happened, but it appears this child here has been given a new gift. What this gift is, I cannot say—nor can I say how this happened.”

Mirabel looked at her feet. How could this have happened? What was going on? How could Miguela have been given magic, and how did Mirabel have a door?

That was when an idea hit her, an idea that didn’t make sense but could be the only explanation. She didn’t dwell on it for very long, as Miguela turned the doorknob and entered her room.

All the Madrigals—in addition to Miguela and her mother, who introduced herself as Anita—followed her into the room.

Mirabel gasped as the room began to magically weave itself into existence. It looked like an ordinary room, only multiple times bigger. There were sewing machines, long-arm quilting machines, surgers (machines that do the finished edging). There were threads of all colors and consistencies, and there were needles of all sizes, from the tiniest quilting needle to the largest tapestry needle. In one corner of the room was fabric, all sorts of fabric, a myriad of fabric.

Miguela’s eyes grew many times their normal size as she took in the sight of the room. “Mama, I don’t understand…”

Anita just stared as well. “I don’t, either.”

Miguela wheeled over to the fabric and picked up a plain fabric that felt like canvas. She pulled out a large tapestry needle and multiple thread colors. Then, closing her eyes, she began to stitch.

Her stitches were perfect and concise, weaving in and out of the fabric like magic—which, of course, it was. The stitches began to form an image, an image that seemed to come alive.

Anita gasped, covering her mouth. “What is this magic?”

The image appeared to be of Anita when she was young and tio Bruno. They were hugging—it was a memory.

“Bruno?” Abuela turned to Bruno, who was standing back in the shadows. “You’re the one who can prophesy. Do you understand this?”

Glancing at Anita, he stepped forward and examined the image. “It’s, uh, a memory of Anita and I. We liked each other way back when.”

“And then?” Mirabel couldn’t help but ask, her voice low.

“I, uh, had the prophecy of you wrecking the family and left.” Bruno glanced at his hands. “I never told Anita goodbye.”

“I married Inigo six years ago,” Anita whispered. “I never thought I’d see Bruno again, so I allowed myself to fall in love with someone else.” Her voice hitched. “He died a year ago.”

“I’m so sorry, Anita,” Bruno said, stepping a little closer yet still appearing nervous. “If there’s anything I can do to help, I would, but…” His voice trailed off as he noticed all the Madrigals staring at him. “What?”

“I just don’t understand how this happened.” Abuela gestured at Miguela and the room. “She’s not part of the familia.”

Mirabel straightened up. “Abuela, I think I might have an answer for you. You see, I, uh, also have a door.”

***

Chapter 6: Infiltration of the Valley

Abuela wrapped her shawl around her tightly, distress and confusion evident on her face. “Show me.”

All the Madrigals left, leaving Miguela and Anita in the room to explore. Mirabel led them past the glittering doors to her own.

The one with her image on it.

A collective gasp went up among all the Madrigals.

Dolores cocked her head as if listening to the magic. “It’s definitely her door. I can hear it whispering her name, over and over. Hm.” She bobbed her head a little as she shrugged.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Isabela nodded encouragingly, a broad smile on her face. “Open the door!”

Mirabel fiddled with a curl, a little nervous. What if it was all a fraud? What if she didn’t actually have a door? What if she did have a door, but it disappeared again when she turned the doorknob?

“Just do it, mi vida,” Augustin, her father, said. “Worst that can happen is nothing, right?”

Mirabel took a deep breath, turned the doorknob, and pushed the door open.

That was when a scream rang through the air, biting through the silence.

“Que es eso?” Pepa gasped, her fear evident due to the thunderstorm that immediately formed above her head.

Dolores cocked her head, listening, as her face steadily paled. “It-it’s—”

“What is it, Dolores?” Abuela asked sternly.

“When the magic broke, the valley split, and evil men made it in and now we’re all doomed!” Dolores cried, covering her ears as more screams filled the air.

“What?” Julieta gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.

Miguela and Anita hurried over. “I know what is going on!” Miguela gasped, holding another embroidered swatch—this one a memory of Abuela and Pedro facing the men.

“I think I’ll sit this one out.” Bruno slowly backed up as though wanting to hide. Abuela grabbed his cloak and yanked him forward. “Okay, okay.”

“When the village was formed fifty years ago,” Miguela began, “the leaders of the city Mal had attacked a little town. The townspeople fled, but the men caught up. They killed Pedro, Alma Madrigal’s husband. But his love for Alma—and his sacrifice—formed a magical barrier that protected the little town that formed from the escapees, blasting away and killing the men. But when that magical barrier broke a couple of days ago, their descendants were able to make their way into the valley, hoping to avenge their family.”

“Bruno.” Abuela turned to him, who was fiddling with his fingers. “I need you to look into the future. What is going to happen?”

Bruno shook his head. “I’d just, um, need to see my tower. But it was wrecked, you know? And, um…” His voice trailed off as he looked at everyone staring at him. “What?”

“You remember Casita is fixed, right?” Mirabel said, raising an eyebrow.

Bruno shook his head. “I’m still nervous to look into the future.”

“Bruno, please?” Anita had made their way toward them and was now standing behind her daughter. “If my five-year-old daughter can share the history of this place, you can at least share the future.” When Bruno still looked hesitant, she lowered her head and looked at him pleadingly. “For me?”

“Oh!” Bruno grinned a little at her. “Anything for you, Anita.” He turned and hurried to his tower room, alone.

Abuela turned to the rest of the Madrigals. “Anita, take your daughter and get somewhere safe. We may need her magic. The rest of you, we’re going to defend this valley if it’s the last thing we do.”

***

Okay, maybe that wasn’t so great a Christmas present. I give you two chapters and leave you with that big of a cliffhanger?

*smiles*

See you next month with the next chapter!

Disney Copyright 2022. Designed by Molly McTernan.