The night had fallen in the Encanto, the lanterns in the street lit the path for the villagers as they made their way to the Madrigal's house.

    Alana had changed into a light pink dress with flowers embroiled in the sleeves and bottom of the dress, her hair was let down and the temperature of the night gave her a light red tint in her cheeks. She was walking to the house with her parents, they were talking to one another as she looked around relishing in the sight of the decoration that she had seen so often in her childhood, the Gift Ceremony was a celebration for the town.

    They arrived in no time at the house at the entrance, taking care of the donkeys from the people and putting them in place, was Luisa. Alana waved at her once she saw her eyes momentarily on her, Luisa only gave her a small smile and a nod before going back to her work.

    Inside the house, the sound of music and talking gave a warm welcome to the guest, her parents left her to go say hi to some of their friends and neighbors so Alana found herself alone. She wander around for a bit until she got close to the food table and started eating some of the desserts, she looked around trying to find Mirabel but she was nowhere to be seen, Dolores was also missing no doubt she wanted to stay away from the music and Camilo was moving from one side to the other greeting people, but in the center of a small circle was Isaiah dancing to the music as he made flower crowns, bouquets and beards of flowers for the people around him.

    A small laugh left Alana's mouth seeing her friend enjoying his time, he had been so worried that this moment relieved her mind from worrying about him.

    Isaiah looked around him, trying to find a certain raven-haired girl in the crowd and once he found her a smirk appeared on his face as he created a vine that grabbed the girl from her wrist and brought her to his side, Alana's eyes widened by the sudden change of scenery. The moment she got close enough, Isaiah grabbed her hand and started dancing with her.

    "Isa!" She laughs.

"Well, hello beautiful lady" Alana blushes "I've been waiting for you for quite a while, what took you so long?"

"I had to get change for the occasion" She decides to follow his game "You don't get to look like this easily"

"How? Stunning? Mi cielo, you always look breathtaking" Both of them are now smiling, Alana of happiness and Isaiah's melting at the sight.

"You shouldn't keep complimenting me so often, I may start to believe it"

"If you don't believe it already I need to keep going then"

"Isa!"

"Lana!"

They had stopped dancing and moved to the side to talk, it was quite obvious the chemistry between both of them as they seem so wrapped in their world that they didn't notice a pair of eyes set on them from an infatuated lady that felt furious to see the man that she was supposed to be with being so friendly with someone else. Isaiah kept playing with a lock of hair, his eyes never living hers and a loving glaze in both their eyes. Time passes fast and they realize how close they were once the lights dim and everyone starts to gather at the end of the stairs.

They move as well but the moment Alana tries to leave to find her parents she halts on her feet at the feeling of a hand in hers.

"Can you stay by my side?" Hope shines in his voice.

Alana hesitates for a moment. "Sure, I'll stay with you"

He smiles gratefully and walks her to his parent's side, who just nod and gives the pair a knowing look before everyone's attention is set on Antonio as a light sets on him.

He looks nervous as he stands alone in the middle of the room, nobody moves and the tension in the air makes breathing a challenge. Before the last ceremony, this moment wouldn't have been so nerve-wracking but many things change since then, and while the younger kids were curious the ones that had been old enough to remember the last ceremony expected the question that plagued the Madrigal's since Mirabel's ceremony to be answered.

Was the Encanto truly lost?

Alana squeezes Isaiah's hand at the sight of Mirabel standing next to Antonio, memories flowing through her mind but she smiles at both and follows them with her eyes as they reach his door.

"Will you use your gift to honor our miracle?" Says Abuela Alma "Will you serve this community and strengthen our home?"

Antonio nods and Abuela gestures to the door, he moves to grab the handle and everyone holds their breath, Isaiah interweaves his hands seeking reassurance from Alana that moves her free hand that rests on his arm.

Then the door glows and a toucan lands on Antonio's arm and chirps.

"Uh-huh, uh-huh" He smiles, delighted "I understand you. Of course, they can come" And then dozens of animals and birds flock to him.

Abuela relaxes and smiles for an instant before turning to face the townspeople. "We have a new gift!"

People cheer and fireworks go off, Antonio is raced by a jaguar to his room, and everyone starts entering and marveling at the sight in front of them. Alana still holding Isaiah's hand drags him until they stand by Mirabel's side, she nudges her and jokingly points at her brother and friend's interwoven hands and gives a thumbs up much to the embarrassment of the pair, Alana lets go of Isaiah's hand smiling nervously. Isaiah is disappointed at the loss of her warmth and shoots Mirabel an angry stare before going to stand by his family's side.

Mirabel watches relieved as Antonio stops near their family but the moment turns sour as Abuela hurries over to him, proud and relieved, and pulls him in for a hug.

"I knew you could do it," she says "a gift just as special as you"

The words pierce Mirabel's heart, and avoiding her feelings is no longer possible. She's so alone watching her family she feels she is not truly part of it.

"We need a picture! Everyone," Abuela gathers her family "come, come, come, come! It's a great night, it's a perfect night. Everyone together"

Alana frowns when she sees Mirabel missing and tries to look for her so she can be in the picture, unbeknown to her Mirabel is trying her best to hide.

"La familia Madrigal!"

Mirabel is nowhere to be seen but Alana is prevented from going down to look for her by Dolores who drags her to the dance floor, all the Madrigal children plus Alana are dancing and having a great time. Tio Felix calls Abuela to join them but just as she lets her guard down, Mirabel bursts in.

"The house is in danger!" The music stops as everyone looks at Mirabel. "The tiles were falling and there were cracks everywhere and... the candle almost went off."

People in the party begin to murmur uncomfortably. Abuela steps forward, "Show me."

Mirabel leads them outside but there is nothing out of the ordinary, she starts mumbling not understanding what is happening. Isaiah looks at Mirabel and scoffs, Abuela gives a pointed look to Mirabel, embarrassed and disappointed.

"Abuela, I promise..."

"That's enough" Abuela puts on a face of confidence and turns to address the crowd "There is nothing wrong with La Casa Madrigal. The magic is strong, and so are the drinks! Please, music!"

.
.
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"I'm telling you, the house was in danger"

Mirabel sighs and collapses on her bed, Alana sits at her side in a sleeping dress that she leaves for the times she stays to sleep unannounced.

"I believe you, you'll never lie about this" Alana lays next to Mirabel, both looking at the ceiling.

"Now everyone might just think that I did that to ruin Antonio's big day"

"Mirabel, nobody in their right mind would believe that"

"They would, you know" She knew how rumors could spread from the most spiteful people.

"We could always look for proof"

Mirabel looks at Alana with an idea in mind" Let's go!"

"Now?"

They climb out the bed and move until they stand at the side of Abuela Alma's window, a noise halts them and they see Abuela appear. She seems upset, almost vulnerable, they had never seen her like this, she opens her chatelaine to a portrait of Pedro.

    "Ay, Pedro" she begins "I need you. Cracks in our casita. If our family knew how vulnerable we truly are... if our miracle is dying. We cannot lose our home again"
    Tears are welling up in Abuelas' eyes.

    "Why is this happening? Open my eyes. If the answer is here, help me find it. Help me protect our family. Help me save our miracle."

    Abuela turns and heads back to her room. Any doubt that Mirabel had felt vanished, they made their way back and Mirabel starts changing into her morning clothes as Alana watches her with a questioning look.

    "I will save the miracle"

    Mirabel grabs her bag, puts on her shoes, goes to her door, grabs the handle, and stops.

    "How do you save a miracle?"

    Alana shrugs and the house pantomimes back, they have no idea. Mirabel thinks for a moment.

    "I have no idea, but there is one person in this family who hears everything about everything," Mirabel grabs a family photo and looks at Dolores "so if anyone would know what's wrong with the magic, it's her"

    "Okay, let's do it!" Alana raises.

    "You want to help me?"

    "Of course, I'll be your partner" she stumbles into her words "but not in crime, I don't want to go to jail"

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This is Alana's fancy dress for the ceremony, I got the image from the art book of Encanto. If you are interested in all the thought put into these characters you should definitely check it out it's online and it's free.

ᴬᵗᵗ: ᴿᵉᵈQᵘᵉᵉⁿ-¹🌸