Outside the Encanto

Breach Of Confidence

You exhale in relief, laughing at their ridiculous notion. They're street smart, sure, but they're nowhere near the level of intelligence they should be if they want to succeed, or even live. That kind of behavior could get them executed by hanging.

"Just hear us out, Y/n, we think we've got this covered." Cisco begs, somehow finding a chair. It only has three legs, but when propped against the wall it works just fine. You gratefully take the seat.

"Alright, here's the deal. I'm going to be having a huge birthday party for Isabella, and your family is invited." Dominic states matter-of-factly.

"Isabella?" Your face contorts in confusion, since Isabella's currently in the jail right now.

"No no, our little sister. She's turning 4, and she really wants a Mariposa themed birthday party, since she just read Señorita Mariposa and is obsessed with it." Solomon explains, jogging your memory.

"How many kids are gonna be there?" You sigh, unable to remember their many brothers and sisters. Not to mention the enormous amount of cousins.

"So far, 21. And that's just immediate family. Trust me, it'll be busy. Very busy. We have a guest list stapled out on the announcement post, so anyone can come if they want, as long as they sign their names first. We're gonna have a lot to arrange." Dominic sighs, shaking his head. "But no matter, if Isa's happy, I'm happy."

"Remind me to sign Arithra up." Cisco smiles, thinking of his sister. You silently giggle at the fact that Cisco would have to leave her for an hour or so alone at a party. With boys.

"Anyways." Lochland continues, rolling his eyes at the trio of crazies. "Your family will be at the party, I'm sure between everyone we can convince them to come. Then, we're all going to sneak away. We've been in the prison, since my parents are in there. But we've never seen the Madrigals." He amends, looking around at everyone as he speaks. Old habits, he's always had to be aware of his surroundings.

"Lochland.. how are your parents? Since there's no alcohol in jail." You carefully ask, not wanting him to be upset.

"Last time I was there, they couldn't even speak. Or maybe they just wouldn't, I can't tell anymore. But their hands were shaking like crazy. Withdrawal symptoms." He sighs, his face kitting into a dark scowl.

"Point is, we need you Y/n. The Madrigals make this place better, whether or not you'd admit it." Solomon brings the subject back up, sparing Lochland the silence.

"I'm in. Totally. But, why didn't you just ask Marco?" You speculate, excited about this plan.

"Uhm.."

The boys stare to the ground, to each other, anywhere that's not your eyes. You come to a theory.

"Oh. I get it. You guys are certainly closest with Marco, and in the long run if we get caught you'd want me on the noose instead of him." You blurt, letting out little giggles that make you look crazed.

"Y/n.." Cisco tries to plead, meeting your gaze. His long bangs cover his eyes as he stares up at you, making him have those stupid puppy dog eyes you hate.

"No no, I get it. I really do, it's okay."

"Y/n, that's not the only reason. Marco isn't an oldest child like we are. He's in the middle." Solomon disagrees, waving that away. You wonder what he means.

"Andrés and your father. Joshua and Eduardo. The twins. You and Maria. The whole family has their best friends, and he's all alone." Cisco explains, sighing. "And it's not like he's one of the first. He's the fourth boy in a row the family had."

"He thinks he has something to prove." You realize, shaking your head. Marco. Perfect, bubbly, bright Marco. How could you have let him feel this way?

"Yes, which is why we know he'd betray us in an instant. Or worse, get caught and sacrifice himself for us. Pretend he threatened our families." Lochland shakes his head in disgust. Good people are the worst to handle.

"You're right. One small problem, we need someone to distract Papa. And honestly Marco too. He's gonna notice his four best friends go missing." You sway towards the opposing side, but also bring in obstacles they hadn't thought of. No wonder they need you.

"I'll stay behind." Dominic volunteers, surprising everyone. He never likes to stay behind.

"I will too." Solomon volunteers. "It's Isa's birthday anyway, I should be there. Our parents couldn't handle everything by themselves."

"So it'll be Cisco, Lochland and I?" You resolve, figuring those odds were okay. Only two boys to handle would be great, but less help with the Madrigals is not.

"Two distractions is all we need. I doubt anyone else is going to need overseeing." Lochland agrees, smiling.

"The only problem is, we'll have to sneak through the prison-"

"Wait!" Cisco interrupts, looking at the brothers. "You two leave. If something happens, we don't want you to have information. They could torture you if they knew you had an insiders account."

"What!? That's not fair, what if-"

"That's fair. Dom, let's go." Solomon cuts him off. Dominic looks at his brothers with a betrayed stare, although seemingly comes to the conclusion that he's right. Solomon sighs, and leaves with his brother.

"Y/n's right, sneaking through the prison will be tough. I know for a fact my parents won't notice me, they'll be too busy thinking about their alcohol." Lochland strategizes, sighing.

"Loch, stop. Your parents are douchebags, so stop focusing on them and focus on other things, like us. You know, the people who actually love you." You try comforting him, but your tone becomes harsh and annoyed throughout your sentences.

Lochland smiles. "You're right, you're right. It still hurts though." He sighs. "Forget them. You're right, they're total trash. But on that note, what of the Madrigals in isolation?"

How did Lochland know they're in isolation?

"How did you know that?" You ask, more threatening than you'd meant to be.

"Oh, word spreads. A wife visits their husband, the husband tells, the wife gossips to three, the three gossip to three more, and so on." Lochland laughs, a sweet, breezy sound.

"Fair point. I'll sneak one of them a key the night before, and make sure they get each other out and to the crowded cell. Then we can extract them all at once." You plan, the boys nodding in agreement.

"Genius! We've only got tomorrow and the next morning to have this ready. Barely even two days." Cisco warns, although that doesn't concern you.

You already know where to take them, the small cave home inside the Encanto mountains. You'd have to make more space, but with your powers, it's going to be a piece of cake. The real challenge would be to get all 12 of the Madrigals out safely, with only help from Lochland and Cisco.

Lochland and Cisco! There's no way you can take them outside the Encanto, zero way. No no no. They'd be captured or attacked, and would be more easy to break under torture than you. Their help breaking them out? Needed. Once you leave the Encanto.. well.. they have to stay behind. You'll return at morning, but will the Madrigals ever?

Soon, you will have to face your father, your family. You know in order to restore the Encanto to its original peace, Papa has to go down.

One way, or another.

But that's for another time.

"For the Encanto." You place your hand out, which Lochland and Cisco take immediately.

"For the Encanto!"

The trio splits, heading out to prepare for the best.

But expecting the worst.