Bruno moves out of the walls. I can't help but envision the rats looking like the drawings by kittysuneonskyrim on TikTok, stupidly adorable and loyal to Bruno. Poor Dolores, can't sit at the table anymore before checking for overly friendly snakes.
"Hola Tio Bruno, the rats told me everything," said Mirabel, looking at her uncle who had been unceremoniously carried by his rat friends into the room and up the tree. Then they dumped a disheveled-looking Bruno in front of her while she sat on her throne talking to the butterflies.
"Mirabel, why am I here?" asked Bruno
"Because your little friends were worried about you and understand it isn't safe for you to reveal yourself to Tia and Abuela since I have plenty of spare bedrooms your friends practically begged me to let you stay here and I agreed," said Mirabel
"Did they say why I left?" asked Burno
"Yes, you had a vision after I didn't get my gift and saw an undecided fate but assumed everyone would only see the worst outcome because of your reputation," said Mirabel
"So why are you letting me stay in here?" asked Bruno
"Because you're my Tio, you wanted to protect me and now I have the means to protect you. Also, rats are surprisingly adorable when begging for something. Your little friends have mastered the puppy dog face," laughed Mirabel
Bruno looked at the assembled rats, they were all making that innocent face only seen on those who know they've been naughty.
"Come on Tio, I'll take you to where you're staying," said Mirabel, grabbing his runa and leading him out the throne room doors.
The room was large, about the size of his vision cave, he noticed. It was a deep teal and the hedge walls had a few flowers for some color pop. The large hammock had plenty of pillows and blankets on it.
"There are plenty of things for you to make little beds on the shelves for the rats, coatis will bring you food three times a day and there is a library and music room as well as a ballroom with a stage, you're friends told me of your telenovelas, and I will be happy to make little costumes for them," said Mirabel
"Gracias Mirabel," said Bruno, unsure of what else to say.
"Oh please Firebele, please make us costumes," pleaded the rats, Bruno had never heard them squeak like that.
"Of course, I will, the royal thespians need royal attire for their shows," smiled Mirabel, booping one of the rats on their cute little nose.
"You might want to tell Dolores where to come to hear the telenovelas, I know she could hear me in the walls and she might get worried that I'm not there anymore," said Bruno
"I will tomorrow," said Mirabel "good night Tio Bruno,"
She walked back to her room, intentionally staying as poised as possible, she needed the practice.
….
The sun had not yet risen when Mirabel was once more woken up by cawing tucans.
"River go downstairs and tell everyone their tasks are the same as yesterday," mumbled a groggy Mirabel, rolling over and putting a pillow over her head.
"How about we let your cub decide the tasks for today, he has yet to see what your castle looks like on the inside, and the only way he will be successful in his role is through practice," said River
"I'll go get him," said Mirabel, yawning as she walked to her closet and put on a magenta and teal swallowtail dress, the hummingbirds once again helped tie her hair into that golden ribbon.
She rode River to Antonio's balcony. Parce yawned and stretched as his mother pawed him to get up. Mirabel went to her own cub, fast asleep in his hammock, cuddle up with the toy she had made him.
"Wake up hombrecito, I need you to help me get the animals ready for the day," said Mirabel, shaking him lightly.
"Five more minutes mama," mumbled Antonio
She smiled.
"You've had twenty minutes more than me, your friends are eager to know who gets to play with you today," said Mirabel
Antonio mumbled and rolled over.
"Perhaps he hasn't seen the present you made him last night, cubs always wake up for food or gifts," said an amused River, still trying to wake up Parce
"Food?" asked Parce, his eyes opening instantly.
"Present?" asked Antonio, jumping out of bed.
"Told you," laughed River. A laughing jaguar was not something many people had ever seen.
Antonio dashed to the wardrobe and found next to his new yellow suit was a gold one with jaguar spots embroidered in teal, a bright magenta scarf accompanied it with black paw prints on the edges.
"Oh thank you, mama,I love it!" exclaimed Antonio
"Put it on and then Parce will take you to my area so you can talk to all the animals in the Encanto, then we will go have breakfast with the family," said Mirabel
"Ok!" exclaimed Antonio
Mirabel and River went back up the tree.
"I heard last night from some of the bears that your mother and father will be bringing your stuff from that puny little room you had into here, a task force will be needed to help them, the bears have volunteered their services," said River as they walked
"Oh yeah, of course, I'll also be available to help, but Luisa needs a day off so I will request her help as well and after she's gotten the boxes to the entrance hall I'm shooing her into the library," said Mirabel
"And what of you're mother's littermate?" asked River
"You mean Tio Bruno? I'll make sure the rats keep him in the ballroom or his room, also please tell the rats to show him into one of the office rooms so he has somewhere to write scripts.
They finally made it into the throne room and Mirabel walked down the aisle to her throne, her posture perfect, her steps graceful, just as she had practiced with Isabella. She sat on her throne, composed, and looked out at her assembled subjects before the door opened again and Antonio came through on Parce, he took one look at everything before sliding off the jaguar and running to Mirabel. Parce took his place beside his friend.
"Today I will be having Antonio tell you where you are needed, aside from the bears and rats and those who already know of their permanent assignments," said Mirabel
"Yes dearest Firebele," came the unanimous reply from the animals.
Antonio looked nervous.
"Go on Tonito, there is nowhere you can send them that I can't fix if it's a bad fit," said Mirabel
"Um, well I want to play with the tucans again but I know not every day will be all play. Yesterday ran really smoothly and as long as the donkeys are happy now and won't give Prima Luisa a hard time then just do the same things you did yesterday, well Sol don't scare Dolores again, that was a one-time thing," said a sheepish Antonio "Oh and the coatis can help Tia Julietta pass out food, just don't bother Tio Agustin,"
"You heard him do what you all did yesterday, for the tucans and other predators the signal is the same. I need two bears to help my parents move my things from the nursery into the proper rooms here, as for the rats, please show your friend to one of the offices, not the main office but preferably one close to his room," said Mirabel
"Yes Firebele, yes young speaker," came the reply from all the animals.
"Dismissed," said Antonio, trying to emulate Mirabel's tone.
"Did I do ok?" asked Antonio
"Fantastic Tonito, now let's go down and see about breakfast," said Mirabel hugging him.
"Your part of the room is big, Parce said it was a castle but I didn't know it would be seven times as big as Casita!" exclaimed Antonio as they rode the jaguars down.
Breakfast was outside again, as they exited the room Mirabel looked up at the candle which flicked at her in what she assumed was some kind of greeting.
"The eternal flame says hello," said a butterfly helpfully
"Gracias mi amigo pequeno," said Mirabel
Casita decided it liked one aspect of last night's seating arrangement, Antonio was back next to Mirabel.
"Oh Tonito where did you get that suit?" asked Pepa, staring at her son's new outfit.
"Ma-Mirabel made it for me," said Antonio
Pepa tried to disperse the cloud that had formed when she noticed how close the colors were to Mirabel's favorites, it made him even look more like Mira's child instead of Pepa's. But how could she get mad at her sobrina for being there for Antonio more than Pepa was allowed to? She shot a small death glare at Alma, one that Alma conveniently didn't notice.
"Family, what are your plans to help the community today?" asked Alma
"The same as every day, I have injured people to help, Agustin will be moving Mirabel's things into her new space today," said Julietta, disappointed that she couldn't help her husband.
"Speaking of that, I have asked two bears to help with that as it's very hard to get to my space unless an animals is carrying you, Also the hippos have agreed to continue helping Luisa with her own chores so if she would like to help papa and make sure he doesn't hurt himself that would be appreciated, the donkeys won't escape anymore as well," said Mirabel
"And what will you be doing today Mirabel?" asked Abuela
"I was planning on starting Dolores's wedding dress and all the other dresses for the wedding. Dolores, the predators, and tucans on patrol around the valley will be using the same signal as yesterday so just keep an ear out," said Mirabel
"Wonderfull, is there anything else, something that benefits the community by using your gift?" asked Abuela
"As I said, the hippos will be taking care of most of Luisa's tasks, the donkeys won't be escaping again, and the predators are on patrol keeping everyone safe, all of this on my request, the fruit harvest will be more bountiful as the birds know exactly what is ripe and what is not and can reach what even the tallest man in the village on a ladder can not, no one is being stung by bees because they now know to come to me before stinging and Isabella has already grown the rosemary that has been accepted as an adequate exchange for the surplus of honey this year. Mine and Antonio's gift is best used to help the community by speaking to all the animals at once and assigning the tasks for the day, as yesterday was the first day of this new task it started later than it should have but now both Antonio and I will be assigning tasks to the animals well before breakfast so that he has time to play and I have time to work on sewing projects or settling disputes between animals or animals and people," said Mirabel, her voice had a slight edge to it but she was composed and her tone had an air of finality to it.
"And what about the snakes?" asked Dolores, she had thoroughly checked under the table and chairs for wayward slithering creepy things before she sat down.
"They are in the fields, hunting and ensuring the younger rodents don't ruin the crops," said Mirabel gently to her ophidiophobic prima.
"Tia the coatis are going to help you pass out food so they don't bother Tio Agustin, just give them pets in exchange for their help, they like being helpful they just need guidance," said Antonio
"Thank you Tonito," said Julietta, ruffling the little boy's hair.
Abuela pursed her lips together, There was something new about Mirabel, something that made Abuela not want to get on her nieta's bad side, was it the large jaguars that followed her two youngest grandchildren everywhere? Or was it Mirabel's newfound confidence and poise as well as using indisputable facts to counter every argument Alma could have?