Things are heating up and Abuela has crossed one line Mirabel can't tolerate.
Antonio came running through the hall on Parce.
"MAMA!" he yelled frantically
"Tonito what's wrong?" asked Mirabel, hugging him tightly
"Abuela told me to tell the hippos to stop helping Luisa and I said no, she started yelling at me, Parce growled at her to lay off but then she threatened him and all the animals, and I got so scared I got on Parce and we ran here," said Antonio on the verge of tears.
Mirabel saw red, holding Antonio tightly she took him into her own room to calm down.
"Parce keep him in here please, it's safer and I don't want Abuela to be able to find him," said Mirabel
Suddenly a coati appeared with Mirabel's crown in its mouth. She stared at it, three days was not nearly enough time for her to feel ready, but this had to be done, Alma was trying to undermine Mirabel and worse, had scared her baby.
"Jasper, go fetch a rat, and Tio Bruno, the rat can do the explaining for Tio but I want Tonito with an adult I trust," said Mirabel to a butterfly.
"Of course, an entourage will be prepared for you to confront the previous keeper," said the butterfly.
"Thank you," said Mirabel.
Antonio had never seen Mirabel this angry but knew she wasn't mad at him at all.
Bruno was dragged in by the rats.
"Mirabel what happened?" asked Bruno
"She yelled at MY cub and threatened my people," growled Mirabel, Bruno swore that the jaguar was rubbing off on his sobrina.
"Why am I here though?" asked Bruno.
"I need you to watch Antonio, the animals are amazing but I want a human I trust here to get him anything the animals can't," said Mirabel
"You trust me?" asked Bruno
"Of course, you're my Tio and you had solid reasons for leaving for all thoes years, you did it all to protect me. If there is anyone I trust in this house it's you," said Mirabel
Bruno smiled and hugged her.
"Just don't kill your Abuela, she shouldn't die without the chance to correct her behavior," said Bruno
"I'll try, she scared my baby," said Mirabel, a slight growl to her voice.
She left on River and there were thousands of butterflies behind her.
As she went out into the hall of Casita she had an Idea.
"Casita, please move all of Abuela's things, except for the candle, into the nursery and get rid of her door. She can earn it back in time," growled Mirabel
Casita complied.
"Firebele, what of the Eternal flame?" asked a butterfly
"It can stay in the window, the room will still exist but she won't have access to it," said Mirabel
The candle flickered in the window.
"The flame is agreeing with your decision, but also wishes to come," said another butterfly
They all paused to watch as Abuela's door vanished as Mirabel's had over ten years ago. Before Casita flicked the window frame up and the candle went flying at Mirabel who caught it.
…
The town square was busy and bustling as usual before several hundred parrots mimicked the noise of a trumpet. The whole square turned and saw a cloud of thousands of butterflies part and move behind a very angry but very composed-looking Mirabel, wearing a crown and carrying the candle while riding River.
"MIRABEL WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!" shouted Abuela
"Alma Madrigal you are confined to live in the nursery from now until you fix your mistakes, you had no right to try to make Antonio go against what I had told the hippos for you are not their speaker nor their queen, I am. The candle is a sentient being and so is Casita, while you are still currently the keeper of the candle until you die, you have no authority over it anymore, it chose me. Furthermore, you had absolutely no reason to yell at Antonio and terrify him by threatening to kick my subjects and his friends out of the house. For these reasons you have lost your door," said Mirabel with authoritative rage.
"Mira, where is Antonio?" asked Julietta
"He is in my bedroom being looked after by some animals and someone I trust," said Mirabel
Pepa was thundering at Alma, how dare she scare Antonio.
"Tia Pepa," said Mirabel more gently.
"What is it Mirabel, I'm currently debating whether or not to fry my mother," said Pepa
"Tia I know you're aware that Antonio sees me as a mother figure, not because of fault on your part but because of Abuela's stupidity. But, the animals also refer to me as his mother and I just want to be aware that this is not likely going to ever change. If I had your powers we'd be in the middle of a hurricane with how angry I am right now but you have two other children that Abuela has hurt like she has hurt my sisters, they need you more and Antonio has me and the entire animal kingdom in the Encanto to take care of him so all I ask is that you just let me care for him as I have done since the day you put him with me in the nursery," said Mirabel, her tone gentle.
"Alright," sighed Pepa.
"You have the right to feel your feelings without worrying about what weather others want, all I ask is that you hold off the rain until the butterflies can find suitable shelter," said Mirabel
Pepa nodded before rounding on Abuela.
Mirabel didn't hear the shouting match, she didn't even stick around for Alma to try to say something to her, then again, the elderly woman was trying to avoid being struck by lightning and Felix was not even attempting to calm his wife.
"Things are going to change from now on, our family needs time to work out some issues and that means the family will be unavailable to all of you for the next week, the animals will still be assisting you all though, and I will be available for emergencies," Mirabel told the townsfolk as she passed.