Warning Some scenes may be too adorable to handle, reader discretion is advised.
Mirabel went back into the room and went to her sewing room, the dress was still on the mannequin.
She set the candle on a table and changed into the dress, ready or not she could not let Alma continue to lead the family right now.
She walked to her room, still holding the candle, and woke up Antonio.
"Tonito I know you're still afraid of Abuela but I need you with me when I address the family," said Mirabel
"Is it time for me to reveal myself?" asked Bruno
"No, that will have to wait until Abuela is ready to start making a change," said Mirabel
Antonio rode Parce out of the room and then stood next to Mirabel as they waited for the rest of the family to arrive. A tucan came down from the sky with a small silver circlet made of paw prints and feathers and a yellow diamond cut like a paw print for Antonio.
"Mama where is Abuela's door?" asked Antonio
"She has to earn it back, she'll be in the nursery until she proves she has learned her lesson," said Mirabel
They were both at the top of the stairs as the family walked in, the thunder was still booming overhead and lighting flashed, illuminating both the queen and young prince. A tucan had put the candle back in its spot.
Once the family was all inside, Mirabel made herself known.
"Casita, lock the doors," she said.
There were several audible clicks as Casita obeyed Mirabel.
"Mirabel Madrigal what is the meaning of this!" exclaimed Abuela
"It's simple, Alma, no one leaves until I say so," said Mirabel
"How dare yo-" started Abuela
"How dare I? How dare I what Abuela? Help this family and town with my gift? Show my sisters they can relax and be themselves? Help Dolores feel seen? Raise the child you thrust into my arms when he was hardly hours old and never let his mother spend time with him? Oh, I see, you mean how dare I take your place and give you orders and take away your door. Well, only half of that was my choice, if the candle didn't agree with my decision it wouldn't have listened. The true miracle is this family, the gifts are an extension of ourselves designed to help each other and protect each other, wake up and see us, your children, your grandchildren, get the cactus out of your ass and act like you care about us," said Mirabel as she slowly walked down the stairs with River at her side, growling like the predator she was, until Mirabel was mere inches away from Abuela's face.
Abuela stood there, her mouth opening and closing like a fish.
"Casita, please show Alma to her new room, Luisa, Isabela, talk to mama and papa about how you feel, Tio Felix and Tia Pepa I think you should talk to your own children and then tomorrow we will all come together as a family," said Mirabel
The rest of the family stood there shocked as Casita used its tiles to literally drag Abuela into the nursery, it didn't seem to care much for her composure as it did so.
"Mira why aren't you going to join us in these discussions?" asked Julieta softly
"Because I'm extremely angry right now and if I don't take the rest of the night to calm down before listening to how much Abuela has hurt you all then I might have several hundred spiders take up residence with her," said Mirabel
Antonio had come down the stairs and held Mirabel's hand, he knew she need him right now.
It was the middle of the day but the sky was so cloudy it could be confused for night. Mirabel and Antonio went back into their room and up into Mirabel's castle, she needed to immerse herself in a sewing project to calm down and Antonio patiently sat in a pillow-filled corner as a coati brought him an age-appropriate book and some coloring stuff.
"Mama what are we going to do about dinner?" asked Antonio
"I'll go get us food when it's time and we'll eat in my dining room with Tio Bruno," said Mirabel
"Are you going to be ok?" asked Antonio, walking over to give her a hug.
"I will be Tonito, I'm just really mad at Abuela right now, she hurt the whole family and she scared you," said Mirabel
"She hurt you too, she's been hurting you the most, I used to hear you cry at night when I couldn't sleep, why would she do this?" asked Antonio, cuddling into her.
"I don't know Tonito, maybe once she realizes how bad she hurt everyone then she'll explain," said Mirabel
"Do you want me to forgive her?" asked Antonio
"That is for you to decide, you know it's easy to lie and say you're sorry and it's easy to say you forgive someone but it takes a lot to really forgive someone, and right now I don't know if I want to forgive her, it is definitely going to take time though," said Mirabel
"I'll wait until after you forgive her, she hurt you and I don't like it, I'm not scared anymore but she needs to at least say sorry for everything," said Antonio
Mirabel hugged him tightly.
"I love you Tonito," said Mirabel
"Love you too mama, I always will," said Antonio
"Did you like spending a little time with Tio Bruno?" asked Mirabel
"The rats are funny and he's nice," said Antonio
"Good, eventually he's going to go back to his own room but I think we'll be having him and all our rat Primas and Primos as guests quite often," said Mirabel
"The rats wanted a bedtime story from Tio and I listened, that why I fell asleep," giggled Antonio
"Oh? And what did he read to you all?" asked Mirabel, she was gradually calming down, her anger deflating to exhaustion from the whole ordeal.
"I forget what it was called but Tio did all these funny voices and the rats wanted to act out the scenes and wouldn't go to bed even though it was supposed to be a bedtime story," laughed Antonio
…
Agustin, Julieta, Isabela, and Luisa were all in Julieta's room sitting on the comfy sofas waiting for someone to make the first sound.
"I guess I'll go first, I hate being perfect," said Isabela