Here's chapter 2.

The cawing of the tucans woke Mirabel up and it took a moment for her to remember where she was. Then she reached for her glasses which she had placed on the emerald side table the night before. Instead of grabbing her normal green-rimmed glasses, however, the ones she now held in her hand were gold and teal with lenses that seemed to be made of crystal.

"Dios Mio, when miracles apologize they really go all out," she muttered, putting them on.

Her vision was clearer now than with her old glasses and they stayed on her face a lot better. She climbed out of the hammock and walked over to the dress she saw last night. It was silk and flowed over her body like water. There were also matching shoes that were just as comfortable as her usual ones. There was also a set of gold butterfly stud earrings in a box on her dresser, there were tiny magenta gemstones in the wings. She caught a glimpse of herself in the large mirror in the corner.

She did a small twirl and the skirt of her dress billowed out like a blooming flower.

There was a knock on the door. Mirabel opened it to reveal a coati.

"Pardon me dearest Firebele but all animals residing in the valley are waiting for you in the throne room so that you can address where we will be needed for today. Your cub is being tended to by his biological mother but we have told him that you will be unable to attend the meal with your family because there are things you must attend to here," said the coati

"I hope Abuela isn't angry at me," sighed Mirabel

"This is unavoidable, however, tomorrow you will be woken earlier so the morning address can take place before your pack eats," said the coati with a bow before heading back down the stairs.

"Although I know you are not ready to wear the proper crown, this ribbon will suffice in its place," said a tucan pulling out a golden silk hair ribbon that was embroidered with magenta butterflies and flames of cut citrine stitched between each butterfly, from one of the shelves in the closet.

Two hummingbirds tied it around her head similar to how Dolores wore her hair.

"Antonio, is Mirabel going to be joining us this morning?" asked Pepa

"No mama, all the animals in Encanto and the surrounding jungle need to talk to her this morning, it's very important they said, it involves how we can help the town but they said she has a special area where she can talk to all of them at once, the hippos even got the donkeys there but will make sure they go back home when she's finished talking," said Antonio, he was still not used to calling Pepa his mama, Mirabel had always been more of his mama even though she was his prima.

Abuela frowned.

"And why don't they need you there too Tonito?" asked Abuela

"Mirabel is older and already has her own name the animals call her, they say when I'm grown up I'll get a name from them too. But the animals see her as more of a royalty figure but I'm their friend. She tells them what to do I get to play with them, but when I grow up more I'll be royal too," said Antonio

"Ok so better grazing and a larger pen will keep you all from leaving all the time?" asked Mirabel to the donkeys. Every creature was in front of her arranged by species but the butterflies were above her.

"Yes Firebele," brayed the donkeys

"Ok, next order of business is the bees, may all queens step forward?" asked Mirabel

Every queen from all hives came forward.

"Here in the Encanto there are no humans who wish to intentionally hurt you, stinging humans is unnecessary and if there is a problem please come find me or Antonio. My father and several others are allergic to your stings. Now I have been informed that you honey producers have a surplus this year and are willing to exchange the surplus for better flowers is that correct?" asked Mirabel

"Yes my lady, and we will of course refrain from stinging humans now that we know they don't really mean any harm. All we ask for in exchange are flowers that produce bountiful pollen and tasty nectar," said a queen

"Please make a list of what flowers you would like and I'll ask if my sister can grow them," said Mirabel

"Thank you, your majesty," said the queens in unison

"Other than Parce and River I would like all predators on patrol around the mountains with one tucan per predator, if there is any suspicious activity like a threat to our home then you are to signal with three caws, a pause then four caws, If you tell this to Antonio he will be sure to tell Dolores that if she hears this then she is to gather the human guards," said Mirabel

"Of course," said the predators in unison.

"Hippos, I know you are the strongest of the animals gathered here, one of my sisters is always doing quite a bit of heavy lifting and manual labor and I worry about her doing too much if there is any way you could all band together and aid her in whatever you can it would be greatly appreciated," said Mirabel

"You can count on us," said the hippos.

"Ok, I have nothing else for the other insects and arachnids so you can all do what you'd like, as, for the rats, you said you wish to speak to me privately?" said Mirabel

"Yes, it is a matter of great importance," squeaked one of the rats

"How urgent is it? Is it right this moment urgent or can it wait till later tonight?" asked Mirabel

"Tonight is fine," said the rat.

"Right, as for the other birds if you could all assist in the harvest of the fruit trees you seem to know what is ripe and what is not and can reach fruit on branches that not even our tallest men on ladders can," said Mirabel

"What about us?" asked a capybara

"I don't know very much about you all so please play to whatever strength you have around town, as for the snakes, unfortunately too many people are scared of you all so herding younger rodents out of the fields is going to be your main objective today if you can be discreet," said Mirabel

There was a collective nod from the snakes.

"I think that's all for today," said Mirabel rising from her throne.

This was going to take some getting used to. As the animals filed out she looked around at her castle, queens were supposed to be graceful and elegant, and even as the butterflies and other creatures assured her that she didn't need to be perfect and she could take her time to grow into her role, she knew that she would need to start showing that she could lead and be a rock in a storm for those who counted on her. Even if her family had never looked at her like they could depend on her, it was clear that the animals had been waiting for their speakers for a long time and as the eldest, it was up to her to help them until Antonio had grown up some more.

If there was anyone she could ask about how to be perfect it was Isabella, and as much as they didn't get along, Mirabel needed her help.

Luisa suddenly found herself surrounded by hippos and every time a villager asked something of Luisa, a hippo would go off and do it. Leaning house? Seven hippos shoved it back into place. Temporary river re-route? A heard of the beasts carefully diverted the flow with their bodies. Even the donkeys seemed to be staying put. There was one hippo who seemed to be directing the others as she stayed by Luisa's side.

She walked into town and saw Dolores talking to Antonio

"So if I hear a tucan caw three times with a pause then four times it means there's danger?" asked Dolores

"Yep, that's what Mirabel told them," said Antonio, Parce was next to him.

"What did Mirabel tell the other animals because I've had hippo help all morning," said Luisa

"I'll ask," said Antonio

"Firebele told us to help her strong sister because there are more of us than there are of her and we can easily accomplish quite a few large tasks with only a few of us. I have decided to accompany her through the day and if she would like me to stay to help her with tasks around your dwelling I am more than willing," said Franchesca, the Hippo next to Luisa.

"Mirabel asked them to help you today, I think this is going to be a normal thing and Franchesca here wants to stay with you and be your friend," said Antonio

"And where is Mirabel? I haven't seen her all day," said Luisa

"I saw her come out of the house a little while ago, something happened between Tio Agustin and the bees again," said Antonio

Luisa winced, fully expecting to see her father covered in be stings later.

"Worry not my friend, Firebele told all bees that the humans meant no harm and not to sting them, if there was a problem then to go get her to solve it. Her father is in no danger," said Franchesca

"Franchesca says Mirabel talked to the bees this morning and they won't sting people before talking to her," said Antonio

After the debacle with her father and the bees was dealt with, Mirabel went to find Isabella.

"Your sister is in her room preparing for tonight," said a butterfly

"Right, time to bite the bullet," sighed Mirabel as she went upstairs. Casita giving her squeaks of encouragement.

She knocked on Isabella's door.