Last chapter. See the Ao3 version for longer notes.
There was a bright flash early one morning as the doors shifted. Mirabel gave a startled shout as she opened the double doors of her castle and found herself back in Casita instead of Antonio's room. She looked at the door behind her, it was glowing like the others from the Casita side but once inside turned into massive double doors. The candle had moved her castle to her own room in the middle of the night. Dolores, Pepa, Julieta, and the door frame of Abuela's room had shifted all to one side, and her own door was where Abuela's used to be. Antonio, Luisa, and Bruno's rooms were on the side opposite the others and the nursery had moved between Antonio's and her own room. She looked up to see the candle in the second story window above her door and bolted up her grand staircase to see a new balcony section on each side right before the doors to the hallways, the balconies led to the window where the candle resided, flickering at her in a kind of wave. She then ran back outside to look at her new door, Antonio's had changed to just be him and animals and her door now had her surrounded by Animals, a crown on her head, butterflies everywhere and she was holding the candle. It was like her castle had just been transplanted in the middle of the night.
Everyone started coming out of their rooms to see why Mirabel had shouted. There were also other changes to the other doors, particularly the married couples. Julieta's was now Julieta and Agustin with a picture of both of them as well as a snake and a bee. Pepa's now had Felix on it and a caimin and tarantula, Bruno's had the rats, Dolores's now had Mariano on it as well as a turtle. Isabela stood in front of venus fly traps and sundews. Luisa had a hippo pod behind her.
Dolores did not seem happy about being woken up so early on the day after her wedding but was shocked at the changes to Casita.
"Aye, it seems Casita likes to tease me as well," said Augustin looking at the bee on his door, before he noticed the cock-of-the-rock on his shoulder in the portrait.
The candle flickered joyously and the butterflies said that the candle was laughing hysterically at Agustin.
"Blame the candle, Papi, not Casita," laughed Mirabel
"Oh dear it seems the candle has your Abuelo's sense of humor," said Abuela, coming out of the nursery, after hearing the commotion outside and catching the last of the conversation before seeing the door in question.
She then saw the frame of the door that must have been hers, where only wall should have been. It meant she was slowly getting it back, she was making progress.
"Does this mean I don't get to share with mama anymore?" asked Antonio
"Fret not little prince your door will always be open to you mother but the candle has decided that it's time for her space to be her own, it also needs her more accessible to itself and to others. The keeper of the candle and leader of the Encanto can't be unreachable," said Parce
"Will my room change as well?" asked Antonio
"As you get older small changes will occur to give you more privacy and to show your status as prince. Lord Bruno's has already changed from what it once was to be more fitting for his position and needs, Lady Luisa's will probably change more throughout the day since the changes can't take place in occupied space unless they are small and won't affect the occupier, she will need a total overhaul of her room," said Parce
"Luisa you should stay out of your room today, Casita needs to make some big changes to it," said Antonio to the girl on his right.
"Ok, I have the day off, we all do so I was planning on just curling up with a book but since I need to be out of my room, Mira can I use your library?" asked Luisa
"Sure, I got hounded with dress and suit commission requests last night by the townspeople so I planned on sewing all day," said Mirabel
"Did you just get up?" asked Dolores
"No I've been up for a few hours, had to have morning court, but this is the first time I've been outside my castle today," said Mirabel
"Firebele the eternal flame is pleased with how much you've grown and that is why it decided to make you its keeper now, Alma is done," said a butterfly
She looked up to where it was happily flickering in her window, it seemed brighter, taller even, as though it was a brand new candle that had just been lit.
Mariano then came out to see what all the commotion was about.
"Is it me or are we on a different side of the house than we were last night?" asked Mariano rubbing his eyes.
"Yes, the candle moved everyone and made Mirabel head of the Family and Encanto," said Dolores, leaning against the door frame as her mother stared at her with a knowing smile, making the newlyweds blush like crazy.
Luisa saw the smirk on Pepa's face before looking at Dolores.
"Mirabel has some books in her library," grinned Luisa
Dolores gave Mirabel a look like a puppy begging for snacks.
"Luisa can show you where the Library is," said Mirabel
The three married Madrigal women dragged their husbands and Luisa into Mirabel's castle room.
"I'm going to explore and see what changes were made to my room," said Antonio darting back in.
It hadn't taken long for Casita to make the changes to his room and had been able to change it in the ten minutes he was outside. His hammock and dresser had been moved into a brand new luxury treehouse that even had a bathroom and heated pool and waterfall for bathing.
…
Luisa led the small group to the library and showed them the erotica section.
Pepa took a look at some of the titles, chose an interesting one, and dragged Felix to one of the large plush couches by the fireplace to read.
Julieta found a tamer book involving food-based romantic encounters and both she and Agustin went onto one of the balconies overlooking a courtyard.
Dolores had several armfuls of books by the time Mariano had picked one and they both went to read in one of the window nooks in the corner.
Luisa climbed the ladder, glad it was made of stone, to the top where she knew the best books were, as well as the most private of reading nooks. A little alcove set in the wall was filled with cushions and a lantern suspended from the ceilings. The hidden staircase opened to reveal Franchesca who lay down next to Luisa.
"I hope my new room has a library of its own with a space like this," said Luisa
"It will, you are the Lady of the court and your new room will reflect that, it will be almost as luxurious as this castle," said Franchesca, even if Luisa couldn't understand her.
The Hippo's favorite person in the world gave her a scratch on the ears.
…
Julieta had never engrossed herself in a book like this, her daughter's love of reading had come from Agustin, but the words in the book played like moving pictures in her mind, and out of the corner of her eye as she read she could see her husband taking notes on certain things in the book. Pepa's giggling from inside the library proper was trickling out to their private balcony.
"Mi amor, look" said Agustin
Julieta looked up at the white sandstone and marble wall and saw vines climbing up and up, thick and full of the largest grapes she'd ever seen. Agustin plucked a bunch and smiled at her.
She set the book down and lay across the upholstered bench, allowing her husband to feed her grapes. They were full and sweet and though firm in the hand the skin split easily beneath her teeth. They were the color of amethysts on the outside but peeled were like peridots. Julieta opened her mouth for another but Agustin surprised her by kissing her.
"Would you like me to close the balcony door mi amor?" he grinned
"Quickly," giggled Julieta.
…
Mirabel sat at her sewing machine, Abuela telling her about the time Pedro tried to make breakfast to surprise her on her birthday and nearly burnt down the kitchen.
"Mira would you like to know a secret?" asked Abuela, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Sure," said Mirabel
"Promise not to tell Pepa?" asked Abuela
"I promise," said Mirabel
"In my room, I had a whole shelf of dirty novels, your Abuelo and I would take turns reading them to each other," giggled Abuela
"When was the last time you read them?" asked Mirabel
"Oh it's been years, but I think when I get my room back I'll dust off one of my favorites, some of them would make even Felix blush," giggled Abuela
"Or you could surprise all of them right now and pick one off my shelves," laughed Mirabel
"Oh that is a wonderful idea," said Abuela.
…
The library door opened and Alma walked in, followed by Mirabel.
With a smirk on her face, Mirabel showed her grandmother to the dirty romance section.
"They made a sequel to this, oh how wonderful!" exclaimed Abuela, pulling the book and walking over to the couches where Pepa and Felix stopped their reading to stare at her. Pepa caught a glimpse of the title of the book in her mother's hand.
"MAMA?!" exclaimed Pepa
"Pepa, mi hija, where do you think you got your dirty mind from?" asked Alma
Pepa looked both impressed and horrified at the idea of her buttoned-up, prim and proper mother, enjoying such stories.
…
Outside, in Casita. The last change took effect. A golden door filled in its frame, and an image appeared of a younger Alma with a silhouette of Pedro behind her.
…
That night, happy shrieks came from each room as the occupants each discovered something new. Luisa had her own library and music room, each with her favorite aspects of Mirabel's, she also had sitting rooms and kitchens and an indoor pool. Casita had given her a mansion.
Isabela's room looked like a wild unkempt rainforest with furniture carved into the trees and her bed was a hammock made from a giant leaf. Her oversized sundew Audrey next to the hammock.
Alma was surprised to see she had her room back, and even more surprised at the outline of Pedro behind her, bringing tears to her eyes as she caressed the image.
Soon everyone went to bed after such a long day.
..
A golden butterfly landed on the banister and smiled at Mirabel's door, a young jaguar came up behind him.
"She has done well, are you happy with her?" asked the cub
"My granddaughter could never fail to make me proud," said the golden butterfly before flying off into the night.
