"Isa's room is all set, right?"
Antonio let out a huff, pulling some thorns out of his hair. "As well as it can be with it now being a jungle filled with man-eating plants."
"Only man eating, by the way," Camilo chimed in as he left Luisa's room. "And we're all set here."
"Seriously," Antonio complained, "why did I get stuck having to deal with Princess Predator's room? I'm the baby of the family, I'm supposed to be coddled!"
"You're not a baby!" Gabrio said with a giggle. "You're bigger than me!"
"That makes you a teeny tiny baby," Antonio told his nephew, lifting the boy up who squawked in protest.
"Big boy! Big boy!"
Dolores walked over and kissed her son's check. "The biggest." She glanced at her hermano. " And as for why you went in there? Even if you eliminate the threat of the man eating plants-"
"Which we SHOULDN'T!" Antonio complained, Camilo coming over to pull a thorn the size of his hand out of his buttock. "GAH!"
Dolores merely shot him a look before tossing him one of the wrapped enchanted cookies she always kept in nearby (when one's son was a half tiefling one always had healing treats on hand, since Gabrio thought himself invincible). The treat had been made by some of Dryft's students after they had spent a few months working with Julieta, leaning how she crafted her healing food and figuring out how to replicate her own special brands of magic.
"If you eliminate that threat there are still dangerous animals in there. You are the only other family member who regularly sleeps in a jungle so you are the best one to make sure that everything is settled."
"That's just gift discrimination!" Antonio whined even as he ate his cookie, Anton muttered a spell to repair the damage his britches had taken. "And why not send someone like Elsa in? She could have dealt with the plants!"
"If by handle you mean kill…" Anna muttered.
"I can control my powers," Elsa reminded her sister.
"Yes but you still have a black thumb. Remember that Winter Cactus I gave you. It can survive on SNOW and you still found a way to make the poor thing die of dehydration."
"I still say that's Olaf's fault."
"Anna and Elsa, are guests," Dolores said firmly. "Same with the rest of the Party. YOU live here."
"Gahoole could have-" Antonio stopped when the Owlkin shot him a dark look from where she was sitting. "I'm just going to be quiet now."
"That is a great idea."
"What about Mirabel?" Barley asked, scratching at his chin. "Don't you need to make sure her room is ready Mrs. Guzman?"
Dolores shook her head. "Mirabel doesn't have a room… she stays in Bureau." She paused as Casita rumbled slightly and knew that somewhere one of the shower heads was trying to suck back up a bit of water. "Now now, don't be upset." After they had rebuilt Casita and she had placed her soul once more into the structure the building had tried to build Mirabel a room of her own but Mirabel had politely refused. She had a room… in Bureau. And that was something the other sentient dwelling would never stop crowing about, much to his mate's annoyance and sadness. "Same as Bruno."
"Most of the guests will be staying in the underground," Mariano said, entering from the kitchen. "And Dryft said that he can accommodate any extras at his school."
"Godly magic, great for when you need extra beds," Camilo replied.
"We can throw something together in the mountains if you need us to," Anna offered.
"We?" Elsa asked, raising an eyebrow and making it clear just WHO would be doing most of the work if that offer was accepted.
The door to Bureau opened and Miguel stepped out, calling down to them, "Mira's coming through!"
What followed was an hour of excited greetings as each of the Madrigal Sisters emerged from Bureau, excitedly running to their family and friends and happily chatting about all they had been doing. The last time everyone had been together at the same time had been around Gabrio's birth, as Mirabel, Isabella, and Luisa always were busy with some emergency that needed to be taken care of and thus prevented them from being all together at special events. The sisters visited often but never at the same time, to the point that when Gabrio had been 3 and Luisa and Mirabel had both come to his birthday party at the same time it had left the boy utterly confused, as he was used to one of his honorary aunts at a time and not all of them at once. Apparently he'd been convinced, thanks to Camilo, that he had one aunt named Mira-Isa-Lusia who could shapeshift.
For Isabella it had been helping feed starving communities, with her often getting pleas for her to come to deal with blights and famines. Luisa was technically a bard and thus some new arrivals in the Valley didn't understand just what was so important that she was pulled away. They were quickly corrected though… Luisa was a historian bard and often times found herself called in to deal with feuding families and town squabbles that needed someone of her skill to sit in the library and go over the old texts. That she would then use her strength to force everyone to sit down and listen was beside the point. And Mirabel had her own community to watch over; when she had decided to attempt to follow in her abuelo's footsteps and truly create her own race (though without the dying part) she had realized that she had to do it outside f the valley. The creation of her 'babies' was loud enough already but adding in the time and energy needed to make them fully alive? That required peace and quiet that the Valley wouldn't have known with her around.
Mira came in with Sofia and Valencia, the two bipedal animals watching for a few minutes as Mirabel hugged her family and chatted before getting bored like all kids and abandoning their mom to go off to have some fun before the party. Not that anyone cared as the Madrigals were too busy asking each other a thousand questions and introducing the newest Party Members. Mirabel and Barley had gotten into a log discussion about the pros and cons of solidifying liquid metal when Luisa had come in with Saharah and Jasmine Chan, starting up the cries and glee and joy from the gathered ladies. Anton and Nocci had arrived by that point and took Saharah and her newest friend aside, Miguel wandering over to join them, while Bruno stood with the Arendale sisters and quietly discussed what they should be doing next for the party.
Bureau's door glowed and Ernesto chuckled before looking at Mei Ling, who had been telling Jasmine about her favorite boy band. "Cover your ears."
"Why?" she asked just as Isabella stepped through… and Mirabel and Luisa let out twin high-pitched screams of joy before rushing their equally excited sister. Mei Ling, for her part, had transformed into her Red Panda form at the cry and looked about, startled, before settling down. "Ah."
"They always like this?" Barley asked.
"Yeah," Bruno said fondly as Anna and Elsa trailed behind him, Gahoole and Dryft walking up to join them. Isabella, Luisa, and Mirabel were all clumped together, jumping up and down excitedly as they talked over each other, acting like 12 year olds rather than their near 30-something selves. "So when do we break it to them about Dryft's little stint into making us all immortal?"
"We're immortal?" Mei Ling asked only for Dryft to push a muffin into her mouth.
"You are now," the god said casually.
"Stop doing that!" Bruno complained as Mei Ling slowly swallowed to treat, looking down at her hands as they glowed faintly before returning to normal.
Gahoole sighed. "Sweetheart, you can't just make people immortal without asking."
"Oh… okay." He turned to Mei Ling. "Would you like to make it that death and the great beyond are a choice rather than being forced upon you because whatever being created you was shoddy when it came to design?"
"Oh god," Bruno said, pitching the bridge of his nose.
"Yes?" Dryft asked, tilting his head.
Mei Ling swallowed. "Uh… thanks?" She looked at Elsa and Anna. "Does he-"
"All the time," Anna confirmed. "Wait til he gives you the smoothie that removes the pains and issues you get during your period." Mei Ling's eyes doubled in size at that while Barley excitedly took a muffin Dryft offered him. "Yeah. That's a thing."
The God of Healing frowned as he stared at Bruno. "Why would I need to talk to Mira and her sisters?"
"They need to know you made them immortal, buddy," Bruno said.
"I didn't make them immortal," he replied.
Gahoole frowned. "Why didn't you?"
"Why would I need to?"
Bruno and Gahoole shared at look before slowly, carefully, turning to stare at the three sisters, using mage sight on them.
"…dios mios," Bruno whispered.
"Life creators… worshiped for their acts… pilgrims offering tributes…" Gahoole stumbled and Dryft quickly held her up. "All three?"
"All three," Bruno confirmed.
"I thought you knew," Dryft replied. "The ascensions weren't that subtle… I felt them all the way from here. I am still picking out their "Welcome to the Family" gifts though." He scratched his chin. "Was I supposed to tell you?"
"…yes Dryft," Bruno said shakily. "Next time tell us if someone we know becomes a god!"
"Oh… okay." He pointed at Elsa. "You know about her, right? Because she'd been one longer than I've been!"
"Wait, what this now?" Anna said as Elsa patted her stomach, confused.
"Apparently your sister, along with Mirabel, Isabella, and Luisa, are goddesses."
"…well, I always assumed that," Anna said dryly only for Elsa to elbow her. "What?"
"That was a joke about me being all high and mighty, isn't it?"
"Nooooo," Anna said slowly, like she was talking to a child. "That was a comment that you CONTROL FREAKING WINTER!" She threw her hands up in the air. "Come on… all the other winter spirits see you and fall to their knees! Remember the Night's King?"
"I wish I couldn't," Elsa complained.
"So wait…" Barley said, holding up his hand, "I want to make sure I got this straight. Elsa is a goddess-"
"Which we all should have seen," Anna repeated.
"And so are Mirabel and her sisters?"
Dryft happily nodded. "All three are creation goddesses. Goddess of Smiths, Farmers, and Bards." He pointed at each one in turn. "They form a powerful trinity… together they could give me a run for my money."
Gahoole blinked at that. Dryft was a War God, and those deities tended to be the most powerful in existence. The only reason the Hollow Dragon hadn't been turned into a smear during their fight was that the curse had caused it to grow in power when facing the 'threat to her family'. Of those currently in the valley it would take someone like Anton, who didn't merely have the favor of the gods but was bond to them, to have a chance to INJURE Dryft; only another god could actually deal a mortal blow. And as he grew older he would only gain more power and strength. He'd already cured old age and was worshiped by thousands thanks to his students spreading his teachings.
For Mirabel, Isabella, and Luisa to now match him by combining together…
Gahoole began to laugh.
"Are… are you okay?" Bruno asked.
The Owlkin nearly doubled over.
"Gahoole?"
"Mei… Mei?" Gahoole got out. "What is that old Chinese curse?"
"Uh… may you live in interesting times?"
The Owlkin pointed right at her. "That's the one!"
And she continued to laugh.