Damien's pov

I put my hands on my hips and thought hard. Remembering back to my childhood.

"Okay when Mama did this for me and Valeria, she had the chairs, the table, the sugarless snacks, and....the staff! Be right back!"

I ran inside up to Mama Sofia's room and rummaged through her closet of artifacts. None useful to me, but all held significant sentimental value. I carefully moved artifacts aside and found her staff. It was six feet tall. It was about a foot taller than I was, but it would suffice for the time being.  It can always be modified. Unlike proper wooden staffs, this one was made from the highest grade of ivory. It came to a once sharp point, but was dulled to a rounded point when Mama Sofia took me in; baby proofing and all that. As you go up the staff it branched out like a tree and each branch hung a small, but beautiful crystal. Each gem representing a council she held. I hugged them staff close and ran back outside. 

They floated there, Camilo hugging himself into a small ball, seemingly having an existential life crisis, Mirabel sitting thinking to herself, and the rest of the were glaring at their respective parents. 

"I found it!"

Everyone looked toward me. Mirabel's eyes sparkled and she popped her bubble by filling it it with air. 

"Damien! It's gorgeous! What's it called? It's not like the staffs I've read about? It's not made from wood! What's it made from? What are the crystals made from?"

As she rattled question after question about Mama Sofia's staff,, her wings and antenna materialized out of excitement. Her family save for Camilo, Isabella, and Bruno, were stunned and looked at me for an explanation. I groaned and rubbed my eyes.

"It's too early for this. Mira, go inside and sit in your chair. I did not want you to reveal yourself like this."

"Okay."

She flew up and into a window. I made the bubbles follow me inside, up the stairs, and into the guest room before popping them. I sat Selkie in her chair and motioned for everyone to sit down. Once they did, their chair and the bed corresponding to the chair changed to match their personality. I paid special attention to Camilo's bed when the bedspread had patterns of hearts and chameleons. I sat in my chair and smiled at them. 

My chair was raised a few feet above and behind Pepa's chair. The order went like so going to the right of Pepa. So, Pepa, Felix, Dolores, Antonio, Alma, Julieta, Augustine, Isabella, Luisa, Bruno, Camilo, and finishing it off with Mirabel on Pepa's left.

"Let the council, commence!"

I slammed the butt of the staff down and they were all stuck to their chairs. I soon grew irritated with Mirabel sitting so close to Camilo. I moved the staff and she and Antonio swapped places. 

"That's better. Now, this council was formed because of secrecy. More accurately, the toxicity of the secrets you've kept from each other. In order to abolish this sudden hatred and disgust, secrets must come forth and be revealed. We will go in order of age. Señora Alma, you may reveal your secret. If it is one that holds you back, you will be able to move. If it is not, you will be subject to five minutes in the bubble of shame."

I turned their attention to a hollow bubble floating above each of their chairs. 

"Alright, if I must. When my three children were younger, Julieta was my favorite child. She never created a fuss and kept the other two out of trouble."

I watched her struggle to move and trapped her in the bubble above her seat. 

"Miss Julieta, you may -"

"Question!"

"Yes, Miss Dolores?"

"Why are you excluded?" 

"Beg pardon?"

"Are you going to join us?"

"I suppose I could, however the point will not work on me, seeing as I'm hold no secrets pertaining to your family."

"Still, you can you join us and just answer a question each of us ask us. That way your participating and we can learn more about you. You are living in Casita after all."

"Alright, I'll accept your terms. I'll be right back. I need to make a call. Selkie don't let them move."

I walk out of the room to Mama Sofia's room. I dug back into her closet and pulled out the handheld pearl mirror. I twisted the top pearl and Granny Sasha popped into view. 

"Damien! Sweet cakes! It's good to hear from you. Where's that old hag, Sofia? I've got some words for her."

"You should come through. It'll be easier to explain."

I tore off the top pearl and and tossed it on the ground. I backed up as the small pearl grew to the size of a door. Granny Sasha walked through the pearl like it was water. She had white, frazzled hair, wrinkly skin (as expected for someone over a century and a half old), a very old dress made from fabric from her youth. A pair of spectacles and a mole sat on her big nose. 

"Damien! It's been too long! The last time I seen ya, you were a squirt! Barely reached my knees!"

She laughed boisterously and slapped my back. 

"Where's that old hag? I've got words for her, for not inviting my to you sixteenth birthday party!"

"Granny, Mama was killed by that human village we lived by on my birthday. I didn't have a party this year."

"What? Sofia. Killed? Well, I'm not surprised. I told her that meddling with those humans would be her downfall. How about you dear? Your core is doing fine, yes?"

"Yes, I had to take my potion the other day, but everything is fine."

"Good. Now why did you call me?"

"I'm holding an unofficial council and I need an overseer. I was hoping you'll be willing?"

"You called the right Hag dearie! Give me that old staff and I'll commence the council."

I smiled and led her to the guest room. 

"Granny!"

Selkie shot up and hugged Granny Sasha. 

"Selkie, go make me a toddy."

"Yes Mistress!"

Selkie gave me the staff and ran downstairs. I handed Granny the staff and sat in between Antonio and Camilo.

"I am Sasha, leader of the Solana Coven. The new Overseer of this council. I am not as kind as my sweet neito, Damien."

She slammed the staff down and a little glass potion appeared in front of the Madrigals. 

"Drink it."

Everybody did so and I snickered at them. 

"That potion is my own homemade truth serum concoction. Now, Damien what is this council formed for?"

"To reveal secrets that brings damage to their family or themselves. Everyone has to say what their secret is and then they wanted to ask me a question to learn about me."

"Alright. Alma, what is your secret."

Abuela : I don't regret what I did to everybody. I feel terrible about it, but I don't regret it. It has made you all stronger.

I gaped at her, and the slamming of the staff forced my back to stay glued to my chair. Alma looked angered and shocked that her secret poured out like that.

"What is your question for Damien?"

Alma : Why did you come to our Encanto?"

"Pure accident. My Mama was killed by humans and I climbed the mountain. As I made my way down, I fell and that's when I found your village."

Selkie ran in with a glass of brandy and ice, saved especially for Granny Sasha's visits. 

"Now, Pepa. What is your secret?"

Pepa : Antonio is my favorite child. He's my precious baby."

I rolled my eyes. 

"What is your question for Damien?"

Pepa : What is Selkie to you?

"She's my familiar."

"Felix, what is your secret?"

Felix : None. I don't hide anything from mi familia."

I smiled. 

"Good man, what is your question for Damien?"

"Who told you about Bruno being Camilo and Mirabel's papa?"

"Bruno did when he showed me a vision."

"Julieta, what is your secret?"

Julieta : I hate cooking."

A collective gasp filled the room.

"What is your question for Damien?"

Julieta : Would you mind taking over cooking duty some days?

"Absolutely."

I smiled at her. 

"Augustine, what is your secret?"

Augustine : I sometimes injure myself on purpose to spend more time with Julieta without Alma pestering us.

I smirked behind my hand. That's a pretty wholesome secret.

"What is your question for Damien?"

Augustine : Um...got a crush on anybody?

Julieta elbowed him and covered her eyes.

"Yes."

Granny looked at me and laughed. 

"So, you found your Vita Socium?"

"I have."

I crossed my arms and puffed out my chest in pride.

"Good for you. I feeling peckish, go make some food dearie."

"Okay Granny."

I left the room and made seared fish for everybody along with garlic rice and steamed greens. I piled a bit more food on Camilo's plate and made the fifteen plates float upstairs behind me. After serving everybody dinner, I sat down with my small portions. 

"You've outdone yourself sweetie."

"Thank you."

Camilo barely touched his food. I nudged him and smiled reassuringly. He smiled back and I almost melted. I gestured to his plate, and he shook his head. I smiled and put a stasis charm on it. Selkie put a little illusion over the plate and like that, council continued.

"Now that everybody has been fed, it's time to continue."

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