Demeer had been returned to the Arcane University to document what he'd seen and begin writing an analysis on both the ritual components and the fuel-like quality dark magic had provided. Rumple nor Jefferson had cared a single iota about any of that, not when they'd retreated to the new Dark Castle with Grace and the dagger. Rumple had dumped an unconscious Ravavena in one vacant room and only spared a glance to a crying Jefferson guiding Grace to his own room. His wives would surely be keeping themselves busy with one thing or another – Belle likely in the library while Phria indulged in her training room. So Rumple paid little attention to his surroundings as he marked down the hall with the dagger gripped so tightly his hand threatened to bleed. That was until he passed one of the various balconies. Bae and little Amicia emerged, her with a bright smile for her papa, and him with brown eyes that instantly fell to the infamous blade.

Bae didn't spare a moment. "You promised that dagger wouldn't control you again!"

Amicia jumped away from her big brother's sudden shouting and grabbed Rumple's sleeve. He quickly crouched down to her level for a comforting hug.

"Don't yell at Papa, Bae!"

A kiss found its way to the top of her golden head. "No, lass, it's all okay."

Rumple hadn't been shocked by such a reaction from his only son. That dagger had caused so much heartache, resentment and had left destruction in its wake; accursed shard of spite that it was. Bae's fists clenched while Amicia continued to glare at her brother unaware of what the dagger represented, of the memories it stirred up sinisterly.

With one hand on Amicia's back, Rumple proffered the dagger to Bae with the other. Back in the Enchanted Forest he'd not let another look upon his dagger let alone hand it over so freely.

"Take it. Look at it." Bae had no desire to hold such a beastly thing, but when his papa insisted and it looked like Amicia had started to consider grabbing it herself, Bae relented. "It's not controlling me. I'm still free, the Curse didn't reconnect to me. Look! My name isn't on their anymore. I'm not bound to it or it's evil now."

He urged Bae to see for himself, to understand he told the truth. The dagger looked as it always had but bore no name. Rumple felt no tether binding him to the Darkness but could sense the evil still lurked inside the blade. Free, Rumple was free of it's savagery and somehow found himself in the best of both worlds – all his omnipotence without the binding evil. This was a fantastically fortunate outcome.

"Stand up!" Bae commanded, but his papa didn't move an inch. "It really doesn't control you?" Rumple shook his head. "Then why do you have it? Why would you want this thing here?"

"I didn't bring it through the portal for me, Bae, I – I brought it for you."

Bae's eyes widened. "Me?! Why the hell would I want this anywhere near us? Papa, things were finally better."

Suddenly the dagger was thrown down at the floor between them again causing Amicia to jump. She'd thought – she'd hoped all the arguing between her papa and big brother had ended, that they could just love each other like she loved them.

"Lad, let me explain," pleaded Rumple while stroking small circles on Amicia's back to comfort the pair of them. "Neither of us wanted to be brought here, but I've found I don't ever want to leave. Why would I? I'm free of my curse, your sisters are here, Belle and Phria are here. I don't want to go back. You though, you're a strong and amazing boy who only ever wanted to explore and be happy. You're in this realm because of me and, while you might be content at the moment, what happens when you're an adult? I don't want you to come to hate me again for never being able to return to the Enchanted Forest. Opening the portal used up almost all of Ravavena's dark power, if we try it again, she'll die and you were the one who made me promise there wouldn't be any unneeded death. That means there's no power source stable enough for the portal again other than me and Valdis, and I know you'd never want to put your sister through that. I don't want you to leave, Bae, I'd rather that you have all your adventures here, but I'm trying to be better; for you, for your sisters, Belle and Phria." Rumple paused a moment to sigh deeply. Amicia took the opportunity to cuddle into her papa tighter while Bae just listened eerily quietly. "One day, if you decide you want to go back, the dagger will power the portal. It can't be opened from the other side so you'd never come back -"

Finally Rumple's speech was cut off as Bae's head fell to one side and his brow furrowed in puzzlement.

"You'd let me go?"

Rumple nodded. "I wouldn't be happy about it, and I'd do everything I could to talk you out of it, but yes. If you truly wanted to leave Dreymyr then I wouldn't stop you."

Silence lingered in the hallway for a moment. An odd weight silence possessed, an absence of sound pressed so strongly on their shoulders. A breeze drifted in through the balcony door which had been left ajar, a breeze distant trees danced in. Amicia's blue eyes flitted between father and son as the silence stretched on until she could take it no longer.

"Are you done fighting with Bae now, Papa?"

Rumple giggled in that way of his. "Aye, Amicia, we're done."

From the floor Bae retrieved the hated dagger and proffered it back to his papa. "Put the dagger in the vault where we can't see it. I can't say we'll never need it, but I don't need it now."

With a wave of his golden-green hand the dagger vanished hopefully to never be spoken of again. The vault underneath the castle had been filled with almost all of his collection from the old Dark Castle, partly gathered to keep the likes of Cora and her daughters from utilizing them and partially for a selfish demon lord to retain his past. None of it would be put on display as it had before, instead it would all linger in the darkness of his quiet vault. Nobody else needed to know of any of it, they were Rumple's memories after all. There had been a second reason for bringing through the dagger though, not to complete his collection or act as a keepsake of his days as an irredeemable beast, but instead to keep the Dark One's curse from spreading. If nobody else ever found the dagger, then maybe the Dark One wouldn't ever harm the Enchanted Forest and neighboring realms again. To Rumple it was just another part to his promise to Bae; no more unnecessary deaths.

"Papa, Bae has sword practice with Renner. Will you come watch with us?" Amicia fluttered her blue eyes knowing it always had him cave and, sure enough, she got a nod. "Yes! Do you think Phria would teach me?"

Bae lifted an eyebrow. "You want to learn swordsmanship, Mic? I thought you preferred reading with Belle."

Amicia spoke while Rumple stood and the trio began their walk to the courtyard to meet with Renner, Demiurge and the two youngest children.

"I do, but everybody else is strong. Papa's a demon lord, Phria and Renner are warriors, Mama can tame anything -" Rumple had to agree, she'd tamed him after all. "- and even Vee can fight. She's got wings too!"

While Valdis did have an exorbitant level of power as well as wings and a destructive tail if she took her talisman off, Valdis had no real idea how to use any of it. Semiramis had shown signs of extensive talent when it came to water magic as well. Bae couldn't use magic, but he was agile, quick thinking and surprisingly skilled with a sword, so it made perfect sense Amicia dreamed of being just as strong as her family. Royals in other kingdoms seemed to treat swords as the sort of thing princesses shouldn't have associated with despite there literally being an organization of warrior women with a stellar reputation. However, no matter how much Rumple didn't wish to be known as a king, he'd not object to his little princesses learning to use a sword if that was what they wanted to do.

Upon entering the courtyard they found Renner already waiting in the centre while Valdis and Semiramis tickled Demiurge's fur from a stone bench off to the left; a stone bench they'd piled with purple flowers picked from the garden Belle had started. The demon Proserpina had taken up residence leaning against a wall in the shadows as well with her spear beside her, clearly eager to see Bae's talents.

Renner soon got training underway while the girls cheered Bae on and showed Rumple the flowers they'd gathered. A pleasant afternoon with his children, that wasn't the sort of thing Rumple had ever expected to have but, now that Jefferson and Grace had been reunited, these days would hopefully become frequent. Eventually Rumple ended up with Semiramis on one side of him swinging her legs, Amicia on the other while Valdis perched on his lap. Bae and Renner glided around the courtyard as training swords clattered together rhythmically and Renner ensured he kept Bae on the defensive to better his guard and footwork. Demiurge didn't take long to scale the vast tree near the stone bench and settle on a thick branch there, maybe he'd picked up his perceived laziness from Azzy. Rumple would have to seek out his wives before long, they'd want to discuss everything that had happen at Rutherford Tower and what had caused Grace coming to Dreymyr rather than Jefferson leaving. However, Rumple would happily soak up every moment he got with those four children.

"Renner, Papa said you'd teach me to use a sword, too."

"That wasn't exactly what I said."

The scruffy-haired pantherian never turned his attention away from Bae and their training, simply responded as he blocked one of Bae's thrusts.

"If my Lord wishes his daughters trained, I will train you."

Valdis peered up at Rumple then from his lap then with a twinkle in her black eyes – a clear sign of her dragon heritage.

"Will you teach us magic, papa?"

That had Rumple pause. He didn't wish to deny his daughters anything but didn't want to encourage corruptive dark magic if he could help it. Every person he'd instructed in the way of dark magic had turned into a monster same as him then done unspeakable things to those around them in their quest for power.

As if sent to save him, Proserpina stepped out from the shadows and returned her red spear to her back as she approached and knelt before the demon lord she'd vowed to serve. Black hair, eyes that sparkled like rubies and smooth gray skin; yes, Proserpina Viotto was quite the beautiful woman who'd begun her life so far away in Dawnkarth. The silver ferronnière she wore had tiny blue gems which sparkled in the sunlight giving her an almost glowing quality, but nothing took away from her posture and spear; this woman had been a Valkyrie for a reason.

"My Lord, if I may, Kyveli is an exceptional mage gifted with both spirit and water magic. I'm sure she'd be delighted to instruct the princesses in the magical arts."

Rumple pondered a moment while Bae and Renner continued to dance around the courtyard in mock battle. Kyveli Ninomae, the Pleiades' mage and a talented on at that according to Phria. Now they had a home and weren't travelling around all the time, Rumple supposed getting the girls and Bae tutors would likely be an excellent idea. Magic required control and understanding no matter which realm one lived in. So, until a proper tutor could be hired, Rumple saw no reason not to make use of the Vellan elf.

"Aye, that sounds like a decent idea, dearie. Kindly have her report to Renner so he can set up a schedule for my daughters and son."

Bae's concentration broke for a moment and that was his downfall, Renner took the opening and knocked the teen to the grown in hardly a second. Proserpina didn't glance his way though, simply nodded then departed to track down Kyveli.

"Papa," began Bae as Renner helped him to his feet. "I can't use magic, so what's the point of me going?"

"Renner, wouldn't it be best for a warrior to have an understanding of magic and how an opponent is likely to use it against them?"

He nodded causing his scruffy hair to obscure yet more of his forehead. "Indeed it would, my Lord. Skill is only half the battle."

As always Renner remained a man of few words. He tossed Bae his training sword back and set to correcting his footwork. Rumple hadn't had any real education growing up, his aunts had done their best and taught him a profession, but that had been about it. He'd not even learnt to read until he'd been drafted. Bae and his daughters though, they'd get the best of everything; best food, best tutoring, and the most love he and his wives could give them.

~X~

Later, when Rumple had finally managed to seek out his beloved brides after checking Ravavena was still unconscious, Rumple strolled into the salon to find Missus Potts and her son of all people perched at the long table sipping tea. Belle and Phria sat opposite with concerned expressions and a tea set between them. The old woman and her boy looked tired, thin and terrible, Missus Potts had clearly spent much time crying.

The moment their husband entered, Belle and Phria were out of their chairs at his side to kiss his cheek in turn and pull him over to take his rightful place at the head of the table. Clearly something big had happened, something they likely wanted him to fix with a benevolence he didn't really possess.

"I take it this will be a long story." He sighed.

The trip from Ranga to his castle was neither short nor easy, frankly Rumple wasn't quite sure how the two had managed it. Knowing he was in for an apparently heart-breaking tale, he helped himself to some tea and sipped while Missus Potts told him her woes.

"My papa moved us from Westselo to build that inn." She eventually began while staring into her own cup of tea. "Sure, he was good with coin and had the know-how to forge lasting relations with suppliers, but it was the charm of my mother Edith who made the Teapot Inn what it is. Could cheer the saddest of folk up she could, taught me to make hammer boar stew as well." Yes, Rumple could freely admit that stew was somewhat legendary. "We ran it as a family, you see. My older sister Constance didn't have the knack but she tried. She wanted romance and she got it when she married that grasswalker of hers. I didn't mind running the inn alone, I loved it there. My husband gave us Chip and then he helped out too."

While the Teapot Inn's history was surely fascinating and filled with many a unique detail, Rumple failed to see why he was being told any of it or why they were in his castle.

"Are you stumbling towards a point at all, dearie?"

"Rumple!" Belle scolded him with a stern glare. "This is our fault."

That had him cock an eyebrow. "What is?"

Missus Potts sighed. "Since you took this land as your kingdom things have been uncertain, milord. The Church has been losing so many to Stewardism and they're determined to have all of Dreymyr thinking you a monster again. They throw propaganda around and rile folk up into a frenzy. Zealots and fanatics kept popping up out of the woodwork, some religious, others just racist. Wasn't long before word reached the ones in Ranga about a strange demon who'd claimed to be a demon lord and where he'd lived. Before I knew it people were pounding on my door demanding we confessed our sins and begged Drazva for forgiveness." She wiped away a tear. "I thought it would go away, but it just got worse. Some people tried to defend us and got beaten for it. Then they set fire to the inn. My papa built that inn with his own hands and they just burnt it down like it was nothing." Tears came forth anew and Rumple realized this was actually his fault. His cavalier attitude toward announcing himself as the Dark One had lingered in the minds of some and the Potts family had paid the price. Before being disconnected from his curse, Rumple wouldn't have cared in the slightest, but now he felt a twinge of guilt. "Mister Zule and some others helped us escape but the inn burnt so quickly."

"This is horrific." Belle stretched to squeeze Missus Potts' hand. "I'm so very sorry this has happened."

"I doubt there's anything we can do for the inn itself." Mused Phria. "The number of zealots may be small, but they cause destruction and hate equivalent to a whole army."

"How did you and Chip end up here, dearie?" The gentle tone to Rumple's voice actually startled him, he wasn't aware he was capable of such a thing. "There aren't any roads."

Missus Potts nodded and looked up from her tea for the first time since Rumple had entered the room: Chip continued to stare off blankly as though his mind were far away.

"… Chief Commander Aalto was kind enough to take us into the Guild. She knew we'd not be safe in the city, and couldn't risk inviting more of the Church's attention, so she had us sailed here."

"That's right." Phria confirmed as she looked passed Belle to her husband. "Gordana contacted us with a communication crystal and organized everything. We'd have told you, but you were so focused on the portal and getting Ravavena out of Akula Prison."

Had she not been so preoccupied with the tragedy of her last few weeks, Missus Potts would have startled at the mention of another demon lord. Four throughout history, and two had popped up at once.

"Emmerich Nalene brought them straight here, then Phria and some of the Pleiades escorted them from the Dagger." A small peninsular to the east. "They're safely away from the Church and those miscreants here."

While he had felt that twinge of guilt, Rumple failed to see why they needed to come all the way to his castle. There were uncountable numbers of monsters in the waters between Dorovoth and the Demon Lord's Domain, they'd risked their lives travelling so far and it wasn't as though Rumple wanted yet more people skulking around his castle. The seven Pleiades made sense, and Ravavena had to stay with them, he may have built an exceptionally large castle but that didn't mean he wanted every chamber occupied.

"Surely you have family somewhere. That sister you mentioned perhaps."

Belle leaned back in her hair clearly unimpressed with Rumple's not so subtle suggestion. "Had they gone to their family it would put them in danger as well. There must be others suffering because of the Church's hatred of anyone who goes against them. Missus Potts and Chip were just smart enough to come to us and ask for help."

"Fine, fine. They can stay for now." He waved his hand dismissively before mumbling to himself: "If there are going to be so many people running around this place, we'll be needing a maid."

Azzy, who'd been curled up at Belle's feet pretending to sleep for the whole conversation, suddenly rose to his full height then and growled deeply toward the door over Rumple's shoulder. It had been left partially open when Rumple had entered and, if Azzy had actually gone on alert, only one person could be hidden there.

"Was there something, Ravavena?"

This time both Missus Potts and her son startled toward the door as the blonde elf entered with her head lowered. She stopped just to the left or Rumple's chair only to drop to one knee respectfully. Belle had to rest a hand atop Azzy's head to silence his growling.

"A third wife, Rumple? Really?" Phria teased.

Rumple almost choked on his tea while Ravavena simply blushed. The teacup was quickly set down in its saucer and unique brown eyes fixed on his brides.

"Two is more than enough." Rumple waved a hand sending Missus Potts and Chip to a set of unused quarters where they'd be out of the way for a while. Rude, but Rumple wouldn't ever shake that aspect of his personality. "There have been a few developments since I left for Akula Prison, my loves. The portal was opened successful. However, Jefferson ultimately chose to remain here instead going home."

"He abandoned his daughter?!" The white-haired pantherian announced in shock. "But he was so adamant on getting back to her."

Rumple waggled a finger. "He did no such thing, darling. I pulled Grace through to our side to keep them being separated by a curse someone I know is intent on casting. It's a terrible thing which strips happiness from all it touches and leaves them memoryless and alone in misery. Grace is safe and Jefferson is explaining everything to her now."

Well that provided his wives much comfort while Ravavena continued to stay on one knee before her new master.

Belle nodded mostly to herself. "I trust Ravavena wasn't too badly harmed?"

Ravavena shuffled to better face the queens; the question hadn't exactly been directed at her but Rumple took no issue in letting her answer it. "I am perfectly fine, Your Majesty. The True Demon Lord has bestowed a great honor upon me by providing me freedom from Akula Prison, sacrificing most of my dark magic to his ritual is the least I can do to repay him. I have made a vow to serve the Dark One before his queens and the Grand Mage, a vow I intend on serving well regardless of the enslavement collar." A hand stretched up to lightly brush the green jewels there. "This castle is in the Ogre Territory, I shouldn't be surprised the True Demon Lord accomplished such a thing so swiftly."

Phria smirked as she interjected. "He calls it his 'rather large estate'."

"He is a powerful man indeed. I can't say the same for Dreymyr's citizens, but I renounce my title as a demon lord and instead take my place serving my lord and master now his portal has been accessed."

Rumple rolled his eyes. That collar was a precaution more than anything else. Though he may have taken pity on her in a disturbing moment of weakness, Rumple still had no desire for slaves of any kind and it wasn't as though he intended on somehow rehabilitating her. A quick glance to Belle told him she lay somewhere between acceptance and caution at allowing the elf to live in the Dark Castle, which he supposed was a fair place to be given the situation. Ravavena had been the one to try building an army of ogres and take the Ogre Territory for herself after all. They'd brought in Renner and the Pleiades to protect their family, having a known demon lord thrown into the mix could become too much for them to handle. However, as he watched her mentally access all that had been said, Rumple realized her urge to give people second chances would eventually win out.

"Very well Demeer went along with this and clearly think she's safe in your care, Rumple." To be honest Rumple thought it was less that Ravavena would be safe with him, and more that she'd not get one over on him. Belle turned to the knelt elf. "You are welcome to fulfil your vow to my husband, Ravavena."

The blonde elf smiled genuinely, the first one in decades. "Thank you, Queen Belle. I ask that you call me Vena, though. My Lord said a maid was needed, therefore I shall make myself useful until a more suitable one can be found."

With that she shuffled out of the room with only Azzy glaring at the doorway proving she'd ever been there in the first place. Rumple helped himself to more tea and enjoyed a moment of silence while he sipped it. Belle wasted no time taking a leaf out of his book and refreshed both her own cup and Phria's.

"This will be quite the adjustment for Grace." Belle mentioned after a sip. "Maybe we should introduce her to Bae and the girls so she has people closer to her own age to play with and keep her feeling so isolated. Bae already came here the same way so they'll have something in common."

Phria's head fell to one side with puzzlement. "I'm sorry, are we just pretending an actual demon lord just told us she'd be our maid like it was nothing?"

"Would you rather I tossed her in the dungeon?"

"Well, no, but she's a powerful demon lord. Is it right for us to use her as a maid?"

Belle set her cup down. "Being a maid is a respectable occupation, Phria, and might provide her stability and a routine. She said she wanted to be useful, so I say we let her do her best. Right, Rumple?"

"Hmm?" He couldn't have cared less as long as Ravavena didn't harm his family. "Aye, let her play maid for a while if it pleases her." Kept her out of his hair if nothing else.

For a while the three enjoyed their tea and Azzy soon settled back down at Belle's feet like the mama's boy he was. Over the last month or so these quiet moments with his beloved brides had become few and far between; a travesty in Rumple's mind. If people kept showing up expecting sanctuary in his castle he'd have to build a village on the other side of the lake just to get away from them. Look at that, a king who didn't want to be one thinking of future citizens he didn't want. Maybe they could call it Demonville and bards could write scary songs about how everybody living there was subject to the Dark One's vile whims; the Church would surely love that. No, it wasn't like people would flock to the Demon Lord's Domain, it had been filled with ogres not too long ago and Rumple felt fairly certain many of the caves and underground tunnels he'd yet to properly explore were littered with undead. Then there was the odd feeling that the south west was home to at least one dragon. No, Missus Potts and Chip had been an isolated case.