1,000 Years

Mikaelson Ball

Elena stood in her kitchen with Stefan and Damon when doorbell rings. Elena goes and opens the door. No one is there, but on the doormat is an envelope with an ornately-handwritten "Elena Gilbert" on the front. She picks it up, closes the door, and turns around. Damon and Stefan are in the lobby near her. "What is it?" Damon asked looking at her. She opens the envelope and removes a card. "It's an invitation. "Please join the Mikaelson Family, this evening at seven o'clock. For dancing, cocktails, and celebration." Elena said looking at her. "Who the hell are the Mikaelsons?" Damon asked looking at him. "The Original Family." Elena said looking at him. "It's not bad enough they're moving into town, now they want a housewarming gift?" Damon asked looking at her. She turns the card over and sees there's writing on the back. "Wait, there's a note on the back. "Elena, I think it's time that we finally meet, Esther." Elena said looking at him.

It's evening. Cars are pulling up the driveway in front of the mansion. Inside there are lots of people talking. A live band is playing classical music. Damon walks over to Carol Lockwood and hands her a glass of champagne. Kol walks away. Damon sees Elena enter wearing an exquisite dress. He stares at her. Stefan and Damon walk up to meet Elena. "What are you doing here?" Stefan asked looking at her. "I could ask you the same thing," Elena said looking at him. "Surprise, surprise. Nice tux. You're not supposed to be here." Damon said looking at her. "Well, I am. And I'm not leaving until I find out what Esther wants. So, shall we?" Elena said looking at him. Stefan offers Elena his arm and she wraps hers in it. She looks at Damon and he does the same, and she takes his arm with her other arm. Both Salvatores escort her into the party. Elijah makes an announcement. "Uh, if everyone could gather, please," Elijah said looking at everyone. All the Originals are standing on the staircase as Elijah addresses the company. Esther walks down the staircase from upstairs. "Welcome, thank you for joining us. You know, whenever my mother brings our family together like this, it's a tradition for us to commence the evening with a dance. Tonight's pick is a centuries-old waltz, so if all of you could please find yourselves a partner, please join us in the ballroom." Elijah said looking out at everyone. Damon extended his hand towards her. "It would be rude not to dance, you know," Damon asked looking at her. Elena relents takes his hand and curtsies. "It is tradition," Elena said as he looked at Damon. Damon and Elena walk out to the ballroom as Stefan watches them with a depressed look on his face. In the ballroom, everyone is dancing the waltz. "You look stunning if it isn't obvious," Damon said looking at her. "Thank you." Elena said. Elena and Damon are still dancing. Damon twirls her around and she's suddenly in Elijah's arms. They dance together. "Elena. I understand my mother requested to see you." Elijah asked as they danced together. "Uh, yeah. Why, is something wrong?" Elena asked looking at her. "Well, her ability to forgive my brother after everything he's done to destroy this family strikes me as a little strange to say the least," Elijah answered looking at her. "Do you think that it's an act?" Elena asked as they danced together. "It has me asking questions I never thought I'd ask. Can I depend on you to tell me what she says?" Elijah asked softly. "Of course. I'll find you later, okay?" Elena said as she nodded before leaving him alone. She goes upstairs to Esther's study and knocks on the door. Finn walks over to the door and opens it, revealing Elena standing there alone. Elena walks in and notices Esther holding the sage. "It's only sage. I've spelled it so we can speak freely without fear of being overheard. That'll be all Finn, thank you. You must have a million questions for me Elena. Please." Esther said as she gestures towards the sofa and they sit on it. "How are you alive? Are you a ghost? Or..." Elena asked looking at Esther. "Not exactly. When I died the witch Ayana preserved my body with a spell. She was a close friend of mine, an ancestor of your friend Bonnie." Esther replied. "So that's why only Bonnie and her mother could open up the casket," Elena said smiling softly. "They complete the Bennett bloodline. I drew power from them and their ancestors who were with me on the other side." Esther said.

"So you've been on the other side for a thousand years?" Elena questioned. "Nature's way of punishing me for turning my family into vampires. But there is a way for me to undo the evil I created." Esther said. "You're gonna help us kill Klaus, aren't you?" Elena asked. "One thing at a time Elena. For now, I simply need your help. I understand Rebekah shared the story of my family. How I upset the balance of nature by turning my children into vampires." Esther said looking at her. "She said you did it to protect them from the werewolves," Elena said. "It's true. But in no time at all, they began to feed on human blood. They ravaged the town with no remorse. Eventually, Niklaus turned against me." Esther said looking at him. "How are you gonna kill him? He's immortal." Elena asked. "It will take time, magic, and your assistance." Esther asked looking at him. "What do I have to do with it?" Elena asked looking at her. "My children believe I'm holding this ball to celebrate our reunion. But in truth, I've gathered them together to perform a ritual. The first step requires blood from the doppelgänger. Only a drop. Its essence will be in the champagne toast later on this evening. Will you do it or shall I?" Esther asked as she holds out a long thin knife in her hands. Elena looks taken aback, but after a moment's consideration, she removes her glove and gives her finger to Esther to prick. Esther pricks it and squeezes the blood into a glass chalice that's filled with liquid. "Elijah is more suspicious than the others, so he may need more persuasion. But they must all drink at the toast in order to be linked as one." Esther said looking at her."What do you mean linked as one?" Elena said looking at Esther. "You said yourself Klaus can't be killed. But tonight's spell links all my children together so that if one goes, they all go. I love my family, Elena, but they are an abomination. I betrayed nature when I created them. It's my duty to kill them." Esther said looking at her. Elena nodded before leaving. She goes and stands in the foyer. Elijah comes in and looks at her. "So how was my mother?" Elijah asked."Intense," Elena responded. "And for what reason did she need to speak with you in private?" Elijah asked looking at her. He offers her a glass of champagne. Elena notices Esther on the staircase looking at her. "Elena? Should I be concerned about my mother's intentions?" Elijah asked. She nodded slightly. "Don't drink the champagne, Elijah. Tell the others not to as well." Elena said looking at him. Crystal rings. Esther addresses the guests from the staircase. She has a glass of red-tinged champagne in her hand. Elijah looked at the others and shook his head pointing to his champagne they got the message and nodded. "Good Evening, Ladies and Gentleman. Waiters are coming around with champagne. I invite you all to join me in raising a glass. It provides me with no greater joy than to see my family back together as one. I'd like to thank you all for being part of this spectacular evening. Cheers!" Esther said as she drank from her glass. "Cheers!" Everyone said. Elena and the original vampires didn't drink the champagne but they pretended too. "I'll explain everything but not here. Meet me outside with your siblings except for Finn." Elena said as she curtsied before leaving the house going outside far away from the house.