Work Text:
Dr.Saltzman had left limbo two weeks ago, those two weeks felt like forever in here. We didn’t know what happened, he just disappeared so now it was just me and Ted. I haven’t given up. I was still trying to find more coins, Teds was halfway full and I only needed a few more. It was hard dealing with Ted but not giving up was what got us to this moment.
We were standing on the dock and our bowls were filled. I was ready for a while but I decided to stay and help Ted.
“HAHA, this is brilliant! I can't wait to see the face of that sly bastard hahaha.” Ted said cackling
“I’ll let you have this one.” I said, rolling my eyes before looking around and asking “Where the hell is he anyway?”
Just then he appears
“You go first.” Ted says taking a step back
I walk forward reaching out to give the Ferryman his coins and he takes them opening up his arms as if it's a magical doorway
I look over to Ted and watch him do the same.
“Come on! Why are you just standing there?” Ted said while putting one foot onto the boat
“I'm not ready.” I say dejectedly stepping back as I watch Ted hurry onto the boat
“Give us a moment.” Ted says getting back onto the dock
“Are you insane? This could be our very last chance. We have to take it.” he said
“I wanted to live, but I was also willing to give it all away.”
“For the greater good of all of us. I promised my brother to live and I never got that chance. It's just crazy to think that this is it.” I said motioning towards the boat
Ted sets his hand on my shoulder “There are good people in life who end up getting the short end of the stick. That's you, Landon. I’m sorry that your life was cut short and my hand in it, but peace is what you deserve. More than anything, more than me. So you have to come with me, and take this chance for YOU.’’
“I just wish there was another way.” I said looking up and taking a deep breath
“The tribrid jumped into the water but I don't think that would work.’’ he said looking at my face before squeezing his hands and crouching into himself ‘’ARRGH, I guess we can stay here and I'll stick beside you as you did me until you are ready.” Ted said looking defeated
I look at him and then at the water “See you never.”
“Well, that was unexpected. Can you keep these here for him?” Ted says as he gets on the boat and takes his place in peace
I woke up breaking out of my shell of ashes. I tried lifting up but I couldn’t. Once I fully comprehended that I was in an enclosed space, I started to hyperventilate. Then everything went black. When I woke up again I tried my best to soothe myself without thinking of Malivore or my foster home.
What if I sent myself to hell with that thought I started punching the wood over me. My knuckles were bloody and had some splinters but it wasn’t too bad. The dirt was easy to dig through. Once I broke through, I realized I was sitting next to my grave. I must be in the real world but I'm not sure
—--
At the Salvatore School
‘’So, what’s the plan again?” asks Lizzie
‘’You guys are insufferable,’’ Hope says putting her hands to her head
‘’I'm going to bait her and use her well my magic against her.’’
‘’Wait, how are you going to use your magic against her when you don't have any?” ask MG
Hope snaps his neck ‘’Is anyone else having a hard time understanding?” she says putting her hands on her hips
“What the hell, Hope!” says Lizzie
“That wasn't cool.” Kaleb said leveling Hope
“Yeah, and what are you going to do about it?”
Kaleb stands down and picks up MG, taking him away.
“It’s weird seeing you loyal.” she yells to Kaleb as he leaves
“Well they're not part of the plan anymore” she said shrugging
“ I will say it one more time. Lizzie, you greet her and bring her in act as if you're trying to help turn my humanity. This goes for everyone pretend to be scared and- “
“ I do not know if we will have to pretend. Sorry” said Cleo
“Jed and Finch you are going to attack her to distract her, Lizzie you will wear her out with some spells so she overuses my magic. Then I'll swoop in and hit her with a tranquilizer and some wolfsvain, once she's out I can get my body and be on my way. “
‘’Will that work on her.” ask Ethan
“It should. Hey, what are you even doing here? You can leave too. Make sure MG is alright or something.” Hope said brushing him off
He looks at the others for validation before leaving
‘’We will help you. Only if you agree to bring my dad back.”
“He's not dead, why would I have to bring him back? And what makes you think you have room to negotiate? “ Hope said folding her arms
‘’I'd rather die than help you with anything right now and you obviously need help or you wouldn't be here.”
“ I kinda don't want to die.” said Jed holding up his hand and scratching the back of his neck
Lizzie glares at him
“I'm with you.” Finch whispers and Cleo looks at them and nods
“Fine I'll bring him back then we never have to cross paths again. I think she’s coming make me invisible’’
—---
Aurora enters the gym as Lizzie leads the way pretending to believe it was actually Hope.
Aurora feels Hope's body becoming weaker by the second and that puts her on edge and she starts to go over some spells that she learned. Once they make it to the gym they start with the plan ‘’Hope we know things have been stressful lately, but just know you will always have a home here’’ Lizzie says over dramatically putting her hand over her heart
‘’ Yes, I know you do not want to hear this right now, but we are your friends and we will always be here for you’’ Cleo says
Aurora blankly looks at them remembering that Hopes humanity was supposed to be off
‘’I came here for a weapon, more like a torturing device of sorts. I was wondering if any of you can get it for me. I mean it's not like you have a choice.” she says flashing her teeth and eyes
‘’We have tried to be gentle because of what you went through or whatever but now's the time to give it up.’’ Lizzie says
‘’Either you let us help you or we make you’’ Finch says
‘’ That sounds like a challenge’’ she says smirking
After that Jed lunges at Aurora hoping to land a blow but she catches his fist in her hand and throws him to the ground twisting his arm in the process “I didn't mean to do that.”
Finch takes that opening and kicks her almost causing her to fall she recovers and tries to punch Finch but Finch dodges the hit and hits her from below.
Aurora takes that opportunity to shove her elbow down onto Finches back and picks her up slamming her on the floor and breaking some of her ribs. ‘’That, I meant to do.’’
Cleo plans to hit her with a wave of magic but Aurora notices and speeds towards her knocking her out with the force of the punch “You next?’’
‘’I can't match your strength but I can match your magic’’
‘’Ventus’’ Aurora says blowing Lizzie back and she recovers with ‘’Ah sha lana’’ making her squeeze her head in pain she mutters ‘’Incidia’’ Lizzie counters it with ‘’reboundus’’ causing the flames to go back on Aurora and burning her
‘’ You blonde bimbo’’ she says charging toward Lizzie but Hope blocks it counter attacking Aurora hitting all her known weak spots because it is Hope's body and stabs her with the trident.
Aurora passes out and Hope returns to her body ‘’We didn't even have to use the tranquilizers. Nice and Easy. ‘’
‘’Nice and Easy? Most of our friends are hurt. ’’ she motions to them
‘’Your friends. I don’t have one in this room, and at least they aren't dead.’’
That hurts Lizzie more than she would have liked ‘’You don't even care. And you can't leave anyway because of my dad.’’
‘’That’s kind of the point, and you trying to make me feel bad is getting annoying so I will be on my way.’’
“What about our deal?! “
“Oh, yeah that. I had my fingers crossed” Hope shrugs laughing
“I’m going to kill you’’ Lizzie says
Hope pokes her lips out making a thinking face ‘’I doubt it but you can try.”
“ Corporis impetus’’
‘What the hell did you just do?” she ask in disbelief
‘’Just know you won't be moving for a very long time.” she says as she sticks the dagger into Hope's back
‘’LIZZIE NO!’’ screamed Landon
‘Elizabeth” Alaric yells shortly after
—---
Landon made his way back to the Salvatore School and was sneaking around until he ran into Dr.Saltzman
‘’Dr.Saltzman?’’
‘’Landon? Oh my God, how are you here?’’
‘’I could ask you the same.’’
‘’Ok, we can get to this later but we have to be really quiet.’’ Alaric says looking around and putting his hands on Landon's shoulders
‘’Hope is here and-’’
‘’Hope is here?! I have to-’’
‘’Shhh, yes Hope is here but her humanity is off, and she's not in her body.’’
‘’What? That doesn’t even make sense.’’
‘’I know but they seem to be figuring everything out and we should spectate for now and intervene when I mean if things go left.’’
‘’But why? Wouldn't they be happy to see us?’’
‘’We’re both supposed to be dead I think seeing us would be the worst distraction.’’
‘’Alright, you're right, I guess. Where are we going to watch from?’’
‘’Follow me.’’
They watched the whole scene Landon hears Hope and Lizzie arguing
‘’Should we intervene now?’’
‘’No, we should stay put until she leaves’’
‘’Wouldn’t that solve the entire issue?’’
They go back and forth until they hear Lizzie say I'm going to kill and from there everything moved so fast but slow
‘’LIZZIE NO!’’
‘’ELIZABETH.’’
Landon finds himself speeding up taking the dagger from Lizzie and taking it out of hope but somehow a piece is still inside
The impact sprains Lizzie's arm but she can't focus on her arm because she sees her dad “Daddy?”
“Sweetheart.” he says hugging her “Where's your sister?”
“What, how-you were dead? You let go.’’
‘’I know but I’m here now.’’
“Lizzie what did you do to her why isn't she moving?” Landon says as he watches her slowly turn grey’’
“Regalto”
Hope starts to fall from the pain and Landon catches her slowly bringing her to the ground “No Hope you can't go I just got back we were supposed to get a chance to be happy. You were supposed to live.’’ he said moving some of her hair behind her ear and holding on to her face
‘’HOPE.’’
‘’ I took it out why isn't it stopping.’’
‘’It must have been too strong.’’ said Jed trying to help Finch
“I think I need to stay here for a moment.” Finch said
‘’I’m sorry.” says Lizzie realizing what she did
Just then Cleo awakes ‘’There must be something we can do some type of reversal.’’
‘’I don't think we have enough time.’’ says Alaric
‘’Maybe we can try to get it from her chest.” says Landon
“Or we can send her to the prison world.’’ says Lizzie
‘’She’ll just heal, and it isn’t a cosmic night.’’ said Alaric
‘’Why are you willing to give up so easy.’’ Landon says holding onto Hope tighter he feels her getting colder and harder he bends down holding his head at her neck
Before she starts to disintegrate he hears her say ‘’Even Immortal beings find a way to die.’’
They both shed a single tear. He let's go because he can’t watch her disappear
‘’This is all your fault.’’
‘’I know I'm sorry, I didn't mean-”
‘’Not you, him. You knew. You knew Alaric. You knew her humanity was off in Limbo, didn't you? She was the one that killed you. Trust you? I trusted you I knew I should have intervened.’’
“You were out of limbo for weeks, something could've been done. Now she’s gone and she’s not coming back.’’ Landon says putting his hands above his head
‘’Well this is all rather sad, but I didn’t have to lift a finger. Just like a Mikaelson her own reason of her demise.’’ Aurora says laughing
Landon diverts his attention to Aurora ‘’Fuck you.’’
‘’How dare you? She wasn’t her family she didn’t deserve any of this.’’
‘’I’m sure the others can say different things. Nice try saving her we all knew you couldn’t when you've been nothing but useless.’’
Landon walks slowly to Aurora
‘’Am I supposed to be scared?”
‘’My heart feels like someone set it on fire,’’ Landon says once he's close to her and he reaches out, putting his fist in her chest slowly squeezing her heart ‘’That’s how it starts, then it’s tighter and tighter until it burns. But before that there's hope.” he says loosening his grips
‘’Hope. Then all Hope is gone and you're left with this burning feeling all over’’ he says as he focuses the fire on her body instead of her heart
‘’Landon, what are you doing? I know you’re hurting but killing someone-’’
‘’Shut up Alaric she isn't human none of us are’’
‘’But first, it's your heart.’’ he says burning her heart to ashes then the rest of her follows
The other's attention is on Hope ‘’Oh my God.’’
Landon turns around ‘’Someone put her out don't just stand there.’’ he says moving towards her starting to cry again
‘’No.” Alaric says stopping him from going forward
‘’I think she coming back.’’ Jed says breaking his arm back into place
They all watched as she started to break from the ashes she gets up confused and she looks Alaric and Landon and speeds off