Ch.15

I started the ritual and the coven linked to me as one. My power created a loop that sustained us all. The bath Willow was in started to glow as I pulled her soul out and it floated to Tara's outstretched hands. It was a dim white like mist and the barrier around the coven kept it from departing.

Tara held onto her as I pulled a black and green mist from Willow's soul and body. It seemed large at first, but it came together above the bath into a neat ball. Moonlight shone down on it and the blackness in it started to very slowly melt away.

For the next month we were as statues while we worked. On a few occasions Willow's spirit got restless and Tara whispered to it encouraging words. We pushed on and on. Eventually it came to an end under the next full moon.

The last bit of moonlight drained the blackness and taint away. All that was left was a vibrant green magical ball. I put it back carefully and they passed me her soul. It's dim color bothered me but I knew it would be cleansed when she called upon the scythe.

I put it back and released the circle. Fatigue washed over me. While the rest of the coven was fine, my spirit was drained and I felt truly tired. Sooner or later I would have to go searching for a way to strengthen it.

Willow woke up and I stood up. "I'm going to meditate and recover now, don't bother me unless it's important. If you would, try and teach them restraint and natures balance."

Althenea nodded and I left them to it. I sat in the grove where the coven usually does their peaceful meditation and started my own. It took a while but when I found peace, my spirit began recovering. I was interrupted after I was nearly recovered completely by Giles.

He looked somber. "You were right, the council's been destroyed. I'm still finding more and I've met up with Lyndsey a few times to find them in groups."

I nodded. "Tell Lyndsey to higher kill teams to take out the bringers. He has access to my funds and knows the right connections to make. Save as many as you can and warn Buffy and Faith as they may be coming after them as well."

He nodded. "What will you be doing?"

I sighed. "This isn't a fight I'm prepared to interfere directly with. The first was once a demon who ascended to godhood. That's why he's called the first, because he's the first demonic god. He was so corrupt and powerful he tried to consume all life. The other gods banned led together to kill him and spread his essence around the dimensions of this reality. They won't act unless he comes back into full being once again and if I act alone, all the other demonic gods will banned together to kill me. Right now I cannot fight that many and survive. Ask Faith and she'll point you towards a weapon that can be used against the first. It won't kill it but it'll make it hurt."

He nodded and I went back to meditating. When I was at full strength again, I felt a boost in my spirits over all purity. It seems if you drain and refill your spirit, it adapts and grows as well. I stood up and sent my senses all over the world. I felt the concentration of evil in Sunnydale and I knew it was time to head over.

I felt around and noticed Willow and Tara had already left. I informed the coven of my departure and left. Sunnydale was mostly empty now. I arrived and the city was practically dark. I headed over to where everyone was, at Buffy's house. There was nearly a hundred potentials walking around Faith's and Buffy's house.

I waved a hand and started pouring power into the protection array I'd laid down so long ago. The ground all over town lit up and the potentials came pouring out of the house looking to fight.

I ignored them and continued to pour power into it and the totems it had connected to it. After a few arrows and an axe shattered of my chest I heard Faith yell. "That's enough! The next one to attack him gets a beating from me!"

I chuckled. "How ya doing sis?"

She smiled. "Better now that you're here. Care to tell me what you're doing?"

I nodded. "Years ago when I completed my studies of the Magic's of this world, I began laying down a protective formation under the town. It protects all people with souls from harm. Now that I have the power to activate it, I'm doing so as a coming home gift."

She chuckled. "You want to give us a coming home gift, how about some hot water and electricity."

I smiled and waved my hands. The lights in the neighborhood came on. I connected it to the array and when I finished, I told her. "Now aren't you glad I'm back?"

She jumped and hugged me. "Good to see you Alex."

I chuckled and set her back down. "Go get your hot shower. Electricity's only on in this neighborhood so if any of the rest of you feel like a hot shower, bows the time. It will last for one day before it's down to two houses."

They all dispersed rather quickly and I turned to the Scooby gang. Giles was waiting there as well. "I'm glad you thought ahead."

I shrugged. "It's the hellmouth, I figured it would open sooner or later. Bad part is once it does, it's energy will destroy the formation. So they still need trained."

He nodded. "We're seeing to it. Care for a cup of tea now that we have electricity again? I can give you an update."

I nodded and followed him in. We sat down at the kitchen table and they each took turns filling me in on the First's activities. Andrew came out of the back yard with an apron on. I looked to him and sighed. "Your soul is darkened by the innocent life you've taken. It's bound for one of the darkest realms when you die."

He looked freaked out and muttered. "It was an accident."

I snorted. "You cannot fool my eyes boy. I can see what you've done and you sacrificed that innocent boys life for your own gain."

I ignored him as he protested and looked to the gang. I turned to Xander and his missing eye. I put a hand over it and let the healing magic flow through me according to my will. It felt like expression magic.

When I removed my hand, he pulled off his patch. He hugged me and I sighed. "A small price for the pain you've endured."

I turned to Giles as he continued telling me about a Vampire Buffy and Faith couldn't kill. I chuckled. "Have you retrieved the weapon?"

He shook his head. "The preacher is guarding it."

I nodded and waved a hand at the door. "It will open to the weapons location. I'll go through with you but I cannot act. I'm more of a deterrent at this point."

Giles nodded and I told him. "Only a slayer can remove it from its resting place."

Buffy stood up. "I guess that means me."

I nodded and led her through. She walked over to the weapon and grabbed it. Caleb the evil preacher spoke up and came out of the shadows. "Now we cant have you doing that."

I chuckled and walked up to him. I held out a hand. "Names Alexander, nice to meet you."

He frowned and the first appeared saying. "You cannot act-"

I snorted. "I'm merely introducing myself. Stop getting your panties in a bunch."

I growled and I roared back, shaking the cavern. "Do not treat me as a weak fool. I am well aware of those at your side. If they want to toss the dice over a handshake then let them otherwise piss off."

Caleb spoke. "Now listen here you heathen-"

He struck me just as the First yelled "No!!"

When his blow landed I back handed him and his corpse was vaporized. "You should've taught your followers the rules of gods instead of playing ghost."

It roared and growled at me. I smirked. "If you're ready to ring that bell, bring it!"

I growled and left in a flash of light. I turned to Buffy. "Grab it, it's time to go."

She did so and I grabbed her arm dragging her to the door as a Uber vamp came down from the cellar entrance. We went through the doorway and I canceled the spell as I closed the door in its face. Buffy asked. "What was that about? Is Caleb dead?"

I nodded. "He struck a god as a supplicant to another. I was then within my rights to punish him as I saw fit. I destroyed his very being. Even his soul as black as it was, vaporized under my blow. It's why the First got pissed. It just lost its puppet. You'll want to be careful now and keep everyone on this block only. If they venture out further, where less of the formations power is allocated, they may get taken and killed."

She nodded and sent word to everyone to stay within the block. I sighed. "Come nightfall only two houses will be safe, Faith's and yours. If they need a place to crash and train, I'll open the vault to be used but no one is to venture out at night unless they have Faith or you with them."

She frowned. "Why Faith, I have the weapon."

I chuckled. "You'll see. I've seen this day coming for a long while now."

I left the gang to ponder my words and went home. I found Faith coming out of the bathroom with a smile on. I smiled. "Caleb is dead and Buffy has the weapon. You can take yours out to play now."

She laughed. "That's the third best news I've heard all day."

I frowned. "Third best?"

She nodded. "Hot shower, you being home and Caleb being dead."

I grunted. "I rank below a hot shower?"

She snorted. "You don't understand how long it's been since I've had one that didn't involve fighting girls for it."

I chuckled. "Fair enough. Let's go show the slayer pals your toy."

She nodded and we headed over to Buffy's house. Buffy was showing it off to the potentials and the Scooby gang. Faith laughed. "It's a cool toy huh?"

Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, though I don't see what makes it a toy."

Faith snorted and pulled hers out. "I've had mine since high school."

That stunned the crowd and Buffy asked. "Where did you get that from?"

Faith pointed to me and I sighed. "Anya's spell that Cordelia wished for, it made an alternate reality and while we were there, we picked up a few things. The first being all the duplicate items we found over the years."

I tossed a rang towards Spike. "The gem of Amara for instance."

I tossed a golden cross to Giles. "The cross of Du Lac."

And I waved a hand at the slayer weapon. "And another slayer weapon."

Giles asked. "Wouldn't they need it as well?"

I shook my head. "The Buffy there never dies and came back. So the First never got a foothold there. Besides, the slayer weapon isn't meant to fight the first, it's to kill old ones and everything weaker. It cannot harm me so it cannot kill the First. While it can cause him pain because of his lack of body but it does no permanent harm. For that-"

I pulled out Hopes dagger. "You'd need this. It's a weapon made from the first rays of sunlight that touched this world by a witch so powerful she made Willow look weak. If it lands a killing blow on the first, it'll re-disperse it's essence through the dimensions for another few millennia."

Giles took of his glasses and whispered. "Dear lord!"

I chuckled. "Once used, it cannot be used again, so be damned sure you want to use it this generation. Others may not be so lucky."

Faith punched my shoulder. "Why was that in the Faith do not touch section?"

I snorted. "Because you can't wield its power. It takes a slayer whose died and come back to wield it as a weapon and the only one I know of is-"

Buffy sighed. "Me."

I nodded and passed it to her. "That's your decision to do so. Now that I've given out all the help I can without causing a massive war of the gods, I can only watch and help passively."

I walked over to Spike and smacked the back of his head. "Like so."

They all laughed and I sat down on a chair. Faith twirled her scythe around and I told them. "After the hellmouth is dealt with, I'll be leaving this world for my own."

Faith tended and stopped her playing. She turned to meet my gaze and I sighed. "It's still your choice."

She nodded and put away her toy before turning to see the new plan. As the night was about to set in, I told them. "Call all the girls back to the two houses. It's about to get dark and the protective formation is going to shrink to conserve power and protect both houses and the land in between. I have the vault ready to take them in. They'll have their own rooms and beds with power and water there. I'll teleport to another city and stock up on food. Though I may just have to buy a store."

They started calling everyone over and doing a head count. When one was missing I closed my eyes and sighed. "She's in the upstairs bathroom. She committed suicide."

They looked but punched and I sighed. "I believe the first was talking to her."

Buffy growled and I put all the girls in the vault. The only ones out were the Scooby gang and myself. Buffy buried the body in the back yard and we sat down to plan. I sent my senses out then put up a barrier that not even the First would dare touch.

I nodded. "We're good now."

Buffy started. "Then here's the plan. Instead of us waiting around for the First to be ready, I say we open the hellmouth and face the army's head on."

She pulled out an amulet. "This was given to me by Angel last night. He said it's for a vampire with a soul-"

Spike took it. "That'll be me then."

Lyndsey shook his head. "It could be me to."

I chuckled. "Not likely. You're not a vampire by this worlds definition. You're technically an immortal that likes blood. You don't die if you don't feed, you just shrivel up."

Spike put the necklace on. "Still me then. What's it do?"

Buffy shrugged and I grabbed it for a second then snorted. "It'll kill you is what. It's a portal buster for the simpletons. It magnifies sunlight and destroys a portal. Particularly a hellmouth. It'll kill you in the process and your soul will be trapped inside. It's set to release the soul in Wolfram and Hart's headquarters. Must be Angel's way of looking out for you."

They looked shocked and Spike snorted. "Not bloody likely. He probably did it so he'd get the last laugh as I pass on."

I shrugged. "You could always haunt him. Make his life a living hell."

Spike perked up at that. "Really? He shouldn't have. I think I'll keep it."

I sighed. "It'll be the most painful experience you can experience without shredding your soul. Take my word for it, it won't be pleasant."

He looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Shred your own soul did ya?"

I nodded solemnly. "Long story. I did it to protect my daughter and her descendants. Let's leave it at that. Let me be the first to say you're in for a hell of a death. The resulting explosion will sink the city into the cavernous hellmouth entrance and shut it down for good."

He nodded. "Always thought I'd go out with a bang."

I sighed and Buffy looked sad before continuing. "We're going to activate the slayer line, so that all girls that could be slayers, will be slayers. Willow's going to do it."

Faith nodded. "Then Tara can do one of Alex's own designs. It'll link all slayers together and allow them to draw power from each other."

I looked to her. "Are you sure?"

She nodded and I sighed. "Very well. After it's over we'll leave this dimension."

She nodded and Buffy asked. "What's that about?"

I sighed. "Faith is going to give up her connection to the slayer line and become a pure human in order to link you all. Afterwards, she'll die temporarily and come back as my kind of vampire."

I tapped her necklace and a ring came out bearing my family crest. I handed it to her and she slipped it on. She smiled. "A daylight ring. What's the M stand for?"

I smiled. "Mikaelson. It's our family crest."

I pulled my shirt sleeve up and showed the same M on my arm wrapped in Celtic knots. She smiled. "I'm going to have to get one."

I chuckled. "Not really, the females of my family usually opted for Jewelry. Though my brothers stamped it everywhere they lived."

Giles spoke. "Back to the plan. How do we escape the blast radius in time?"

I sighed. "It'll be underground so it'll feel like an earthquake that leads to the entire town sinking into a crater like pit. I'll make a portal out so all they have to do is make it out of the hellmouth and into the portal upstairs."

Dawn asked. "You're not going into the hellmouth?"

I shook my head. "I can't without starting a war amping the gods with me as the target. The hellmouth is connected to the First's personal dimension. His place of power. If I go there, I'm declaring war and I already know I won't live through it. The other demonic gods will attack me together and I'm not ready to fight that many."

She looked sad. "Then how will you protect them."

I looked away and Giles spoke. "He can't. He's bound by different laws than we are. It's why he had to wait until Caleb struck him first before he killed him."

I nodded. "The price of godhood is that the stronger gods make the rules. It's why I'll also be activating my old arrays in town to refill my totems while all the magic of the hellmouth is open. I'll be able to finally step into the domain of magic fully and when my soul is strong enough, I'll be able to fight for territory there as well."

I sighed. "If I could find the relics of other fallen death and magic gods, I'd be able to claim their territories without a fight."

Giles raised an eyebrow and I shook my head. "The reason this world has magic at all is because it has a relic of a dead god of magic feeding the world power. The relics usually have a little sentience and can call on defenders if they're powerful enough, but if I take this worlds relic, everything here loses magic and all dimensions will be cut off. Magic will cease to exist here."

Willow and Tara shook their heads. "That would be bad."

I nodded. "All demons here would be stuck here and the slayer line would loose all power. The humans would have almost no defense."

Buffy nodded. "Definitely of the bad."

I chuckled. "Get some rest, in the morning we'll begin. Don't forget the chest of magical weapons I gave you before. And the two holy swords. The vampires will have no defense against them."

While they went to bed I spent the night making magical light armor and weapons with magical abilities like fire and sunlight enchanted into them. Come morning I teleported to LA and nearly emptied a Walmart of its food sections.

I teleported back and laid the food and equipment out. Faith let the girls out and showed them the food. After everyone ate, Buffy gathered everyone outside to share the plan. The First was there as well but it didn't matter.

After Buffy shared her plan, she waved to me. "A drop of blood on the armor and weapons that you use and it's abilities will only work for you. I've copied the powers of the orb of Nezzla'Khan. A set means you'll be as strong as your mortal bodies can handle until you become slayers. They will still work and make you even stronger but the loss of even one piece will deactivate those effects. The swords are enchanted with light and fire."

Buffy spoke up. "Just remember, we aren't trying to win, but stall for time so that Spike's amulet starts working."

The First turned to me and sneered. "You're going to far!"

I chuckled. "Not really, you're just sour you didn't think of it yourself. Now if you want to act personally, I'd be glad to accompany you, if not, enjoy the show."

It sneered and vanished in a flash of light. The girls walked forwards and cut their hands on the swords before taking an accompanying armor as well. Once they were all ready Buffy opened her chest of weapons and gave them out to the scoobies. She kept Hope's dagger and her scythe on her.

We walked to the again ruined high school. I went with Willow, Tara, and Faith to the office. When the hellmouth opened, I spoke. "Now."

They both began their spells and Faith drank a bottle of my old blood. Tara and Willow's hair went white and Faith died. I felt her slip away before putting her in the vault. They handed the scythes to a new slayer that was waiting and I teleported her to the mouth of hell.

I put Willow and Tara who were now holding each other, in the vault. I found the scoobies and tossed them in the vault as I went. They'd done enough. When I was done, I found Robin and Anya dead. Sighing I put them in the vault for burial later and went to the entrance of the hellmouth. Sunlight shot out and blew the roof off the school in a perfect circle.

It started to gather and slayers poured out as I made a portal just outside of town. They ran through as quickly as possible and when Buffy came out I asked. "Is that all of them?"

She nodded. "We lost two after it started. The armor worked wonders."

I nodded. "Go, I'll close the portal and bring the necklace out when it's over."

She ran through and I closed the portal just as the ground started collapsing and an explosive earthquake shook the town. I rode it out and fell with the collapsed ground. When it stopped and I found myself under a million tons of dirt plus a school, I fished out the necklace before teleporting to the slayers.

I arrived covered in dirt and grime. They saw me and I held up the necklace. "Bastard has balls I'll give him that. I heard his screams of agony as he exploded into light and not only didn't he flinch they were accompanied by an echo of laughter."

I let out the other Scooby members and pulled a bus I'd save out of the vaults. I waited a bit and summoned Faith as well. She woke up and I turned to Xander. "Care to drop neck as it were?"

He looked incredulous and Buffy sighed and came over. Faith bit her and after a minute I pulled her back. Her eyes were saying she wanted more. I started compelling her to control herself and her urges. When she calmed down I hopped on the bus with the slayers and we rode out.

When everyone was on I opened a portal to Devon coven. Giles drove us through and I checked my magic storages from the hellmouth. Most of it was purified and filled half the totems. The First's dimension must have an artifact of its own.

When we got to the coven's home everyone got off the bus and I sighed. "This is where Faith and I part ways with you. I'll be leaving the mansion inside the vault here with a good portion of gold and gems you can exchange for money and a copy of my vast library. After that, it's up to you all to figure it out from here. I'll leave the enchanted items from this dimension with you all as well."

Faith spoke next. "I'm leaving my scythe as well."

I turned to Lyndsey. "You can come with us if you want."

He shook his head. "I'm needed here. Just because one hellmouth is shut, doesn't mean the worst is over. Wolfram and Hart are still pushing for the apocalypse as well."

I nodded. "Then I'll leave you a book of enochian sigils to hide and protect you from their sight and powers."

He smiled. "Much obliged."

I handed him the book and altered his daylight ring to be more like the ring of Amara as well. "I've taken your ability to make more vampires like you away. I can't be responsible if your enemies tried to make more like you if they got ahold of their blood."

He nodded and sighed. "One last request?"

I chuckled. "Sure."

He smiled. "A ride to LA. I'm a little home sick."

I laughed and opened a portal. He tried handing me my bank card back and I shook my head and waved my hand. The name on the card changed to his name. "Think of it as a parting gift."

He smiled and walked through. Ten minutes later a mansion that looked identical to my old one was sitting next to the coven's home. I copied my library and made a small pocket dimension for it separate from my vaults. I tied it to a necklace and handed it to Giles.

I smiled. "As promised, a vast library and treasury. Remake the council if you can. The slayers are linked now and they should be able to find each other now."

He nodded and I sighed. "I'll miss you my friend. If you ever need the power of my domains, give me a chant. The white wolf god will always answer your call."

He gave me a hug and after a bit I said my goodbyes to the rest of the gang. I turned to Buffy while Faith was saying her goodbyes. I handed her my phone saying. "Call Lyndsey if you need help fencing the jewels and gold."

She nodded and I gave her a hug whispering. "You May have loved Angel, but Spike was your soulmate. He may be a soul trapped for now, but once he's free of his duties there, he'll come looking for you. I suggest you look for him as well."

When I pulled away she spoke. "But-"

I shook my head. "I'm a god of death Buffy, I can see such things if I wish to. It's why he's had such a rough time with his soul and it's own problems. It's why he feels so deeply for you. Your own soul is being clouded by higher beings thinking to use you as a puppet. The choice is yours. I say don't let them. I've left a crown in the gold vault that'll turn a vampire human if he wears it for but a moment. Just in case you decide to follow my advice."

I stepped back and grabbed Faith's hand and summoned a portal to my home dimension in the time I left it the first time. We stepped through and it closed behind us. Twenty of the totems went dark from the power and time displacement. I reached out with my senses and felt my far younger self leave.

I teleported to where Bonnie was laying in the witch house basement. I picked her up as Faith asked. "Who is she?"

I smiled. "Her name is Bonnie Bennett and I've come home after eons for her. She's the love of my existence and I'd give up my godhood and all the powers I possess for her."

I carried her upstairs and Faith followed. When I lay Bonnie down to rest, I showed Faith my memories of this world in their entirety. When I finished, I pulled a five gallon bucket of my blood I'd saved out of the vault and handed it to her. "These should make you nearly as strong as an original. There are twenty more in the magical items vault. After you finish them all, you'll be almost as strong as my siblings. Then this world is your oyster and I say we crack it and have a blast. I'm in college here with Bonnie. You can join us and have your own complete experience that doesn't end with world changing disasters."

She smiled. "I think I'd like that."

Bonnie woke up as she said that. "What happened? Who is she?"

I smiled. "A lot has happened, and I'll tell you it all. For now, she's my adopted sister Faith Mikaelson."

Bonnie looked relieved. She sat up and Faith and I took turns telling her everything that has happened and will happen again. When we finished, it must've been late because we were starving. I drove us to the grill and Faith had a laugh because of my mimicking it.

Bonnie and Faith seemed to get along like a house on fire. After a great meal and a few drinks, we went to the Salvatore house to explain everything again to prepare everyone. Needless to say they were shocked and a few were a little terrified at my new status.

Damon made a joke that I knew would stick with me forever. "Great a Heretic god death, what next the hybrid god of porn."

I snorted and Bonnie liked the name. It represented my powers and my past along with my future as a god. I told Ric my other self would make him human again when he came out of the prison worlds. Josette asked. "Why do we have to wait?"

I sighed. "Because I'll be ripped from existence as a paradox if I do it myself now. It's happened in my past so it must happen the same again. It's one year and four months. It's not a long wait to be with him. And once my past self leaves for good, I'll reconnect with the coven as it's leader. You and the others won't be effected at all except for a massive boost in magic."

She frowned then nodded. "I need to get my knife back with my powers before your past self leaves again."

I nodded. "You have time to get home and back before he comes out. If you want a faster trip, I'll teleport you there. I've absorbed your powers before through the knife to merge with your twin so I know where to go."

She nodded. "How is that by the way? He was a sociopath."

I nodded. "It was touch and go for a bit but my curse swallowed most of his soul so it stopped the worst of it. Though I did go on a massive monster hunt for a few billion years and kill everything in sight so that might've helped as well."

Bonnie was deeply concerned and I held her closer. "Don't worry, I'm not that person anymore. Sure I'm more indifferent to most others except those I love, but that's mostly the effect time has on everyone."

She asked a few more questions and the group had their own for awhile. When everyone was up to speed and satisfied, I took Faith and Bonnie home. For the next year we went to college and kept our heads down. On breaks we went to our private island and had beach fun with everyone.

Another four months passed and I hid with Faith as the second coming and departure happened. After my past self left, I told Faith. "It's time to meet the rest of the family."

Alaric came over and tried to give me the ring back. I shook my head. "Keep it. You deserve a happy life and maybe this will help you. If you feel bad about it, maybe start a supernatural school for kids. I know you'd make a great principle and Faith here could be the fitness instructor. Who knows, maybe Josette could be the school nurse and health care teacher."

I walked away and he looked stunned. "Keep the mansion as well, it'd make a great school building now that you have the resources to outfit it."

I teleported myself, Bonnie and Faith to my siblings sides. As I did so, I felt the Gemini covens power settle on me. I could vaguely feel my past self's link as well. Power thrummed from me through the coven.

They all felt it and I got back a curious feeling as if they were trying to figure out how I became the leader. I ignored them and looked to my families curious faces. I walked over to Marcel's corpse and put it back together before kneeling and breathing life into it from the deaths of all the witches. His body healed and he gasped for breath before sitting up.

I sighed. "You were my brothers adopted son and while you betrayed the family, you could have done worse to them. Now that I've adopted a sister as well, I know the bond is the same as birth family. I could not leave you dead even with your acts because I could not do so to any of my family."

I reached out a hand and took Freya's talisman with Finn in it. I tapped it and pulled out his soul. It became as large as if he were standing there in the flesh. I closed my eyes and called to the elements as magic gathered and wrapped around him like a cocoon before it too became solid. When he broke out, he was human again.

I sighed. "You've detested and conspired against our family because you hated what we were and what our siblings did to you. If you feel differently, prove me wrong. Live the life of a human witch and when it's over, if you still feel that way, I'll help you find a humans peace."

Tears came out his eyes. "Thank you brother."

I nodded and turned to Marcel. "You've wanted this city as your own for so long and wanted to get out of my brothers shadow. Well, I can grant you that chance. New Orleans is your city once again. You will never again conspire against my family. You'll find with your new life, I've taken away the power the ancestors and Lucien conspired to make. You are a regular two hundred year old vampire once more. The city is emptied of witches except those present and Davina Clair. I've killed them all for nearly decimating my family and betraying me. You'll find all vampires in this city are here as well. The only supernatural presence other than you shall be the werewolves that didn't betray my family. And all of those have moonlight rings. Good luck."

I turned to my family members and sighed. "I promised you a city to make your own. I promised my niece a world without worry of beings after her. I invite you all to make a home in mystic falls. No killing or treating the people as puppets and you have my word no one will ever bother you again. Let our family have a century of peace and Marcel have his shot at ruling a city where you've left no foundation for him to build on. If In a century he no longer wants to rule this city, you can come back and declare Hope queen for all I care."

When my long ass speech ended they asked all kinds of questions and I answered them as honestly as possible. They agreed to a quiet life and Nik agreed because of Hope and Caroline. He rebuilt the house that he'd thrown the ball for Esther in.

For the next few years everything was great. Stefan came back for his mother and they left together and eventually started a killing spree that a few decades down the line saw the order kill his mother and imprison him for several centuries.

Elena took the cure and Damon fed on her so they could live a happy human life together. Caroline got together with Nik and I got to see him at his happiest with his daughter and soon to be wife at his side. Elijah married Hailey and moved to a small cottage where the spent their days helping Nik raise hope and building Alaric's dream school.

Faith and Rebekah actually got together and had an on again of again fling that lasted centuries in the making. Freya and her wolf girlfriend Keelin got married and adopted a few kids before having their own through magic. And finally, Bonnie and I completed College and on the day we got our doctorates in occult studies, I proposed to her in the middle of the grill, where we'd met so long ago.

We married that summer under a full moon as magic permeated the air, we performed the spell to bind our life forces together. She used the spells for werewolf and the tribrid rituals to turn herself into something like me.

When her powers reached the apex, she borrowed from my curse and we left this reality for the darker Buffy verse and she consumed the other Glory, ascending into goddess-hood.

She became a goddess of magic and death as my curse became our curse. We went back home and lived a mostly quiet life for a few decades. We taught witchcraft and the arts at Alaric's school. Although we were not yet blessed with a child, we taught many others and helped raise the orphans that showed up.

When the events of legacies kicked in, I took a trip to Malivore and drained the spell holding it together. I freed the beings inside into me vault. The darker ones like the necromancer were killed off to fuel the totems while the dryads and lighter creatures were let back into the world. There were even a few beings that others would consider gods inside that went to the totems because their food source was humans.

The dragons I kept locked away for now with the rarest of the bunch, a phoenix. As Malivore lost the magic that made it what it was, so did the mud triad industries was using on bullets. With the influx of magical beings in the world, magic itself was increasing as well.

I found the son of the golem and drained him as well to be safe. He became a pile of mud. With all the magic of so many creatures taken from them my totems were nearly all full now. When Rafael and Landon came to the school, I was there to greet them with Alaric in the headmasters office.

When Landon asked to say, Alaric went to refuse and I spoke up. "You can obviously stay kid, but you'll have to give up most of your abilities."

Alaric looked confused and Hope was right there with him. Landon asked. "What abilities?"

I chuckled. "Your father's abilities. You're the son of a human woman and a magical golem that ate creatures. I know this because I destroyed your father last week. He was a golem that was created by the combination of witch, werewolf and vampire blood with mud to capture and imprison everything from dragons to fairies. There were even creatures close to angels he captured inside."

He was speechless and Alaric asked. "You're not joking are you?"

I snorted. "Ric, you know me better than to mess with orphan kids. I destroyed the creature that housed them all and drained the darker creatures of magic, killing them. The rest were either released into the world or are housed in my vault because they're to dangerous to be let out. Like the aforementioned dragons. They're not evil, but they are very dangerous. There were even quite a few humans that were tossed in."

Landon asked. "So I'm part dragon?"

I nodded. "One of the powers you'll have to give up I'm afraid. Don't worry, I'll leave you with immortality and the powers of a phoenix. You'll be able to manipulate fire, fly and be as immortal as anyone other than me and my wife. Basically, you'll be a sudo immortal like vampires. Though they would be easier to permanently kill."

Hope smiled now and Landon looked at her before asking. "And I'll get to stay?"

I nodded. "You'll be an immortal bad ass with two weaknesses. My niece and the golden arrow I've locked away. I'll turn it over to Ric here in case you ever turn evil, but barring that, and you not flaunting your relationship in my little brothers face, you can stay. I'll even teach you how to harness your powers."

Landon nodded and replied. "Fine, I'll do it, how do I give the rest of them up?"

I smiled and held out my hand. He took it and I drained all but the phoenix out of him. When I let go, he said. "Was that it?"

I nodded."That's it."

He felt himself up for a second. "I don't feel any different."

I chuckled and snapped his neck with a wave of my hand. Hope and Alaric were alarmed. "Why did you do that?!!"

I chuckled. "He has to die to activate his phoenix genes. Give him a day and he'll go through his first burning and be revived. Relax, both of you. I've never lied to either of you."

Hope snorted. "What if you're wrong?"

I grinned and Bonnie walked in. She looked at the kid. "Phoenix?"

I nodded. "I'm never wrong on these kinds of things. Relax Hope, I'd never kill your potential suitors. I even let the vampire you loved go."

She snorted. "Then dad killed him!"

I nodded. "But I didn't. Besides, I'm not Nik and while I could have stopped him, he'd have railed against my words and I'd have to listen to his bitching forever. Besides, your ex went on a killing spree after you broke his heart. He got better than he deserved."

I walked over to Bonnie and we headed for the door. Alaric asked. "What am I supposed to do with him. I can't have a dead kid in my office all day!"

I sighed. "Take him outside and away from flammable objects. Tell him to come see me when he wakes up. I'll begin his training after his class Introductions."

I waved a hand and said. "Motus."

Landons body began floating and I walked away. The next few years were interesting to say the least. When I wasn't teaching and not with Bonnie, I was meditating as I usually did now a-days. Most of the time Bonnie joined me as well. Our souls were growing and getting stronger. I even stopped feeling the strain after a decade of it.

Bonnie's first war was coming up and when she started within the Magic domain, I joined her. We fought and she absorbed ten gods and goddesses of magic before she had to stop. The rest couldn't strike because I was there smiling and waiting. While Bonnie began meditating to lesson the strain, I stood guard.

Eventually centuries passed and with it our mortal friends. I created a sudo domain for those of our friends that wanted to stay and watch over their loved ones or stay with us. More centuries passed and eventually a war of the species broke out. The humans technology had advanced to the point of laser guns and magnetic energy barriers.

Their technology was bordering on magic and they had the numbers. Most of the supernatural species was wiped out. Bonnie and I took the survivors into the vault dimension and we left. The magic in that world collapsed as we stepped through another portal to our next reality.

Our next adventure saw us on an ancient version of earth. I recognized it immediately as Westeros. I did so easily because when we arrived, I was starring at a very large wall of ice and the people on top were yelling and calling us wildlings.

I grabbed Bonnie and teleported to the other side of the wall and let out all the supernatural creatures into the lands. Dragons and the phoenix flew off, while werewolves and dryads left with vampires. The only ones that stayed with us were our extensive family.

I gave them a hug before saying. "This world has magic and kings. Make a home here. We will not be staying. There are other gods, older stronger gods watching this world and we do not have a foothold here. Do not worry, they cannot directly interfere here any more than I or Bonnie. We need to leave before they notice us."

Faith asked. "Where will you go?"

I sighed. "To a reality without gods. We need to grow stronger and I have a reality in mind for that. While you're here, make a kingdom and protect our family. When we return, we will consume the gods here and make it our world."

I turned to my brothers. "Niklaus, Elijah, there are two continents on this planet. I suggest you both take one each and take over as king or leader. There seems to be a dark power on the other side of that wall. It's growing. Build your armies and help each other defend against and defeat it. Then, hopefully by the we return, it will be a world of peace."

They all started asking questions but I whistled. "We have an eternity together. When Bonnie and myself get back, we shall open portals to safe realities where you can go off and have your own adventures. Until then, remember, we are family, always and forever."

After a few heartfelt goodbyes and promises from Niklaus that he'd look after our family above all else, we opened one last portal and stepped through.