Lycee

Esther (still in Cassie's body) lit candles while she prepared a breakfast in the greenhouse. A starling chirped in a cage nearby while Esther began cracking eggs into a bowl, mixing berries and herbs, and writing an invitation in fine calligraphy. She smiled as she looked at her work, and put the invitation onto a silver platter with a lid

Mikaelson Compound

In the courtyard, Hayley is munching on an array of fruit and other breakfast food when Klaus came down the stairs to join her "So, which restaurant's missing a compelled chef?" she asked

"It's certainly a card I've played in the past, but I had no hand in this..." Klaus said as he gestured to the food on the table for emphasis

"Hmm. Well, then, I guess we have Elijah to thank?" Hayley said just as Elijah joined them in the courtyard, and looked confused when he heard their conversation and noticed the breakfast spread in front of them

"This wasn't my doing..." Elijah said

Everyone looked at each other, before they're attention went to Naruto who walked into the courtyard

"Did you do this?" Klaus asked as Naruto walked to the table and picked up a strawberry

"I've been looking for Davina who has your lunatic stepfather on a leash, I had nothing to do with this." Naruto said

Hayley frowned "Then, where did this all come from?" she asked

The silver lid on the platter suddenly began to rattle, which startled Hayley causing her to jump in fright for a moment. Klaus looked uneasy and lifted the platter, which released two starlings that flew up toward the ceiling, causing the four immortals to reflexively duck to avoid being hit,

"What the hell was that?" Hayley asked looking around

Klaus reached for the invitation and opened it, "Dinner, Your Home, 8PM" " An invitation from our mother." Klaus said looking to Elijah as the two shared an look of concern

Flashback, Late 10th Century

New World

Inside the Mikaelson cottage, Esther (in her original body) ladle out food for her children in the kitchen, who were all very young gathered around the table for breakfast "Now, children, it's very hot! Rebekah, Kol, be careful!"

Finn joined them at the table as they all sat down "Where's Naruto, and Niklaus?" Esther asked only for all the children to stay silent. Elijah gave Finn a knowing look, but Finn looked as though he was dying to speak with their mother noticed "Elijah? Finn? Where are the boys?"

Finn hesitated for a moment before finally confessing what he knew "They're in the woods, Mother." Finn said causing Elijah to glare at him

Moments Later

Esther walked out into the woods, where she found Klaus sitting behind a tree watching as Naruto trained by punching and kicking a tree "What are you doing?"

"Father says he's to take me hunting later. But I'm no good. Not with him. He gets angry at me." Klaus said looking down

Esther looked at him with sympathy and knelt so she could look him in the eye "I understand. Do you know what I do when I'm afraid? I listen to the starlings."

In the background, Finn could be seen eavesdropping on them,

"When I was a little girl, my mother taught one of them a tune. And, since they mimic each others' songs, it spread, until every starling in the forest sang it." Esther said as Klaus looked up at the birds in the trees, who were chattering loudly "When we made this our home, I brought these same birds to these woods. Whenever you hear one sing, Niklaus, remember I'm with you. Always and forever."

Esther took Klaus' hand and pulled him to his feet, as Finn continued to watch from afar and gulped sadly

Esther looked to Naruto when suddenly the tree he was training with tumbled over as he panted while his knuckles and shins bled

"Naruto it's time for supper." Esther said to the panting teenager, who nodded to her

End Flashback

Klaus stared at the invitation while he stood on the balcony overlooking the French Quarter, eventually he turned his head back into his bedroom, where Hayley was laying flat on his bed "It is times like this I'm really glad I never knew my mother." she said

Klaus sighed and turned to her "We have enough enemies here. And now, the war for our home is to be fought against my own family."

Hayley sat up and looked at him "Your wretched mother and her disciples tried to put a carving knife through our baby's heart. I will happily add to the body count."

Klaus smiled at Hayley as Elijah entered the room "You will do no such thing." he said getting their attention "Esther's a master in the art of possession. We know whose body she currently inhabits. We must decipher her intentions before she finds a new host."

"Well, her last invitation was an assassination attempt on all her children. I think we can assume her intentions are decidedly foul." Klaus replied

Elijah shrugged "Well, then. We have-" checking his watch Elijah continued "- this afternoon to prepare for the worst." he said before he walked away while Hayley rolled her eyes as Klaus walked toward the door with an amused smile

"The bloom is off the rose, I see." Klaus said causing Hayley to roll her eyes in annoyance before flopping back onto the bed

"Shut up."

Later

Klaus was in the dining room, where he was making arrangements for the evening's dinner with a group of compelled caterers. One of the caterers brought him a choice of two different bottles of wine "Skip the salad course. Let's not make this dreadful evening any longer than it needs to be." Klaus said as he chose a wine and dismissed the caterer just as Hayley entered the dining room

"So, I guess letting Oliver live paid off. He just informed me your mother has a partner-in-crime... another witch." Hayley said

Klaus sighed "Building alliances in her quest to destroy us, I imagine."

"Why does she hate you so much, Klaus? She had six kids it's not like she doesn't have the maternal gene." Hayley asked curious

"Seven, actually. And, I think at one time, she loved us very much." Klaus said a little, overwhelmed by the topic of conversation, so he turned away and anxiously began folding napkins on the table before speaking again "One died before I was born."

Slightly guilty Hayley spoke "I didn't know that."

"Years later, my brother Henrik was killed by the werewolves in our village. The loss of another child pushed my mother over the edge. So, she used her magic to turn us into immortals. I think that's when she loved us the most. But, it was her undoing. It triggered a sequence of events that led to the reveal of her one of her long-held secrets. My biological father was the werewolf whose pack killed my little brother." Niklaus said causing Hayley to look at him in sympathy "Of course, when Mikael found out, he murdered my true father, and so, my mother lost her lover, too."

"Wow." Hayley said stunned "No wonder she's crazy. I'm out of my mind having just given away Hope... I can't imagine if she'd actually died."

Klaus teary-eyed turned turned to her while looking down and said "You know, my siblings used to tell each other she didn't hate us, she hated herself for what we've become. I think they believed that even after she tried to kill us all."

"What did you believe?" Hayley asked quietly

Klaus looked up to his baby momma "I don't know. I just knew I wanted her dead." he said causing the two to stare at each other for a long moment

"Well, every good story needs a wicked witch." Hayley said with a wink, and small smile to cheer him up "It'll be all the more satisfying when we melt her."

Klaus reassured by this and smiled at her appreciatively, while she smiled back at him affectionately

"Are you seriously putting out an extravagant dinner for the woman that tried to kill you? Why not order the psychotic bitch a pizza and call it a day?" Naruto asked leaning in the doorway

"Elijah seems to think this would help lower her gaurd." Klaus said

"Where is Elijah anyway?" Naruto asked

"He went out to see Marcel, to get a soul branding spell completed."

"Hm." Naruto nodded before he gained an serious expression "Let me ask you something, Nik? We know that Esther is inhabiting the body of Cassie, do you think she brought Finn back as well, we both know how devoted he was to her."

Klaus looked thoughtful

Klaus now wearing a suit walked leaned against the back of a chair, with a bored look on his face before he spoke when Elijah walked in "Are these outfits really necessary?" he asked

"Appearance is a way of showing respect, Niklaus. Mother will be more likely to surrender her true intentions." Elijah said

"Well, I doubt her guard will drop just 'cause I'm dressed like a bloody lawyer." Klaus replied

Elijah lit a candles and said "We need every advantage we can get, Niklaus."

"You always did excel in diplomacy. Just know, if she tries anything, I'll tear her new body to pieces." Klaus replied before they looked to the doorway when Vincent/Finn entered the room and laughing dramatically at their conversation

"You two haven't changed a bit!" Vincent/Finn said before before he looked to Elijah "Linens and silk to disguise your pathetic self-loathing" Elijah raised an eyebrow and looked to Klaus as Finn turned to him as well "And you- despite the arrogant face, your still the same paranoid little boy, full of hate and fear."

Klaus' face went from amused to offended, while Elijah looked at him in confusion before turning to Vincent/Finn and walking toward him "Forgive me, I don't believe I've had the pleasure."

Finn feigned being offended "Oh, you mean you don't recognize me? So much for the unbreakable bonds of family, huh? Always and forever indeed."

Klaus scowled when he realized who was standing before him, but Elijah remained confused and on edge

"It's been a long time, Finn." Naruto said behind Finn, who tensed and slowly turned to face him, Finn made to speak but Naruto walked toward the table with a wine bottle in hand "Now that the introductions are out of the way, let's eat!"

Moments Later

Klaus sat at the head of the table since it was his home, while Naruto sat across from Elijah, each with a glass of wine in front of them while Finn was standing being poured a glass of wine, before he wafted his glass under his nose "What an aromatic bordot."

"Well, it was a challenge to find a good pairing. What wine goes well with treachery?" Klaus asked sipping his glass of blood

"Don't pout, brother. Tonight is meant to be a happy occasion!" Finn said as he sat down and whispered something in one of the servers' ears, which made the trio of immortals suspicious

"What exactly are we celebrating?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow

"Why, my return, of course! Remember, I spent nine hundred years-"Finn said looking to Naruto who smirked "-right?- lying daggered in a box. I'm rather enjoying this new body. Strolling about your lovely city that, uh, you've made your home. But, do tell me- what'd I miss? Regale me with your contributions to society! Medicine? Philosophy? Art?"

Klaus rolled his eyes, already tired of this conversation,

"Or, have you all merely cut a path of destruction across time?" Finn asked not expecting an answer

"Well Niklaus has put out art under different names I think his most famous was Mona Lisa, Elijah was a musician for a time, and Rebekah was an excellent nurse." Naruto said causing Finn to frown "Kol spent most of his time with Witches, but the thing I'm most proud of was getting rid of slavery and taking over the land that would become the United States, now that you know what we did, would you care to enlighten us Finn what would you have done?"

Elijah, and Klaus watched as Finn clenched his knife and looked down before they noticed that the caterers were placing another two plates, glasses, and set of silverware at the table and looked confused

"Are we expecting another guest?" Elijah asked

Finn regaining himself gestured to the other end of the table "Mother will sit at the head. And, as for the seat across from me, that's reserved for another of our clan. Care to wager an educated guess? How about a paranoid one?"

"Well, there's no way Kol would listen to anything other than his ego." Klaus said

"And yet, mother has made such a compelling argument that even he, the wildest of us Mikaelsons, has seen the error of his ways and accepted his new form with vigor! Change, my dear brothers, is inevitable."

Klaus wondering why he was so calm said "You would dare face us as a mortal? The only thing inevitable is your death." immediately Klaus flung a knife at Finn, but he easily deflected it with magic, causing the knife to instead embed itself into the chair at the head of the table

"Oh!" Finn said smugly as he removed the knife from the chair and held it aloft "I suppose the honor of carving should go to the oldest. We have mu-"

The knife ripped itself from Finn's grasp and shot into Naruto's "How right you are Finn, or did you forget I'm 2 years older than you."

"Enough of this, what is the point, of all this?" Klaus asked tired of this evening already

FInn with a frown sipped his wine before he looked to Klaus and said "I had nine hundred years to learn to be patient. Although, I am curious why you kept me daggered in a box for so long."

"You were daggered for being an ever-simpering sycophant. Did Mother bring you back from the dead so you could wash her knickers?" Klaus asked as he smirked at Finn in amusement, but Finn began to lose his temper

"She raised me because I was treated unfairly! Cheated of all but the smallest portion of my life!" Finn shouted furiously before he looked to Elijah "Elijah, I can understand such cruelty coming from them." he said pointing to Klaus and Naruto who gave a mocking wink "But I always thought of you as being the compassionate one! What did I do to deserve you turning your back on me? Were you afraid of them? Are you still? Or perhaps jealousy is what kept me locked in a box? You coveted the duties of the eldest brother, in which case you had near-on a millennium to fix the problems of this family, and instead, produced nine centuries of failure."

Finn realizing his anger had gotten the best of him pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and stopped himself from further exposing his feelings to the others.

After a moment Naruto spoke "You want to know why you were kept daggered Finn?" he asked getting Finn's attention "You betrayed us to your friend Alexander. You the oldest Mikaelson, during the century you were around you did nothing but judge us, and then you betrayed us, so when I shoved that dagger through your heart, I did so with the knowledge that it would stay there until your siblings would forgive you for your transgressions, and none of them did."

Finn glanced to his brothers who were watching him, before he looked back to Naruto

"You say this family has problems, but you, your mother, and father are the only serious problems we have. Now are we perfect, no we fight, and we argue, but what family doesn't? 1000 years we've been together, and this family has remained strong in the face of our enemies. According to Klaus, your mother says vampires are jealous of humanity because we have forsaken things like family, where witches have a coven, and werewolves have a pack, we have nothing, brief lesson: The term "coven" was originally created to give a name to a group of witches, but at present, the term is also used for a group of vampires, as well as "clan" "nest" and "den." Over the centuries we have formed those ties, while you yourself only bonded with a harlot, and your psychopathic mother." Naruto finished as Klaus and Elijah sipped their glasses of wine with smirks, while Finn gritted his teeth "Speaking of where is she?"

"Oh, my sweet son in law." Esther said entering the room, while Finn immediately rose to his feet to greet his mother, who spoke sarcastically "I've missed you, too."

Naruto, Elijah, and Klaus watched as Finn pulled out the chair for Esther who took a seat,

After a long moment of silence Klaus asked "Why don't you say what you came here to say, so this wretched night can end?"

"It pains me that you three look at me with such disdain. I wish you could see that my every action has been to protect you!" Esther said

"You actually believe that, don't you? I knew you were a liar, but now I see you're utterly delusional." Klaus said incredulously

"If you can forget the hatred that you cling to and remember all the times I've mended and healed you." Esther said causing Klaus to laugh sarcastically, but Esther turned to Elijah

"Elijah, do you recall the day Niklaus challenged your father to a duel? Did I leave your brother to die alone? What did I say, when you came to me and asked me to help him?"

"That you would rather die than to see any of your children suffer." Elijah said

(Flashback same a canon)

Esther looked at Klaus smugly before Naruto spoke "You expect the fact that you let that man abuse your son, to be some achievement? You are a terrible mother, let's look at your track record Esther. Now I'll skip the part where I think you lied about the fate of your first born and go one what I know is true." Esther and Finn gulped when Naruto mentioned Freya

"You abandoned your sister when she needed you most." Naruto said

"I did not aban-"

"You did, or did you forget that my mother was closer Dahlia then she was with you, your sister told me all about the suffering she suffered to keep you safe from the abuse she suffered at the hands of the Vikings before my father came into power. Fast forward some years you cheat on your husband, and allow everyone to believe that Nik, was Mikael's son, knowing the truth you stand by and let him abuse your son, knowing full well that you had the means to make sure he never hurt Nik or any of your children. You force immortality on your children, including myself, then once your secret is found out you seal away your son's heritage and turn your back on him like it was his fault. More recently you were brought back to life, and you and your pet both conspire to kill your children, when that failed you created an indestructible weapon to kill them all, and the worse yet, 3 months ago you ordered witches to kill a new born baby, your own granddaughter."

Esther stared at Naruto as Klaus was glaring at her, "Answer me this Esther, I always wondered why before Nik got that starling necklace from you he was able to pick up hunting quickly like any werewolf born child should seeing as before the gene is activated we are natural born athletes, and yet after you Nik had to work harder than everyone to keep up, and like the memory you just brought up, when it was cut from his neck, he lost his wolf temper for the first time, and he cut Mikael. What did you do to the necklace?"

Esther glanced to Klaus who looked thoughtful, before he gained a look of realization "It didn't protect me, it made me weak." he said before he looked to his mother in rage "You ruined me!"

"I did it to protect you, if you had killed your father in that duel or anyone else you would have triggered your curse."

"No you lied to me! You allowed me to suffer under the madness of a madman who valued only strength! To protect yourself from your secret, I've spent years under the rule of that bastard trying to prove I was worthy of him to call me son! You rant and rave about the monster I am. but your a worst monster than I am!"

Esther looked at Klaus in shock before she gasped for breath and fell unconscious when she fell forward, Elijah hurriedly sped to catch her before her head could hit the table, while Klaus and Naruto stood up

A Shop

Hayley having saved Marcel's witch Lenore watched as she performed a soul-branding spell "Aux sa ah ça le vous de le vous l'inspir non do set."

Mikaelson Compound

Elijah held Esther and checked for a pulse but found none "She's gone." he said

They looked to Finn who made to get up but Naruto dove over the table and grabbed him by his throat before holding him to a wall "Where is she?" he growled

"Safe." Finn smiled before his body turned into someone else's causing Naruto's eyes to widened

"What is this?" Klaus asked

"Puppetry spell it allows a witch to control another beings body, under a transformation spell." Naruto said

"Where did Finn learn that?" Elijah asked

"Esther. I thought it up when I was a boy." Naruto said before he appeared thoughtful "Esther probably had another witch on standby, and the only witch that's been in her clutches is,"

"Marcel's witch Lenore." Elijah Finished taking out his phone and dialing a number " She's with Hayley." he placed his phone to his ear

"Elijah, I'm at Lenore's shop, -."

"Let's go." Naruto said

"Why would she go after Hayley?" Elijah asked

"To kill her, and make us suffer, or to learn the truth about the child, all reasons will be rendered mute once I send her back to hell." Klaus said before they all sped off toward Hayley's location

Lenore's Shop

"It's so lovely to finally meet you. Tell me, do my sons ever acknowledge the good you bring into their lives? After all, it was you who gave them hope." Esther said now in Lenore's body

Hayley, not knowing if she meant "hope" or "Hope," her daughter, looked at her suspiciously "The promise of a child shows us all the possibilities of a future that could be. Children are meant to save us from the worst parts of who we are. A truth that makes my own circumstances all the more tragic, wouldn't you say?"

"I don't pity you, Esther." Hayley said with narrowed eyes

Esther looked as though she was offended for a brief moment before shrugging it off "It's a terrible thing, for a mother to fail her child." she said before she saw the starling necklace still laying over the cauldron and picked it up so she can look at it closely, before her eyes caught sight of a small bottle

"As you well know." Esther said while Hayley looked guilty "But now, I offer you freedom. The gift of a new body. Freedom from being a hybrid."

Hayley looked interested, but tried to hide it as Esther continued her offer "I have the ability to return to you all that you have lost, Hayley. To make it so that you could have a family of your own. More children of your own. Wouldn't that be nice?"

Esther looked up suddenly and threw a powdery substance in front of her just as a Naruto, Elijah, and Klaus sped into the store and were nos standing behind Hayley

Klaus seeing Hayley, standing before Esther said "I assume you've had the misfortune of speaking to my mother?"

Making to charge the woman Klaus was held back by Naruto who was looking at the floor "What is it?" Elijah asked as Naruto put a hand out and before it began to sizzle and turn red

"Mountain ash." Naruto said "Poisonous to all supernatural beings including witches." he said as he looked to his wounded hand that was healing slowly

"You hide behind your spells like a coward!" Klaus snarled

"I did not come here to wage war!" Esther replied

"Everything you do is an act of war." Elijah said

"Hayley is free to go. I've spoken my piece, she knows why I'm here. I have come to heal our family."

"What is there to heal Esther? All the wounds in this family is caused by you. You selfish cow!"

"Go. Now." Klaus told Hayley who nodded and sped off before Esther threateningly exploded a light bulb with magic

"My intent was never to harm! Only to heal, as I have already healed Finn and Kol." Esther said before she looked to Klaus "For you, I will undo everything that has been done, thereby giving you a new life!" another light bulb exploded overhead, and Lenore stared intensely at the boys "One without the vampire curse."

Esther began waving her hand above a cauldron, and the earth began to shake, rattling all of the inventory on the shelves of the store "Ask Hayley to share with you my loving proposition."

"You're a fool if you think we'll accept anything that you offer!" Klaus growled angrily

"Oh, you are wrong, Niklaus!" Esther said as the earth continued to rumble below them as more light bulbs exploded, and Esther held her arms open wide "There will come a time, my darlings, that you will beg for it!"

The glass in the windows shatters inward, and Klaus and Elijah raise their arms over their faces to shield them from the broken glass. Esther lifted her arms over her head as hundreds of starlings burst their way through the windows and descend upon the store

"Damn birds!" Naruto said before the three Originals clapped their hands and lightning struck down each bird but Esther had already escaped

Later

Mikaelson Compound

Naruto sat at the bar in the courtyard while Klaus, Hayley, and Elijah talked "Of course she used those damn birds to make her escape!" Klaus said pacing

"Besides the offer of rebirth, what else did she say?" Elijah asked

"I don't know. She rambled a lot. She blamed the two of you for what happened to Hope, to me..."

Klaus instantly appalled by this response and stopped his pacing so he can stare Hayley in the eye "Well, I hope you're not thinking of taking her offer?"

Hayley, looking guilty, couldn't bring herself to look at either of them "HAYLEY! I'm talking to you!"

Finally, overwhelmed and feeling defensive, Hayley stood to her feet and stared Klaus in the eyes "What do you want me to say, Klaus? I lost my daughter. So, yeah, when your mother offers to wipe the slate clean, excuse me if I'm tempted."

"You don't want anything from her Hayley, trust me." Naruto said

"She said I can have a family again." Hayley said looking to Naruto

"I've had witches working on a spell, I'll see if they made any progress." Naruto said getting a nod from Hayley before she walked off, while Naruto gave a sigh before after a moment Klaus spoke

"I can't believe that she would do that to me, she made me weak."

"She made you a survivor, Nik." Naruto said causing Klaus to look at him

"He's right Niklaus, You are, you have always been the most fierce of our siblings. In a thousand years, I have never seen anyone successfully stand against you. Not even our wicked father. Not one of the countless people devoted to your destruction. You'll protect our home, even in the face of an adversary such as our mother, because that, brother... that is what you do." Elijah said with Naruto smiling while Klaus looked surprised and grateful at them

Finished