1820
It had been just over two years since Bonnie joined the Mikaelson clan. She was embraced as if she'd been born into the family and not found. Elijah, read her stories and she would sit in silence in awe watching him like she couldn't bare to miss a word. With Rebekah, Bonnie was full of energy and couldn't sit still much like Rebekah. She would dress bonnie up in the many elaborate tiny dresses she bought for her. Bonnie would clap and smile happily as Rebekah sang, danced, and played with her. Marcel, oh he revival Klaus as her favorite, the little girl would toddle behind him as best as she could and he wouldn't mind. He enjoyed being silly with his little sister taking her to the gardens to play their days away.
But the one person whom everyone could tell had Bonnie's heart was Klaus. The little girl always seemed to be in awe of him. Whenever he spent time with her she would look at him as if he hung the moon just for her. When she was fussy she would be calm for no one but him, and when Klaus had left her in the care of one of his siblings she would not rest until her "papa" lulled her to sleep. For most of her first years she spent the majority of her time clinging to her beloved papa, and the older she got the stronger their bond grew. As the years passed by, the more Klaus loved her and the less he saw her as a witch to have in his pocket.
1823
"Papa! Papa!" little Bonnie yelled running through the Mikaelson estate.
"Uncle Lijah have you seen papa," the tiny girl asked as she ran into his study.
Elijah looked up from his book to smile at his adorable niece. She was standing in his doorway clutching the beloved bear that Klaus had gifted her as a babe; dressed in a linen pale yellow summer dress, a mess of wild dark curls held back by a matching yellow ribbon. She was barefoot having "lost" her shoes soon after Rebekah dressed her in the morning. Her cheeks were a rosy red that indicated she'd been running with all her might looking for her papa.
"Uncle please help me find papa, we are playing hide and seek and he is too good," she huffed out.
Elijah chuckled at her dramatics coming to stand in front of her, then crouching down to her level. "Now my little Bon Bon if Uncle helps you wouldn't that be cheating," he asked with a quirked eyebrow.
She huffed again and moved closer to whisper in his ear, "Not if you don't get caught," she gave him a little devious smile that she'd picked up from his brother. He shook his head laughing, like father, like daughter he thought.
"I won't help you cheat but I'm sure you are very close to finding him," he said.
Bonnie didn't like that answer so she decided to pull out the big guns. She shuffled back a bit, lowered her head, and began twisting at the bear's arm that was clutched in her small hand. When she looked up again her eyes were big, round, and glossy, and she wore a slight pout on her lip. Elijah knew this look all too well, one she learned from and perfected with her aunt Bekah.
"Uncle lijah, '' she began softly "I would love you a hundred times more if you would just please help me find papa," she added. Oh, how couldn't he deny the little beauty. He sighed, he was going to reprimand Rebekah for teaching her that little trick.
"My little Bon Bon, come here," he said, reaching out for her. She shuffled into his arms and let him hug her.
"Why don't you try reaching out with your magic like Céleste taught you and find your papa," he said.
Bonnie had been learning to use and control her magic since she was three. She had lessons every day with Céleste, who was a powerful witch and Elijah's lover. Bonnie, however, was not allowed to use her magic outside of their time together unless she was given the okay by Klaus, Elijah, or Rebekah. So when Elijah suggested that she use it her whole demeanor changed.
"Okay uncle Lijah!" she said as her face changed from sad to happy. She turned around in Elijah's arms so quickly she almost gave him whiplash. She lifted her tiny hands up and turned them outwards letting out a burst of magic to find her papa. Klaus felt her magic the moment it connected with him.
"That little manipulator must have gotten Elijah to agree to let her use her magic," he said to Rebekah.
He had been sitting in her room, reading for the last thirty minutes since Bonnie decided that; if Marcel had to go off to his afternoon lessons, he was the perfect person to play hide and seek with. Rebekah's room was the perfect place to hide, she'd never think to look for him there. Bonnie had gotten it in her head that, "No boys are allowed in aunty Bekah's room papa, that's just the way it is," she told him one day all full of sass.
"Oh now, brother don't huff you know we all turn into putty in her little hands when she bats those lovely lashes our way," Rebekah said sitting at her vanity brushing her hair.
"And which of us taught her that," he questioned.
"Nothing she wouldn't have figured out herself, I just helped her along a little sooner," she said looking at Klaus through the mirror.
When Bonnie felt Klaus she scrunched up her face.
"What's the matter, little one?" Elijah asked
"Papa is in aunty Bekah's room," she said, putting her little hands on her chin to ponder why he would be in there.
"He must have sneaked in! Because aunty Bekah would never let him in!" she said sharing her conclusion to her own personal mystery.
"I have to go get papa out of there!" she yelled and off she ran as fast as her little legs would carry her.
Klaus could hear Bonnie's small feet rapidly padding across the tiled floor, rounding the corner and heading down the hall toward Rebekah's room. He had the thought to speed from the room and prolong the game, but lunch was soon approaching. He knew that with all the running Bonnie had been doing around the large estate she would be famished once she found him.
"Papa!" Bonnie yelled bursting into Rebekah's room at full speed. "Papa what are you doing here! No boys!" she said out-breath. Her little chest rose and fell rapidly as she stared him down waiting for his answer.
"Hiding of course," he said with a smile.
"But no boys are allowed! Aunty Bekah and I said…" she stopped her sentenced midway when she finally noticed her aunt sitting at her vanity. She moved around Klaus and walked over to Rebekah.
"Aunty...Bekah, ho- how could you," she questioned with tears pooling in her eyes. "We sa-said no boys ever because we are the only girls!" she said in full breakdown mode. Klaus being in the room was long forgotten. Bonnie was devastated that her aunt would break the rule that they made together.
Klaus barely containing his laughter spoke low enough so that only Rebekah would hear him "good luck, and bring her down for lunch once you've convinced her that you haven't committed the ultimate betrayal," and then he back out of the room leaving her with a crying Bonnie.
"Little dove," Rebekah said tentatively, now facing her. "Aunty is so very sorry please don't cry," she added. But Bonnie continued to cry, and Rebekah couldn't stand it. She never liked to see her beloved niece cry and would give, say, and do anything to keep her beautiful smile on her face.
"Aunty tried to get papa to leave but he said you lost and that he was looking for her, for you," she said thinking quickly on her feet.
Bonnie looked up at her mushing the palms of her hands into her eyes and wiping away the tears.
"He didn't tell you we were playing hide n seek," she asked.
"No, sweetpea, just that you lost Ms. Cuddles, and I know how much you love her so I let him in to look for her," she said gently.
"Oh. Papa tricked you, aunty! I have Ms. Cuddles with me, see," she lifted up the bear.
"What a terrible trick! I was so worried for you and Ms. Cuddles," Rebekah said feigning shock
Don't be worried Aunty," Bonnie said coming to hug Rebekah's side to comfort her.
Rebekah smiled, she turned the tables on Nik. Bonnie was no longer crying but focused on how Klaus had "tricked" Rebekah she stood and grabbed Bonnie's hand; both walking down to the dining area where Klaus was sitting at the table sipping on a glass of blood. She smirked when he looked up, surprised not expecting to see them so soon.
"Well, what did you promise her, ponies, fairies?" he asked as Rebekah got Bonnie to settle in her chair where her food was waiting.
"None of the sort," she said smugly
"Well how did you calm her down so quick," he asked
A smirk spread across her face. She began to walk back toward the entrance of the room but paused and stopped next to Klaus, she leaned down to whisper in his ear "Payback is a bitch Nik," and walked out.
Confused Klaus looked over at Bonnie who was eating strawberries, she seemed calm.
"Little one, are you ok," he asked
She looked over at him, stared for a long moment, and then continued to eat her fruit.
Klaus' face bunched up in confusion and tried again. "Bonnie dear, I've asked a question," he stated.
She turned her head toward him again and spoke, "I'm not talking to you," she said.
"And why is that," he asked.
Her eyes ballooned up a few sizes as she looked at him in shock." How could you papa?! Trick aunty bekah and use Ms. Cuddles in such a way!" she yelled.
Klaus looked at Bonnie on the verge of tears again, he pinched the bridge of his nose and wondered what tale Rebekah had spun.
"Papa is truly sorry. Please forgive me, I never wanted to treat her and Aunty bekah in such a way," he said, hoping to stop her tears. She looked at him again and shook her head, still clearly upset. Sighing deeply he cursed Rebekah for whatever believable lie she told and himself for Bonnie being spoiled rotten.
"I'm going to have to buy her a fairy to get out of this," he thought jokingly.
1828
"Marcy! Marcy!" yelled Bonnie to Marcel. She had come out past the garden looking for him. "Marcy!" she yells again
"Would you please stop calling me Marcy," Marcel said, popping up behind his sister startling her.
"Oh! Don't scare me!" she said "and you love it when I call you that," she added.
He rolled his eyes at her. "What do you want?" he asked.
"To spend time with you," she responded.
He narrowed his eyes at her. It's not that he didn't believe her. He and Bonnie still spent a lot of their time together even though he'd just turned 18 and she was 10. He was really the only person that wasn't quite an adult that she could spend time with. Their father wouldn't allow her away from the estate for a long period of time, explaining that Bonnie was special and that if people knew about her they would plot to take her from them. Although if this wasn't the case he would still spend his time with her.
He loved his little sister dearly and felt they shared a bond like no other. So that's why he could tell Bonnie had more on her mind than just spending time with him.
"Well come on I was sitting next to the pond reading," he said pointing to where a blanket and his abandoned book lay under a tree next to said pond.
She followed him and sat next to him, once he was settled she cuddled up next to him. He lifted his right arm to wrap around her as he held the book in his left hand. She leaned in and rested her head on him.
"What are you reading," Bonnie asked
He lifted the book and turned the cover toward her and said "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, would you like me to read it to you?" he asked
She nodded and he began where he left off. After some time he noticed that she wasn't really paying attention and asked, "Bon Bon what's wrong,"
"Hmm? oh nothing," she said quietly
He looked down at her with his eyebrows raised.
She sighed deeply and shuffled a bit in his arms trying to gather her thoughts.
"It's just that...I heard you talking with papa, about turning," she said
"Bon… he told me no," he responded, still lost.
"He told you no but you are going to convince him to do it, or force his hand aren't you," she asked.
"Bon-" he began but was cut off by Bonnie speaking again.
"No I know you, anytime papa tells you no and it's something that you really want you'll force his hand and you end up with what you wanted," she said.
"Why do you want to turn? What about me?" she asked. "You, papa, aunt Rebekah, and uncle Elijah will live on forever but what about me," she questions
"Bon Bon, it's complicated," Marcel responds, blowing his breath out.
"Then explain it to me Marcy because you said we would be together until we were both stinky old people, but if you turn I'll be the only stinky old person. And it's not like I can turn, Céleste said that if a witch is turned she loses her magic and is never the same person she once was. I can't imagine not being myself or parting with my magic," Bonnie ranted.
Marcel looked down at his sister. They had a talk about turning last year and made a pact to stay as they are, but sometime after that Marcel started to realize that he wanted the experiences that his father had and he wouldn't be able to gain them with just one life span. He knew Bonnie would be hurt but figured she would eventually change her mind on turning as she got older and they would never part.
"Bon Bon, look I'm never going to leave you ok. We will either spend forever together or grow old and stinky together. Either way, I'll make it work, don't worry about it ok," he said.
"But Marcy…" she began
"No Bon papa said no, and that's that for now. Besides who knows maybe we will find a way for you to turn and keep your magic. You can be a hybrid like papa," he said.
"But papa is not a hybrid," she responded
Marcel smiled at her and said "Not yet, at least."
Marcel and Bonnie had spent the next two hours lounging under the tree reading until Elijah had come calling for him to take a ride with him and Klaus for business. The older Marcel got the less time he spent with Bonnie and more he was off with her father and uncle. While Bonnie was not sure what their frequent trips were about she felt that things were going to change soon despite what her brother had said.
Sometime after they had left she had made her way to the garden for her afternoon studies. It wasn't where they usually held them but Céleste had requested that she meet her there after her studies the following day.
Time seemed to drag on as she got through what she called the boring portion of classes, but she was now sitting in the garden with Céleste beginning the magic portion of her lessons. Céleste did mainly teach her magic but she also taught her french, math, science, and a slew of other scholarly subjects. Her father had pressed that those teachings were as equally important as the magic ones. Although at her young age Bonnie's interest was solely into that magic she was learning to wield.
"Ok my dear Bonnibell," Céleste began "Today we are going to learn and practice the art of giving your magic back to the elements," she said as Bonnie nodded excitedly eager to begin.
"As you know we can pull magic from the elements to boost our own. So the art of giving it to them is the opposite side of that same coin," Céleste explained.
"Today we will be using the element of earth. Now, this is the most difficult because doing this can result in two things; giving life and giving up life. It all depends on the intention of the witch," she said.
Bonnie again nodded slightly confused about what she meant about giving up life. But before she could ask Céleste went on to explain.
"When giving her magic to the element of earth a witch can choose to literally give it all. When she does this she is stripping her magic, it can be reversed; however, if she does this during the full moon it is permanent."
Bonnie's eyes went wide with shock. She couldn't imagine why a witch would want to do such a thing. "Why would a witch want to strip her magic? Did you not tell me that if a witch loses her magic she would also lose what it means to be her," she questioned.
"Oh Bonnibell a witch may choose this option for many reasons, but if she is even considering it she has already lost herself," she said reaching over to cup Bonnie's face.
"Today we will not focus on that, today we focus on giving life," she said gesturing over to the dying rosebush they were sitting next to.
"This spell is simple and requires no words, just complete concentration, and careful thoughts," Céleste began again.
"Take your hands and press them in the dirt just under the bush," she said showing Bonnie by doing as she instructed.
"Now that your hands are in the ground do you feel like your fingers are tingling?" she asked.
Bonnie nodded yes. As soon as her fingers buried under the dirt she felt the sensation.
"Good, that's elemental magic calling out to you. Now close your eyes and concentrate on connecting your magic with it, once you feel the connection I want to push your magic out. Be careful to do this slowly," Céleste finished pulling her own hands out of the dirt to watch as Bonnie did as she instructed.
Bonnie closed her eyes and concentrated on the tingling and buzzing sensation around her hands. Soon she felt as if something was reaching out and calling to her magic so she began focusing on making the connection to it. As soon as Bonnie's magic connected to the elemental magic she was overwhelmed by it. Overcome with what she was feeling she pushed her magic out in a large burst while sinking her hands deeper into the ground.
Céleste watched as the rose bush quickly began to bloom back to life, she moved to tell Bonnie to slow down but was overwhelmed by Bonnie's magic seeping from the ground she was sitting on and into her own skin.
Her movements stalled and her words caught in her throat as the girl's magic blanketed and burrowed in her. Céleste had never felt anything like it, it felt as if she bonded with hundreds of witches at once.
"Bon-Belle, Bonnie!" she struggled to say.
Bonnie heard Céleste cry out and snapped her eyes open pulling her hands out of the dirt severing the connection. Céleste slumped to the ground arms out and palms on the grass, head hung down as she took deep breaths. She felt relief but her skin still vibrated from the remnant of the magic.
Scared bonnie quickly crawled over with the intent to help.
"Céleste, what happened," she questioned frantically, reaching for her.
Céleste brought her hand up suddenly and stopped Bonnie in her pursuit.
"No! don't-I-I'm fine," she said, still taking deep breaths.
"You went a bit too fast and strong Bonnibell and I was not prepared that's all," she stated now sitting up fully.
Bonnie looked like she was still on the brink of tears despite the words from Céleste.
"I'm fine sweet girl, I promise. You did well today but lets us cut this lesson short. Go and find your aunt and take lunch with her," she said.
Bonnie nodded and stood, slowly still wary of the situation. However, she did as she was told and began to walk away only turning around once to see Céleste's reassuring face.
Céleste watched as Bonnie walked out of the garden, "Dear goddess, what power in such a young child! I never felt anything like it!" she thought to herself.
"Who are you really Bonnibell?"
Later that afternoon after Bonnie was done with her studies and she and Rebekah had taken lunch she sat in the parlor pleading with her to go riding alone, something she wasn't allowed to do when her father was around.
Please, aunt Bekah! I promise I'll be careful," Bonnie pleaded. She wanted to take her horse and ride along the borders of their land.
"Little dove, with your father, uncle, and brother have gone it's not safe," Rebekah responded.
"Then ride with me," Bonnie rebutted standing excitedly.
Oh you know I detest those beasts" Rebekah responded with her face scrunched up at the thought of riding a smelly horse.
Bonnie huffed and flopped back down to her seat. She had to convince her aunt. Pouting wouldn't do, that stopped working long ago when her father finally put his foot down about the extent to which she was being spoiled.
"What if I didn't ride along the border but close enough that I could see it," she asked.
Rebekah shot her a look, knowing Bonnie wouldn't be able to resist pushing against an agreed-upon boundary.
"I swear I won't go beyond the line" she added
"Little dove there are wards surrounding the border that keep other witches from sensing you and your magic. What if you go beyond them? You would be no longer protected," Rebekah said.
"I won't go that far just to close enough to see the border, just far enough where the wards can still cover me, and even if they don't who will be near our borders?" She pleaded.
Rebekah contemplated her words. She looked at Bonnie, staring at her with pleading eyes big and round as she fought not to give in to the girl. Bonnie clasped her hands together as if she was praying to her Aunt and focused on making her eyes look as needy as possible.
"Fine, but no farther than what we agreed on and then you turn back, and absolutely no magic!"
"Oh thank you, aunt Bekah! Bonnie yelled as she dashed out of the room and to the stalls.
With the help of the stableman, she mounted her horse Winter and dashed off toward the border. As she neared her destination she rode faster. Speeding over the border, and further than agreed upon with Rebekah. She slowed Winter down and took in her surroundings. She knew that she had purposely disobeyed her aunt but this was her only chance to do what she had been plotting since her afternoon lessons.
She looked around until she saw what she came for, a bushel of dying magnolias. She unmounted Winter and sat in front of the flowers. She was timid at first but she didn't come this far to turn back. She would bring the flowers back to life.
She looked around once more to survey her surroundings making sure she was alone.
"No one is out this far, and I know I can do better than earlier. Slow and steady," she said aloud to herself.
She reached her hands deep within the dirt already feeling the pull to her magic. "Ok," said breathing deeply and closing her eyes.
Just as she was about to release her magic into the ground she heard someone approach her.
"Are you ok?"