All characters from Vampire Diaries belong to L.J. Smith as well as all characters from Twilight belong to Stephanie Meyer. I own nothing except my version of events.

A/N: I'm sick as a dog but I still managed to get this chapter out on time, I'm extremely proud of myself. I'll see you guys again for the finale on Sunday.

Sending love to you all.

Chapter 47 Into the Dark

I both dreaded and awaited for this moment to arrive. It was a mix of emotions and I didn't know how to feel, all I knew was that I needed to stay focused and ready for battle. I held onto my mate's hand as if it were my lifeline, the only person that could give me the strength and confidence I would need for what was to come.

We were waiting in an open field, designating this place adequate for battle. We had cover from the mountains and in an area where there wouldn't be a single human for miles upon miles. This was already going to be a bloodshed and I couldn't fathom adding innocent human casualties on top of our own.

"This will work, Bella. We are all equally prepared and determined. We will succeed and restore peace to the world." Marcus said reassuringly as he stood with me, watching Jasper and Felix making last minute formation patterns and reminding each group what their roles would be.

The most important would be the four groups we had tasked to take on the witches, they were the only potential threat to both Niklaus and I's powers and it was imperative they be eliminated first. Paul, Rose, Peter, and Felix were leading each team to make sure they were a success. They were my first line of defense and I was confident they could take them on but even if they failed I was confident our Plan B would work and we'd be able to take control quickly. I just needed an opening. Bogdan didn't worry me either, from what I had seen he didn't seem much of a treat on his own. Without his army he had nothing. He led his army through fear and control and it would be so easy for me to dismantle the thin grasp he had on his followers. They may be devoted but if it was death or freedom I was sure his own people would turn against him. That was the thing about regimes like his, when their loyalty was founded in fear it could be easily destroyed. If I removed the fear imposed by their leader, I could convince them to turn against him. I wasn't worried we would fail. No. What truly worried me were how many we would lose before the battle was over. I don't know how I would react to losing any of my loved ones. It had been my initial fear from the beginning, and now that I had Niklaus that fear had intensified immensely. It was best not to think of it or I feared the terror of losing my mate would consume me.

"I know." I simply said without going into further detail. It was best to keep it simple. I was afraid that saying it out loud would somehow make it real. I felt Niklaus' grip on my hand tighten, he knew I was worried but knew there was nothing he could say to change our current reality. All he could do was be there with me and attempt to transfer his fearlessness onto me.

"Major!" Peter hollered at Jasper. "It's time. They have five minutes to reach our clearing and the shields Niklaus and Bella are holding over us have been effective. They do not sense our presence as of yet." Peter confirmed.

It was a lot of us and initially I had feared that I wouldn't be able to cover everyone at once but having Niklaus made a difference. Each one of us had one shield out, I covered the right side while Nik covered the left side. During practice we had discovered that if we minimized the amount of shields we used at once, we could cover more ground.

Niklaus and I were standing front and center. There was no way I would cowardly hide behind my family, if they went into battle then so would I. It was my duty to protect them, not the other way around. I figured the 'Great' Bogdan would be hiding behind his army. He was a coward who used his people as pawns, I would show him who the true victor was today.

I turned back to my people, I needed to remind them what was most important here. "Remember!" I yelled. "We are here to not only save ourselves and this world but to save those taken against their will. There are werewolves, shapeshifters, and witches out there that want nothing to do with this war but have no other choice. Use the potions we have supplied you all with to set as many as you can free. Kill only the ones who pose an active threat to you or someone near you. I trust you all will make the right decisions and come out of this victorious. I believe in each and every one of you!" I pledged confidently. I knew my people and I knew they would understand exactly what we were fighting for. I caught several nods of affirmation and I turned back to look forward.

Niklaus intertwined his fingers in my hand and I looked to my left. He was looking down at me with pure pride and love in his eyes.

I love you Bella. No matter what happens today, that will never change. Nik whispered into my mind.

I smiled tenderly at him. I love you too… but don't you dare say goodbye to me, Niki. We will win this battle together. I warned him.

He chuckled at my expression and nodded. I wouldn't dream of it.

I smiled at him and turned to look behind me. Paul and I connected eyes in a split second and he mouthed. Together.

I smiled and nodded, knowing he would never dare break that promise. Together. I mouthed back as I saw him and the rest of the shapeshifters transform into their animal spirits.

I took a quick look around and everyone silently nodded at me. We were confident we would be victorious, there was no other alternative. We wouldn't accept anything less.

"They're approaching." Felix warned, for those of us who didn't have supernatural sight.

I could see the surprise on their faces as they found us standing there. I could tell we had almost an equal amount of fighters. I wanted to outnumber them but it didn't make a difference either way, the result would be the same.

"Ah, Bogdan, nice to see you again. How's your arm?" I asked him casually, unable to resist a little dig before we started. I could hear his growl from across the field and I smirked, "Too soon?"

"I warned you child, do not test me." If looks could kill, I would have surely dropped dead by now.

"Oh, I think it's too late for that now don't you think? Unless you plan to surrender..."

He scoffed at my threat. "Surrendering is for the weak."

"That's what you think, but then again you're just an egotistical maniac who seeks only death and destruction. You control those weaker than you, using them as pawns to get what you want. If I offered them freedom, do you think they would continue to fight by your side?" I asked ominously, then directed my following words to his army. "This does not have to end in bloodshed! We can come to a peaceful resolution. You do not have to continue to follow him, each and every one of you has a decision to make now. Surrender now and I will let you go freely to make a life of your own. Don't you want that? To be free? Free of his reign of terror. This isn't a life. He's kept you hidden and under his thumb for so long, preventing you from seeking a life away from his regime. Aren't you tired of not having a voice? Of killing innocent humans? Afraid that if you don't follow his orders someone else would pay the price for your transgression?" I asked. "You do not have to continue with this way of life. There is another way. You can be something more!" I implored them, hoping they would hear my words.

I could see some of them waver, looking around themselves as they saw their families being forced into war, possibly losing one another during battle. I understood that fear. It was one I shared as well. I could hear low murmuring in the crowd before us. The only ones who had no outward response were the shapeshifters, they were easily identifiable as they stood stoically among the crowd like perfectly controlled lap dogs. My words were not even filtering into their minds, the only visible emotion displayed on their faces was uncontrollable rage.

"Enough!" He yelled, seeing the sudden indecision in his army. He never expected them to waver. He really believed he had complete control over his people and it had never once occurred to him that they would ever turn against him. "We are superior to the rest. This world was created for us and us alone, we deserve the right to take it back!"

"Take what back?! This world was never yours to begin with! We can all live peacefully together. It doesn't have to be this way! You can choose not to fight, you can choose to take your family to safety. We do not wish to harm those of you who do not wish to be here. Do not let another man's beliefs and ideals end your life!" I announced, offering them an escape for freedom.

I could see the fear in some of their eyes, I could see groups starting to form and move to the side.

"No!" Bogdan yelled, in a loud booming voice that reverberated all around us. "You will fight along with me and do as you are told!" He bellowed and turned to violently grasp onto the woman's arm standing closest to him, "Do it now!" He ordered.

She nodded immediately and pulled away from him, chanting words we could not comprehend, the witches surrounding her following in her wake.

"Jasper!" I yelled, as I felt the pings on my shield.

Without a second to spare Jasper commanded the four groups to be ready and Niklaus and I removed the shields over our army and encased the four groups, flying them over the crowd and straight towards the witches. We released our shields right before impact and our teams attacked as they fell onto the witches, abruptly dismantling them.

As soon as our teams landed Bogdan ordered his army to attack and the shapeshifters and werewolves who were still on Bogdan's side ran forward. Niklaus started telekinetically pushing the frontlines back to give our people an initial advantage. I did the same but it was becoming difficult to keep track of the multiple powers I was currently using all at once. I could tell Nik was feeling the same but we pushed on, even with the hits we received to our shields from the witches.

I could see my family throwing their potions at the shapeshifters running towards us. Watching their bodies crumble to the floor unconscious as they were hit. The werewolves who were already in wolf form shifted back to humans as they were hit by other potions, but they continued to advance forward. Fortunately, they were weaker in their human state and my family took that advantage to take them down quickly.

I slowly started to feel the hits against my shield again but they were a lot less intense than they had initially started off. I frowned in worry, surely our teams should have dismantled our threats by now. Something was wrong. I looked up and saw our four teams still fighting the witches but they were outnumbered, they had created a circle formation protecting a few witches in the middle who were actively chanting. Paul was catapulting Peter into the center but the surrounding witches flew him back with their powers.

"Nik!" I yelled, when I saw him go down.

He nodded at me and we teleported to the back of the army where the witches stood.

We counter attacked the witches with our own powers and our teams took control once again over our enemies. From my peripheral I saw a witch coming up behind Paul as she leaped onto his lupine back. "Paul!" I screamed in panic as she reached down for his head with her hands but I was too far to reach him. Hearing me Nik turned and jumped over the crowd to rip the witch off of him. I released a sigh of relief that was short lived when I heard a thunderous roar behind me and was suddenly tackled to the ground by a large body.

"Bella!" I heard Nik's distant yell but I didn't have the time to reassure him I was still ok before I was suddenly facing my enemy. I saw Bogdan's large body leap high into the air as it began to transform in mid leap towards me.

Before he had the chance to finish his transformation I flew into the sky and wrapped my shield around my body as I wrapped my arms around his neck and placed us in another shield together. We fell onto the ground creating a long crater-like depression on the ground but neither of us were injured. He tried to reach behind him to pull me off of his back but he wasn't able to get a good grip with just one hand and my shield in place. "You will never take another life again. I will make sure of that." I vowed as I wrapped my arms around his neck and squeezed hard.

He screamed at me but quickly realized it was no use as he started to choke, he knew he had lost as he dropped his only arm to his side. "Are you surrendering?" I asked, hoping he would take the opportunity I was offering to spare his life but all he did was laugh, a loud and terrifying laugh that sent chills through my body. "Never. I knew my death would be a possibility today and I plan to take you down with me. Let us see if you can get out of this alive." He threatened as he raised his hand again. I flinched away instinctively as I saw glass breaking on the side of my face and a dark black smoke was released from the impact. I had my shield in place so I wasn't worried until it slowly began to penetrate my shield and entered through my nose, mouth, and eyes until I couldn't see anymore. In a panic I released my own shield and placed it over his body before I lost consciousness and disintegrated him as I simultaneously wished for my friends and family to come out of this alive… even if it would be without me. If I died, I wanted to make sure he was erased from the face of the earth along with me. If I died today I wouldn't leave alone but in my last dying breath I would protect those I loved most.

I never felt my body move but my mind suddenly felt as if it were in a different world. All I could see and feel was an all-consuming emptiness. The battlefield was gone, my family was gone and so was I. I was terrified, if this was what death was like then I didn't want any part of it. I figured I had led a good purposeful life, worthy of entering heaven but suddenly I wasn't so sure… was this purgatory? I wondered.

I walked around trying to find any source of light but it was like nothing existed. I couldn't take it anymore and the quiet desperation I was feeling finally burst out and I screamed. I can't stay here forever, I needed to go back but how the hell was I supposed to do that now when there was nothing to physically fight. At least in battle I knew who my enemy was but here there was nothing but silence, nothing and no one to defeat in order to come back to those I loved. I dropped to the floor and cried, grabbing onto my hair and tugging, wishing to be anywhere but here.

The emptiness and loneliness felt endless, there was nothing I could do to change that. It was oppressive, all consuming, entering and taking over every single particle of my being. I tried to get up, I tried not to give up, I tried to find the will to fight back but there was nothing to fight against. It was like a dense fog, an eerie silence, damning me to remain alone and in this darkness forever.

I let thoughts of my family filter through my mind, reliving my life with the people I loved the most. Reliving memories of the people I loved was a better alternative to my current reality.

I played over memories in my head, of moments I spent with the pack in La Push. The time Jacob picked me up from the sand and swung me around so fast I unexpectedly kicked those around us. I hadn't gained as much control of my shield at the time and I had unintentionally wrapped my body in a shield. They didn't have time to cover their precious jewels as my legs kicked a few of the wolves in the junk. They all dropped down to their knees in pain as Jacob ran away with me holding onto his back tightly, desperately trying to find a place to hide before they could recover enough to retaliate.

I remembered Paul and I spray painting one of my teachers' cars when he had given me a bad grade on one of my English papers even though I damn well knew my paper deserved an 'A.' He only gave me a bad grade because earlier in the week I had corrected him on one of the plays we were reading and he was embarrassed a student had proved him wrong. In retaliation he gave me a 'C.' It wasn't a terrible grade but it was enough to piss me off so Paul and I found out where he lived that weekend and brought pink spray paint to write the words, 'I'm a little princess' all over his car. The next day he came to school with his car still spray painted as everyone laughed as he drove into the parking lot. I didn't know why he didn't try to hose it down first before coming to work, after all it wasn't permanent. I took hundreds of pictures and recorded a video and sent it to Paul so he could enjoy that moment with me even though he wasn't physically there. It was glorious.

I thought about my move to Mystic Falls and how quickly I had found more friends, more family to call my own. How we pranked each other constantly, how my roommates tended to place socks over their door handles when they had someone over as an ongoing joke Caroline had started. I remembered going with my dad deep into the forest where he could test his real vampire strength for the first time. I shielded myself so that he wouldn't catch my scent, he wanted me to be there with him but he didn't want to put me or anyone else in danger in the process. I remember how Jeremy and I sneaked into Elena's house and egged her car in the middle of the night. In my defense she had pissed me off earlier in the day and she was lucky I hadn't killed her… or at least maimed her just a little. I remembered meeting the Volturi, I remembered the party they threw us and how excited everyone was. Not many of us had been to such an extravagant party before and it was an amazing experience. Who else could say they partied it up in a castle in Italy?

Finally, I remembered my mate. The one person that was the most important in my life. I remembered what it felt like to be in his arms, what it felt like to have him inside of me, consuming me and taking me body and soul. I gave it willingly knowing there would never be anyone else I would ever give them to. He was always my light and hope in the darkest of times, the only person that gave me true happiness. Our love was something written in the stars, reaching far beyond time and space. Even in this dark place I could feel him, the warmth of his love and the fierceness of his own soul intertwining with my own. I remember our last night together, how he looked at me so intensely even when his character and faith in himself were wavering but not once did his love for me waver. It was the one thing he knew with one hundred percent certainty would always exist. I could feel his love now, I could practically hear it. My imagination turned out to be even better than I expected because I could have sworn I could hear him whispering Bella into my ear now.

I grasped onto it like a lifeline, it had felt so real. All I wanted was to hear it again to feel like I had him with me in some way… and I did, Bella he whispered again. If only I could touch it… touch him, then maybe I could find the strength to leave this place.

Come back to me, Angel.

I finally heard, and then suddenly it didn't feel like I was imagining it any more. I felt him, I couldn't explain it but it was like I could feel his arms wrapped around me. The warmth I had previously imagined was suddenly real and I let it in. I let it enter my body and take over me completely giving me the hope I needed.

Fight it, Angel, fight it and come back to me. I know you're there, I know you can hear me. Follow my voice, Angel.

I did as I was told without question, following his beautiful voice. I still couldn't see anything in this darkness but it didn't matter and I didn't need to. As long as I had his voice to guide me I would follow it to the ends of the earth. I had promised him I would and I wouldn't dare break that promise.

Not now, not ever.

Wherever you go… I will follow. I managed to whisper and suddenly it was like I was given life again and I sat up, sucking in as much air as I could into my lungs.

I opened my eyes in a panic, fearing I still wouldn't be able to see but on the contrary. I finally saw everything.

"Bella." I heard Niklaus desperately say my name as I felt his physical arms wrap around me and pulling me strongly into his body, holding onto me for dear life. "I thought I had lost you." He admitted in a broken voice.

I dug my face into his neck, breathing him in deeply now that all my senses had returned. "You'd never lose me… ever." I vowed.

I treasured this moment, it felt as if I had been trapped forever in that place. I had lost all hope, thinking I was gone forever but now I was back and I would cherish every single moment of my existence.

I pulled away from him once our bodies had calmed down.

"Bella?" I heard a broken voice near me and I turned around to find Paul on his knees with a broken look on his face, desperately asking me if I was really here.

"I'm back." I said gently, gradually trying to dispel the sadness in his expression.

He leaned forward and pulled me delicately into his arms as he dug his face into my neck. I could feel his body shaking and I hated that I had managed to make him feel this way again. I had done it once after Victoria and I had promised not to do it again but I had unintentionally done it once more. Slowly, I could feel the arms of my loved ones as they wrapped around us one by one, sniffles and shouts of joy erupting all around me. It brought tears to my eyes. I looked towards my mate and found his family sitting beside him, holding onto him in some way. He tightened his hold on my waist as I was still sitting on his lap. He pressed his forehead to my temple silently, his own way of joining our family hug. It brought the happiest and warmest feeling in my heart, the smile on my face practically splitting my face in half even as silent tears streamed down my face.

It was beautiful.

This was what I came back for, this was what I fought for and it was all worth it. To just be in their arms and surrounded by their love was enough to burst my heart with love. Even if I had died, it would have still been worth it as long as they had all survived. Though I was grateful I didn't have to die in order to save my loved ones.

This war, as tragic as it was, had united our family. Building a stronger bond than ever before. Not only our family but also those we have met along the way. It had united us all, united all species. We all came together for the greater good. Our beliefs may differ but somehow we had all found a common ground. Suddenly my future, my family's future, and the future of the world was now shining brightly with the promise of a new beginning.

And it was more than I could have ever asked for.