From 1.10 "There's a World Where Your Dreams Come True", in the school, Madison smiled, immediately going to embrace Josie and Lizzie.

Madison: (voice over) "Previously on Worlds Colliding (Legacies)."

"Europe was amazing," Josie told them.

"It's been chaos around here," Madison told them.

From 1.08 "Maybe I Should Start From the End", in Tory/Luke's office, Tory and Hope sat on either side of the desk. Hope put the urn on the desk. The urn started to glow red.

Lindsey: (voice over from 1.09 What Was Emma Doing In Your Dream?) "We came into possession of another Malivore artifact."

From 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, there were flashes of the Dragon, the gargoyle, the Arachne, the Dryad, the Necromancer and his zombies, the Mer Man and shadow monster, the Oneiroi, and Ablah the Jinni.

Kaylin: (voice over from 1.08 Maybe I Should Start From the End) "Now monsters that shouldn't exist have been coming after it."

From 1.09 "What Was Emma Doing In Your Dream?", in Rafael's dream, Rafael was chained up to a tree. Emma leaned closer to kiss Rafael.

Rafael: (voice over from in 1.09 What Was Emma Doing In Your Dream?) (to Emma) "I saw this girl. From the moment I met her, I knew I felt a connection."

From 1.09 "What Was Emma Doing In Your Dream?", in Emma's dream, in the library, Rafael turned Emma's head to look at him. They leaned in to kiss.

Emma: (voice over from in 1.09 What Was Emma Doing In Your Dream?) "I saw this guy that my family and I had saved in a church. And I felt the connection too."

From 1.09 "What Was Emma Doing In Your Dream?", in the school hallway, Emma looked at Rafael. "I kept pushing you away because I didn't want anyone else to get hurt because of me. But I cant do that anymore. I don't want to."

Knowing they didn't want to fight it anymore, they met half way in a passionate, sweet but hungry kiss. 

From 1.09 "What Was Emma Doing In Your Dream?", in the common area of the school, Hope and Landon were sitting on the couch.

"I'm not gonna be afraid of losing you anymore, Hope," Landon told her. "'Cause I'm gonna be the guy who always fights to find you again."

From 1.09 "What Was Emma Doing In Your Dream?", in Madison/Lizzie/Josie's dorm room, Madison and Owen sat together on the floor.

Owen chuckled. "We never actually stated if that means that we're actually boyfriend and girlfriend."

Madison smirked slyly. "No, we didn't, did we?"

Owen smirked, shaking his head. "No. So... are we?"

Madison smiled, tilting her head. "Tell me if this answers your question clearly."

Madison leaned closer to kiss Owen passionately.

From 1.09 "What Was Emma Doing In Your Dream?", in the school hall, Rae walked toward Danny. "You kept reassuring me that I could handle Rosa over the last two years, Danny. And you've been doing so well with controlling yourself, give or take a few episodes. Ariara's getting better. And Aunt Nikki and Aunt Kassandra, they'll be okay, sooner or later, once we get what they need to be okay again. And so will you and Emma."

Danny took Rae's hands, pulling her closer with a little smirk. "Let's just be happy in the moments that we can be, without anything getting in the way of that."

Rae smiled, nodding. "Hell yeah."

Rae and Danny smirked slight smiles, starting to kiss passionately.

From 1.10 "There's a World Where Your Dreams Come True", in the school, Lizzie noticed that Danny, Emma and Ariara had a lot of books in arms. "What's all that?"

"Oh, we were thinking we could spell a barrier around the urn and set a trap," Emma answered. "So when the next monster shows up, we can trap it."

-~-

Day One

Night - Salvatore Boarding School - Entrance Hall

There was a bell ringing throughout the school.

All in pajamas, Lindsey, Ryan, Tory, Luke, Emma, Danny, Ariara, Nicola, Kaylin, Hope, Rae and Madison met up.

"Sounds like Emma, Danny and Ariara's trap worked," Madison told them.

Ryan had a crossbow. Nicola had her sword. Lindsey had a shotgun, cocking it. They all walked out together.

-

Outside

Lindsey, Ryan, Tory, Luke, Emma, Danny, Ariara, Nicola, Kaylin, Hope, Rae and Madison walked toward the trap, led by Emma, Danny and Ariara since they were the ones who knew where the trap was set up. Lindsey held her shotgun. Ryan held his crossbow. Nicola held her sword.

Emma looked at Danny. "I know this is important, but you couldn't have put pants on first?"

"It's a little early for snark, Emma," Danny told her.

"Too early for Emma's snark?" Hope asked. "She doesn't know the meaning of that."

"Any guesses on what famous monster from filmland we get to slay today?" Kaylin asked.

Nicola scoffed. "With our luck, it'll be Cthulhu."

They came upon the trap.

"False alarm," Lindsey told them. "It's just a horse."

"Must have gotten out of the stables and wandered across the barrier spell," Tory told them.

Ryan frowned in confusion. "Except we don't have a white horse."

The horse turned around, revealing that it was actually a unicorn.

"No freaking way," Luke said.

Lindsey, Ryan and Nicola raised their weapons, the shotgun for Lindsey, the crossbow for Ryan, and the sword for Nicola.

Ariara reached out to them. "Hey, wait, wait. Hold your fire."

"It's a monster, Ariara," Kaylin told her. "It's here to take the artifact."

"You don't understand," Ariara told them. "In my kingdom, it was known to be bad luck to kill a unicorn because of their magical energies, the pure hearted nature of the creature."

"You're gonna listen to something like that?" Luke asked.

"I don't know about lore, but you're not seriously suggesting we kill a unicorn?" Rae asked.

"I'm suggesting we don't give it a pass because it's cute," Lindsey answered.

"Can't we just leave it alone?" Hope asked. "It's trapped, it's not going anywhere."

"Come on," Madison told them. "It's harmless. And if Ariara's right, then I don't want more bad luck than we already have because you guys decided to kill a unicorn."

Kaylin, Nicola, Lindsey, Tory, Luke and Ryan exchanged a look, sighing.

"Fine," Nicola agreed. "Ariara's right. As long as we keep it alive, other creatures won't be coming for the urn."

Slugs, small and hidden, were dropping from the unicorn, crawling over the ground toward the group.

Tory sighed, giving in. "So we just stay alert and let it be. Just don't tell Lyla about this. She'll get excited and want to see the unicorn."

"Right," Emma agreed. "Fine. We won't tell Lyla."

"Okay, what about the fact that Lyla is a psychic and can read our thoughts?" Danny asked.

"Well, as a psychic myself, I suggest that when Lyla is around, do not think about the unicorn," Rae told them.

"And make sure she's wearing her bracelet," Luke added.

Ariara nodded. "Agreed."

Ryan sighed. "All right, well, I'll be on alert back in bed. As should the rest of you. Come on."

Kaylin, Nicola, Lindsey, Tory, Luke and Ryan walked back toward the school. Rae, Hope, Emma, Danny, Madison and Ariara exchanged a look, looking back at the unicorn, before following the adults back to school.

-

Worlds Colliding (Legacies)

-

Day Two

Morning - Salvatore Boarding School - Hope/Rae's Dorm Room

Hope and Rae were sleeping in their bed. Slugs from the unicorn were sliding across their faces to slide into their noses. They both started to wake up, sitting up.

Rae smiled. "Hey, Hope."

Hope, also in an uncharacteristically good mood, smiled. "Rae. Ready to have a good day?"

"Oh, yeah," Rae answered.

They got out of bed.

-

Common Room

Hope, Rae, Emma, Danny, Madison and Ariara were sitting in the commons room, joining Landon, Owen and Rafael.

Hope kissed Landon. "Morning, handsome."

Rae gave Danny a hug, smiling. "Handsomes."

Madison kissed Owen on the cheek, smiling. "Hey."

"Hey," Owen replied.

Madison picked up a sandwich. "Mm, sweet carbs."

Owen looked at Hope, Rae and Madison curiously. "You three are in a really good mood."

Rae shrugged. "Just woke up on the right side of the bed, I guess."

"For the first time ever?" Danny asked.

Rae giggled. "You're so funny. I love that about you."

Lizzie and Josie walked into the room.

"Remember what Mom said," Lizzie told her. "We are airy clouds floating high above a turbulent sea of drama."

Josie nodded in agreement, looking from Lizzie to Rafael. "Two clouds who are not triggered by seeing ex-boyfriends."

"Who also do not make out with ex-girlfriends," Lizzie replied, talking about Josie and Penelope, before looking at a bracelet on her wrist. "Thanks to Mom, I have a silver lining."

Josie linked her arm with Lizzie's. "Saltzman twins 2.0. And we did make Madison a promise to try and get along with Rae, Hope, Emma, Danny and Ariara, since we both already like Lyla, and Ariara's already my friend. So let's go try."

Lizzie nodded in agreement, as the two twins walked over to the group of teenagers. "Good morning, Rafael."

Rafael smiled thinly, awkwardly. "Hi. Uh, how was your--your trip?"

"Excellent," Josie answered. "Thank you. And Owen, Landon, welcome back."

"Hi," Owen told them.

Landon pointed at Josie in confusion. "Didn't you vote me out?"

Madison, knowing that her cousins were trying to make an effort, smiled at them. "That's all in the past."

Lizzie and Josie smiled.

Emma sighed, making an effort for Madison as well. "You two wanna sit down?"

Madison smiled even wider. Lizzie and Josie smiled, sitting down.

Lyla ran up to them. "Hey, guys."

The teens chuckled to see her.

"Hey, Lyla," Owen told her.

"Have you guys seen Mom and Dad?" Lyla asked.

"Tory and Luke?" Ariara asked, looking around. "I think they might be talking with Kaylin, Nicola, Lindsey and Ryan."

Lyla nodded. "Okay."

"Now, is everyone as excited as I am about tonight?" Lizzie asked.

"What's happening tonight?" Landon asked.

Danny rolled his eyes. "The school's annual talent show. All the factions compete."

Hope looked at Lizzie and Josie. "You know, the witch performance wouldn't be the same without you two."

"Thank you," Josie told her.

Madison smiled.

Lyla looked between them. "Oh, so is the goal about you guys getting along for Madison actually working?"

This caused the teens to chuckle at Lyla's cute bluntness.

"Yeah, I think it's starting to work, Lyla," Emma told her.

"So what about this talent show?" Owen asked.

"Well, the witches do the same song every year because it gets them to win," Emma answered. "The wolves do their own thing. And the vampires usually hate it."

"The younger class, like Lyla, also do a song, usually with Lyla singing lead because she's good," Danny explained.

"And what about you guys?" Rafael asked.

"'The Other' faction?" Ariara asked. "We've never been involved in the talent show."

Lizzie smirked snarkily. "No surprise, given their antisocial--" She seemed to be zapped by something, flinching, and putting on a more polite smile. "Their tendencies to keep to themselves in the past."

"But things are changing this year," Josie pointed out. "You all could get involved."

Landon patted Owen and Rafael on the shoulders, as the three smiled.

Rae smiled. "We should do a talent."

"What?" Owen asked. "All of us?"

"Or separate," Rae answered. "Danny and I can do something, Hope and Landon could do something, Madison and Owen could do something, Ariara and Emma, even."

Emma scoffed. "I am not doing a talent."

"To the surprise of no one, Emma," Lizzie replied. She got zapped again. "I mean, it's not a surprise, but maybe Rae's right."

"I don't know, Rae," Danny told her. "I never wanted to before."

"Come on, guys," Hope told them. "Rae's right. We make up our own faction." She smiled, all bubbly. "The teen tribrid, the psychic holding in the Devil, two werewitches, a Banshee, the shapeshifting animal princess, and Landon and Owen, since we don't know what they are yet."

Landon shrugged. "Yeah, all right, yeah. Team Other."

Madison smiled brightly. "Then we're gonna need a spotlight. All right, Lyla, Emma, Hope, Rae, Ariara and I can actually sing, Danny and Emma can dance pretty well, and Owen, I've heard you rap before. And Landon can play guitar."

"Not sure about a song, but we don't all have to do the same thing," Owen pointed out.

Ariara chuckled a bit. "Yeah, I guess."

Emma gave them all a skeptical look.

"Come on, Emma," Rafael told her in amusement.

Emma gave Rafael an amused look, both of them hiding smiles. "Fine. Whatever."

Lyla, Hope, Rae and Madison cheered. Josie and Lizzie smiled. Ariara, Emma, Danny, Owen and Rafael were weirded out by the cheerfulness.

"All right," Danny said weirdly.

Owen chuckled. "Yeah."

Ariara tilted her head. "Not sure what we all could do, either together or separately. But like Josette said, things are changing this year."

Josie smiled.

Landon looked at the others. "So you said that you guys, Nicola, Kaylin, Lindsey, Tory, Luke and Ryan caught a monster last night?"

"Yep," Hope answered. "But not really a monster. We told them that a unicorn barely counts as a monster."

Emma, Danny and Ariara gave Hope a look for saying that in front of Lyla, while Rae, Hope and Madison realized that Hope slipped up and started to laugh, causing Owen, Landon, Rafael, Lizzie and Josie to look at them in confusion.

Lyla raised her eyebrows. "A freaking unicorn? I'm gonna talk to Mom and Dad."

Lyla marched off, leaving the teens looking at each other in amusement.

Rae gave Ariara a hug. "Come on, Ariara. You know you wanna sing or do one of your kingdom's dancing. It'll be fun, I promise."

A slug slid from Rae into Ariara's ear, effecting her just like the other three girls.

-

Tory/Luke's Office

Tory and Luke were sitting at their desks.

Lyla used magic to open the double doors, walking in, raising her hand over her head, closing her hand to use magic to close the doors behind her.

Tory and Luke looked up.

"Lyla..." Tory trailed off.

"Does this 'dangerous' monster happen to be a magical pony?" Lyla asked.

Luke and Tory shared a busted look.

"Maybe," Luke answered.

"And no, you cannot see it," Tory told her.

Lyla pouted, crossing her arms over her chest, tilting her head. "But I wanna see it."

Luke stood. "Don't you have to get ready for the talent show tonight anyway? The lower grade class always does a song in the talent show too."

"And you're usually the lead singer in the lower grade class," Tory pointed out.

"If you think that the talent show is gonna distract me..." Lyla trailed off, frowning. "You're probably right. But I still wanna see the unicorn."

"We'll think about it," Luke told her. "It could still be dangerous, if it's not just a unicorn."

"And we might be a little late to the talent show, but we will be there to see you perform, like always," Tory told her. "I promise."

Lyla narrowed her eyes at them, tilting her head critically.

-

Hallway

Kaylin was walking down the hallway, having not noticed that a slug was on her until it was too late, and it slid into her ear. She was overcome by the same influence that had taken over Hope, Rae and Madison so far. She started to smile, walking away.

-

Kaylin's Room

(Song:) Sway With Me - Saweetie & Galxara

In the same room that Kaylin had had the entire time in WCTVD, Kaylin walked into her room, grabbing a remote for her stereo, turning it on loud to play the song. She smiled, running her hands through her hair, starting to sway to the music, pulling off her jacket sensually, waving it over her head, tossing it to the side as she sang a bit. "When the marimba rhythm starts to play / Dance with me / Make me sway." She spun around, dancing sensually to the beat, having a lot of fun, rushing over to her liquor counter to grab a bottle to drink from, acting like her old party girl self that she was for so long. "Like the lazy ocean hugs the shore / Hold me close / Sway me more."

Kaylin picked up a knife from the dresser top, flipping it through the air, catching it multiple times. She looked up when she heard someone walk in behind her, turning to throw the knife at whoever was there.

Nicola was the one walking in, ducking, making the knife stab into the wall behind her head. She stood, turning to give Kaylin a look. "Really?"

Kaylin chuckled. "Sorry."

Kaylin continued to dance and drink.

"What's with the song?" Nicola asked.

"What?" Kaylin asked. "It's appropriate music for the way I'm feeling."

"Seriously?" Nicola asked.

"Seriously," Kaylin answered. 'This is literally my anthem."

"No kidding," Nicola agreed. "What the hell are you doing, Kaylin?"

"I'm having fun," Kaylin answered in a duh voice.

"Yeah, no duh," Nicola told her. "I mean, why now? You haven't acted this way in a long time."

"Well, I feel the best I have in a very long time," Kaylin replied. "I mean, Nikki, you've always been all work and no play. I remember the time that I put on 'You Better Work Bitch' when I was training you back when you were human, not long before Damon turned you into a vampire, and you are still no fun now."

Nicola nodded sarcastically. "Unlike you, since you're are the party girl of the century."

"A couple centuries, at least," Kaylin agreed, spinning around, whipping around her hair, laughing. "And today I realized, that I have almost become you. I've been all work and no play recently, and I wanted to change that. I've been working so hard. There's been so much pain, heartbreak, seriousness. It's about damn time for me to play."

Nicola was weirded out to see this side of Kaylin again, frowning in confusion. "Okay, back when I was human, or even the two years after I turned into a vampire, it would not be weird at all for you to be partying a day or night away. But after Rae was born, and after you married Klaus, and we became part of the Frankenstein family, you've never once acted like this."

"So what?" Kaylin asked, tilting her head. "I'm still me. I'm just acting like the old me. And you're right, it's not weird for me to act like this, you know. I used to act like this every single day because I didn't have as much to worry about and I could be truly and completely free. Besides spending centuries at a time being completely alone, since Stefan, Damon and I weren't on good terms, and no one else really knew who I was, so I got used to the feeling of loneliness and being alone and never thinking that I would get a family like we both have now. But we do, and I don't see why that means that I have to give up having fun. What is so weird about this, Nikki? Just let me have fun for once, like old times."

Nicola watched her in confusion, stunned. Kaylin continued to dance, smirking, laughing, continuing to have a blast.

(Song Ends)

-

Grand Hall

Ariara was sitting with a lot of other girls, having a fun time, being bubbly after being affected by the slug. "This is so much fun. I don't know why we don't do this more often."

The girls laughed.

Josie walked into the room, seeing that Ariara was being outgoing and bubbly with other girls, confused since Ariara was never like this. She walked closer. "Hey, do you know where they moved the stupid canes for the talent show? Lizzie was asking me to find them."

"You seem very anti-cane," Ariara pointed out.

"No," Josie denied. "Uh, just anti-doing the same exact thing every year. But it's fine."

"Are you sure?" Ariara asked. "You look like you want to do anything else. And you should. It's okay to want to spotlight for a change." Josie raised her eyebrows, wondering how Ariara knew that she did. Ariara took hold of Josie's shoulders in her hands, smiling fondly. "You are way too talented to stand in the background. You should shine more. I know you want to."

"And this is coming from you?" Josie asked. "When you turn into your animal form, your wings are literally golden and glowing and shiny with energy, and yet you are so reserved."

"Well, you know how I can grow my tail, or my claws without having to turn completely into the animal?" Ariara asked. "I can grow my wings too, without turning completely, I just didn't have enough control the past two years to do it."

"That's not the point, Ariara," Josie told her.

"I grew up being a princess, and destined to become queen after my brother Acilino died," Ariara pointed out. "I had time to shine back then. Not the way you American folk shine, but in the princess kind."

"The princess Ariara Nata kind?" Josie asked. Ariara smiled. Josie chuckled, shaking her head. "I don't want to upset my sister, and I shouldn't."

Ariara tilted her head knowingly. "But you want to do something different and show how talented you really can be."

"How do you know that?" Josie asked.

"I just do," Ariara answered.

"Yeah, well, whatever," Josie replied. "It's not gonna happen. I just need to find the canes."

Ariara shrugged innocently. "Fine. I'll keep an eye out, if that's what you really want, but I know it's not." She looked behind Josie, seeing Penelope by the door. "But, um... I think the evil witch that burned both of us in the past, and that you have actually burned, has an eye out for you."

Josie turned to follow her gaze, seeing Penelope. "Oh, dear God, hide me."

Josie ducked behind Ariara to sit down and hide behind her on the stairs.

Ariara was surprised by that reaction, nodding in agreement. "Okay." Penelope walked toward them. Ariara smiled mockingly. "Hi."

Penelope leaned around Ariara to look at Josie, holding an envelope toward her. "Just make sure you read it in private."

Josie took the envelope. "I'm not gonna read it at all."

Penelope looked at Ariara, but didn't know what to say to either of them. 

Ariara waved goodbye sarcastically, whispering. "Bye." Penelope was even weirded out by the way Ariara was acting, turning around, walking away. Ariara turned to face Josie. "What do you think it says? 'Check this box if you want to kiss me, check this box if you want to kill me'? Because I would check the 'kill me' box."

Josie stood, confused by her behavior. "I don't know, and I do not want to find out. She's already been trying to drive a wedge between us as friends for a while. I mean, she made out with you after you got drunk at a party just to drive a wedge between us."

Ariara made an innocent look, tilting her head. "I wouldn't call that 'making out'. I told you before, back in Kiesha'ra, a kiss like that between people was literally nothing. It was normal."

"Yeah, but for people here, it's not 'normal' unless you are like really into them," Josie pointed out. "I know you're still getting used to things here, Ariara. What may seem like nothing to you because of where you grew up, because your kingdom was so carnal and flippant about touch, kiss or anything else, but here it is a big deal, for most people anyway."

"Yeah, I know," Ariara agreed. "I'm learning. I mean, if I'm being honest, Penelope was right. If I am really liking you, when I know that you're too hung up on Penelope and have whatever reservations you have against me, was my kind of way of torturing myself because I thought that I deserved to be deprived of love or anything physical like we did back home, but..."

Josie was surprised to hear that confession, looking down nervously. "Ariara..."

"It's okay," Ariara assured, not phased in the least. "If this was back home, if I liked someone this much, we probably would have already been together, but I know that you don't want to be with me, and probably don't even like me, because of Penelope, or something else. I guess knowing that, putting myself through that... it was self-punishment for not being able to save my kingdom. Even though I was the renowned princess born of the golden eagle, the serpent, and the lion lines. Penelope said that you would choose her even though you hate her over me any day, and she said that that is why I like the fact that some part of me likes you, because she knows that I'm punishing myself, and that's why she's been trying to break our friendship so that it doesn't turn into anything more. And I think she's right."

Josie was stunned and concerned. "She's not right. I'm gonna kill Penelope for making you think like that."

Ariara smiled, tilting her head. "Well, if you need help smiting her, I'll help. It's not like she's the first She-Devil that I've faced. Having been locked away in the Necromancer's mind with Rae and Rosalita was a really big wake up call for me."

Josie looked over Ariara. "Okay, did Lindsey, Tory, Luke or Ryan just slip you, Madison, Hope and Rae happy pills or something while we were gone? Although, it sounds more like a Kaylin move to slip you guys some happy pills."

"No," Ariara answered. "I'm just having a good day. For the first time in a long time. Apparently so are Hope, Rae and Madison."

Josie nodded, puzzled. "Looks like that just leaves the four of you, I guess."

"I have to get to class," Ariara told her. She  embraced Josie. "But your day is going to get so much, Josie. I just know it."

Ariara smiled, pulling away, turning around, walking away.

A slug slipped down from Josie's hairline into her ear, taking her over as well.

-

Hallway

Nicola walked down the hallway toward Lindsey and Ryan, as they were about to walk outside. "Hey, Lindsey? Ryan? Have you guys noticed something strange going on with Kaylin?"

"What's not strange about Kaylin?" Ryan asked. "Kaylin's always been kind of strange."

"Yeah, I know, but the thing is..." Nicola trailed off. "She's acting like her old self."

"What do you mean?" Lindsey asked.

"She's blaring music in her room, dancing and drinking away," Nicola answered. 

"So..." Lindsey trailed off. "That's how she used to be all the time."

"Yeah, that's what she said, too, but she hasn't been like that since Rae was born," Nicola pointed out. "Hell, even before that, when Kaylin and I had to leave New Orleans when Kassandra was hexed and she was forced to keep Klaus prisoner and nearly killed Elijah, Kol and Freya, and Rebekah was hexed."

"I don't know, then," Ryan told her. "What did she say?"

"Just that she was tired of being all work and no play lately and that she wanted to let loose," Nicola answered. "I just don't think that it's a good idea for anyone to let loose while monsters are coming after that urn."

"Well, right now, the only monster that we have to deal with right now is the unicorn," Lindsey pointed out. "That's where Ryan and I are going, to keep an eye on in, study it, cast any spell that we can so we can figure out more about whatever is coming. And as long as the unicorn is alive, we don't have to worry about a dangerous monster coming."

"So I think we're good for now," Ryan told her. "If we're not, then we can get Kaylin to sober up and focus."

Nicola sighed, giving in. "Fine. Where're Luke and Tory?"

"Luke is dreading the talent show again because the witches do the same song every year, so he wants to miss that performance, though Tory and Luke obviously wouldn't miss Lyla's performance," Lindsey told her. "So I don't know what Tory and Luke are gonna do, or what is up with Kaylin, but we are fine, Nicola. Trust us."

"Just keep an eye on things here while we check out the unicorn," Ryan told her. "Luke, Tory and Kaylin might be looking to blow off some steam, but you, me and Lindsey can still handle this. All right?"

Nicola nodded. "All right. Good luck."

"You too," Lindsey agreed.

Lindsey and Ryan walked outside.

-~-

Tory/Luke's Office

Luke was laying down on the couch. "Vampires, werewolves, witches, tribrids, Huntresses, hexed insane beasts, monsters that shouldn't exist. I mean, I have faced... terrifying danger in my life. But there's only one day in my calendar marked with a black 'X'. One day I hate above all others. Because if I have to hear somebody sing how many minutes there are in a year one more time, I'm gonna throw myself to the unicorn."

Tory walked closer, laughing. "So why don't you play hooky with me?" Luke sat up instantly with a hilarious sound and face, causing Tory to laugh again. "What? The latest monster is harmless, I can hear Kaylin blaring music up in her room as she dances, Lindsey, Ryan and Nicola got everything under control here, the kids are playing nice, and no one is paying attention to school. Rosalita is even taking the damn day off and she's not tormenting Rae, because I can sense that. So if even the She-Devil can give herself the day off, why don't we? We'll be back in time for Lyla's performance, and everything will be all right."

Luke tilted his head, still having a hilarious look on his face. Tory smiled.

-

Outside

The unicorn was still in its trap.

Lindsey and Ryan were watching the unicorn.

Ryan narrowed his eyes at the unicorn. "Look at you, eating hay. acting all innocent. You might have fooled everybody else, but we got our eye on you, okay? Yeah, that's right." Two slugs were trying to climb up on Lindsey and Ryan. "'It's a unicorn, Ryan. Don't hurt the unicorn'. Unicorn."

Lindsey laughed lightly, until she saw the slugs climbing up on her and Ryan, and couldn't help a slight scream as she used magic to throw the slugs off of them to the ground. "Okay, I can deal with vampires, witches, werewolves, Originals, beasts and monsters, but that is a big no-no."

Ryan took a closer look at the slugs, as both he and Lindsey killed them with stomps. "What the hell?"

-

Inside - Auditorium 

Lizzie was running practice for the witches. "Five, six, seven, eight." Everyone started to dance, but it was very bad. "Looks like we haven't been practicing. And some of your outfits must have shrunk. Or maybe there were just too many late night visits to the ki--" She was zapped again, gasping. "But it's fine. We'll adjust. From the top. Josie? Where is Josie?"

Josie walked in, carrying a drink, acting psychotically happy. "Oh, am I late?"

"Where are the canes?" Lizzie asked.

Josie smiled, tilting her head, pacing around the witches. "I don't know. I actually went to go find them, right? But then I was talking to Ariara Nata, and she was so free today, and I realized, I don't feel like stressing about it either."

"You didn't want..." Lizzie trailed off. "Okay, that's fine. Why don't you just take your usual place?"

Josie took a drink. "Ah, about that. After talking to Ariara, she made me realize that I don't want to stand in the background anymore. And that she was right that I wanted to shine for once."

"I know you haven't been practicing,but if you want to be in the front, you..." Lizzie trailed off.

"I mean, I just think we should scrap that lame routine, right?" Josie asked. "Do something totally different. It'd be super fun, right? And without the canes. It'd be fun."

Penelope was watching Josie, impressed that she was taking initiative, though kind of jealous that she had been talking to Ariara about all of this beforehand when Ariara knew that she wanted to shine for once.

Lizzie put her hands together. "But, my beloved sister, this is the routine we do every year because we win every year."

"I think I should sing a new song," Josie told her. Lizzie forced a laugh. "And then everybody can contribute some choreography, and it can be like a real... collaboration, hmm? Doesn't that just sound nice?"

Josie gave Lizzie a hug. Lizzie forced a smile.

-

Kitchen 

Lyla was sitting on the counter. Emma was tossing candy at Lyla. Lyla was catching each piece of candy in her mouth, smiling, giggling. Emma smiled.

Danny walked in. "What are you two doing?"

"Emma's tossing me candy, and I'm catching them all," Lyla answered.

"Lyla's pretty good at it," Emma told him.

Danny nodded sarcastically. "Nice. Very ladylike."

"Shut up, Danny," Lyla told him.

Emma smirked smugly. "Yeah, Danny. Shut up."

Lyla gasped. "Mom and Dad are gone until later, but you two are doing talents too, aren't you?" Emma and Danny both made a face, making noises like they didn't know for sure. Lyla gave them a look. "You are performing. I wanna see you guys and Rae and Hope and Madison and Ariara happy for once. With Rafael, Owen and Landon here, and Josie and Lizzie starting to get along with you guys for Madison, things might actually be changing for you guys. For all of us."

Emma gave Lyla a look. "What does Rafael have to do with it?"

Lyla gave Emma a look, raising her eyebrows, smirking sarcastically, leaning closer to whisper. "Mind reader, remember?"

Emma sighed sheepishly, looking down.

"I don't know what you two are whispering about, but I don't even know what talents Team Other are gonna do," Danny pointed out.

"Well, Hope and Landon are gonna bake, and Madison and Owen want to do a duet song where Owen can show off his rapping skills, and I think Rae is trying to figure out how to do a mashup song that she might ask you for help on, Danny," Lyla explained. "Ariara's gonna be doing a dance from her kingdom and a song to go with it. Oh, Emma, what if you and Danny do a magical spark show?"

Emma smirked in amusement. "Why would we do that?"

"Because I wanna see some sparklers, magically," Lyla answered.

Danny smirked, chuckling. "Of course you do, Lyla. And how the hell do you know what everyone is planning?"

"Because, must I say it again, mind reading," Lyla answered, stressing the last two words.

"Why haven't you been wearing your bracelet?" Danny asked.

"'Cause I don't wanna wear it all the freaking time," Lyla answered in exasperation. She slid off from the counter. "And while you two are being antisocial loners and trying to figure out what to do, I'm gonna go get ready for my song. Goodbye, cousins."

Lyla gave Emma and Danny a smug, sassy look, tilting her head, turning around, walking out of  the kitchen. Emma and Danny exchanged a look of stunned speechlessness. While they were distracted, slugs were sliding into their ears, causing both of them to become more happy.

-

Magic Class

The teacher, Ms. Featherwood, put 'Healing With Magic' on the chalkboard.

Emma was sitting at a table, mixing together a green magic gel.

Rafael walked in, sitting next to Emma. "Hey."

Emma smiled. "Hey. Thank you for coming."

Rafael put his bag down. "Anything to avoid the wolves talking about that stupid talent show." They both laughed. "Apparently, deciding what we do is a... alpha thing."

Emma chuckled. "Well, don't feel bad. Lyla wants me and Danny to do magical sparkler display for the talent show just because she wants to see us do it."

Rafael smirked. "Can't Lyla do that herself?"

"Oh, yeah, she can, and she has, but she wants to us to do something for the show so we can stop being antisocial loners," Emma answered. "She wants me, Danny, Hope, Rae, Madison and Ariara to be happy, and she thinks that with Josie and Lizzie trying to be nice, and you, Owen and Landon here, that we finally can be."

Rafael nodded in amusement. "Got it. If you choose to do the magical sparks, gonna be... shocked to see it, Emma."

Emma smirked sarcastically, nodding. "Oh, very funny."

They laughed.

"Once you have your gel mixed, make a shallow cut on your volunteer," Featherwood told them.

Emma looked at Rafael, picking up a small blade. "Do you trust me?"

Rafael nodded, teasing. "Kind of."

They both laughed. Emma leaned close to Rafael, biting her lip lightly, trying to suppress a slight smile as she used the tiny blade to make a shallow cut on Rafael's cheek. Rafael pressed his lips together, as both looked each other in the eyes.

Emma pat her finger in the green gel, brushing it lightly over Rafael's cut. "So, what are you gonna do?"

"Huh?" Rafael asked.

"For the talent show," Emma clarified.

Rafael nodded, a bit embarrassed that he forgot what they were talking about just a second before because of how close she was. "Oh, um, one of the wolves said he was gonna teach me to--to juggle."

Emma laughed lightly. "Juggle? Come on, you told me to agree with the others about doing a Team Other talent, whether or not we were doing it together or separately. And I told you what Lyla wants me and Danny to do. So take my advice. You should do something bold, spontaneous. Totally unexpected."

They looked each other in the eyes with slight smiles. Emma watched his cut heal.

Featherwood walked by. "Huh. Well done, Emma."

Emma slid away in her chair. "Thank you, Ms. Featherwood." Rafael touched his cheek, looking at Emma. "See?"

Rafael chuckled. "Look, Emma, can we find time to talk after all this? You know, the kiss, and the dreams, and..."

Emma nodded in agreement. "I know. Yeah, we do need to talk, Raf. But class... is not a really good place to talk. And everyone's busy with the, uh, talent show, so..."

"Right," Rafael agreed. "And hey, if you're leaving me to perform, then you gotta do something too."

Emma smirked in amusement, raising an eyebrow at him. "I don't have to do anything. But maybe I can find something that I'm good at."

"Besides being a badass?" Rafael asked.

Emma smiled, nodding. "Yeah, besides that." She stood, gathering her things. "Thanks for this."

Rafael stood, grabbing his bag. "Yeah, no problem."

Emma turned to face Rafael, curious. "Rafael, I can't believe that I went from having practically no one at this, outside Rae, Hope, Danny, Madison, Ariara and Lyla since they're family... to having you, and friends like Owen and Landon, even though I almost killed them once while under the influence of Rosalita and black magic, and starting to get along with Josie and Lizzie for Madison's sake." In a surprising show of emotion, Emma embraced Rafael. Rafael was surprised, but happy and content, returning the embrace. "I'm so lucky to have you guys."

Emma pulled away, smiling, walking out of the classroom. Rafael was puzzled by the emotional and happy side of Emma, having not seen it that much until now, but smiling slightly.

-

Library

The vampire teen faction was in the library, laughing, hanging out.

A slug slid into MG's ear.

MG tried to get everyone's attention. "All right, y'all, hold on. I'm thinking maybe we could compel people to do stupid human tricks." Everyone booed, throwing things at MG. "Okay, all right, hold on. Is anyone up for stand up comedy? Huh?" Everyone booed, throwing things at MG. "Okay, all right. Y'all don't want to do anything fun."

Kaleb stood. "Man, this whole thing is a total waste of time."

MG walked closer. "Well, I guess we could just boycott the whole show."

"MG, we should be using this time to take a stand," Kaleb told him. "Right?" The vampires clapped. "I mean, come on. Like, we--we should--we should..." He was clearly starting to be taken over by the slug. "Uh, we should--we--we should sing. We should sing. We shou--" Kaleb climbed up onto a table in the middle of the room, singing fantastically. "We should sing.... / That'll show 'em." There was cheers and applause and smiles, including from MG. "Right? Huh? No, thank--okay, okay." Kaleb pointed to a vampire. "All right, you, get me a piano. MG, Madison is getting a spotlight. Ask her if we can use it first. Everyone else, line up. I need to see how high you can kick."

-

Hallway 

Nicola was walking down the hallway. A slug fell down onto Nicola's head. Nicola stopped walking in confusion, reaching up to her head, but the slug was already sliding down into her ear, and there was no telling that if Nicola's inhibitions were lowered, if the Huntress would be able to break out and come to play.

-

Rae/Hope's Dorm Room

Rae was sitting on her bed, having been writing in a journal.

Danny knocked on the open door. "You asked me here?"

Rae looked up, smiling brightly. "Yeah."

Danny closed the door, walking closer. "Emma and I were practicing what to do for the show. We thought that we could do like magical sparks, since Lyla asked us too. She wanted to see sparklers."

Rae chuckled. "That's really cute."

Danny smiled. "Yeah, it is. What did you wanna do?"

Rae smiled, taking Danny's hands to pull him closer and have him sit down in front of her. "I was thinking about how for the last two years, both of us have had a really dark path. And so have Hope, Madison, Emma, Ariara. I mean, not nearly as dark as we could be, but still pretty dark. Even Lyla could get dark."

"True," Danny agreed. "But no one is really acting dark today, Rae. What are you getting at?"

"Exactly my point," Rae told him. "Even though most of us can be dark, we're also fighting the darkness. Fighting the devil. Literally, with Rosalita inside of me. So even if we all have a little bit of devil in us, we are also the devil's worst nightmare."

Danny smiled, nodding. "I like that. So what's the point of this speech?"

Rae giggled. "The point, Danny, is that I found three songs that could match  the way I'm feeling right now, about the darkness, about beating the devil. Devil In Me, Devil Side, and Devil's Worst Nightmare. And I put it to sheet music, and put it as a duet, for you and me. If you sing it with me, or at the very least rap it for your part, then you can show me the magic sparks. You know, other than what we've been feeling."

Danny smiled, laughing. "Oh, that was corny as hell."

Rae laughed, giggling hysterically. "It was, but you love it."

Danny chuckled. "All right, fine. Show me what you got."

Rae smiled, showing Danny the music, having labeled both their parts. She started the music for the mashup of Devil In Me by Halsey, Devil's Worst Nightmare by Fjora and Devil Side by The Foxes.

When Rae started to sing, it sounded sweet, almost angelic. (Devil's Worst Nightmare) "I felt heaven, shaking with angels  / Never saying never / Winds blow, turning tables."

Danny locked eyes with Rae, singing. (Devil's Worst Nightmare) "And I've met monsters / Drank well from poison water / Heed me now, Satan."

Rae started to sing the first verse from Devil Side, a bit reworded to fit their situations. "Run and hide / It's gonna be bad tonight / 'Cause here comes my devil side / It's gonna ruin me."

Danny sang the verse from Devil Side, a bit reworded to fit their situations. "It's almost like / Slow motion suicide / Watching our devil sides / Get the better of you and me."

Rae stood, dancing, spinning in a slow circle, sensual yet innocent movements at the same time as sung the pre-chorus of Devil In Me. "I won't take anyone down / If I crawl tonight / But I still let everyone down / When I change in size."

Danny finished the pre-chorus of Devil In Me. "And I went tumbling down / Tryna reach your high / But I scream too loud / If I speak my mind."

Rae raised her arms over her head, swaying to the music, tilting her head to cause her hair to cascade over her face, brushing it back, singing the chorus from Devil's Worst Nightmare. "Just 'cause I look like an angel don't mean I won't get down in the dirt / Just 'cause I look like a good girl don't mean I won't do things that hurt / Beware, evil, I'm the devil's worst nightmare." 

Danny stood, taking Rae by the hand, spinning her around, pulling her close into a dance, both of them smiling as he sang the ending of the choruses in Devil Side. "Who's gonna save you now? / Who's gonna save you?"

Rae sang the first part of the first/second chorus from Devil In Me. "I don't wanna wake it up, I don't wanna wake it up, I don't wanna wake it up / The devil in me."

Danny spun Rae to where she had her back to him, his arms around her waist as she held his arms, swaying to the music as he sung the second part of the chorus from Devil In Me. "Gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up / Come back to life." 

Rae took Danny's arms from around her waist, spinning around so they both had their arms raised and fingers touching, both lowering the their arms as she sung the ending of the choruses in Devil Side. "Who's gonna save you now? / Who's gonna save you?"

Danny took Rae into his arms to sway her around in a dance, causing Rae to laugh, as he sang the first part of the first/second chorus from Devil In Me. "I don't wanna wake it up, I don't wanna wake it up, I don't wanna wake it up / The devil in me."

Rae spun away, hair flowing out around her as she did, brushing her hair out of her face as she sang the second part of the chorus from Devil In Me. "Gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up / Come back to life."

Rae and Danny stood face to face, hands raised to touch as they circled around each other as they sang the ending of the choruses in Devil Side, looking at each other, smiling. "Who's gonna save you now? / Who's gonna save you?"

Rae backed away from Danny, letting her eyes and veins glow faintly with Hellfire, holding out her hands, forming Hellfire in her hands, letting the flames dance in her hands to go along with the next lyrics, singing a verse from Devil's Worst Nightmare. "I've tasted fire / I've felt the burn of bittersweet / Oh, sacrifice, I know you all too well / Your sister love, your brother misery."

Rae closed her fists, extinguishing the Hellfire, the same time making her glowing eyes and veins fade to normal.

Danny beckoned Rae closer with a finger as he sang a verse from Devil's Worst Nightmare. "Come a bit closer." Rae stepped closer, taking his offered hand as he spun her closer. Rae put a hand to his chest. "Got a secret inside / I don't mind all the chaos / It keeps me alive."

Rae showed the music sheets to Danny again so he could learn the rest, singing a verse from Devil Side. "I can't lie, but I do miss those times we were on the high / I thought it would never end."

Danny took a look at the papers, memorizing the rest as he sang a verse from Devil Side. "But you and I / We come from the same long line."

Danny and Rae both sang, "Good kids with a devil side / Just going around again."

Rae sang a verse from Devil In Me. "You said I'm too much to handle / You said I shine too bright / I burnt the candle / Flew too high."

Danny did more of a rap to the next line from Devil's Worst Nightmare. "I'm the devil's worst nightmare / Double double, toil and trouble / Something wicked this way comes / Light a candle in the window / Spirits that linger better run."

Rae smiled at Danny doing the bit of rap, pleased, placing a hand over her heart, singing the ending of the choruses in Devil Side. "Who's gonna save you now? / Who's gonna save you?"

Danny rapped the first part of the last chorus from Devil In Me. "Now I gotta wake it up, now I gotta wake it up, now I gotta wake it up / The devil in me."

Rae sang the second part of the chorus from Devil In Me. "Gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up / Come back to life."

Danny picked up a piece of wood that was useless, watching it, casting a spell that caused the wood to be struck up with a gentle flame, singing the ending of the choruses in Devil Side. "Who's gonna save you now? / Who's gonna save you?"

Rae spun around endlessly as she sang the first part of the last chorus from Devil In Me. "Now I gotta wake it up, now I gotta wake it up, now I gotta wake it up / The devil in me."

Danny rapped the second part of the chorus from Devil In Me. "Gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up, gotta wake up / Come back to life."

Danny tossed up the sparkling piece of wood, which then magically turned into a shower of crackling sparks.

Rae and Danny watched the sparks fall around them, smiling and laughing, ending the mashup by singing the ending of the choruses in Devil Side. "Who's gonna save you now? / Who's gonna save you?"

Rae and Danny  both seemed to be changed in an instant.

"Why are we doing this, wasting time, when we could be going after that urn to get rid of it?" Rae asked.

Danny shook his head. "I don't know."

Rae and Danny's eyes both glowed green. Since Danny's concentration was no longer on controlling the sparks, they all fell down on Rae and Danny, shocking them both, making them yell out in pain. Since they were shocked a decent amount, the slugs that had got into both of them came falling out of their ears to the ground.

Rae was shocked. "Oh, my God."

"What the hell are those?" Danny asked, stomping on both of the slugs.

Rae was stunned. "I have no idea. What the hell was I doing all day?"

"What a lot of other people were doing," Danny answered. "Rae, we gotta get to the others."

Rae and Danny ran out of the room.

-

Kitchen

Hope and Landon were cooking a cake.

"If it's gooey, then it's not done," Hope told him.

"Are you sure cake decorating counts as a talent?" Landon asked.

"Well, um, you told me that you don't know karate, then you stepped on my feet during salsa, and then you straight up refused to try synchronized ribbon dancing," Hope told him.

"Sorry," Landon said. "My dignity wouldn't fit in the unitard."

Hope giggled. "You know, it's not too late to pull out that notebook of lyrics that you have and sing something."

"I don't really sing in front of people," Landon told her. "Those songs are private."

Hope nodded in understanding. "Okay, well, cake decorating it is. And you know what? You're gonna like it." She flicked her hands at Landon, causing cake batter to splash on him, laughing hysterically. "Sorry."

Landon smiled, stepping closer. "I like whatever's gotten into you lately."

Hope smiled. "Yeah?" She wrapped her arms around his neck, going in to kiss Landon, but stopped. "The only thing... that would make this day better... is if we went and got rid of that urn."

Landon frowned in confusion. "As one of the people that stole the knife that started this whole thing, trust me, that sounds like a bad idea."

"It'll be fun," Hope told him. "It'll be like a road trip. We'll just grab the damn thing and take it wherever it leads us."

"From what that Necromancer told you girls, Malivore is where that leads us, and we have no idea where that is," Landon told her. "Are you feeling okay?"

"We can talk about it on the road," Hope told him.

Landon noticed that the oven was starting to smoke. "I--the cake." Landon hurriedly went to get the cake out of the oven. Hope looked off into space, her eyes glowing green. "Hope, can you get the vent?"

Hope went to get the vent, and was shocked by a current, gasping in pain. The shock caused the slug to fall out of her ear. "Oh, my God! Landon. What is that?"

Landon grabbed a knife, stabbing the slug, holding it up. "You ever see Wrath of Khan?"

-

Madison/Lizzie/Josie's Dorm Room

Madison and Owen were sitting at Madison's desk, as Madison put a piano on top of the desk. Madison started to play.

Owen was very impressed. "I didn't know you could play."

Madison smiled. "Yeah, when I was little, my real parents used to teach me, before they died, and then when I got adopted by Kol and Eliza, Mom started to teach me more while growing up, and she used to take lessons when she was growing up. She even told me this one time when she and Dad were traveling, and she started to play for him on this piano in the park, and Dad was pretending that he didn't know how to play but Mom knew better, so they both played, so at least even though being adopted into the Frankenstein family, we can still do normal things. Like this."

"That's true," Owen agreed. "And you're really good."

Madison grinned. "Thank you. I love singing, but I know my voice isn't all that special, but I know that you're a good rapper, so maybe we can figure out what to do." Like with Rae, Danny and Hope before, Madison's demeanor took on a change. "But we can figure it out after we go grab that stupid urn and find a way to get rid of it."

Owen looked at her in surprise. "Uh, Madison?" Madison looked at him. "What are you talking about? We can't get rid of the urn."

Madison stood, starting to walk away. "No, we have to. It's the only way."

Owen stood. "Only way for what?"

Madison turned to face him, her eyes starting to glow green. "Only way to be free."

Owen raised his eyebrows. "What the hell?"

Rae and Danny were knocking on the door.

"Madison?" Rae asked. "Owen?"

"Rae, get in here!" Owen told her. Rae and Danny opened the door, walking in. "Danny?"

Rae and Danny saw that Madison's eyes were glowing green, knowing that the same thing that happened to them, happened to her.

Madison took a deep breath to release a Banshee scream at Rae and Danny so they wouldn't try to stop her. Rae used mind control on Madison to make her stop before she could scream.

Danny casted the spark spell that worked on them, so that he could send the sparks flying toward Madison, shocking the slug right out of her as she yelled in pain. Rae stomped on the slug.

Madison gasped in pain, recovering. "What the hell was that?"

Hope and Landon ran into the room.

"Guys?" Hope asked. "We can answer that, but we need help. Where're Kaylin, Aunt Nikki, Tory, Luke, Lindsey and Ryan?"

"Lindsey and Ryan are trying to get answers on the unicorn," Rae answered.

"I can look for Kaylin and Nicola," Owen offered. "Go get Tory, Luke, Lindsey and Ryan."

Madison, Rae, Danny, Hope and Landon nodded, as they and Owen ran out of the room.

-

Outside

Alaric walked up to Ryan and Lindsey. "Hey, did you guys find anything?"

"Yeah, a lot," Ryan answered.

Madison, Rae, Danny, Hope and Landon ran up to Alaric, Ryan and Lindsey.

"Ryan?" Madison asked. "Lindsey? Ric? We need your help. Tory, Luke, Nikki, Kaylin have been MIA, and these creepy slugs have came out of all our ears. Besides Owen and Landon, I mean."

Alaric, Lindsey and Ryan turned to face them.

Ryan showed them a jar with a slug in it. "Did they look like this?"

"Yep, exactly like that," Danny answered.

Lindsey pointed to the dead ones on the ground. "These tried getting into us. We were hoping these were the only ones."

"I think our harmless friend the unicorn brought them onto school grounds to infect all of us," Ryan explained.

The unicorn started to freak out, neighing wildly, slowly laying down, looking like it was in pain, dying in front of everyone.

Rae felt bad for the unicorn. "See? Harmless."

-

Inside - Nicola's Room

Nicola was clearly no longer Nicola. She was the Huntress, getting her sword ready, smirking.

Owen walked in. "Nicola, there you are. Have you seen Kaylin, Tory and Luke?"

The Huntress turned around with a fake smile, pretending to be Nicola, clearly under the same effects of the slug as everyone else was, so her inhibitions were lowered and she was less serious. "Hey, kiddo."

Owen realized something was wrong with her just by that. "Since when did you call me kiddo?"

The Huntress shrugged. "Since now?"

Owen realized. "The slugs, everybody is infected. You're calling me kiddo. You're not--"

"That self-hating, guilt wrecked, vampire loving bitch?" the Huntress finished. "You bet your ass I'm not. I'm her batter half. You know, the Huntress." Owen, knowing that he couldn't fight the Huntress, attempted to run out of the room to go warn everyone. The Huntress rushed closer, grabbing Owen by his shirt, turning around, throwing him to the floor, making him slide into a table. "Sorry, kiddo, but I have plans, and you're not gonna ruin them."

Owen tried to reach the real Nicola. "Nicola, listen to me. You can fight her."

"Shut up," the Huntress told him.

Owen was annoyed with the Huntress. "Do I look like I'm talking to you?"

The Huntress rolled her eyes. "It's not that easy, kid. Ask any adult around here. She is listening, but I'm the one in charge. And I..." She rushed to grab Owen from the floor, slamming him into the wall, strangling him. "Am telling you to shut up."

Owen struggled to breathe. "You're not getting away with this."

The Huntress smirked. "It looks like I am." She looked like she was sensing something, looking at him in confusion. "What the hell?" Owen was almost passing out from lack of oxygen. The Huntress released him, allowing Owen to breathe again, making him fall to the floor. "Who are you?"

Owen tried to catch his breath. "My name is Owen. Owen Church."

The Huntress gave him an annoyed look. "No, I know that, you idiot. I live inside this bitch, remember? Of course I know you. What I don't get is why you feel familiar."

"What are you talking about?" Owen asked.

The Huntress knelt in front of him to try and use her sensing ability more clearly, causing Owen to slide away from her. "You feel strangely familiar. Like... no. That's impossible. Unless..." She realized something, starting to laugh. "Rosalita, you manipulative planning evil bitch. You did it again."

Owen was completely annoyed and confused. "Are you always this crazy?"

The Huntress shrugged. "I'm pretty sure this slug is making more of whatever I am right now, but that doesn't matter now."

"Why?" Owen asked.

The Huntress stood, backing away, picking up her sword, spinning it around. "You know, my plan was to kill Kaylin first, then Tory and Luke, and maybe all of the vampires in this school. Like the budding Ripper, MG. Or the vampire that feeds whenever, wherever, whoever, Kaleb. Then maybe even Lindsey and Ryan since they helped lock me away. Then maybe those kids from that ridiculous Frankenstein family. Like what kind of nickname is that?"

Owen shrugged. "I like it. Sounds cool and deadly. Accurate for them."

The Huntress tilted her head, narrowing her eyes, pointing her sword at him. "But now I'm gonna kill you first, 'cause your death, along with Kaylin and Rae's, would hurt Nicola a hell of a lot." She raised her sword, ready to stab him. Owen cringed back, but the Huntress was forced to stop halfway like she couldn't do it. "What the hell?"

Owen looked up, confused. "What the hell?"

The Huntress was frustrated, trying to kill him but it was like mind control was stopping her. "Why can't I kill you? Nicola isn't back yet. Rae, Tory and Lyla aren't here to mind control me. This has Rosalita's fingertips all over this." She turned around, furious with rage and craziness, but with the slug still inside, she still couldn't be completely serious given the lowered inhibitions. "That bitch." The Huntress turned to glare at Owen. "No matter. If I can't kill you, then I'm just gonna go with my plan from before. Kill Kaylin and everyone else. Wish me luck."

Owen stood to try and stop her. "No!"

The Huntress winked sarcastically, rushing out of the room. Horrified and worried for Kaylin, and desperate to get help to save her and get Nicola back, Owen ran out of the room.

-~-

Gym

Ariara was practicing her kingdom's dance, a very classy yet sensual belly dance, having excellent isolation, absolute control with soft, graceful and yet powerful and defined movements, the undulations and pauses beautiful to watch.

Kaylin walked into the room, doing her own dance. "That's pretty impressive, Ariara."

Ariara smiled a bit. "Thanks, Kaylin. I haven't been able to do a dance like this for a long time."

"Well, trust me, I haven't been able to dance like I have today, in a while too," Kaylin told her. Ariara walked toward a box, opening it, revealing a teal Egyptian goddess like belly dancer outfit, fit for a princess, but subtle as well. Kaylin walked closer. "What's that?"

"The traditional wear that I would wear doing the dance back home," Ariara answered. "I kept it. And luckily, it doesn't expose too much skin unlike most outfits like this, so it can still be worn during a school talent show."

Kaylin smirked. "You planning on wearing it for your time at the talent show?"

"So that I can feel more connected to my home?" Ariara asked. "Yes. And the point of this talent show is to go all out, right?"

Kaylin chuckled. "Right. What do you say that we keep on dancing? Or..." Her eyes glowed green. "Maybe we can just go grab the urn and make it disappear."

Ariara, also effected by the slug, nodded in agreement. "Let's do that. We can go now. Do you know where it is?"

"I think maybe I do," Kaylin answered. "Let's go."

Kaylin and Ariara, eyes still glowing green, walked out of the gym.

-

Night - Bar

(Song:) Bad Lands - Byrs 

Tory and Luke were sitting at a bar, drinking.

"I think I liked the last three bars better than this one," Luke told her.

Tory laughed. "The downside of small town life. You quickly exhaust your drinking establishment options."

"Yep," Luke agreed.

"Now, no more changing the subject," Tory told him. "Let's talk about us. Let's play a game called 'Truth or Shot'. Need me to explain the rules?"

"Pretty sure I dominate at drinking games," Luke told her.

Tory looked at him curiously, smiling. "We grew up together until the fire that killed my younger brothers and mother. After I left, it was for like two years, right?"

"Yeah, there about," Luke answered.

"What was your most embarrassing memory when I wasn't in your life?" Tory asked. Luke thought for a moment, drinking a shot. Tory laughed. "Oh. That bad, huh?"

"Actually, I got wiped out during a soccer game because of being a hot head and not thinking straight," Luke explained. "I just needed a drink." Tory giggled. Luke laughed. "All right, my turn."

Tory smiled. "Yeah."

"Your first kiss wasn't with me, was it?" Luke asked. "You left for two years, you went through foster care, dragged further away from Mystic Falls every time you tried to come back. So if your first kiss wasn't with me, who was it with?" Tory suppressed a smile, taking a shot. Luke laughed. "Oh, this could get ugly."

Tory shook out her arms. "Okay, warm up's over. Why did you, Liv, Lindsey and Ryan stop hanging out after I was forced to move away?"

Luke chuckled, tilting his head. "It wasn't just about you. After Liv's parents died, things got more tense. And Lindsey's mom. Liv and Lindsey got distant from me and Ryan for a bit, but Lindsey and Ryan got back together. And Liv started to hang with us again. And then everything supernatural started happening, and then you came back to town." Tory nodded. "Everything was better between us friends again."

Tory smiled. "Yep."

Luke smirked, taking a shot. "Mm, my turn. Why are you always sacrificing yourself, Tory Thompson?"

Tory gave Luke a look. "I should've known you'd ask that."

"Yes, you should've," Luke agreed.

Tory sighed, thinking about the answer. "I lost too much. My brothers. Ash, Michael and Tyler. My mother. I lost my dad before I even met him, before I found out that I was a Lockwood. I lost Kacie once, too. Lindsey, Ryan, you, Liv. I couldn't risk losing anyone else, so I decided that instead of losing everyone..."

"You thought that you could save everyone by making sure that you would be the one to get hurt," Luke finished.

"Yeah," Tory answered. "We can't afford to make mistakes, Luke. If we mess up, it affects hundreds of people. Mostly kids, including our daughter. And they always need us to have the answer."

Luke leaned closer, propping his arm on the bar, and his head on his hand. "And what do you need... right now?"

Tory and Luke gazed at each other, smiling, starting to laugh hysterically.

Tory took a shot, leaning closer to Luke, using her fingers to climb up his chest. "Right now... all I need is you."

Tory and Luke smiled, starting to kiss, heavily making out, not caring who saw.

(Song Ends)

-

Salvatore Boarding School - Auditorium

https://youtu.be/FDNUa7Y4T4A

-

Backstage

Lizzie was dressed up for the witch number, venting to Josie. "It is not a show stopping cane number without canes, so find them. And get dressed, please."

Lizzie walked away.

Josie walked toward Penelope. "Hey."

"I thought you were avoiding me and spending all your time with Ariara Nata now," Penelope told her.

"I was," Josie answered. "I mean, I am."

"You're not doing a very good job," Penelope pointed out.

"Maybe I'm sick of always doing a good job," Josie told her. "Do you want to get out of here?"

-

Library

Alaric, Owen, Landon, Hope, Madison, Rae, Danny, Lindsey, Ryan and Lyla were gathered around research.

"So Nikki is taken over, and since the slugs made everybody happy and goofy, and she's not like that so she can keep the Huntress at bay, when she's happy and goofy, it made her turn into the Huntress?" Lyla asked. "And now she's out there trying to find and kill Kaylin?"

"It won't take long considering that Kaylin, like Tory and Luke, are both marked by Nicola," Lindsey pointed out.

"She tried to kill me, but she couldn't," Owen explained. "Like, she literally couldn't. I don't know why."

"That's weird," Danny told them. "Nothing's stopped the Huntress from killing anything that she wanted to kill, except mind control."

"She said that it was Rosalita's doing, the reason why she couldn't kill me, since Lyla, Tory and Rae weren't there," Owen explained.

"Okay, so how and why would Rosalita want to keep Owen alive?" Madison asked. "I mean, this is the only time that I would ever thank her, but it's really unsettling when we know that she's always up to something."

"We'll figure that out later," Alaric told them. "We need to figure out how long the infected people have left to live. We have no idea how long the unicorn was infected before it keeled over. So, we should figure this out right now."

"I thought only one monster comes for the urn at a time," Landon told them.

"Except the unicorn wasn't the monster," Ryan told them. "It was just the host to this thing. A parasite. It hitched a ride here in that Trojan horse, and then it moved on to us."

Lindsey nodded in agreement. "From what Danny, Hope, Rae and Madison describes, it sounds like it latches onto the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain associated with inhibitions."

"So we were slug drunk?" Hope asked.

"A lot more complicated than that, since apparently it's powerful enough to unleash the Huntress when Nicola's guard is down," Ryan answered. 

Alaric sighed. "And since we have multiple slugs, it must replicate inside the hosts, and then lie in wait for the opportunity to infect someone else."

"I'm  good on the gory details, thank you," Rae told him.

Ryan sighed. "And Kaylin's got a slug in her, obviously, since she's acting like her old self, but that's very bad too."

"Why is that very bad?" Landon asked.

"Because Mom, when she's inhibition-free, she goes full torture queen," Rae answered. "Eventually."

Landon nodded nervously. "Yeah, I remember how close she got to that when she walked in on me and Hope, so remind me to stay away from Kaylin right now."

"Good idea, dimwit," Lyla told him. "What about Emma and Ariara?"

"Ariara's definitely infected after the way she's been acting," Danny answered. "I'm not sure about Emma, but if she wasn't infected, she'd be here."

"This is why Mom and Dad ditched out on talent show night, isn't it?" Lyla asked.

"Probably," Madison answered. "Which means we have a inhibition free tribrid and hybrid on our hands too, but at least they're not here, so..."

"Kaylin, Ariara and Emma, and Tory and Luke aren't answering their phones," Hope told them. "And the Huntress obviously isn't gonna be found by a locator spell since she's immune to magic, but if we track down Kaylin with a locator spell, we might be able to find her before it's too late. I'm gonna start to locate Kaylin."

Hope turned away to start a locator spell on the table behind them.

"How do we stop the slugs?" Alaric asked.

"That's the weirdest part," Lindsey told them. "We can't find any ancient legends about a creature like this."

Landon gave them all a look. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers? The Faculty. I say again, Wrath of Khan. Sci-fi is our modern day myths. Meaning they could have been inspired by something, right?"

Lyla was annoyed. "What the hell is the nerd talking about?"

Danny stifled a laugh, trying to give his cousin a look. "Lyla."

Lyla crossed her arms, giving Danny a look. "What?"

"Landon made me and Rafael watch the movies many times," Owen explained. "In those movies, it's all about mind control."

Madison thought for a moment. "Before the slugs popped out, Hope, Danny, Rae and I all wanted to take the urn someplace. I'm guessing Malivore."

"So, it's like an infection," Rae realized. "It gets worse as it spreads."

"Stage one, it lowers your inhibitions," Ryan explained. "It makes you act out of character. Stage two, once you're susceptible to suggestion, you'll do whatever the slug wants."

"Till stage three," Lindsey sighed. "You go the way of the unicorn."

Lyla frowned, looking kind of sad. "Poor unicorn."

While working on the locator spell, Hope picked up the jar with a slug in it. "Did you look at this thing? Parts of this thing look bioluminescent."

Alaric reached into his bag to pull out a black light. "Let me check that out."

Alaric turned on the light, shining it on the jar, revealing slug trails all over the glass.

Rae, Hope, Danny, Madison, Owen, Landon and Lyla said, "Whoa."

Ryan took hold of the black light. "Let me see that."

Ryan shone the black light on Rae, Hope, Danny and Madison's faces, revealing bioluminescent slug trails over their skin when the slugs had all went in through their noses or ears. Alaric, Lindsey, Ryan, Owen, Landon and Lyla all made a face.

"We don't want to know, do we?" Madison asked.

Alaric, Lindsey and Ryan shook their heads.

"Probably not," Landon answered.

"Nope," Owen answered. "Nope."

"Nuh-uh," Lyla agreed.

"You know what?" Lindsey asked. "We can use these lights to find anyone who's been infected."

"Hope, did you finish your locator spell?" Rae asked.

"Yep," Hope answered. "Kaylin's going to the old mill."

"She's going after the urn," Ryan told them.

"All right, we'll try to call Tory and Luke again," Lindsey told them. "We need Tory's help to get Nicola back and lock away the Huntress.

"But what if Tory and Luke are both infected like we think?" Rae asked.

"If anyone can get themselves uninfected, it's Aunt Tory and Uncle Luke," Danny pointed out. "As long as they know that they're infected. Mom and Dad are gonna have to stay here to try and save the students. I'll stay too."

"I'll help here," Landon offered.

"Obviously I will too," Alaric told them.

"Rae, Lyla, can you two help with controlling the Huntress until Tory gets back, if we get to her and Kaylin in time?" Hope asked.

"Of course," Lyla answered.

Madison's eyes glowed silver as she felt an impending death. Her vision included her throat being ripped out, blood dripping down her skin and clothes. She gasped in pain. She turned to look in the mirror, seeing that one of her eyes was transformed like a vampire, and the other was glowing dark gold, slit like a snake, like Ariara's eyes when they were transformed. In the vision, she saw a sword in her hand, dripping in blood.

Owen walked closer in concern. "Madison? What's wrong? What do you see?"

"The Huntress," Madison told them. "You gotta hurry, or she's gonna kill Kaylin and Ariara."

"Ariara?" Owen repeated.

"She's there," Madison answered. "One of my eyes was like Ariara's eyes when they glow."

Hope, Rae and Lyla exchanged a worried look.

"Let's go," Rae told them.

"I'm going with you," Danny told them.

"Okay," Rae agreed, thankful for the help.

"I'm going with," Madison told them.

"Me too," Owen agreed.

"Madison, no offense, but the Huntress would rip you apart if you got in her way, like she tried with Owen," Hope told her. "Owen, we don't know why Rosalita won't let her kill you, but let's not push our luck, okay?"

"Be careful," Ryan stressed.

"Don't worry, Uncle Ryan," Lyla told him. "Or Aunt Lindsey. Rae and I can mind control the Huntress until Mom gets back to help us."

"Besides, Kaylin and Ariara won't go down without a fight, and we can't use magic on Aunt Nikki, but Danny and I can use magic on things around her to stop her," Hope added. "Let's go."

Hope, Rae, Danny and Lyla ran out together, while Alaric, Owen, Madison, Lindsey, Ryan and Landon went to go help the other students.

-

Woods

Ariara and Kaylin were making their way through the woods toward the old mill.

"Do you think it's really out here?" Ariara asked.

"It's the only place we haven't looked yet," Kaylin replied. "If it's not there, then I'm gonna start torturing people until I find it."

The Huntress rushed closer, grabbing Ariara, throwing her into a tree, making her hit hard and fall to the ground, spinning around to kick Kaylin in the stomach, making her fall. "Sounds like torture queen you is making a comeback, Kaylin."

Kaylin looked up, realizing who was in control, smirking, laughing lightly. "Yeah, looks like Nikki lost control to you again, Huntress."

"She had a little help with losing inhibitions," the Huntress answered. "Just like you and Ariara did and a lot of other people I'm guessing." She turned to Ariara mockingly. "And when Kaylin Salvatore-Mikaelson is with no inhibitions, you see the real torture queen."

Kaylin stood. "You gonna ramble like a maniac or are you gonna fight? You had me at a disadvantage every other time that we fought. I was always trying to save Nikki. Trying to make sure that I didn't hurt her. But if you come for me, I'm gonna make sure that you hurt like hell too."

The Huntress smirked. "Queen of Torture, ladies and gents. I didn't want to make it too easy of a fight." She tossed Kaylin another sword, drawing her own, spinning it around. Kaylin caught the other sword, spinning it around. "You taught Nicola how to fight, remember? Some of it, anyway. That's why you stood better chances than most. Let's see if torture queen Kaylin can actually win this time around."

Kaylin smiled wickedly. The Huntress slashed toward Kaylin. Kaylin blocked the move, as they slashed and traded blows in a blur of motion.

Kaylin managed to slash into the Huntress's stomach with a wide stroke. "Well, look at that. Looks like you're not as invincible as you'd like to believe. You're off a step tonight, my friend. Whatever's gotten into me, got into you too. You're not at your best."

The Huntress glared, slashing toward Kaylin repeatedly, which Kaylin was able to block each move, until the Huntress could stab her in the stomach. "Neither are you."

The Huntress removed the sword, pushing Kaylin into a tree.

Ariara stood, eyes changed, glowing gold, eyes slit down the middle. Her nails were like eagle talons but also claws like a lion as pure golden eagle wings, shimmering and glowing with magical energy, started to grow from her back, causing both Kaylin and the Huntress to look at her in shock. Ariara released a sound that was like a roar of a lion, a screech like an eagle, and a hiss like a snake.

Kaylin smirked. "Look who's completely in control again if Ariara can grow just her wings."

Ariara flew closer to kick the Huntress to the ground, slashing into her repeatedly with talons, making her yell in pain. The Huntress kicked Ariara away from her, making Ariara flip backward through the air. Ariara remained in flight, flapping her wings at enough speed to create a torrent of wind that could throw the Huntress into a tree, making her fall.

The Huntress stood, angry. "No vampire could get the best of me like that, and you sure as hell won't either, Ariara."

"I already did," Ariara replied.

The Huntress rushed up to try and stab Ariara, but Ariara flew up higher to make her miss. The Huntress was able to jump up and grab Ariara by the leg, managing to pull her down and throw her to the ground. Ariara rolled over the ground, in pain, her wings bent and injured in a fall like that.

The Huntress turned to Kaylin. "You ready to finish this once and for all, you crazy bitch?"

Kaylin laughed mockingly. "We're both crazy bitches. We do what we want when we feel like it. Now both of us have lost control. And I'm not going to go down without a fight."

The Huntress smirked. "I was praying you would say that."

The Huntress slashed toward Kaylin. Kaylin ducked, trying to drive her sword through the Huntress. The Huntress pivoted back to make her miss. Kaylin raised her sword to stab the Huntress repeatedly. The Huntress groaned in pain, deflecting more blows, stabbing Kaylin repeatedly as well. Kaylin spun, slashing into the Huntress's side. They tried the same move, ending up blocking each other. The Huntress tried to slash into Kaylin. Kaylin spun away to make her miss, turning to face her to try and stab her. The Huntress raised her sword to block the move. Kaylin managed to slash her sword across the Huntress's stomach, making her groan.

Kaylin smiled. "They say the first cut's the deepest, but obviously they lied. Especially when it comes from me. Not used to me fighting you at my full leave, aren't you, Huntress? And like I said, you're not at your best."

"I could kill you on my worst day," the Huntress replied. "And after I kill you? Ariara's next. And then everyone else. Including your girls."

Kaylin glared at her furiously. "Don't threaten my daughters!"

The Huntress evaded Kaylin's attack, pushing her into a tree, putting her sword to her throat, trying to cut off her head while Kaylin held the sword at bay. Ariara ran closer, kicking the Huntress away from Kaylin, making her fall and roll over the ground. The Huntress grabbed her sword. 

Ariara took Kaylin's sword. "Let's see how you do against me."

The Huntress smirked, standing. Ariara and the Huntress readied to battle.

-~-

Salvatore Boarding School - Hallway

Lindsey, Ryan, Madison, Owen and Landon were making their way through the school, using the black light to follow the bioluminescent slug trails on the floor.

"This is why I hate Sci-Fi," Madison remarked.

They followed the trails up all around the ceilings.

-

Auditorium

Lindsey, Ryan, Madison, Owen and Landon walked in, having followed the trails. Everyone else was there for the talent show.

"We need a way to de-slug whosever infected, fast," Ryan told them. 

"When Danny casted his sparks spell, it shocked me, Rae and Danny and the slugs fell out of us," Madison explained.

"And when Hope touched the switch to the kitchen vent, it shocked her, and that's when her slug popped out," Landon added.

"Great," Owen told them sarcastically. "So we just have to find a way to electrocute every student in the school without killing them."

"If we don't, they're dead anyway," Alaric pointed out. "I need to go check to see if there's any other students out of this room. I need to check the school."

Alaric walked out of the room to go check the school.

Lindsey sighed. "We need to try and call Luke and Tory again."

They heard an announcer say, "And we're back. Next up, Emma Davis-Thompson, singing a rock cover of Heart Attack."

Lindsey, Ryan, Madison, Owen and Landon were all stunned by what he had said. "Singing?"

"If Emma's singing, someone's got to document history," Owen told them, taking his phone out to record.

"Owen..." Madison trailed off.

"I'm gonna go call Tory and Luke," Ryan told them. "Be careful."

Ryan left, but stayed close enough to listen to Emma.

Emma walked onto the stage, looking very confident and outgoing due to being infected, not bothered by the spotlight shining on her, smirking, looking at Rafael while he was in the crowd, both sharing a smile, before she started to sing the rock cover, using a mic stand. "Putting my defenses up / 'Cause I don't wanna fall in love." She grabbed the neck of the mic stand three times with either hand, keeping up with the beat. "If I ever did that, I think I'd have a heart attack." She pulled the mic off the stand, tipping the mic down onto her foot, turning her leg enough to kick it back up, catching it in one hand, steadying it. "Never put my love out on the line / Never said yes to the right guy / Never had trouble getting what I want / When it comes to you, I'm finally good enough." She ran a hand through her hair, swaying her hips, dancing sensually, receiving many cheers and applause, especially from the guys, stepping down into the crowd, walking around them. "When I don't care, I can play 'em like a Ken doll." She raised an arm over her head, tilting her head enough to toss her hair. "Won't wash my hair, then make 'em bounce like a basketball." She walked back onto the stage. "But you make me wanna act like a girl." She spun around the stage, looking and waving at the crowd, dancing. "Paint my nails and wear high heels, yes you / Make me so nervous, that I just can't hold your hand." As she reached the chorus, Emma danced rock-chic like, raising her arms over her head, nodding to the beat. "You make me glow... / But I cover up, won't let it show... / So I'm putting my defenses up / 'Cause I don't wanna fall in love / If I ever did that, I think I'd have a heart attack.... / I think I'd have a heart attack... / I think I'd have a heart attack."

Madison looked at Lindsey, Owen and Landon. "She's definitely infected."

Lindsey, Owen and Landon nodded in agreement.

Rafael and Emma were looking at each other, smiling.

Emma continued dancing, throwing her arms up before she started singing again. "Never broke a sweat for the other guys." She knelt to the stage, rolling over it in a paralyzed/falling fashion, before rolling up to her feet. "When you come around, I get paralyzed." She slowly rose to her feet, tapping her chest over her heart. "And every time I try to be myself." She mimicked a cry with her hand, reaching out as if for help. "It comes out wrong like a cry for help / It's just not fair / Pain's more trouble than love is worth / I gasp for air / It feels so good, but you know it hurts / But you make me wanna act like a girl / Paint my nails and wear perfume for you / Make me so nervous that I just can't hold your hand." She did the chorus again, before moving on to the bridge, singing very intensely and dramatically, holding a hand to her chest. "The feelings got lost in my lungs / They're burning, I'd rather be numb / And there's no one else to blame." She took a running start, sliding on her knees toward the end of the stage, flipping her hair forward, then back, receiving an even louder and more enthusiastic response. "So scared I take off and I run / I'm flying too close to the sun." Emma slowly rose to her feet as she held out the long dramatic line of the next lyric, flipping her hair over her head to the other side as she tilted her head forcefully, one foot in front of the other, flipping her hair forward, then back, starting to dance again, this time more simpler and sweeter to go with the tone of the ending of the song. "And I burst into flames.................." When she did the chorus again to finish the song, it was gentler, more sweeter, but still rock ish. "You make me glow... / But I cover up, won't let it show... / So I'm putting my defenses up / 'Cause I don't wanna fall in love / If I ever did that, I think I'd have a heart attack.... / I think I'd have a heart attack... / I think I'd have a heart attack."

Once finished, Emma fell to her knees to finish the performance, arm raised over her head, and the crowd burst into applause, standing ovation. Rafael stood, applauding and cheering with the rest.

Emma smirked, standing, taking a bow, speaking through the mic. "Next up, Rafael Waithe. Take it away, Raf."

Rafael smiled, taking the stage. "My name is Rafael Waithe, and my talent is spoken word poetry."

"Oh, no, he promised he wouldn't do this again," Landon muttered.

The students did snapping until Rafael sat down.

Emma hopped off the stage, walking down the aisle up to Lindsey, Madison, Owen and Landon. "Hey, guys."

Lindsey pulled Emma to the side. "Emma, come here."

"No, I need to go," Emma told them. "I have something I need to do. Or get."

"The urn?" Owen asked sarcastically.

Emma's eyes started to glow green. "The urn..."

Lindsey sighed, casting the simple spell that Danny had cast before, causing the spark spell to zap Emma, making her yell in pain, and the slug fell out of her ear. Madison stomped on it to kill it.

Emma snapped out of it. "What the hell is happening?"

"Explain later," Madison told her.

As a man played a cello, Rafael started his poem. "Stillness. A light broken inside. Unity, and division. Tension."

"Suddenly I remember why I never wanted to be in the talent show," Emma told them. "Did I seriously just sing, about love of all things, in front of everyone?"

"Yep," Owen answered, stopping the recording on his phone. "And I got it recorded for history. Well, you sang more about not wanting to fall in love, but it's a losing fight."

Emma reached for the phone. "Give me that."

Owen smirked, holding the phone away from her. "Oh, no, no, no. I need this for proof."

Madison and Landon smiled. Lindsey smirked, shaking her head.

Rafael continued his poem. "All these wolves staring at me, waiting for the answer. Expectation is a cancer. Oh, you can't, sir? Then who will?" He looked up at the top of the aisle to look at Emma, holding out his hand to stop the strummer. "A girl brought up in magic, surrounded by darkness. Left alone in isolation. Wishing that no more blood could be shed. Living with guilt and self-hatred. Didn't realize the life that she was missing until now. This feeling inside, I'm... I'm bleeding."

"What's he talking about?" Landon asked.

Emma looked sheepish, wondering where the poem was going, but touched that Rafael did a poem for her at all.

Rafael continued. "And I can't believe what I'm feeling since the moment you danced with me. Buried so deep, rising up, enchanting me." He stood, as Rafael and Emma locked gazes. "And it won't go away. I know you're afraid of more pain, like I am. But if you're willing to take a chance, I am." Emma pressed her lips together, nearly smiling. Rafael seemed to change like all the other infected had before. "And why is that artifact here? Monsters coming, people running." Lindsey, Emma, Madison, Owen and Landon exchanged a look, knowing he was infected. "Ask for answers, always nothing." Everyone stood on by one. Rafael's eyes glowed green. "I say we get rid of it."

Everyone else turned around, their eyes glowing green. They all started to walk up the aisle toward Lindsey, Emma, Madison, Owen and Landon, shouting over each other about who was going to get the urn.

"So they're all infected," Madison stated. "Okay."

"Yeah, I'm not gonna wait around to find out," Owen told them.

Lindsey led them out of the auditorium quickly. "Go, go, go." Once in the hallway, Lindsey turned to face the doors, waving her arms to cast a spell. "Vessera portus." The spell magically slammed the doors, locking the infected inside the auditorium. "That should hold the pod people in for now until..." She realized what she could do. "Oh, I know. I need something first to be able to get to all of them, but I figured it out. Let's go."

They ran away.

-

Bar

Tory and Luke had been having a lot of fun, drunk off of liquor and the mind control slugs.

Tory looked at the karaoke stage, smiling, turning to look at Luke. "We may be playing hooky from the talent show, but that doesn't mean that we can't have our own. Suddenly, I wanna sing, and I wanna dance. Come with me?"

Luke smirked, shaking his head. "Tory, you know that I don't sing. But I did dance with you for like Miss Mystic pageants and weddings and parties. That's about it. I don't wanna dance."

Tory tilted her head. "Bull. Yeah, you do, Luke. I can tell you wanna dance." Luke smirked. "Okay. No pressure. You know where to find me. You'll see me on the stage."

"Okay," Luke agreed.

Tory smirked, finishing her drink, putting the glass down, backing away, winking at Luke, blowing him a kiss, turning around, walking up to the stage, picking a song for karaoke, grabbing the mic, spinning it around on its cord while waiting for the lyrics, unplugging the mic from the cord, singing Dance Monkey by Tones and I. "They say, oh, my God, I see the way you shine." Knowing the song, Luke smirked, shaking his head. Tory did a little dance on the stage while singing. "Take your hand, my dear, and place them both in mine / You know you stopped me dead while I was passing by / And now I beg to see you dance just one more time / Ooh, I see you, see you, see you every time / And oh, my God, I, I, I like your style / You, you make me, make me, make me wanna cry / And now I beg to see you dance just one more time / So they say / Dance for me, dance for me, dance for me, oh, oh, oh, oh / I've never seen anybody do the things you do before / They say move for me, move for me, move for me, ay ay-ay / And when you're done, I'll make you do it all again."

Luke smirked, sighing, taking a shot, standing, walking up to the stage, grabbing the other mic, plugging it from the cord, joining in. "I said, oh, my God, I see you walking by." Tory, thrilled that Luke joined in, grinned, laughing. "Take my hands, my dear, and look me in the eyes / Just like a monkey, I've been dancing my whole life / But you just beg to see me dance just one more time." While still singing, Luke brought Tory into a dance, both of them smiling and laughing. "Ooh, I see you, see you, see you every time." They danced to the upbeat but classy song, beautiful and personal and passionate, holding each other close with one arm, still holding the mics with their free arms throughout the entire song so they could still do the song. "And oh, my God, I, I, I like your style." Luke took Tory's hand, spinning her around, pulling her close, swaying her around in a dip, making her laugh, pulling her up, holding her close. Tory wrapped her arms around his neck. "You, you make me, make me, make me wanna cry." Finding props for karaoke, Tory grabbed the multi colored Hawaiian scarfs, placing one around her neck, and the other around Luke's. Luke picked up two star sunglasses, putting one on Tory, putting the other on himself, both of them laughing. "And now I beg to see you dance just one more time." Tory grabbed the crown from the props, placing it on Luke's head. Luke grabbed the tiara from the props, putting it on Tory's head, spinning Tory around in a beautiful dance, resulting in many twirls. Tory laughed, spinning closer into his arms, as Luke spun her around over his head, putting her down. Tory took his hands off her waist to spin to face him. "So they say / Dance for me, dance for me, dance for me, oh, oh, oh, oh / I've never seen anybody do the things you do before." Luke and Tory turned to the side, doing a line dance, laughing. "They say move for me, move for me, move for me, ay ay-ay / And when you're done, I'll make you do it all again."

Luke and Tory did a dance to the chorus as they sang together. "So they say dance for me, dance for me, dance for me, oh, oh, oh." Luke spun Tory around, pulling her into his arms. Tory twined her fingers in his hair as they swayed and danced, leaning their heads together, continuing a passionate, beautiful dance across the stage. "I've never seen anybody do the things you do before / They say move for me, move for me, move for me, ay ay-ay / And when you're done, I'll make you do it all again."

Their phones were ringing again, interrupting the fun.

Luke groaned. "Ugh, they're not gonna stop calling." As Tory and Luke laughed, they put the crowns and the mics back, walking away to answer the call alone, still wearing the scarfs and sunglasses. Luke answered his phone, putting it on speaker. "Ryan, what's up?"

Tory laughed.

"Luke, Tory, there's mind control slugs loose at the school making people act crazy," Ryan told them. "Electricity is the only way to de-slung them, so we got to find a way to shock everybody. Lindsey's got a plan, but she needs something for the spell. And Nicola's lost control to the Huntress, and we're pretty sure that Kaylin's full on torture queen by now, and Ariara's out there with them, in danger of dying, so we really need the help. Hope, Rae, Danny and Lyla went to go help them, they're out by the old mill., while Lindsey, Owen, Madison, Landon and I stayed back to get Emma's help to free the rest of the school. They need help, go."

"We're on our way," Luke told him, hanging up.

Tory lifted her sunglasses up to rest on her head. "Mind control slugs?"

Luke took off his sunglasses and Hawaiian scarf/necklace. "We're totally infected, aren't we?"

Tory put her sunglasses down. "It would explain why we're here, drinking on a school day, probably missed Lyla's performance." She looked hilariously guilty, feeling bad, sounding innocent and sweet. "Oh, poor Lyla."

Luke nodded in agreement, sounding just as guilty, feeling bad, innocent, sweet. "Poor Lyla." They both burst into laughter again. "Does this mean we have to shock ourselves?"

"Yes," Tory answered in a whine. "Luckily I know a spell for that."

Luke seemed to change. "Or we could just take off, grab that ugly urn and, I don't know, throw it in a river or something."

"We probably shouldn't do anything drastic while we're infected," Tory told him.

Luke sighed, poking Tory in the nose. "You are probably right."

Tory could feel the change, as both her and Luke's eyes glowed green. Before they could do anything else, Tory did the same spell sparks that Danny and Lindsey had cast before, a simple spell that didn't require words, waving her hand, causing sparks to fall onto her and Luke, shocking them both at the same time, causing them to yell out. The slugs that had taken control of them fell out to the floor. Tory and Luke stomped on them.

Luke looked at Tory. "Well, that's totally awkward."

Tory smiled sheepishly. "Let's go. We'll get out to the mill faster by vamp speed."

Luke and Tory rushed out of the bar as fast as they could.

-

Woods

Ariara and the Huntress were sword fighting, blocking each other's moves and blows. Ariara twisted her sword around the Huntress's to pull it free and make the Huntress flip through the air. The Huntress landed on her feet, catching her sword as it fell, slashing it toward Ariara. Ariara ducked, spinning out of the way, punching the Huntress in the face, slamming her sword against the Huntress's. 

Kaylin drove a makeshift stake through the back of the Huntress, making her gasp in pain. "Even with the mark on me, you didn't see that one coming, did you? Never thought that I'd actually hurt you, or Nikki."

"That's gonna be the death of you," the Huntress told her, kicking Ariara to the ground, turning to slash into Kaylin.

Kaylin rolled out of the way, to the sword on the ground that Ariara had dropped, picking it up, rolling up to her feet, spinning around to raise and block the move that the Huntress tried to make on her, raising the sword to stab deeply into her chest. 

Ariara stood. "Why are we even fighting when we can work together to get rid of the urn?"

Ariara, Kaylin and the Huntress all seemed to be taken over by that thought, their eyes glowing green.

Hope, Rae, Danny and Lyla ran closer, after having caught up to them.

"No!" Hope told them.

Rae and Lyla used mind control on Ariara, Kaylin and Nicola to stop from moving or fighting anymore.

The Huntress tried to fight against the mind control.

Hope and Danny used magic to break off makeshift stakes, shooting them into the arms of the Huntress to pin her against a tree, making her drop her sword so that she couldn't try and fight back against them, able to use magic on weapons to fight against the Huntress, but not actually on her.

Rae sighed. "Looks like we got here just in time."

"Hope, Lyla, the spark spell," Danny told them.

Hope, Danny and Lyla waved their arms and fingers to cast the silent spell, causing sparks to fall on Ariara, Kaylin and the Huntress, shocking them. Ariara and Kaylin were expelled of the slugs, which fell to the ground. Ariara and Kaylin both stomped on them.

The Huntress laughed. "You should have known that the spell wouldn't work on me. No magic, remember?"

Rae walked closer, showing the Huntress a taser. "Well, it's a good thing I brought this."

Rae jammed the taser into the Huntress's stomach, shocking her so much that the slug was forced to fall to the ground as well. Rae used a burst of Hellfire to destroy it.

The Huntress caught her breath. "You can't lock me away alone. Only Tory would know how to do that."

Tory and Luke rushed closer.

"Well, it's a good thing that we both have super speed to get here," Tory replied, walking closer. "Rae, Lyla, I'll need help."

Rae and Lyla nodded, walking closer to help Tory lock the Huntress away again and bring back Nicola.

The Huntress struggled angrily, but knowing she couldn't break free from the mind control of three powerful psychics, angry, knowing that she was about to be locked away again. Hope, Danny, Ariara and Kaylin sighed in relief, while they were trying to recover from what just happened. Ariara and Kaylin looked stunned by all that happened when they were infected.

-~-

Salvatore Boarding School - Hallway

Lindsey, Emma, Madison, Owen and Landon walked toward Ryan.

"I sealed the doors with a spell, but it won't hold forever," Lindsey explained. "I have a plan, I just need to get an ingredient for the spell."

"All right, then I'll keep an eye on the doors till you get back," Ryan told them, walking away to keep an eye on the doors.

Lindsey walked away to get the ingredient.

Emma sighed. "At least we have all the infected people in one place."

Lizzie walked into the hallway. "What are you guys doing out here?"

Emma, Madison, Owen and Landon turned to face her, stunned, suspicious.

-

Commons Area

Emma, Madison, Owen and Landon had had Lizzie chained up, having her sitting down in a chair.

"Have you guys gone crazy?" Lizzie asked incredulously. "Madison, what the hell are you doing?"

"I'm so sorry, Lizzie, but..." Madison trailed off.

"You've been infected with a mind controlled parasite," Emma told her. "That's why you've been so nice all day."

"That is not why I have been--" Lizzie was cut off when Owen leaned closer and started to shine the black light over her skin. "Hey!"

"I don't see any slug trails," Owen told them.

"What are you freaks talking a--" Lizzie was cut off when she was once again zapped. "Ow."

"What was that?" Landon asked.

"Unchain me, and maybe I'll tell you, you thrift store hobbit," Lizzie insulted, getting shocked again, gasping in pain.

"Yeah, she's not infected," Madison told them, unlocking Lizzie's chains.

"Then why are you acting so weird?" Emma asked.

Lizzie looked offended. "I'm not acting weird, I am turning over a new leaf, with this." She held up her wrist to show them her bracelet. "I spelled it to zap me whenever I said anything mean. And in increasing voltage. Worst idea ever."

Owen pointed at her hilariously. "No, that's genius. That's why there's no slug in her. She's been zapping herself."

"Then why are you wondering around here instead at the talent show like everyone else?" Emma asked.

"I was looking for Josie," Lizzie answered. "She's been acting weird all day, and then she just bailed on the performance."

Emma, Madison, Owen and Landon exchanged a look.

Madison sighed worriedly. "Josie's infected."

"We need to find her, now," Landon told them.

"Kaylin and Ariara were going after the urn, and it led them to the old mill," Emma pointed out. "We know where Josie's going. Come on."

-

Old Mill

Penelope and Josie had arrived, both their eyes glowing. Josie siphoned away the boundary spell trap. They stepped over it.

-

Salvatore Boarding School - Entrance Hall

Lyla, Tory, Luke, Kaylin, Nicola, Ariara, Hope, Rae and Danny arrived back to the school, walking inside.

Owen ran closer. "Hey, there you guys are. Nicola? Are you..."

"I'm me," Nicola answered. "Kaylin, Owen, Ariara, I am so sorry. I can't..."

Owen shook his head reassuringly. "I know it wasn't you."

"This is one of those things that we're not going to let you blame yourself for," Ariara told her.

Nicola managed a small smile.

Kaylin sighed, tilting her head. "Well, sorry I went full torture queen. First time in a long time. Damn slugs."

This managed some chuckles.

"Where is everybody?" Lyla asked.

"Emma, Madison and Lizzie went to go get Josie," Owen answered. "Lindsey asked Landon to do something to help save all the other kids, including Rafael, MG and Kaleb. Ryan's downstairs trying to keep the doors closed."

"All right, kids, stay up here," Tory told them.

"We've got what happens down there," Luke agreed.

Tory, Luke, Kaylin and Nicola walked away, leaving Owen, Lyla, Ariara, Hope, Rae and Danny exchanging a look.

-

Outside Auditorium

Ryan was trying to get through to the students that were trying to burst their way out of the auditorium, though Lindsey's spell was still holding. "Stop. Stop! You're all getting detention!"

Lindsey ran closer. "I found it, gave it to Landon, just have to wait for him."

"Not a moment too soon," Ryan told her.

They heard Luke, Tory, Kaylin and Nicola's voices calling out looking for them. "Lindsey? Ryan?"

"Down here!" Lindsey called.

Luke, Tory, Kaylin and Nicola ran closer.

"You guys good?" Ryan asked.

"You mean, are we us?" Nicola asked. "Yes."

Tory saw that the doors were about to burst open. "Stand back." Ryan stepped away. Tory waved her arms toward the doors. "Vessus portus."

The doors slammed back closed.

Lindsey turned to the other adults. "I found a solution to our slug problem."

-

Vents

Landon was crawling through the vents, grunting. "Small spaces."

Landon took out a bottle of the ingredient that Lindsey had needed, starting to pour it out of the vent over everyone in the auditorium below.

Lindsey: (voice over) "Aximander dust. It was favored by the witches of the Roman Empire. It conducts electricity through anything it touches."

-

Hallway

Lindsey knelt to the floor, pouring more dust on the floor as a gateway into the auditorium. "Think of it as chain lightning. All you need is a spark." She cast a more powerful electricity spell given she needed to to expel everyone in the auditorium. "Lecutio."

Lindsey held out her hand, as electricity flickered out of her forefinger, striking the dust in front of her, and was led into the auditorium by the dust. As everyone had been covered in the dust, every student in the auditorium, including Rafael, MG and Kaleb, were all electrified just enough to expel their slugs. Some of them were screaming, some of them were calm as they were all stomping out every slug that they found, while Tory, Luke, Lindsey, Ryan, Kaylin and Nicola watched from outside the room.

-

Old Mill

Josie and Penelope walked in.

"So what was in that note that you gave me?" Josie asked, turning to face her.

"You were supposed to read it," Penelope told her.

"You can't just tell me what it says?" Josie asked.

Penelope kissed her. "That's what was in it."

Josie kissed her this time. "You know that we're never getting back together, right?"

Penelope nodded, leaning her head against Josie's. She found the urn behind her. "There."

Josie turned to follow her gaze. "That's the urn. Let's go. You drive."

Emma and Madison walked in.

"Not so fast, Thelma and Louise," Emma remarked.Josie and Penelope turned to face them. Penelope raised her hands to cast a spell, but Emma was faster. "Icaeus."

Emma thrust her hands toward Penelope, magically throwing her up into the balcony railing above them, making her fall, causing all of the canes to fall from the balcony onto Penelope.

Madison shrugged. "Found the canes."

"You shouldn't have done that," Josie told them, waving her hands, magically creating a small burst of fire, throwing it at Emma.

Letting her eyes glow silver, Madison released a scream at the burst of fire, making it soar away into the wall, burning that down. "Jo, stop."

Emma edged her way around Madison to get to Penelope, casting the silent magic spell shock spell that Danny, Lindsey and Tory had all done before, letting the sparks fall onto Penelope, shocking her enough to expel the slug from her ear, stomping on it.

Josie raised her hand to cast a spell. "I'm sorry, Madison."

Lizzie walked up behind Josie, grabbing Josie's hand to stop her from hurting Madison. "Don't. This isn't you."

Lizzie took hold of both Josie's hands, secretly putting her bracelet onto Josie's wrist.

Josie tried to pull free, able to do so when Lizzie was done. "You don't even know the real me."

"Then answer one question while you're saying what you really feel," Lizzie told her. "Am I a good sister?"

Josie pushed Lizzie away from her. "Are you kidding me? You're a terrible sister." Lizzie's bracelet, on the highest voltage, shocked Josie, causing her to yell in pain. The slug fell out of her ear. Madison stomped on the slug, brushing back her hair, exhaling, looking at Lizzie and Josie as the three of them looked relieved. Emma stood, turning away from Penelope. Josie was horrified that she tried to hurt Madison and what she said to Lizzie. "Madison... Lizzie, I'm so sorry."

Lizzie, Madison and Josie embraced tightly. They glanced at Emma, thankfully for helping them and Penelope. Emma nodded in return. Lizzie, Madison and Josie remained in their tight embrace.

-~-

Salvatore Boarding School - Common Area

The students were gathered after everything was okay now.

Ryan: (over intercom) "Attention students, given the incredibly odd and distressing day we've all had, I'm thinking we could all use a little pick me up. Like a talent show redo for the students that wanted to do their talent but weren't able to."

There was cheers and applause.

Lyla turned to Tory and Luke, smiling happily. "I get to do my song."

Tory and Luke smiled.

"Yes, you do," Tory agreed.

"And we are so happy to be there with you," Luke told her.

Lyla smiled, jumping lightly on her feet, running off to go get dressed for her performance. Tory and Luke watched her in amusement, happy.

-

Lindsey/Ryan's Office

Lindsey turned to Ryan. "How is it that out of everyone, only you, me, Lyla, Owen and Landon didn't get slugged? We have an explanation for Lizzie."

"Well, we killed the slugs that tried to get us before they did," Ryan answered. "As for Lyla, Owen and Landon, I have no idea."

Lindsey smiled. "Seems like everyone had a lot of fun though. Wish we could have a night off like that."

Ryan smiled, walking closer, taking Lindsey by the hands. "And someday soon, we will. Trust that, Lindsey. I love you."

Lindsey leaned her head against his. "I love you, too, Ryan."

They smiled, kissing.

-

Auditorium

Lyla, dressed up in a cute, really sweet but badass outfit, started her song with some kids from the younger class dancing around, including Pedro, singing a kid friendly song, but also one that showed how each kid was so strong and badass just like the teens, Fearless by Olivia Holt. The beginning was very sweet and gentle, as was Lyla's voice. "I'm stuck in your head / I'm back from the dead / Got you running scared / I'm fearless / I'm calling you out / I'm taking you down / Don't you come around / I'm fearless / I'm fearless." The rock beat of the song started, so Lyla's voice matched. "Whoa, I'm fearless." Tory, Luke, Lindsey, Ryan, Emma and Danny were cheering loudly for Lyla, so proud. Kaylin, Nicola, Rae, Hope, Madison and Ariara were just as proud, cheering. Lizzie and Josie smiled since they liked Lyla a lot. Alaric sat next to them, chuckling. Owen, Landon, Rafael, MG and Kaleb were even into it. "I got the upper hand now / And you're losing ground / You never had to fight back / Never lost a round." Lyla took off her gloves, tossing them down. "You see the gloves are coming off / Tell me when you've had enough." Lyla turned to Pedro as they were dancing. "Ready for a showdown / And we're face to face." Lyla pretended to punch Pedro with either hand, to which Pedro reacted to in stage fight fashion. "Maybe I'll rearrange it." Lyla spun around, pretending to kick Pedro in the head. Pedro pretended to fall. "Put you in your place." The others chuckled. Lyla took Pedro's hand to spin them both around. "You don't get the best of me / Check it, you're afraid of me / Sound off if you hear this / We're feeling fearless."

All the kids shouted, "We're feeling fearless!"

As Lyla sang the chorus this time, it was to the rock vibe, and she and all the other kids were jumping and dancing to the beat. "I'm stuck in your head / I'm back, back from the dead / Got you running scared / I'm fearless / I'm calling you out / I'm taking you down." Lyla spun around, raising her arms as if to fight. "Don't you come around / I'm fearless." She did a kid like hair flip, smirking. "I'm fearless."

As there was an instrumental break until the end of the song, Lyla was dancing, making boxing and kicking moves, flexing her arms like to show off muscles, raising her arms over her head, trickling her fingers to cause a magical, gentle explosion of light in the air, letting it rain down without harm, causing everyone to cheer as the song ended.

The kids were all cheering as well, hugging.

Lyla squealed, running down to embrace Tory and Luke, who held her close, laughing. Lyla embraced Lindsey, Ryan, Emma and Danny as well.

Announcer: "Now, ladies and gentlemen, Ariara Nata with a dance from her kingdom, to the song Can't Remember to Forget You."

The group all looked at Ariara in surprise since they didn't think that she would still want to perform since she was no longer under the influence of the slug. Ariara smiled, walking up to the stage, taking off her jacket, revealing she was wearing:

Ariara was doing her kingdom's dance, a very classy yet sensual Egyptian belly dance, having excellent isolation, absolute control with soft, graceful and yet powerful and defined movements, the undulations and pauses beautiful to watch, starting to sing while dancing. "I left a note on my bedpost / Said not to repeat yesterday's mistakes / What I tend to do when it comes to you." She smiled, beginning a Ghawazee Step, holding her hands perpendicular to the floor at weight height, pushing forward as she stepped, the back hip pushed back in imitation of a horse, raising her arms over her head, twisting her wrists, rotating the muscles in her core as she danced, while she was singing. "I see only the good / Selective memory / The way you make me feel, yeah / Gotta hold on me / I've never met someone so different." She spun around. Everyone seemed to be in awe by this dance. "I to back again / Fall off the train / Land in your bed / Repeat yesterday's mistakes." Josie was the most in awe, knowing that the song could apply to them, looking guilty as they looked at each other briefly. Ariara turned in another direction, swaying her arms classically to her sides, over her head, all while smiling as she remembered her time back home, raising her leg up as she spun around, singing. "What I'm trying to say / Is not to forget / I see only the good / Selective memory." She performed a chest camel, which was a movement which was made by isolating the chest, pushing it forward, up, back and down in a rolling undulation. "The way you make me feel, yeah / Gotta hold on me / I've never seem to act so stupid." She did an Egyptian Figure Eight, a movement of one hip in opposition to the other on a vertical plane; as one hip moved down, away from the body, up, and then back to center, the other hip moved up, into the center, down, and then away from the body. "Oh, here we go / You've got a part of me / You're a part of me." Ariara did the reverse move of the Egyptian Figure Eight, called Maya Hips, with one hip in opposition to the other on a vertical plane, one hip moving up, away from the body, down, and then back to center, the other moving down, into center, up, and then away from the body. "So where you go, I follow, follow, follow..." She then did a Sa'idi step, hip pushed backward, one foot remaining anchored while the other foot stepped backward and forward, arms echoing the moving leg, all the while vocalizing. "I can't remember to forget you." Ariara turned in a circle, shaking her hips and belly in a shimmy as she did, very energetic yet classy. "I keep forgetting I should let you go." She raised one arm over her head, one to her side, spinning around, running her hands through her hair to pull it back. "But when you look at me / The only memory is us kissing in the moonlight." While vocalizing, Ariara did a zar head, moving her head in rotation of circles, throwing her hair around. "I can't remember to forget you." She stood straighter, spinning around, raising a leg up in front of her, leaning back, standing up straight, before going into several spins, vocalizing. "I can't remember to forget you."

Ariara raised a hand up above her head as she tilted her head back to end the dance and song, breathless from the dance while singing.

Everyone burst into applause, happy for her.

Ariara smiled, lowering her hand, catching her breath, looking around. She and Josie locked gazes for a moment, smiling small smiles. Ariara stepped off the stage, congratulated by her adoptive family, the little piece of Frankenstein Family in Mystic Falls.

Lyla hugged Ariara tightly, cheering her on as was the rest of the auditorium.

Madison chuckled. "That was amazing, Ariara. I don't know who could follow that up."

"Well, you better, Madison," Josie told her. "You and Owen still planned a song for you to sing and him to rap, right?"

"She took the words right out of my mouth," Lizzie told them. "You're doing it."

Madison and Owen were surprised by that .

"Uh, yeah, but with everything that happened..." Owen trailed off.

"Is it a real pick-me-up?" Kaylin asked.

"Yeah," Owen answered. "But, I mean..."

"Then you're doing it," Josie told them. "Madison, you never got to shine much before. This is your chance."

Madison gave her a look. "And this is coming from you?"

Josie smiled, glancing at Ariara. "Well, maybe someone helped me realize that it's okay to want to shine once in a while."

Ariara hid a smile.

"You can do it, Madison," Lyla told her. "You and Owen."

"Owen, get your ass up there," Rafael told him. "You're good and you know it. Madison, too."

Landon smiled. "You heard Raf, Owen. You and Madison got this."

Owen and Madison exchanged a look, sighing, nodding.

"Fine," Owen agreed. "This song gets a lot of people pumped up, and it's pretty badass, so like most of us here, and the rest of the Frankenstein family."

Nicola smiled. "Good."

Landon and Rafael patted Owen on the shoulders.

"You got this," Rafael told him.

Lizzie, Josie, Hope, Rae, Emma and Ariara smiled reassuringly at Madison.

Madison mouthed a 'Thank you' to Lizzie and Josie, who both smiled and nodded in return.

They all cheered. Owen and Madison smiled, stepping onto the stage.

Announcer: "Madison Fell-Mikaelson and Owen Church with Can't Hold Us."

Owen and Madison both grabbed a mic, looking at each other, smiling. The spotlight was shone directly onto them. Madison smiled at the fact at finally having some spotlight like this.

Owen spoke into his mic. "Let's do it."

Madison started singing/vocalizing. "Ey, ey, ey... ey, ey, ey... ey..."

Madison sat down at the piano to play an intense tempo to the song.

Owen started to rap really well and fast. "Return of the best, get up, what it is, what it does, what it is, what it isn't / Looking for a better way to get up out of bed / Instead of getting on the internet and checking a new hit / We get up, fresh out, pimp strut walking / Little bit of humble, little bit of cautious / Somewhere between like, Rocky and Cosby, sweater game / Nope, nope, y'all can't copy that / Bad, moonwalking, this here, is our party." Owen pointed from him and Madison to Hope, Rae, Emma, Danny, Ariara, Lyla, Lizzie, Josie, Landon, Rafael, Kaleb and MG, the rest of the Super Squad, causing them all to smile. "Our posse's been on Broadway, and we did it our way / Grown music, I shed my skin and put my bones into everything, I record to it / And yet I'm on, let that stage light go and shine on down / Got the Bob Barker suit game and Plinko in my style."

Madison and Owen both said, "Money."

Owen continued. "Stay on my craft and stick around for those pounds / But I do that to pass the torch and put on for my town / Trust me, on my I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T, hustling / Chasing dreams since I was fourteen /  With the fourtrack, bussing /  Halfway cross that city with the backpack, fat cat, crush shit / Labels out here, nah, they can't tell me nothing / We give that to the people, spread it across the country."

Madison started to sing the chorus. "Can we go back? / This is the moment / Tonight is the night / We'll fight till it's over / So we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us / Like the ceiling can't hold us." Everyone was very pumped up already, dancing in the crowd. Kaylin and Lyla were dancing just for the fun of it. Kaleb and MG were very into it, dancing standing to spin around and do their own dancing. Tory, Luke, Lindsey, Ryan, Danny, Emma, Ariara, Lizzie, Josie, Landon and Rafael were very into it, either nodding to the beat or dancing a bit in place. Even Nicola, Hope and Rae were dancing a bit. "Can we go back? / This is the moment / Tonight is the night / We'll fight till it's over / So we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us / Like the ceiling can't hold us."

Madison pointed to Owen.

Owen started to rap again. "Now, can I kick it? / Thank you / Yeah, I'm so damn grateful / I grew up really wanting gold fronts /  But that's what you get when Wu-Tang raised you / Y'all can't stop me, go hard like I've got an 808 in my heart beat / And I'm meeting at the beat like you gave a little speed / To a great white shark on shark week, raw / Tell me go up, gone / Gone!" Owen smirked, holding up a peace sign, waving goodbye, doing circular motions with his arms to indicate the world. "Deuces, goodbye, I've got a world to see." He pointed to Madison. "And my girl, she wanna see Rome." Madison smiled, bopping in place while she was playing piano along with the track. "Caesar make you a believer, nah." Madison pointed out at Ariara since she was a literal princess. "I never ever did it for a throne." Ariara smiled. "That validation comes, so I'm giving it back to the people now."

Madison stood, doing a little bit of the rapping herself. "Sing that song and it goes like / Raise those hands, this is our party / We came here to live life like nobody was watching." Owen pointed at Madison with a proud look, like saying 'look at my girl rapping'.  "I got my city right behind me / If I fall they got me / Learn from that failure, gain humility / And then we keep marching, I said." She started to sing again. "Can we go back? / This is the moment / Tonight is the night / We'll fight till it's over / So we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us / Like the ceiling can't hold us."

Owen threw his hands up. "So we put our hands up."

Madison threw her hands up, hyping the crowd on. "So we put our hands up."

Hope, Rae, Emma, Danny, Ariara, Lyla, Lizzie, Josie, Landon, Rafael, Kaleb and MG their their hands up. Tory, Luke, Lindsey, Ryan, Kaylin and Nicola smiled, putting their hands up to humor them, just glad that they were having fun.

Owen pointed to Madison. "Let's do it."

Madison sang intensely. "Na na, nana, na, na, nana, na / Aha, hey / And all my people say."

Owen and Madison pointed out to the crowd, mostly the adults of the group and the Super Squad, who all went along with it. "Na na, nana, na, na, nana, na / Aha, hey."

Kaylin took Hope and Rae's hands to spin them around, making them laugh.

Tory and Luke picked up Lyla to spin them around together. Lyla was giggling.

Lindsey and Ryan were getting Emma and Danny to loosen up and have fun too, causing them to smile and dance too. 

Nicola smiled, shaking her head.

Ariara did a belly roll, causing both her and Josie to start laughing.

Lizzie was dancing and having fun.

Owen waved his arms to hype the crowd up more. "That's right, feels good / And all my people say."

The crowd repeated, "Na, na, nana, na, na, nana, na."

Madison was vocalizing pretty well.  "Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh." To replace the part of the song when Macklemore had said his name in a drawled out fashion, Madison sang,"Frankenstein Family and Super Squad..."

This caused them all to laugh.

Owen and Madison sang the last chorus together, as the crowd sang in background. ""Can we go back? / This is the moment / Tonight is the night / We'll fight till it's over / So we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us / Like the ceiling can't hold us."

Once the song finished, everyone burst into cheers and applause.

Owen and Madison smiled, in awe from what they did together. Owen wrapped an arm around her shoulders, kissing her head. They both took a bow, laughing, before stepping off the stage and joining the others, being greeted by embraces and congratulations.

-

Backstage

Now all of the witches were dressed, getting ready for their number.

Lizzie walked in with a cane. "All right, witches, grab a cane. I've got some new choreography."

"Thank God," Josie told her. "I can't believe I actually wanted to sing."

"Oh, you're still singing," Lizzie told her. 

"What?" Josie asked.

"Those slugs revealed your uninhibited self," Lizzie pointed out. "You really want to share the spotlight with the worst sister ever, Josie Saltzman? Well, like we told Madison just before she went up on stage with Owen. The spotlight is officially yours. Maddie got her chance to shine. It's your turn."

Josie was nervous but touched, managing a small smile.

-

Stage

Josie walked on stage wearing a fancy dress, the same color of the outfit Ariara had worn for the talent show, her hair done to the side. The spotlight was shining on her.

Madison and Ariara, realizing that Lizzie had given the spotlight to Josie, and that Josie was getting her moment to shine, both smiled in surprise. 

Josie started the song. "Standing in the shadows / I thought that I earned it / Feeling invisible / Believing I deserved it / I can't remember what I was waiting for / So no more...." Behind Josie, with the rest of the witches, Lizzie and Penelope, facing each other, turned their heads to look at Josie, both looking proud. Alaric, Madison and Ariara smiled proudly. "I'm climbing over walls that I've made." The crowd started to cheer. "I'm finding my place on the stage." As the witches started their very simple choreography that barely involved movement, Penelope looked at Lizzie with a newfound respect for letting Josie shine. "I'm gonna be leaving all those doubts behind / I'm step, I'm stepping into the light." Madison cheered happily for Josie and Lizzie, clapping. Josie nodded to Ariara since she had literal wings, also thanking her for encouraging her to do this earlier that day. "I'm gonna be spreading my wings." Ariara smiled, nodding. "Following a path they can't see." MG was clapping and smiling as well. Even Kaleb looked impressed. Lyla was jumping with cheer and support, clapping. Emma, Danny, Hope, Rae, Owen, Landon and Rafael smiled. Kaylin, Nicola, Lindsey, Tory, Luke and Ryan exchanged a look, smiling slightly. "Chasing an adventure, that's all mine / I'm step, I'm stepping into the light / I'm shedding the skin that I'm in." The witches were all spinning around Josie. "Never hiding who I am ever again / That girl you knew, she's, ready to ignite / I'm step, I'm stepping into the light."

The witches ended the choreo behind Josie. Once again, everyone burst into cheers and applause after the song finished. MG got Kaleb to clap as well, taking hold of his wrists, making him clap, before Kaleb started to clap on his own.

Josie smiled brightly at Lizzie in gratitude, looking over the crowd, smiling.

-

Owen/Landon's Dorm Room

Hope was sitting at a mirror, seeing Landon appear in the open doorway in the reflection, smiling, turning to face him. "Hi. So it took three showers, but I think I'm finally clean."

"Three of them?" Landon repeated. "Wow?"

Hope nodded. "Three. Mm-hmm."

Landon walked closer. "Yeah, I don't have slug envy or anything, but why do you think Owen and I weren't infected? I mean, it got pretty much everybody, except me, Owen, Lyla, Lindsey and Ryan, and Lizzie, and Lizzie had the bracelet, while Lindsey and Ryan had killed the two that tried to infect them. Maybe Little Lyla got spared because of how awesome everybody thinks she is." Hope smiled. "Maybe something's just wrong with me and Owen."

Hope shrugged. "I don't--I don't know."

Landon tilted his head. "Oh, come on. Professional monster hunter Hope Mikaelson doesn't even have a theory?"

"I guess I'll add it to the list of unexplainable things about Landon Kirby and Owen Church," Hope told him, walking closer. They both smiled. "I was being ridiculous all day." They laughed. "But I was happy. The things I said, how I asked... maybe it could be that way all the time. Maybe the only thing that's keeping me from being happy is me."

Landon smiled. "You know, if life was about being happy all the time, neither of us would've survived this long. Which would be a real shame, because then you would never hear how bad I am at singing." He walked away to get his guitar, walking back over. "Oh, boy." So excited to hear one of his songs, Hope smiled, laughing. They sat down on Landon's bed. Landon started to play and sing. "About those eyes /  The way they spark when she's about to pick a fight / When we disagree and she knows that she's right / About that smile / She tries to hide 'cause that's what they expect her to /  When no one's watching, it lights up the room / About the time you think you've locked you heart up safely / Someone breaks right through /  All of her fascinating contradictions / Are beautiful to you / I'm falling for a girl / And I can't wait to tell you all about her  / About that laugh / The way it rises up from somewhere deep inside / A happiness that brings her back to life / About that mind / The way it moves at such a the terrifying speed / And how it works is such a mystery / About the time, you think you've locked you heart up safely Someone breaks right through / All of her ever-changing dreams and worries / Feel like home to you / I'm falling for a girl / And I can't wait to tell you all about her / About last night / I saw a vision of the future in my dream / And I can't wait to meet who you will be / So I can know everything about her."

Hope was brought to tears, smiling happily, leaning closer to kiss him passionately. 

-

Alaric's Office

Alaric, Lizzie and Josie were sitting together.

"I tortured myself trying so hard to be nice, and all it got me was a headache and everyone thinking that I was infected," Lizzie told them. "They just don't think that I can change. Everyone just assumes that I'm going to be a bitch. Maybe I should just be what they want me to be."

"Well, that seems reductive," Alaric told her.

"Does it though?" Lizzie asked. "I'm tired of it. And yes, while I'm happy that Owen and Madison won the talent show, like they should have after getting everyone pumped up like that, with Ariara coming in second because she could dance like that and sing at the same time, I learned something too. So that is why I have decided to permanently unleash my inner bitch. Thank you, Daddy. This has been the perfect talk."

Lizzie kissed Alaric on the cheek, smiling, standing, walking away.

Josie stood, looking at Alaric. "So, when I got slugged today, do you think that that's the real me?"

"You know, some people think that the real you comes out when your inhibitions are lowered, but in my experience, sometimes what really defines someone is what they won't do," Alaric told her.

Josie smiled, nodding, walking out.

-

Kitchen

Lyla had come to get a late night snack and drink of water, taking a sip. No one had even noticed that Lyla had been infected because she was acting like she always was, fun, energetic, happy and badass all the same. She didn't even know until she felt the change, her eyes starting to glow green. She looked around, walking off.

-

Lindsey/Ryan's Office

Lyla had snuck into the office, finding that the urn was spelled away into a safe. She walked toward the safe, placing her hand on the safe to siphon away the spell, her hand glowing red as she did. She opened the safe, pulling out the urn, walking out of the office.

-

Hallway

Lyla looked around, walking down the hallway with the urn, making sure that no one was there to stop her. Even if she was caught by someone at the school, she had the power to mind control anyone to forget and send them away.

-

Wickery Bridge

Lyla walked up to the railing of the bridge, looking at the urn. "Stupid urn. I hate you. Buh-bye."

Lyla held the urn in her hands for a moment, throwing it over the railing, down into the water below, watching it be carried away by the current.