CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

(act iii)

EVERYONE WINS (BESIDES ELENA)

'the last day, the sun also rises, as i lay dying'

"Every time I close my eyes... I go back to that black horizon. That place where I was abandoned and forgotten, by my own family. So yeah, I came out mad, and I remain so." ~ Finn Mikealson

The Next Day ~ Mikaelson Mansion

It was the morning of the ritual. Everything was in order; the sacrifices, Maddox and Greta, the moonstone, and one 'smart' Elena who was 'saving everyone' with her decision. The afterparty was planned, and all the food was brought - Ana was happy to host a party for the death of Elena. The Lockwoods had strengthened their chains in the cave for the full moon, and Tyler was ready for his second transformation. Plans for the summer were discussed and would be the main topic at the party that night - what happened after the ritual?

Anastacia and Nikluas sat in the new Mikaelson Mansion on the outskirts of Mystic Falls, a few miles away from the Boarding House and the Raven Mansion - giving everyone space.

The parlor room looked lovely in the morning, with the early light basking the room in a soft glow. The soothing sounds of piano and violin from the vinyl player in the corner of the room gave a calming ambience to the room.

With the power of compulsion, the mansion was up and ready in a single week; the estate didn't need much work, just redecorating, landscaping and making it liveable with a more modern touch while keeping the old aesthetic Klaus was going for. There was room for all of his siblings, and their coffins were lying in the various rooms.

Klaus was ready to finally undagger them after all these years; he really wanted them safe, which meant Mikeal had to die. Luckily he had Ana, and he would rid the world of Mikeal the Destroyer and finally live in peace and stop looking over his shoulder and being paranoid. He could have his family back even if they hated him.

"Is everything going according to plan?" Klaus asked the caramel-skinned female that was walking around his parlor room, looking at all the art he had made over the years. He smiled lightly, seeing the slight smile on her face as she observed every brushstroke in one of his favorite paintings of New Orleans, his once upon a home.

Her black curls swayed as she nodded, finally looking back at him. "Elena will be there to save everyone, and she has no choice. John will tether his life force to Elena so she'll live and give more blood for the hybrids. The moonstone is in my possession, and I will bring it. The full moon will be beautiful tonight. Jules will be the werewolf, and Matt as the vampire in transition, and I'll bring them too," She explained to him, sitting down and picking up the glass of wine. 

"Good, very good, but I rather appreciate the symmetry of three women," Klaus said as he swirled his bourbon in his ornate glass. He didn't like the boring blue-eyed blonde human either, but he was trying to get some control in the conservation; he was testing Ana's limits.

"Yeah, it would be nice, but I'm running this show, and Matt is very annoying. I can also kill you, original vampire, or not?" Ana told him seriously, but a tint of cheekiness wove into her tone.

He tensed slightly but nodded in agreement, unknowingly giving her more power and control over him. He was acting like a beta in front of an alpha or a bitch in heat, but who could blame him?

"Of course, darling, two women and a man," He said sweetly, giving in to every desire of hers with a smile and putting three ring-cladded fingers up. She was giving him everything, so he might as well listen and be nice for once.

The Mexican vixen grinned at him and clapped her hands together childishly, "Good," she simply said. Ana was always the one in charge with her intimidating look and aura, and with her powers, she was unstoppable, a true queen in the making. She wouldn't take no for an answer.

She perked up like she remembered something and spoke, "There's also the matter of her eggs...." She trailed off. She didn't want another Elena Gilbert in the world, but she wouldn't care if there was one.

"Ah yes, you collected those with the blood?" Klaus questions with a strange glint in his eyes. She nodded and he continued, "Well, I'll arrange to continue the bloodline, but we'll have to test the blood's effectiveness once it's born. You also said something about my offspring?"

Ana sighed slightly and sipped at the old and expensive wine, and shrugged at his words, "We'll see when it happens. Yes, offspring; once you complete the ritual, you can father children despite being a vampire. Werewolves can procreate, so you can. It's nature's loophole and all."
She turned her attention away from the glass to him and told him softly, "You'll make an excellent father."

He looked taken aback at the black-haired woman's words, and his baby-blue eyes stared into hers with a slither of vulnerability and hope in them. "How do you know that?" he asked softly, his eyes not leaving her dark ones.

"I've seen it all. You're amazing, strong, caring, prideful, paranoid, and you have a short temper, but that makes you a brilliant father. Willing to do anything for your child," She told him softly; she was a 'seer.' She walked towards him as he hunched over his bourbon, long forgotten.

"You have all the time in the world to decide. You'll have everything you need and want, and I'll be there by your side along with the others," She told him, rubbing his shoulder, and he looked up at her with a smile, not a smirk but a genuine smile.

"Thank you, Ana, truly," he murmured.

She nodded with a smile, leaned down, and kissed his stubbled cheek, "I'll see you tonight, darling," She told him, her smile turning into a smirk and leaving him with his thoughts a mess.

Later That Night ~ Mystic Falls Quarry

It was time, the ritual was happening tonight, and everything was ready.

Jules and Matt who was in transition sat in little circles of fire, awaiting their timely death. Everyone was there except Liz, Jenna, and Davina, who still weren't okay with seeing people die right before them. Kat had also opted to stay home due to her fear of Niklaus; she didn't trust him not to maul her. Mason was helping Tyler through his change, it would be much smoother than the last time, and a spell helped ease his pain.

Elena, the woman of honor, was sitting in a circle of fire, crying – she wasn't pleased about being sacrificed, but that's what you get for being a copy and paste. Plus, she wouldn't be dead for too long; John had linked his life to her to keep her alive. It was what happened when a father loved their child, and it was also two birds with one stone. No one liked John, so no one was sad to see him go.

I stood before the circle with a little smile, but she glared at me. Understandably, I was the reason Matt, she and her father were dying, but I had saved Jenna, and that's all that mattered. "Care, how can you let him kill me? I thought we were friends! What did you get from this Money? What?! God damn it, tell me! You did all this, and for what?" she yelled at me with tears streaming down her face.

I crouched in front of her, pulling the fire down so we could see each other.

"Dearie, we were never friends. How hasn't that gotten through your thick skull? I've gone seventeen years annoyed at your very presence. You were just the plus one of Grayson and Jeremy. I have gained everything I wanted: infinite wealth, friends, lovers, immortality, and power. Everything I had dreamed of but for a price, of course. Magic always comes with a price, don't you know that by now? As do dreams I've come to realize. I gained everything but lost her, and she was the ultimate price. Something I wish to never pay again," I ramble, melancholic for a moment.

"Caroline, how can you say that?! What are you talking about? Whose her?" she questions, upset and confused, trying to prolong her miserable life span. She wasn't acting very sportsmanship like.

"Nothing that concerns you; you offer me nothing but bad memories..." I tell her, getting up while pulling the ring of fire up. "You'll be happy to know that Jenna is alive because of your 'sacrifice.' It seems everyone wins besides you, Elena." I told her with a smirk and walked back to the others.

Alisha would've loved this.

Realizing I wasn't going to help her, she turned to Greta. "Greta, come on, your family wouldn't want this! Witches are supposed to maintain the balance in nature. It's your duty to them to keep this curse sealed." Elena hollered at her, pleading to be let go.

Bonnie and I rolled our eyes at her; hearing her talk about witches like that was irritating. Not everyone followed that typical witch talk – it was a lie anyways. Nature would balance itself; she didn't need to rely on witches to do it for her. The Martians had a sweet reunion, but Greta wouldn't leave Klaus for them, but they tried to understand but were in each other's arms. All promises filled.

"My duty is to Klaus! The new order," Greta told her.

Then Klaus came in dramatically as we stood around for him. "Glad to know I still have a dance partner," Klaus told Greta. Happily, that's all he wanted – trust, loyalty, and his family.

He looked over at the people sitting in the fire circles and turned to me, "Good job," he praised, and I shrugged with a smile; I was lapping up his praise.

"So, is everything ready then?" Stefan asked next to a nervous-looking Jeremy. Klaus turned to him with a smile and nodded, "Yes, we've got everything" he looked at me and continued, "With the help of Ana, we just need to move it along," he finished.

He walked towards Elijah, who was standing next to Bonnie, and Damian, who had his arms wrapped around Bonnie protectively. They had gotten closer over the days, not moving too fast or too slow. From what I could gather, Bonnie was happy, and that's all that mattered.

"You don't know how happy it makes me that you're here, brother," he said to his suit-cladded brother and grabbed his arm in a brotherly shake. Each arm wrapped around their forearms, and Klaus laid his hand on Elijah's shoulder.

"Of course, brother, after all these years, you deserve it," Elijah nodded.

Klaus smiled at him and returned to Greta, who started the ritual. She turned to me with her arm outreached, and I placed the milky stone in her palm.

"The moon has passed its apex," Greta told us, looking up in the sky and looking at Klaus with a reverent smile and asking, "Remember everything you need to do?" Klaus nodded firmly and stated, "I remember."

Greta dropped the precious moonstone into the stone bowl that was on fire. Sparks fly around as the moonstone, the very stone Klaus had been looking for over 500 years, was destroyed. Greta and Maddox started chanting in Latin while Klaus approached Jules's ring of fire. She looked up at him as she lay on the floor, groaning in pain. She turned her gaze to us and yelled, "I did this to help Tyler!"

I rolled my eyes as if that was going to stop your death.

Kauls just looked down his nose at her and rhetorically asked, "Shall we?"

At his words, the ring of fire around her dimmed into the air, and Jules's eyes turned yellow in anger as death stared her down. She rushed at him, but she wasn't any competition for a thousand-year-old werewolf. He pinned her down in seconds, plunging his hand into her chest like going through water and ripping her still-beating heart out. She cries as she takes her final breath, eyes wide in fear as her hand falls to the ground lifelessly.

I smirk at the sight; watching him rip out the heart of the woman who dared to kidnap my daughter made me feel some way. Enzo sent a smirk, clearly aware of how I was feeling.

I innocently smiled at him, and he swung his arm around my waist, pulled me snugly against his chest, and moved the hair away from my shoulder. He leans down, breathes air into my air softly, and murmurs, "Naughty girl."

At that, I feel my underwear dampen, and he nibbles on my neck while we watch Klaus's next move. He held the bleeding heart over the bowl, squeezing it so blood dripped into the flames, and Greta counties to chant alongside Maddow. Both their hands were outreached with their palms facing the sky.

"It's working," Bonnie murmurs, watching the ritual with a keen eye.

Klaus then repeats the same process with the transitioning vampire, and Elena watches, horrified, as he stakes her once love, her childhood friend and sweetheart, Marty blue eyes. Greta then collects some of his blood and pours it into the fire as they chant.

He turns to Elena with a devilish smirk and tells her, "It's time."

The ring of fire disappears, and he brings her a hand out to help, but she pushes past him. She walks towards the makeshift alter, and she turns to us, and says, "I'll be fine. Jeremy, I love you!"

Klaus reaches her, and everyone watches with beaten breath as he sinks his fangs into her neck and drains her.

Jeremy brings his head into Alaric's chest; even if she wasn't dying, watching someone kill his sister/cousin was still hard.

Her eyelids flutter and then roll into the back of her head, and she dies, falling to the ground. I turn to Klaus, who wipes the blood from his mouth with a smirk, and the flames in the bowl die out. Klaus breathes heavily, clearly feeling the effects of the moon, and walks down the stone steps.

"I can feel it. It's happening." He tells Greta and Maddox, who nods with large smiles. As the moon shines bright, his bones begin to crack, and he starts to transform. His eye shines bright yellow, but veins protrude under his eyes, showing his hybrid nature and the fact the ritual worked.

We all watch as he completes the transformation, and his last scream dies in his throat, turning into a growl. His yellow eyes shine at us as his hackles scrunch up, and the moonlight shines on his black coat. He looks at us and runs into the forest with a prolonged howl that echoes through the quarry.

I glance over to Elijah, who has a proud and soft smile upon his face as he holds onto Bonnie and Damian.

Two Days Later ~

John was dead in exchange for Elena's life. A poor trade in my opinion, but I would have done it for Davina in a heartbeat. As was love for a child, the strongest feeling one could feel.

Everyone was exhausted from the party the other night and the humans were still feeling it even today. With a potion I was ready to run a marathon.

Klaus had finished his transformation and was beaming through the whole day; thus, his next course of action didn't come as a surprise. He invited me to watch him undagger his family, simply because It wouldn't have happened if not for me, so I came along. Plus, I needed a debt paid from Kol. If they stayed, they would all be coming over for dinner the next day.

Klaus had one of his compelled humans bring all the coffins into the parlor room, and there were multiple humans on standby as blood bags. I watched from the sidelines giving him space as he slowly un-daggered them. Elijah was with him, holding his shoulder in support as he started from the earliest to the last. Finn, Rebekah, and then Kol.

Klaus turned to me with the four daggers and Elijah by his side. I destroyed the daggers, leaving them in a pile of molten slivers on the floor. Elijah looked pleased with the notion; Klaus had asked me earlier to get rid of them. They weren't needed anymore.

We moved into the other parlor, where drinks awaited us. We waited for the others to come into the next room. A few minutes later, I held a dainty wrist in my hand, with my fangs attached to her wrist; it had been a while since I took from the vein, and I was enjoying myself until I heard a banshee-like scream.

"NIKLAUS!" a feminine voice screeched, and the doors flew open, and there she was.

Rebekah Mikealson

The only daughter of Mikeal and Esther. She had her beautiful blonde locks in tight curls and wore a white beaded dress and a long string of pearls around her neck. A glaring red spot was in the middle of the dress where the knife used to be. She looked straight out of the 20s and she was.

"What are you doing?!" Rebekah yelled a little lower, seeing Elijah and Niklaus talking like brothers again; Elijah wasn't as tense as he used to be, and a random black-haired woman was drinking from a human.

"Ah, Rekahah, that didn't take too long, did it brother?" Klaus condescendingly asked, tilting his head to his brother. Elijah and Rebekah rolled their eyes in sync, making my lips quirk; wrist forgotten.

"Why did you undagger me? And who is this tramp?" Rebekah asked, looking at me with distrust. I raised an eyebrow and got up with a glass of red wine.

"Shiraz with some blood; Stefan said it was your favorite back in the '20s," I told her while giving her the glass, she narrowed her eyes at me, and I continued, "This tramp is the reason you are out of your box, I suggest a thank you. There are so clothes in the next room suited for this era."

"Stefan? He's here!" She asked excitedly, and I looked back to Klaus, who was trying not to laugh, and Elijah didn't try to keep eye contact with either of us.

Rebekah followed my eyes and narrowed them, automatically assuming Klaus had something to do with it. "Yeah, he's in town, but he's...moved on," I told her softly, trying to break the news lightly.

Rebekah scoffed, and I caught Klaus's eye, who had a raised eyebrow. Another sibling arrived before she could blow up or try and kill Klaus.

Kol Mikealson.

The 'crazy' one of the family besides the parents, of course. He was once a witch in his human life and is now devoted to learning every type of magic and anything to know about the subject. He was a magical walking encyclopedia and the best person to teach my daughter.

I didn't have as much experience or knowledge as him, only being taught by Grams and Gloria, and my magic was a little different from hers.

He was also severely nerfed in the show; he was defeated by two human kids? Elena's plot armor was thick.

"Kol," Klaus greeted stoically, but I heard the slight waver in his voice; he was trying to be strong.

"Hello, brother," Kol calmly seethed, his eyes flickering between us all. His lingered on mine for a moment, and a smirk graced his face making me cock my head in confusion and a silent taunt.

"Kol?" Rebekah greeted him, confused, and put a hand on her hip. She looked back to Klaus, who had now stood up along with Elijah.

"How long?" He asked, ignoring Bekah (like he always did), waving the knife that had been taken from Klaus's sliver set, I assumed. He looked carefree, but I could tell he was angry and scared.

"Years, brother, but I have found a way. A way to kill Mikeal so we may be free finally!" Klaus said, thick with emotion.

Darkness.

The Other Side.

It was all I could see and feel until a blinding light appeared. My opens opened slowly, getting adjusted to the light. I clenched my fingers, feeling the soft velvet of the coffin against my fingers.

How long have I been gone? How long was I asleep as the world moved on and forgot about me? What did I miss? What happened to me to be awakened?

Klaus had promised me an eternity for my 'betrayal.' A betrayal that was well deserved; he was a prick, after all.

All I remembered was getting stabbed in the heart with that god-awful dagger as Rebekah and Elijah once again stood by his side watching. Then the feeling of cold and darkness. I had awoken to the other side, something I had frequently been with Klaus' trigger-happy episodes.

It looked exactly like our world, blanketed in eternal gray. I usually forget everything I heard or saw in my time there, but there was something I remembered like a fever dream.

All I could see was a dark-haired man lying on a black-haired woman, and she caressed his hair, fingering softly and moving through his soft hair. It felt like time didn't matter even more to them; they looked content and at peace. There was no pain or paranoia that someone was coming for them. They didn't tense at a sound or look over their shoulder every moment.

I wanted nothing more than to join them in that peaceful moment, something I had craved long before we became creatures of the night, before the betrayal and Klaus's paranoia. A time was I was a child, looking around at everything with a childlike wonder and innocence, where my greatest enjoyment wasn't bloodshed or a grasp at power but magic. A simple spell like moving fallen leaves when winter came with its frosty touch and made life harder. Carrying the dead leaves with a single wave of a hand and magic and nature become one.

Then I fell backward, and my hand went outreached, clinging to that moment, and for a moment, I was afraid. Afraid I would hit the floor, and everything would be dark again.

But there was light.

Someone, my money wasn't on Klaus, had freed me. My throat ached for the sweet flavor of fear and metal. My anger and hunger came to the forefront of my mind, and all moments of peace pushed back.

I pulled myself up and looked around the room; a breeze flew through the open windows blowing the curtains slowly. Strangers stood by the wall lifeless, compelled no doubt, and they smelled like humans.

There were also two more coffins beside his, which were the same as his. Open.

One was empty, and Finn lay in the other; long gone was the grey veined skin that showed his daggered inflicted peace, and now a pale color remained. The dagger was gone and out of sight, leaving a red mark on his chest. My lips quirked up at that; someone was either playing a dangerous game or Klaus had really gone mad.

Finn was the most boring of us all. All he did was complain and babble about being monsters and ambitious and whatever shit came out of his mouth. Just because he couldn't enjoy eternal life didn't mean he had to make us a living hell.

I was grudgingly thankful for Klaus and his daggers.

I looked back to the humans, and one stepped forward, and a dangerous smirk graced my lips. This was going to be fun.

First, a bite, then figure out what happened and ruin Klaus' life for ruining mine and my fun.

I walked through the door, adjusting my cufflinks and wiping the blood from my lips. All I had to do was follow the banshee-like voice of my dear sister, and Klaus would be there. I pulled out the silver dagger I had found in the other room; it was part of a beautiful silver set. I was hoping, but I knew it wouldn't do anything to him despite his mutt blood.

I couldn't help but cock my head to the side, hearing Klaus had finally found a way to kill Mikeal. It wasn't impossible for a solution to end his annoying life. Klaus hardly ever mentioned his name, so he wouldn't be lying about something like this.

I felt it happened to do with the woman standing near his side. The one he had seen from his dream on the other side.

He still couldn't bring a name to her beautiful face, but he would, with time and figure out who the mysterious lad in her lap was.

Eternal darkness, that's what my life was for what felt like a millennium. I had 'woken' up in my daggered self, feeling and hearing everything that happened around me. Like I was in a human coma, but I was not a human anymore.

I thought I would see my mother or even Sage in my afterlife, but I didn't see them. I saw nothing until someone came, young and full of life.

She. She shined a light unto my path, bringing me away from the clutches of darkness and madness.

With her beautiful locks of ebony hair, sun-kissed skin that begged to be touched and worshiped, and a smile that spoke of love and hidden coldness. She was so different from Sage, she didn't have the fiery red hair she had, nor did she have the sweet innocence. The woman was stronger and different, and I felt enamored. Sage had left my thoughts, and I focused on the black-haired woman.

I tried to remember more, her name or anything. All I got was a short memory; it played like a movie in my head.

The sun was out, and I could feel the lick of heat against my skin for once. I was content at that moment with her and the sun glaring down at me. I clung to that small piece of humanity; I had long forgotten what the sun felt like after all those years, half I spent in a box.

I couldn't see her face as we walked through the tall meadow; her fingers caressed the top of the flowers. Then a bell-like laugh echoed through the vast field, and she turned back to me andBeing with her reminded me of my human life, something I craved so dearly.

I ignored the humans that were obviously compelled; I would not partake in such customs even if my throat was aching for it. It had clearly been a very long time.

Nikluas, Elijah, Kol and Rebekah, and a familiar woman were standing around drinking and chatting with small smiles on their faces. They looked like a real family; I hadn't seen them all together without trying to kill each other for a long time. From the blood Klaus was wiping off his hand with a silk handkerchief, Elijah's no doubt.

"Finn!" Rebekah chuckled happily once I stepped over the threshold of the parlor room. I looked around the clean and surprisingly full room. It seemed Nikluas went all out for a reunion. I was surprised that Kol was let out of his coffin; he was the troublemaker.

"What is going on?" I asked, confused and honestly just waiting for the pin to drop or Niklaus to say he had found a way to kill us or he had completed his life goal of becoming a hybrid - an even more ambition.

It had taken a few minutes for Nikluas to explain everything and tell the story of the beautiful woman by his side. I wouldn't have trusted Nik, but Elijah had backed him up, saying it was the truth and Elijah was noble despite his nature.

I kneaded my head, feeling a wave of pain come out of me, I really needed to drink, and it didn't help that Kol and Rebekah were famished and snacking on the staff. Anastasia- what a lovely name- walked over to me with a glass of red.

"No, thank you," I said, declining her offer; I could smell the tantalizing smell of blood. She smiled softly at me, took the seat next to me, and took a sip from the glass. "It's 70 percent wine and 30 percent blood, freely given," she said, and I couldn't help but furrow my brow at the concept of freely given.

"Freely given?" I asked gruffly, still getting used to speaking.

She nodded and explained, "Finn. You've been gone a very long time; the world has evolved from pitchforks to technology of wonders. People aren't as scared as they used to be; they make romance movies of our kind. Blood is freely given, people give their blood to the hospital, and we pay for it. We don't need to kill for blood or compel. My boyfriend had the same problem as you do, a fear of himself and his nature, and he drank the blood of animals. I helped him work through it, and I could help you if you let me."

I didn't even notice that her hand held mine or I was clinging to it; I was just staring at her, taking everything in. The world had truly changed, but I didn't know if I was able to change alongside it. It would take time, but I had all of it in the world, and it seemed she did too, and she wanted to help.

I nodded tight-lipped, unable to say anything besides, "Thank you."

She patted my hand, and I felt such a strong sense of safety and comfort, an image of the meadow, and she pushed itself to the forefront of my mind, and I didn't notice the soft smile on my face, but the others did.

That Afternoon ~

It was finally done. He was finally dead. We could start living our lives as a family where darkness and looking over our shoulders were long gone. We had defeated our greatest enemy together, side by side, watching him go up in flames. It truly felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulder.

Of course, he had nothing good to say for his last words, just a spat on my name.

Even with him gone, our family was far by perfect or far by in a good state; it hadn't been for centuries. But we needed to stick together, forever and always.

It was nice having everyone back, and it was all thanks to her. After a long-needed chat, they decided to stay in the mansion, the house I had created for us as a family.

Rebekah was having fun, acquainting herself with the new fashion and the town, while Kol had left for actual food at the Grill. Finn had stuck himself in the library, reading all the new literature and trying to get used to the modern world while Elijah watched over and helped him adjust.

Later that night, I found myself naked and exhausted for once in a long time in Ana's large bed with herself curled at my side while Enzo was reading poetry aloud to her and lulling her to sleep.

Ana had invited me over for a small and private celebration of my father's death, and I had a feeling it would end up the way it did. Everyone else was out of the house, so we had it to ourselves, and Katerina skittered out of the house when she saw me, which brought forth a chuckle from us all.

Alcohol and lots of it were consumed in quick concession, and we danced the night away, and clothes were being pulled off one by one.

____

I've got no idea what's happening but this happened. I'm sorry it took me so long to upload this just ugh.

Do we like the POV breaks better? Took me like an hour to do 🥹 Kinda struggled with the other pov's and especially finn's pov since there really isnt' much screen time for him. Hopefully i did them justice. I really tried to write the threesome but I just couldn't, I'll try coming back to it or writing a scene in the later chapters. Smut is just so hard to write especially since ya girl ain't getting nothing.

I'll be going back and forward in the next chapters since they'll be spilt up. So who do we wanna see and what are they doing? I've got some stuff planned for hybrid hunting but I wanna hear what you guys wanna see!

Also I'm thinking about a Davina spin off and a legacies spin off. TVD in true fashion. Would y'all read these??

vote and comment x

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