I died.
One second, I was in my apartment—TV remote in hand, halfway through a The Originals rewatch marathon with leftover pizza on my lap—and the next, I was floating in a void.
Where am I?
I found myself in a void full of darkness. I don't know how I ended up being here, but I've been here for so long and it is not good or funny.
"YOU ARE DEAD, YOUNG ONE," I heard a voice so loud that it echoed through the void.
I asked the voice, "Who are you and what do you mean by I'm dead?"
"I AM WHAT YOU CALL GOD, YOUNG ONE. AND WHEN I SAID YOU DIED, I MEANT YOU ARE LITERALLY DEAD."
What? How can I die? I don't even remember how I died. All I remember is that my name is Klaus Mikaelson… and something called TV shows and movies with some light novels I usually read.
"WELL, WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY, I WILL GRANT YOU A SECOND CHANCE TO BE REBORN IN ANOTHER WORLD OF YOUR CHOOSING WITH 5 WISHES AND SOME PERKS."
I remembered having read something about reincarnation like this in those light novels. Thinking about it, I became excited and said, "I wish to be reborn in The Originals as Niklaus Mikaelson."
"THAT CAN BE DONE. NOW TO YOUR WISHES."
I thought about what to wish for and decided I didn't want to be lonely at the top. I wanted my family strong too, but me still being the strongest. So I stated my wishes:
"First, I wish to be the first Tribrid, and Kol the first Heretic.
Second, I want 10× learning speed, while the rest of my siblings have 5× learning speed.
Third, I want us to be truly invincible — nothing can kill us.
Fourth, I want you to save Henrik after his death… or you could find a way to keep him alive. That's my wish. Can I keep the last wish for later?" I asked, not having another thing to wish for.
"YES. AS FOR YOUR THIRD WISH, THERE IS GOING TO BE A SLIGHT PROBLEM."
Before he could continue, I said, "Well, then only you can kill us, how about that?"
"YOU CHEEKY BRAT. ALRIGHT, BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ONLY ONE PERK."
I thought of the perk I would need, and if I could let the perk affect my siblings also.
"SINCE I'M GIVING ONLY ONE PERK, THEN I WILL ALLOW THAT."
"Great, then I want a perk that will increase our strength by five times every ten years."
"HMM. OK. FOR BESTING ME IN YOUR THIRD WISH AND CARING FOR YOUR SIBLINGS, AND NOT JUST OVERPOWERING YOURSELF, I WILL GRANT YOU AND THE MIKAELSONS A SYSTEM. BUT NOT YOUR TYPICAL SYSTEM — ONLY TO KEEP PROGRESS OF YOUR ABILITIES AND JUST TO SEE YOUR STATS. THERE WON'T BE MISSIONS OR REWARDS. YOU CAN ALSO MAKE YOUR WISH THROUGH THE SYSTEM, AND IT WILL BE ACTIVATED AFTER THE BROTHERHOOD ARC. FINALLY, I WILL PREPARE A SURPRISE FOR YOU. NOW GO. A NEW WORLD AWAITS YOU."
⸻
Elsewhere.
"Waaah, waaah, waaah." Cries of a baby sounded through the building. There was a woman holding a baby in her hands while looking at him with love. A man with dirty blond hair walked in and took the child from her and said, "This is a fine lad. I will name him Niklaus. He shall grow up to be a fine warrior."
The mother smiled and called her other children. "Finn, Elijah — come look at your younger brother."
Two young boys walked into the room, the older one being 9 and the younger one being 5.
Elijah: "Mother, what's his name?"
Esther: "Niklaus Mikaelson. What do you think, boys?"
Finn: "I like it."
Elijah: "Me too."
Mikael: "Alright boys, leave so that your mother and the lad can rest."
Finn and Elijah: "Yes, Father."
Unknown to them, Klaus understood everything they were saying.
Klaus: Damn it, I should have asked him to give me my memories when I was older. Now I have to relive my childhood all over again.
⸻
10 Years Later
A lot has happened in ten years. After the year I was birthed, Mother gave birth again — this time to twins. Kol, who came first, and then Rebekah minutes later. Fraternal twins, bound together by blood yet utterly different in spirit: Kol mischievous and reckless, Rebekah fiery and headstrong, though she never missed the chance to remind everyone she was the "baby," even if only by a few minutes.
And four years after, Henrik was born. I am now 10, Kol and Rebekah 9, little Henrik 4, Finn and Elijah 19 and 15 respectively.
Due to my wish, the Mikaelson children were hailed as geniuses in the settlement. But I didn't become a warrior because of the curse, and Mother did not allow me to join the raids despite offending Mikael.
Kol and I studied magic and spellcraft from our mother due to our talents. We learned everything she had to offer, shocking both her and Ayana. I could even see the gleam in her eyes when we showed our potential — which I deduced was her trying to use us to get back at the Spirits. But I wouldn't let that happen.
Elijah and I still had a rivalry because of Tatia, which annoyed me greatly. What did he even see in her anyway? Everything went as the show — Tatia finally chose Elijah, leaving me heartbroken, but I just moved on.
I tried to bring Finn and the rest closer so that we wouldn't be torn apart when we turned. I started practicing the immortality spell I stole from Ayana and made a copy of it. I wanted to boost the spell, granting us the elemental powers of blood and shadow exclusive to us Originals and our direct sire line.
Deep down, though, I felt the weight of something else stirring inside me. A strange pull, as though fate itself whispered of connections yet to come — women whose paths would cross mine, shaping me as much as I would shape them. Some would challenge me, some would tempt me, and some… would belong to me. I didn't yet know their names, but destiny did.
Now, I'm waiting for everything to kick off while we Mikaelsons sharpen our skills.
⸻
9 Years Later
I'm now 19, and Henrik is 13 — meaning the birth of the Originals is around the corner.
On a fateful night, I was resting in a tree looking at the full moon when I had a bad premonition. I knew it was today, the day that would mark the birth of the new Originals.