"Alright, forget him for now. Have you decided what to wear for tonight's ball?" Ron asked Bonnie. As for Damon, Ron had bound him up and even injected another dose of vervain so he wouldn't run.
"For the morning's vintage ball I'll wear period clothing," Bonnie answered.
"Fine. Do you want me to take you home first, or go straight to the ball?" Ron asked Bonnie in the passenger seat.
"Take me home. My outfit's there," Bonnie replied.
"No problem. Send me your location — I don't know where you live yet." Ron stomped the gas and they drove off; only then did he realize he'd never been to Bonnie's house.
By the time they arrived it was already late, so Ron waited while Bonnie changed, then drove her to the ball.
"How's this outfit?" Bonnie asked, dressed in a vintage dress.
"Sorry to be blunt, but that dress really doesn't suit you," Ron said, looking at Bonnie's hair and styling; something looked off.
"Hey—" Bonnie laughed and patted him.
"Honestly, it's sexy, but I'm not really into the vintage vibe. Maybe my taste is just a bit different," Ron explained.
"Alright, your excuse passes." Bonnie let it go, and soon the two entered the ball together.
"Hi Caroline," Bonnie called when she saw Caroline and walked over.
"Long time no see, Caroline," Ron thought it'd be rude to walk off, so he followed.
"Ron, Bonnie — you came?" Caroline looked at them with a hint of curiosity.
"I picked Bonnie up — I'll go grab some food first," Ron made an excuse and headed to the bar, getting some snacks and a bottle of wine.
"Hi Ron." A voice sounded behind him.
"I didn't expect you to dare come find me," Ron turned and saw Anna approach.
"I had no choice. I came for help," Anna said.
"Help? You know I don't like vampires. You should be thinking about how to escape, not asking me for help." Ron eyed her — he planned to capture Anna later to confirm how many vampires there were.
"Ron, I know you took Damon away. I don't care if he lives or dies. I've never killed anyone in Mystic Falls. I only want to rescue my mother who's locked in the cemetery. If you can accept Stefan, I thought maybe you'd be a good person to ask." Anna pleaded.
"Don't mention Stefan. I'm not planning to kill him, but my patience has limits," Ron waved his hand.
"And your friend Logan killed countless people. Why should I help you? With Logan's turning, you're no naive rabbit — don't play innocent here." Ron shot a glance at Anna.
"I admit Logan was an idiot, but I have no other choice. I had to come beg," Anna said earnestly.
"Wait — that guy Noah, right? He was the one with you last time?" Ron asked, just then Elena ran off answering a call, chased by a vampire.
"Damn Noah — he probably mistook Elena for Katherine and tried to hunt her," Anna said angrily.
"You coming?" Ron looked at Anna, and without waiting for an answer, accelerated after them.
They reached a classroom where Elena was about to be bitten. Ron accelerated and kicked Noah away — a normal person's strength isn't enough, but a good kick can make the most of it.
"Anna, hold him!" Noah shouted and tried to move toward Elena.
"Are you kidding?" Ron accelerated again and skewered Noah through the gut with a wooden stake — soaked overnight in vervain — leaving him immobilized by the pain.
"Elena." Stefan arrived and held Elena protectively.
"Anna, you betrayed me," Noah shouted, furious even while dying.
"You weren't listening to me. How many times did I tell you not to cause trouble?" Anna replied calmly.
"Noah's in your house. He must die," Stefan said, seeing Anna and recognizing her; he understood the situation. He reached to pull the stake out and finish Noah, but the vervain burned him and he let go.
"I'll do it," Ron decided to test whether killing a vampire would unlock another talisman. He didn't waste words and drove a stake into Noah, but the fifth talisman didn't light. A sliver of one did glow. He was disappointed — it seemed he'd have to kill more vampires to unlock more talismans.
"Alright, get to the point. There are twenty-seven vampires sealed in that cemetery. If that tomb is opened, it will be catastrophic for Mystic Falls. Give me a good reason," Ron said. Killing vampires was tempting — there were dozens sealed underground — but he couldn't take Anna's word at face value.
"I only want my mother. Once she's out we can leave Mystic Falls. As for the others, you can keep them sealed or kill them — I don't care," Anna said.
"You can't open the tomb," Elena objected.
"Ron, I know Anna. Don't trust her. If those 27 vampires were freed, we couldn't control them," Stefan warned.
"I thought you were like Damon, wanting to open the tomb since Katherine is inside," Ron teased.
"No. I won't let you or anyone open the tomb. The necklace's already destroyed; there's no way to open it now," Stefan said.
"There's another way. If we find a certain item, the witches can use it to open the tomb," Anna said evasively.
"Say it or don't. If you don't need my help, walk away," Ron said bluntly.
"Emily's grimoire. If we find Emily's spellbook, the witches can use it to reverse the seal," Anna quickly replied.
"Why do you need my help?" Ron asked.
"If you try to stop me, I can't open the tomb. You caught me before — that showed you're a decent person. I've come begging because I truly only want to get my mother out. She's been trapped for over a hundred years," Anna pleaded, voice breaking.