The Doppelgänger Mikaelson

The cold night air greeted them as they emerged onto the open field. The moon hung low in the sky, casting its pale glow across the grass. The Mikaelson siblings stood in a loose circle, their movements slow and tentative, as if testing their new bodies for the first time.

Niklaus was the first to break the silence, his lips curving into a wolfish grin. "This feels… incredible." He flexed his fingers, veins pulsing beneath his skin, the power humming through him almost audible. He turned his head sharply, a motion faster than he intended, and laughed softly. "I can hear everything," he said, his voice filled with awe. "The leaves brushing together, the animals scurrying in the distance—it's intoxicating."

Rebekah tilted her head, her long blonde hair catching the moonlight. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. "Even the air smells different," she murmured, her voice soft but laced with wonder. "Sharper, cleaner." She opened her eyes and glanced at her brothers. "It's as if the world has been unveiled."

Kol chuckled, stepping forward with his usual swagger. "Well, it's about time we became something interesting," he quipped, his dark eyes gleaming. He crouched low to the ground, running his hand over the grass before abruptly darting to a nearby tree with supernatural speed. His movements were fluid, almost predatory. "And the speed!" he exclaimed, slamming his hand into the tree trunk, the impact sending a loud crack echoing through the field. "Absolutely thrilling."

Elijah remained still, his posture erect, but his dark eyes were sharper than ever, studying his siblings' movements with a quiet intensity. "Our senses, our speed, our strength," he said, his voice calm but carrying the weight of realization, "these abilities come with a cost. We must learn to control them."

Henrik, the youngest, stood at the edge of the group, his small frame visibly tense. His wide eyes darted between his siblings, a mixture of awe and uncertainty on his youthful face. He wrung his hands nervously, his movements jerky and hesitant compared to the others. "Is this what we are now?" he asked softly, his voice tinged with fear. "Will we always feel like… like predators?"

Ivar's gaze flicked to Henrik, lingering for a moment. He clenched his fists, his expression hardening. "You'll grow into it," he said simply, though the sight of his little brother stirred something uneasy within him. He forced the thought aside and glanced down at his hands, flexing them experimentally. His green eyes gleamed under the moonlight as he murmured, "I need to test something."

The others turned to him, their expressions curious. Ivar took a step forward, his movements confident but tinged with impatience. His heightened senses were almost overwhelming, every sound and scent amplified to an unbearable degree. He felt invincible—but also strange, as though something in him had shifted beyond what even his siblings were experiencing.

A sudden notification flashed across his mind, halting him mid-step.

[Welcome to the Vampire System.]

His body stiffened, his green eyes narrowing in confusion. He blinked rapidly, the words still there, floating in his mind like a brand. "What the…" he muttered, his voice low but sharp enough to catch his siblings' attention.

"What is it?" Elijah asked, his brows furrowing as he studied Ivar's abrupt change in demeanor.

Ivar shook his head, his jaw clenching as he tried to focus. Another message followed, clearer this time:

[Congratulations to the host for becoming an Original Vampire. Due to being the aftereffects of an ancient spell cast by a powerful witch, the spell that created you has synchronized with your existence, making you immune to the weaknesses of your siblings. The white oak tree, while capable of killing your siblings, will have no effect on you. It can only put you to sleep. Your only weakness is the cure. Without that, you are invincible.]

The words lingered, each line sinking into his mind like a stone dropped into water. His expression darkened, his features tightening as he processed the implications.

Niklaus stepped closer, his sharp eyes scanning Ivar's face. "What's wrong with you?" he asked, his tone laced with suspicion. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Ivar glanced at him, his green eyes unreadable, before shifting his gaze to the others. "It's nothing," he said curtly, though his voice carried a weight that suggested otherwise.

Kol smirked, his arms crossed. "You're a terrible liar, brother," he teased, though there was an edge of curiosity in his tone. "Care to share with the class?"

"No," Ivar snapped, the word coming out harsher than intended. He sighed and ran a hand through his brown hair, the unfamiliar sensation of his new body only adding to his frustration. "It's… something I need to figure out."

Rebekah frowned, her blue eyes narrowing. "You're hiding something," she said, her voice soft but accusatory. "What is it?"

"I said it's nothing," Ivar repeated, his tone final. He turned away from them, his movements abrupt, and began to walk toward the edge of the field.

Elijah exchanged a glance with Niklaus, who shrugged, clearly annoyed but unwilling to press further.

Ivar clenched his fists as he moved farther from the group, the weight of the notification pressing down on him.

When Ivar was sure he was out of sight, the weight of his siblings' gazes no longer bearing down on him, he exhaled sharply, tension draining from his shoulders. The field stretched endlessly before him, a sea of moonlit grass rustling softly in the breeze. He stopped, turning his face skyward, the pale light casting sharp shadows across his angular features. His green eyes glinted, betraying the maelstrom within.

"How?" he whispered, his voice low and barely audible over the wind. "How are you here?"

The system's response came swiftly, its tone neutral yet oddly sentient.

[I am here to guide you through your transformation. Your existence is unique—an anomaly even among your siblings. Once you have mastered your abilities and achieved your goals, you may request my departure. Until then, I am here to serve.]

Ivar's jaw tightened as he processed the words. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, his posture rigid. The sensation of this newfound power still thrummed through him, a constant reminder of the shift he hadn't fully comprehended.

"So, you're… temporary?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion.

[Correct. My purpose is to provide clarity and assistance during this transitional phase. Once you no longer need me, I can be removed upon your request.]

Ivar's expression softened marginally, though his brows remained furrowed in thought. The idea of control—of being able to rid himself of the system—offered a small sense of relief. He nodded slowly, the sharp lines of his face easing into something more contemplative.

"Fine," he said, his tone calmer. "Show me my stats."

The system responded immediately, projecting an ethereal display in his mind. It glowed faintly, the text sharp and clear:

---

Name: Ivar Mikaelson

Race: Original Vampire (Anomaly)

Title: The Invincible Immortal

Bloodline Ability: Umbral Sanguis (0%)

Magical Abilities: Blood Magic, Shadow Magic, Psychic Magic, Expression Magic

Strengths: Immunity to White Oak, Enhanced Abilities, Heightened Awareness

Weakness: The Cure

Abilities:

1. Unmatched Regeneration

2. Supernatural Strength

3. Supernatural Speed and Agility

4. Mental Domination

5. Advanced Sensory Perception

6. Compulsion

7. Magic Immunity

---

Ivar's lips pressed into a thin line as he studied the information. His green eyes flickered with intrigue and frustration. "Invincible," he muttered under his breath, the word almost bitter. "No weaknesses… except one. The cure."

He laughed softly, the sound humorless and tinged with irony. "Of course, there's always a catch."

The breeze stirred the grass at his feet as he ran a hand through his brown hair, his fingers curling into the strands as if grounding himself. He could still feel the system's presence, an intangible weight at the edge of his consciousness, observing, waiting.

---

Meanwhile, back in the field, Niklaus paced like a caged animal, his movements sharp and restless. His eyes flicked toward the dark horizon where Ivar had disappeared, a low growl rumbling in his throat. "He's hiding something," he said, his tone clipped. "And I don't like it."

Elijah, ever composed, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his dark eyes fixed on the same spot. "Patience, Niklaus," he said evenly, though there was a faint tension in his jaw. "If there is something to reveal, Ivar will do so in his own time."

Kol smirked, leaning lazily against the trunk of a tree. He toyed with a blade of grass between his fingers, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, come now, Elijah. You can't tell me you're not the least bit curious about our dear brother's little secret."

Rebekah crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing as she stared into the distance. "Whatever it is," she said, her voice tight, "he should share it. We're in this together, aren't we?"

Henrik, standing slightly apart from the group, shifted nervously. His hands fidgeted at his sides, his wide eyes darting between his siblings. "Maybe he just needs time," he offered, his voice tentative. "We've all changed so much tonight. Maybe it's… overwhelming for him."

Rebekah's features softened as she glanced at Henrik, her posture relaxing slightly. She reached out, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You're too kind for your own good," she said gently, a small smile playing at her lips.

---

Farther away, Ivar stared at his hands, flexing his fingers slowly. He felt the strength in them, the unnatural energy coursing through his veins. The system's words echoed in his mind: Unmatched. Invincible. Anomaly.

"I'll figure this out," he murmured to himself, his green eyes burning with determination. "On my terms."

As he turned to rejoin his siblings, his movements were slower, more deliberate. There was no hesitation in his step now, only the certainty of someone who had glimpsed the edge of a vast, unknowable power—and intended to master it.