The Story of My Life

But what father wouldn't want to help their son, right? Mine, as it turns out. The gods of our village lived atop a high mountain. I brought Ash to the threshold beyond which mortals could not pass. There, I cried out to my father for the first time. Not for his love, but his help. But he never came. And so I took matters into my own hands, as I had my whole life. But Ash was not a god as I supposedly was. And that is how I learned my mother's story was true. [...] I claimed my birthright. Stole it, actually. [...] Do you know what separates men from gods? [...] Magic. Magic that I hoped would save Ash's life. But it was too late. By the time I returned with the fire this world would come to know as magic Ash was dead.

”

— Ben

The Story of My Life is the tenth episode of the fourth season of Legacies and the fifty-eighth episode of the series overall.

Summary[]

TEAMWORK — Cleo, MG and Jed work together on an unusual mission. Alaric, Landon, and Ted figure out what is next for them. Meanwhile, an unexpected source takes Hope by surprise. Also appearing Lizzie, Kaleb, and Ethan.^[2]

Plot[]

Professor Vardemus teaches a class at Whitmore College. The lecture covers one of the seven great wonders of the ancient world–the Great Pyramid of Giza. He poses the class a question about their purpose, whether to bury the kings of Egypt or if they're for some unknown higher purpose. Moreover, by whom were they constructed? A student mocks him, suggesting aliens. Though to think supernatural forces or alien life do not exist in some form or fashion is both shortsighted and deeply narcissistic and wonders if anyone believes. One of the students in the dark classroom stands, telling him she believes. Rupert recognizes the voice of Hope Mikaelson.

At the Salvatore School, MG, Jed, and Cleo convene a council meeting as leaders of their respective factions. The school is in disarray and they must decide what to do with their new guest, Ben. Though he doesn't pose a direct threat, yet, his presence is drawing monsters to him and could destabilize the school further. MG understands that he's a monster magnet and though he's usually for inclusion, they must look after their own before losing someone else. MG votes that he must go. Cleo, however, offers a counter. She may be able to find an inspired solution for what made Kaleb and Ethan attack Ben, but only if he remains at the school for her to study him. Cleo votes for him to stay. The tie breaking vote falls to Jed. He feels unqualified, but Cleo is quick to remind him that he's the alpha and that is the only qualification necessary. Jed understands both of their view points. He was the guy who used to punch new kids and distrust outsiders, however, he believes that the school is a better place for having Cleo. Before he can vote, he needs to talk to Ben and figure out if the risk is worth the reward.

Stuck in Limbo, Alaric, Landon, and the Necromancer are given a new riddle by the sphinx. "If you pray twice a day beneath a false face, you'll be as blue in the face as I am. Who am I?" As they attempt to decipher the riddle, they come up short. The Necromancer berates himself for allowing Alaric to talk him into giving up all their coins for this mumbo jumbo. This is now the second time the sphinx has betrayed him. Alaric reminds him that he was trying to bring about the end of the world the first time. Landon, however, believes the riddle is true, though perhaps not exactly how they expect it to be. While Landon attempts to promote teamwork to figure out the riddle, the Necromancer is too angry with Alaric and decides to take a nap.

Jed finds Ben in the memorial library slumped over on a desk. Believing him to be asleep, Jed rouses him to discover that he's been attacked and has several wooden quills sticking in his chest and neck, though he's not dead. Ben, gasping with each breath, tells Jed that the creature is still there. The creature appears behind him and attacks Jed with one of the quills stabbing him in the shoulder. Jed removes it and attempts to attack the monster, but it vanishes before them.

In Professor Vardemus' office, Hope brings him the sarcophagus. As he begins examining it, he's astounded. Hope questions if he knows what it is, but he doesn't, exactly. He explains that certain elements, the writing, for example, is not visible to the naked eye, but scrawled in blood in multiple languages, speaking of the gods; but the gods of a dozen different cultures and maybe more. Hope doesn't believe him, and he counters her point with that vampires don't exist, at least as far as most people are concerned. Myths are but one discovery away from becoming their reality. At first glance, he'd assumed it was a forgery, but based on his preliminary analysis points to the sarcophagus being ancient. Rupert questions why Hope has brought him the sarcophagus as opposed to Dr. Saltzman, but she only tells him that they had a fight and she's taking the semester off. As he performs a thermal sweep, he discovers a body within it and is surprised to learn from Hope that it's Lizzie. Rupert now knows something is wrong with Hope as she bares her true face to him, revealing her vampiric nature.

In Professor Vardemus' storage room of various artifacts, he's looking for something to help Hope, though she demands for him to hurry up. She has places to go and people to kill. She's tried everything to destroy the sarcophagus, and nothing has worked. Rupert suggests freeing Lizzie as she's a siphon witch and could easily siphon off any magic that protects it. She refuses too, explaining that she killed Lizzie and now she's technically in transition. She's placed her under a sleeping spell and waiting for her to starve and die. Rupert flips the conversation back to her, wondering how becoming a tribrid has made her so cruel. Threatening him again, she explains that her humanity is off. Having found what he's been searching for, he explains that the Pentelic marble should be able to absorb the sarcophagus' powers, as it was said to centuries ago in ancient Greece. He hands her a jar and she opens it. Their minds are transported into another world, a Chambre de Chasse. Angered, she threatens to kill Rupert. He retorts that should she get free, then hopefully he and Lizzie will be long gone and rushes out of one of the many doors, leaving Hope trapped.

At the school, students are rushing out the door, leaving MG confused as he confronts Cleo. She's inspired Finch to take the entire school on an impromptu field trip. She's been very depressed since Josie left, though she and the rest of the school remain unaware of the newest monster. The students will still be in danger but Cleo is adamant that they need an inspired solution. MG wants her to change her vote, believing that Hope's words were right about him and what it takes to be a leader. They've just not been pushed far enough to realize it yet. While Hope's humanity is off, that is their only advantage and she asks for his help in trapping the monster and trust that I will find a solution to return our friends.

Later, Cleo spells Jed and Ben behind a barrier spell that should keep the monster out of the library. After some time, Jed wants to hear Ben's story. Ben scoffs at the thought, as he's living it now and nothing has changed. Jed reiterates his words from the previous night, that monsters were the least of their problems. Monsters are nothing compared to gods. Jed wants to know more and Ben decides to tell him. The story dates back to the Caucasus Mountains 5,000 years ago. Ben explains that his mother used to tell him a story, many nights when he was a child. Their people loved the gods, but one more in particular. In his mother's case, he was living proof of that love, which explained his invincibility in battle. He fought to keep their village safe, but he had no use for the gods. They had never revealed themselves to him, nor did he ever ask anything of them. This is until the day that Ashur, his best friend and lover, fell ill. He realized that both of those things would need to happen for Ash to live.

Rupert races back to his office, away from Hope, discovering Jen in his office, admiring the sarcophagus. She explains that she loved his lecture and wants to talk more. With time against him, he warns her that if knowledge of the supernatural world is what she seeks, then she must help him to open the sarcophagus. Jen manages to open the sarcophagus, revealing Lizzie. Rupert believes himself too late, but Lizzie bursts awake and uses the sword in Rupert's hand to slice open his neck for her to drink from, completing her transition into a hybrid. Rupert falls to the floor, bleeding out. Lizzie's still hungry and vamps after Jen who attempts to run. Lizzie blocks her exit and attempts to compel her to remain in the room. Before she eats her, she plans to kill Hope first.

Hope remains trapped in the chambre de chasse. She tries a key labeled Klaus but to no avail. As she struggles, Lizzie appears to her, having entered the astral plane to taunt her. Unlike her first attempt, she's determined to kill her now. Since she's practically an expert on mental prisons by now, she gives her a hint. Getting out is always about getting to the root of your problems. Plucking a key that has Hope written on it, she can leave whenever she wants and explains that she'll give her a goodbye before she kills her. Hope doesn't believe that she can kill her, but Lizzie shows her a whittled stake that holds up her hair. It was a large Red Oak tree and she made more than one stake. Vamping to a door, she leaves the chambre de chasse as the keys fall and scatter to the floor.

Alaric and Landon continue to try and figure out the sphinx's riddle, though Alaric becomes frustrated and decides to give up. Landon attempts to rally him, as this is his plan. The Necromancer believes that Alaric is a gullible moron who's doomed them to remain in Limbo forever. Alaric, more or less, agrees with him and believes this is the fate he deserves. Landon empathizes with him, bouncing around from one foster home to the next. He believed that if no one ever wanted him to stay, then there was something wrong with him. That is until Rafael changed that for him. With the three of them here, their sins don't define them unless they let them. He promises them that they're just one good moment away from believing it. Attempting to join hands, the Necromancer is struck with inspiration. The hands and face of a clock. The riddle is referring to the clock tower in the Town Square.

Jed interjects Ben's story, putting himself into Ben's shoes, coming to the same outcome. Ben continues his life's story. After all, what father wouldn't want to help their son? Though Ben discovered that the hard way. The gods of their village lived atop a high mountain. He brought Ashur to the threshold beyond which mortals could not pass. There, he cried out to his father for the first time. Not for his love, but his help, but he never came. Ben took matters into his own hands. He left Ashur at the threshold and learned that his mother's story was true. Crossing the threshold, he claimed his birthright, or rather stole it. Ben asks Jed what separates man from God. Magic. Magic that he hoped would save Ashur's life. Though it was too late. By the time he returned with the fire that this world would come to know as magic Ashur was dead. Jed already knows what happens next. The gods cursed him, made monsters to hunt him down, but Ben corrected him. The gods didn't create monsters, he did. Out of spite, he gave the magic he stole to the village, believing that the people could help themselves instead of worshiping fickle, uncaring gods. He was foolish, however. Humans sought the same power and privilege the gods abused and they didn't want to stop worshiping the gods. In turn, they wanted to be them and in their lust for that power, monsters were born, along with many of the world's ills. For this, he was cursed to this day because he trusted them. Jed can't uncurse him, but he can offer him a place to stay and has his vote. Ben is grateful, but can't accept it. Ben turns to leave, but Jed tells him he can't because of the barrier spell. Ben, however, simply walks through it. The blood of a god flows through his veins. Magic cannot hold him. He bids Jed farewell and leaves the school.

Lizzie returns to Professor Vardemus' office. Jen believes that she's killed him. Lizzie bites into her wrist and feeds him some of her blood, completely healing him. Grabbing his throat, he thanks Lizzie, but assumes there's a reason for her saving his life. Lizzie needs his help because as much as she wants to kill Hope, she can't.

Back in the storage room, Lizzie demonstrates her attack on Hope, though each time she's forced to stop, never making contact with her. Professor Vardemus attempts to attack Hope, too, but Lizzie stops him. It's bad enough that she can't kill her, but now she assumes she's protecting her too. Rupert inquires exactly how she became a vampire, but in that moment, Hope is freed from the chambre de chasse.

Meanwhile, Cleo believes she's discovered an answer for Ben. Coming back to the library, she discovers he's gone. Ben explains that he's walked right through her barrier because he's a god. With a sample of his blood, she places it on a tuning fork, though it hums at a frequency that even Jed can't hear. Monsters can, though, and that's how they track him. If she can spell a solution to mute this frequency, then maybe she can free Ben from his curse. Jed also shows her that the quill he was attacked with is wooden, and MG is out looking for the monster.

Out in the woods by the Old Mill, MG stumbles upon Ben, mistaking his heartbeat for the creature. Ben recalls that he voted against him, but old habits die hard. The monster appears behind MG and attacks, but Ben throws his hand out, stopping one of the quills. The creature lunges forward and grabs Ben and they both vanish.

Lizzie is surprised that Hope escaped. Hope admits that her showing up with the hint was just the help she needed. Lizzie made herself her problem and all she needed to do was find the key with her name. Hope uses the motus spell to take the Red Oak stake from Lizzie's hand, but Lizzie casts incendia and incinerates the stake before Hope can use it against her. Professor Vardemus however believes that Lizzie will do anything Hope says and demonstrates his. Lizzie reveals that she used the blood of whatever vampire donated their blood to the school's first-aid kits. Unfortunately for her, it was Hope's blood, meaning she's sire bound to her.

Returning to Professor Vardemus' office, they discover that Jen and the sarcophagus are gone. As Hope and Lizzie continue to argue, Professor Vardemus reminds them that they cannot let an immensely powerful artifact that may have ties to the gods loose into the world. Hope vamps out to find the sarcophagus as she doesn't want it being used against herself. Lizzie agrees, as Hope used it against her. With Hope gone, Professor Vardemus questions if her emotions are heightened, too. He employs her, because she's a good person, to consider his thoughts. Hope is in a very dark place, and she's going after an innocent student.

Jed and Cleo arrive to find MG with Ben's severed forearm out in the woods. It's the story of his life. Jed believes he knows what his deal is. As Cleo warns MG about the monster, it attacks them, throwing them in all directions. They refuse to leave and Cleo clasps an enchanted bracelet around Ben's left arm as Jed attacks the creature. The creature reappears before them, but Cleo's spell works and the creature submits to them; free from attacking them, it becomes docile and friendly.

In the parking lot at Whitmore, Jen loads the sarcophagus in the back of a pickup truck. She questions why she's stealing the artifact and better yet why her locator spell wouldn't track her. Jen tells her it's a long story, but refuses to elaborate on the details. Hope demands answers and threatens violence. Jen tells her that she's a pacifist and doesn't really want to hurt her, but attacks first. Jen picks up the sarcophagus and slams it into her with excessive force and ease. Jen picks up a piece of the destroyed sarcophagus and plans to kill Hope, however Lizzie grabs her arm from behind and siphons from her, catching her off guard. Outnumbered, Jen decides to abandon the fight and flies off into the sky. Lizzie is confused, questioning what she is. Hope, hazarding a guess, believes she's a god.

Jed bandages Ben's arm, though it's reattached, it hasn't completely healed. Ben tells him that's the point of his curse. Jed already knows who he is; he's Prometheus from Greek mythology. Though he's excited about this revelation and the gods in general, from Ben's experience it's just bad. What he did was legendary, despite it not working out. As a result the gods punished him by chaining him to a rock so eagles could eat his liver and cursed him to heal by sunrise so he could feel that same pain again the next day. Forever. Ben is impressed, but some of the details of the myth are wrong and a gross oversimplification. For starters, Jed could never pronounce his real name, but he's come to prefer Ben. It's simple, like Jed, and he likes simple. Jed tells him he's his guy, but Ben can't stay. He sympathizes with Ben because, like him, he's cursed too and wakes up in chains once a month. Given his truth, Ben decides to give the school a shot.

Lizzie and Hope talk after their confrontation with Jen. Though Hope is happy the sarcophagus is destroyed, Aurora and the gods are still present. Despite their situation, she needs her help. Hope explains that as powerful as being the tribrid makes her, she has been waltzing into traps, being blindsided ever since she shut off my humanity. She cares so little about everything that she has been reckless. She wants Lizzie's help in taking down Aurora. Lizzie gives her request a hard pass, but Hope reminds her that she's sire-bonded to her. She can't pass. Lizzie attempts to talk her way out of it, but Hope won't hear it. Lizzie even mentions that her friends are going to come look for her as soon as they find out what happened. Hope, however, has her own solution to that problem.

Back at the Salvatore School, Cleo identifies the creature as a pukwudgie, a woodland sprite from Native American lore. They can be quite peaceful and playful, when not beholden to a curse. Given the creature's abilities, MG believes they have finally found out what Ethan's monster side is. With their monster problem solved, this means that both he and Kaleb can return to the school. MG admits that he was quick to judgment today, unlike her and Jed. He wants to be more like the leader she is, but Cleo admits that at every turn, she asks herself, what would the MG do? Lizzie appears behind MG and Cleo encourages him to hug her. He passes right through her, as she's not back at the school but astral projecting. They have a lot to catch up on.

Lizzie ends the astral projection, returning to her body and to Hope. She's mad at Hope for making her lie to MG, but as far as he's concerned, she's going to spend some time with her mom to get accustomed to being a vampire. Hope believes this could be the beginning of a beautiful, mutually beneficial relationship, but Lizzie doesn't think that. She believes it's a suicide mission against Aurora and there is nothing in this for her. Hope explains that once Aurora is dead, she will make her promise to not to kill her and then send her on her way; she'll be free-ish. Given their sire bound, Lizzie relents and admits that codependency is her crutch and decides to go along as if she has to help her kill anyone, Aurora's pretty high up on her list. Great. Together they set off.

Within the clock tower, Alaric, Landon and the Necromancer, make their way into an underground bar. Believing that the sphinx has never lied to them, someone here must know their way out of Limbo. At the bar they met a blue-faced man, a jinni. Alaric tells the jinni to hold the drinks as they're going to need three wishes instead.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Danielle Rose Russell as Hope Mikaelson
Aria Shahghasemi as Landon Kirby
Jenny Boyd as Lizzie Saltzman
Quincy Fouse as MG
Chris Lee as Kaleb (credit only)
Ben Levin as Jed Tien
Leo Howard as Ethan Machado (credit only)
Omono Okojie as Cleo Sowande
Matt Davis as Alaric Saltzman

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Bonnie Morgan as Pukwudgie

Trivia[]

Antagonists: Hope Mikaelson.
Ashur was portrayed by Caleb Krassner.
With a flashback taking place 5000 years ago, this episode features the earliest flashback in TVD universe. The previous record holder was An Eternity of Misery with flashbacks of Arcadius taking place around 4200 years ago.
Ben's village was located in the Caucasus Mountains, where the gods of his village lived atop a high mountain. It remains unknown what gods they worshipped, whether they are of Caucasian neopaganism or another religion. This highest mountain within the mountain range is Mount Elbrus in the western part of the Caucasus. In Greek mythology, the Titan Prometheus was chained to one of the mountains of the Caucasus (either Mount Elbrus or Mount Kazbek) as a punishment for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to mankind.
In the Jinni's bar, the "Drink of the Day" is Corpse Revival #2. This is similar to a Corpse Reviver, a family of cocktails drunk as a cure for hangovers with a "potency or characteristics to be able to revive even a dead person". Specifically, No. 2's primary alcohol is Gin, a play on the word "Jinn".
The Mystic Falls Founders Bell can been seen underneath the Clock Tower.

Body Count[]

Ashur (Flashback) - Unknown illness; died of natural causes

Continuity[]

Professor Vardemus was last seen in Life Was So Much Easier When I Only Cared About Myself.
A Jinni was seen in There's a World Where Your Dreams Came True.
Kaleb, Ethan, and Finch were mentioned. They were last seen in I Can't Be the One to Stop You.
Gorgons were mentioned. One was last seen in There's Always a Loophole.
The sphinx was mentioned. He was last seen in I Can't Be the One to Stop You.
Rafael was mentioned. He was last seen in We All Knew This Day Was Coming.
Caroline was indirectly mentioned. She was last seen in I Was Feeling Epic on The Vampire Diaries and When The Saints Go Marching In on The Originals.
Klaus' name was seen on a key. He was last seen in When The Saints Go Marching In on The Originals.

Locations[]

McKinley, Virginia
- Whitmore College
  - Professor Vardemus' Classroom
  - Professor Vardemus' Office
  - Professor Vardemus' Storage Room
  - Parking Lot
Mystic Falls, Virginia
- Salvatore Boarding School for the Young & Gifted
  - Classroom
  - Library
  - MG's Dorm Room
- Old Mill
- Woods
Limbo
- Mystic Falls, Virginia
  - Mystic Falls Cemetery
    - Salvatore Crypt
  - Town Square
    - Clock Tower
      - Underground Bar
Chambre de Chasse
- Hallway
Intersection of Asia and Europe
- The Caucasus Mountains (Flashback)
  - Ben's Villiage
    - Ben and Ashur's Hut
  - Mountain Top
    - Threshold of the Gods

Behind the Scenes[]

This episode's title was a line used by Ben.
The episode was originally scheduled to air on January 27, but was postponed to February 24 for unknown reasons.^[3]

Cultural References[]

Multimedia[]

Soundtrack[]

"Hide and Seek" – Klergy, Mindy Jones
"World" – Landing
"My Evil Mind" – Jack Cook