"The Return: Midnight" () begins after Damon has become a human and starts with him tricking Bonnie into giving him Misao's powerful Star-ball that can lead him back into the Dark Dimension. After Bonnie tries to thwart Damon they are both transported into the Dark Dimension where Damon works to become a vampire again. Meredith reveals herself as a Hunter-Slayer a skill that she inherited after Klaus attacked her family and turned her brother Cristian into a vampire. Shinichi and Misao attack the Salvatore Boarding House to try to retrieve Misao's star-ball however they are unsuccessful and Misao eventually dies after her star-ball is destroyed. Meredith realizes that Inari an old friend of theirs is secretly behind the attacks and is one of the oldest and most powerful beings in the universe. Matt, Meredith and Mrs. Flowers the owner of the Salvatore boarding house attempt to stop her while Damon who has newly returned to his vampire status joins up with Stefan, Bonnie and Elena to find the Seven Kitsune Treasures. After finding the Seven Kitsune Treasures Damon and Stefan kill Shinichi who is trying to stop them however a magic tree stakes Damon and he dies. After Elena destroys the Seven Treasures she goes to find the mystical Guardians who have the power to bring people back from the dead. She asks for her old life back in return for the remaining Kitsune Treasure however they are unable to bring Damon back to life. Elena returns to her old life only to find out that Inari was killed when the treasure was destroyed and that everything has returned to normal before Klaus, Katherine and Shinichi invaded Fell's Church.