The King's Black Heart: Original Series

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 - The Crimson Ball Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Finale Pt. 1 Finale Pt. 2 The End

The March for Viros:(Ongoing)[MMA4A]

Part 1 Part 2

Context: Set directly after the events of “The King’s Black Heart”, you struggled between the boy you grew up with becoming a cold-hearted King and a rival Prince spiriting you away for himself. Through many trials and tribulations, you not only helped bring these two together but two entire kingdoms. You discovered your own heritage as a Virosian, dealt with your father who had come to kill you and the men you loved, and triumphed. Yet, now, it appears a letter from your home country has come with terrible news. News that will push you back to your home for the first time in decades. It's time to depart, no matter how nervous you are.

Setting: The Timeless Forest/Poripheon’s Cavern

Tags: [MMM4A][Established Poly Relationship][King Speakers][Virosian Warrior Speaker][Royal Listener][MANY Lore Drops][Fantasy][Prove Yourself][Confession/Betrayal][Healing][Battle][TW: Mentions of Death/Disabilities/Body Horror]

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[A] = Allistair, your grumpy snow elf husband [Y] = Yvan, your teasing Mer husband [M] = Mikel, a new enemy…or friend?

[Scene opens within the Timeless Forest]

[SFX: Wooden wheels crunching over snow]

[You look out upon the strange forest in the eerie quiet - something is wrong. Yvan seems to feel it too as Allistair snores next to you]

[Y] “...Can’t sleep either, my Pearl?”

[Pause.]

[Y] “No… I’ve had my hand on the hilt of my blade for the past hour. The deeper we venture into this forest, the more the scales on the back of my arm have stood up.”

[SFX: Icicles shifting]

[Pause…]

[Y] “Mmh, I’m not surprised Allistair hasn’t woken up. He’s not as attuned to magic as you and I are, I think. Were there a physical threat, he’d be up and at ‘em for sure - you know him. But, as far as his senses are concerned, everything is fine.”

[SFX: Fill with more snow crunching/the occasional call of a crow]

[Pause…]

[Y] “Do you know the story of this forest?”

[Pause?]

[Yvan leans forward, eyes flashing excitedly]

[Y] “This place was once called the ‘Timeless Forest’. Supposedly, many creatures and people were banished here by vampires that had lost their damned minds after consuming some dark Mistborn magic from another realm. It was ruled by a nameless horror simply called ‘The Lord of Lost’, hmhm. According to the rumors, time failed here because this monster kept rewriting the ‘stories’ of all around him… until he fell in love.”

[Pause???]

[Your husband shrugs, seeming pleased to have a distraction as well as a chance to show off]

[Y] “I’m not sure how… I suppose, if you write enough ‘love’ stories, perhaps you can learn for yourself what it means? Regardless, the forest was freed and the people ensnared revolted against the Vampire King, earning their freedom after centuries of slavery.”

[...]

[Y] “Oh, there are definitely remnants of that dark magic here… You can even see it in crystalline form just outside, see?”

[Pause?]

[Y] “Ooh, Allistair is going to be livid we messed up his schedule, but… Cabby! Stop the carriage, please!”

[SFX: The carriage lurching to a stop/Allistair sleep-grumbling]

[A] “Rglrlar?!”

[Y] “Easy, old boy, calm down. We won’t be a moment!”

[Allistair sits up fully with a yawn]

[A] “Won’t be a moment for what??”

[Y] “I was just going to take our Pearl to see the crystals left over by the War of the Wolf Queen! I can lend you my eyes if you want to-... Allistair?”

[Your oldest friend has gone rigid, practically shaking]

[A] “...I can see it. I can see them jutting from the trees and ground…”

[Y, confused] “But I haven’t even cast the spell yet…”

[Pause?]

[A] “... I-I… I can see the crystal… It is the same sickness that used to rage in me before that blessed water made me vomit most of it up…”

[...]

[Y] “...Cabby, let’s go ahead and keep moving. Allistair, do you need a soothing spell?”

[Pause?]

[Allistair rubs his temples, seeming disoriented]

[A] “They come in… so many different colors… Do the different colors mean anything, Yvan?”

[Y] “...I don’t know. I’ve only ever seen the black and white ones, not… not the other colors, though.”

[...Pause?]

[Y] “We… could take samples of them, yes… Juno may have answers, but if this is what Allistair felt poisoned him, then… It’d be a dangerous gambit. I wouldn’t feel comfortable sending our scholars to this place alone…”

[A, out of it] “...The red one is pretty.”

[Y, sort of out of it] “I’m quite fond of the blue…”

[Pause???]

[Y] “It just wants to make us better versions of ourselves, my Pearl.”

[Nope. Nope, nope, nope]

[Pause.]

[SFX: The carriage picking up speed]

[A & Y] “Aww…”

[Pause…?]

[A] “...The draw is strong… Like a drug that I miss coursing through my veins… Yet, it’s crying out for that red crystal as though they MUST pair together! I don’t understand it, this makes no sense-!”

[SFX: The carriage hitting a hole/tumbling through]

[Y] “Oh, BEANS-!”

[A] “HORSEFEATHERS!”

[Pause!!]

[SFX: A harsh crash and wood splintering apart]

[The carriage tumbles through the snow into a cavern just beneath, crashing to the stone beneath]

[...Pause?]

[A, with a groan] “Still alive.”

[Y] “Still alive… Mikel, hold still, I can heal you…”

[Pause??]

[Y] “He’s fine, love, just got scratched up a bit by the stone and crystal.”

[...Pause?]

[A, hesitant] “...What color crystal did he hit?”

[Mikel the Cabby lets out a wild, rabid laugh from the ground, his body twitching violently on the ground]

[Y] “...Mikel, love, you OK down there?”

[Mikel continues to cackle as his body thrashes and writhes]

[M] “Hehehehe… Welcome to Viros!”

[A] “Form up!”

[You grab Yvan back and form up with Allistair, protecting them both. Mikel continues to transform, laughing through every moment of what sounds like absolute agony]

[M] Let it all turn RED!”

[SFX: Bones snapping/Mikel’s body transforming]

[Y, bemused] “Oh, that’s a bit foul…”

[A] “Eyes, Yvan! If you please!”

[Y] “R-Right…!”

[SFX: The spell being cast - water-themed/ chimes and wind]

[Yvan casts the spell as you raise your blade alongside Allistair. The moment he can ‘see’ again, his posture changes to a practiced, intimidating ease]

[A] “Hmph. Tis a test of strength and valor, no doubt. Sounds about right for Viros…”

[Y] “Should we be concerned that the man is, um, somewhat mutating into a giant with four arms?”

[SFX: Mikel laughing gleefully]

[A, coldly] “The only concern I have is finding a place to bury the dog-heeled cur!”

[Y, taking out a journal and scribbling a note:] “Note… to… self… Avoid the orange crystals.”

[M, giggling] “The orange ones are unfortunate to be taken by, it’s true… They wish to ‘help’. They seek to ‘improve’ biology. But magic doesn’t understand that pain exists nor that a Virosian wife might not fancy this look… Oh well!”

[Pause…]

[M] “Oh, I very much DO think it needs to be this way, your Highness…”

[Y] “Sorry, so, you just grew extra limbs and laughed through the pain???”

[A] “Yvan…”

[Y] “...I don’t think I want to play games with you. That seems like cheating. Also, I invited you to dinner, Mikel! Very disappointed in this turncoat behavior!”

[A] “Yvan!!”

[M, cackling] “Face me, for I am your first test! Prove to me you are worthy to face Veiss!”

[Pause???]

[A] “Who the Hell is Veiss?!”

[Mikel cocks his head, that mad smile still cut into his mutilated face]

[M] “Your older brother, Highness… The true Virosian King! Now, raise your blade and FACE ME!”

[...]

[A] “My love, focus!”

[P-Pause!]

[His demand echoes throughout the cavern. Every crystal, no matter the placement or color, resonates with a tiny song]

[A] “Prepare yourselves… To arms!”

[Y, with a wince] “Poor phrasing, dearest husband… How about we just kick his ass, hm? My Pearl?”

[Pause.]

[The three of you stand together, ready to, well… kick his ass]

[To be continued]

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Chapter 4]

[Scene opens within a crystalline cavern]

[You and your husbands stare down the aggressor before you… though you really wish you didn’t have to]

[A] “...I know you two are pitying this poor wretch. I can feel your hearts bleeding for him, but the most merciful thing we can do for him is put him down.”

[Y, unsure] “He mentioned having a family, Allistair…”

[Pause…]

[A, sympathetic] “He volunteered his honor on this mission. As far as we know, there is no way to fix this mutation, and he’s in agony…”

[Y] “It doesn’t feel right…”

[Pause…?]

[A] “No, the black crystal or… its equivalent is what made me aggressive in the first place!”

[Y] “So, does the white crystal make you… Docile?”

[Pause???]

[A] “Love, you’re confusing both of us - the black ones are aggressive, the orange ones are… ‘helpful’, we don’t know what the other-”.

[Y] “Now, hold on, Allistair, if we’re taking into account the theory of Balance from the Althoda Scriptures-”.

[A, annoyed] “What the fuck are you talking about?! We’re fighting, not debating the color theory of evil crystals!”

[Y, equally annoyed] “You’re just mad that the drapes I picked out looked better than the mauve ones YOU picked out!”

[Pause???]

[M, confused] “What? No, the black crystals are balance. The white is healing. The red is the aggressor! Are you stupid??? Are all of you insane?!”

[You offer him a wicked smirk and it registers a little too late]

[M] “...Wait-.”

[A] “You heard the abomination! Stab the Hells out of him with the white crystal!”

[SFX: Crystal shattering and being collected]

[You bring your blade down on a nearby cluster of white crystal and grab some, your men following suit]

[M] “Hey!!!”

[A] “Shut up and take your medicine, you tangerine-colored fool!”

[SFX: Allistair clashing with Mikel - blade versus mutated arms]

[Y] “And there he goes, throwing hands in septuplets! I need to maintain his vision, my love, but if you can guard me, then I can quickly channel a healing spell through the crystal. If it’s like my magic, then it should cure the idiot of his affliction!”

[Pause!]

[A] “I hear you, love! Tap in!”

[SFX: Them trading places/ the Listener fighting Mikel(Note: a fight with this guy would sound very Resident Evil VIII-esque. I refuse to apologize)]

[You step in with Mikel and give Allistair an out. His body continues to peel and transform in unfortunate ways]

[Pause!]

[M] “You are WEAK! Do not waste your words on me!”

[PAUSE!!!]

[He grunts as you force him back]

[M] “...It does not matter that I am at a disadvantage… I am a warrior, and I fight when I need to, no matter the circumstances!”

[Pause.]

[He pauses, confused]

[M] “...You would… fight me again when I am better…? But that would put you at an immense disadvantage…”

[Pause…]

[He looks at you uncertainly, eyes full of pain]

[M] “...Such mercy is unheard of in Viros… But Veiss would agree with your logic. Our battle is tainted by circumstance…”

[Pause…?]

[You offer your hand to shake. He looks to it and back to you before he shakes it]

[M] “...My thanks, your Highness…Betray me and I will make certain your ribcage becomes a meal for the buzzards.”

[Pause~]

[Y] “Cooled him off, my Pearl?”

[Pause!]

[Y, with a giggle] “Amazing what a few years of parenting will do for someone, hm? Any hits, Allistair?”

[A] “No.”

[Pause]

[A, smiling proudly] “Hmhm, thank you. If you hadn’t complimented my fighting skills, I would’ve been grouchy all morning.”

[Y] “Aye, well… Mikel, I have the spell ready… Are you-?”

[SFX: Bone snapping]

[M, grimacing] “Aye. Better now than later, Mer.”

[SFX: More chimes - the spell being cast]

[Y] “Right, no pressure… Nukonin vos’tra.”

[M, frowning] “The fuck did you just say to-?”

[He yelps as white light fills the cavern, washing over all of you. You are blinded briefly but can feel every sore muscle, every cut, and every bruise heal almost immediately]

[Pause!]

[A] “OW! YVAN, MY EYES!”

[Y, confused] “Your…?”

[Allistair pauses as the light fades away and lowers his arm from his face. He hesitates before reaching up to the blindfold and tugging it away]

[...]

[Y] “Allistair… Your eyes!”

[A] “I… I can see again…! My eyes-!”

[Y] “AND YOUR ARM!!!!”

[A] “HOLY SHIT AND MY ARM!!!”

[They grab each other in a hug and dance around, laughing happily. You watch in amazement and look at Mikel]

[M] “...Aye, the Mistborn magic is that powerful… At least, in the right hands it is… Didn’t know the Mer were that strong.”

[Y] “Both of my partners here are juggernauts of strength, my friend. Someone has to be the Cleric, you know?”

[M, confused] “...No. Regardless… I thank you for healing me.”

[A, stern] “Do you intend on fighting my Orchard now?”

[Pause?]

[M] “My muscles are screaming in agony, and I will need them to pass through the Sapphirn Straight here in the caverns. As will you… I would advise gorging yourselves with food now and taking none with you. The beasts within have strong senses of smell but are totally blind, including…Him.”

[A] “I hate when people talk in vagueries. Who is ‘Him’?”

[Y] “It’s true. He once dubbed a Fae prince ‘Vaguey McBagey’ because the poor creature had a love of bagels and spoke in riddles. Annoyed the man so much that he actually started giving blunt answers.”

[A, smirking] “I still send him holiday cards under that name.”

[Pause]

[Allistair rolls his beautiful eyes and seems surprised he can do so]

[A] “Yes, yes, I know he cursed me. I’m not sorry, still. Now, if we may focus, what in the Seven Hells is ‘Him’.”

[M] “He swims in the Veins of the Ice Father. A sea serpent that could swallow ships effortlessly. One must walk the veins quietly and in total alertness, yet calm, or he will belch boiling water and cleanse you from the veins into the pitch black of Rasat.”

[Y] “...Do you mean Rasan?”

[M, staring Yvan down] “No. I mean the father of Rasan. The End.”

[...Pause?]

[Y, breathless] “...No, I’m not alright… If he is telling the truth, then this ‘Him’ is a primordial son of Rasat, the world-ender. The right hand to the Drowned Prince’s left. He speaks of Poripheon.”

[SFX: A distant but powerful roar/the cavern rumbling]

[Yvan quickly darts to your side, shaking violently]

[Pause…?]

[A] “Yvan…?”

[Y] “P…Please, I… Don’t let that happen to me… Please? You won’t leave me to it, right? Right?!”

[You and Allistair exchange looks and you put an arm around Yvan]

[Pause <3]

[A] “See? Orchard is right. We won’t let anything happen to our short, mouthy husband.”

[Y, annoyed] “I’m 5’11”, damnit!”

[A] “And I’m 6’ 7”, dear boy. Everyone is short compared to me, unfortunately. Except for Muffin. Muffin is a bear, though.”

[M] “Are you coming or not?”

[...Pause]

[A] “You heard their Highness. C’mon, Yvan. We have you.”

[SFX: Fade out on them packing up what they can/the faint roaring echoing throughout the cavern]

[To be continued…]

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Chapter 5]

[Scene opens within the crystalline cavern]

[You traverse carefully with your husbands and somewhat sort of new friend Mikel]

[M] “I stay at the head, no matter what. Keep your torches or floating orbs with you at all times and, for the love of the Gods, do not scream if you see him beneath.”

[A] “Aye.”

[Pause]

[Y] “I hate this so much.”

[A] “You’re getting a piggyback ride out of it, Yvan. It’s something, surely?”

[Y] “I do love feeling our partner’s muscles… but the giant sea monster is giving my usual flirtatious nature some very mixed feelings.”

[A, with a snort] “Oh?”

[Y] “I just feel like an Old God would probably be unimpressed with two people smooching in his home. Maybe three. Hells, maybe four-”.

[M, flustered] “Stop that!”

[Y] “I flirt when I’m nervous!”

[Pause.]

[A] “They’re right. We need to move before the cold completely overwhelms us. I’m a snow elf, but the three of you aren’t and could freeze to death.”

[Y] “Is that why you took your cloak and shirt off and are walking around bare-chested?”

[A] “I’m used to having one sleeve pinned up, Yvan… And not having to worry about obscured vision. This feels… incredible.”

[Pause <3]

[A] “No flirting from you either, Orchard. But, ah… I’m not surprised my imagination did you such a disservice, no matter how beautiful I remembered you.”

[M, annoyed] “Stop flirting. We move or we freeze.”

[Pause…]

[SFX: The four walking the stone/crystalline cavern for a [Pause] of the VA’s discretion]

[Y] “So, ah, Mikel… You must know what the different crystal colors mean, yes?”

[M] “Yes.”

[Y, whipping out his notebook] “Do tell?”

[M] “No.”

[Yvan puts his notebook away with a sigh]

[Y] “Well… At least we know what the orange one does, hm? I bet it’s the absolute worst one.”

[M, scoffing] “The void crystal is the worst one… Followed closely by the red… I’ve seen one person of the Void, and She defeated Rasat… and punched the Sun in the face, apparently. Punched him so hard he developed conscious thought.”

[A] “Pardon?”

[Mikel throws his hands up in frustration]

[M] “I don’t know, it’s all old stories! Supposedly, She and Rasat battled at the beginning of the universe, she knocked into the Sun, and he woke up and was pretty stressed that he kept accidentally killing things and had no control over it for millions of years. Or… so the story goes. And from her, the Mistborn sons were born, the Wolf Queen war took place, and so on. Who knows? I’m not a historian.”

[A] “So… These crystals are Mistborn?”

[M] “So I’m told… The void is like a black opal, all colors at once, yet none. The red is the mark of the berserker. Virosian warriors are drawn to it.”

[You watch Allistair deflate somewhat and take his hand]

[Pause <3]

[A] “...So it is the color that brutes select…”

[M] “Berserkers.”

[Y, gentle] “Allistair, you’re not a brute just because the red crystal called to you. The blue called to me, that might make me the worst person ever!”

[M] “That is the mind crystal. Scholars and wizards benefit from it.”

[Y, annoyed] “Mikel, I’m trying to comfort my large, sad husband.”

[Pause…]

[M] “Why? To feel the ferocity of a Virosian warrior and still maintain control over it, even when you are sick and unpaired to the red crystal, is impressive.”

[A, heartbroken] “It made me a monster…”

[Pause…]

[A] “I… I know you trust me. I know we’ve all worked hard, but…”

[SFX: A faint rumble/underwater howl]

[Y] “OK! Maybe we save the healing for AFTER we are out of Poripheon’s territory, hmm? Chop chop, tall boy, let’s go!”

[SFX: Them hurrying along/ice cracking and a massive underwater presence]

[You follow Mikel through the narrow tunnels in near pitch black. Every now and again, the caverns shake as the stone floor beneath you turns to thick, smoking ice]

[A] “Gods above… Look at how it lights up…”

[M] “The light passing through the crystals will guide us. Do not look down.”

[Y] “Why would we not-ibrlaroarouhghhh no…”

[Pause?]

[You glance down and your heart nearly repeats Yvan’s noise. A massive eye stares up at you through the ice, pupils strung together like starlights]

[A] “...I assume that is Poripheon staring at us through the ice?”

[M] “Aye… That fact that he is already interested means something, or someone has piqued his curiosity…”

[Pause…]

[Y] “Oh, I’m going to throw up. I’m going to evacuate my organs in raw terror, WHY must it be the size of a damned city???”

[...]

[You look at the beast with an eerie but natural calm. He looks back before pulling back and vanishing with unnatural speed beneath the frozen waters]

[M] “...An interesting omen.”

[Pause?]

[SFX: The group proceeding over the ice/Poripheon occasionally being a lil stinker and swimming underneath]

[A] “How so, Mikel?”

[M] “An Old God acting playful… It typically means it is interested in how something will play out. Like the Grim Reaper who got to see a different ending to a sad story… This surely means that the road before you will be one of immense turbulence.”

[...]

[Y, sarcastic] “Yaaaaay.”

[M, cross] “Be thankful, Mer. He is letting us pass in peace. However, we will still need to get over his ice bridge. If he catches us moving slowly or clumsily there, then we are easy prey for a hungry God.”

[...]

[Y, even more sarcastic] “Wonderful. Let me just grease up my stomach and I’ll mimic a penguin.”

[A] “...I can do it. If I get you, our Orchard under one arm and Mikel under the other, then I can sprint across on the ice without losing my balance.”

[Pause???]

[A] “Snow Elf, love. It comes with some perks. Now… Will you comply, Mikel?”

[M] “...I guess I need to unless I want to meet the bottom of the sea… Very well. Follow me, this way. Let us not drag on his nerves by dawdling.”

[Pause - VA’s discretion]

[Mikel leads you through the caverns until you come out the other side an hour or so later]

[SFX: Water pouring off of a large figure]

[A] “Finally, we’re out of the-...Shit.”

[Y] “...Mikel, why is Poripheon towering there, staring at us?!”

[M, confused] “I… I am not sure…”

[You stand before Poripheon and he towers before you]

[...]

[M, quietly] “He is judging you… He must sense the royal blood in your veins.”

[SFX: The crystalline chimes overlapping and contemplating]

[Pause.]

[You bow to the Old God - You wish it no ill will nor do you feel the need to prove yourself against an immovable foe]

[Y] “Sweetie, I love you, but maybe bowing isn’t-”.

[SFX: Poripheon rumbling and diving beneath the cold waters]

[M] “...He is allowing us to pass. We should not dawdle… He is not a patient creature.”

[SFX: Them hurrying across the ice bridge]

[Allistair holds you all steadily, easily able to dart across the ice before you come to a stop before a giant, pointed gate of black ice]

[A] “Here! And now we are blocked by another gate? This one of black ice? What is the damned trial this time, Mikel?!”

[SFX: The gate beginning to rumble open]

[You all jump as the gate begins to open on its own. Mikel smiles at all of you, pride in every line of his face]

[M] “There is none. Welcome… to Viros.”

[To be continued]

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: screeches in finally making progress