Kashchei the Immortal

Spring has arrived in the land of Rus and a grand celebration is in progress. Marya Morevna awaits the return of her husband-to-be, the great warrior Nikita Kozhemyaka. One of the men flirts with her, jokingly asking her to be his bride. She poses three questions to him: 1) What is this ring I'm wearing? 2) Who is my intended? 3) Who should a brave warrior love above all things? Nikita, approaching his home and Marya, notices that great clouds of smoke are coming from the direction of the village. He finds it in ruins with flames still licking at the logs of the buildings. He finds Marya's headpiece on the ground. A small mushroom man appears and tells him that the evil Kashchei attacked the town. He should take the hat being offered and a handful of soil. Nikita head towards Kashchei's stronghold in the rocky mountains. En route, he rescues Bulat the Joker as a companion. Together they steal a magic carpet to fly them to Kashchei's stronghold. They sneak inside and witness Kashchei wake Marya from an enchanted sleep. He tries to talk her into marrying him. She refuses saying he has no heart. Angry, Kashchei reveals that his hear is hidden in a black apple on a black tree on a black hill. If someone splits the apple to release his heart, Marya will awaken and the person who did this will turn to stone. Nikita goes after Kashchei while Bulat heads for the apple. The handful of Rus soil lets Nikita conjure an army to back him. Bulat becomes a statue, but only temporarily as Kashchei's power is destroyed.