Chapter 1: The Three Snake-Leaves:
Grigori's POV:
It all started when I was in battle with a mighty warrior.
"You are a strong warrior, Mr. Howlett."
"I am the best at what I do," says Mr. Howlett.
It was a tough one, but I defeated him. Mr. Howlett and his fellow soldiers then retreated. He had an attitude, but I do respect him.
. . .
"Grigori, you have won the heart of my daughter," says Tsar Mazhulin.
"There is just one thing," says Grand Duchess Varushkina.
"What is it," I asked.
"You must agree to this demand," says Grand Duchess Varushkina, "if either of us were to die, the other must be buried alive with the former!" Everyone was shocked.
"Well... that was... unexpected," I said.
"It's madness!"
"Insanity!"
"Now, I'm sure my daughter does not mean what she says," says Tsar Mazhulin.
"Yes, I do," says Grand Duchess Varushkina, "so, what do you say?"
I then thought about it. "Alright," I said, "I'll agree to it."
. . .
And with that, Varushkina and I were wed, and I became Grand Duke.
. . .
I was getting used to my new surroundings. "Greetings, I am Grafov, your new servant."
"It's good to meet you, Grafov," I said, "let me ask you something... about what the Grand Duchess said..."
"I know it's a little bizarre... but maybe she just wants her husband to be with her at all times... or doesn't want to leave her husband if he passes away."
"I suppose..." I then see a snake and I reacted in terror.
"What was that," asks Grafov.
"I... don't care much for snakes," I said.
"I understand," says Grafov.
. . .
Then came the dark time. Varushkina became ill and then...
"There's nothing I can do," says the doctor.
"Prepare the crypt," I said, "for the both of us."
. . .
And with that, I was buried alive with my wife. It's not so bad... actually, it is. I was waiting to starve to death, but then I saw something slithering. It was a snake. I was too terrified to just let it take my life. After all, that is not how I plan to go! As the snake attacked me, I chopped it into three pieces, killing it. Then another snake came in and used three leaves to revive it. The two snakes then left. I looked at the leaves they left behind. "Could it..." I wondered. I took the leaves and used them to revive Varushkina.
"What happened," asks Varushkina.
"I'm afraid I found a loophole," I said.
. . .
The kingdom celebrated the Grand Duchess' revival, and everyone cheered.
To Be Continued
It's a part of The Ultimate Ben 10verse and later in the Ultimate Advanceverse. Ben Tennyson's Maternal Ancestor actually met and battle Wolverine. Grigori is also Mei Tennyson's Adoptive Maternal Ancestor. Grigori is the Future Father of Grand Duchess Odette. In the next chapter, we look at Fédora's story.