Along Unknown Paths

Mitya travels to Baba Yaga's hut in the forest to deliver a present from his grandmother. Baba Yaga greets him with curiosity and a hint of mischief. This meeting sets in motion a cascade of magical events that will pull the Tsarist kingdom into a broader adventure.

On the forest path, Likho, the one-eyed evil, makes Mitya stumble and fall. He picks himself up quickly and continues toward Baba Yaga's hut. The encounter foreshadows the dangers awaiting him.

Baba Yaga's swamp neighbor Kikimora arrives and they gaze into a magic dish that shows events in the Tsarist kingdom. The dish lets them observe the Tsar, his court, and looming trouble. Their surveillance hints at the stakes of Mitya's quest.

In the Tsar's Council, Tsar Makar learns of a magic ball sent by Vasilisa. Chumichka denies that any gift has arrived. The ball is found in the scribe's hat, triggering his expulsion for theft. The scribe vows to free Koschei.

The magic dish glows red as Koschei awakens from imprisonment, severing the link that watches over the realm. Baba Yaga and Mitya sense a dangerous power rising. The balance of power shifts as old protections crumble.

Mitya and Baba Yaga decide to warn the Tsar about the scribe's plan and set off toward the Tsar's kingdom on a magic stove. They discover they have no water supply after Mitya accidentally uses goat water in a bottle, turning drinkers into goats. They press on with the magical voyage despite the hiccup.

Back in the dungeon, the scribe frees Koschei and pours twelve buckets of water over him to restore strength. Koschei uses duplicitous speeches to win over the Tsar's servants and gains influence. He ultimately receives the Tsar's crown, while Tsar Makar is captured and Baba Yaga is thrown into prison.

Mitya retrieves the magic ball from Tsar Makar and sets off to seek wise Vasilisa. In her dwelling she grants him a cap of invisibility for his dangerous mission. With the cap, he can slip into the fortress unseen.

At the court, Koschei is bolstered by alliance with other notorious criminals: Likho, Nightingale the Robber, and the three-headed dragon. Their arrival signals a major escalation and a looming siege. The stage is set for a climactic confrontation.

Domovoy travels to the beach to locate Koschei's supposed death. He follows the old tale that Koschei's life is hidden inside a duck, which is inside a bear, which is inside a box on a tree. This revelation sets up the needle's eventual retrieval.

Using the cap of invisibility, Mitya slips into the fortress and begins to stir up discord among Koschei's guards to free Baba Yaga. He and the Tsar are eventually captured by the scribe Chumichka. The dragon is fed goat water, transforming into a goat.

A climactic chase unfolds on a bridge as Koschei faces Vasilisa's warriors. Mitya locates the needle, aided by scissors, and cuts the glowing head from the chain. With Koschei weakened, he is finally captured.

Mitya returns the recovered needle to Baba Yaga, who places it inside a pine needle and packs it into a wooden duck. The duck then transforms into a real duck, sealing Koschei's vulnerability.

Back at Vasilisa's side, Mitya teaches her to ride a bicycle, bringing a moment of playful normalcy. Baba Yaga explains to Kikimora why she dislikes endings of fairy tales, hinting that the magic will linger beyond this tale.