The Boy King's Journey in TVD/TO As A Mikaelson

It felt like an earthquake. The Viking village where the Mikaelsons lived was peaceful until the star of dawn rose, and he appeared.

The stillness of the early morning air shattered with the arrival of the man who was said to embody death itself. He was even more majestic than before, his presence as consuming as a wildfire.

The earth seemed to tremble beneath the deliberate, heavy steps of his mighty steed, the Black King. The beast's dark mane whipped like a banner of chaos, its fiery eyes a reflection of its master's unrelenting spirit.

As he arrived, he from above looked down at her with those dark eyes, blazing with desire and pride. They seemed to burn straight into her soul, leaving her bare, vulnerable, and utterly captivated. Pride and power radiated off him, engulfing her in the same way they had that night so long ago...

She had just recently arrived in this village after her own was conquered by... him.

The memories of that day were seared into her mind like scars. She should be angry -- no, furious. He had killed them all. He had slain so many of their warriors who had dared to stand against him, painting the earth red with their blood. She had seen him amidst the chaos, drenched in the crimson life of her people, his expression unreadable yet unyielding.

When asked what he wanted, why he had committed such slaughter, his words had echoed like the toll of a bell over the silence of the dead.

"Only by death can a true warrior be defeated. Only by death is a true victor crowned. What I did to your warriors was a gift, the gift of the embrace of death. They are now truly kings among men.

They faced death with courage. The same cannot be said about me. I have yet to look death in the face and still charge forward. I am still deprived of a worthy opponent."

As he said these words, his voice dropped into something heavier, darker -- a note of sorrow that betrayed a side of him she could not comprehend. He looked... sad. Longing. It was an emotion that didn't belong on the face of a monster.

She knew it was wrong, yet her heart ached in response to that flicker of vulnerability, even as he turned his back on them and rode away, his warriors following like wolves in his shadow.

He had no interest in their food or their women; all he desired was to face an opponent worthy of his best for the first time in his life. Yet once again, it seemed, he had failed.

The village, broken and battered, stood at a crossroads. Their warriors were dead. Their defenses shattered. They had no way to fend off raiders or rivals who would come for their food, their land, their daughters. Swallowing their pride, they approached him. Though he had taken so much from them, they asked to follow him, to serve him.

The elders cursed his name even as they bowed before him, but survival overruled vengeance.

And so, she found herself here, living among the people who once followed her, now turned to him. It was his kingdom now.

She wanted to hate him. She wanted to feel the rage and fury that her aunt wore like armor. But every time she tried, she saw those sorrow-filled eyes -- those eyes that longed not for glory, but challenge.

To support herself in this new life, she took up the same work she had done in her old village: knitting clothes for the warriors. She worked with silent diligence, her hands busy, but her thoughts never far from him.

There he was again, leaning against the mighty white oak tree at the village's heart. His posture was casual, almost lazy, but there was nothing relaxed about him. His sharp gaze swept over the horizon, yet she sensed he wasn't watching for threats. No, he was lost in thought, a mind so deep she could not fathom it.

What haunted him? What drove him to such violence, to such longing?

Unbeknownst to her, a young warrior watched her watching him. Bjorn, hot-blooded and reckless, was captivated by her beauty but seethed with jealousy. Her attention was wholly fixed on Vali, the man they called Mjolnir for his unrelenting might.

Bjorn's hand gripped the hilt of his sword as anger consumed him. He could not bear her gaze lingering on the man he despised. In a moment of blind fury, he stood and approached the mighty warrior. Drawing his blade, he extended it toward him.

"Mighty Mjolnir, I challenge you for your place as head of the warriors, as you did long ago against your own father!"

A hush fell over the crowd. Even the air seemed to still as everyone waited for Vali's reaction.

Vali's eyes opened, cold as the icy fjords. "Bjorn, you dare challenge me to a Holmgang?" His voice was laced with frost, each word a dagger of ice that sent shivers through all who heard it.

Bjorn faltered, his confidence wavering. But when he saw where Vali's gaze had shifted -- to Tatia, standing silent among the crowd -- his fury reignited.

"I dare! And I dare even more! When I win, I will have your head!"

Vali stood, his towering frame casting a long shadow over the younger warrior. He leaned down, bringing his neck close to the tip of Bjorn's blade. The faint scent of iron filled the air as blood beaded from a shallow cut. A slow, menacing smirk spread across his face.

"Very well. I accept. But when I win, I will rip out your heart."

Bjorn's lips tightened, and he nodded, his pride outweighing his sense.

The crowd shifted toward the center of the village, murmurs spreading as they prepared for the duel.

"Bjorn! You can still back out! Don't be a fool!"

"Shut up Ame! I am a warrior, and I have my pride! How dare you even suggest I bring dishonor upon myself and our family!"

Ame gritted his teeth, and clenched his fists until they bled. His brother was a fool, how could he not see that he was a lamb going to the slaughter?

As Vali and Bjorn were given the signal, Bjorn drew his sword and began to circle Vali, but as he did, the Mikaelson did not even move to draw his own.

"What are you doing? Where is your weapon?" Bjorn asked,

Vali ignored him, his gaze focused on one person, who intrigued him greatly,

Bjorn was greatly angered by this, how dare he mock him? How dare he ignore him, and look at the woman he desired?

"I asked you, where is your weapon Mjolnir! I will not fight a man unarmed!" Bjorn yelled, everyone tense, curious to see what Vali would do, though Mikael his father, who already has lost years ago to his son, was only bored. How long was his son going to play with his food?

If it was him there he would've already put the fool out of his misery.

Vali for the first time since the battle began, looked directly Bjorn in the eyes, and said with a smirk on his face "What are you waiting for? Your move, your chance at the best is right in front of you."

Bjorn angered clenched the hilt of his blade, "Suit yourself! But when you are dead, do not complain in Valhalla, that I was unfair to you!" And charged forward.

"Fool," Vali whispered, as he ducked, and with a sweeping kick, bent Bjorn's leg, and made him roar in agony.

As Bjorn was falling over, the Mikaelson with inhuman speed rose up and broke his fall, gripping his neck, "Little Bjorn, little warrior, little fool, little boll weevil who delights in making noise and pretending he is important and dangerous. You really thought you could defeat me? You really thought you could take my place?" Vali stated as he viciously strengthened his grip around Bjorn's neck, who continued to choke.

Ame who saw this could see his brother's death was near, and couldn't bear the thought of it, against all he's learned about honor, he draws his sword, and with a roar charges toward Vali.

Everyone too shocked to react, couldn't stop him, though as his sword drew near the mighty Mjolnir, he with one hand caught it, and broke it.

Everyone, even Mikael was baffled, Vali just broke a sword with his bare hands. Many had already seen him sweep through the battlefield with inhuman might, yet none was ever truly close enough to witness his absurdity.

And so, without even giving another moment to Ame, to contemplate the foolishness he's just committed, Vali grips him by the neck, and with a mighty clench, breaks it, while Bjorn, could only choke, and watch.

"Little Bjorn, do you see now what your arrogance has caused you? Not only your own death, but your older brother's as well," Vali stated, as he with inhuman strength punched into Bjorn's chest, and gripped his heart, while Bjorn's eyes could only widen as he tried to scream in agony.

"Remember what I promised?" Vali asked as he tightened his grip and then ripped it out, for all to see. The women, save Tatia turned away from the brutal sight, while the warrior's were shocked at the strength of the head of warriors.

As Bjorn was dying, the monster left him a few parting words, "Your arrogance brought upon this fate, this path was of your own choosing. Take that knowledge with you to Hel," and he crushed his heart, in front of his eyes.

He let Bjorn's heartless corpse fall to the ground, as he then turned his gaze to Tatia once more, with her gripping her own arms, and shivering, at those eyes, that stripped her bare to her very bones.

As she did, a glint appeared in them causing Vali to smirk as leaned down, cleaning his bloodied hand with Bjorn's clothing, walking away.

He found something truly interesting...

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-Later that night

As Tatia heard, knocking on her door, she immediately ran and brought out a knife, which she hid behind her back, as she then through a small hole in the door, looked through to see who it was visiting her this late at night.

And when she saw him, she opened the door.

As she did, he leaned against the door frame, and looked at her with curiosity, "Why did you open the door?" he asked her. Why let him, a man, into her home, this late at night.

"There was no point in not doing so, Lord Vali, if you truly want to come in, a measly door could not stop you, especially not after what I saw you do today. It would only make things more difficult for me afterward if I have to replace the door."

She saw him smirk, "Smart, woman, now will you invite me in?" he asked, and she did, but still held the knife hidden behind her back.

Yes, he had inhuman strength, but she doubted he would not die from a knife to the heart, he is still but a man, not a god.

"Why have you come here, my Lord?" She asked him, keeping her tone steady, not wishing to be lost in those intense eyes of his.

He remained silent for a moment, until he approached, her even more, till her back was against the wall, she didn't wait for a second longer as she attacked him with the knife, and stabbed it in his chest, but as she did, the knife broke.

And she stood there agape, "H- How is that possible? Y- You are a man, not a- a god..."

Vali gently cupped her chin and raised her eyes to meet his, "Indeed, I am not a god, I do not believe in the existence of the gods." He refused to worship creatures below him.

"But, I have been called many times, a demon, or a devil, maybe that is what I am. But I am not here to discuss my existence, Tatia Petrova," the monster said.

"Then what are you here for, monster?" She responded, with defiance in her eyes, and it only made the monster's grin widen.

"I have come to collect you," He told her.

"From the first look I could see it, you and I are the same. You love the sight of blood, you have violence in your soul," He said, with a monstrous smile on his face,

She looked away, "No, thats-"

But Vali, forced her gaze towards him, "Don't deny it, I could see it in your eyes when I ripped Bjorn's heart out. You try to act like an innocent flower in a garden, but are a thorny rose, that loves seeing men die for you."

She couldn't deny it, angering her ever the more. How dare he judge her? How dare he do this to her? She with all her rage kissed him, pouring all her frustration, lust, and hatred towards him into it.

Vali, smirked inside the kiss, as he and her tongue battled for dominance.

He wrapped his arm around her, and brought her closer, as she gripped his clothes, digging her nails into his back, trying to pierce his skin, but he could only laugh.

He dragged her, to her bed, and threw her on it. As she slightly got back up, she glared at him, but then stood agape, as Vali ripped away his shirt, and crawled onto the bed, she at the sight, gave him a vicious smirk and embraced him...

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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! I hope this doesn't seem too fast for you. Worry not, next chapter, we will get more context on the family dynamic between the Mikaelsons. I just wished establish Vali's personality a bit, so that you all understand what you're getting into.

Vali, as you all see, is a cruel and ruthless monster. Unlike my other charachters, this one is gonna be quite evil.

Also, Vali currently doesn't have his previous life memories. He'll get them soon enough back. Before anyone states, the previous chapter and the 'knowing smile' Esther saw, well, that's more her fear and nature itself playing tricks on her than anything.

So yeah, hope you enjoyed, please do comment and review, and I'll see you all later,

Bye!)