If you had told Emelya a month ago that he would be on his way to the Tsar's palace shortly, he would have laughed in your face. But then a lot of strange things have happened to Emelya recently – not least of all, the encounter with a magic Pike. In exchange for his life, the Pike promised Emelya whatever he wanted. Since then, lazy Emelya has used the Pike's powers to do all his chores around the house. But after an encounter with the villagers, word of Emelya's escapades has reached the Tsar himself – and now he must face the most powerful man in the land.

Emelya had decided that he would not go with the Tsar's minister, but instead follow the man at his own pace. "You must go on ahead alone," he said to the man, "and I shall follow by and by."

So the noble rode away and Emelya lay on the stove a while longer then said:
"By the will of the Pike, do as I like! Off you go to the Tsar's palace, stove!" And as soon as he said these words, it seemed that everything in the surrounds began to shake and shudder as if alive. There a corner of the house began to crack; there the roof shook so hard it seemed to dance; there a wall simply crashed down in chunks of masonry – and through that large hole, the stove flew as if it had wings! It flew down the street, and over the angry villagers, and over forests and lakes and rivers. On and on it flew, straight towards the Tsar's palace.

The Tsar looked out of his window and marvelled. "What is that?" he asked. And the great noble replied: "That is Emelya riding on his stove to your palace." The Tsar stepped out onto his porch to welcome this strange new visitor. When Emelya had landed and paid his respects, the Tsar said to him: "I have had many complaints about you Emelya. It seems you have knocked down and hurt many people."

"I am truly sorry about that, sir," said Emelya, "But why did they not keep clear of my sledge?" Now, at that very moment, Emelya looked up and there was the Tsar's daughter – Tsarevna Marya – in a window. She was looking down on the gathering below, and Emelya fell in love with her immediately. It seemed to him that kindness was in her eyes, and intelligence on her beautiful brow. But even as he fell deeper in love, he became afraid that she would never return his love. Under his breath he muttered, "By the will of the Pike, do as I like, make me the most handsome man on the face of the earth."

And as with all his other wishes, this too came true – and Emelya stood before the entire gathering a completely changed man. It was at this moment that the princess noticed him, but she only smiled and seemed about to turn away. It was time for some desperate measures. Emelya called on the Pike once more. "By the will of the Pike, do as I like! Let the Tsar's daughter fall in love with me." And even as the Tsar's daughter fell in love with him, Emelya was suddenly paralysed with fear – what could he possibly say to her? In a moment of panic, he decided to go back to where he felt safest. "By the will of the Pike, do as I like, take me home at once, stove!"

The stove turned and made straight for Emelya's village. It whisked into the hut, and then everything around it went back into its place, and Emelya lay on the stove ledge as before. Meanwhile there were tears and wails in the place. Tsarevna Marya was crying her eyes out for Emelya. She told her father that she could not live without her new darling, and she begged him to let her marry Emelya. The Tsar was much troubled and grieved and he said to the great noble:

"Go and bring Emelya here, dead or alive. Do not fail, or I'll have your head chopped off."

To be continued...