Thanks to his magic Pike, Emelya has been able to wish for anything. Normally a lazy fellow, having the Pike for a friend has only made Emelya lazier – he gets the Pike to help him with everything, even the simplest of chores. Of course, this sort of thing will get you noticed, and it's not long before the villagers complain to the Tsar about Emelya. The Tsar scolds Emelya for his carelessness, but Emelya is not paying attention – he has just seen Tsarevna Marya, the Tsar's daughter. Desperately in love with the beautiful young woman, he first asks the Pike to turn him into a handsome young man, and when that doesn't help much, he then asks the Pike to make her fall in love with him. His wish comes true instantly, but Emelya is suddenly unsure. He makes another request of the Pike – that it take him home instantly. After his disappearance, Tsarevna Marya is inconsolable, and the Tsar is forced – once again – to send for Emelya.

If the Great Noble had his way, he would chop off Emelya's head. The boy was obviously far too much bother. Laden with all kinds of gifts, food and wine, the noble was once more on his way to Emelya's village. After a long and tiresome journey, he finally arrived at the humble little hut that Emelya shared with his two brothers and their wives. Emelya was within. The noble wasted no time in talking, but instead offered Emelya many rich sweets and wines, and it was not long before, his head swimming, Emelya lay down to sleep.

The Great Noble acted quickly – he put Emelya into his carriage and rode off with him to the Tsar's palace. But by the time he got there, he found that things had changed considerably. The Tsar was now very angry with Tsarevna Marya, and even angrier with Emelya. How could his daughter, screamed the Tsar, insist on marrying a little nobody from some small village?

He would teach them both a lesson, in fact he would make it the last lesson they ever learnt – he never wanted to see them again. In a rage, the Tsar ordered a large barrel, bound with iron hoops, to be brought in. He has his sobbing daughter placed into it first, and then a sleeping Emelya was also shoved in. Ignoring his child's piteous cries, he had the barrel tarred and then cast into the sea.

A long time passed and then a little time, and Emelya awoke. Finding himself in the darkness and closely confined, he said: "Where am I?"

And Tsarevna Marya replied: "Sad and dreary is our lot, Emelya my love! They have put us in a tarred barrel and cast us into the blue sea." "And who are you?" Emelya asked. "I am Tsarevna Marya."

Said Emelya: "By the will of the Pike, do as I like! Come, O wild winds, cast the barrel on to the dry shore and let it rest on dry land!"

It was as he wished, and when the barrel came to rest on yellow sands, out stepped Emelya and Marya. Then Marya said to Emelya, "Where will we live, my love? Build us a hut of some kind."

"A hut will not do for my own true love," cried Emelya, and calling to the Pike he said: "By the will of the Pike, do as I like! Let a palace of stone with a roof of gold be built and let rich gardens bloom in front of it."
And no sooner were the words out of his mouth than a stone palace with a roof of gold rose above them. Round it spread a garden where flowers bloomed and birds sang. Tsarevna Marya was speechless. The Palace was even more glorious than the Tsars. Every room was a wonder, and the view was divine.

Emelya asked the Pike to provide them with food, and servants to look after all their needs. The Tsarevna was given her own room in one of the tall towers, and Emelya went to see her often. He wished to marry her, but he would need her parent's permission and the Tsar did not like him.

The decision was taken out of his hand one day, when the Tsar rode by and saw the new palace.
Awed by the grand building, he was nevertheless angry: "What dolt has dared build a palace on my land?" he cried. Then he sent his messengers to find out who the culprit was.

To be continued...