Once upon a time, there was an old man. He had three sons: two were wise, and the third was the foolish Emelya.
While his brothers were working, Emelya lay on the stove all day, not wanting to do anything.
One day, his brothers went to the market, and their wives said to Emelya:
— Emelya, go get some water, — they said.
But he lay on the stove and replied:
— I don’t want to...
— Go, Emelya, otherwise your brothers won’t bring you any sweets from the market.
— Alright, — said Emelya.
Emelya got off the stove, dressed, took a bucket and an axe, and went to the river. He broke the ice and filled the bucket with water. At that moment, he saw a pike swimming around. Grabbing the pike, he said:
— Just think how delicious fish soup will be! — he exclaimed.
Suddenly, the pike spoke like a human:
— Emelya, let me go into the water, and I will help you, — it said.
Emelya laughed:
— How will you help me?.. No, I’ll take you home and have my wives make fish soup. It will be very tasty.
The pike pleaded again:
— Emelya, Emelya, let me go into the water, I will fulfill your wishes.
— Alright, first prove that you won’t deceive me, then I will let you go, — said Emelya.
The pike asked:
— Emelya, Emelya, tell me what you want? — it inquired.
— I want the buckets to go home by themselves and pour out the water, — said Emelya.
The pike replied:
— Remember my words: whatever you wish, say, “By the command of the pike, by my wish,” — it instructed.
Emelya said:
— By the command of the pike, by my wish — buckets, go home by yourselves, — he commanded.
As soon as he finished speaking, the buckets ran off like chickens. Emelya released the pike into the water and followed the buckets. The buckets moved through the village, and people were astonished while Emelya smiled and followed behind.
The buckets entered the house and stood in their places, while Emelya lay back down on the stove.
After a little while, the wives said:
— Emelya, why are you lying down again? Go chop some firewood, — they said.
— I don’t want to...
— If you don’t chop firewood, your brothers won’t bring you any sweets from the market.
Emelya, not wanting to get off the stove, remembered the pike and whispered:
— By the command of the pike, by my wish — axe, go chop firewood, and firewood, go into the house and into the stove, — he commanded.
The axe fell to the ground, went outside, and began to chop firewood, while the firewood entered the house and settled into the stove.
Not long after, the wives said again:
— Emelya, there’s no firewood. Go to the forest and bring more firewood, — they said.
He replied:
— Why don’t you go yourselves? — he asked.
— How can we go? We are women, — said his wives.
— I don’t want to go...
— If you don’t go, you’ll miss out on the gifts.
With no other choice, Emelya got off the stove, dressed, took a rope and an axe, went outside, and sat on the sled:
— Girls, open the gate! — he said.
His wives replied:
— You’re foolish, you’ve sat on the sled, but where’s the horse?! — they said.
— I don’t need a horse.
His wives opened the gate, and Emelya whispered:
— By the command of the pike, by my wish — sled, go to the forest, — he commanded.
The sled went out of the gate and sped off to the forest like a horse.
On the way to the forest, it passed through the city, trampling many people. The crowd shouted: “Catch him!” But Emelya kept driving the sled. When they reached the forest:
— By the command of the pike, by my wish — axe, chop dry firewood, and firewood, get into the sled and be tied up, — he commanded.
The axe chopped the dry firewood, and the firewood jumped into the sled. Emelya ordered the axe to make a stick for him — and the stick became very strong. He sat in the sled:
— By the command of the pike, by my wish — sled, go home, — he commanded.
The sled quickly returned home. It passed through the city again, where many people were waiting for it. They caught Emelya, pulled him from the sled, beat him, and shouted insults. Seeing the situation was dire, Emelya whispered:
— By the command of the pike, by my wish — stick, break their bones, — he commanded.
The stick emerged and began to hit them. The people fled, and Emelya returned home and lay back on the stove.
Not long after, the king heard of Emelya’s deeds and sent an officer to bring him to the palace.
The officer arrived at Emelya’s village, entered his house, and asked:
— Are you the foolish Emelya? — he inquired.
He replied from the stove:
— What do you want? — he answered.
— Get dressed quickly, I am taking you to the king.
— I don’t want to go...
The officer, angry, slapped him. Emelya whispered:
— By the command of the pike, by my wish — stick, break his bones, — he commanded.
The stick emerged and began to hit the officer, who barely escaped. The king, hearing that the officer had been beaten by Emelya, said to his chief minister:
— Bring Emelya back alive or dead, otherwise I will have your head cut off, — he ordered.
The minister bought raisins, dried plums, and gingerbread from the market, came to the village, entered the house, and asked the wives what Emelya liked.
— Our Emelya loves polite requests and a red caftan, — said his wives.
The minister brought Emelya raisins, dried plums, and gingerbread, saying:
— Emelya, why are you lying on the stove? Let’s go see the king, — he said.
— I’m fine right here...
— Emelya, the king will give you good food, — he said.
— I won’t go!...
— Emelya, the king will give you a red caftan, a hat, and boots.
Emelya thought:
— Alright, you go ahead, I will follow behind, — he said.
The minister left, and Emelya lay down again, whispering:
— By the command of the pike, by my wish — stove, go to the king, — he commanded.
As soon as he finished speaking, the corners of the house creaked, the roof shook, the walls collapsed, and the stove itself went out onto the road, heading towards the king.
The king looked out the window:
— What a wonder is this?
The minister said to him:
— This is Emelya coming with the stove, — he replied.
The king went out to the gate:
— Emelya, you have trampled many people, — he said.
— Why are they walking in the way of the sled?
At that moment, the king’s daughter — Princess Marya was looking out the window. Emelya saw her and whispered:
— By the command of the pike, by my wish — may the king’s daughter fall in love with me... — he said.
— Stove, go home, — said Emelya.
The stove turned around and returned home, entered the house, and resumed its place. Emelya lay down again.
In the king's palace, there was a storm. Princess Marya thought of Emelya and couldn’t live without him, asking her father to marry Emelya. The king called for his chief minister again:
— Bring Emelya back alive or dead, otherwise I will have your head cut off, — he ordered.
The minister bought sweet wines and various foods, came to the village, entered the house, and began to offer Emelya sweets.
Emelya got drunk and fell asleep. The minister placed him in a cart and took him to the king.
The king ordered that Emelya and Princess Marya be placed in a large barrel with heavy iron rings. They sealed the barrel and threw it into the sea. After a long time, Emelya woke up and realized he was in a dark, narrow space:
— Where am I?
— Emelya, they sealed us in a barrel and threw us into the sea, — said Princess Marya.
Emelya said:
— By the command of the pike, by my wish — stormy winds, bring the barrel to dry land, to golden sand, — he commanded.
The stormy winds blew, waves formed in the sea, and the barrel was brought to dry land. Emelya and Princess Marya emerged from it.
— Emelya, where will we live? Build a house, — said Princess Marya.
— I don’t want to do anything...
When she pleaded again, Emelya said:
— By the command of the pike, by my wish — let a stone palace with a golden roof be built, — he commanded.
As soon as he finished speaking, a stone palace with a golden roof appeared. Around it was a green garden: flowers bloomed, and birds sang. Princess Marya and Emelya entered the palace and sat by the window.
— Emelya, can’t you become a handsome young man? — asked Princess Marya.
Emelya thought:
— By the command of the pike, by my wish — let me become a handsome young man, — he said.
Emelya transformed into a wonderfully handsome young man.
At that moment, the king went hunting and saw the palace:
— Who built a palace without permission on my land? — he exclaimed.
The king sent a man to find out who had built it. Emelya told them:
— Invite the king as a guest; I will tell him who I am myself, — he said.
The king came as a guest. Emelya welcomed him, led him into the palace, and seated him at the table. They ate various foods and honored the king. After eating, the king, astonished, asked:
— Who are you, young man, and where do you come from? — he inquired.
— Remember the foolish Emelya: when I came with the stove, you put me in a barrel with your daughter and threw me into the sea. I am that Emelya. If I wish, I can burn down and destroy your kingdom. The king was very frightened and begged for forgiveness:
— Marry my daughter, Emelya, take my kingdom, but do not kill me!
Then the king held a grand feast. Emelya married Princess Marya and ruled the kingdom. Thus, the fairy tale ends, and those who listened are true heroes!