Ivan Tsarevich & the Grey Wolf 5

On his 150th birthday, the tsar declares retirement and leaves state affairs behind, setting off toward the countryside to rest. Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf are left to guard the kingdom in the power vacuum. This turning point sets the stage for magical disruptions to fill the void left by the tsar’s departure.

The couple, along with the Scholar Cat and the Gray Wolf, climb onto a magic flying carpet and set out on a journey. They carry expectations of adventure and a sense that life away from the throne could bring change. The trip introduces them to wonders beyond the kingdom’s borders.

They leave behind an ordinary scarecrow, which suddenly comes to life. Where the scarecrow once stood, a source of hypnotic crimson jam mysteriously appears, foreshadowing the power that will sway the entire realm. This marks the first tangible sign of Pal’s influence.

Leaders from other world countries express interest in investing in the jam, and a summit is arranged to discuss the deal. The interworld gathering hints at a broader political maneuver around the jam’s power. The journey shifts from exploration to diplomacy with high-stakes implications.

Upon returning, citizens’ lives accelerate as the jam’s influence seems to speed construction and growth beyond normal limits. The kingdom begins to change visibly under its spell. Pal Palych, the scarecrow, begins to loom larger as a charismatic new figure.

Back home, the scarecrow introduces himself as Pal Palych and quickly wins over Vasilisa with his charm. He promises decisive leadership and a better future. The new ruler figure begins undermining the existing authority.

That night, Gray Wolf overhears Pal’s nefarious plan, but he ends up stuck in a chimney, unable to warn the others. The delay allows Pal to tighten his grip on the court. This moment marks a turning point in the internal resistance.

Pal confronts Ivan and uses dark magic to steal Ivan’s body, leaving Ivan’s soul trapped inside Vasilisa’s toy monkey. The regime now has a royal figure that is not truly Ivan, sowing confusion and deception. The real Ivan becomes a captive presence within the palace.

Gray Wolf, after escaping, tries to warn the others, but Pal traps him with a deceptive trapdoor and removes him as a threat. The group’s ability to organize a resistance is hampered. Pal’s hold on the kingdom grows stronger as the danger becomes more immediate.

Vasilisa is won over by the new, polished Ivan, while the real Ivan struggles to reach her across the rift created by Pal’s magic. He attempts to communicate, but Pal’s control keeps her from recognizing the truth. The royal couple’s bond is tested to its breaking point.

The tsar, along with the Grey Wolf, frees the real Ivan and seeks counsel from Nightingale-Bandit, who explains Pal’s origin via tattoos on Kesha’s back. Pal was a demonic scarecrow whose mind-control jam toppled the city. The revelation reframes the entire conflict.

Nightingale-Bandit reveals that the kingdom’s buildings and achievements are illusions created by the jam, and that an antidote exists to break its hold. The leaders prepare to counter the jam’s enchantment with the antidote.

On the summit day, the tsar and Gray Wolf disguise themselves as world leaders to confront Pal’s manipulation. Nightingale-Bandit and Kesha attempt to connect the jam fountain to the antidote, setting the stage for the decisive confrontation. The plan hinges on smuggling the antidote to those who were enchanted.

Ivan becomes separated from the others and discovers Pal’s underground room filled with a scarecrow army. He returns above ground with the knowledge to counter Pal’s forces. The revelation shows the scope of Pal’s ambition and the danger facing the realm.

The world leaders drink the antidote; Pal reveals his true colors and unleashes the army. Ivan realizes the only way to stop Pal is to destroy his staff, Pal’s former body. Vasilisa destroys the staff and Pal is killed, and Ivan’s soul is returned to his body, ending the tyranny.