The tsarevich subdues himself and doffs his cap, but as soon as he sees the wizard's ugly face he cannot stop himself – he spits. Kashchei himself appears – old and fearsome. Ivan is strong, and tries to shake off these repulsive beings, but the incalculable power of the evil kingdom clings to him and overpowers him. As soon as he breaks open the gates with his sabre, magical bells ring out, the entire kingdom falls asleep, and coming down the mountain from the castle are all kinds of monsters, Kashchei's servants. But the tsarevich has so fallen in love with the Tsarevna of Great Beauty that he resolves to slip in after her he fears nothing. But the Tsarevna of Great Beauty stops him, warning that death awaits him if he passes through the golden gates she closes them and runs away. Alarmed, the maidens flee into the castle. He has made a good impression on the maidens – particularly the Tsarevna of Great Beauty, and they allow him to join their games and round-dancing. But the tsarevich is very handsome, as well as courteous and modest. She runs after it, but the tsarevich appears from the bushes and swears he will give her back the apple. The Tsarevna of Great Beauty's apple lands in the shrubbery. Unbeknown to the wicked Kashchei, in the moonlight they run into the garden to frolic and play with the apples the maidens do not see the tsarevich as they throw the apples to each other and laugh with glee. The tsarevich hides the feather in his bosom and wants to leave he is creeping over the barrier when the castle doors open and twelve beautiful tsarevnas appear, followed by the most delightful of all – the Tsarevna of Great Beauty. "You will have need of this," the Firebird says before flying away. He sets the bird free, and in return she gives him one of her fiery feathers. But the bird asks so plaintively and groans so much that the kindly Ivan feels sorry for her. The tsarevich holds tight and does not let her go. The bird trembles and beats her wings in his arms, begging to be set free. When the Firebird flies to the tree with golden apples and begins to peck at them, the tsarevich catches her. Initially he wishes to shoot her, but then decides to catch her alive. And yet Ivan Tsarevich forgets these terrors as he has been dazzled by the Firebird.
All have died and now stand as immovable stones, covered in moss. These are young men who have entered this perfidious kingdom in order to free and save their brides whom the evil Kashchei has abducted. In the depths of the garden Ivan sees a veritable barrier of warriors who have been turned to stone. Chasing the bird, Ivan Tsarevich slips into the garden over the high stone defences. So that no-one gets near Kashchei or abducts his captive fair maidens, and so that no-one steals the golden fruits from the enchanted garden, the castle is surrounded by a fretted golden railing and the garden by a high stone wall. Amidst the crags, on a mountain-top lies the castle of the wicked ruler Kashchei the Immortal.
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