Vasilisa the beautiful and baba yaga

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a young girl named Vasilisa. After her mother’s death, she was left in the care of her wicked stepmother and stepsisters. Vasilisa’s days were filled with impossible tasks assigned by her stepfamily.

Her only solace was a magical doll her mother had given her before she passed away. Whenever Vasilisa needed help, the doll would come to life and offer guidance.

One day, the stepmother demanded Vasilisa fetch fire from the fearsome witch Baba Yaga’s hut. Reluctantly, Vasilisa embarked on the journey, clutching the doll tightly.

Navigating through the dense forest, she finally reached Baba Yaga’s hut, standing on chicken legs. Trembling, Vasilisa summoned her courage and entered.

Inside, she found Baba Yaga, a haggard old woman with a long, hooked nose and iron teeth. Baba Yaga gave Vasilisa a series of impossible tasks: to clean the house, separate grains of wheat from poppy seeds, and cook her dinner.

With the help of the magical doll, Vasilisa completed each task flawlessly. Impressed, Baba Yaga rewarded her with the fire she sought, contained in a skull lantern.

Vasilisa hurried back home, where the fire from Baba Yaga’s hut illuminated the room with a warm glow. Enraged by her return, the stepmother and stepsisters recoiled from the light, revealing their true, sinister forms.

But the fire protected Vasilisa, burning the stepfamily to ashes. From that day forth, Vasilisa lived free from oppression, guided by the wisdom she gained from her encounters with Baba Yaga.

And so, Vasilisa the Beautiful emerged victorious, her spirit unbroken, her courage unwavering, and the memory of Baba Yaga’s trials forever etched in her heart.