Vasilisa the Beautiful

Once, a merchant's daughter named Vasilisa received a magic doll from her dying mother, told to feed it and seek its advice in times of need. When her father remarried a cruel woman with two daughters, Vasilisa was treated as a servant. Seeking to be rid of her, the stepmother sent Vasilisa into the deep woods to fetch light from the fearsome witch, Baba Yaga. Guided by her doll, Vasilisa reached a hut standing on giant chicken legs, surrounded by a fence of human bones. Baba Yaga demanded Vasilisa complete impossible chores—sorting grains and cleaning the house—under threat of being eaten. Each night, the doll performed the tasks while Vasilisa slept. Impressed yet suspicious, Baba Yaga asked how she succeeded; Vasilisa credited her mother's blessing. Fearing such purity, the witch gave her a skull with glowing eyes and sent her away. Upon returning home, the skull’s fire consumed the wicked stepfamily, leaving Vasilisa free. She later used her skills to weave fine linen, eventually catching the eye of the Tsar and becoming his bride.