The Singing Scoutmaster: Vasilisa the Beautiful and Baba Yaga

Once upon a time, in a small village in the heart of Russia, there lived a young girl named Vasilisa, who was as beautiful as she was kind-hearted. Vasilisa's mother loved her dearly and, sensing that she would not live long, gave her daughter a small magical doll. "Keep this doll with you always, my dear," her mother whispered. "If you are ever in trouble, give it food and ask for its help. It will guide you and keep you safe." Shortly after, Vasilisa's mother passed away, leaving her alone with her father.

For a while, things went on as before, until Vasilisa's father remarried. His new wife had two daughters of her own, and from the moment they moved in, they treated Vasilisa cruelly. They were jealous of her beauty, grace, and kind nature, and made her do all the housework. No matter how hard Vasilisa tried to please them, nothing was ever good enough. They wanted her gone, but the father was unaware of their mistreatment and believed all was well at home.

One evening, as the autumn winds howled outside, the stepmother hatched a sinister plan. She knew of a fearsome witch named Baba Yaga, who lived deep in the forest in a hut that stood on giant chicken legs. Baba Yaga was known to eat those who dared to wander too close. The stepmother turned to Vasilisa with a twisted smile. "We have run out of firewood, and the hearth has grown cold," she said sweetly. "Go to Baba Yaga's hut and ask her for some fire. Surely, you can handle such a simple task."

Trembling with fear but unable to disobey, Vasilisa clutched the small doll her mother had given her and set off into the dark, eerie woods. The trees seemed to whisper as she passed, and strange shadows flitted around her. As she walked deeper into the forest, she grew weary and afraid. "Please help me, little doll," she whispered, offering it a piece of bread. The doll came to life and spoke softly, "Do not fear, Vasilisa. You are not alone. Follow the path and be brave. We will face Baba Yaga together."

With the doll's comforting words, Vasilisa continued on until she came upon Baba Yaga's hut. The hut was surrounded by a fence made of bones, with human skulls perched atop the posts, their empty eye sockets glowing faintly. The hut itself stood on giant chicken legs, turning and spinning restlessly. Gathering her courage, Vasilisa stepped forward and called out, "Please, Baba Yaga, may I have some fire for my home?"

The gate creaked open, and Baba Yaga emerged, flying on her mortar and pestle, her wild hair streaming behind her. Her nose was long and crooked, and her eyes gleamed with malice. "Fire, you say?" Baba Yaga cackled, her voice like the crackle of dry leaves. "I'll give you fire, but first, you must serve me well. If you succeed, I'll give you what you seek. If not, I'll have you for my dinner!"

Vasilisa, though frightened, nodded bravely. Baba Yaga set her to impossible tasks—cleaning every speck of dirt in the house, sorting thousands of tiny seeds, and scrubbing the hut until it shone. But each night, when Baba Yaga went to sleep, Vasilisa whispered to her doll, and the doll came to life, completing the tasks swiftly and perfectly while Vasilisa rested.

On the third day, Baba Yaga returned and found all the tasks done to perfection. "How did you manage this?" she demanded, her voice sharp and dangerous. Vasilisa only smiled and replied, "With my mother's blessing." At the mention of a blessing, Baba Yaga recoiled in horror. She knew she could not harm someone protected by such purity and goodness.

"I do not deal with those blessed by others!" Baba Yaga hissed, her eyes narrowing. "Take this skull lantern, filled with fire, and leave my sight!" The skull's eyes glowed with a fierce, magical flame. Vasilisa thanked Baba Yaga and carefully took the skull lantern. She walked through the dark forest, the light from the skull guiding her way and keeping the wild creatures at bay.

When Vasilisa returned home, the fire within the skull blazed so fiercely that it consumed her wicked stepmother and stepsisters, leaving only ashes behind. Vasilisa, untouched by the flames, stood calmly in the center of the room, the magical skull's light illuminating her serene face. With her cruel family gone, Vasilisa was free at last.

News of Vasilisa's beauty, kindness, and bravery spread quickly, and soon it reached the ears of the Tsar. He invited Vasilisa to his palace, and the moment he laid eyes on her, he knew she was the one he had been waiting for. They were married, and Vasilisa became the Tsarina, ruling the land with wisdom and grace.

Throughout her life, Vasilisa kept the small doll her mother had given her close by, always remembering the help it had given her in Baba Yaga's dark, twisted forest. And though she faced many challenges as Tsarina, she never faltered, for she knew she had a mother's blessing and a heart full of courage to guide her.