Nicole et Martin: Wassilissa

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A young girl Vasilisa, lives with her father, her stepmother and two stepsister's in an old hut next to the edge of the forest. The stepmother and her daughters envy Vasilisa for her beauty and diligence. They bully and torment her, forcing Vasilisa to do all the hardest, dirtiest chores. But unknown to them she receives help from a doll that was given to her by her mother before she died. One day, Vasilisa is sent into the forest to get fire from the dreaded witch Baba Jaga. Baba Jaga promises that she will give her the fire if she is able to do several difficult tasks. With support from her doll Vasilisa finishes all the assigned work and the old witch has no choice but to honour her word, thereupon Vasilisa receives a skull burning with inner fire. She returns home and is welcomed warmly at first since they've had neither light nor fire since Vasilisa left, yet this soon reverts back to the way she was treated before. But the skull with its magical fire and burning eyes punishes the stepmother and stepsisters, scorching them to ash for their injustices. Time passes and with the help of her doll, Vasilisa turns into a very good weaver. Soon even the Tsar has his clothes woven by her and he falls deeply in love with her. They get married and live happily as Tsar and Tsarina until the end of their lives.