[BornFromAshes]

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𝐖𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄

─────────────────────────────── ( 𝐈 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐊 𝐈 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 !!

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username; ethium
pony name; Ciaran
gender male, he/they
magic type; Arcane, Alchemy
prompt;

── Ciaran had always been afraid of witches and magic. As a colt he would be fascinated by stories of the north and the darkness that was said to reside in these supposedly malicious beings. His family held the same values and this aided in his misconceptions of them. It wasn't until autumn rolled down the hillside in its brilliant orange, and his mother grew deathly ill, that he would face them for what they truly were.

Cold wind arched through the auburn branches of an old sycamore, rustling the leaves and making the tree appear as if it were a moving object. As if the whole forest might come alive in its hues of warm gold, orange, and brown. Under any other circumstance, Ciaran might have enjoyed the vibrancy, a sharp contrast to the deep greens of a hazy summer. Now, however, the forest simply seemed foreboding. It was a reminder of what he had to accomplish today, for it was not only his life that was held in the balance but also his mother's. The breath had been taken from her lungs, leaving behind a wheezing, shallow-flanked mare with waxen skin cold to the touch. His mother's life was being sucked away by an illness he could not identify, he had sent for a doctor, and they had given him no resolution. She was to be made comfortable because she would likely not survive the winter. This thought sent a chill down Ciaran's spine, colder than the wind that threaded through his dark mane. But he would not give up this fight lightly, he would not let his mother go, and if she had to go he would go down fighting with her. He exhaled and began moving deeper into the sea of orange. He had come to the final straw, the only thing he could think of fueled by fairytales and stories from his colthood... he would request the help of the witches.

Legend said that these ancient beings had the power to help you if you desired it, but legend also warned of the steep price of such a request. It said they did not take what was not willing to be given, but that their bargains were eternal and usually built on sacrifice. Ciaran did not know how to feel about this, for part of it chilled him, and the other part was still skeptical of their existence in the first place. Weren't witches something of fairytales? A story to keep little fillies and colts in bed at night? And here he was, traversing deeper and deeper into the forbidden wood chasing after what he presumed to be a fairytale. A desperate stallion, making a desperate journey in the hope of saving the only one he had ever loved. Clouds blotted out the sun, and a cold north wind seemed to surge through the trees with tremendous force, he shuddered, lowering his head and bracing himself as the world around him grew dark. The once beautiful auburn forest turned to one of foreboding, as shadows moved along the earth at his feet, crawling across his feet.. sealing his fate.

Before the stallion stood a mare, with eyes alight with curiosity. "What has brought you so far from your home, young Ciaran son of Mira and Terrowin?" Ciaran stiffened at the mentioning of not only his name but his parents as well. He realized then that he had never heard his father's name before. He had left before Ciaran was born. "I seek aid, a potion, anything, to heal my mother of an illness that will kill her." The mare considered him for a moment, cocking her head to the side with those wide, in-escapable eyes. He felt as if he could not conceal his terror, or anything for that matter, from those seeking eyes. She considered him for a moment. "The price for what you seek is a life. Yours for hers. If you desire to save her life, you must give up your own." Ciaran held his breath. Was she insinuating his own death? He paused, feeling his heart squeeze. If this is what had to be done, so be it. "Very well. My life for hers. So long as she is healed fully, and may go on living where I cannot." The mare smiled, pleased with his response. "A pure heart, there was little hesitation. Very well Ciaran, your old life is now over. I will send someone to bring healing to your mother." Ciaran blinked. Your old life is now over.. What did she mean old life? Was she not going to kill him? "What do you mean?" he asked, stepping towards her as she gestured with her head for him to follow. "Your old life is over, but your new life is now beginning. Ciaran, giver of heart. You will learn our ways, become one of us, in exchange for what you seek. Your old life has now ended, there is no turning back. The life of a coven member is a unique one. I have judged that it will be beneficial for you, but most importantly, that you are worthy of it." Ciaran felt a multitude of emotions. Regret for what he had lost, hope for what was to come and wonder at the quick conversation that had just turned the course of his life in an opposite direction.

"Do you regret your decision?" the mare asked, studying his expression with curiosity. "Never." She nodded, satisfied. "Then let us embrace the new day with open hearts." The pair disappeared into the dark wood, that for some reason no longer seemed so foreboding to Ciaran.

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𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐈 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏

─────────── ( 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐆𝐎 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐈 𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐏 !!

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THIS PONY BELONGS TO ETHIUM