[certified]

base: overgrown
wings: double
ears: deer 2
tail: plush

It seems this fable has lost their color. Where did it go?
To get them, tell me how they find their color again and tell/show me what they looked like before.
(This can be a mood board/song, drawing, etc or even a written description.)

750 word limit.

Ends on 4/23

Owner: wind song
fable name: saule

[Exitium]

Fable name: Envy
How do they find their color again?:
One day, a fable awoke to find their colors were stripped away from them. Not a sound was made, nor a hair missing from their perfectly groomed fur. No. This was the work of magic, for how else could their colors just disappear like they were never there to begin with?

A journey begins, their namesake kicking in every time they came across a fable, so colorful and beautiful. Their name? Why, Envy, of course! A deadly sin for a name. No wonder this fable lost their colors, taking them for granted without a care in the world. Assumptions were made that they cannot undo, but can instead work to correct the behavior and stop the cycle from repeating itself in the future. At least when it regards their beautiful missing colors...

Envy trotted along, searching far and wide. They visited many doctors and healers during this time, none able to provide any answers as to how to regain their colors. At first, it was assumed that this was some form of illness, yet further investigation proved this was not the case (after much poking and prodding with medical equipment, which left Envy wary of visiting doctors ever again.) Without an a conclusive answer as to what caused this phenomenon, Envy was left to turn to the Heavens. Surely they would know something?

Approaching the Heavens, which was a mighty task for a fable such as them, Envy gracefully stepped down on the clouds. It was a miracle they didn't come crashing straight down upon doing so, but it was called the Heavens for a reason... Anyways, after consulting an angelic fable, Envy had finally received their answer. It had taken years of traveling and sobbing during restless nights, but they finally knew why this had occurred. Apparently, they were struck with someone else's punishment! The real Underworld demon fable named Envy was the initial target, and it was an honest mistake.

Years of their life spent wallowing in self-pity without their colors, just to discover they had done absolutely nothing to deserve this fate? Well, I'll tell you, Envy was NOT happy! They demanded to have their colors returned to them, which was attended to quickly by some fledgling angel fables. As they were about to turn away, Envy paused and sighed. "I appreciate your cooperation and understanding. May I ask what exactly this other Envy did to deserve such a punishment?" Envy inquired curiously, expecting to be turned away without further explanation. It was a pleasant surprise to be told exactly why, and it left Envy with some things to think about in their own life, and how they projected their namesake onto others in a horrible way.

Perhaps this lesson was a good thing after all, Envy thought. They were glad to have their colors back. [469 words]
Short Playlist for entry
What did they look like before?:

[honeybunchesofoats]

Mark!

[alphanea]

Fable name: Liora
How do they find their color again?:



In the heart of a glimmering forest lived a beautiful creature named Liora, her coat the envy of the forest for it shimmered with only the richest, most gorgeous blues and purples that belonged truly only to the banners of the noblest of houses. Birds sang her name, and flowers bloomed when she passed by, her colors weren’t just stunning to look at — they were the source of her magic.

Until one horrible morning that Liora woke to find her coat dulled down to a slate grey, the iridescence of her mane faded, her sparkling tail gone dull. Heart racing as fast as she herself raced to the lake, gasping at her reflection. This... this creature that stared back at her, it couldn't be her - she couldn't -!

As if nature itself wanted to soothe her, a soft wind blew through her mane and through the glittering the trees, with it came a soft whisper: “The colors are lost, not gone.”

Her spirit now had at least the will to fight - with a hastened gallop, Liora rushed to the eldest of Fables in the forest, asking her council.

“Colors come from joy, from giving, from living bright... You’ve grown lonely, my child. This world’s beauty only fades when we forget to share it...” the elderly Fable spoke with words soft and full of sympathy. “Go out to the world again... Give, help, listen, feel. Your colors will follow in your journey”

So Liora set off, her colorless hooves treading light on the path. Not too long into her journey she found a squirrel trapped in brambles. Gently the woodland creature was freed - and as soon as it scampered away, a brilliant blush of turquoise returned to her cheek.

She crossed a river next, where a baby bird chirped helplessly on the bank. Liora lowered her nose, letting it clamber atop her muzzle before she lifted it back up to its nest. A streak of purple curled through her mane.

As she wandered for days on end, she let the frogs sing her lullabies and bugs hum her songs unheard. She danced in the rain, ran with the wind, leapt with butterflies in sunbeams, took in the scents of a thousand flowers. And slowly her colors returned, brighter and deeper than before - not that Liora noticed the change yet, for she hadn't had the heart to check on her progress, lest she saw herself dull and lifeless again.

One night, as she came to a clearing to rest, she found a lone foal, with crystalline tears at his eyes.

“What's wrong, little one?” Liora asked, approaching with a lowered head.

“I lost my home,” the foal sniffled. “The storm took it away.” he looked back at a torn apart shelter - so was he living out here on his lonesome?

“I’ll help you find somewhere new - somewhere better to stay at.” Liora whispered and they wandered for days - she showed the little one the waterfalls that sang and hills that murmured in the breeze, taught him the secret language of the insects all around her and how to find the ripest of forest berries.

They finally reached a settlement of like-minded fables where smiling faces greeted them. Before the little one made his way to his new home, he turned around and they put their foreheads together in a kind embrace. A soft turquoise blush settled across his cheeks.

“Thank you... never have i met someone so radiant,” he said. “And not just in appearance.”

Liora blinked - right! Her colors! She hadn’t gazed upon herself since her journey began. Now... she didn’t need to - she could feel the light dancing in her mane, the warmth on her cheeks, the joy glowing in her chest.

And from then on, Liora never faded again. Not because her colors couldn’t be lost - because she had learned how to find them.

Better still - she had learned how to share them.

666 words




What did they look like before?:

[wind song]

fable name: saule

[ a song for inspiration ]

────────────── ✹ ──────────────

how do they find their color again?:

i. [ wildfire ]

who do you think you are,
burning up the dark?

I was born with a warmth that the world rejected. World? I suppose it seemed that way back then. My whole existence fit within the boundary of a murky forest. The fables that called it home were one with its marshes and mires. They thrived in the darkness where no harm could reach, the heavy fog where magic was free of shackles and strangers. I sprouted from that boggy land like wildfire. My pelt burned a deep gold. I lit up this sacred grove, revealing its deepest corners, baring its flaws. A flame that called to it every wicked eye, disrupting an ancient peace.

ii. [ ash ]

the night will keep us safe,
so put away your flame

The eyes of the kin that witnessed my birth were more bewildered, than unwelcoming. I remember my own confusion. Not long on this earth, but I could feel it - I was a strange new instrument trying to join their gentle song. A dissonant whir that drowned out the birds. I’d soon get used to their weary expressions, timid words and hesitant friendship. I envied them and their silver skin, their magic that fostered illusions and foresaw futures. My only power was this relentless light. I could paint the realm in ochre, if I was so allowed. Instead, I gave up my color to be part of this kingdom. I learned to make myself small and pale - a magic that felt the opposite of my own. It was a long and bitter ritual, but finally the last gaudy drop of goldenrod drained from my body. How beautiful the ash that covered me now.

iii. [ sacrifice ]

and the roots run deep
when you’re incomplete

They no longer averted their gaze. No longer would I carry the shame of my glare upon this place or have to wear that sorry smile. I felt giddy and proud, for a moment. I looked no different than my brothers and sisters now, yet no warmth followed. No flood of affection or sense of belonging. This new, modest coat brought me no more understanding of their spells under the moon. No greater connection to the gnarled trees or midnight lakes. The herd continued their quiet existence and I had faded away. Only a dull sadness remained, now so absurdly reflected by my outside appearance. Was it truly this great sacrifice I needed? Or only some courage?

iv. [ sun ]

and all you wish to learn
is just beyond the turn

I had lost my resolve, along with my color. I couldn’t say how many years went by, shrouded in that haze. The days melded into a monochrome mass, claggy like the landscape. Our corner of the forest saw very few visitors and that was by choice. Those who stumbled in were usually strays or nomads in search of secrets and spells. You were simply a passerby. I caught your gaze just for a moment, like a ray of sun that would sometimes breach the tangled wood. You grinned, full of curiosity and light that somehow reached me. I was suddenly overcome with grief for myself. Who had I become invisible for? I accepted the dark as if it was all I’d ever know. Your vibrant eyes were the catalyst. I felt, for the first time, that it might be okay not to cage that bright and furious part of me. Hot tears pattered against the ground. I was angry and relieved, and finally brave enough. It had taken decades to turn myself grey, but now, as if it had been hungry for permission, my body blazed into its amber shade. Every step towards the sun brought back my warmest tones and I felt no ache for the home I’d leave behind. I was ready to learn what color is.

────────────── ✹ ──────────────

what did they look like before?:


click image for moodboard | credits

note; my drawing is a symbolic interpretation and the design is of course up to the artist ♥︎

[L.V.L]

Fable name:
Asher

How do they find their color again?:

----------Darkness. Sorrow. Loneliness.
----------Those are the three things I felt when I looked into the river and saw my reflection - that my color was gone. And the only thing that was still me was my black eyes staring back.
----------"Why, why me!" I yelled up towards the night sky, the small sliver of stars peaking through the clouds. But no one answered .. of course no one answered. I sank to the earth - the cool grass surrounded my body as I just laid there. Days passed - or maybe just moments - I lost all meaning to time.
----------Then something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. A pale owl perched on a branch above me. It stared, its head tilt just a bit. Then suddenly it left with a screech. "At least they still know themselves." I lifted myself up with a deep, heavy sigh. I had to keep moving - not because I wanted to but because standing still hurt more.
----------I'm unsure how long I walked. My hooves started to ache. Then off in the distance I saw a shadow figure on the cliffs edge. I approached cautiously - it was a creature of glass and dark, reflected the galaxy above us.
----------"You've lost your color," the creature whispered softly to me.
----------"I gave it away. I thought love meant handing over everything."
----------It turned its head towards me. The air shifted - colder, thinner. "No one tells us that love given without return is like pouring light into a cracked vessel. Beautiful yet doomed to vanish."
----------I stood their frozen until it motioned for me to sit beside them. Wary, I slowly walked closer until we were side by side. I sat down and wrapped my tail closely to my body.
----------"Did they ask for it?" they asked.
----------"No," I admitted. "But they accepted it. All of it. Until I had nothing left."
----------"And what did they give you?"
----------I looked over at it and hesitated, "Warmth. For a while. Then distance. Then silence." I was ashamed and I knew the creature knew that.
----------The creature closed its eyes, "That's how it ends sometimes. Not with a final goodbye. Just ... the slow fading of light until you can't remember where the warmth used to be."
----------"I kept hoping," I whispered, "I thought maybe if I waited ... they'd come back."
----------"They didn't," it said, not to be cruel - but to be honest, "But you did."
----------I didn't respond. Just felt a weight settle deep in my chest - how long had I been carrying that hope like a chain. How long have I'd been hunting the memory of something that stopped loving me.
----------"I'm unsure of who I am without them." I stood and stepped closer to the edge, my hooves slightly hanging over the cliff. I looked up. The stars were dim, not gone - just softer. Like they were tired too.
----------"But you're still here," it murmured. "Isn't that something."
----------That was something. I didn't need to be full of color, or light, or anything that made someone else stay. I just needed to exist. For myself. The ache didn't leave, but shifted. It wasn't crying out anymore. It was humming - low and tired, yet alive. And somewhere inside that hum, something glowed.
----------Not gold nor violet like others color might have been. Threads of silver and dusty ash moved across my fur. Like a breath or a memory - like the part of me I never gave away.
----------I will still real. Still whole. And that - that was the beginning of my color returning to it's rightful place.

What did they look like before?:
Kina - Can We Kiss Forever? ft. Adriana Proenza


in love with this prompt - it's been forever since i've written anything. 598 words.

[ylesia]

Fable name: Oisin
How do they find their color again?:

Day 1, Oisin's journal
They found out everything. I’m keeping this journal to record what happens in case I don’t make it. To my eyes everything appears colorless and probably so am I to the eyes of other fables. Since this morning when I was banned from the Herd I can’t find peace. Was it that wrong what I did? I don’t think so. I need to find a solution to this situation.

Day 3, Oisin's journal
Yesterday I investigated the origin of this magic that made me a Grey. A Grey, that’s how they call me. It looks like its roots are deep in Draeridia and powerless as I am now I won’t be able to remove the curse. The only one that could be able to help me is Fenix, but it’s risky. I must try, I have no choice.

Day 4, Oisin's journal
I can’t reach the Rock of the Dragon: apparently I can’t fly and there is no way I can cross the sea without flying. Why did they punish me? But there is no time to mourn the past, if I can’t reach Fenix I’ll have to find a solution on my own. And to be honest, I’m relieved about that. The risk of being seen by the Dragon was too big. Especially after what I did.

Day 7, Oisin's journal
A few days have passed and I think I can see a solution. Maybe, if I prove to them that I’m sorry about what I did, they will give me my magic back. The only problem is that I’m not sorry at all.

Day 9, Oisin's journal
I think I did it. I went back to the Herd leader and told her that I was sorry and didn’t know the implications of my acts. She listened carefully and then dismissed me. Let’s hope it worked.

Day 10, Oisin's journal
No luck. If it is possible the situation is even worse. They said that they didn’t believe me and if I try to fool them again they will send me to the void. I’ve never heard of this void, the Magister didn’t teach me anything about that. This is not promising at all. There is just one thing I can try but I don’t want to do that. This would be wrong unlike what I did to deserve this punishment.

Day 11, Oisin's journal
I’m going to do it. These might be my last words. Wish me luck.

___________________________________ ___ _________ __________________

I DID IT! I can now do things with Magic that I didn’t even imagine. This power makes me feel alive like I never was and the colors have never been this bright. Magic is not part of our world, it is our world. Now I can see how cruel that unjustified punishment was. The Magister once told us that accessing the True Root of Magic was like being hit by a foaming river, but it was all a lie. It feels so good, it feels like I am the river. No one is going to be able to stop me. They will regret having punished me.

The village is unnaturally calm and the stars shine in the sky. They are brighter than usual. On the big tree in the middle of the village a torn piece of paper is hanging. It looks like it is trying with all its might to stay there, in memory of what happened.

Banishment statement against the Apprentice Oisin
Following the dramatic events involving the apprentice Oisin and causing immeasurable harm to the Swamp, the Council decided to revoke the aforementioned Oisin's authority to practice magic in any form making him a Grey. We hope by this gesture to prevent any further abuses and pray to the Ancients that our beloved Swamp will return to the way it was before.

Not far lies a broken staff. A dark halo radiates from it, infecting the huts and the trees in its proximity. It looks like it imprisoned a huge power, but not anymore. On the edge of the village a piebald tall fable is staring, stretching his double wings. Strands of darkness reach him from the surrounding. There is no remorse in his amber eyes while the Wood around him slowly dies. An unsettling smile appears on his face as he absorbs the life of the Wood.

What did they look like before?: Moodboard + small description in the previous paragraph + song (Fallen Angels - Aerosmith)

[Alantica]

Fable name: Aigeiros

How do they find their color again?:

Color has seeped away from his world. Only a monochromatic world is left.
Aigeiros can’t recall when his world became black and white. It started slow. First the reds faded, then the orange and yellows, then purple. His grandmother’s favorite colors. For a while all that was left was blue, green, brown, and the gray that was ever so slowly encroaching everything. Aigeiros lived life like that for a good bit before color started to fade again. The cloudless blue sky became grey like it was always about to rain. Aigeiros wouldn’t have noticed if it wasn’t for the bright sun that blinded him when he finally looked up. Then the grass seemed like it started to wilt, however when he brushed his legs against the tall grass he could feel the morning dew. He watched the grass spring back up after he stepped on them. Then one day Aigeiros saw his reflection as he passed by the mirror. The image reflected back to him was gray. He then looked around and noticed everything was gray, even the color brown had left him. He was all alone in a colorless world.

How long has it been in the monochromatic world for Aigeiros? Even he has lost track of time as he stumbles through every day one by one. Until one fateful day, he stumbles upon a small creature. The creature looked like a fuzzy pebble but it then moves and Aigeiros realizes it’s not a rock and is alive. Triangular ears pop up while stretching as the creature lets out a soft sound.

Meow..?

"What a particular creature", Aigeiros thinks. With the fuzzy pebble mystery solved, he decides it’s
time to head home. However, the creature follows him back to his abode and well, decided Aigeiros’s home will also be theirs. Annoyed but lacking the energy to deal with this creature, he allows them to stay. As the days pass, Aigeiros finds himself making small talk to the creature who doesn’t know what he’s saying but it’s nice to have someone to talk to. Sometimes, they even come over to sit with him. He notices he feels a little lighter.

“Is it this creature?”

A few weeks pass by with this new routine. Aigeiros looks out his window. He drops his cup, spilling his coffee. The sky, it‘s blue. The grass, it’s green. Aigeiros sits there frozen. A soft meow brings him back to the ground. The coffee, it’s brown. The creature is making their way closer to him as he panics and starts cleaning up the mess.

He finally broke free from his monochromatic world.

However, his grandmother’s favorite colors still haven't returned to him yet. He looks over to his couch as a sweater, still gray, sits at one end.

The weeks turn to months. This creature has now earned the name, Iris. They started to spend even more quality time together. Iris has grown twice their size since they first met. Today is the first day they're taking a walk together. The air is warm as it gets closer and closer to summer.

“Come on, it's time for a walk.”

Mrow? Meow.

Birds chirping fill the air to Iris’s delight. Aigeiros looks around to try and see the birds that seem to be the only thing in Iris’s mind. He freezes in his tracks. His eyes widen as he stares at the redbird in the trees.

Meow?

Iris stops and looks back at Aigeiros. His breathing quickening as he ask Iris,
“Do you see it too?”

Mrow?

His eyes darts around, landing on an orange poppy. He then sees the yellow dandelion. His breathing now rapid and slightly erratic, he barely manages to squeeze out,

“Iris, we need to head home now.”

Iris's confused but notices the change in Aigeiros’s breathing rushes over. They head back to their home. When they get through the door, he rushes to the sweater that’s been living on the couch. Aigeiros shakily picks it up. It was just like he remembered when his grandmother gifted it to him. The purple sweater. He can see it. Tears well up in his eyes and he clutches the sweater closer. Iris rushes over to him to try to provide comfort as he collapses into the couch.

A new day, a new him. Aigeiros finally has worked up the courage to look into the mirror. It's a reflection of him, like the starry night sky. Like him in his childhood. Colorful.

What did they look like before?:

[Nanorat]

Fable name: Damien
How do they find their color again?:

The story how Damien lost his color is a quite simple one. He got into an argument with a witch (a ridiculous argument, at that, about where is the right place to plant a certain herb - both adamantly certain in their expertise being the only possible correct opinion), and when the discussion hit its boiling point, harsh words were said - and in the heat of the moment, harsh spell was thrown back at them. Damien didnt realise right away what the witch did to him, as it was late evening when they finally finished their argument, and he was way too steamed to stop for a moment and take closer look at himself - he simply huffed and left, thinking the witch incompetent at magic that her spell didnt work. Only next morning, when he went out to get breakfast and other fables gasped at him as he approached, he found out he looked gray - and that's when he realised the witch had cursed him with no-colors hex!

This kind of curse is not an easy one to dispell - especially one thrown high on emotion, it stuck to Damien stronger than a burr clings to a long fur. At first, he was still very angry at the witch he had the argument with, and decided not to bother with her any longer - he tried going to several different mages and wizards looking for a fix, but none could figure out any spell or potion to reverse the effect. It was many months that he travelled between various settlements looking for a cure to his color problem, but in the end, all of this time turned out to just be a waste. And so, Damien had to resort to the only known way of lifting the curse. Mustering his resolve, he went back to the witch...

And he apologised.

The witch was really happy he'd come actually, even though she didnt show that much - she had long since cooled down about the argument and felt quite regretful about overreacting and cursing someone for something so petty as disagreeing where to plant a herb. She apologised to Damien in return, and after the two put up and made peace, lifted the curse from him, restoring his colors AND their friendship - two magics in one spell.

What did they look like before?:

[leopia]

fable name: Kesa / finnish, meaning "summer"

How do they find their color again?: Kesa's magical ability to influence color and light is a gift from the heavens, bestowed upon her by an ancient goddess of life. She is one of twelve magical artists responsible for painting the sky in the wake of the sun's movements; it is an act of worship in and of itself. Each artist was charged with a certain hour of the day, twice a day. Kesa oversaw the 8 o'clock hour, and spent that beloved time in a state of artistic ecstasy, blissfully lost in her endless canvas of clouds. In the mornings, she played in peaches and rosy pinks, light yellows, lush lavenders. But in the evenings, she danced. Her golden hours were well-known across all of Eden, and loved dearly by the other sky painters, who were like family to her, since they had no other kin. She cast a subtle blue-grey backdrop to complement each stroke of brilliant orange and gold, a radiant goodnight kiss to the sun.

The storm that brewed along the horizon that night was unlike any they had seen before, dark clouds roiling with thunder and a sinister magic. When the rain came, it brought with it endless swathes of grey; each drop drained color like wet ink bleeding from paper. Kesa and her fellow artists -- and more importantly, their beloved canvas, the sky -- were among the first to lose their luster. They all lamented, praying and begging for the sun's return, but the light could not break through the dreary pall. What could they do?

Kesa would not let this tempest steal their greatest joy. She rallied the others, reminding them they had been hand-chosen for their tasks. Staining the skies with their love and devotion to the sun was their entire reason for being; they did not simply paint with light and color, they were made of it. They could not stand idly by while Eden's very essence was washed away.

Emboldened by their sister, the artists came together to face the storm on the mountain peaks of Saldir. They found it to be a pallid beast with lightning claws and teeth. Like each of them, it was born from the skies, but twisted with shadows and fear. It had no language, no purpose, and it ached with an almighty hunger; the only thing that could sate its appetite was colors.

Kesa pitied the amorphous creature; it couldn't know what it was doing, the pain it caused. It was simply hungry, lost, and confused. She offered it a bargain: she would sacrifice her magic, all her colors consumed, so long as it left this realm after. Her cohorts could not bear to lose the beauty she put into the world; they stood against her, and instead, they all came together to sacrifice a small portion of their magics -- one color each.

A horrible gale wind feasted upon the palette offered to it, and then, with its hunger quelled, the angry squall dissipated into nothingness. When the sun returned, everything its light touched was set aglow; a rainbow of colors burst forth from the grey, and life seemed to begin anew. Though those twelve lost colors are sorely missed, Kesa and the others take comfort in knowing their skies are safe and will stay that way, forevermore. [wc: 546]

What did they look like before?: like golden hour in summer; a robin's evening song