The Winning Coven

Submitted into Contest #65 in response to: Write about a group of witches meeting up on Halloween night.... view prompt

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Adventure Fiction Friendship

The Winning Covenย ย 

By: Haripriyaย 

"Every Halloween night, the chosen witches' coven meets up, and attempts to connect with the ancient ancestors of the witching families, and gets to make one wish, a thoughtful and wise one, that will affect the entire witching generations past them. But do be warned, for if you make a cruel, selfish one, it will affect not just the other witches, but the witches of the coven too."

They heard, as their potions teacher, Ms. Moon, read the following guidelines. The coven was chosen for which 4 students will be challenged to work together. The witching emerald will pair all students by groups, and whoever finishes the 3 tasks will be the chosen coven who will meet up and connect with the witching ancestors. Right now, it was just the ceremony for this competition but has not started yet.ย ย 

Their teacher, Ms. Moon continued reading: "As always, no cheating spells, no help from any other groups, and no harming anyone while attempting to do each challenge. No magic use is allowed when figuring out the riddles, and if they do so, the group will be disqualified. The 4 witches will know if they have won or not, for they feel a connection inside them, bonding with the 5 founding spirits."

All the students whispered to each other in wonder and excitement. The clock had ticked noon, and the competition officially began.ย ย 

โ€œStudents, your first riddle should be shown on your quest chart. The object you should find is 'the remembering'ย potionโ€™s ingredients. It will be in a brown sack. There will be 4 sacks, so only 4 teams will win. The other 12 cannot compete in further challenges. I will be notified of all your moves, so donโ€™t try to get disqualified.โ€ Ms. Moon told them.ย 

The riddle read: โ€œI am outside but can also be inside. Some can buy me, some can grow me. I can be fake, or real. What am I?"

First, everyone gathered up in the hall, and the witching emerald paired all the students and evenly distributed them into 16 groups.ย ย 

There is one group to be more exact, that wish they had never been together.ย 

โ€œAmethyst, Blair, Coral, and Dianne, your time starts... NOW!โ€ Ms. Moon told them.ย 

โ€œForget about the past and start a new one,โ€ advised Amethyst.ย 

โ€œNo! We canโ€™t forget it so easily! Youโ€™re the reason I never got in the honors witching program!โ€ Blair shouted at Amethyst.ย 

โ€œWell stop playing nice, Blair! You pushed me in the pond when I was looking for some mint leaves!โ€ Amethyst argued back.ย 

โ€œDianne, can you stop this fight!โ€ Coral asked.ย 

โ€œI donโ€™t want to talk to you! Do you not remember when you turned me into a warthog, on purpose?โ€ asked Dianne.ย 

โ€œAgain, it wasnโ€™t on purpose! I counted the ingredients wrong!โ€ Coral fought back.ย 

Ms. Moon appeared in front of them and sternly spoke, โ€œYou little rascals have been wasting your time for figuring the first riddle for talking! You all go this instant or wonโ€™t be participating in the challenges.โ€ย ย 

The 4 of them bent down and nodded.ย ย 

โ€œWell... have any of you got an idea? What could it be?โ€ asked Amethyst.ย 

โ€œSomething that can be outside, and inside. What could that possibly be?โ€ Coral asked frustrated.ย ย 

โ€œI donโ€™t know,โ€ Dianne told.ย 

โ€œWhat happened to your arm?โ€ asked Blair.ย 

โ€œYou mean this wound? Long story short, this summer break, I grew my roses, and when I touched it, it pricked me.โ€ Coral responded.ย 

โ€œWait a minute, thatโ€™s it! Plants! They can grow inside and grow outside. They can be bought and can be grown! They can also be fake, and real!! Youโ€™re a genius Coral! Now, all we need to do is go to the academyโ€™s greenhouse. There we can find the remembering plant!โ€ Amethyst exclaimed.ย 

โ€œWhat are we waiting for? Letโ€™s go!โ€ Dianne screamed.ย 

โ€œI love the excitement Dianne, but you need to keep your voice down! The other 15 groups can hear us!โ€ Blair advised.ย 

โ€œSorry!โ€ Dianne replied.ย ย 

The 4 girls quickly rushed inside the academyโ€™s greenhouse, and to their surprise, they found a lot of remembering plants.ย 

โ€œHow are we going to find out which one we need!?โ€ asked Coral.ย 

โ€œThere must be something! Keep looking! Donโ€™t lose hope everyone.โ€ Amethyst reassured them.ย 

โ€œLook, I would hate to burst your bubble, but I have a bad feeling that... well, the other 4 teams took it,โ€ Blair suggested.ย 

โ€œNo! They would tell us if the first round was over, wonโ€™t they?โ€ Dianne replied.ย 

The 4 girls started to search everywhere and sometimes tumbled on each other.ย 

โ€œWait for a second, I see a sack, underneath this plant! This must be it.โ€ Coral told.ย 

Coral slowly untied the ribbon of the sack. The other girls huddled closer.ย ย 

โ€œWell, first letโ€™s remove all the ingredients, and then open the scroll to find the next clue,โ€ Coral responded.ย 

The others nodded their heads. Coral took each ingredient out carefully and placed it in the otherโ€™s hand. Soon, after emptying the ingredients, Coral felt the scroll.ย 

โ€œWhat does it say?โ€ asked Blair in curiosity.ย 

โ€œIt says, โ€œA fine job, you did. But are you up for the next task? Focus, is a must, but do you know where to find me, in times of rush?โ€ย 

โ€œHow can we find focus? Itโ€™s not an object or a person we can touch! Itโ€™s a feeling, a word!โ€ Amethyst said.ย 

โ€œUm... I thought you had a little bit of sense in your brain! Of course, itโ€™s going to be like this! Riddles are always hard!โ€ Blair talked back.ย 

It was getting obvious that the 4 of them were not working together as the other teams. They were lucky that they got this far.ย ย 

Ms. Moonโ€™s voice echoed the entire school, โ€œStudents, the winning teams of round 1 have their quests set up differently. The groups who got didn't get to round 1 will go to their normal classes.โ€ย ย 

โ€œWeโ€™re lucky we got until the 2nd round. Does anyone of you have ideas of where the next clue is?โ€ asked Dianne.ย 

โ€œI have an idea. When the riddle said focus I think it is meaning the focus spell we learned in potions class yesterday! I just donโ€™t know what focus has to do with the place we have to go to.โ€ Amethyst shrugged.ย 

โ€œYou might be on to something here! Sheโ€™s right! But we just have to figure out where we get the most concentration.โ€ Blair told.ย 

โ€œCan I say something? I am pretty sure that the next place we have to go is the library. That is where I get the most concentration and focus. What do you all think?โ€ Dianne asked.ย 

โ€œMaybe youโ€™re right! In a library, no one talks! We study witching spells there! So, the focus potion must be in the section of focus spells!โ€ Coral exclaimed.ย 

Saying this, the group dashed into the library. Oddly, they saw no one in there, not even the librarian.ย 

โ€œWhere did everyone go?โ€ asked Blair.ย 

Suddenly, Ms. Moon appeared in front of them again. โ€œLooks like you found the next clue. I will give you the ingredients,โ€ she said.ย 

โ€œHow many groups can get in the 2nd round?โ€ asked Amethyst.ย 

โ€œOnly 2. The first one figured it out about 10 minutes before you 4 came.โ€ Ms. Moon replied.ย 

The girls took the sack and stored the ingredients. Like last time, they found another scroll.ย ย 

The riddle read: โ€œGreat to those who got past the 2 other rounds! But you also have to figure this one too! You sit on me and go anywhere. But you first must tame me, to follow orders. I take you places, far, and wide! But do you know what am I?โ€ย 

The girls stared at the riddle looking blank and confused. But this was not the time to give up! They had worked so hard to reach here!ย 

โ€œWhat do we tame?โ€ asked Blair.ย 

โ€œWell, we tamed our familiars!โ€ replied Coral.ย 

โ€œBut we donโ€™t ride on our cats! It must be something else,โ€ said Amethyst.ย 

โ€œAlso, the last part of the riddle said what am I, not who am I. That means it cannot be a living thing. It has to be an object.โ€ Dianne told.ย 

โ€œYouโ€™re right. We need to find a non-living thing that we tame for it to follow our rules.โ€ Coral replied.ย ย 

โ€œJust to state the obvious here but we need to hurry! The other team is probably ahead of us! We need to finish quickly. Also, it is starting to get dark outside.โ€ Blair warned.ย 

โ€œWe know Blair! Stop making us even more tensed!โ€ shouted Dianne.ย 

โ€œI just wanted to warn you three!โ€ Blair scoffed.ย 

โ€œYeah, but donโ€™t you think we already know that weโ€™re behind?โ€ Coral questioned.ย 

โ€œPlease! Everyone, this isnโ€™t the time to argue! I know that we all used to be friends once, but all separated in our ways, but we canโ€™t show our anger right now! We can be the first coven of this year to connect with our witching ancestors! Isnโ€™t that like a miracle! Or even a dream come true?โ€ Amethyst advised them.ย 

โ€œFine. Now letโ€™s not waste any more time by quarreling.โ€ Blair responded.ย 

โ€œWait for a second, thatโ€™s it! Remember when we all met the first time? It was by doing our flying class! We all had to be strong, and bold when taming our broomsticks! That is where we need to go! To the broomstick shack! There we can finally find our next clue! Come on!!โ€ Coral remarked.ย 

So, the 4 girls quickly rushed to the broomstick shack. There they saw all types of brooms.ย ย 

โ€œWhoa! Weโ€™ve never been to the shack before! Itโ€™s so big and has every type of broom there is! How do we know where our invitation letter for tomorrow night is?โ€ asked Amethyst.ย 

โ€œGuys! Our quest map... itโ€™s shaking! I donโ€™t think the invitation letter is on the brooms. I think itโ€™s here!โ€ Blair exclaimed.ย 

โ€œYeah! Maybe youโ€™re right!โ€ Dianne shouted back in excitement.ย 

As Blair had said, the invitation was there. They were the first coven for this year to do the ancestor ceremony.ย ย 

โœตโœตโœตย 

It was finally Halloween night. The 4 girls were excited to start their ceremony. They had been practicing the spell, and now all they had to do was chant it together, strongly, in unison. The spell would only work if everyone participated and worked together to bring the witching ancestors.ย ย 

They gathered their ingredients from the remembering spell, focus spell, and put a strength spell on their broomsticks. It was finally time! Ms. Moon gathered the cauldron, and the rest of the witches stayed outside in the Great Lawn. Ms. Moon continuously kept checking the time, for everything must be perfect for this spell to work accordingly. Tick. Tock.ย 

โ€œIt is time. All 4 of you, add the ingredient I tell you to. Remember, each measurement must be perfect. Even the slightest mistake can make the ancestors mad.โ€ Ms. Moon warned.ย 

โ€œAmethyst, put in the 5 rose petals. Blair, choose one twig and break it by half but only put one, of the two pieces into the cauldron. Coral, take the swamp water, and pour all of it inside the cauldron. As for you Dianne, you must take a pint of each spice I provided you in the focus spell and sprinkle it.โ€ Ms. Moon instructed them.ย 

As Ms. Moon had told them, the 4 added the ingredients with utmost focus and precision. They noticed the cauldron bubbling up.ย ย 

โ€œChant the words strongly girls!โ€ Ms. Moon told them.ย 

โ€œHear our call! Almighty witches! We bring upon you all! The academyโ€™s riches!โ€ they chanted.ย 

After exactly 3 times, they saw the 5 ancestors. To show their gratitude, the girls bowed in front of them and shouted, โ€œALL HAIL THE FOUNDING WITCHES!โ€ย 

As the challenge had said, the winning coven was going to get one wish, but it had to be a very important one.ย 

The 4 discussed to themselves.ย 

โ€œWhat should we wish for?โ€ asked Dianne.ย 

โ€œWhat would bring something good to all witches?โ€ asked Coral.ย 

โ€œI... donโ€™t know,โ€ admitted Amethyst.ย 

โ€œHmm... how about this. All witches should get the freedom to spend Halloween with their friends! Think about it! Halloween is the time where we have our exams, thus cannot celebrate Halloween properly!โ€ Blair suggested.ย 

โ€œYouโ€™re right! If we wish this, it will benefit all the future generations!โ€ exclaimed Amethyst.ย ย 

The girls told the 5 ancestors their wish, and it was granted. All the witches were happy about the covenโ€™s choice. So, instead of studying for their exams all night, the girls got to spend time with their friends.ย ย 

The surprising part was that it took them an extreme set of challenges to bring the 4 girls together. After all, the fun part of Halloween was about scaring your friends, wasnโ€™t it?ย 

~The End~ย 










October 23, 2020 21:33

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20 comments

Hello everyone! I hope you all are having a great day! I just want to know, did you all figure out the riddles before Amethyst, Blair, Coral, and Dianne did? Were they hard, or pretty easy? Do you have any suggestions or feedback for me in this story? I would love to know! ๐ŸŽƒ๐Ÿง›๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ

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Kate Aychbee
14:01 Nov 01, 2020

I actually figured all of them out pretty much immediately, but I think you can keep the story the way it is because it's tough for people to think when they're working with people they hate. I love the detail for the characters, and the plotline is fantastic. Great job!!!

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Kate Aychbee
23:51 Nov 02, 2020

Also, did you name one of them Blair because of the Blair Witch? (Even if you didn't, I am very happy ๐Ÿ˜„)

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Oh... I just realized that now! No, actually, I had recently read a book which had the name 'Blair' so I thought I could add it for this story, that's all!

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Bareera Samra
07:49 Nov 06, 2020

hi haripriya. yeah I did guess the broomstick one. couldn't figure out the other ones though.

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I am so glad you could!! It's ok if you couldn't figure the others out! It took me an hour to create 3 riddles! XD

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Bareera Samra
17:04 Nov 07, 2020

Woah. An hour. The riddles were Awesome too.

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Bareera Samra
06:59 Nov 11, 2020

(โยดโ—ก`โ)

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Sowmya Rana
20:46 Oct 25, 2020

I like your story a lot.I visualized each scene of your story.Keep up the good work

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Bareera Samra
07:49 Nov 06, 2020

Great Story Harpriya. Everything went so smoothly and it was a light read. keep it up!

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Emaan Zahid
17:18 Oct 31, 2020

Wow! What an amazing story . Itโ€™s the first story that I read on this site and it was awesome. About the clues, I was really interested in them . well I couldnโ€™t figure out even a single one but I liked your story . Good job ๐Ÿ‘ ๐Ÿ‘

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Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words! :) (Also, it's ok if you didn't figure out the clues... I made them up by myself and it took me a while to figure out the answer! LOL ๐Ÿ˜…)

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Divakaran Pillai
16:38 Nov 04, 2020

Please be careful while using punctuation marks. Don't put a comma before 'and'. For eg., "any other groups, and not having ..." ; there's no need for a comma . Please write numbers in words instead of 1, 2, 3.

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Divakaran Pillai
12:43 Nov 05, 2020

Good theme, story telling style is nice. However, l wish if you could make it more brief and compact.

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