[Raw/Unedited] (ONC 2025 Entry) Two artists and three authors immerse themselves in a surrealistic situation within the Ivory Mansion, blurring the lines between reality and feverish dream. A White Jester whose frozen eternal smile only means more questions than answers, and the majestic one who sat inside the throne room, refuses to be forgotten. "I do not want to wither nor disappear, how can I make my dream eternal? I know...I will make them come to me." --- [07/20/25] Cover illustrated by Naki D. Callenreese

epiphanot; An idea that at first seems like an amazing insight but later turns out to be pointless, mundane, stupid, or incorrect, and often is the root cause of bad decisions. It's not a real word, but that about sums up the relationship between lifelong best friends, Kennedy and Elodie. That's how it feels when Elodie suddenly texts Kennedy the night before college graduation after months of not speaking, "meet me behind the mall at midnight. Don't bring anyone!" Sure, it sounds like a good idea. Given that Kennedy just broke up with her toxic as hell situationship (not even her boyfriend), is about to lose her job, has no idea what she's about to do with her life, and can feel herself spiraling into what feels like a quarter life crisis. But, play stupid games, you win stupid prizes. In just a span of 12 hours, Kennedy will endure the most chaotic night of her life right before college graduation. These are going to be the consequences of Elodie and Kennedy's epiphinot. *warnings* Rated for mature audiences Contains use of drugs, alcohol, strong language, and sexual content (conversations of/innuendos) ---------- An entry for the ONC2025 Using the prompt, "meet me behind the mall at midnight. Don't bring anyone!" Copyright ©️ 2025 Emerald H (Lady-Emerald) All rights reserved Cover design (2025) by @AngeBlancRose

Love and retaliation conspire to foil a billionaire land developer's attempt to bulldoze a family business. Heather Clayburn owns Nuance, a thriving upscale restaurant in a nineteenth-century house in Vancouver's West End. Her family has lived above the restaurant for generations, but after her divorce, only she and her twelve-year-old daughter, Sage, remain. As Downtown spreads westward, massive office and condo towers threaten the last of the houses, and she is determined to preserve the family legacy. Strathaven Land Development owns the adjacent vacant lot, leasing it to the restaurant for client parking, and they recently bought the 1950s apartment building on the other side of the house. When Strathaven's owner tells Heather about an old verbal purchase agreement, she refutes its validity. He forces his son, Sinclair, to coerce her into selling. Sinclair becomes a regular diner at Nuance, catching Heather's eye, and while looking for ways to do his father's dirty deeds, he is increasingly attracted to her. Unaware of his motives, she moves him to the top of her dream hunk list.

Adeliza of Normandy has only ever wanted a place to belong. The illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Normandy, she never was certain there was a place for her. Orphaned at a young age, all she knew was conflict and misery, as her brother, William, fights to inherit Normandy. Illegitimate like her, William promises that when he is recognized as duke, she will be a princess and marry a powerful noble. When William achieves his goal, he finds her not only an important noble, but the love of her life. As a favor to her brother, she vows to help bring about the marriage he desires with the grand Matilda of Flanders. Like Normandy, he's determined to have Matilda. But his desire might destroy everything, including Adeliza's happiness.

She was once a character in a deleted story, now lost and memoryless in the Library Limbo. If she wants to get her memories back, she's going to have to work on her backstory - by helping to fix some stories that have gone wrong. And how hard could that really be?

An introverted, recluse gamer accidentally finds out she's the reincarnation of a Greek god/goddess, and is stuck in a world-altering time-loop until she figures out WHICH god/goddess she's destined to become. ***** Ophelia Jones is...well, she's nothing. She asks for nothing. She WANTS nothing. Just to stay in her dark basement-apartment, do her mindless data-entering job by day, play video games by night. She refuses to participate in a real social life, and won't read the news or be active in the LGTBQIA+ scene that she belongs in. No, Ophelia is done giving a sh**. She'd rather live in her fantasy world, ignoring the real world around her. That is, until a mysterious puddle surfaces in her backyard, and she jokingly wonders if it'll be a portal to another world, someplace better - and she falls into it. Oh, she's transported to a new world, all right -- but not a parallel world or an alternate universe. She's transported to the past; into mythology, specifically. Greek mythology, to be even more exact. Because according to Alfie, her "spiritual guide", she's a reincarnated god or goddess, and has to figure out who. Problem? SHE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT GREEK MYTHOLOGY. ONC prompts 37 + 5

ONC 2025 SHORTLIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is my ONC 2025 entry. I've made it to the long list a handful of times and the short list once! Maybe this year will be the year? I chose # 69 - Corporations dominate the world, stifling creativity with the force of the sterile police to eliminate any threat of unauthorized competition. It gives plenty of room for creativity - here we go!

What happens when love collides with the supernatural? In a world where a demon roams the shadows, Nadine finds herself inexplicably drawn to Havoc, a self-loathing demon grappling with his dark purpose. As their paths intertwine, Nadine discovers that falling for a demon was the last thing on her wishlist, yet it may just be the catalyst that brings both of them to life. This is a tale of unexpected love, redemption, and the search for purpose in a modern landscape where the lines between good and evil blur. Through Nadine's unwavering compassion, Havoc begins confronting his inner demons, challenging the essence of being a monster. Their journey is filled with heart-pounding moments, rich emotional depth, and a unique exploration of love that transcends the boundaries of the human experience. Are you ready to dive into a story that defies conventions and invites you to question everything you thought you knew about love? I invite you to step into "Falling for Havoc" and join Nadine and Havoc on their unforgettable journey today! ONC 2025 Prompt #2: To be in love with a demon was the last thing on your wishlist.

*Complete* Copper's life is a carefully crafted illusion-onscreen, she shares a passionate romance with her co-star, a relationship her fans obsess over. Offscreen, her real love life is a mess. Fresh off a brutal breakup and desperate for guidance, she does something reckless-she holds a séance, not to summon spirits but the god of love himself. To her shock, Cupid answers. But the winged god isn't the chubby cherub of legend-he's sharp-witted, dangerously charming, and hell-bent on fixing her romantic misfortunes. As Cupid sets Copper on a whirlwind journey to find true love, the lines between myth and reality blur. Because somewhere between staged passion and genuine heartache, the god of love is breaking the one rule he never intended to-falling for her himself. With fate, fandoms, and forbidden feelings at play, Copper must decide if love is just another illusion... or if some hearts are worth the risk. (Based off Prompt 30 o ONC: In a love Triangle where Cupid himself becomes the third wheel, who will be left standing when Love faces its own matchmaker?) *Please, no. I use a world of soft 'corn' to portray situations not commonly found in that setting. I'm not trying to portray the soft corn or any other industry. I use phrases that aren't seen (I assume) in this industry or any other industry. In other words, it's just a work of fiction. ***Warning: Possible RH romance. I'm not sure yet, but there will at least appear to be a lot of love interests.***