[ONC 2021 Grand Winner] After the events of Ragnarök, the God Vidar has settled in the nice and quiet city of Antwerp where he keeps an eye on the local paranormal community. Nearly a millennium later, Vidar is a grumbling bookstore owner by day and a lazy paranormal detective by night (albeit a slightly furry one during a full moon). The morning after a particularly rough transition, the young teenage girl who normally wastes her days on the skatepark across the street enters his shop, fervently looking for a book on the legend of Brabo and Antigonus. As she struggles to pay, she reveals that the bronze giant has disappeared from the statue on the town square. At the foot of the fountain now lies a body that has been dead for three hundred years. Prompts chosen: (25) The war has ended, and thus the immortals return to their natural state: forgotten, hiding in the shadows until humankind is in need of them once more. They did not expect to be stumbled upon by a young farm apprentice. (*) (60) Rumours of a mysterious dark force under the earth have spread around the city. You are sent to investigate. (*) To fit the plot I have in mind, the young farm apprentice will become a bookstore "apprentice"

A secret program in the United States seeks to replace human militaries with artificial intelligence-driven machines, but the machines aren't so willing to play along. *** Picture a world where humans no longer fight wars. No more families missing loved ones. No more veterans with lifelong mental and physical scars. No more conscription. For the super-secret End of War Project inside the United States government, such a reality is already here. The project models out how artificial intelligence can overcome dangerous and morally sensitive war scenarios with algorithms and automation. The centerpieces are "autonomous combat machines," or ACMs, that look like humans but function like supercomputers. After a string of brilliant successes in the field of combat, the End of War Project is preparing to reveal itself to the public, but something unusual stands in the way. Against their programming, the ACMs start exhibiting all-too-human signs of apprehension, guilt and compassion as they're pushed to perform ever more extreme tasks. The human leaders of the End of War Project race to find who "hacked" the ACMs, but what they find is even more startling--and revealing--than they could ever imagine. ***2019 Watty Award Winner - Science Fiction***

Eragon never lived in Carvahall, but his half-brother, Murtagh did. Instead, Eragon took on the name of another as he bares the crest of the Empire, willingly, but will that change once he finds out for himself the choices he didn't know that exist? (Eragon x Arya) This story is written by @Rainxoxo in fanfiction. Disclaimer: All characters in the plot are owned by Christopher Paolini!

Eva and Saxon are finally a mated couple but nothing is ever simple for them. Instead of settling down and doing things the normal way, they are off chasing the famous rogue which killed Saxon's mum years ago with half of her pack joining them and one of his trusted pack members. Will the two wolves ever get their happily ever after or are they just destined to keep on breaking all the werewolf traditions?

To trust. To believe. To revenge. Three things people want to do, want to feel, but there's always a downside that makes them regret doing so. Betrayal. Lies. Guilt. ~~~~~ In this story, one decision, one agreement, is all that it took to convince Renée Thompson to be a part of a world she never knew. A run-away 17 year old girl. Desperate to hide from people whom she trusted, been complacent with, whom in return abused her, marking her with scars and bruises, both physically and mentally. Unknowingly stumbled upon someone who can make her see, hear, and do things she might or might not regret. She used to be ordinary, reserved, quiet, submissive even. How will she react knowing that she is not who she thinks she is? Can she handle the task that requires her to change? The burden that will be placed upon her shoulders by some stranger? Who will she trust? What will she believe in? How will she have revenge? After all, change is good. For how long? Under whose rules and managerial ways ? How long will it take you to be part of her world?

Secrets do not stay hidden for long. Have you ever had a secret that you would do anything to keep from your own family? Coming home from being at boarding school for an entire year is something Eva has dreamed about since her Dad sent her away; she missed her older brothers and none of them seemed to have changed much, but she has. Eva Thorn does not trust Saxon Redford, in fact she thinks he is the devil in disguise, but he might have all the answers she is looking for. However, he wants something from her that she might not be capable of giving and everything turns into a giant game of who can come out on top. Eva is immature and annoying at times, Saxon is demanding and rude all the time – who will win, but remember they aren’t the only ones hiding secrets.

Vivienne has spent the last three years living with the knowledge that she killed Blake. But as soon as she decides to let him go, she notices strange occurrences that show he might still be around... ***** After years of mourning the death of her true love, Vivienne is finally trying to move on - until mysterious phone calls and anonymous gifts start to arrive. After an ill-fated one-night-stand with her sister's former flame, Julian, Vivienne's suspicions start to grow. Despite Julian's insistence that nothing strange is going on, Vivienne begins to wonder if she is mad or if Blake could be alive. [[word count: 80,000-90,000 words]] Cover designed by Anastasia Wright

Wolves and Furry

CONFUSED by her sexual orientation and trapped by her fear of rejection, Rhoegene isolated herself from the pack and hid for five years hoping to never meet her other half. But after getting tired of running away and realizing that she has been wasting the best times of her youth, Rhoegene started to open her heart again and decided to teach as a PE teacher in the pack's best academy. She encountered a lot of ups and downs which she fought bravely including the jerk handsome Alpha and his four minions. Credits to:@enternalia for the book cover🌻 Credits to: @stellxto from STARRY NIGHT for the book cover🌻 Credits to: @Ce Rin for the illustrated book cover 🌼

Anna and Ryne must battle against evil forces - and their own hearts - in this high-stakes conclusion to the Thread of Gold series. Season 4 of Thread of Gold *** Annalise Cidarius has a tough decision to make: seize the throne or take a chance at love. Reeling from a devastating battle that saw the defeat of the evil goddess Lucia, Anna returns to Stillwater Castle, where an empty throne awaits her; a throne that both she and her enemy-turned-lover Ryne Delafort intend to sit on. But shortly after Anna returns, it becomes clear that chaos and dissent still rein. Reports surface that Eris Delafort has seized control of the neighbouring kingdom and is massacring towns. Even more disturbingly, there are whispers that Lucia has returned, and the goddess might just be more powerful than ever before... If Anna is to save her kingdom, she must muster her courage and defeat the forces of evil once and for all. For if she fails, she'll lose everything - including her own head. WARNING: This story contains strong language, depictions of violence, and mentions of sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.