Onc2025 Stories

On the run, Willow stumbles into a bandit ambush and is rescued by a lone traveler. He reluctantly agrees to help protect her on the forest paths if she can guide him to his destination. His distant demeanor suddenly changes after she returns his cloak, not realizing he is a selkie, nor aware that if someone returns a selkie's cloak, the selkie falls in love with them. As they travel, she discovers that he's everything she ever wanted in a husband, but learns that it comes at a cost - and that cost is his freedom. Note: If you're looking for a typical lore-based selkie story, I'm afraid you won't find it here. But if you're looking for a hopeful selkie and an uninformed human, then you have come to the right place. ONC 2025 awards: Ambassador's pick award, Round 2 winner, and Short List award. Based on the Open Novella Contest prompt #110: "20 days of freedom." Cover was made with incredible patience by: SayWatt74 (Cardin Watts)

✨First Place + Grand Winner of ONC 2025✨ (thank you!) In the wake of her estranged mother's death, Maricel Ferrer returns to her childhood home to confront the dark secrets she left behind. 🪞 Maricel has spent years trying to forget the house she grew up in - the house where her mother's mental health slowly unraveled. But after receiving unexpected news, she has no choice but to return. The old fears should be gone, just like her childhood "imaginary friend" who liked to appear in her reflection. At first, it's easy to dismiss the strange occurrences: a flicker in the glass, a movement that doesn't quite match hers. But then the reflection smiles when she doesn't. Moves when she's still. Whispers things she doesn't want to hear. By the time Maricel realizes the truth - that the thing in the mirror has been waiting for her return - it's too late. Because now, it wants out. And it wants to take her place. ONC 2025 | Exclusively on Wattpad Prompt 55: What if the person you see in the mirror isn't really you, but something that's been watching you this whole time? Prompt 105: Your childhood imaginary friend, who disappeared years ago, suddenly returns - only this time, they're real. © 2025 Darly Jamison. All Rights Reserved. This work is protected under international copyright laws.

After six years in a progressive French boarding school, eighteen-year-old Lady Alice returns to her family's estate in Surrey, dreading the fate that awaits her-- debutante balls, an arranged marriage, and a life she does not want. She would have preferred to stay in France, teaching and writing love tales rather than living one dictated by others. Once cast aside by her own father and a stepmother, Alice finds their sudden desire for reconciliation hollow. Only her childhood best friend, Michael, Marquess Lovelace, seems like a true comfort. But as she settles back into her former home, something strange begins to happen. A black rabbit, eerily familiar, appears in the shadows-- just like the one that belonged to Edmond, her long-forgotten imaginary friend. And then she meets Count D'Arcy, the enigmatic and elusive neighbour whose presence unsettles her. His eyes, his voice, his very being remind her of Edmond. Could it be him? Or is her mind playing tricks on her? As the social season unfolds, Alice finds herself tangled in a web of mystery, romance, and the supernatural. The past and present blur, forcing her to question what is real, what is illusion, and whether love can exist beyond the bounds of reason. In the haunting halls of her childhood home and under the watchful gaze of Count D'Arcy, Alice must uncover the truth before she loses herself to the unknown. ~~~ My entry for the ONC 2025 based on the prompt 105: Your childhood imaginary friend, who disappeared years ago, suddenly returns - only this time, they're real.

When a cursed bangle binds Sea Drifter Ninnette to a dangerous demon, she only has three days to break the curse before it claims her life. °:•.🪸.•:° Ninnette is a Sea Drifter with the power to command water, dredging shipwrecks, and salvaging lost treasure. When she braves a sunken ship no one else dares to dive, she finds a strange clockwork bangle that binds her to an ancient curse and to the infuriating Kazi, a demon who leaves destruction wherever he goes. The moment the bangle is activated, they are hunted by a secret order led by a relentless Priestess who believes the armlet is a key to something far greater than treasure. But the true danger isn't the order. It isn't the demon Kazi. It's the curse. When Ninnette puts on the bangle, a countdown begins. If she doesn't break the curse in three days, she will die like every wearer before her. °:•.🪸.•:° She commands the sea. He is a demon who has lived for centuries. They are both bound by a curse. Only three days to survive. °:•.🪸.•:° Set in a Maritime Steampunk world, and inspired by Filipino cultures, from Spanish influence to the seafaring Sama-Bajau. This story weaves dangerous magic, high stakes, and heart-aching romance. °:•.🪸.•:° ONC 2025 Honorable Mention °:•.🪸.•:° Romantasy High Fantasy Fantasy Adventure SciFi Steampunk Fantasci Young Adult

🏆 ROUND THREE QUALIFIER 🏆 Ivy Rosewood - or Ivonne, as her parents call her - never wanted to be a princess. Her role always fit her beautiful and charming older sister Eloise much better, but now that they are both receiving marriage proposals from foreign kingdoms, she's forced into that role as well. Unruly and with a tough attitude, her parents never loved her that much, waiting for the best opportunity to marry her off and send her to a backwater country. On the other hand, her precious sister gets to be married to Maximus Anderson, the dashing heir to the throne of Gloria, the perfect fairytale kingdom. Ivy doesn't mind it, though. She never envisioned a happy ever after - only a mundane, comfortable life where she can truly be herself. But what happens when Maximus fails in love with her, and she reciprocates her feelings? The whole world, including their beloved Eloise, will stand in her way and write her as the villain. She won't accept that. She'll write a story of her own, no matter what it takes. And it all begins with the spin of a spindle. *** Based on Prompt 61.

ONC2025 Round 2 winner, Ambassador Pick and Long List Selection Entry based on Prompt 110. 20 days of freedom and Prompt 77. In a world where art and entertainment are forbidden, you're born to challenge the system and change the world.

Burnt-out influencer Wynne Mayfield gave up on her social media dream five years ago. But a new sponsorship deal might be her second chance, even if it means returning to the island she has tried to escape. When she crosses paths with her former best friend, Sienna, Wynne can no longer avoid her. With only twenty days before the sponsorship deadline, Wynne plans to drown her feelings for Sienna--but the more their history resurfaces, the more the two find they understand each other better than before. **** Written for the Open Novella Contest 2025 (ONC), using prompts 110 and 120. * Cover by the wonderful @-MilaSteele !! *

🏆 SHORTLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 A misfit actress must give a performance of a lifetime before her true identity gets uncovered and her hidden empire crumbles down. ⋯⋯⋯ Alyson Gardner, the misfit daughter of the Ocalira chief, is a master of disguise. It is not easy controlling the largest pleasure district in Hylsa Lyllan behind a curtain, so when a student from university goes missing in her turf, she must do everything she can to clear her ties to it even if it means shedding her masks bit by bit. But with an impatient perpetrator out for her ruin, she must turn to friends and foes alike to star in the greatest performance of her life, one that will shake her empire's foundations down to the last brick. From the author of the award-winning novella, 𝘋𝘪𝘦 𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘈𝘳𝘭𝘰 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, comes a story of privilege, wealth, and the divide between the elite and the common. Ideals are a salvation for many, but in the quest for freedom and power, sometimes, they are the first to go. AN INSTALLMENT OF THE LYLLAN UNIVERSITY OF MAGIC AND MISFITS SERIES ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2025 (First Edition) [25,000 - 30,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• 🏆 LONGLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 2 AMBASSADOR PICK - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 2 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 1 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025

🏆 SHORTLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 Two teenagers embark on a cross-country music tour to outrun the threat of war and curtailed creative freedom. ⋯⋯⋯ As Ash finishes identifying his parents' remains from a full-blast attack, he should have stopped writing silly songs. With rebels controlling the country bit by bit comes the diminishing right to express themselves, so when a boy with a lopsided grin and penchant to chase trouble convinces Ash to perform his music, he only has one answer―no. But Jet has a way of getting what he wants, and there is no way Ash can let a golden boy run off on his own. With only a beat-up neon-pink car, a patched guitar, an obnoxious red pen, and a battered polaroid, Jet and Ash embark on a cross-country tour to make a name for themselves, outrunning authorities, and maybe even Fate itself. What can go wrong...right? From the award-winning author of 𝘋𝘪𝘦 𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘈𝘳𝘭𝘰 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, comes a story of young love, the fight for freedom, and the eternal struggle for meaning set in a world of oppression and violence. There are many ways to the end, and it is up to us to choose which path to take. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2025 (First Edition) [25,000 - 30,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• 🏆 LONGLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 2 AMBASSADOR PICK - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 2 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 1 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025

🏆 SHORTLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 A misfit witch must find her missing twin before everyone finds out about her heritage and her family's deception. ⋯⋯⋯ Agatha Fairbard is a mystery. Having lived in a mirror dimension all her life, she was an enigma no one can solve other than who always accompanies her―herself. So when her twin goes missing without a word, Agatha must step into the wide unknown with only a borrowed name and face. That is, until a dark force surfaces and demands her power. In a world of betrayal, greed, and conquest, she has to discover her truth before others with vested interest do it for her. From the author of the award-winning novella, 𝘋𝘪𝘦 𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘈𝘳𝘭𝘰 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, comes a story of privilege, wealth, and the divide between the elite and the common. Ideals are a salvation for many, but in the quest for freedom and power, sometimes, they are the first to go. AN INSTALLMENT OF THE LYLLAN UNIVERSITY OF MAGIC AND MISFITS SERIES ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2025 (First Edition) [20,000 - 25,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• 🏆 LONGLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 2 AMBASSADOR PICK - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 2 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 1 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025

🏆 ROUND 1 WINNER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 A young witch must team up with a banished demon to reverse the curse on her village before she is persecuted. ⋯⋯⋯ Rakida of Apilsha has her life in order until a mysterious fire broke out and the townsfolk fell ill overnight. With fingers pointing towards her as the rumored village witch, she must find a cure before they burn her at the stake. Enter Tam Sinnasi, a demon stuck in her mother's antiques, with his devilishly charming smile and a hidden past, offering a shot at success. Having made a deal with the devil, Rakida now must balance mystery and magic as she is thrust into the deadly world of the wicked battling blood-thirsty beasts, deranged witches out for blood, a mad Queen of the Dead, and a vengeful goddess who surely had business with Tam. But as her journey takes her to Ganzir, the sprawling palace of shadows and ice, dying may be the least of her worries. From the award-winning author of 𝘋𝘪𝘦 𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘈𝘳𝘭𝘰 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 comes a tale of blames, bargains, and betrayals, set in a game of life and death where losing is not an option. After all, to save one's skin, sometimes, death may just be the answer. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2025 (First Edition) [25,000 - 30,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• 🏆 LONGLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 2 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025 🏆 ROUND 1 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2025

Livy barely escaped a war he never wanted, only to stumble into a secret that could unravel everything, his past, his identity, and the fragile peace he fought for. A hidden chamber, a cryptic riddle, and a syndicate that wants him dead. The deeper he digs, the clearer it becomes: his bloodline is not what he was told, and someone went to great lengths to keep it buried. Now, every step toward the truth threatens to expose him, and the wrong move won't just cost him his life, it will set the world on fire. After all, some legacies aren't meant to be inherited.

☆ONC2025 SHORTLIST☆ Yuna Arhin is the confident cheer captain of Westchester High, but that's merely her top layer. An ambitious girl with a big dream, she knows what she wants and would stop at nothing to get it. Whether in love or in life, it looks like Yuna has it all: the looks, status, doting star quarterback boyfriend, and even the wealthy family. With all plans running smoothly, she faces a sudden obstacle: a quiet, unassuming girl who appears to suffer at the hands of Westchester's elite, Yuna at the helm. Whispers fly. The rumor mill turns. Bonds are tested. The stereotypes are confirmed...or are they? The Westchester whispers try to force Yuna into the box and bring her storybook ending to a screeching halt. But they forgot one thing: Yuna Arhin is more than just her top layer. It's HER story, and she's in control. It's time to break the stereotype. Started: February 07, 2025 Finished: March 13, 2025 Cover help: @NotEvenEstella NOTE: If you are reading this story on any other platform other than Wattpad you are very likely to be at risk of a malware attack. If you wish to read this story in its original, safe, form, please go to @Mochi711 on Wattpad. Thank you. ✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏ ONC2025 Prompt 25: You're not the shy, bookish girl who bumps into the star athlete and wins his heart. No, you're his girlfriend, the blonde, confident cheerleader destined to become the cliché ex. But this time, you're rewriting history and taking control of your story. ✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

When Elliot and his kid sister go hiking together, he's expecting typical problems like blisters and rain. He's not expecting the deluge of fantastical problems that await him on the second day of his hike. And he's not happy about it.

[ONC2025] | [Ambassador Pick] | [Longlist] Scarlett has it all: the most popular guy in school is her boyfriend, she is slim and pretty, she has enough money to never have to work a day in her life and her classmates look up to her. It's harder work than those jealous bitches realize, but of course she's happy to do that. That's why she's anything but happy when a new girl shows up at school who develops a love-hate relationship with her boyfriend. Caiden pretends not to like the simple, brown-haired girl, but Scarlett has known him longer than today. It doesn't take long before she is pushed aside, after which she has to grit her teeth as Caiden wins Emilia's heart. And it's not only that; even when Scarlett is the main character of this story, other people are steeling the spotlight on hér cover!! It shouldn't be like that, she thinks - she knows! - and that's why the blonde decides to take matters into her own hands. Unfortunately for her, cliché piles on cliché. Will she come out of this story unscathed, even though everything seems to be going wrong? ... Prompt 25: You're not the shy, bookish girl who bumps into the star athlete and wins his heart. No, you're his girlfriend - the blonde, confident cheerleader destined to be the cliché ex. But this time, you're rewriting history and taking control of your story.

My writing experience for ONC this year.

In a world where emotion is suppressed and individuality is forbidden, Elion Strider lives a life of conformity, bound by the steadfast rules of the Regime. When his friend Kira is punished for a subtle display of emotion, Elion's dissatisfaction with his controlled existence grows. Feeling the weight of his family's oppressive ideals, he begins to question everything-especially the mysterious Artisans, a group of rebels who dare to defy the Regime by creating forbidden art, music, and films. Driven by the desire for something real and meaningful, Elion sets out on a journey to find the Artisans. Along the way, he stumbles upon the vibrant expressions of human creativity that have been hidden for years-art, music, and movies that stir his soul and awaken his true self. With the help of his friends, including the enigmatic Kira, Elion risks everything to create these forbidden forms of expression, even if it means losing everything he knows.

"There's no denying it-either I'm hallucinating or Cole Winton is standing on my porch." Jamie is used to putting pen to paper. She's been doing it for years, and has a slew of novels to show for it. For the most part, she's left alone to write which is what she prefers. But this is the first time someone has knocked on her door, insisting they are one of her characters. This is the first time someone demands to know how she knows what she does, declaring it treason. Armed with only her pen, her notebook, and her cat, Inkwell, she finds out just how much of their own lives her characters have taken on outside of her novels. (ONC prompt 99) ONC 2025 Finalist (5th place)

Not all that glitters are gold and things that are graceful should be flowers. ⚜️🔅⚜️🔅⚜️🔅⚜️🔅⚜️🔅⚜️🔅⚜️🔅⚜️🔅⚜️🔅⚜️🔅⚜️ The golden sands of Navapuri was getting ready to celebrate Theerthankara Mahadeepam. People had come from afar to witness the majestic festival of its times. But when he arrives, the entire place would be taken by a storm. To him, it was merely an assignment, until the path twisted into a maze of shadows. To her, he should have been nothing more than a stranger. Yet, fate seldom abides to the rules of quests. As choices tighten like a noose, could she hold firm to her purpose, or would the battle between heart and mind lead her astray? One goal and countless paths must be feared. Sometimes what seems simple comes with a deceptive price. NOTE: A fusion of Sasthras, living traditions, and imagination-Rathnalaya is a perceptional historical fiction that reimagines the past through the layers of the present. Not a periodic tale, but a journey through the veiled truths of time and mystery weaved in the land of Navapuri. Plot: Formed from ONC prompts and fascination Dedication: To all my Gentle readers ONC milestone: Round 1 and 2 Qualified

🏆ONC 2025 || Round One Round Winner Cary Leong sees ghosts. Ever since his parents were brutally murdered by one, he's lived in the space between reality and the other world, mingling with humans and the supernatural alike in a desperate attempt to track down their killer. But there's only so much one boy can do---until Jackson Grey shows up on his doorstep. Jackson is desperate. His girlfriend, Sophia, is being haunted, and he needs Cary's assistance. Seizing the opportunity, Cary proposes a deal: he'll help Jackson...if Jackson helps him find his parents' murderer. Accompanied by Sophia and Sophia's overprotective, hot-tempered brother, Edmund, Cary and Jackson must tread the border between worlds in order to kill the ghosts of their pasts and presents---or die trying. Dead men tell no tales, but the other world has a lot to say.