| ONC 2024 HONORABLE MENTION | Pretie Panton, princess of Aecora and sole heir of the Panton bloodline, does not want to marry - at least, not the prince her father has arranged for, who Pretie has never met. However, when her attempt at escape is quickly put to an end, Pretie finds herself in an even worse predicament: cursed to take the form of a mermaid and live isolated from the world she has always known. Driven by the desire for revenge, Pretie seeks the help of an adventure-seeking mermaid named Ephyra, who has heard legends of a mythical stone that may just be able to transform the princess back into her human self... If it truly is her deepest desire. 。𖦹 ° Written for ONC 2024. Keep in mind that since this is a contest entry, this is an unedited draft and, as such, there may be some grammatical errors I've missed. This story was inspired by the following prompts: (Main Prompt) 88. Your father is forcing you to marry someone you have never met. The night before your wedding you tie your sheets together and make your escape through the window. Half way down you make eye contact with someone doing the exact same thing a few windows over. 24. A desperate wish, made from the heart, is always answered. Sooner or later. 28. "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." Word count: 31,006 words Status: Honorable Mention