Onc2023 Stories

ONC 2023 Shortlist Astrid, the Princess of Eurovea, a country existing several centuries in the future, had led a happy and sheltered life in the castle ruled by Regent Arcturus, her uncle. Only on reaching the age of ascension when, according to an ancient tradition, all future queens must face a trial, she realised that there were great gaps in her knowledge of the world around her, her uncle, and even the people she thought she knew well. In a world where love doesn't exist, a young girl who understands old novels better than her reality is sent on a dangerous quest to save her country from creatures who, just like love, were not supposed to be true... Mystery, romance, adventure, and magic combine in this tale, in which a young princess who had grown up surrounded by an impenetrable web of lies, has to find her true identity, and free her kingdom from suffering. A young-adult, dystopian, paranormal fantasy-romance. The wonderful cover created by @WakeWriteWrath

[ONC 2023 and Wattys 2024 winner!] Drug dealer Nathan just can't be bothered to care about some of the stranger things in his life. Like the spellbook he found, complete with working magic and all. Okay, fine, maybe he tried one spell, and maybe that ended with his curtains on fire. Lesson learned: leave forces you don't understand alone. Powerful magic or not - for Nathan, this is just another Wednesday. Not everyone shares his opinion. When YouTube sensation Jamie insists on making a video about his discovery and said video goes viral, Nathan finds himself in a spotlight he completely failed to foresee. While he struggles to adjust to his newfound fame, Jamie and her oddly charming eccentricities drag him into a wacky investigation of his magical tome's origins and true nature. Finding answers shouldn't be that hard. But Nathan's criminal associates want his spellbook for themselves. And they'll stop at nothing to get it. ~Book one in the Witchcraft Wednesday Investigations trilogy~

Three women. Three tangled lives orbiting Mars aboard the Phobos Transit Space Station. Val loses her station operation engineer job under false pretenses, Exo-biologist Cassy is blackballed for doing the right thing, and ex-marine Kate suffers a broken heart. Fortunately, Mavis, the owner of the Starlight Tavern and rescuer of lost souls, is there to help, recruiting the women into her Quilters Guild. But when hostile forces invade the station, the stakes become far greater, and the Guild finds themselves embroiled in a multi-world conspiracy. And they are not about to just stand by and let it happen. Redemption comes stitch by stitch. *** Open Novella Contest Round Two Ambassador Pick *** *** Open Novella Contest Winner - Third Place ***

Marie was not prepared to get fired from her job. This was supposed to be her chance at fame and it just went down the drain. Down on her luck she stumbles upon The Rabbit Hole, a small little talent bar. When Marie is offered a job she's skeptical at first, but eventually agrees to the job. But The Rabbit Hole isn't as normal as it appears. A man turns invisible, another starts on fire. And her partner is never seen expect right before they're about to perform. Oh, and there's a man with fire for eyes who's seen right before trouble appears. If Marie wants to do well and become famous she's going to have to learn more about The Rabbit Hole and herself. ~~ An ONC 2023 entry Cover by: @HollisOfRandom

✨On Hiatus✨ ONC 2023 Shortlister {HUNGER GAMES meets EMBER with a dab of 5TH WAVE vibes} From the moment Star drew her first breath, the unending conflict between humankind and extraterrestrial forces had been an inescapable reality. For as long as she could remember, she had called the subterranean depths home, honing her skills in the art of survival within the clutches of the dark. As the relentless war wages on above the earth's surface, Star finds herself ensconced within the underworld labyrinth of three distinct factions, each vying for power and influence. Amidst the ceaseless destruction that threatens to consume everything she has ever known, Star is confronted with a daunting choice: to participate in this Decades games, a ruthless and unforgiving competition that promises absolute dominion for the victor. With resources dwindling and time running out, Star finds herself faced with a harrowing choice. Will she take up the challenge and risk everything to participate in the legendary games? For the victors, the ultimate prize awaits: the power to rule over all. ✨Round One Qualifier in 2023 Open Novella Contest✨ ✨Round Two Qualifier in 2023 Open Novella Contest✨ ✨Round Three Longlist in 2023 Open Novella Contest✨ ✨Round Four Shortlist in 2023 Open Novella Contest✨ #ONC2023 | Prompt 67 | Prompt 6 ‼️ Content/Trigger Warning: Contains gore, violence, some strong language. All rights belong to the author and no reproductions are allowed without the permission of @Renaissance111. Please respect the author's copyright. 😊❤️ 2023 C.S. Marie

'Death is coming in the Autumn.' That's what Tira tells Verity. But Verity is stuck in her life, and doesn't understand just what's at stake, until it's much too late... A novella written for ONC23. Guidance: mild horror, sex references.

Myths, legends, history all play a part in the origins of the planet. With every different background, different religion there is a God of some sort. And all of this information means absolutely nothing to a five year old. However Teri is a firm believer of sharing is caring as she accidentally awakens a banished Greek God, Elliotes the God of Empty Dreams, by sharing her jellybeans. Now Teri is stuck in the crossfire of a war that should have ended thousands of years ago, the War of Dreams. Could a five year old have the voice of reasons to end a war, or will she be consumed by the nightmares? Using Prompt 73: You are a long-forgotten god. A small kid leaves candy at your shrine, and you awaken. Now, you must do everything to protect your High Priest / Priestess, the kid and their entire kindergarten class, your worshippers.

After another mission gone wrong, young superhero Phia wakes up with a problem that seems strange, even for people in her line of work. Her burnt fingers are telling her that she's the only person who can rescue her teams leader, the long lost Penelope. While trying not to fall any harder for her roommate, keep up in classes, and stop failing at missions, can Phia also untangle the mystery of her fingers and find Penelope before the Young Empowered People's Program catches wind of her strange new power. *ONC 2023 From the ONC prompt 23) They were not real, everyone told me they were not real, but why are they here? Why are they trying to talk to me? What are the calling me the ONE? Why are they staring at me like that?

A twist in time. A villainous lady hated by the ton. A quest to avoid ruin. When Ria's Grandmother suddenly disappeared, she didn't expect the search would bring them to 19th century England. After possessing a body of a woman hell-bent to profess her love to the most dashing man in town, Ria must salvage what little of what's left with "her" reputation to live a comfortable life, at least until she could find a way to return to her own time. Taken from Prompt #70 (ONC 2023)

#SHORTLISTED 2023 When Ixis became the second in command to the Throneholder of Opalis she expected rules, patrols and structure for her Fire Trait to shine. Not being caught in the middle of a looming war and a botched assassination she should've succeeded at. In an attempt to drown her sorrows and flee from the looming expectations of helping to lead a war against the demons that threaten their world, Ixis is injured through mysterious circumstances. Forced to return home, the last thing she expects to find is the assassin she couldn't kill pleading for her help. ........ Rider wasn't much of an assassin. Burdened by her past, her curse, and the trauma of what the Throneholder of Opalis did to her, she fully expected the reunion with her old flame to go exactly the way she planned. But when Rider has no choice but to flee her quest for answers, the last person she expected to help her was Ixis: Lady Aria's new Regent. Once they were allies. Now they are enemies. But despite their differing loyalties, they are forced to learn a little more about the circumstances and choices that slowly change everything they thought they knew about each other. Especially when Ixis' Fire Trait begins to heal and for the first time in years, Rider's curse decides to let her. When their begrudging respect unravels into more than just a friendship, they both must choose whether duty or revenge is more important than the love that grows between them. But the demons wait for no one.

There's an urban legend that's been circulating for years about a driver that doesn't take you where you want to go, but where you need to be. One morning before daylight, Cenicienta stepped into his cab! Once inside the taxi, she skims the newspaper and reads about the increased bounty on the bandit plaguing the neighborhood. Wishing to escape her slavish life, the burglar's bounty seems appealing, and she becomes interested in catching him. The cabbie stops in a lonely alley, insisting it's where she is destined to be. She hesitantly disembarks, intending to catch another cab further up the road, which disappears as soon as the cabbie speeds off. Thereupon, Cenicienta stumbles upon a drawing of her six-year-old self with a note hinting at a secret treasure and also chances upon the handsome Robert Warren, who is quite taken with her. Cenicienta begins her search for the bandit at the Magnificent Seven Balls, the place of his intended thievery. At the balls, she meets Robert Warren, whose stepfather, Sir. Henry Moore tries to steer him into the arms of the young Elle Anderson, his deceased best friend's daughter. Robert meanwhile gets caught up in Cenicienta's life. The two grow closer and sparks fly. Cenicienta, in her pursuit to solve the mystery of the midnight bandit plaguing her town's elites, discovers a most sinister plot that wrought a terrible wrong upon someone very dear to her, and which threatens her relationship with Robert. Will she be able to help right the terrible misdeed and save her relationship with Robert, thereby changing her entire life?

||WATTY WINNER 2023🌟|| Two strangers pretend to be a couple to win a dumb bet. The wager: they must enrol in couples therapy and fool their counselor. _________ Six non-refundable couples counseling sessions. That's how many Clementine booked for him and his girlfriend to sort out their relationship problems. What he didn't see coming was getting dumped as soon as he informed her of it. Enter Everett, a chaotic, curly-haired boy who barges into Clementine's life. He offers to fake date and attend the counseling sessions with Clementine. Unfortunately, they are both idiots. Did they really believe they could safely fake-date in a Wattpad book and NOT fall in love? ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 Might bring to mind: "Heartstopper" but with a ton more baking and fake dating 🌈 🎼🎶 This book has a Spotify playlist with a song for each chapter. To download it you can search me on Spotify @itsmeimthevampire - the playlist name is "Idiots To Lovers." 🏅🏅🏅 Watty Winner 2023. Shortlisted in the Open Novella Contest 2023. Featured on Wattpad profiles: @Lgbtq @FreeTheLgbt @Romance 🏆🏆🏆 #2 lgbt #2 lgbtq 📆 10/5/23 #4 gay 21/5/23 #4 bxb 14/5/23 #5 boyxboy 13/5/23 #1 gayromance 5/5/23 #1 gayshipsareyayships 14/5/23 Written for ONC2023 using prompt 39: On a blind date with a complete mismatch, you're increasingly uncomfortable but too polite to leave. Then an attractive stranger comes over and gives you an out.

Hannah meets Max - who broke out of prison. Despite her head telling her he is dangerous, she can't help being attracted to him. - - - ♡ - - - Hannah loves romantasy shows and her cat Elvis. It's a typical Friday night for her, until she runs into Max - the handsome inmate she's been spying on for weeks, now on the run from the police after his escape from prison. Caught up in Max's plans, Hannah's life is turned upside down. She must confront her own issues - self-doubts, her taste for bad boys, and a growing attraction to Max, who doesn't seem to mind her company either. But as they grow closer, Hannah realizes Max isn't a gentle man and almost nothing he says is true. Faced with the harsh reality and the police, Hannah must make a choice. Will she follow her heart or reason? - - - ♡ - - - Note: This story is meant to be a bit funny. Don't take it too serious ;)

Once upon a time, in a land far far away, a young girl awoke in a body not her own. 'Mirror mirror on the wall tell no more lies of who we are.' Atticus When the giant mirror shows not her own reflection but that of an evil enchantress, Lucy Lambert realizes that her troubles have only just begone. Waking up as the villainous character of a well-known fairy tale is no walk in the park, especially not when her only options are to die a gruesome death or succeed where the original has failed. *Original Story written for the Open Novella Contest 2023, completed with 25K words*

Born in a society where an AI ran the daily lives of every human being including deciding their spouse, Ava never questioned her role. However, the day the handsome stranger who had haunted her dreams manifested into the real world, she knew she would never be content with the life that had been planned for her by the Unity. To be with the one she truly cares for, Ava must join up with the resistance to fight to free humanity from the Unity's control.

Some people can jump into dreams and manipulate them. But with such power come risks that can bleed out into the real world. Alora dreams about the same guy every night, a young man whom she sees daily on the bus. After deciding she has dreamt about him enough, she gets the courage to talk to him. Reve has made a mistake. A girl can see him. Now he has to find a way to right the consequences of overusing his powers.

#ONC Emma Valentine is desperate to prove she can be a great archaeologist, and she has found just the way to do it. Ephyra Islet is an uninhabited and restricted island with a secret. Determined to figure out the secret and learn all about the ancient civilization that lived there, she ignores all the warnings and sets-up her own illegal dig. When Emma discovers a massive bio-dome and a long forgotten immortal inside, life as she knows it will forever be changed. On the run with an immortal by her side she will have to decide what is more important, her career or her life. My first and only novella on Wattpad

As a spare heir and hero of the last war, Wystan would like nothing more than to enjoy retirement while teaching recruits and drinking up his inheritance. After stepping on the wrong toes, he is reinstated early and finds himself on a quest to slay a dragon in the Southern Lands of the Empire. Unwanted and feared, the merry band of the Empire's mercenaries joins him on the journey, for they have been ordered to die with him in not so many words. While the rumors consist of a tale of a feral, man-eating dragon, a captured princess, and a dreary, impenetrable fortress of a tower where both dwell, Wystan learns that stories are just that: stories. The tower is not impenetrable nor dreary. On the contrary, it's quite homey with warm rugs, shiny chandeliers, and the fire roaring in every heart. The dragon ignores humans like a person would an ant. And the princess... Is in fact a prince. The runaway prince of the Zmaya Kingdom enjoys making Wystan's days harder. Smooth-tongued and shrewd, Alexei offers their party a place to stay after hearing about their grim fate. Uncovered coincidences and secrets imply a connection between him and the dragon. If Wystan returns home empty-handed, the Emperor would hang him. But it's not just his life at stake, the mercenaries become comrades in arms. Wystan is forced to entertain Alexei's whims while unraveling the truth behind the man's meddling, the dragon's presence, and the Empire's betrayal.

It was never an easy choice. Growing up like Henry, it was always some complicated game of fate or shit where he had to chose. And it kept continuing all his life even 'til date and it was hard and getting worse for him. With his bestfriend - the only person left who understood him - on the bedside and her last wish, he decided to drive the damn cab to that location marked on the map. Even though it was nowhere on the GPS or anywhere else. Might've been a ride from which he wouldn't return with the girl in the cab behind him but he was not going to let that be and always wonder about the road not taken. *** inspired by prompt 09 of the ONC 2023 - details in introduction *** Amazing cover by @MuniWilliams Go check her cover shop out!

Eletonias is a kingdom of great technology and pain. Magic is banned, and those found with it face a fate worse than death at the hands of the King and his machines. Runa barely leaves the candlelit alleyways she calls home, working with a rebel group to overthrow the rulers who have forced her to hide her true self. Cyrus is a prince, grappling with vicious court rumours and a secret that could soon become fatal. Desperate to protect himself, their worlds collide when a series of deaths and a shattered crown reveal a darker past than anyone could have expected. But, to save the kingdom and their lives, they must first discover that things will be a lot harder when hell is empty and all the devils are here. Trigger warnings - fire, blood, swords, death, dying, dead bodies, demons, soldiers, skeletons The trigger warnings are not shown in each individual chapter at this point, sorry Main prompt- 62