Onc2025 Stories

Rafe Daring is not a hero known for his bravery. He is a farm boy known for being stubborn, cheeky, and doing things haphazardly, which always leads to chaos. When he flees town on his motorcycle, chased by the boy he'd turned into his nemesis, Rafe veers from safety to avoid his enemy. He ventures onto a strangled path through the forbidden forest, a vast stretch of access-restricted nature reserve bordering his family's farm. As with most of his decisions, this one also leads to disaster. Soon, Rafe finds himself injured and lost at the bottom of a steep slope, trying to find his way home. When he stumbles into a briar vine-covered wall, he decides that his only way home might be through what appears to be an archway clogged by vines. However, he is unprepared for what waits for him when he breaks through the thick, thorny briar vines. Finding himself in an increasingly dangerous and confusing situation, he realises that this time, he'd outdone himself in the art of making extraordinarily bad decisions. He has one question that stands out above all his other questions: "Who would be dumb enough to give an idiot like me superpowers?!" TW: Some chapters might have upsetting themes; reader discretion is advised.

Eighteen-year-old Emily is having a challenging first week at university. Her flatmates are into parties when it's not really her jam, there's a thief in the flat whose favourite target is her milk, and all in all she's rather homesick. In the spirit of new beginnings, she agrees to go to gardening club with a new friend, only to find herself trapped inside a shed with only one way out - a door into a land that shouldn't, and soon probably won't, exist. Emily's only chance of getting home is to set out on a quest to save the stolen prince from his tower, in the far reaches of Minaria, Land of the Small Folk. But the world is on the edge of hopelessness, and the clock is ticking. If Emily doesn't fancy falling into oblivion then she should get a wriggle on. Prompt 1: You stumble across a mysterious door made entirely of briars and thorns. As you step through, you're granted extraordinary powers. But with great power comes great responsibility - it's now your duty to save a crumbling kingdom. Title and related quotes are from 'The Greater Celandine Fairy' by Cicely Mary Barker. Original fiction partially inspired by Alice in Wonderland and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. ⭐️ ONC 2025 Short List

**ONC 2025 LONG LIST** Eros (Cupid) gets rejected by Psyche for a newly-revived Narcissus. Convinced he is a failure who does not live up to his job description, Eros quits in anger and embarrassment, breaking his bow and his vows and retiring to Florida. -- After Hell's major overhaul, Kelsia-a repentant succubus and a hopeless romantic-finally gets a chance to earn her angelic wings back. That chance? Find Cupid a match and bring him back to work. -- Will they bring love and fireworks back to humanity, or will they doom all life to fizzle out like a sad, loveless, deflated balloon? This story contains strong language but no planned explicit scenes. Please do not skip the introductory chapter for trigger warnings.

** 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉. The young widow Rebecca must choose between her old love or the chance of a new beginning. ** "You're still here When I close my eyes I still see you I still feel you And we'll never be apart You're still here Still here in my heart" - Natasha Bedingfield - Rebecca and Aiden live a perfect love story - until a plane crash ends their happily ever after. Overwhelmed by grief and the loss of the love of her life, Rebecca reaches for her cell phone in a moment of despair and writes a message to Aiden's old number. To her great shock, she receives a reply with Aiden's typical vow of love: "Forever yours." Touched by the comforting messages, Rebecca soon clings to this mysterious connection to her deceased husband. It is only when she meets Ian, another mourner, at a grief therapy session that she slowly begins to open up to life again. But while Ian tries to help Rebecca escape her grief, his desperate attempts collide with the mysterious messages of a past that Rebecca simply can't - or won't - let go of. Will Rebecca find the courage to fall in love again, or will she remain trapped in her longing for Aiden and continue to cling to the messages from the afterlife? "𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑒 - 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠" 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝘩𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑦 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑓, 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑐𝘩𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝘩𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠. *** READING SAMPLE

** 𝑰𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒊𝒕𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇? To prevent the downfall of Avalon, the young priestess Morgana must retrieve the magic sword Caliburn and save the mysterious man from her visions. ** "Fate is a mysterious thing. It can carry your soul upwards like the wind or guide you through the darkest night as the stars. But it can also end differently. Then fate can shackle you more tightly and relentlessly than any iron chain in the world ever could." Since childhood, Morgana has felt a deep connection to the legendary Avalon - the ancient trees, the holy waters, the voices of the Mother Goddess and the Sidhe. Beyond the mists, she seems to have found her destiny. Yet on the day of her sacred initiation, when Morgana must cross the veil between life and death and return as a re-born priestess, she witnesses terrifying visions of a dark future: the bloody end of Albion, Avalon and all those she loves. And who is the stranger she sees in the mists, whose face she cannot forget? Determined to avert this dark fate, Morgana defies the laws and boundaries of Avalon - and the high priestess Nimue herself. At the side of the mysterious Myrrdin, the young woman leaves the isle in the mists to prevent the impending tragedy. Can fate be outwitted? Is it possible to determine a person's destiny? Or will each step Morgana takes only push Avalon and herself closer to the edge of an abyss? **** Cover by Thinkerling Prequel to the 2026 upcoming AVALON trilogy

Eliora May, a lifetime citizen of Maplemaw, is something many women are not. Literate. An activist. But these become hard to complete as all is stripped away from her with the coming of unexpected news. Marriage and war between the faeires and elves of Ilkaphene. A land of magic, where flowers and fungi grow as tall as their castles. Where forest creatures live in harmony. A land of peace. A land where a fairy married an elf. A fairy princess marrying an elf princess at that. Eliora begins to hear rumors of the war. How it was destroying an ethereal land. And, worst of all, how women were being silenced to prevent more "corruption". As the war and its standards begin to seep into Elvangmort, changing Eliora's home into one of constrictions, hushed whispers, and worst of all, a hatred toward women, she knows that she must do something to save her freedom and the freedoms of those around her. *** This is my submission for ONC 2025! Main prompt: 33. In a time when same-sex marriage was still a stigma, two kings defy convention and marry each other-igniting a conflict that threatens to spark a world war Secondary prompts: 43. During a wartime book ban, a young woman discovers love letters hidden in the margins of a historical book. As she reads, she unravels a mystery about her family and finds love of her own. 96. The road you've traveled almost every day of your life begins to change-transforming it into a dark, terrifying place right before your eyes. 109. In secret, a group of women forms a book club during the ban on reading. As they sneak around town exchanging books, they form unexpected friendships, navigate their love lives, and uncover hidden strengths and passions. Story playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0qRA9ENIMuYf6UuYmtXlkd?si=6yrjpvyWSwWC9nz-URZq3g TW: Abuse, homophobia, violence, death The beautiful cover and banner were created by @sulkytae! Featured: (x1) @fantasy

61). " The silence in the room is deafening, as though it has a life of its own. It's time to rewrite the fairy tale, but this time, the ending will be yours, and it won't be happy." Open Novella Contest 2025 entry ---------- Dorothy Glynth yearned for nothing more than to return home. Was this selfish? Perhaps. But it wasn't her fault she was swept away by a tornado into the strange world of Oz. She did everything in her power to find a way back, never straying from the yellow brick road despite her strong desire to do so. She even defeated the Wicked Witch of the West, though she questioned why someone would melt from water; still, she wasn't one to judge. But it was all a deception-a grand scheme designed to make her the so-called wizard's apprentice. Refusing this fate, Dorothy goes into hiding. Now, with a mysterious masked figure lurking and everyone casting her as the villain, she is determined to forge her own path home. Former allies have turned into enemies, and Dorothy won't hesitate to do whatever it takes-anything-to get back where she truly belongs ---------- temporary cover by @TheWildCyde Copyright © Zaquira.L.C. [SassyReads] 2025. All rights reserved. This story is protected under copyright laws and may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without the author's prior written permission. This book will only be on Wattpad.

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

A woman wakes up in the middle of a forest, remembering everything except her name. One thought drives her-she must get home. - Two years ago, Haylen Fayes watched his sister dissolve into blue mist. No Death Dreame has come since, so he knows, with the deepest certainty, that she is alive-at least for now. But with the Principality of Marok the Third banning unregulated divination, he turns to illegal sources for answers. As disappearances rise and Peacekeepers crack down, Haylen must leave the principality sooner than planned. - Now calling herself Lynnette, the woman feels an irresistible pull north-where the Otherlings dwell, and humans are unwelcome. As she travels ancient roads, unfamiliar memories resurface, but she knows not of their significance - not yet. - As the siblings search for each other, they realise that the disappearances were no accident. From golden fire snaking across skies to the haunting song in the winds, everything leads back to the nature of the blue mists. And, at the heart of it all, lies a living mechanism that has slept for two thousand years. Now, it's waking up. **Prompts used: 12 and 93** Credit to @Heuristic_Hashmath for the amazing cover

In a world built on the ashes of a catastrophe engineered by power-hungry rulers, history has been rewritten, and the true savior erased from memory. The once-feared beings-witches, fae, merfolk, and those who cannot be named-now hold the balance of power in a fragile council, while the remnants of humanity cling to their illusions of control. But secrets buried in ink refuse to stay hidden. As the tides of fate shift, one girl stands at the center of it all, carrying the legacy of the man they tried to erase. The world will soon learn the truth-whether it's ready or not.

💫ONC 2025 Short list & Honorable Mention 💫 In a world where magic is both a gift and a curse, Hex, a bad-tempered sorcerer, constantly battles with his mischievous pixie servant, Pickles. When Pickles defies Hex one too many times, the sorcerer transforms him into a carpet beetle, setting off a chain of events that leads to a thrilling adventure. Meanwhile, in a distant fairy forest, the greedy goblin Giggleton is on a desperate quest to find the last Gem Maker, a fairy named Rose, who can produce precious gems with her hiccups. Trapped and alone, Rose's only hope for freedom lies in the hands of Hex, who has his own plans for the Gem Maker. As Hex, Giggleton, and a host of magical creatures cross paths, alliances are formed, and betrayals are revealed. In a tale filled with dark magic and unexpected heroes, "A Wicked Magic" weaves a spellbinding story of power, greed, and the quest for freedom. Will Hex's wicked magic be enough to save Rose and defeat the forces that seek to control her? Or will the sorcerer's dark desires lead to his downfall? 50. A supervillain has a midlife crisis and decides to become a superhero. But redemption might be harder than they imagined.

Love Paradox follows the journey of a love mentor who has experienced a devastating heartbreak, causing them to question everything they once believed about love. Having spent years helping others navigate their romantic struggles, they now find themselves lost, unable to heal from their scars. Just when they think they've shut off their heart for good, they meet someone who doesn't believe in love at all. This person is guarded, cynical, and seemingly uninterested in emotional connections, yet there's something magnetic about their presence. As the mentor and the skeptic grow closer, they are caught in a unique and unexpected bond. With each encounter, they are forced to confront their vulnerabilities and the walls they've built around their hearts. The mentor, once a beacon of hope for others, begins to realize that perhaps this unconventional connection holds the key to healing their wounds. Can a love that starts in contradiction-between belief and disbelief-be the very thing that heals them both? *Love Paradox* is a tale of self-discovery, challenging beliefs, and the idea that sometimes love isn't found in perfection, but in the messy, uncertain connections that push us to grow.

Open Novella Contest prompt #87 "A skilled detective has solved almost every case that has come across their desk. But one case seems to elude them, with no apparent connections between the murders. That is, until something changes everything." Daniella Wrestling is a mother of three and world's best detective. On the night of her husband's murder changes her whole life. Will she be able to find this killer or will she step down as a detective?

Ava was rude, then ended their friendship the night before the aliens came. Chloe Diaz and Ava Greenfield have been best friends since they were 4 and in preschool. Suddenly, she doesn't want to be friends, and now aliens want to enter a treaty with Earth, something Ava would love to talk about! What happened?

Many would go to great lengths to possess the imagination of a child, where nothing is impossible. It is a power that not only enables one to create an Imaginary Friend but to also 'destroy' it. A Power that Natalie still possesses even at the age of 18. Such a pity she doesn't know it. But someone does. And they're willing to kill for it. The Repository of Imaginary Friends has been taken over and its walls are no longer safe. Their rooms, once a place they willingly returned to until their child needed them, have become prison cells while they serve as test subjects for an experiment. One that will force the realms of imagination and reality to collide, providing the ultimate means of revenge. He was wronged; now, they will pay. The Repository's only Saviour is Natalie's childhood imaginary superhero, Captain Freedom.... And he's gone missing. This was originally written for the ONC2025 but was not completed in time. So, I am completing it outside of the competition. Prompt # 105: Your childhood imaginary friend, who disappeared years ago suddenly returns - only this time they're real.

Fate can come in any shape, form, or reality, and Novalie soon finds that she can attest to this when her fate comes in the form of a mysterious tea shop that appears in an unconventional location. Will she take flight, or is the pull of fate too strong to resist?

When E-RUNE had launched, it was welcomed with open arms. After all, it'd been the first trading card game to introduce Animatechnology. Suddenly, fictional card characters could walk, talk, run, kick, block, throw and even fight. TriCorp, with their ever-increasing profits, knew they needed to keep the franchise growing somehow. After only one month, Animatech adapted to almost every market on the planet, but the company's most profitable project was the sport E-RUNE Ball. The company knew that these characters, with their unique abilities, would make for the perfect athletes. The only catch: E-RUNE team masters had to enter the match arena to play ball with their chosen members, something rookie Alaric Greene hadn't known until it was too late.