Onc2025 Stories

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.

Adeliza of Normandy has only ever wanted a place to belong. The illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Normandy, she never was certain there was a place for her. Orphaned at a young age, all she knew was conflict and misery, as her brother, William, fights to inherit Normandy. Illegitimate like her, William promises that when he is recognized as duke, she will be a princess and marry a powerful noble. When William achieves his goal, he finds her not only an important noble, but the love of her life. As a favor to her brother, she vows to help bring about the marriage he desires with the grand Matilda of Flanders. Like Normandy, he's determined to have Matilda. But his desire might destroy everything, including Adeliza's happiness.

If Sirius Black had his way, the Black family would remain long-lost relatives he had nothing to do with, including Grimmauld Place which he managed to inherit, yet Grimmauld Place is unfortunatly a place he can easily hide as he remains a wanted man for something he didn't do. The last thing he expected was to encounter the ghost of his younger brother, but something feels off. Or perhaps, it's just the unresolved feelings regarding Regulus' death, particularly when he's the only one able to see Regulus from what he can tell. Disclaimer - I don't own Harry Potter. This is written for ONC 2025, prompt 19, "You inherit a house from a long-lost relative, only to discover it's haunted by a ghost from your past. How do you deal with what you once knew?"

As a princess takes her final steps towards her inevitable sacrifice, her only thoughts circle around the idea of death. A death predetermined by a prophecy. One that will grant her brother king his victory in war. Cast into the depths of the sea, Princess Anthea must confront her brother's betrayal and everything her new world entails. As ancient forces stir and her body begins to change, Anthea's destiny becomes entangled with the fate of her kingdom and the looming battle against her brother's ambitions. Will she reclaim her place, or will the prophecy drown everything she once knew? ONC2025

"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)

🏆ONC 2025 HONORABLE MENTION 🏆 A lone lighthouse keeper watches over the coast, tending to her light as the sea rages beyond. The storms are nothing new-neither is the solitude. She is content with the quiet rhythm of her life, the crash of waves against the cliffs, the scent of salt and parchment filling her days. But when a shipwreck leaves a battered stranger at her doorstep, the tide of her world begins to shift. The man is rough-edged, a relic of salt and shadow, with secrets hidden beneath his scars. He speaks of a past that the waves should have swallowed, of maps inked in the margins of forbidden books, of love letters lost to time. Trapped together by a storm that refuses to pass, they share stories by lantern light-one seeking refuge, the other searching for something long forgotten. Yet not all ghosts are content to stay buried, and not all storms end when the sky clears. Whispers of war linger in the distance, and the truth he carries may threaten the safe harbor she has built for herself. As the past and present begin to intertwine, she must decide-will she cling to the safety of her lighthouse, or will she risk everything to follow the reflection of something new? -- Cover by @Heuristic_Hashmath

Twenty years ago, magic vanished from the world, presumed forever gone. Yet it still existed, tangled within its own domain, along with Naamah, its dark personification. Naamah schemes return to complete her desire for humanity's subjugation and to avenge her earlier defeat. But with a soul barren, Naamah needed another to complete herself. Psalm, a blind young woman pure of soul, enjoyed a simple life with a loving family. She had no idea of her heritage, nor her magical potential as a powerful Oracle, nor that Naamah would target her. When the magic burst back into the world, Psalm and Naamah found their souls bound by a destiny written ages ago. This story was written for the 2025 Open Novella Contest, using prompt #129: The ink of our souls binds us beyond the pages of time.

[ONC 2025 Shortlister] An apprentice silversmith, haunted by his reflection. A wealthy family, falling to ruin. A patron spirit, searching for a pact. Five games will decide their fate. After acquiring great wealth from a boom in silver trade, the Blackwood family moves into a mansion that was mysteriously abandoned by its previous owners. The property has everything a family of established silversmiths could need: prime trade location, a smithing workshop, and a large mirror that was left behind. To Kyren Blackwood, the promises of a new life and the riches that come with it are more than enough to overshadow the eerie tale. But the mirror watches. Reflections are not what they seem. Driven to the brink of insanity, Kyren must uncover the mirror's secrets before his family loses everything. In a desperate attempt to free himself, he agrees to play five games with the spectre in the mirror. If he can win three, the curse will end. Lose, and he surrenders his soul to the silver spirit. ~An ONC novella, inspired by prompts 13 and 55. ~Set in the same world as Buried in the Sea but can be read completely independently (with no spoilers to one or the other).

Violet Amberose, an editor for a prestigious novel company, lives a fairly ordinary life until she stumbles into an unexpected fate. All in a single day, she finds out she is dying from glioblastoma and has only three months to live, learns that her boyfriend is a father-to-be and has a wife, gets scolded by her superior at work. Drinking her problems away, she happens to see a shooting star from her rooftop apartment and drunkenly wishes for the world to be doomed. Her wish is heard by Dorian Skotos, a messenger between gods and humans. He was born between dark and light: when he breathes, countries disappear; when he walks, the seasons collapse; when he smiles, a life is extinguished. All he has to do is exist for something to fall into ruin. This is not his intention but simply his fate. On his birthday, he gets to choose a human's wish to fullfill. Sick of his fate, he chooses to fulfill Violet Amberose's wish to end the world. Violet ends up falling for Doom and risks death before it's time. To save Violet Doom must leave her forget her they ever met. They both are miserable. Doom thinking he did the right thing. Violet cursing the stars for taking from her the only good thing that happened to her in years she just met him and he vanishes. But little do they know the workings of Divine Power. There's more than the misery- there's relief. If you love a stunningly handsome supernatural male character with elusive personality then it's a book for you, dear reader! If you're wondering what happened to Violet and Doom. How they navigate through life and want lots of good and bad, shared moments please do read this mesmerizingly beautiful story of life and death a fight against all odds. An urban fantasy paranormal romance Novella written by Yasmin Parveen Note: Chapter 18 has Duel POVs. Warning: Includes explicit sexual scene. Enjoy reading! Birdies.

In a world where books are cursed and words breed demons, Scribe defies the Older Ones by writing "The Chaos Walker"-a tale that takes on a sinister life of its own. Fleeing into a rogue library ruled by spectral keepers-one who hoards, one who overwhelms-Scribe must rewrite their creation or lose more than their soul. A dark fantasy of ink and sacrifice.

🏆 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

Danielle Pierce has spent years building the perfect high school life-cheer captain, debate team leader, straight-A student, and girlfriend to the school's golden boy, Cody Reynolds. Senior year should be her victory lap. But when a single moment in the hallway introduces quiet, artistic Nina Collins into their world, everything begins to shift. Cody is drawn to Nina's incredible talent, sparking a curiosity that Dani can't ignore. As Cody and Nina's unexpected connection deepens, Dani finds herself standing on the wrong side of the most common cliche high school love story. Soon Dani realizes she isn't just writing the next chapter of her life-she's about to rewrite the whole story. Based on ONC 2025 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.

In the sleepy town of Garrison, nothing ever changes-until Dimitri arrives. Mysterious, brooding, and impossibly captivating, he's the talk of Garrison High. But while everyone is eager to unravel his secrets, Josie is the only one who sees the shadows lurking behind his dark eyes. Drawn to him despite herself, Josie can't shake the feeling that Dimitri is more than he seems. He's too quiet, too distant, and way too comfortable in his own loneliness. And when she catches glimpses of something ancient and cold beneath his perfect façade, she realizes she might be right. Based on prompt 2. To be in love with a demon was the last thing on your wish list.

💫ONC 2025 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.

Dr. Harmony Reyes is busy chasing her dreams, she tells herself that there's no time for love and relationships. Over time this mantra of hers became so ingrained that she almost believes it! While she does date, falling in love is another thing, especially after her first love which ended in breaking her heart into a million pieces. Even though the scars from that breakup run deep, she can't help but compare everyone to her first love, unknowingly that is. But life is full of irony. New job, new town, new people to surround herself with. Harmony is finally opening up to possibilities and letting go of the scar that held her back and caged her heart. But what happens when the past comes knocking at her door in the most unexpected way? Will she let her first love slip away again, or is this the chance she's been waiting for? Will she finally be able to learn what really happened that led to the heartbreak? Harmony has an important decision to make her career or her heart. Can she figure out what she desires the most? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ONC Prompt -34 - Your new job requires an out-of-town- overnight orientation, but when you check in, you run into someone from your past you never thought you'd see again. 111 - A single night can change everything. Even someone you thought you knew - like your closest friend.

Denisse Horsford no tiene una vida llena de lujos; sin embargo, a su primera clienta le sobraba su excesivo estilo en la moda. Cuando su padre y jefe le dio el contrato para firmar, no imaginó que tendría que lidiar con la empresaria más arrogante y fría del universo Fecha de publicación: 15/02/2025

|A SET OF TWO WHAT'S NEW SCOOBY-DOO FANFIC NOVELLAS| |WATTPAD CREATORS PROGRAM · 5X FEATURED · ONC 2025 SHORTLIST AND AMBASSADOR PICK · TEGSA 2025 · BEST NEW FANFICTION SHORTLIST| Scooby-Doo and the Ghost of Ontario: When Freddie reads of hauntings at Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park in Ontario due to a mysterious lullaby, "Lucilla", he drags the gang on an unexpected canoe trip, where he's determined to prove that not only do ghosts exist but also that not every villain hides under a mask. Scooby-Doo and the Lightning Spirit: When the Thunderbird awakens in the Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park, the Mystery Gang and their new friend Ihaan embark on a journey that tests everything they thought they knew about mysteries and the Ghost of Ontario. *** *Don't ask... LOL!* *FYI: These stories are based on a TV show, so expect a screenplay-like writing style.* *Main Tropes: Found family and angst with a happy ending.* *#SupportIndigenousVoices.*

| ONC 2025 LONG LIST | Starling Byrne is tired. Tired of living in the city of Idyll, where everything is perfect - if you stay in line and don't speak out against its tyrannical leader and his android army. Determined to make a difference, Starling deserts her position in the strict, highly revered Idyllic Regiment and steals an object that might be the key to dismantling the dystopic way of life once and for all-if the broken android in her escape car doesn't get in her way. ___ Written for ONC 2025. 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 prompt: 70. After stealing something vital from the city, you flee in a car, only to find a discarded human-like android in the back seat. The android has a critical flaw - and you must protect it from those who want it back. Status: Long List Word count: 30,794

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

Supervillain Ranvi De Witt is somehow not in prison yet, but her superhero nemesis is. When he asks her to consult on a murder-case that could free him, at first, she's thinking only of the money (well, at first, she laughs in his face, but after that, she's thinking only of the money). But when her dim-witted minion (and actual best friend) is brainwashed to act like a fairytale princess, she realises this murderer is targeting her as well as her nemesis. He's got a lot of power, even if he's literally butchering the fairytales he's forcing his victims to recreate. And he's supposed to be dead. 'Surrounded by Idiots' is a comic fantasy novella about morally grey areas and the power of stories: how some of them can cage you, while others can set you free. ONC prompts: 50. A supervillain has a midlife crisis and decides to become a superhero. But redemption might be harder than they imagined. 59. I am the pages of the past and the ink of the future. I course through the veins of many, though few truly notice me. I am what they search for in others, yet I cannot be bought. I am the beginning, the middle, and the end. Tell me your story, and perhaps I'll grant you the love others have failed to find.