#super short fantasy story

[dnschmidt]

A Giant Ant Attack

A messenger barged into Sir Eric's home. "Lord Grandby offers you sixty pounds sterling to kill the ant attacking the village!"

Sir Eric frowned. "I am a highly-skilled adventurer and monster hunter, but you would have me battle an ant? Let the palace exterminator kill it."

The messenger nodded. "He would, sire, but the ant is ten feet tall!"

"Then Grandby can send his soldiers after it."

"They fear the giant ant's venom, sire. And more than that... Every time they chop off its head, it grows two more!"

Sir Eric nodded. "I've heard of this," he said gravely. "It's a fire hydrant."

[encrucijada]

rereading all the words i've written for fantasybane and holy shit i'm the writer ever

[else-creates]

Black And Pink 9/9

Short story based on the following writing prompt: When you learned that you were teaming up with a magical girl, you expected a tiny preteen in a dress with sparkles. Not a 6’4 behemoth wearing bright pink body armor wielding a machine gun.

[infosphere]

Rise of the Nightshade - Audiobook

Synopsis: In the vibrant city of Neo Haven, brilliant scientist Amelia Harrow becomes Nightshade after a lab accident fuses her DNA with experimental plants, granting her extraordinary powers. Consumed by grief over her sister's death, she seeks vengeance against the city's elite. As Captain Solaris and his team of heroes struggle to stop her, they discover the human pain driving her crusade. Through intense battles and emotional confrontations, they guide Nightshade towards redemption, transforming a foe into an ally and proving that even in darkness, hope can blossom.

Copyright 2024, InfoSphere, All Rights Reserved

[whereserpentswalk]

Imagine what would happen if a super soldier fell on hard times. After he's served the empire and returned to civilian life. He's so obviously not fully human, he's so much larger and stronger than everyone else, metal bolts stick out of him, his very bones are made of metal, his eyes can see things nobody else can see. Yet here he is expected to be human again, after his humanity was taken away from him so young.

Slowly everything is pawned away. Power armor that's only valuable to collectors. Rare trinkets from places that most humans will never hear of. All of it slowly going away as it seems more and more impossible for his job to overcome his purpose.

Eventually he ends up on a street corner somewhere on a city the size of a planet. Begging for small coins from a population he once protected. He overhears a young woman say to her friend that she wishes she was lucky enough to see a super solider in person, she doesn't realize how lucky she is.

The things that go through his mind as he sits there, thinking about the wonders he once saw. Aliens, human, demons, things beyond mortal comprehension, slain at his hands. He wonders if it was the right thing to do, if he defends humanity or just one of humanity's countless empires. Yet still he wants to be there again, the armor over his body, the glowing sword in one hand and the heat pistol in the other, human troops behind him, and an inhuman enemy before him. Really, he wanted to tell the things that turn humanity into victims that he wouldn't be their victim, and that nobody else would be.

And even if the violence of the system is inescapable, he'd still rather be the one doing it. Though still, he has found peace, his body can withstand the elements better than his fellow beggars.

Eventually planetary authorities come to take down the camp he set up for himself. Of all the training he had for survival on hostile planets he was not prepared for his own empire. Local police come for him, men in black plated armor with slitted visors, the local population fears them, but to him they're nothing but cowardly little men. A single officer comes to paste a routine notice to leave the area, that officer will see something inhuman rise above him, something large, with metal bones and metal bolts sticking out of him. And that officer will learn that this person will not be another one of his victims.

[sskk-manifesto]

Ep 5!!!

[mikurulucky]

How many layers of self insert oc are YOU on?

[baalzebufo]

got the band together! just about finished construction on nurgles humors. i may do a second pass to add some bonus nurglings or little details when the glue is all dry and I have some time but for now, I'm happy with everyones stances and general looks. only had to do additional putty surgery on one of my blightkings, since the belly I wanted didnt fit the legs/torso I still had- everyone else I could fit together just by chopping and sanding bits down so they fit.

the blightkings are as follows: spleen mulch, melancholic, carrying the dolorous tocsin and covered in bells. prius skurvax, phlegmatic, the icon bearer with the big insect arm. haxan globin, sanguine, the grinning guy with the nurgling bursting outta him. and icterus kanker, choleric, at the front with his two axes and big stomach mouth.

then of course we have have our leader, eucrasia hippocrux, along with their resident sorcerer tucked away back there, dyscrasia the humorless.

its really fun to build a warband with a stronger vision in place then my usual 'just wing it' style of mini builds! im also gonna try to reflect their character in the paint jobs, eventually. gonna build some test plaguebearers for painting practice before I commit to finishing the squad :)

[isocrime]

Isozyme, your hrpf is so tight and snippy, you pace it all so well. Yoy have the plot so well tied to each scene. My question for you is, how do you do it,? Is it a matter of planning the end to end story before starting to writing? Thank you for your ficts!

Thank you!! This is a good question and very gratifying because one of the things I aim for with my fics is to always be compulsively readable no matter where in the story you’re at.

I don’t actually know the story from end-to-end at a high level of detail when I start out. Usually I know about how long the story will take to tell, the setup, and then the next couple things after that. As I write I sort of build the track ahead of me, so I’ll often have a detailed outline for the next scene, a couple bullet points for a handful of scenes after that, and then a sort of general vibe for anything farther away. (With a few exceptions, like I knew Matthew was going to get a supportive phone call from Sid in LMLAY for ages and ages before I finally got to write it.)

Basically my pacing philosophy is that every scene should have a job to do, and ideally also have some side hustles, and I sort of build it up layer by layer as I come up with each upcoming scene.

Let’s spitball a scene as an example. Hypothetically let’s give me a mcmattdrai wip where they’re all training with Scary Gary and in the scene in question Matthew is trying to figure out if Leon is sleeping with Connor. Maybe they’re waiting for the elevator together after a workout, that’s a good setting for two people who sort of know each other to have a stilted conversation. Matthew can joke that his legs are too tired to take the stairs and Leon can complain that he doesn’t know where the stairs are yet (this establishes their different levels of comfort in the setting in addition to giving some character notes). Leon probably also looks hot and sweaty, Matthew can notice that several times during the scene to amp up the sexual tension while he asks Leon awkward questions. A nice thing about elevators is that they have a timer, so I get to control when the elevator arrives and cuts off their conversation; probably right around when Leon reveals that he’s not sleeping with Connor (one mystery tied up, that’s the big job done by the scene) but now Matthew wants to know why Leon’s not sleeping with Connor (another mystery opened). They could keep talking about that inside the elevator but I don’t like that because I think that mystery should stretch out into the next couple of scenes, so to fix that (and add comedy) just as the elevator door is starting to close Connor can obliviously run up and join them. Now Matthew can’t ask Leon any more questions about Connor but he can observe the two of them together and start making some theories. However now that I have Connor in the scene, I should give him something to do from his plotline as well. Maybe I can make him talk about his struggles with a fundraiser for sick kids he’s trying to organize. Naturally Matthew volunteers Leon to help, which leads to Leon volunteering Matthew to also help as revenge, and that leads me neatly into the next scene (3 idiots struggling at event planning together in between their workouts).

I don’t know anything else about this fake story or where it’s going, but the scene is still dense and feels connected to a plot because all the elements are doing some kind of work on behalf of the story. And that’s pretty much how I do it when I’m actually writing something with a lot of plot — come up with what the main goal of a scene is, and then while achieving that goal try to have the stuff happening in the background work to move along side plots and set up the next thing.

Pacing is like a tricky little puzzle and it’s hard but I think it’s worth it when the work pays off; very glad you’re enjoying my hockey fics!

[jon-mcbrine-author]

It’s heating up outside and so is the action in these two sci-fi adventure stories - available on Kindle

https://tinyurl.com/4kpbdzsn

[dragons-and-yellow-roses]

It's dead af at work. We got through our four reservations and have had no walk ins, and my manager won't cut me because he hates doing my job (and we're friends and he knows I need the money) and tbh I don't want to be cut (can't really afford to be) but I'm actually going insane from sitting on my stool, going through Tumblr, Insta, Kindle, then standing up and going through those apps again, then sitting down and going through those apps again, etc. it's nice to get paid to do nothing, because tbh if I was cut then I'd just be doing this but in my bed, but I'm getting so fucking restless.

[dnschmidt]

The Lake Monster

Sir Eric asked Beatrix the witch to join him on an adventure. "I need to kill a sea monster," he said, "but it won't come to the surface."

"The problem is knights don't look tasty," she cackled. "How is he supposed to eat a tin can?"

He frowned. "I'm not going into battle without armor."

"You don't have to. You just need good bait!" She cast a spell, filling his longship with a thick, brown liquid. "It's a gravy boat!"

"Looks like I'm losing my deposit on the boat rental..."

[alchemists-eve]

“Have you ever taken someone’s photo before?”

“I’m good at a lot of things, but that ain’t one of them.”

“You can’t be serious. Never?”

“Never. How’s this?.” Sexcus flexes his arms; face scrunched and body tense.

“No, don’t pose. Well, okay maybe a little. But that’s not how it works.”

“How does it work?”

“I want to capture the moment between moments. Try moving between a few poses, and I’ll see what I can get.”

The windows rattled as a strong gust of wind blew against the building. The day was colder than you expected.

“What’s it like?”

“What’s what like?”

"Taking people’s pictures?”

“It’s complicated. When we look at ourselves, we see a lot more than what’s there. The way we look at ourselves is bogged down by the baggage of who we are and what we do and who we aren’t, all coalescing into a single moment. And when we try to capture that moment, all we see is all we aren’t.”

“Because so much of ourselves is in our head?”

“Exactly. I know I don’t like having my photo taken because it reminds me of all the ways I’m not who I want to be.”

“Oh so the hypocrite thing goes beyond just your name?”

“It’s hardly hypocritical. I enjoy taking photos, not having my photo taken. You enjoy saving people. Do you enjoy being saved?”

“Who doesn’t like being saved?”

“Hmm.”

The camera’s shutter continued to snap as Bug Man continued to pose.

“So who do you want to be?”

“I don’t know. Something else, perhaps. What do you want to be?”

“It’s hard to be much more than this. What else is there to want?”

“Good question. What else is there to want? You’re the superhero.”

He chuckled. That was a nice photo. “I miss the things I had to give up.”

“What made you give them up?”

“It was a necessary step in becoming someone who enjoys having their photo taken.”

You couldn’t help but snicker at this. “Then what did you give up?”

“Oh, you’re about to meet one thing I gave up."

"How did you two meet?"

"I think that's a story he's gunning to tell."

And it’s gonna be rough tracking him down. You sure you're up for it?"

"What's the worst that could happen?"

He laughed, clearly ignoring the answer to that question. “Three places come to mind. He has an office at Palkatra University. Its just down the road from The Library. He still teaches there, so it’s not a bad idea to have a look, but he could be lying low. You’re probably well aware of The Meteor that landed just outside of town. Last time I saw him he was pretty fixated on that. Could be near the crash site. Beyond that, he’s a bit of a wild card. I reckon we could catch him Fighting by some bars. Your call where we start.

**Previous Part****[next part button broken on polls]**

[libraryleopard]

Adult short fiction collection

Follows trans women from rural Canada to Brooklyn as they navigate loss, love, sex, transition, and family

Complex, multifaceted trans characters

Favorite stories: "Bleak," "10 Hot Tips for Shopping Success," and "Winning"

[infosphere]

The Veil of Shadows - Part 2 - A Super Villian Story

In the aftermath of The Shade’s shocking surrender, Nocturne City began to breathe again. The neon lights flickered back to life as the citizens emerged cautiously from their homes, still wary of the darkness that had gripped their lives. Aria Knight and her allies, now the city’s newly appointed guardians, worked tirelessly to restore hope and order, but the scars left by Malachi’s reign of terror ran deep. As the days turned into weeks, whispers of The Shade’s return began to circulate. Unbeknownst to the heroes, Malachi Vex found himself in a high-security facility, a stark, sterile world devoid of shadows. His once-powerful Shadowmancy was now a distant memory, stripped away along with his freedom. Yet, even within the confines of his cell, the shadows called to him—a siren’s song promising revenge and power. Each night, as the city slept, Malachi’s mind raced. He replayed the fateful confrontation with Aria, the moment he surrendered, and the flicker of remorse that had almost rekindled his humanity. But the shadows whispered a different narrative. They told him of the strength he possessed, the power to reshape reality itself. He could rise again, not as The Shade, but as something more formidable—a ruler of darkness that the city would fear and respect. Meanwhile, Aria grappled with her own demons. The memories of her past as a hero haunted her. She was determined to prevent another villain from rising, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling of failure that clung to her. She became obsessed with understanding Malachi, diving into his research, hoping to find clues that could help ensure his darkness would never return. The more she learned, the more she understood the fragile boundary between genius and madness. In the shadows of the prison, Malachi began to forge new alliances. He reached out to the remnants of his former life, fellow researchers who had once admired his brilliance. Underneath the façade of remorse, he spun a web of manipulation, promising them power and recognition if they helped him escape. The shadows grew restless, feeding off his ambition, and soon, a plan began to take shape. As Aria and her team patrolled the city, a series of strange occurrences began to unfold. Reports of citizens vanishing into thin air sent chills through the streets. It was as if The Shade had never left, his influence creeping back into Nocturne City like a fog. Aria sensed the darkness returning, and with it, the urgency to confront the specter of Malachi Vex once more. Weeks passed, and the night of Malachi’s escape came. The facility’s defenses were no match for the shadowy forces he had awakened. As he stepped into the moonlit streets of Nocturne City, he felt the power surge within him, igniting a fire he thought was extinguished. He was no longer merely The Shade; he was now a master of shadow, ready to reclaim his place among the city’s elite. Aria, armed with her knowledge and her team, prepared for the inevitable confrontation. They knew Malachi would come for them, drawn by the same darkness that had once consumed him. As the night deepened, tension hung in the air like the calm before a storm. The final battle loomed on the horizon, one that would test the very limits of light and dark. Aria had to confront not just Malachi’s physical form but the darkness within herself as well. She gathered her allies, each bearing their own scars, and together they prepared to stand against the tide of shadow that threatened to engulf their beloved city once more. In the heart of Nocturne City, the stage was set for a clash that would determine the fate of its soul—a battle not just for survival but for redemption, hope, and the choice between embracing the light or surrendering to the shadows. As the first echoes of conflict reverberated through the city, both Aria and Malachi knew that this would be more than just a fight; it would be a reckoning for them both, a chance to either reclaim their humanity or let the veil of shadows consume them entirely. © 2024, Infosphere, All Rights Reserved

[whereserpentswalk]

There's an ancient super soldier. She looks like a human to most, with a slender but muscular build, and tattoos covering her dark brown skin. But there's something uncanny about her, something that makes her seem off even when she tries to dress in modern clothes. It's like she's trying to be human but isn't. There's a reason why she can't even hold down a job as a cover for what she is, even the way she acts is uncanny.

Most of her freinds wonder about her. She probably lived to see humanity at its peak, during the reign of Atlantis and the Fomorians, when earth's technology was at its peak. Some people wonder of she's an android, or some sort of clone, she's not, even if she hasn't eaten or slept in thousands of years. Even her freinds don't fully know what she is. She's the type of person who most people only talk about in the past tense, whose life would have been convenient for society if she had died during the flood. Even the cryptids and the ufos don't understand her now.

She gaurds something. Perhaps a tomb. A lot of people assume it's something powerful, but when archeologists did scans they picked up that whatever might have been important there was rotted away. It's historically important but that's it, and she'll let no one in.

There's the memory of someone or something in there. Someone who was close to her probably, who she thought she would gaurd forever, so now she does. She'd weep for whatever lost memory it is, whatever memory stands of someone who will be erased from history when she dies. Whoever it was is someone who she would stand for in the cold for a thousand years, someone who she'll never hold again, never see smile again, yet still her loyalty does not waver.