This is my entry in the Fantasmical 2024 writing contest. The contest is the collaboration of seventeen fantasy profiles, each of which will provide a prompt for a story in their subgenre of fantasy.

Contestants may enter up to one story of between 750 to 2000 words for each prompt. I have completed stories for 17 prompts. Each story can stand alone, but they do all flow together. Because each chapter must stand by itself and because early chapters do provide background, there will be some recaps in each chapter. I hope they won't be too annoying.

Contestants begin by creating a unique character to take on the adventures posed by the prompts. My character is my friend Ethereal, and the stories are all told from her perspective. Fantasy is not my chosen genre. I prefer and hopefully am better at thought provoking humor, and the unexpected than in the transportive and delightfully descriptive writing displayed by the talented fantasy writers entered in this contest. Still, I hope to some extent I achieve something that fantasy readers will appreciate.

My intent is to entertain the judges and other participants by providing humorous twists on the given prompts. The only accolades I seek are votes and comments with lots of OMGs and LOLs indicating I have achieved my goal of providing some surprises and some laughs. The more people I reach and whose days I can lighten and entertain, the happier I will be.

Here are the prompts in the order in which they appear in this book. I have put the chapter title after the name of the fantasy profile that provided the prompt.

☑ 1. Theboilingcauldron "A Disturbing Vision"

Ever since a coworker first appeared, some interestingly eerie things have been happening. You think nothing of it until they come knocking at your door at twilight holding a few weird items. "It's time," they say, smirking.

☑ 2. Alternativestorytelling "In the Year 3025"

Awakening in a cryo-pod, your character discovers they've been asleep for a thousand years. The Earth they knew is gone, replaced by sprawling megacities and towering alien structures. Your character must navigate this new world and uncover the fate of humanity.

☑ 3. Antiheroesgalore "The Martian Mauler"

You enter an underground fighting ring, hoping to gain intel on a target, but this time you may have bitten off more than you can chew.

☑ 4. Citifiedfantasy "The Lost Relic"

Within the confines of a crime-filled city, you and your team stumble across a mythical relic of mythical abilities, capable of granting any wishes. But remember, nothing comes without a price to pay.

☑ 5. ReshapeIt "The Memory Thief"

In a society where memories can be bought and sold, your character is a memory thief with a hidden past.  When they steal a memory that can change everything, they must decide what future lies ahead.

☑ 6. Talesofthedeep "Pirates"

You're the newest addition to the crew of the most notorious pirate ship. Not long after, the crew mutinies, the captain is murdered, and crew members began to die mysteriously.

☑ 7. Darkfantasyreads "The Toddler"

You are tasked to find the only person who can defeat the malevolent spirits tormenting your realm and end the gruesome war. What happens when you find out they are a temperamental toddler?

☑ 8. Retold "I, Zombie"

You stepped into your favorite story as a villain. Time to fight with your fate; after all, we all know how villains usually end.

☑ 9. ZombieHorde "The Zombie Apocalypse"

You believe you're the one destined to save the world from the zombie apocalypse. Will you rise as humanity's hero, or succumb to the chaos?

☑ 10. Fandomhype "The Robomen"

Your favourite character suddenly find themselves without their most trusted power/weapon/attribute. Now they only have to rely on themselves to overcome the burden.

☑11. Punklitfiction "The Oasis"

You're sent on a desert expedition when your hovercraft breaks down, leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere until you spot a strange oasis in the distance.

☑ 12. Halosandhellfires. "The Hellcat"

The gates of hell stood ajar and out steps one of hell's most cunning creatures. Your Character stares it in the eyes. This hellcat can bring you to your knees or grant you your one deepest desire.

☑ 13. Highfantasy "Fluffy Ears"

The main character of your story wakes up one day with powerful druidic magic...and with a set of claws and fluffy ears. Your family has some explaining to do.

☑ 14. Yafantasy "Bloodlines"

You're a renowned hero sent on an impossible quest by the royal family, but this time, unbeknownst to you, they are rooting for your downfall.

☑ 15. What-ifVerse "The Earl of Huntingdon"

What if you were given the chance to rewrite the plot of your favorite story? Not as the author but as a scrapped character?

☑ 16. Thefoodcatalogue "The Lucky Cleaver"

An old man handed you a rusty cleaver, hoping it would aid you on your cooking journey. You never know when you might need it.

☑ 17.Quickfantasy "Us Against Them"

You accidentally stumble upon an otherworld where humans are considered villains because humans are the reason that their world is not as popular as Earth.

I thought all the prompts were outstanding. I hope everyone enjoys what I've done with them. And don't forget to play the embedded videos, they are important to setting the mood.