daily 08
154 words

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Pages 318 – 319
42 words

skin breaks, burning blood
i scream
part me, a great distance alone

gasps tearing like blood
he cannot live
his bones loose rocks
his life will flow desperately
please

their prince
his lungs

spill of bright silver like startled birds
unspooling me

In Ascension by Martin MacInnes
Pages 27 – 28
42 words

in constant terror
storm clouds approaching, dangerous
the safety burned me cold

give way
plunge under
cloudy worms made sound, voices in my head
hanging beneath the surface

immensity filled organisms, all water-life
into crevices of my body

breach the surface
involuntarily


Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan
Pages 299 – 302
70 words

i’m not the same person
i’m the same, move on
random, worried, irrational
scared

try not to run this time
blow it all up
a life can be overwhelming
happy
pleasant

didn’t communicate
don’t see great change
i obscured the truth

suitcases
i’ve packed the essentials
ask me to leave

frozen tuna panini:
green pesto
mayo
capers
half-moon avocado

come home
?
the twist of a key in a lock
“hello?”

daily 8! I kind of struggled with this one at first but i'm sort of proud of some of them! number one probably makes no sense to anyone but me though ahaha

poem 1: questioning

romantic

at my heels

busy

on my feet couldn't see had to watch

and try it kept me busy

ground was rough over raw

foot

lifelong

slow down speed up

doing is

another matter. How long does it take to learn

to walk? to learn

while blind?

I didn't dwell on the wonder of it

all.

poem 2: down a hole

we threw the dead

down a hole don't know how far

nor how long seemed like

mile after mile at least

eight thousand feet hard to guess

seemed endless deep in mountains

glance behind you they were following

all nightmare

imagining a hand my shoulder

listened for footsteps

couldn't be heard

on your trail

poem 3: empty

blood - color DANGER

oxygen

empty

exhaust

cracked

and

empty

couldn't reach

one hand

knife hooks

broke

suffocating

the blade cut away

still

empty

out of air

an eighth of a charge

or less

shoulder—

can t

do anything

deflated

can't breathe

dizzy don't think

I can walk

disappeared

 

blood - color DANGER

Weekly 1 - Part 3: Fantasy Story

Willow the little gnome child woke up to her root-made alarm clock and remembered. Today is the Land of The Hidden Magics's 600th birthday! She got out of bed, popped on her special rainbow pointed hat that her friend made her for this day, and ran out of the hobbit home she and her parents lived in. Even younger gnomes love to work, and have chores, just like their parents. Willow and her friends have also decided to help out, and Boots, one of the head instructors for setting up the place, had given them each a job to do.

Willow's job is to bake strawberry cookies. She looked around for someone to take her to the shared kitchen that all gnomes cooked in.

“Would you like me to take you, little one?” A gentle voice asked. Willow looked up to see a soft lavender coloured unicorn looking down with gentle, kind eyes. Flowers wrapped around her tail and twined through her mane.

“Yes please Blossom!” Willow climbed on gratefully on the unicorn's soft fur.

When they arrived, smells of cinnamon, pepper and other spices filled the air. Thanking Blossom, Willow headed to the section for younger gnomes. When she found a free spot, she got to work. Willow mixed flour, milk and brown sugar and kneaded it into cookie shaped dough. After baking them, she made some cream and decorated the cookies, piping floral designs with cream and popping a plump strawberry on each of them.

After that Willow boxed them carefully and then found Blossom who took her around to deliver her cookies. The celebration isn't just a single party at a single place. Every decoration could be found everywhere, and not a single tree stayed normal. Ribbons and balloons were hung up, tables with plates of sweet and savoury food were tucked into every corner, and merry faces & laughter rang through every room.

The Land of Hidden Magics was as peaceful and fun as it should be, Willow thought, satisfied.
After Willow finished her job, her parents told her to relax.

“You've worked so hard Willow,” her mother told her, “Go make yourself some lemonade and read a book, or go play with your friends!”

“Okay…but if there's anything I can help with, tell me!” Willow agreed reluctantly.

Back home, Willow, using her special gnomish skills, sung to the roots of her house to ask her friends to play. A few seconds later, she came with the reply that her friend, Violet, was still finishing her task. Left with nothing else to do, Willow made herself lemonade and cleaned her room, then plopped on her bed with her book. For once it was good to relax.

Outside, the Land of Hidden Magics was celebrating the anniversary, and Willow decided she will go out in a minute. It was so nice to watch outside, the species of dragons and phoenixes interacting and sharing skills. Unicorn babies gave rides to the gnome children. Everything was nice and peaceful.

Chirps form from a nearby tree.
Could it be
The song melody?
Perfect pitch and tone that's dear.
May I hug it's warmth and ear.
Mustangs may be grand.
But the sound of the bird
Is from another land.
Water whistling past the shore.
Could it be
A Tsunammis near?
Loud wind roars side by side.
Reaching the small bird's lullaby.
Little kids running home.
Could it be
Worry has rome?
Parents sing their child lullabies.
With the help of the song birds precious cry.
Weeping willows shriek
Chickens bawk all day.
Water crushes homes.
Could it be
Nature's call?

100 words
—————————————————–

Forced to wear a mask.
Hidden from society.
If not others will
Frown upon me.
A veil covers my eyes.
So only a man can see
What lies behind
My crooked mask.
A mask is usually worn
Only on halloween
Except I
Can't celebrate halloween
My religion treasures me
Says I'm strong
But is it strong
If your family forces it upon you?

I want to wear normal clothes
Clothes that fit me
Clothes that aren't huge
And make me ghostly
I want a normal name
I want a name change
I want a new life
I want a new family
I want to leave my country
Go elsewhere
Where I'm not
Forced to wear a mask

117 words
———————————————-

Hugs kisses birth
Fighting pushing toddler
Screaming whiney baby
Speaking loving pre schooler
Selfish kind baby
Walking running 5 year old
Hungry thirsty baby
Yelling debating six year old
Tugging smelly baby
Playful cute seven year old
Crawling leaping baby
Jumpy small eight year old
Sleepy whiney baby
Smart curious nine year old

When did the child grow
To be something so much more
Than a marshmellow body
Demanded to be wrapped
In a blanket
Crying all day long
Became speaking up
Small body
Became big body
Big body
Old body
Old Body
Turned into
Dead body

97 words

2026-07-08 Daily #5: Blackout Poetry (total 297 words)

#1: This Blue (74 words)



#1 without blacked-out parts:

the river wants to complete the surface of the water
forgotten time
forgotten my voice
like an echo in the language of the blue
It wanders this blue unbearable only appearance
what is hiding
discover to understand.
you see the blue
birth
eyes half closed again
never ceased continuity
sing
find my voice. destiny, voice, destiny…
fall in love with this blue in the back of their eyes,
this blue this blue,
lingering bittersweet

#2: Men and Women (208 words)



#2 without blacked-out parts:

I was touched by these words, in which her feeling mingled with power; they know how to give my mind effects of life. king in his own castle and halo, had, to my eyes, a distance between himself and the greatest love. Repulsion made me understand men. Respect protects the duchess because I saw the mother of grace and wonder. When I saw the face, the figure, and the iron, I said in a low voice, “You are perfect. I invite you to leave the world, and possess the good man.” She told me that the earth lies between you and them. I knew almost nothing, I did not know, so I became once more a low voice. The transformation was carried through with a rapidity which bewildered me. I was ignorant. This indifference made me a young man unused to the world to see the woman he loves more beautiful than all others around her, to know that for him alone is reserved the chaste fire of those eyes, the tones of that voice, in the words it utters, unremitting thought. I, like all children with bodies weaker than their minds, spared no one. It was a happy day. A word, a hope awakened in the morning.

#3: Algae (15 words)



#3 without blacked-out parts:

There was signs. still, the necessary umbrellas closed, and algae once again decorated the venue.

blackout poetry daily

poem #1 (from this is how you lose the time war)
162 words

In orbit, she drowns in light
it does not burn, does not breathe
far away shines a star always indifferent
the vast worlds outlive organs, space crumbling life
the fragments, only ash with fury

She is a fool far from home
how could she think memories enough to survive?
these thoughts betray her:
she does not break, moves on without relief
walks many worlds hostile to her
drifts where constellations tangle

Between galaxies, bridging gulfs, life blooms
even at the heart she is lost
she seeks growing from the fall
feather light challenge come to steal from god

Raising futures with fangs,
dangerous knowledge burns her slowly
burrow into time with thorns, find the place hollow
hearts only sense the dangers within

A blanket of gray falls around her, sharper than razors
she is carved, choked
but she belongs here.

She is a creature of thorn, a grand weapon, heartrending and beautiful
she is a girl asleep in light
she is human.

(ignore my grown out nails please lmaooo)



poem #2 (from waiting for godot)
157 words
sooo… turns out its really difficult to make blackout poetry from an absurdist play bahaha so this makes absolutely no sense
you live and learn though i suppose

don’t escape me
i tell you i wasn’t living, i wasn’t doing anything.
you must be back with me, even if it’s not true

what are we now that we have changed?
if time oozes it’s never the same pus
do you remember?

you dreamt that you’ve forgotten the way i am
i never forget you
i remember a lunatic who played lucky

do you not remember bones in the mud
you never stirred, your worms all the same
tell me this bears resemblance
you can’t deny you were there yourself

in a life we were together
swear you remember the red
a man come crawling to kill me
like billions of others
every man dies and is forgotten

in the meantime we are incapable of keeping silent
our voices like wings speak together
they whisper that to have lived is not enough
dead ashes trying anything to start again
you can start from anything but silence.




poem #3 (from beasts and beauty)
37words
can you tell this is the one i wrote after the word count had been clarified….

the wolves warn the town
slashing the dew as winter wanes:
mercy will be eaten in time

once theirs, child of wolves
howl to the forest in loss
no echoes disperse the forgotten price
time unfettered lurks.

08 - blackout poetry - 150/150 words

— all in, jennifer lynn barnes, 79 words

everywhere
was
perfection.
you see
this pattern.
its beauty
inked
into
flesh.
a message,
something
holy.
the
spiral
turned
and tapped
just
drawn.
all
remaining
heart
closer.
majesty
continued
minutes
and
hours,
staring at the
inked
window.
follow
the numbers,
that
trailing
source of
numbers.
she
yelled
to keep up.
two
on either side
leaned
and whispered
the
pass.
i truly
know
that
its
uses
crouched near.
one
turned
to
slam
him.
he
completely
skidded backward,
a small
blur.


— better than the movies, lynn painter, 31 words

i'm sorry
an incredible
night
ended
hated.
i've been
so
unaware
and
totally
blinded by
us.
it seems
good,
it could be.
but
feelings changed.
beauty
clapped
together,
and pictured
black.


— from eden, hozier, 40 words

there's something
so magic
about
eyes.
your
mirror
sits in
its
screaming.
honey,
i
know.
there's something
so precious about this
broken,
hoping
sin.
to
strand a
plan
from
familiar
years.
innocence,
honey,
slithered
from
outside
its sword
to hide.

Weekly 1 - Part 4: Merging Two Fantasy Stories

After hours of hard work delivering her cookies, which was her job for the day, Willow had no choice but to relax. So, after making a lemonade like her mom suggested, she plopped down on to her bed and opened a book. She realised that it was actually the book she burrowed from her brother, but never read. Willow opened the book and read until dusk. The book was about vampires and TickTock.

Willow was surprised that she got so absorbed in it. She had always believed vampires were just bloodthirsty creatures with giant, sharp fangs that probably made everyone faint at the sight of. She had also never heard of TickTock, or was it TockTick. But most surprisingly, vampires actually had a life! And orthodontists. And they actually care about their looks and potato chips, whatever those are.

Everyone in the Land of Hidden Magics knew vampires existed, but one was lucky to even see, or smell them. They always smelt of blood.

That night Willow’s parents told her they were assigned to an investigation on the border between here and the trolls’ land. Apparently one of the dragons smelt footprints over the border. Fresh too, which left Willow alone with her brother for the night.

After brushing her teeth and showering, Willow climbed into bed and said good night to her brother who was already snoring like a pig. Her dreams were filled with cakes and soups at first, but then suddenly she was woken up by a bloodcurdling voice. She screamed. He screamed. She continued screaming her head off because he, a vampire, screamed. At a short, cute little gnome.

“What do you want you, you, you, tall pale guy with really scary sharp teeth and ugly black vest with red tie that gives “stuffy nobels”?” Willow whisper-asked-shouted. She couldn't figure out what to call him so she just said exactly what she thought of him.

“This, as a matter of fact you little ignorant thing, is a very highly thought of outfit. Only professionals and someone ranked as highly as me get one. Anyways, I could be asking you the same thing, why in the Vampire Land am I here?” The vampire genuinely looked confused, then his glance sharpened instantly as he saw her book, laying open on the bed. "I'm the author of that book! I was told I would be sent slash teleported here when it's opened the 100th time. Well that explains this, but now how do I get back?“

”I can send you back if the roots agree with me.“ Willow saw the vampire's confused expression and added smugly, ”Gnomes and roots share a very special relationship, the roots can carry us if we ask or sign to them.“

”There is no way I'm riding on one of them,“ The vampire told her stubbornly.

”Then there's no way you're going to get out.“ Willow settled back onto her bed.

”UGH fineeee, but make sure they treat me carefully." The vampire agreed reluctantly.

Willow sung to the roots a sweet melodic song, and they instantly wrapped the poor vampire up and dissapeared.

Hmm, what an eventful night, Willow thought, a bit dazed.
\

It’s time to combine your art skills and your writing skills and put both to use in one daily. For this daily, we’re going to be writing blackout poetry! Blackout poetry is where you cross out the words that you do not want in your poem. Today, you’re going to write 3 poems, adding up to 150 words total, in order to earn 500 points for your cabin and an extra 150 points for providing proof.

Blackout poetry, or erasure poetry, is a form of found poetry or found object art created by erasing words from an existing text in prose or verse and framing the result on the page as a poem. The results can be allowed to stand in situ or they can be arranged into lines or stanzas.
Writers and visual artists have used this form to achieve cognitive or symbolic effects and to focus on the social or political meanings of erasure. Blackout poetry is a way to give an existing piece of writing a new set of meanings, questions, or suggestions. It lessens the trace of authorship but also draws attention to the original text.
History
Doris Cross appears to have been among the earliest to utilize this technique, beginning in 1965 with her "Dictionary Columns" book art. Other examples before 1980 include:
A Humument, Tom Phillips' 1970 major work of book art and found poetry deconstructed from a Victorian novel.
Radi Os, Ronald Johnson's, long 1977 poem deconstructed from the text of Milton's Paradise Lost.
Mans Wows – Jesse Glass' Mans Wows (1981), is a series of poems and performance pieces mined from John George Hohman's book of charms and healings Pow Wows, or The Long Lost Friend.
Modern Poet Alicia Cook is known for redacting her own poetry to create new works. Since 2016, she has published three poetry collections, each featuring 92 original poems alongside their blackout poetry counterparts.
The poetic form gained new political purpose online in 2017 in response to the Trump administration.
The tradition of concrete poetry and the works of visual artists such as d.a. levy have some relationship to this artform.

a form of existing on the page arranged into visual social erasure. a new set of attention appears among the Columns deconstructed from the Lost. a series of charms create collections, of this artform.

I am writing this passage purely for the sake of blacking out most of it in an attempt to create blackout poetry. I have not planned out what sort of poem I'm going to make out of this, so the words I'm putting down are just whatever I'm currently thinking about. I like stream-of-consciousness writing! It's fun. Did you know I like turtles? That's a fun fact about me. I also like dinosaurs. I collect both of these things and I'm working on organizing my collections. I don't really want to talk about that, though; it's kinda boring to try to describe. Moving the stuff is preferable to talking about moving the stuff. So, instead, I will talk about the lore of my stories. They take place in a world where ghosts are real, but since they're so obviously real, it's not really a big deal for anyone that lives there. Well, except for when things go wrong. This fact of the world is similar to the air: too normal to think about most of the time, but if it ever changes, then everyone is very much thinking about it.

writing for the sake of an attempt to sort out the words just like me. collect both of my talk to try to stuff the stuff. the lore of my ghosts are real, but it's not really when things go wrong. the world is similar to the normal of the thinking about it.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ Blackout Poetry ⋆.ೃ࿔







✏ 7.8.2026 ~ Daily #8 ⛧ ~ 235 words total ౨ৎ
⛱ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴀꜰꜰʀᴏɴ'ꜱ ɴᴏᴛᴇʙᴏᴏᴋ ⋆˚࿔

❥・08
Wordcount・152/150
Topic・Blackout Poetry
Points・500 (+150 for proof)
Cabin・Bi-fi

From Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee // 51 words
Morning I awoke.
My little brother croaked.
My desk chair,
where I'd draped
the costume so it could air.
His cape?
Sitting up, you lost it.
No, no,
I did.
And don't
Worry, burst into tears.
I would have to,
I had no choice.
Soon, stop crying.
She lived.


From Math Cats by Daniel M. Look // 45 words
Introduction:
When doing this,
I was hesitant.
Wrong is fascinating.
Weird sometimes.
However, I didn't
vision how to go
about well.
Something about the look.
That made me reconsider.
Then it made sense:
I wished to master right.
Following conversations.
Myself and the other.
Intent.

From Ranger Rick: Meet the Mola // 56 words
It can be hard to tell.
Coming or going instead.
Typical, often called.
A half missing.
Because of this,
sometimes a shape
is just special.
Another size,
the biggest. All
which made of rays.
Flexible. A much a
small more wonderful
turn. The page.
Soaking up their name.
An unusual habit.
They like to do this.

Weekly 1 — Fantasy

Wings of Knowledge — Fantasy elements note taking

Subgenres of fantasy

Arthurian fantasy
reinventing stories told of the characters and/or in the timeframe of King Arthur

High fantasy
fully fictional world
Often employs the quest trope
Often focuses on good versus evil storylines
Often includes elves, goblins, dragons, and other fantasy races
Readers expect high fantasy stories to come with a map so they can understand the geography of the beautiful locations that characterize the genre

Low fantasy
- takes place in our world but with magic

Dark fantasy
Fantasy mixed with horror
Tends to have high levels of violence and mature content
Characters are often morally flawed or at least very morally grey


Epic Fantasy
Similar to high fantasy but with a bigger scope
Lord of the Rings is the most iconic example

Historical Fantasy:
Takes place in an alternate version of our world’s past that included elements of magic
Historical events central to the story, but often the magical elements help lead to alternate outcomes of the historical events

Military fantasy
Fantasy that focuses on an army, usually with the main character being a soldier

Mythic fantasy
Involves and centres on famous characters from different mythological traditions around the world

Portal Fantasy
A character who originates from our world is transported to a fantasy world where they have to adapt to new society, technology, and stakes

Science Fantasy
as close to science fiction as fantasy could get. Tries to create scientific explanations for magic and other common fantasy occurrences and tropes
Space fantasy is one common subset of this genre

Steampunk
an alternate world where technological advancements were made from steam power and modern electric technology never emerged. Usually includes completely fantastical mechanical devices and vehicles that could never exist in the real world. Steampunk doesn’t have to be fantasy but steampunk stories tend to include fantastical elements

Superhero fantasy
exactly what it says on the tin
Usually there is some vaguely scientific explanation given for why characters have powers but they’re rarely plausible in the slightest and often the explanation is either purely “magic” or purely “aliens”

Swords and Sorcery
Similar to high fantasy or epic fantasy but tends to focus in on smaller scale events in the world, such as a single protagonist and their inner circle
Must include sword wielding character(s) who are usually the protagonist and sorcery wielding characters who tend to be either sidekicks or antagonists
Often focuses on a hero with a flaw they have to overcome

Urban fantasy
Story that takes place in a city, often one that truly exists in our world, except with magical elements woven into it
The magical nature of the city can be fully hidden from humans, a closely guarded secret among few, a fully accepted and integrated part of the city, or anything in between


Common Tropes in Urban Fantasy
Tropes are nothing more than reader expectations that you can comply with, command or subvert
Trope #1. Magic is Hidden. Such as Harry Potter. The city is magical but most of its residents have no idea. The magic exists in hidden corners, after nightfall, or uses its powers and hides in plain sight.
Trope #2. Magic exists in the underbelly of the city or primarily as part of the nightlife. Often includes magical creatures such as vampires and demons who thrive in darkness, want to remain hidden, and do best in communities where a little bit of skirting the law is expected.
Trope #3 Culture clash. The interesting ways the magical culture of the city and its non-magical counterpart mix, interact, feed off each other, and fight with one another.
Trope #4. Cityscape. Magic as accepted part of the world. In these stories magic is fully integrated into the city and even though not all of the city’s inhabitants are magical they fully accept that magic exists and that fantastical creatures live and work in their city
Trope #5. Mythical Creatures. The city, often fitting into one of the setting tropes above, has its magic accounted for by famous fantastical species such as werewolves, vampires, angels and demons, dragons, shapeshifters, and other iconic mythical figures. Main characters are often, but not always, some type of mythical being or hybrid
Trope # 5.5. Vampires and werewolves. Very popular trope in urban fantasy is for the magic to be filled up by creatures like vampires and werewolves. Very easy to integrate into a world where little or no information is known about them outside of their own communities due to the fact that these creatures thrive at night and in darkness.
Trope #6. Unique Twist. Since urban fantasy so often relies on familiar fantastical elements and creatures many writers attempt to stand out by creating a unique twist on the creatures, magic system, or story as a whole
Trope #7. Bad axe (you know what I mean) protagonist. Regardless of gender, protagonists in urban fantasy stories are often incredibly string, tough, and resilient
Trope #8. Unique Job. Protagonists in urban fantasies often have a unique profession or skill that is developed into a key aspect if the plot and how they fit into the magical side of the city. Usually when not engaged in the magic the hero is at home or work focused on their day job, which sometimes has explicit magical leanings while other times the characters are unaware at first of how their job makes them perfect for integrating with the city’s magical elements
Trope #9. Main character lives in hiding. This trope can take two forms. The first is that the main character is magical and is hiding that fact from their human or non-magical relatives and social circles. The second is that the character is in hiding from the magical community because their identity or existence is banned and they would be captured or killed if found out. (980 words)

Story and Stone — Planning the World

In this futuristic and fantastical society, practically the whole world is transformed into one enormous high-tech city. There are pockets of wilderness that are largely blocked off from humanity’s access and control and there seems to be some force unexplained by science that makes it very difficult for humans to enter these wild pockets. Many of them are fully overgrown and often include ruins of old buildings that have been entirely incorporated back into the natural landscape. The urban world itself loves to present the image that it is an incredible technologically advanced entity with perfect quality of life and perfect organization but in reality the entire system is a hot mess and the city is effectively split into two coexisting societies. Many people are homeless, they’re just carefully hidden out of site of the more wealthy population. The wealthy members of society live in very clean and orderly portions of the cityscape, aboveground, with fresh air, near artificial natural reserves, educational institutions, and large displays of advancement, innovation, and beauty. They are heavily controlled, beholden to the wills of government and corporations, at the mercy of the whims of money. Yet they are given the illusion of perfect control. The parts of the city they inhabit are clean, organized, systemic. Their schools, workplaces, and leisure spaces strongly encourage the building of these traits internally as well. Houses are nearly identical, grand sweeping creations as they tend to be, and a key aspect of their design, interior and exterior, is perceived emptiness. Their beauty is entirely formed by minimalism. However there are many pockets of what the wealthy would perceive as poverty and chaos. There are roads, buildings, infrastructures that have been built entirely without higher level approval or even knowledge. Sure these people may live in narrow streets untouched by the beauty campaigns of the government, but their society is far from disorganized. Robust systems of mutual aid exist without governments, providing these populations the government either ignores or is entirely unaware of with food, shelter, education, work, basic healthcare needs, and community. Street art thrives, there are people who create innovative and artistic buildings, machinery, clothing, adaptive items, etc for free, low cost, or trade. Human music is all but eradicated in the upper echelons in favour of computer generated music or ancient instrumentals preserved in recordings for generations. But in the hidden city music culture is abundant and full of innovation. It is not uncommon to see completely one of a kind musical instruments invented from scraps by the person using them. In addition to all this, there is yet a third sect of society. One problem that plagues and unites both the outer city and the hidden city is the issue of missing persons. Despite the fact that nearly all the world is populated and that everyone lives in either a highly organized society or a highly interconnected society, both of which would be incredibly difficult to disappear from without a trace, disappearances have become so common that they’re accepted as merely a fact of life. Approximately one in twenty children will go missing before reaching adulthood, and no missing person will ever be found. The secret to what’s going on here lies in the wild pockets left in the world. The thing is, this world has been inhabited by nature spirits longer than it has been inhabited by humans. But as humans spread and expanded their cities the nature spirits were forced into smaller and smaller confines where nature still survived. Many died out in this process, but enough survive in such small quarters for there to be an incredible population density of spirits in each remaining natural environment. Remaining secret from the outer city is obviously paramount for their safety. However the nature spirits still desire to protect humanity, so their current imperfect solution is to protect the children, as many of them as they can. Children have a much easier time entering wild spaces than adults, and many accidentally wander in, almost as though they are drawn to the plant and animal life, or to the magical presence, that exists in these spaces. When children wander in, they are taken in by the spirits and raised with a full understanding of the world’s natural and human history. They are free to leave at any time but hardly any ever do. They grow up and live out their lives in the hidden societies carved out of trees and the ground, perfectly happy. This arrangement has been consistent for generations, but things are beginning to be shaken up. The hidden city is starting to slowly prioritize more and more the revitalization of nature as a way to support humans and as they do so they are coming closer and ever closer to discovering the existence of these spirits entirely forgotten by human society for centuries. The spirits know this day is coming but no one knows what will happen after that. (833 words)


The Land Of Stories — Life in Your World

Amara’s sister was painting again. She could hear her, outside the tent walls, scraping together pigment scraps from discarded building materials, adding water, applying it to the outside of the fabric walls separating the two of them. Amara wondered what she was painting today. The tent walls had long been her goal project, but she had spent a long time practicing, working with the other street artists who lived in the Woodroffe Alley System, gaining the skills she felt she needed to tackle the project of turning their tent into a home.
Amara’s sister wasn’t really her sister, just someone who’d taken her in when she needed it most. Her name was Ness. And Amara loved her. Ness was then only ally Amara could ever remember having. With sixteen years to Amara’s eight, Ness was Amara’s guiding light in life. However, recently things had begun to shift. There was an area of what Ness called the Wildly Lands near the Woodroffe Alley System. One of the last spots of nature left in the world. And Amara felt pulled to it. She felt it calling her. Beckoning her. Begging her to follow it, run away… run away…
She shook her head. She needed to clear these thoughts and get some rest. Tensions had been brewing recently and there was talk of an uprising against the Outer City. Maybe the people had finally had enough from the holier-than-thou, wealthier-than-thou, perfect clean picturesque upper society leaving everyone else to make do with the scraps of an old broken world. No one had any idea anymore what to expect from day to day. So it was extra important to sleep.
Amara didn’t know how long it took but eventually she drifted off. Her dreams, however, were filled with wilderness. With trees, streams, flowers, even animals. Amara had never seen a real animal before. She didn’t have any idea what one might look like. But they definitely were there. There were things in her dream undeniably animal. Whether they were accurate ideas of animals or not, they caught Amara’s attention. She wanted to follow them. The dream shifted to her thoughts and now she was running through fields — what she thought fields must have been like, once upon a time — surrounded by animals more than she could count.
Then she woke up.
Immediately she knew. She must act. She must follow the pull of the Wildly Lands, the pull of nature. It was her destiny.
It was still dark outside the tent. Ness wasn’t asleep beside her, nor was she still painting. Now might be the only chance Amara got to leave, to go to nature. She took the opportunity the world presented to her. She ran. She barely had to think about where she was going. Her feet did the work for her, pulling her to the fenced off area overrun with trees. The adults all spoke of some force they didn’t understand pulling them away from this place. Even Ness talked like that sometimes. But Amara felt the opposite. She felt like she was meant to step over the wrought iron fence and become part of the nature inside.
It took her a moment to work out how to scale the fence, and another to find a safe place to jump from the fence to the dirty ground inside. When she finally did she realized she need not have bothered. The ground was cushioned with a thick layer of… Amara wanted to say they were sticks but they seemed too thin and flimsy to be sticks. In fact, they looked like light brown versions of the deep green things covering the trees. Leaves, then? They couldn’t have been leaves. Amara understood leaves, and they were flat and rounded. These were neither. After another moment spent pondering, Amara noticed a trap door slowly opening in the ground, from under the pile of whatever it was. A boy maybe twelve years old polled his head out and looked at her.
“Hello!” He said. “You must be Amara. I’m Jacksie, it’s great to meet you! The spirits appreciate you answering their call. Come with me, I’ll show you around!” (705 words)

Once Upon a SWapC — Combining Worlds

Amara followed Jacksie down through tunnels dug under the ground. She didn’t know how far they went but eventually they emerged into a new patch of nature than the one they’d been in before. This one was larger. Much larger. From where they were, Amara couldn’t see the end of it on any side. A few steps away from Amara and Jacksie there was a circle of what appeared to be grand thrones carved from very large mushrooms. Upon each mushroom throne sat what I assumed to be a spirit. Some of them were taller, with green eyes and ears that narrowed to a tip. Others were shorter, darker, and had longer, but similarly angular ears. They seemed intently engaged in something, though Amara could not pick up on any communication between them.
“Be careful,” Jacksie said as Amara took a step forward. She stopped abruptly.
Jacksie continued. “When they’re in their mushroom circle like that, they must not be interrupted. Don’t worry, time passes differently in the mushroom circle. However long it is for them it’ll only take a few minutes on our end.”
“What?”
“They’re Spirits,” Jacksie said, as though that explained everything. “They’ve been called many things throughout time. Fairies, Fae, Sidhe, The Seelie and Unseelie Courts… for a brief time they were called Shyrie and Namhie. And that’s just their names in this part of the world. It doesn’t matter what you call them, it won’t change them that much.”
“Won’t change them that much?” Amara repeated. “Will it change them at all?”
Jacksie hummed. “Who knows? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It’s hard to tell. And harder to explain. Sorry.”
Before Amara’s eyes, the mushroom circle shifts. No longer are the mushrooms thrones. They look more like their original forms. That’s one thing about nature Amara knows — mushrooms. They’re common enough in the city, along with lichens and moss, after all.
The fairies — Shyrie and Namhie — Sidhe — whatever broke away from the circle and came towards Amara and Jacksie. They didn’t speak, but Amara understood them anyway. They communicated with something like music. And Amara knows from Ness that music can carry very powerful emotional meanings. The fairies seemed to welcome them, to beckon them to follow. Amara and Jacksie did. The fairies led them along a path lined with more kinds of trees than Amara thought could possibly exist, then back underground, and finally they emerged into a structure that seemed to be a school built into and out of a whole grove of trees.
“These trees are called Oak and Cedar,” Jacksie explained. “They’re good for building, stand up to us humans. This area is where all the human children like us live and learn and work. There’s a good few hundred of us here and more stations like this spread out along the ground line — That’s the system of tunnels we were just in. I know it seems like a lot. But don’t worry. You’ll settle in quick. Come on! The spirits want to show you your new room!” Jacksie pulled Amara along, following the spirits who continued to sing their music that felt like language as they went.
Amara’s room was beautiful. It was built into the canopy of a huge oak tree, with a bed, table, and shelves built right out of the very walls. It was lit by what seemed to be magical orbs of light floating near the ceiling. Amara wished they were a little brighter, and brighter they got. She wished they were dim again, and indeed they dimmed.
The spirits’ song told of sleep, of needing some rest, of exploring more in the morning. It sang of peaceful dreams, of freedom, of a world built for its inhabitants — for all its inhabitants.
Amara hoped to wake up in such a world. (649 words)

Author’s note

This whole world was inspired generally by the song Fifty Mission Cap by The Tragically Hip. The world I combined with belongs to the lovely Jess. I wrote 980 words in part one, 833 words in part two, 705 words in part 3, and 649 words in part four. My word total including this note is 3,231.

Weekly #1: fantasy

Part 1: Notes and ideas
Part 1: Wings of Knowledge (written by Ember)
“Welcome to the first part of this weekly, where you'll be researching fantasy elements! Start by looking at elements of fantasy in books (or conduct a quick search online). You aren't expected to research all of these examples, just pick the ones that interest you and make the most sense. Explore how to utilize these elements in your own stories, and take 100 words worth of notes.”

(144 words)
Notes:
- fantasy is a world with magical elements and themes, such as fantastical creatures and cryptids, witches, wizards, potions, spells, fairies, and more!
- some fantasy literature is based off of historical events!
- there are multiple subgenres in fantasy! some common subgenres include urban fantasy, high fantasy, dark fantasy, and portal fantasy! magical realism is only sort of a subgenre for fantasy, but you can say either way.
- not all fantasy worlds are the same! some are just normal life, but with magical creatures, when some have witches, elves, fairies, and magical creatures. this is what is called high fantasy, in a world like D&D, with everything magical, from Witches to Magical creatures.





Ideas:
- worlds where there are magical creatures who rule the world, and there are humans taking over.
- there could be witches who are ruling the world, and the characters try to stop them.



Part 2: Worldbuilding




Part 2: Story and Stone (written by Vicky)
“Good job on the first part of the weekly! Now that you're accustomed with the genre of fantasy, let's put all that handy research to use! In this section we'll be planning our fantasy worlds. First, look back at this weekly and learn how to worldbuild. Now, get started on creating your own fantasy world, writing at least 300 words of planning. Happy worldbuilding!”

(325 words)
Worldbuilding:
my world is called zarania, and in this world, dark witches have ruled over for generations. it doesn’t have much technology, since there’s magic for most of the things for technology to do. ancient zaranians have tried to defeat these dark witches, but there is no record of success.
they speak elvish and english there, having the world made up of elves. there are temples in my world, zarania. the founder of it was Eikcilla seigaen, supposedly. zaranians from 14 BC to 1047 CE found food from places that were uncommon to find food, since the rulers would forbid them from food. the world has many hills, and their currency are “Sharis” and “Cistars.” one shari is worth about 22 dollars, and cistars are worth about 46 cents each. the climate for summers in zarania usually range from about 73 to 91 Fahrenheit, and they are usually very rainy. in the springtime, they usually range from about 64 to 82 and very foggy, in the fall, it’s usually 55 to 73 and usually clear, and in the winter it usually ranges from about 28 to 55 and usually is full of snow. pastoralism is unpopular in Zarania, but the witches are big fans of it. the zaranian world is highly religious. there is a rumor that the founder of zarania, even though it is the world itself, was a dwarf, because the elven species evolved from a type of dwarf. the current ruler is zomica rogitan. it is a zaranian tradition to put a living toad on the top of a palm tree on shartsmieyea, their version of christmas. there are many different gender norms, and the zaranian society recognizes any pronouns or genders that people use for themselves as gender norms. the witches aren’t transphobic, just… evil. there is a rumor that the founder may have been related to the supposedly extinct species/cryptid, humans. there are also many magic creatures in zarania.


Part 3: Story
Part 3: The Land of Stories (written by Seagull)
“So, you’ve finished researching and worldbuilding, and with that, you should have a whole new world, well.. built! But what next? Well, there’s no point having a world with nothing happening in it: it’s time to bring it alive, by writing a fantasy story of at least 500 words that takes place within your new and unique land. You can go wild writing whatever you want – perhaps it features the beginning of a great adventure for a noble quest, or maybe it’s just a simple day-in-the-life of a mythical monster – but be sure to incorporate what you have just learnt about fantasy, and find ways to drop in all of the juiciest new inventions and elements from your work that you want to showcase!”
(575 words)
story:
Ayla was sleeping in her bed at What would be About 10:02 AM. she woke up then. she saw the sky. it was green, which was normal there. Ayla got out of bed, and went to work.
“Ah, ayla, there you are.” said zomica, aka the ruler, aka an evil witch, aka Ayla’s mother.
“yawn yep, i’m here, mom.”
“Great. you can get to work on the apples.” Even though zomica was the ruler, Ayla and her mother worked in a factory specializing in poison and scares.
“Ugh…” she went to work on the poison apples. what they did was import apples from a normal company, then one of the workers dipped them in poison. delicious, but deadly poison. they told people they were caramel apples. and it was Ayla’s shift to work with the apples in the factory for half an hour. the poison bubbling was still cooking, and at this stage, it was green, bubbling goop. it’s made up of spelled pixie dust, yeast, food coloring, and blood from a dragon fruit. now, i know what you’re thinking, “dragon fruit, how normal.” but really, the dragon fruit in this world is much, much different from the dragon fruit in your world. the dragon fruit in this world was made from… actual… dragons. No one has any idea why they’re called fruit, considering they’re literally made from meat, which means they conflict the entire meaning of fruit. she was very annoyed about it, and she hated the name.
“Ayla, you done?” Asked Amethyst. Ayla loved Amythest. she thought that she was just so cool. Amethyst showed her all her cool art she made, and would whisper to her when others were talking.
“almost.” Ayla put the mixing spoon back in the cabinet where it’s supposed to go.
“Thanks.” Amethyst took over.
“Ayla, you know what you’re doing next?” Amethyst asked.
“Yep, June bug and cicada duty…” Ayla sighed. june bug and cicada duty wasn’t what it sounded like, but it was still disgusting. she roasted dead cicadas, june bugs, and rhinoceros beetles for people to buy… and… eat. Ayla Held the June bug over the fire. it was like roasting marshmallows, but worse, and with bugs. the june bug was giant, about an inch wide, green, with spots. it was melting disgustingly. then she put it in the bug cooler, where the bugs were frozen, and, surprisingly, made them taste Amazing. then, there was the cicada. it was roasted over the fire, and well it was being roasted, it’s wings were starting to melt. then, it was time for the dreaded rhinoceros beetle. it was roasted over the fire, casually. Amethyst had told her she should try eating one of them, so Ayla decided to try it. Ayla gulped. she moved it closer and closer to her mouth, slowly. then, she took a bite. it was spicy. she liked it. she found a bag on the shelf and started eating them. they were so good. that was when she realized the time! it was the end of her workday already!
“alright, Ayla, time for bed.” Her mother told her.
“Alright, i’m ready to go.” thirty minutes later, Ayla was tucked in into her bed. she collected her thoughts about how weird and cool today was, then… she fell asleep, and possibly had dreams actually cooler than today. or probably they were just too weird to compare. either way, it was a good day.


Part 4: swapping worlds
Part 4: Once Upon a SWapC (written by Kat)
“Almost done, writers! To complete your weekly, head on over to this studio. Post your fantasy world there, or reply to someone else's. When you've found your partner, merge your worlds. Combine some of your partner's world with yours to create something new and magical! Write 500 words of this combo to finish your weekly. The possibilities are endless– have fun!”

swapped with @HermioneVoiceActress: https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/891414/?page=1#post-9280843
(541 words)
Swapping:
Zaraphia was the two worlds of Zaraphis and zarania combined. happened ages ago. Ayla was working at what would have been the factory, but now, it was the festival she worked at. she saw someone carrying starfallen pie. she got up to have some. it was her break, after all. Ayla loved working here much better than the factory in Zarania. She saw Amethyst, and she sprinted over to her.
“hey, Amethyst!”
“Yeah?”
“How do you like working here?”
“It’s pretty nice. i definitely like it better than The zaranian factories.” it was, of course, not all Zaraphis. there was still the green sky, and the factory was now a part of the festival. the factory had better working conditions now, and they got paid what would be about $12 more an hour. and the sky was still green, and the temperature usually was a two digit number adding up to ten. but people from both worlds still had much to get used to.
“yeah, me too. and there aren’t that many enchanted ash flows.” Ayla pointed to the part of the sky where a few minutes before the worlds got combined, a giant enchanted ash flow was coming down. it could have done much to destroy the city.
“yep. enchanted or not, that ash flow could have been very deadly. good thing they combined the worlds soon enough.” Amethyst responded. Ayla thought Amethyst was so cool. She had a teal streak in her hair, and wore a leopard print jacket with a ‘love is love’ t-shirt, fishnet tights, a red and black plaid skirt, black boots up to her knees, and a Belt with so many cute keychains on it. Ayla, on the other hand, wore a pink hoodie and a shirt with a blue heart, and cat leggings with her sister’s old black sneakers.
“Well, see you around.” Amethyst went back to work. Ayla spotted a girl talking to her sister. She looked about Ayla’s age, and wore A bat shirt with a spider backpack.
“well, see you around.” the girl told her sister.
“hey…” Ayla muttered to the girl.
“hi.” the girl responded with a slight grin.
“You were… just talking to my sister.”
“um, okay? so?”
“how… old are you?”
“11. i’m from zaraphis.”
“And… how old is she?”
“15.”
“And?”
“i was just saying hi.”
“okay. bye!” Ayla skipped along, then paused, wondering if she was being a bit weird. she looked back at the girl and waved. then she moved along. she took a bite of the dragon fruit. it was delicious. it tasted like actual fruit, and made much better use of the name, in her opinion. she got a plate, and decided to try all the different foods. but, of course, she also grabbed a bag of rhinoceros beetles off the factory shelves. they still had those, because those were the factory’s signature foods. she tried starfallen pie and stellardonuts for the first time, as well as actual dragon fruit, and all the other delicious sweets and foods they had here. before she knew it, she had to go to bed. and well she collected her thoughts, the first thing she thought was that she knew she was going to love it here.


(1585 words)

Weekly 1 || Fantasy story, yippe! || 1784/1400 words

A few notes before I get started:
HUGE TW: This concept heavily revolves around the concept of death, the afterlife, and other spiritual concepts, some depictions possibly being based on religion. While I attempted to tread these topics lightly and not add anything that would inherently break the community guidelines, I understand that it remains a sensitive topic for some.

Second of all, this is based off of one of my OCs who I've recently been trying to change up. This weekly really inspired me to instead of making the “gimmick” of this fantasy story to be character-specific, I'd make it world-specific (if that makes any sense). In all honesty, I kind of like it more. A lot more. As in I might adjust bits of this and use it for my character upon the completion of this weekly.

Third, the first part is more formulated like me rambling. I advise you to skip it if you're here for the swap. And the third part is sort of rushed, and I alluded to a lot of things that probably weren't too relevant. I wanted it to be a lot more epic than it ended up being.

With that, onto the words that actually count.



Part 1 - Research - 114/100 words

- Astral realm/spirits/afterlife shenanigans
- Dragons
- Anthropomorphic animals + other usually non-sentient things

- I think it'd be pretty cool for there to be some sort of spiritual existence, in which animals (and maybe other objects that usually have some spiritual symbolism) have the ability to communicate with spirits, bridging the connection between life and death
- Gods/goddesses, not too sure what to do with ‘em but considering it appears this story will theme around the spirit realm it's good to mention them
- I want a character to have a dragon pet
- OOH WAIT NO I WANT ALL LOST SPIRITS TO HAVE A DRAGON PET WITH SOME SORT OF MAGICAL ABILITY AGH I LOVE DRAGONS SM


Part 2 - Planning - 330/300 words

Flutterthrough Forest was seen as a sanctuary by strangers. It was picturesque, a first glance being of wild animals roaming around in the overgrown multi-coloured plant life and glistening ponds in the sprinkles of sunshine. Although those that actually entered said forest all claimed something felt off. In the tranquility of it all, there was a sense of uneasiness. As if entering it had begun to destabilize the entire ecosystem. Animals would stop in their tracks, listening from a difference. A chilly wind seemed to follow any passerby, as if trying to shove them out. It felt oddly exclusive. Though, when no one watches, they come out to play. The spirits of the forest.
Flutterthrough, as peaceful as it may be, goes entirely unnoticed by Those Above. No one knows why, but those who fall within it remain there as spirits instead of being taken in by Those Above, often referring to themselves as the lost ones. These spirits have lost their physical forms and are therefore reduced to their purest and most natural form. While they may not be able to leave, this natural form gives them an advantage. The animals in the forest are able to go between the forest and the outside world, and are able to communicate with the lost ones. Therefore, while animals are unable to communicate to humans in conventional ways, they are often used as a form of communication between the living and the lost ones.
The reason this forest is known as Flutterthrough, however, is through the legend that mythical creatures such as dragons, unicorns, and pixies can be located within it. While none have been officially spotted by the living, youthful creatures of The Above that were often thought to be mere legends to most mortals often find themselves drawn to the forest due to its unique properties, and undiscoverability from Those Above. They often serve as accompaniment to the lost ones, both as helpful guides and as magical, talkative friends.


Part 3 - The actual story - 612/500 words

It was as if the world had gone still. Not a single animal moved an inch. Eyes all glued to one spot. Then, she awoke. Her hair flowed down to her feet, ending in a wisp. As she made her way up to her feet, her hair separated into strands, grabbing onto every limb of her body as if it would all break away without its stability. The animals’ eyes followed her as she stood up, getting her bearings.

A rabbit was the first to grow closer to her. She started maneuvering through the forest, finding a way back to her home. The night within the forest had been so frightening, all she wished for was a hug from her brother in her cosy home. Though minutes passed. It could have been hours. It seemed as if the forest was endless, despite knowing the path back home like the back of her hand. Eventually, she leaned against the tree, and the rabbit stood next to her. Leaping up to her shoulder, it made what should have been incoherent squeaks to her. Though as it continued, words began echoing in the back of her mind.

“Welcome home.”

The world went still for her. Home? But home wasn't here. It was her little cottage just outside the forest. A sinking feeling then hit her. That didn't exist for her anymore, did it? Nothing did, outside the forest. She fell to the ground, conflicting feelings hitting her. She never wanted to leave. But this alternative, to stay… it somehow was worse.

5 others awoke. Upon seeing her, they glanced at a deer, one whom she assumed had the longest antlers within the forest. It moved its head in a way that resembled a nod. With this, two of them took each of her hands, directing her to a large tree, branches reaching in every possible direction. She knew this tree. It was her favourite, constantly attempting to climb it, to see if she could touch the clouds, and perhaps the blue of the sky above.

“Climb.” One said, who appeared to be the oldest. Older than her. Shocking to think, seeing that this was the first time she'd been in this forest in 30 years. “Climb to the top. Those Above will not find you, but maybe they will.” While many of those words were too vague to understand, she listened anyway. These were her only guiding voices.

The others watched as she made her way up. Every step to every subsequent branch, she had memorised. And thus, she reached the highest branch. She inherently reached up, trying to touch the sky once more. Though it felt as if it were floating just above her reach, no matter how much she tried. Though before she put her hand down to her side, hair wrapped around it trying so desperately to pull it back down, something flew in her direction. Before it could race past her, it slowed, only flapping its tiny wings. Cyan coloured, covered in scales, small horns poking from its head, only a quarter of her size… she could only assume it to be one thing. A dragon. A tiny one, but certainly a dragon. One that everyone around her believed to be a childish myth. In front of her. She reached out to touch it, in which it flapped slightly to one side before perching on her head.

“Ooh, new roommate! This'll be fun!” The young dragon then exclaimed, bending its head down until its eyes aligned with her. The hair once grappling her had now loosened. She let out a small giggle. Maybe, just maybe… this home wouldn't be so bad.


Part 4 || Combined with Novanuhea123 || 728/500 words || Built off of part 3 in a new perspective and some slight adjustments made ^-^

“Dad! I saw a dragon! I saw it, I saw it!” Ellie let out a huge grin, bouncing up and down in excitement.

“Did you now?” her father picked her up, sharing the same smile. “Was it in your mind again, like you said with the phoenix?”

Ellie's excitement dropped. “No, dad! I saw it with my own two eyes, soaring through the skies above the forest!”

Her father's enthusiasm dropped as well. “Forest? Now, what have I told you about going in there?” He placed her down on the couch, the usual place to lecture her.

“Never go in the forest….” She let out a sigh as she finished the sentence.

“Exactly. That place is nothing but trouble, it provides a false sense of security. You're not even able to-”

“-believe your own eyes…” Ellie finished. She stared at the wood tiling. It was just so difficult for her to avoid such a mystical place. Not only was it so close, but it almost felt as if something was pushing her in its direction. The dragon. The dragon that she most certainly saw. She… did see it, right?

—

“Hey, what's wrong?” Ellie's older brother saw her digging a hole in the sand, alone. She didn't answer. “Come on, what's up?”

“…are dragons real?” She looked up at him, one hand still buried in the sand.

Her brother paused for a moment, considering if it was worth breaking a child's innocence. “…no. Those are just fairy tales the elders make up.”

Ellie seemed as if she was going to cry, but then she stood up. “I don't think you're right.” She took a step towards him. “I saw one in the forest. It was real, it has to be!” A couple more steps. Her brother took a few steps back himself, a little startled by his sister's sudden change in behaviour. “And I'm gonna prove it!”

Before her brother could argue, she'd run off in the direction of the forest she'd been told so many times to never head in. Her brother attempted to chase after her, but stopped before its entrance. His father'd scared him enough to know to never pass that point. So much so, he wasn't willing tosave his own sister to get past such a fear, leaving Ellie on her own.

—

Ellie stopped to catch her breath, now in the thick of the forest. Birds chirping, grass rustling. Typical of a forest. Then, it halted. Ellie looked up to see if someone or something had shown up that would cause such a thing. She saw a little rabbit stopped about 20 feet away beside her, observing her. Practically frozen in place. She stepped towards it, and it did not budge. As much as she wanted to reach out and grab the rabbit, something about this seemed unusual. Unnatural. Instead, she gravitated further into the forest. She walked through the unusually quiet forest with relative caution. Part of her wanted to turn back. Something wasn't right, and it was probably what her dad had talked about. Though she couldn't help but move forward.

A figure appeared, leaning on a nearby tree, larger than the rest. Hair tangled around them in a way Ellie hadn't seen before. The figure gave a light smile, holding something in their hands. Something soared down from the skies, stopping upon reaching the figure's head. Scaled, winged, little horns. It was… a dragon. They were real. At least, if this was real.

The figure lifted its hands up to the dragon, the dragon then taking the object from them. It lightly flapped in Ellie's direction, offering the object. A chain necklace, a small gem inserted in the front. Ellie hesitantly took it, feeling a surge of some strange force that felt so familiar yet unknown.

“A gift…” the figure then spoke. “You will understand one day. Until then, run home. Unite with your father once more, and never return. Not until you find out.”

The figure disappeared, and the dragon soared into the skies, leaving Ellie alone with her new necklace. Once she had taken in everything that had happened, she turned around, racing out of the otherwise silent forest.

—

“There you are!” Ellie's father’s voice had a mix of emotions. Anger, fear, relief. “What were you doing?”

Ellie looked down at the necklace. And then up at her father.

“Believing.”

‹ back

Part 1 - Wings of knowledge | 111/100 words

Fantasy elements
- Fantastical creatures and nonhuman characters, like dragons, fairies, elves…
- Magical powers, spells, potions, abilities
- Humans who don't know about the existence of a fantasy world, and sometimes have legends about that fantasy world.
- Sometimes, interaction between the magical world and the non-magical world, if there is one, in stories.
- Powerful (and sometimes lost) relics, objects, books…
- Prophecies, that may or may not come true

Ideas
In my fantasy world, there will be nonhuman creatures with magical abilities, and they will live somewhat near humans without humans knowing that they exist. Only some lucky (or unlucky?) humans find out about their existence. Humans will also have legends about the world.


Part 2 - Story and Stone | 305/300 words

Humans don't know that there's an entire civilisation living in the oceans. Legends like Atlantis are believed to be just legends, stories. But they aren't. They're much more than that.

Navians are creatures that are really similar to humans but live in underwater cities, in the oceans, and they are able to breathe there and get food and everything they need to live from the sea. Their bodies are also adapted to living under the water, and they can swim really fast.

There are two big Navian kingdoms: one in the Pacific Ocean and the other one in the Atlantic Ocean. There are also smaller communities in other oceans, hidden in parts humans haven't explored yet.

A few years ago, Atlantic Navians started helping humans. Now, when a ship sinks near their cities, instead of letting all people die, they can choose to save them and “share” their abilities with them, but only when they think the people on the ship are worth saving, and only when they accept living in the underwater cities forever, since Navians can't return them to their cities because they can't reveal their existence to humans.

Navians often interrogate these humans and investigate their ships, and most of the time, they accept and welcome them. However, their process is not perfect and they have made several errors.

This is why these humans have been causing tension between Atlantic Navians and Pacific Navians. Most Pacific Navians don't want humans to live in their world. Most Atlantic Navians accept them. And neither of them wants to start a war, because the kings know that using all the resources available to them would mean lots of destruction and deaths, and probably the end of the realms and consequences in the human world too.

But right now, it seems like anything could start one.


Part 3 - Title
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Part 4 - Title
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Weekly 1 - 2395 words - 2500 points
Part 1 - 221 words
- Fantasy stories often include hidden places that ordinary people cannot easily find. I like the idea of an ancient library that appears only to people searching for forgotten answers instead of books.
- Magical objects can hold memories instead of power. Books, keys, maps, and old journals could each contain pieces of history that disappear if they are removed from the library.
- Libraries can become living places where shelves rearrange themselves, books whisper to each other, and ink shifts across pages to reveal new information depending on who is reading.
- Instead of using flashy magic, I want knowledge itself to be magical. Learning the correct words or discovering forgotten stories could unlock doors, reveal hidden rooms, or awaken ancient artifacts.
- An archivist could act as the guardian of this knowledge. Rather than being a wizard, they would protect history by deciding which stories should remain hidden and which deserve to be remembered.
- My main character, Ellie, could be an ordinary girl who accidentally discovers the library after following a strange map or hearing mysterious whispers. Unlike previous visitors, she questions the rules instead of blindly accepting them.
- I want the atmosphere to feel mysterious, quiet, and slightly eerie rather than full of constant action. Dusty shelves, candlelight, enchanted manuscripts, and endless corridors would create the feeling that every book hides another secret.

Part 2 - 603 words
The world is centered around the Archive Between Pages, an ancient library hidden outside ordinary reality. Most people believe it is only a legend told by scholars, but every few decades someone who desperately seeks the truth finds a doorway leading inside. The entrance never stays in one place. Sometimes it appears beneath abandoned churches, inside forgotten castles, behind dusty bookcases, or in ordinary libraries after midnight. No map can permanently locate it because the Archive chooses its own visitors.
The library itself seems endless. Towering shelves stretch higher than anyone can see, disappearing into darkness above. Spiral staircases wind around floating columns of books, while narrow bridges connect distant sections that seem impossible to reach. The shelves quietly move throughout the day, rearranging themselves according to magic rather than logic. People who enter without permission often become hopelessly lost because every hallway changes when they look away.

Books inside the Archive are unlike ordinary books. Some contain memories instead of words. Others rewrite themselves as history changes. Certain volumes refuse to open unless spoken to politely, while others can only be read under moonlight or candlelight. There are books written in forgotten languages that no longer exist anywhere else in the world. A few dangerous books have been chained shut because the stories inside are powerful enough to become reality if someone reads them aloud.

The Archive is maintained by a single mysterious archivist. No one knows how old they are, and no visitor has ever learned their real name. They simply introduce themselves as “the Archivist.” Their responsibility is not only organizing books but protecting dangerous knowledge from people who would misuse it. They know every corridor, every hidden chamber, and every secret passage, but they never seem surprised when the library changes around them.

Knowledge is considered the strongest form of magic in this world. There are no spells involving fireballs or lightning. Instead, magic comes from understanding forgotten languages, ancient symbols, and true names. A person who learns the correct phrase might unlock a hidden doorway, reveal invisible writing, or restore memories that have been erased. Because knowledge is so valuable, losing books is considered one of the greatest disasters imaginable.

Time behaves strangely inside the Archive. Visitors might spend several days exploring, only to return home minutes after they disappeared. Others remain for only an hour but discover years have passed outside. Nobody fully understands why time shifts, although many believe the library exists between different moments in history instead of belonging to one timeline.

The greatest mystery hidden within the Archive is a collection known as the Forgotten Shelf. These books record events that have been erased from history. Entire kingdoms, people, inventions, and even friendships can disappear from the world if they are moved onto these shelves. Only the Archivist remembers everything that has been forgotten, making them both the keeper of history and the loneliest person alive.

Ellie accidentally discovers the Archive while searching through an abandoned town library for information about her late grandmother, who often spoke about a place “where stories remember people instead of people remembering stories.” Behind a loose bookshelf she finds an old iron door that shouldn't exist. When she steps through it, she enters the endless library and meets the Archivist.

Unlike previous visitors, Ellie notices something unusual. Several books appear completely blank, but she can still hear faint voices whispering from their pages. The Archivist seems uncomfortable whenever she asks about them, hinting that someone has begun stealing memories from the Archive itself. If the missing stories cannot be restored, pieces of the world may slowly vanish forever.

Part 3 - 596 words
Ellie had always preferred old libraries to crowded places. Most people complained about the smell of dust or the silence that seemed almost too heavy to breathe in, but she loved both. Libraries felt alive in a different way. Every shelf held hundreds of voices waiting patiently for someone to listen.

The old town library had been closed for nearly fifteen years. Its windows were clouded with dirt, ivy crawled over the stone walls, and rain leaked through parts of the roof whenever storms rolled across the valley. Nobody visited anymore except birds that nested in the rafters.

Ellie came anyway. Her grandmother had spoken about this place often before she died. “If you're ever looking for answers,” she used to whisper, “don't search for the newest books. The oldest ones remember the most.”

At the time Ellie had laughed. Now she wasn't so sure. She wandered through crooked shelves carrying a flashlight whose beam barely cut through the darkness. Most of the books had swollen from years of damp air. Their titles had faded until only fragments of gold lettering remained. History. Legends. Maps. Myths. Nothing unusual.

Until she noticed one shelf that looked strangely untouched. Unlike everything else in the room, this section was perfectly clean. No dust. No cobwebs. No signs that fifteen years had passed.

Curious, Ellie reached toward a thick leather-bound book. Instead of pulling free, the entire bookshelf shifted with a deep grinding sound. Stone scraped against stone. Cold air rushed through a narrow opening behind it. Hidden behind the shelves stood an iron door covered with tiny carved letters. She traced one symbol with her finger. The metal felt warm.

Without warning, the door unlocked itself. It opened silently. Beyond it stretched another library. This one was impossible. Shelves climbed higher than mountains. Bridges crossed impossible distances above her head. Candles floated in the air without melting. Thousands of books drifted slowly between shelves as though carried by an invisible wind. The room should have echoed. Instead it was perfectly quiet.

Almost. Very faintly…someone was whispering. Not one voice. Hundreds.

Ellie stepped forward. The iron door closed behind her. A tall figure emerged between the shelves. They wore long grey robes stained with ink instead of dirt, and a ring of old brass keys hung from their belt. Silver threads ran through their dark hair, though their face seemed strangely ageless. “You are early,” they said calmly.

Ellie blinked. “I… what?”

“Visitors usually arrive years later.”

“I don't even know where I am.”

The stranger studied her for several seconds before giving the smallest nod. “No,” they agreed. “You don't.”

They gestured toward the endless shelves. “Welcome to the Archive Between Pages.”

Ellie stared. “This isn't possible.”

“Most important places aren't.”

The Archivist turned and began walking deeper into the library. “If you intend to stay alive,” they said without looking back, “don't remove a book from its shelf.”

Ellie hurried after them. “Why?”

“Because,” the Archivist replied, “every book here remembers something.”

“And if one disappears…”

They stopped walking. For the first time, their calm expression faltered. “…the world forgets it ever existed.”

Before Ellie could ask another question, a loud crash echoed somewhere deep inside the endless shelves. The whispers stopped. Every floating candle flickered. Books began falling from distant shelves.

The Archivist's face lost all color. “Impossible,” they murmured.

“What happened?”

They looked toward the darkness beyond the nearest staircase. “Someone,” they said quietly, “has stolen a story.”

And somewhere in the maze of endless shelves, something that should have remained forgotten began to wake.

Part 4 - 975 words
Every spell in the world began as a story. Before a wordsmith could create a new incantation or an alchemist could bottle enchanted fire, every piece of magic first had to be written into the Archive Between Pages. Hidden beneath ordinary libraries, abandoned subway platforms, forgotten tunnels, and the basements of old bookstores, the Archive was less a single building than a living network that stretched beneath every major city in the world. Most people believed magical markets, floating islands, and secret subway stations were separate wonders. They weren't. Every hidden place was simply another reading room of the Archive, connected by shelves instead of roads. The oldest arcanists said stories were seeds. Once a story was written in the Archive, lawful mages could grow it. Botanists cultivated enchanted plants whose petals absorbed fragments of written magic. Alchemists crushed their roots into shimmering inks that allowed new pages to be added to the Archive. Wordsmiths spent years crafting perfect incantations, careful not to disturb the balance of the stories that came before them. Every spell demanded patience, knowledge, and respect. The Archive accepted only magic that obeyed the natural order.

Those who refused that order became rogues. Instead of writing their own stories, rogue mages stole existing ones. Tearing a page from the Archive didn't simply steal knowledge. It erased the rules that knowledge depended on. A healing spell no longer required rare flowers. A flight charm no longer needed feathers gathered beneath a full moon. The spell became wild, feeding directly on the caster's lifeforce and consuming the magic around it. The stronger the spell, the larger the hole it left in reality.

The Archivist had spent centuries making sure no one ever reached the Forgotten Shelf.

Until today. They knelt beside an empty space between two ancient volumes. There should have been a book there. Not a famous one. Not a dangerous one. Simply The Story of True Names. Without it, names no longer carried the same power. Already the consequences had begun.

–

Beneath Manhattan, Sadie wandered through the hidden subway market with a satchel full of books pressed tightly against her side. She had only meant to buy a translation guide.

Instead, every mage around her had stopped walking. The air hummed. A cold shiver rippled through the tunnels as everyone sensitive to magic felt the same terrible sensation. Someone had cast rogue magic. Shopkeepers hurried to cover their shelves. Flying lanterns blinked out one after another. A florist reached for a pot of silver ivy only to watch the leaves fade into ordinary green.

“No…” she whispered. “My spell…”

Across the platform, a broom courier lost control and drifted awkwardly toward the tracks as the enchantment keeping him airborne unraveled beneath him. People weren't forgetting magic. Magic was forgetting itself.

–

Miles away, Ellie stood beside the Archivist as books flew from shelves faster than either of them could catch them. “What's happening?” she asked.

The Archivist pulled a heavy atlas from a collapsing stack and opened it across a reading table. Instead of countries, the pages displayed glowing train routes. Golden lines stretched beneath oceans and continents, connecting hidden stations around the world. Every station represented a doorway into the Archive. Every route carried stories from one magical community to another. One by one, the glowing lines disappeared.

“They're collapsing,” Ellie whispered. “The stories are.”

The Archivist shook their head. “No. The connections are.”

Ellie frowned. “I don't understand.”

“When a spell is written,” the Archivist said, “copies are carried across the Network. Magical libraries, underground markets, floating academies—they all receive the story. That is how every lawful mage learns the same magic.”

“And now?”

“They're becoming blank.”

As if answering them, the atlas changed. An entire page dissolved into white paper. The route beneath New York vanished.

–

The hidden market erupted into panic. Booksellers opened their shelves to find empty bindings. Potion recipes disappeared halfway through instructions. One elderly arcanist stared in horror as every spell he had spent fifty years collecting became unreadable before his eyes. Only the titles remained.

Someone shouted from farther down the tunnel. “The trains!”

Sadie looked up. The arriving subway wasn't made of steel anymore. Its windows had become pages. Its doors looked like enormous leather book covers. Instead of announcing stations, the signs above each carriage displayed chapter titles. The train screeched to a halt. Across its side, glowing letters slowly rearranged themselves.

RETURN OVERDUE STORIES

The doors opened. No passengers stepped out. Instead, hundreds of loose pages drifted into the station. Blank. Every single one.

Sadie picked one up. The page was warm. As she touched it, words slowly appeared beneath her fingertips. Not sentences. Memories. Someone's childhood. A village that no longer existed. A spell describing how to grow flowers that bloomed only in moonlight. Then the words vanished again. The page returned to white.

–

Deep within the Archive, the same blank page appeared on the reading table before the Archivist. They closed their eyes. For the first time in centuries, they could no longer remember where the page had belonged. Someone wasn't merely stealing books. They were rewriting the Archive itself.

“If enough stories disappear,” Ellie said quietly, “what happens?”

The Archivist looked toward the endless shelves. “The floating cities fall because no one remembers the spell that keeps them aloft. The magical markets become ordinary basements. The enchanted plants lose the stories growing inside their roots. The subway stops finding hidden stations.” They hesitated before speaking again. “And eventually…the Archive becomes nothing more than an empty library.”

A train bell echoed through the shelves. Somewhere beyond the rows of books, pages turned without anyone touching them. The thief had entered the Network.

For the first time in history, the Archive was no longer protecting the world's stories. It was racing to remember them before they were erased forever.

Worldbuilding:
Everlia is a land that looks like it came straight out of a storybook. With it's pastel colors and beautiful sights, it can be sweet and pretty, but also dark and dangerous. Everlia is split into three realms.

The first is Wintergreen, a dark forest full of odd animals and plants. Many a plant can be found here yhat does impossible things, healing and growing and helping. But these plants aren't picked without a cost. And there are bad plants in the forest too, ones that have the power to hurt and destroy. Wintergreen is home to witches too, some of the friendly kind that'll brong you inside and gove ypu some porridge snd maybe a little bit of magic to help you on your way. But there are bad witches, too that'll make you their dinner if you aren't careful.

The second realm is Skyreach, with it's towers looming over the rest of the land. In the middle of the city is a giant castle, called Celestia. Blue and indigo glass swirls around the white towers, creating a beutiful ripple effect. Around the castle, the town of Skyreach is built in pastel colors, with buildings smashed up against one another. The city is always busy, with people everywhere.

The last realm is Hydra, a roaring ocean speckled with small islands. Tribes do live on these islands, but they are all individual, and don't like strangers. The islands themselves are wonderful, though, with palm trees and fruit you can pick right off the trees. And down in the ocean, you'll find creatures waiting to try and eat any ships that pass by. Great battles have happened there, and many of them have been killed, but the creatures never go away.

If you ever visit the land of Everlia, you'll fond many pleasant adventures, but also many treacherous ones.

Story:
Savanna was curious. She had always been curious. She was the baby who put everything in her mouth, trying to fugure out what it was. This time, though, the things she was curious about wouldn't fit in her mouth.

Savanna had seen maps of Skyreach, beautiful maps that were practical as well as pretty. But she'd never seen a map of the other three realms. So she went to Queen Lunar and asked for permission to map them.

“It will be dangerous.” The Queen warned, “And you will need the heart of an adventurer. But I'll let you go.” Savanna was very excited, but wondered if she really had what it took.

So she set off. With maps in one had and a compass in the other, Nova felt very confident. Then she came to Wintergreen.

As she saw the entrance to the forest, Nova started to shiver. It was a rickety little sign, standing beside what can only be described as a hole in the trees. The trees leaned over the path, blocking every bit of daylight. The only light there came from the mushrooms that gave off a faint glow.

Nova went in anyway, feeling it was her duty. She began to feel a bit better when nothing happened for awhile, and felt even better when she saw warm, homey lights coming from a little cottage. She was tired and needed to sleep somewhere that night, so she knocked on the door.

A sweet little lady opened it, and invited her inside. She fed Savanna a feast of a meal, and sent her to bed, cozy and content.

When Savanna woke up the next morning, she couldn't move! She tried to wiggle this way and that, but had to cry out for help. The lady walked in, and Savanna expected her to save her, but she nodded instead. “Paralyzing spell.” she said. “To keep you still until dinnertime.” She was in the house of a witch!

She tried to struggle, but all she could do was watch as the witch cooked a stew to cook her in. But then she heard a knock at the door!

The witch seemed surprised, but opened the door anyway. Something flew at her. She staggered back, clutching her eyes, where ther was some kind of bat was clinging to her face. Another witch stepped into the room, blew on her, abd she collapsed.

Then the new witch turned to Savanna and smiled. “Sleep, and may your dreams come true.” she said, and Savanna frlt her vision go blurry. She felt the witch carry her to the bed in the cottage, and then fell asleep.

Savanna dreamed of a map of Wintergreen, stunning and accurate. And when she woke, she saw it sitting on the table beside her.

Since her task was fulfilled, she set her sights on Hydra. To travel the islands, she would need a boat. Setting along the shore, she saw one, and figured she could hitch a ride. She didn't see the Jolly Rodger until it was too late.

Pirates grabbed hold of her, and argued about what to do before the captain came out to see her. He was a big man, with a big beard. He pointed a sword at her, and asked, “Who are ye, and why be ye here?”

Savanna tried to explain that all she wanted was a map, but he decided that she would walk the plank as soon as they got far enough out to sea. In the meantime, she was tied to the mast.

Late that night, she felt her ropes fall to the ground, and a voice whispered in her ear, “Take this.” Something was pressed onto her hand, and then she was thrown overboard.

The sea was cold, but Savanna was a good swimmer. She got to shore, and realized the object in her hand was a map!

She went back to Skyreach, and was recieved with a great celebration. Adventurers for years to come would use her maps for their journeys.

weekly 1

part 1

Magic Systems:
A lot of fantasy stories include magic in them
Hard Magic is defined by having strict rules, limits, and scientific consistency.
Soft Magic has so such rules and allows for more creative freedom in abilities, focusing on wonder over mechanics.
Some magic examples: Arcane, divine (gifted by deities), nature, blood (requires physical sacrifice), elements, etc.
Could also include some combination of magic abilities in my story? Will also more likely lean towards soft magic

Magical Items
Items with magical properties.
Common in the Magical Girl Trope, most using objects of some sort that allow them to transform.
Can function as weapons, travel aids, contribute to world building, etc.
I do want to lean into the Magical Girl Trope in my weekly, so perhaps I can have magical items as their method of transformation

Mythical Creatures and Races
Elves, dwarves, goblins, dragons, nymphs
Most races have their own distinct culture like humans, while creatures are more similar to animals of the real world.
Most notably in the PreCure series, some Magical Girls have a creature with them that is linked to their transformations.

184 words


part 2
Hundreds of years ago, a mysterious comet passed by, giving the people of earth magical powers. However, these resurgences of power caused people to use them recklessly, causing the world to fall into havoc. These powers were seemingly random, and no two powers were alike.

After the magical abilities made the world fall into havoc—one girl cast a mysterious spell. As it turned out, she had the ability to take away the abilities of others. With a strong sense of justice, she used her abilities to take away as many people’s powers as she could. Almost everyone lost their abilities—but people on the outskirts of the country were out of range.

Those people were considered dangerous, but the mage had already exerted all her energy into taking everyone’s powers. She used the last of her magic to seal these people’s powers, but her lack of remaining magic sealed those powers into the objects closest to the remaining magic users.

This allowed the remaining magic users to use this objects as a means to transform into magical girls/boys. Some swore away the power, while others decided to use them to help others—acting as vigilantes, magical girls use their powers to help others, despite the fact they’re considered illegal by the government.

Magical girls conceal their identity through their transformations which allow them to live a “double life” as a regular civilian, hiding their powers, and as a magical girl saving the city.

Magic users have been able to persist through magical users having kids with other magical users, or magical users having kids with regular civilians.

However, every 10 years, the comet from before passes by, causing a resurgence in magical powers. The mage’s spell ensures this resurgence is on a smaller level than previously, but side effects of the mage’s original spell causes these new powers to come with killing intent. This event every 10 years is dealt with by the magical girls/boys. Authorities focus on finding a way to see if the comet can be prevented from reaching earth in any way to prevent the outbreak.

Some countries are less hostile to magical girls and work aside them, while other countries still attempt capturing them even during the outbreaks of magic every 10 years.

Magical girls often form guilds to work together on missions.

The mage disappeared after sealing as many powers as she can, but is treated as a historical figure.

This world functions rather similarly to our present day world, only with the addition of magical girls.

422 words


part 3

“Super Pretty Sweet Spark!”

Shiho made exaggerated expressions in her mirror and struck over-the-top poses. “Er…is Pretty Spark’s signature pose is this or that…? I’ll have to rewatch the Pretty Spark compilation on YouTube…”

Pretty Spark was the name of a Magical Girl based in the city Shiho lived in—the girl idolized the hero due to her bright and gentle personality and sparkly appearance. Her mannerism and appearance made her fit as a perfect magical girl for the public eye, quickly amassing her a fan favorite.

Her unique skill set also allowed for admirers of Magical Girls based on strength to flock to her, making her one of the most famous Magical Girls worldwide.

Shiho was only a small portion of the mass of fans the Magical Girl had, but she was confident her love for the Magical Girl far exceeded others.

Shiho was a fan of Magical Girls/Boys for as long as she can remember—she was a strong advocate that magic users shouldn’t be treated as criminals—only being put under close watch by the government, she understand that having magic was cause for the government to want to keep a closer eye on them—but constantly attempting to arrest them felt wrong. After all, they were only trying to help!

Shiho prided herself in researching magic users as much as she could with footage of them taken on shaky phones—needless to say, Sweet Spark caught her attention immediately. She remembers spending late nights scrolling on Magical Girl forums in order to learn more about her.

“Well, it’s no wonder she’s so cool…” Shiho gushed as she scrolled on her phone, “It’s theorized she’s a descendant of that Magical Girl from the 1900s…given her power set…”

The object in which Sweet Spark’s magic was sealed in was a makeup case with sparkly eyeshadow, hence the name. She had six different colors, and each one gave her a different effect for 5 minutes. The red one enhanced her strength, the blue one enhanced her speed, the yellow one enhanced her defense, the orange one enhanced her wit, the green one enhanced her magic, and the purple one gave her a random elemental power. Her most iconic move was when she’d wear heavy black eyeshadow to have a combination of all six—though it required a large amount of energy to be exerted.

Shiho poked the top of her own makeup case, delicate strokes could be seen atop the case. A cutesy design containing a hear with drawn on laces and sparkles was atop it.

“Amazing! This looks exactly like Sweet Spark’s makeup case!” Shiho squealed, “If only this case could let me transform into a magical girl…” Shiho sighed and placed the eyeshadow in her bag (which, mind you, was covered in Magical Girl pins, especially Sweet Spark).

“Mom, I’m heading out!” Shiho called out, slipping into her shoes and opening the door after confirming she had her keys.

“Shiho! Make sure to be careful!” Her mom called back, “You know that today—“

“Yeah, I know. The comet passes by again and magic resources—I’ll be careful. Besides, we live in a pretty Magic User-dense area.” Shiho daydreamed of meeting Sweet Spark before walking through the door.

The streets were pretty empty, likely as a result of the rogue magic users that would be going around—but Shiho had faith that the magical girls would save her!

Shiho walked towards the convenience store—before hearing what sounded like a large explosion. She turned around quickly and caught sight of a collapsing building—only, the cracks seemed to be…glowing?

A rogue magic user.

“Shoot! Gotta get out of here fast…!”

Shiho ran forward as the building crashed to the ground, a stray piece of rubble rushed by and sliced a scar on her face. She rubbed the cut and continued running, but tripped over a piece of rubble.

Ack—!

Another building collapsed—and crashed right over Shiho. She cried out as the rubble hit the back of her head. She glanced up—at the very least, it seemed she had an air pocket she could breathe in.

She attempted to push the collapsed building up—no luck. Again—no luck. From above, she could hear a fight going on.

“Don’t give up!” A voice called out. Shiho knew that voice better than anyone she knew—it was Sweet Spark’s. “I’ll save you!”

Shiho sighed in relief—if Sweet Spark was here, maybe she’d have nothing to worry about…

A bright light came overhead, and rubble seemed to be dragging. Shiho sat up once she had enough room, and looked at the Magical Girl who saved her.

They were certainly not Sweet Spark. The Magical Girl wore a black, gothic dress and had long black hair with pale skin. She was, quite possibly, the exact opposite of Sweet Spark.

Ah! Shiho remembers her now! On the Magical Girl forums not too long ago, they mentioned a new Magical Girl named Deluded Illusion, who was critiqued for not having a magical girl-like ability or appearance.

“Are you okay?” She asked, Shiho nodded in awe—who cares about her ability, she’s a magical girl! And she just saved her!

Deluded Illusion’s ability was to create auditory and visual hallucinations.

“Alright then…I’ll go now then.” She leapt away.

She must’ve made that illusion of Sweet Spark’s voice to calm Shiho down. She would’ve panicked a lot more and maybe even hurt herself if she hadn’t done that.

Shiho grinned in awe—Deluded Illusion was so cool.

907 words


part 4
The forest is deep and dark, with large trees that cast terrifying shadows over anyone who enters. Yet lately, my horse has been asking me to take them there.

I was feeding my horse at the allotted time it had told me—and as it munched through its hay, it spoke to me.

“I can’t understand what you're saying.” I frowned, “Don’t eat with your mouth full. Mom told me that’s rude.”

“Can you take me to the woods?” It asked, “Just for a little while. There’s a place I want to go.”

I frowned, but mom had told me these animals would be my mentors. And that I should listen to them. If this was what my horse requested—maybe that meant it was the best decision.

“Okay.” I murmured, “I will after I have dinner.”

My horse nodded and I left the barn.


I hopped on my horse later than I expected to. Nonetheless, I rode into the dark forest, glancing side to side at the dark woods. Moss riddled the ground and the trail was bumpy as a result of the rocky terrain.

“How much further?”

“Just a bit longer.”

My horse had said that several times already.

Suddenly, a large shadow stretched over the floor, and my horse stilled in caution. In the next moment, a person jumped from the trees.

Their attire was unfamiliar. She somewhat reminded me of Little Red Riding Hood, with her flowing red cape. She wore an overall skirt with a poofy blouse, alongside long socks and red mary jane shoes. A picnic basket hung to her arm.

“What are you doing here? You’re not a rogue magic user, are you?”

Rogue…magic user?

“What’s that? A rogue magic user?”

The girl looked bewildered, but responded, “People with magical abilities who use them for bad.” She explained, her eyes narrowed. “Could a memory loss ability be what we’re dealing with here…?”

“Who are you?” My horse asked.

The girl put a hand to her chest, “My name is Wind Whisperer. I’m a Magical Girl based in Animal Terria.”

“Magical…girl?”

“You seriously don’t know what a Magical Girl is…?” The girl questioned, but proceeded. “Magical Girls are users who retained their Magical Abilities and use them for good. I have the ability to imitate the abilities and traits of any animal of my choosing.”

“For example, if I choose to imitate a horse I can get really strong legs. However, I can only imitate one animal at a time.” I didn’t understand a word of what she was saying. “It’s dangerous out here. I can guide you and your horse to Animal Terria.”

I looked at my horse for approval, they nodded. “Trust her.”

“Okay, we’ll go.” I responded, getting ready to follow the girl.

“Great!” She cheered, turning around and leading us down the path. “Whew! How did you guys even get this far from Animal Terria? It’s alright! For as long as you’re in my presence, I oath to keep you both safe!”

“Actually we’re not from—“

“Thank you a lot, miss.” My horse interrupted me. The Magical Girl continued walking down the trail, her eyes darting around vigilantly.

For whatever reason, my horse seemed keen on travelling to this ‘Animal Terria’ place.

540 words

PART 1

Common fantasy elements:
Talking animals (animal farm)
Animals plotting things (animal farm)
The protagonist always finding his way (the alchemist)
A mystical character that serves as a guide/wizard trope (the alchemist)
Demigods/something relating to Greek mythology (Percy Jackson)
Powers from birth (powerless)
A school of wizardy (harry potter)

Ideas:
On a farm, a dead beat 20 year old uses animals to find his way to greatness. He discovers he has powers via his grandfathers old letter. He is quickly teleported to a different universe where he is an undercover human being, meanwhile everybody else is an elf.

A bunch of animals disguise themselves as humans via clothing to try and make their way to the pearly gates. There they’ll ask to become human because they have realized humans are the superior race.

PART 2
The setting of the story is in Jalen Farm.
In Jalen Farm, lives a family who are all African American, with an easy over 100 animals. They all speak English, but their mother’s tongue is Hausa, stemming from Nigeria. They are a family owned farm, with the common last name “Jalen.” The adult men farm and plow the soil, planting and harvesting crops all day long. The adult women take care of the children, making food using what their husband’s harvested. The children run around and play, but are tasked to take care of the animals.
They have a traditional mindset to the way their beliefs and customs work. All the young children sleep with their mothers. When the children reach the age of eleven, they are sent to sleep by themselves without their mothers and their mothers can sleep with their fathers. Men and women who are single sleep on the opposite sides of the same room. Nobody in the Jalen Farm has separate bedrooms. Instead it is a big farming house with dividers for beds, much like stalls for cows and chicken. These sleeping farming houses for the humans are called “Inns”

One thing about the Jalen Farm is that their animals are the ones who teach the children. Before 18 years old, every child can hear and understand the voice of any animal on the farm, whether it be a sheep, cow, lion, or pig. The animals are the children’s teachers. But after 18, a pinch of magic wears off. The child can’t understand the animals anymore.
The lessons taught by the animals are usually things relating to the culture of the farm.
“Feed me at this time” or “I overheard your mom saying she’ll give you less food if you don’t shower.” Or “ When you speak English you need to emphasize your T’s more.”

The lessons were usually held in a barn, where each child was given a specific mentor animal that they were in charge to take care of. The exchange was simple; the child would wash and feed the animal in exchange for all the knowledge it has. The animal’s simply knew this knowledge from birth, they were magical in that way. Each child named their own animal.
The three most crucial landmarks of this farm are:
- The barn yards where the animals teach the children and the children take care of them
- The inns where everybody sleeps; there are 4 inn buildings
One for mothers and children under the age of eleven
One for children between the age of eleven and eighteen
One for married people who have older kids or haven’t had kids yet or are pregnant
One for single men and women
- The outdoors is mainly filled with water fountains that the kids play and shower in, and spots for adults to mingle conversation with. The animals are rarely let outside because when they are the adults are afraid they’ll escape. Only horses are let outside of their barns for the purpose of travel
Outside of the farm, is a city, 10 miles away from the farm. In this city, lives an entire society of adults and children who both understand animals. The city is called Animal Terria. In Animal Terria, the magic hasn’t faded because the adults are still kind to the animals. The animals have equality with the adults, and sleep with them, eat with them, and can own shops. But in Jalen Town, due to the mistreatment of animals, keeping them sheltered away in barns, the adults can’t understand the animals anymore. They’re empathy has made the animal’s language grow weak.
The technology in Jalen Town is simple:
Just a lot of plows
A lot of dirt
Farming materials like hoes and axes
There’s many trees that kids sometimes build swings off of
Fruit is everywhere
There is nothing special about the plants or trees in Jalen Town. The only thing magical is the animals because they can talk to kids.

Lately, the animals have been trying to get the kids to lead them to the city; Animal Terria…
——————————————————————————————————–
PART 3
“Oink. Oink Oink.”
Robert, a tall man stepped in front of me. He’s my kid! I thought. He’s come to visit me.
“Oink. Oink oink oink oink.”
I stutter.
No. There’s no way his time has already come. There’s no way that Robert doesn’t want the best for me anymore.
I rave. I yell. I shout. I oink to the highest pitch I can, in hopes I’ll win him over. Memories of little Robert walking into this barn calling me “Pig Peter.” And curling up beside me listening to me teach him arithmetic flash through my mind.
Robert yells with a harsh tone, pulling away any warmth in himself.
“Quiet down!” he bends down and points at my body.
“You,” his volume shakes the barn house “pig.”

I whiney out of fear. I suppose Robert’s now an adult in Jalen town.
The whole barn house throws an outrage at Robert because he has been indoctrinated. He doesn’t know how to be a child anymore and find wonder in animals like me. He doesn’t have empathy for a little pig no longer. He doesn’t yearn for our knowledge.
The sheep start screaming “We’ll throw a,” they take a pause because meying isn’t the quickest way of speech “Wool,” one sheep replies to the other who picks up the sentence “shortage!”
That is the way the sheep talked, because one sheep brain isn’t big enough to make a full sentence.
The chickens bawked to the highest degree. Each chicken said the same thing: “No more adults!” while running around the coup, pushing their eggs to the corner of the coup so they would not be crushed.
Robert, could not understand any of the animals anymore though, and simply heard a rummage of noise from the barn. He coughed and laughed.
“Stupid.” He looks around at all the civilian animals like myself, “beasts.”
In a louder voice he riled with a grim smile “You’re lucky we let you talk to the,” he stutters, remembering he himself has a kid, huddling his arms around his chest, “kids.”
The cows got riled up. The sight of Robert making fun of them made their blood and milk boil. With anger, they jumped up and down, and one bull thrusted his body into the stall door and kicked it open. Robert caught eye of the bull out of it’s stall, and the bull rushed and faced the opportunity to kill Robert aggressively. Robert hit a red button and hastily opened the barn door he was next to, with a heart beating out of his chest, he closed the barn door, out of breath.
The red button was installed inside the barn house to distract the bulls. Immediately, a flash of bridge colored cloth was thrown around the barn, as well as Mariachi music played on loud speakers. As a result, the bull got dizzy, and recklessly hit all the walls before falling over onto a piece of red cloth.
The sheep came together.
One bleeped “Not.” And then another “Againnnnn”

Pretty soon, it was 4:00 pm, and the children would all make their way for learning and animal care time! I, Peter, am hoping for a kid who won’t betray me like Robert this time around.
The only reason the humans neglect us after 18 years old is because they want to be in charge of us.
While the children made their way in, I reminded the lambs to nudge the chicken into saying an amazing land they had overheard from the horses.
Animal Terria.

The chicken all came together, and as a big group shouted.
“Animal Terria” – the children all became confused.

“What’s,” her eyes widened, and her head tilted to one side while she bent down to take care of her chicken, “that?”

I, the animal that was best at speaking responded.
“It’s a land that we will go to” I stood up with pride, on both my hind legs. The children all stared at me, unsure if it was a chore. “As a field trip.” I smiled, poking my teeth out throw my slimy pink skin.


Part 4

Swapping worlds with @Moosywoosy
Their world link

503 WORDS

Hundreds of years ago, a mysterious comet gave humans and animals unique magical abilities. This caused lots of Jalen Farm to be magical. As a result, a mage had to seal lots of the world’s magic.

This mage was named Jessica. Jessica had a mean stare. She was not kind at all. The mage weakened everybody on Jalen Farm. Jalen Farm used to be a place where everybody would speak to each other, both animals and people. But now the mage came, only certain objects and things would allow animals and children to talk to each other.

Every ten years, a new outbreak of unstable magic begins. It scares everybody on Jalen Farm. And it makes the humans not want to be a part of magic no more. That is the reason why the humans can no longer talk to the animals. Cause they wished that they would never ever use magic ever again.
One thing about Jalen Farm is that due to the comet’s magic the farm’s children can understand animals because they are temporarily connected to the magic of the comet. The comet is a big deal, and it holds all of the magical things of this world.
The animals on Jalen Farm try to get the kids to lead them over to Animal Terria. In Animal Terria the animals do not have to worry about the humans no more. Because in Animal Terria they may learn about how to stop the comet. The comet stopping would make it impossible for the animals and children to talk but it is worth it because the animals want peace.


There is one pig named Jeff he is a smart pig and is kind. His kid is named Usnavi. Usnavi is kind and sweet. He pets Jeff on the daily. But Usnavi also knows a lot about history regarding the comet. That is why Usnavi leads the kids to Animal Terria.

Many of the kids are scared. But Usnavi keeps directing them. He is a bold leader and makes them so happy that he gets to be their leader. And leads them to the area they’ll learn more about the comet.

Some wail.
“Why did this tragedy have to happen o us.”

“I wonder what our parents think about us.”

Usnavi doesn’t back down because his pig Jess doesn’t either. So as a result Usnavi keeps going. He is a strong young boy. Maybe only 11 years old but he directs the whole poll. So Usnavi keeps them going keeps them feeling strong.

The oldest kids didn’t follow cause they were al sleeping in their own inn. It was only the little ones.

Jeff did this on purpose because if worst case happens, the little ones would never betray the animals. They have more time till they turn 18, so even if they are weaker they would always be careful with the animals. They would always love them, and they were teaching them to be there’s before the indoctrination of the human’s reached them.