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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#263: Heroes and Villains

If you’re an avid cinemagoer, you’ve probably seen trailers or posters for the recently released superhero comedy film Deadpool & Wolverine. Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing two beloved characters set aside their differences to save the world — and potentially start an unlikely friendship along the way.

Inspired by Deadpool & Wolverine, this week's prompts center around protagonists and antagonists. Create a new kind of hero or villain, parody a character who already exists, or go totally off script and interpret the prompts in a creative, unexpected way… the choice is yours!

This week's prompts

Write a story from the antagonist’s point of view.

Character – 84 stories

Start or end your story with a hero losing their powers.

Character – 42 stories

Write about two mortal enemies who must work together.

Character – 29 stories

Center your story around someone facing their biggest fear or enemy.

Character – 71 stories

Write the origin story of a notorious villain.

Character – 89 stories

Stories

“The Heir” by Tyler Pyka

Submitted to Contest #263

“So, what do you do for fun?” “Hm?” I raise an eyebrow. “Oh.” I think about it for a moment. What do I do for fun? I know what I used to do. The memory of it flashes behind my eyes as quick as lightning—me, my sisters, and our father standing on a rooftop together as the sun sets over the city’s horizon. Dad looked down at me smiling, the sun illuminating his dark brown skin. My sisters and I were happy to be with him, sharing such a picturesque moment. Then came the screams. The city below was engulfed in fire, and so were most of the peo...

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“The Superpower” by Tina Dottino

Submitted to Contest #263

“I can do this, I know I can.” Those were the magical words, the words that unleashed Rory’s superpower. Once he uttered those, he truly could do anything he set his mind to. Rory doesn’t remember when he got his marvelous gift, this wondrous superpower. He’s had it for as long as he can remember. It was there for him the first time he tried to climb the tallest tree in the yard, on a dare from his cousin. Rory was six, his cousin, Josh, ten. Rory had watched with awe as Josh scrambled into the tree and began ascending through the branches...

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“The Undeniable Need in a World of Denials” by Simon Dimas

Submitted to Contest #263

In an unspecified intersection, the lights were functional. One direction, the light was red. The adjacent direction had a green light. However the many vehicles were at a stand still for in the middle of the unspecified intersection smoke rose up in the air; oil spilled out onto the road; and three cars with deformed bodies and broken windows faced in random directions. Already, a couple of good Samaritans had appeared to ensure that the ones involved in the crash are tended to. One man was tending to a flipped car that had its roof crushed...

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“A Hero's Belief” by Israel Olmos

Submitted to Contest #263

He looked down at his hands, the red sheen no longer surrounding them like a glove. He breathed in deep, ragged breaths. Smoke choked his lungs and burned his throat. He felt snot drip down his nose. That’d never happened before. “Done yet? Or is this another one of your acts?” A figure walking on a platform of ice glared down at him. He had to crane his neck up to look at the woman. He’d never actually seen her from this angle. Her eyes peered down at him like bitter stars, her sneer somehow mo...

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“The Purchaser” by Bradford Campbell

Submitted to Contest #263

“Yeah, my name is Ted, and I’m an alcoholic.” There was a spattering of applause with varying enthusiasm. Some in the meeting knew something of his story, some had no idea what the fuss was about and couldn’t have cared less. This suited Ted just fine. If he’d known that there was free coffee at the meeting, he’d have saved himself the $1.69 he’d just spent on a cup at the gas station, but this suited him too, and, in fact, felt right. He had a little of his own money now, a little of his own head, a little of his o...

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“An Evil Without.” by Raquel Ajayi

Submitted to Contest #263

It's been at least 15 years since we became the people we are today. Even from childhood, we would be put into these situations where we would have to go against each other. A loud deafening ringing in my ear would appear every time he would attempt to speak to me. It was almost as if we were destined to be rivals. Yet here we were at the top of a snowy mountain facing each other. Usually, we would never look eye to eye, but today was different. Today was the day I ended his evil acts. This rivalry, this excruciating ring in my ears and the ...

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“Mortal Enemies or Destined Partners? ” by Stacy Parker

Submitted to Contest #263

The Fiery Phoenix was in chains tied to the walls of Frostbite’s icy prison.“You broke my heart and refused my proposal! I loved you! I was ready to spend my life with you, but you said no!” Frostbite said with an icy cold glare. “I wasn’t ready! Can you blame me? I was young and didn’t want to leave my family yet. I am sorry that I hurt you! I loved you as well!” The Fiery Phoenix said with passion. “Clearly you didn’t love me enough, but it really is too bad I don’t love you anymore!” Frostbite said as he aimed his hands at her t...

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“Wasteland War” by Paul Hellyer

Submitted to Contest #263

The lumbering tanks rolled forward, flanked by vast numbers of grey uniformed infantry. Above them, fighter jets roared across the sky jubilantly. Further south, Denson was sitting in the command vehicle, a camo painted van with many antennas and a radar dish on its roof. All the battlefield information was at his fingertips. He watched as the tanks rolled forward on the display screen, expectantly waiting to see if an ambush would commence, or if there were any other unplanned events. So far so good, they were claiming m...

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“Fire and Ice” by Abby Powers

Submitted to Contest #263

“You bring me here against my will, tie me to this incredibly uncomfortable chair, and now you expect me to help you?” Cressa spat, staring at Gidget with a look of complete bewilderment. “To be fair, this is the only chair I had.” Gidget shrugged and sat on the floor in front of her, crossing her legs as though she was readying herself for a story time in school. “But what else was I supposed to do?” Gidget threw her hands up, baffled. “You ignored all of my notes, all of my calls, and every single one of my attempts to contact you.” “Don't...

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“Hero and Villain” by Eli Peyton

Submitted to Contest #263

Once upon a time in the peaceful kingdom of Arindale, there were two mortal enemies named Aria and Marcus. Aria was the Princess of Arindale, with her flowing golden hair and bright blue eyes. She was beloved by all of her subjects, but she constantly worried about what people said . On the other hand, Marcus was the leader of the neighboring kingdom of Thorne, with his dark hair and beautiful green eyes, he was feared by all who crossed his path, he also worried . The feud between Aria and Marcus began many years ago when their fathers, the...

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“Fire & Water” by Kimberley Connor

Submitted to Contest #263

Lu paced across the floor of her room. There was no doubt she would pass tonight’s Final Trials, but would she rank First Mage? Either way, tomorrow she would be finished at the Middington Academy of Magic, and never have to suffer Endora’s cruel bullying again. The only downside to not becoming First Mage tonight was that Endora would, if she herself did not. That would just be wrong. Bullying aside, they vied for first place in everything. It wa...

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“Fur, Fangs, and Falsehoods” by Jace Keeler

Submitted to Contest #263

Trigger Warning: Violence and Psychological Manipulation.This story contains depictions of violence, including weapon use and poisoning, as well as intense psychological conflict. Felix Thornes, a cunning fox with a flair for theatrics, sat comfortably within the plush interior of his personalized coach. The vibrant orange of his fur contrasted with the warm glow of the swaying lantern hanging outside. His sleek, pointed features were framed by a rich auburn coat, darkening to near-black at his ears, the tip of his carefully groomed tail, an...

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“The unity beyond the grave” by Kashvi Jairath

Submitted to Contest #263

You might think when you die, all these extreme emotions: hate, love, friendships, enemies, and whatnot, cease to exist, but rather they live on in the souls found in heaven and hell. These creatures, enemies residing on opposite ends of the earth, hadn’t had contact with each other for many centuries. Now, with an exceptional angel and his devil, all that was about to change.Darius raced down the clouds, flapping his feathery white wings and brushing his fluffy brown hair out of his sparkling green eyes. His feathery clothes caught around h...

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“Killer of my Father” by Amaya D'Agostino

Submitted to Contest #263

"Get the fuck away from me," Zaelia spits as she breaks free from Rikers' grip. The sword he's holding is scorching, leaving Zaelia shaking just by the sheer heat of it. Riker lets go, but Zaelia knows she would be dead from his power if he didn't.She nearly collapses, sweat and frustration swirling in Zaelia's vision. The sweat makes her hot and her head pounds from the two-hour "practice," if she could even call it that.More like a punishment, in Zaelia's eyes. Riker wishes he could punish her more.Riker had spent the last session blasting...

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“This Wasn't It” by Carly Dodgen

Submitted to Contest #263

Hot Florida sun burns a small spot on Billie’s back, but behind she could hear a storm approaching. Her backpack leaves sweat stains on her black Against Me! shirt, worn thin from the teenager’s reckless love of it. She is walking the mile or so from school back home. It is a poor neighborhood, but not because of a lack of money. The people here had just stopped. Houses half-painted, cars half-fixed. So many lives seemed halted abruptly here. She hoped that hers was not among them. Their yards were a mottled combination of overgrown grass an...

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$250

Prize money

315

Contest entries

109

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Aug 16, 2024 EST

Won by Eliza Entwistle 🏆

Title: Petrified

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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