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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#88: Fairy Tale Truths

Did you know that April 2nd marks Hans Christian Andersen’s 216th birthday? Andersen’s work has been adapted and reimagined so many times it's become part of our literary DNA. In fact, it's hard to imagine the world of fairy tales without them. And while some were based on old folklore, many sprang from his own imagination — sometimes even incorporating details of his life and using the genre's fantastical trappings to write parables about his experiences.

This week we invite you to use your stories to explore larger truths. Whether you set them in a magical fairy tale realm or not, stories are a wonderful way to examine important ideas. So sit back, reflect, and prepare to let your imagination run wild through the forest.

This week's prompts

Write a cautionary fable about someone who always lies.

Adults – 116 stories

Write a story about an ordinary person speaking truth to power.

Adults – 68 stories

Write about a prince or princess who is asked to give up something valuable as part of a deal to escape the world they come from.

Fantasy – 190 stories

Write a fairy tale about an outsider trying to fit in.

Kids – 173 stories

Write about an author famous for their fairy tale retellings.

Teens – 73 stories

Stories

“Princess Yuri and the Other World” by Jaskee NANDA

Submitted to Contest #88

I stared into the man’s eyes. “Yes,” I said, handing over my crown. It is possibly the most valuable thing in the whole kingdom. But in my eyes, it's priceless. Or was. I took a deep breath. "Are you sure you want this, Princess Moon ?" the man asked. I took in his dull brown clothes and poor health, realizing for the first time, that this might be a fraud. But I trusted him. Even though the man was a prisoner, an old one, he seemed like someone I could trust. Even though people called him crazy - the guards, the prisoners... Could I ...

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“I'll See You When I'm Queen” by Bo G.

Submitted to Contest #88

“I can’t do it anymore, Mira. I’m gonna go out there and he is going to baby me and treat me like shit, all while forcing me to be his perfect little princess and I just can’t take it anymore. I won’t.” Taryn flopped onto their pastel pink canopy bed, with their bright green empire dress following shortly behind. “And this dress,” Taryn sighed, picking up the front of the dress laying on their legs, before slamming the fabric back down again in a humph, “its the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen.” “You’ve got to have a better outlook on th...

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“Sacrifice ” by NR. Yet

Submitted to Contest #88

Princess Vennesa Von Bryne, the third daughter of king Gargantua Von Bryne and the only one still to be wed off was at her breaking point. She didn’t mind being a political item for the sake of her kingdom and the people; she’d already braced herself years ago, believing it was fate. But Vennesa’s horrors came alive when her marriage partner was decided. Instead of some prince of a faraway land, she was forced to be engaged to Jack Burrow, a leader of the Burrow tribe- the tribe of killers. Before the fated day she tried her best to convince...

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“Beasts” by Aburrow Marsh

Submitted to Contest #88

“Are you going to take his call?”Daria Carver swirled her whiskey glass. Slim and strong, with an aquiline nose and chin, she projected strength, control. Her sky-blue eyes scanned the horizon for barbarians that were already at the gate.“Fuck off, Charlie,” she snapped, flicking her short-cropped blonde hair. “I’m not taking his goddamn call. You can keep on standing there with that phone in your hand or you can stick it up your ass.”She took another swig of alcohol, savoring the burn. At 33, Daria could drink a man twice her age under a ta...

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“The forgotten story of Max's Barbooks” by Teacherba Tutorials

Submitted to Contest #88

We often complain about our daily challenges, flaws and imperfections. Susan was no exception. Like most of us her mind wandered in fantasy thoughts to escape reality. But what would it be like to meet someone escaping fantasy to become real? Monday, 6:00 AM The alarm clock just went off and a few snoozes later, she dragged herself to the bathroom making silly faces in the mirror, in an attempt to get rid of her puffy eyes . The little voice in her head was reminding her about her extensive and stressing weekly to-do list, and made her fee...

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“At the Gate” by Joe Swanson

Submitted to Contest #88

“What are you going to bring?” “I don’t know. I’ve been thinking a lot about it, and It has to be something not only grand, but interesting as well. Only the finest will be considered. If your offering is accepted, you will be released. Free! Can you believe it, free. I’ve thought what it must be like to be free. Can’t even imagine being able to do what I wanted to do, not what I have to do.” “Being enslaved isn’t that bad. We get taken care of. Food, shelter, don’t really want for much. But ...

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“The Orb” by Kevin Schenk

Submitted to Contest #88

"T-take t-this... it's... dangerous out there..." He had held her hand tightly as he laid on the floor releasing his last breaths. She reached out for his arm that held the item, he clenched her hand as he breathed sharply, struggling to speak words of the utmost importance, but he struggled as his life slowly faded from him. In tears she simply stared back at his agony-filled face that fought hard against the ever-quickening mortality that enveloped him. "It... can save you in a moment of dire need... It... It can take you away. Be carefu...

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“Prince Miroslav and the Daemon.” by Gwyn Everett

Submitted to Contest #88

TW: suggested abuse, gore, bloodMiro stood in front of his father, dressed in finery expected in the presence of the King. The King appraised Miro with a piercing gaze, not as a father would, but as a master judges a pawn in his game, stoic and cold. Miro didn’t flinch as the king's voice boomed against the chamber walls. “This is the end of your mockery, Miroslav. My counselors advised that you be confined to the tower until your marriage to the Duchess of Waitte, where you will complete your studies and no longer embarrass me with you...

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“Leaving Behind” by Chris Buono

Submitted to Contest #88

The man held out the contract with an elaborate black fountain pen for me to sign on the line. His innocent, charming features had distorted to look devilish and menacing. I did not trust him as I did only moments ago. “You asked for this,” he said in a sly voice. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard, “I am here to make your dream come true, all I want is my payment. The information is all here on my contract.” He wa...

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“The Star of the Priestess in the Land of Pig Farms” by Timothy Lawver

Submitted to Contest #88

Twice upon time the forces of evil converged on the tiny hamlet of Gurp-on-Tunib. This particular conflagration of civilization consisted of one tavern, a statue so old and worn nobody could recall whom it honored, a one bedroom hovel belonging to the mayor, the root shack, and five pig farms in the surrounding boggy plains. One could say that its relative strategic and economic importance to the realm at large was somewhere above nonexistent but below measly. The first instance of evil descending on the poor folk here was three ge...

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“Lady of the Lake, the Princess, and the Offer” by Bre Morningstar

Submitted to Contest #88

“Do you ever get tired of being in the lake?” I asked. I heard the sadness in my heart leak out in my voice. Deep waters she existed in swam through her eyes, unreadable and mysterious. Instant regret added to my despair, asking such a stupid thing, losing sight of who sat in front of me. A spell cast a thousand years before bound her to the lake, some part of her body always connected to the water. Yet she existed uncomplaining, forever keeping the lake’s treasures and secrets safe. By what trick of the gods was I chosen by...

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“The Royal Escape ” by Dream Girl

Submitted to Contest #88

Part 1 Princess Sissy was a little girl when she was sent away to a far away place to get married to a prince who was about the same age as hers. It was rather complicated since they were so little they started to think that they are sisters brothers. No one bothered to care about this. Brother, have you seen my books I dont remember where I have put them. Probably a servant re-arranged them somewhere. Oh oh oh look who is talking. You are a princess you should know how to stay clean and arranged. She bursts into tears making her brothers h...

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“Free” by Colombe Nguatta

Submitted to Contest #88

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom ruled by a King and his loving and adoring Queen. Together, they birthed two children, the oldest was a Princess and the youngest was a Prince. The young royals were sheltered, having never stepped outside of the castle. Rumors say that the Princess was one of the fairest of them all, while her brother was one of the most well-behaved children in the land. Subjects of the kingdom adored the perfect image of the royal family but failed to realize that the perfect image was simply an image. If there was on...

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“The Facts” by Leslie Fisher-Goodman

Submitted to Contest #88

Once upon a time, in a neighbourhood not all the different from most, a family moved in. They unpacked their lives and hoped for the best or something close enough. We met by fluke, which is often how I meet people. Groups are not my forte and I will never be a collector of people. Long gone are the stutter and pidgeon-toed clumsiness, though what remains is otherness and friendships come about while sitting alone in a cafe or at a party that I hadn't even planned to attend. The school playground was where I met Lena. Pa...

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“Two Lonely Girls” by Scarlet Scribe

Submitted to Contest #88

Prilla sat on her favorite mushroom with her legs drawn to her chest. Her gossamer white .dress hanging over the edge of her seat . Her long blonde hair glistened even in the dusky forest. Her forehead was bare of the fairy light most of her family displayed. She was told hers would begin to display its light when she was a few years older. Her wings were now large enough to allow her to fly but they were just protrusions from her back. She missed her friend, Donella. They used to chase and play all through the woods but it had be...

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$50

Prize money

622

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Apr 09, 2021 EST

Won by Shannon Ethel 🏆

Title: No More Happy Endings

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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