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Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of fantasy short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

15020+ Fantasy Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. Though fantasy is well known for its epically long sagas, fantasy short stories can deliver all the genre’s best attractions with one punch — or, shall we say, in one fiery dragon breath?

Fantasy Short Stories – Page 2 of 1002

Night Watch

Submitted to Contest #301

Clarence accepted the assignment from Campus Security. Thom, his supervisor, patted him on the back and handed him the keys. “You’re the man,” he said. All Clarence wanted, was a couple of nights’ work on the weekend to help pay for tuition, and extra time to study when he was making the rounds. “Simple enough,” he said, but he couldn’t help but wonder why the other guy had quit. He wondered about all the talk he heard on campus. “It should be a quiet night,” Thom said, but handed him a card with his number, just in case. “I’m going home to ...

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A Disturbing Case Regarding Fish Oil

Submitted to Contest #301

WARNING: Includes themes of kidnapping, nonconsensual experimenting, and mentions of dismembering and deaths. Xander wipes imaginary wrinkles off his shirt for the millionth time; it’s going to happen at the usual spot where he, the guys, and Mira, have their secret picnics underneath the Weeping Willow Tree. So, it’s place she’ll be comfortable there. She won’t suspect anything. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” Xander mumbles to himself as he leaves his room. At this rate, Mira could take a long nap from stress; call her and her ...

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Ravaged by Disappointment

Submitted to Contest #301

Being a princess sucked. Wake up. Look presentable. Act perfect. Sip tea with distant relatives who never cared enough to remember your name. Repeat. It was a life of bland, beige luxury—the emotional equivalent of wet toast. And Princess Atria had spent all 23 years of it quietly dying inside embroidered corsets and conversations with suitors who blinked too slowly and came too quickly. There was no danger. No excitement. No chance of being tied to the bedpost and tongued down with confident gusto. So, with that horrifying future looming ah...

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I Was Sent to Wake Up the Sun

Submitted to Contest #301

“I was sent to wake up the Sun.” She stared at the figure that stood at the entrance to the temple of obsidian stone. They were hooded in long robes of black, their pale wrinkled face watching her with pinprick eyes that did not see. The temple itself was a rectangular mass of unshadowed black, the pillars and carvings all bleeding together like spilled ink; it spun her eyes to look too closely. Iridescent cracks veined through the obsidian, shimmering in a light she couldn’t find. The guard pointed a long bladed staff at her. “And how do yo...

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A Titan's Folly

Submitted to Contest #301

Once upon a time on Mount Olympus, Hercules lived as a celebrated demigod known for his mighty strength and heroic labors. Yet despite his great feats, he struggled under a heavy burden. For years, he had to follow Zeus’s rigid orders without ever questioning the path laid before him. Deep in his heart, Hercules longed for freedom from these endless commands. He wished for a chance to choose his own destiny.This is the tale of how a bitter old Titan named Kronos, who had been locked away in Tartarus for his past misdeeds against Zeus, saw a ...

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Don't Give Me Any Static

Submitted to Contest #301

Hermes lounged on his cloud-throne in Olympus, twirling his caduceus like a baton and sporting the mischievous grin that had made him the god of tricksters. Recently, Zeus had been particularly pompous—even by Zeus standards—boasting about his lightning bolts at every divine dinner party."My lightning never misses," he'd proclaim, zapping random clouds for emphasis while the other gods politely applauded."Time to knock the old thunderer down a peg," Hermes muttered, hatching what he considered his masterpiece of pranks.The plan was simple: r...

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[THE LATE NIGHT TRIVIA]

Submitted to Contest #301

Content warning: Nonconsensual experimentation, kidnapping, and death, with violent consequences.Follow me as we venture through this late-night tale of a lonely ride with a lonely man. Standing outside the movie theatre was Scarlett, a thin white woman with long blonde hair wearing a short black dress and white Converse shoes. She was trembling as she engaged in what seemed to be a phone call.“Dispatch.”“Ah, yes, can I get a taxi from the movie theatre on Maine Street?”“Name, and where are you going?“Scarlett, Germantown,”“Just you?”“Yes,”“...

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Satraps and Nightcrackle Tails

Submitted to Contest #301

"I didn't sign up for this," Sir Neville said as he sat astride his warhorse, looking at the vast forest ahead of him. "You most certainly did," Croyden said. Smoke curled from the dragon's nostrils as he regarded the knight. I stood beside my horse and regarded the two of them. Sir Neville looked dashing upon his black warhorse, blue eyes glinting through his upraised visor, while Croyden was trying his best to look menacing, but I could see the worry in his eyes. "You have to take the bad with the good," Croyden continued. "We ...

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Yee-haw!

Submitted to Contest #301

Clem Cattini’s ancient Buick sputters to a halt halfway across Baa Baa Bridge. Joyce Jinks smacks him on the shoulder. “I told ya to get gas!” “It’s three and a half bucks per gallon,” Clem replies. Stroking her rich blonde hair, he adds, “I’d rather spend it on you, darlin’.” “Well, you won’t get the chance if we stay on this bridge. Let’s get walkin’.” The pair pauses to look at the rushing water below and the twinkling stars. Clem puts his arm around Joyce. “Kinda romantic right here, ain’t it?” He moves to kiss her, freezing in mid-pucke...

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Hair Club for Olympians?

Submitted to Contest #301

The halls of Olympus had seen their fair share of dramatic events—wars, betrayals, and the occasional divine temper tantrum—but nothing had ever been quite like this.Today, the mighty Ares—the fierce, undefeated God of War, the embodiment of destruction and chaos—was facing an enemy far worse than any warrior or titan.He was losing his hair.Zeus sat upon his massive throne, struggling not to laugh. Hera, ever poised, fought to keep her amusement in check but wasn’t doing a great job of hiding the smirk curling at the corners of her mouth.Ath...

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The Goat of All Time

Submitted to Contest #301

Thaddeus just shook his head as he watched the herd of wild goats while mentally reviewing the recruitment scroll he’d signed five years ago.Nowhere in that document had it mentioned anything about goats. Combat? Yes. Glory? Absolutely. Facing down Persian armies? That was literally on line three. But goats? This was definitely not in the brochure AND definitely NOT what he signed up for.On Mount Olympus, Ares nearly choked on his ambrosia as he watched the scene unfold below.“Sister! SISTER! Come quickly! One of my Spartans is about to lear...

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The Audition.

Submitted to Contest #301

“This is not how I understood the terms of the Artisan in Residence agreement, Malory!” declared Little Plump Jo.When she had signed the agreement she had been under the impression that as Artisan in Residence in Malory Tennyson’s Cloudbank Cabin for Arthurian Studies she would be able to live rent free in the cabin for the time it took her to write her books. From the cabin porch she would have a prime viewing position for the legendary events being played out in the Fog Lake below the cabin (which was fed by the Arthuriana Stream). All she...

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The Deal

Submitted to Contest #301

Melanie ran as hard as she could into the woods. She would have run farther had a tree root not tripped her, sending her flying face first into the dirt. As she laid on the sun-dappled ground, spitting out evergreen needles and moss, a voice greeted her. It was a strange voice, like the ones Melanie’s grandmother had told her not to listen to the forest at dusk. “What are you running from?” the voice asked. Melanie knew she ought not to reply, but instead to run back the way she came. But the fear of what lingered for her at home was far wor...

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The Continuing Education of Uomo d'Ingara

Submitted to Contest #301

The snow stopped by the time Sir Uomo d’Ingara spied the small town emerging out of the primordial forest. Every part of his body hurt, from his face down to his toes. The snow had kept his armor clean and gleaming, but underneath he suspected that he would need many days of rest and a doctor to tend to his wounds. He couldn’t stop here, so after catching his breath, he resumed limping towards the town, and hopefully a bed he could have for a bit. His foot was certainly broken, and there were red footprints behind him leading back to the ban...

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Unbound

Submitted to Contest #301

This story contains violence, abuse, language, and overall dark themes. Enjoy!"I'm just looking to join a ship's crew. If you could point me toward any merchants or captains hiring, I'd appreciate it." I raise my voice higher to be heard above the bustling market crowd. I'd come during rush hour on purpose, but the clamor is making it hard to get my questions answered. "No, I don't know of any crews hiring. Now get lost, brat. You're getting in the way of my paying customers." The stall owner waves a meaty hand at me over the fragrant fruit...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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