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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.

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 7

Between Life and Death

Weekly Contest #374

Ellie barely noticed the handsome man that sat down beside her on the park bench. He seemed to appear out of thin air, but it did not phase her; she did not even glance in his direction. Instead, her eyes were fixated on the way the trees almost waved to her as the gentle breeze offered a peace she had never felt before. The birds sang songs that touched her soul and the flower petals were so vibrant it was as though the colors were alive. “How are you feeling, Ellie?” The handsome man asked. His velvety voice soothed her even more. “I don’t...

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Little Purple Planet

Weekly Contest #374

In a solar system very much like our own, in a galaxy across space and time, a handful of young planets circled a newly formed star. “Momma!” the planets called as they orbited their Momma Star, and she answered each of them with energy and gravity. They had all been born from the same cloud of dust and now formed a young solar system in the far reaches of their galaxy. The planets closest to Momma Star were hot and baren. The middle planets were warm with complex atmospheres. Farther out drifted the gas giants. And the farthest planet with ...

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Lover’s Pit

Weekly Contest #374

She was the next person to enter the pit this morning. Maya watched as the young woman below, in a long, flowing, white dress paced frantically, back and forth, back and forth. The Young Woman’s body quivered head to toe, her shoulders stiffened, her breath abated. The Young Woman was terrified, an unfamiliar response to the Remaining. Puzzled by the woman’s behavior, Maya wondered why this woman hesitated so to offer herself to the Light. The All-Powerful from above whose Light can dry lands and cause endless flame. He, who burned crops, in...

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Until Next Time?

Weekly Contest #374

Until Next Time? People stared at the androgynous figure above them. Her smile came softly, quickly, deliberately, her smirk and her eyes moving in unison. She knew, simply by existing, by revealing, by commanding without a word, that the crowd was hers. If only she had prepared more. But there was no way to prepare. No way to predict what would happen, let alone what reaction her return might provoke. The people stood silently, in awe, fear, excitement, it was hard to tell. Their faces were intent and expectant, though for what, they could ...

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The Earthling

Weekly Contest #374

The light shining in my eyes is blinding as I slowly emerge from my regeneration session. Lifting my torso delicately from the pod, I fumble confusedly for my exoskeleton. Then I put on my anti-glare glasses and notice a strange object on the floor, right next to the door. It is small, red, and rectangular in shape. I cross the room and pick it up. It is a book! I remember books from the early days of my apprenticeship. I remember learning to read and write. I even remember some of the stories I read about blues and greens and things that g...

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Such a Pretty Bird

Weekly Contest #374

Such a Pretty Bird Sasha’s little red heart, trapped in the cage of her bones, beat harder, faster as the Overseers arrived and spilled from their machines like black ink staining a once perfect page. She watched, waited, face and fingers pressed against the window as soldiers drained every ounce of color from the world. First, they stole the sun’s bright yellow. The Overseers shot harpoons into the sun and bled the light out, ounce by ounce. The yellow dripped into their maws. But when it touched their skin, they howled in pain. They poache...

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Home Sweet Hell

Weekly Contest #374

The view through the slanted windshield of the minivan changed abruptly. The sky had been blue and full of sunshine just moments before. As soon as the silent driver turned off the highway onto a country road, the view turned bleak. From out of nowhere the midday sky turned gray and was rapidly darkening. The thick clouds gathered together, rolling briskly across the ominous sky like a wave from an ocean in the middle of a hurricane. I could see the monster in the distance. It sat menacingly to the west of us, turning the gray sky black. Its...

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Apples and Sticks: The Impossible Adventures of Terry and Andelin

Weekly Contest #374

This is undignified, I thought to myself as I traipsed through the Emerald Wood as gracefully as the unkempt wilderness would allow—or rather, as gracefully as you would expect a high-fae of the Great Realms to traverse the vast and unknown wilds. I kicked mud off my once-pristine boot and shook my head with disdain at the caked earth drying on the hem of my ivory robes. Of all the suitable brides in the kingdom, why did mine have to run away the morning of our wedding? As I stumbled along, gnarled stick in my hand, I made my way through the...

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The Wind That Won

Weekly Contest #374

I got down on my hands and knees to make myself smaller and listen with what my elders called the golden hearing. Really, it's just my magic nudging my eardrums to stretch so more sound gets through, but "golden hearing" sounds a lot better than that. I couldn't recognize the language, but I knew he was there. The longer I waited, the more anxious I got that someone would find me. They can't, I kept telling myself. My magic was nowhere near as good as theirs, but I'd picked up a trick or two during my years as an intern for the darkest socie...

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The Princess & The Old Fat Fox

Weekly Contest #374

The Princess & The Old Fat Fox A Grimm Fairy Tale In a faraway land of rivers and snow, where animals could talk and fairy trees grow. There once was a Princess more beautiful as a crimson sunsets glow. Some who were lucky to have seen the fair Princess would gossip and talk It was rumored some would pay to watch her just walk. Some would dispute and disagree But how those would shout that were willing to pay the fee “Sir, are you blind! For it is obvious anyone who can see!” And so it was it was, her stories were shared over frothing full ...

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A Tale of a Powerful Witch Who Hid in a Potion Shop for Two Months

Weekly Contest #374

"Don't brew anything. You have enough potions to keep this business running for two months. By then I should be back." Alder had heard that two and a half months ago. Now the shelves across the room were empty. The last potion had sold that morning. Quite inconsiderately, the war had failed to end that afternoon. No bells rang from the watchtower. No soldiers marched home through the western gate. The notice board outside still displayed the same royal proclamation in obnoxious gold lettering: ALL WITCHES OF THIRD CIRCLE CLASSIFICATION AND A...

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Darkborne

Weekly Contest #374

Rain bombards the windshield of my car as I sit in the long driveway of my grandparent's manor, the water washing down in thick waves that blot out my view. I pause here not just because of the elements, but another cold feeling in the bowels of my stomach. Or is the cold just in the air, my imagination stirred up by the remote lodge and the quiet British countryside as usual? I cannot be sure. I look at my reflection in the rear view mirror and see a tired young man looking back at me, dark circles under both eyes, my freshly shaven face sl...

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Anomaly

Weekly Contest #374

You really, truly, cannot be bothered to care. Currently staring blankly at a Karen who is actively yelling at you, has been for a while, since frowning is apparently illegal now. Fuck you for working in customer service, I guess. You sigh, continuing to ring her up as she continues to yell over you. "Ma'am, your total is $56.68." She glares, huffing at you. "Well! For your incompetency and inability to SMILE for the customers, I DESERVE a discount. Get me your manager." You slowly blink at her, nodding as you grab your walkie-talkie, "Hey...

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The Bane of Cecily

Weekly Contest #374

WARNING: This story contains gruesome character deaths. Cecily arose from a nest of furs and stretched freely in the mid-morning breeze. The sounds of her gentle fluttering echoed softly throughout the bedroom, catching the attention of the nimble maids that served her. Cecily glided from bed to vanity. “Where is my boy?” The princess took a comb to her knotted hair. Fair Winifred shook her head and pointed toward the heavy, wooden door. Cecily giggled, “let him in.” A four-legged creature trotted into the room, carrying the scent of wild o...

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Incendium

Weekly Contest #374

Another rib snapped beneath my boot. The thorn-in-my-side strained an arm forward, clawing at the scorched dirt. Strange symbols began to glow in the air around her hand. A dagger through the wrist promptly extinguished them. No exclamation of pain ever escaped from her. Impressive. If she weren’t worm food, my soldiers might benefit from this display of stoicism. Too bad. My foot remained on the wretch’s back, while we both waited. Staring into the shade of a trampled forest edge while the midday sun gazed down on us. Heat slunk under my ar...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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